I had to admit that although riding in Xu Jiali's car was a bit uncomfortable, listening to him prattle on about obscure knowledge along the way was pretty interesting.
It was much more vivid and engaging than the dry, rigid entries in the Border Communication database.
The scenery outside the windows kept sliding backward. The battered Xiali drove from the old city's dilapidated streets onto the main roads downtown, then followed them through the bustling district packed with high-rises and shopping malls. Fox Girl pressed herself against the car window, eyes wide as she gazed curiously at the scenery outside. Although she had tucked away her ears and tail, her excited, delighted appearance always made Yu Sheng feel as if a whole bunch of tails were swishing behind her.
"By the way, about how long will it take to get from here to your Special Operations Bureau?" Yu Sheng asked curiously. "We're going to your headquarters, right...? Or should I call it the main bureau?"
"We're going to headquarters," Xu Jiali said with a nod, looking at the three of them through the rearview mirror. "It'll be quick. We'll be there in half an hour."
"That close?!" Yu Sheng exclaimed. Thinking of the city's unbelievably massive scale, he was astonished that a half-hour drive could cover the distance. "Is your headquarters near the old city?"
Xu Jiali shook his head. "No, the Special Operations Bureau headquarters is very, very far away—but from any point in this city to the Special Operations Bureau, the drive takes less than half an hour."
Yu Sheng stared blankly. "...Huh?"
"Because we're taking a 'shortcut.'" Xu Jiali laughed, a hint of smugness in his smile—as if he had finally managed to surprise Yu Sheng for once. Then he turned the steering wheel and left the