All Roads Lead to the Ruined Capital

If that was a person, Lu Ban felt something was seriously wrong with this world.

Because it was nothing like a normal modern human. It was different from an ape, more like some quadrupedal creature forcing itself to stand and run, its posture bizarre, giving off an indescribable sense of revulsion.

However, it was only a fleeting glimpse. The thing disappeared as the bus moved on, and Lu Ban didn't dwell on it, turning his head back.

"What do you think that was outside the window just now?"

He asked the young man.

"W-what what?"

The young man froze and quickly shuffled away from the window.

"That thing that looked a lot like a person, didn't you see it?"

Lu Ban even pointed.

"No, no!!!"

He sounded like he was about to cry, shrinking his neck tightly.

"Oh, perhaps I was mistaken."

Lu Ban replied.

".That was probably a Rat Person."

The burly man sitting in the front said casually.

"Rat Person?"

Lu Ban looked over. The man had muscular arms and a holster at his waist.

"Rat People, they came from somewhere. They've been on this road for many years. Is this your first time going to the Ruined Capital?"

The big man didn't refuse to talk; instead, he seemed quite familiar with the topic.

"Yes."

Lu Ban answered.

"Those Rat People have dug many tunnels underground. Sometimes, these tunnels get close to the surface, and people step on them and fall in. They fall in and can never climb out, eventually suffocating and becoming food for the Rat People."

The big man spoke as if he had experienced it himself, with great conviction.

"But the Rat People are very weak. An ordinary person can take down one with a single punch. They are just those kinds of creatures, not much different from wild dogs."

"Oh!"

Lu Ban responded again.

He exchanged a few words.

Lu Ban found that being handsome was somewhat useful.

At least the car, which had been as dead as a stagnant pond, had a little more life in it thanks to Lu Ban's conversation.

The big man's name was unknown, but his nickname was "Hound." The young man's name was Stone. As for the woman, she didn't reply. From "Hound," Lu Ban learned her name was "Mary."

The three of them looked like they might be mixed-race, with slightly yellowish skin but lighter hair, making their specific ethnicity hard to discern.

".Hey, since Prohibition, the Ruined Capital has gotten more chaotic. But that's good. It means people like us bounty hunters can earn more money. The more chaotic the city, the more expensive things get!"

"Hound" wasn't as unapproachable as his appearance suggested. On the contrary, after hearing Lu Ban speak, he began to talk extensively about the Ruined Capital.

"Bounty hunter, that's impressive."

Lu Ban played the role of a qualified straight man, agreeing with his words.

"Yeah, I've been in the Ruined Capital for several years. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

"Hound" chuckled heartily.

".The Ruined Capital, does the Ruined Capital really have many cars?"

The youth, Stone, suddenly asked.

"Yes, they're everywhere. There are also trams, which are trains with antennas on top."

"Are there also balls? Theater performances? Singing halls?"

"Yes, they have all of that. Whatever you can think of, the Ruined Capital has it."

"Hound" showed a knowing smile.

"The girls in the singing halls are all top-notch beauties. If you can win their favor and have enough money in your pocket, tsk tsk, you can have a wonderful night. Of course, guys like us can only make do with the cheapest roadside stalls."

"I, I'm not interested in those things!"

As Stone denied it, he straightened up, and something he was holding was revealed.

It was a book. Lu Ban saw that the title was "Old News of the Ruined Capital," and the author's name was Gudu.

"Hoh, a book by Gudu. Another one who was tricked into coming here."

"Hound" quickly snatched the book, flipped through a couple of pages amidst Stone's protests, and then handed it back to him.

"This writer is quite famous in the Ruined Capital. He's a high-society type, often messing around with married women. He likes to write scary stories and also likes writing about women. Only those young kids fall for his tricks. Sigh, the Ruined Capital isn't that comfortable."

"Hound" sighed and looked at Stone again.

"You can read this book? You're literate?"

"A little."

Stone nodded blankly.

"That's good. Being literate means you can at least do some easier jobs in the Ruined Capital. Oh, you wouldn't know, but most young people who force themselves to go to the Ruined Capital end up as laborers. With your build, three months would be enough to break a person. Those who can't move halfway through are just thrown to the dogs. Human lives aren't worth much."

"Hound" said with a sigh, then patted Stone's frail shoulders.

"I can introduce you to some work later. Don't worry, I have some reputation in the Ruined Capital. No one will dare to scam you."

"Amazing!"

Lu Ban echoed the sentiment and then asked, "Speaking of which, it's so dark outside, how does the driver know the way?"

The greasy driver hadn't said a word since earlier and had kept to himself. Lu Ban was asking "Hound."

"You don't know? All roads lead to the Ruined Capital. As long as it's a man-made road, it leads to the Ruined Capital."

"I see. So, as long as nothing happens to us along the way, and we keep driving steadily, we should arrive at the Ruined Capital by tomorrow morning?"

As soon as Lu Ban finished speaking, he saw Mary, the middle-aged woman who had been silent until then, stand up.

"Don't speak carelessly."

Her voice was slightly hoarse, and the wrinkles on her face were deeper than her age would suggest. Her eyes were deep, like the night outside.

"Oh."

Could she also know about not tempting fate?

Lu Ban glanced at her again. At this moment, a loud bang suddenly came from the front of the bus.

BANG—

The entire vehicle braked sharply, and everyone was thrown forward.

Lu Ban grabbed the seat. "Hound" was heavy enough, and Mary remained as steady as a rock. Only Stone, wobbling precariously, nearly fell off his seat.

"W-what happened?"

The thin young man, Stone, asked in a frightened tone.

"There's a slight problem."

The driver finally spoke, his voice muffled.

"Can you fix it?"

"Hound" walked over.

Even without an explanation, everyone understood that a vehicle stopped in the middle of the wilderness late at night was not a good sign.

"I'll try."

The driver attempted to start the engine, but only a hoarse sound was heard. The engine seemed completely dead.

"Is it a mechanical issue, or...?"

"Hound" glanced out the window, the shadows in his eyes deepening.

"I don't know. I'll have to go out and check."

The driver stood up, his bulky body bending with difficulty as he took out a toolbox and opened the car door.

It was pitch black outside; only the car's lights provided illumination.

The driver and "Hound" got out, leaving the others inside the vehicle.

"Is it okay...?"

Stone was a little curious but dared not look.

Mary remained silent, pulling her clothes tighter and moving away from the window and door.

Lu Ban remained silent.

Since it was a high-difficulty mission, it wouldn't be that simple. A bus breakdown was quite normal.

He looked out the window. The dense night obscured everything, making even the figures of the driver and "Hound" blurry.

The repairs continued. During the long wait, outside the window, in the area illuminated by the dim lights, at the intersection of light and shadow, Lu Ban stared intently.

At the edge of the light, something seemed to be lurking. They writhed, they twisted, they peered at the bus.

As soon as humans let their guard down, these vicious creatures would immediately pounce from the shadows, tearing apart everyone in sight.

At that moment, a sharp, piercing, soul-wrenching howl echoed from a distance.

Amidst the howling, Lu Ban vaguely saw something flash past the light, passing by the driver and "Hound."

BANG—

"Hound" immediately drew his pistol. After a bang, the world fell silent.

"What is that?"

Lu Ban asked casually.

The next moment, something slammed against the glass right next to his face!

*

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