Entering the City

After about half an hour of climbing, the carriage finally left the treacherous mountain road.

The wheels rolled onto a wide avenue paved with stones. This road would lead everyone to the front of Zion City.

It was noteworthy that

black lampposts stood at equal intervals on both sides of the road. They were not kerosene lamps, but [Electric Lamps].

"There are electric lamps here?"

Ever since arriving in this world, Yi Chen had been curious about the era he was in.

The small wooden cabin in the graveyard had an old-fashioned telephone, which could only contact the Administrator. Other than that, there were no other electrical appliances... This led Yi Chen to deduce that this world was in an era not long after the Second Industrial Revolution.

But after he left the graveyard, he hadn't seen any electrical equipment in the outside world.

People used kerosene lamps and candles for light.

Even the vehicles sent by the Organization were horse-drawn carriages, not cars powered by internal combustion engines.

This made Yi Chen even more confused.

Now, seeing facilities related to [Electricity] appear again on the road leading to Zion City, he was somewhat unclear about what was going on.

"Could it be that due to the Diseased state, some backward areas couldn't keep up with development and remained before the Industrial Revolution? That doesn't seem right either. If they had stagnated, telephones shouldn't exist in the graveyard.

Could the Administrator have brought the telephone from the Organization?"

"Gray Zone."

Little Grape suddenly chimed into Yi Chen's thoughts, providing a keyword.

"What do you mean?"

"According to the memories compiled in my mind, the humans here once entered an [Electrical Age] for a period, replacing steam power with highly efficient and convenient electrical energy... Unfortunately, under the influence of the Diseased state, electrical energy was 'segmented and restricted' before it could be fully developed.

Because Gray Zones are spread all over the world, constantly expanding and proliferating.

Any matter within a Gray Zone will be affected, and even [Electricity] is no exception.

When electric wires pass through Gray Zone areas, the current flowing within them will be affected and transformed into a diseased medium.

Light bulbs illuminated by the current will affect an individual's skin through light radiation.

Affected telephones will also emit strange static and whispers from the earpiece, gradually affecting people's minds.

Even televisions might display blurry and strange images, spreading the Diseased state through vision.

Therefore, the development of electrical energy was completely suppressed, and human technology was forced to regress to the steam age.

However, in some relatively safe large cities, such as Zion City, which you are about to arrive at, there must be power plants within to maintain the city's electricity supply and the development of related technologies.

That's probably how it is."

"Even the electric current is affected by the Diseased state? What exactly is this so-called [Disease], and what is its origin?"

"My memory is incomplete, so I cannot answer this question... Moreover, even among your humans, perhaps no one can answer it. You will gradually find out through exploration and knowledge in the future."

Just as Yi Chen's doubts grew and he wanted to continue chatting with Little Grape, the carriage stopped.

Edmund's voice came:

"Mr. William, don't doze off~ We've arrived at Zion City.

Next is a very important assessment and awards ceremony, which is related to whether we can officially join the Organization and the corresponding treatment afterward."

"Okay."

Stepping off the carriage, he didn't see the city gates he expected.

Instead, two tall, black towers with Gothic spires stood before him, their surfaces outlined with vertical ribs.

Between the towers was a narrow, cramped, and dark passage.

This was also the only road leading into the city.

On both sides of the towers were continuous black high walls, mainly featuring spires and vertical structures.

At regular intervals on top of the walls were gargoyle-like statues, adding another layer of gloom to the already dark exterior.

It was less like the outer wall of a city and more like a Gothic city wall with military characteristics.

"William, hurry up!

We still need to pass through this passageway, which is used for isolation, detection, and purification, before we can officially enter Zion City."

"Mm."

A total of 19 assessors were sent here.

They lined up in a relatively orderly fashion and entered the narrow passageway between the towers.

The passageway featured a cylindrical dome and a rib vault framework, with classical sconces adorning the vertical columns on both sides.

They didn't walk far.

A gentleman, dressed in attire and holding a hooked cane, a man wearing a white mask blocked their path.

Dark passages appeared on the walls to his left and right.

A mature, deep voice emanated from beneath the mask, "I am very pleased that so many newcomers passed this rather difficult assessment.

However, before you set foot in Zion, you must undergo a thorough bodily sterilization.

Gentlemen to the right, Ladies to the left, Upon arrival at the [Sterilization Chamber], please remove all clothing within a short period.

If, after sterilization, residual diseased substances exceeding the standard are detected on your bodies, or if you exhibit symptoms of infection, you will be directly disposed of."

Yi Chen followed at the end of the male group, arriving in a sealed space.

The blonde Edmund was the first to strip completely.

As Yi Chen removed his clothes, he unexpectedly found that this body of William Berens was quite good.

Although slightly thin, his four-pack abs were faintly visible, and his body fat percentage was within the normal range.

About half a minute passed.

Spray pipes extended from the front, back, lower, and overhead walls of everyone's bodies.

An extremely pungent, pale yellow liquid was sprayed out at high pressure, directly washing over everyone's bodies. Some examinees who were seriously injured were even sprayed and rolled a few times.

Yi Chen steadied himself as much as possible.

"Chlorine water? It seems to be mixed with something else..."

After the wash, a strange sensation of being watched quickly swept over each person's body, as if checking for something.

Buzz! There was a slight tremor in the air, and a young man sitting against the wall suddenly disappeared.

Disappeared directly? What kind of technique is that?

Yi Chen was quite surprised. He had maintained mental focus... yet he hadn't seen anything.

Everyone put on their clothes one after another and returned to the previous corridor.

After the sterilization process, the number of people decreased to [17].

Everyone continued to follow the gentleman wearing the white mask towards the exit of the passageway.

As they stepped out of the passageway, the brilliant light of the rising sun instantly bathed everyone, simultaneously revealing a special city full of Gothic Revival charm and transcending conventional construction styles.

[Zion - Zion City]

Interlocking, multi-layered streets connected by arch bridges.

Various rugged, winding, and undulating neighborhood paths, and through special construction methods, churches, guild buildings, or noble manors were erected in mid-air via columns, spiral staircases, or large stairways.

On certain architectural levels, it surpassed Yi Chen's world during his lifetime.

The guiding gentleman placed his top hat over his chest and bowed slightly to everyone, "Welcome to G&D's headquarters, the sanctuary of the world - Zion.

I am your temporary guide, Jeff Peterson.

Please continue to follow me to the [Divine Skin Manor]. Depending on your performance in the assessment, you will receive different levels of the 'Gentleman's Skin (Skin-of-the-Gentry)'.

During the journey, please do not leave the group to go elsewhere, otherwise, you will be considered as voluntarily forfeiting the 'gift of skin'."

Upon hearing this special term, the blonde Edmund, and most of the examinees showed eager eyes and became excited... as if the dangers they had experienced along the way were worth it.

Yi Chen remained expressionless, but his heart also gradually stirred. He really wanted to know what kind of return his 'gamble' would bring.