Local Weirdness in Yan Country

"Are you serious?" Melbourne's eyes widened, and a trace of barely noticeable fear even flickered across his face. Pad, however, nodded solemnly.

"Since we're here to stay in Yan Country, we should naturally experience all its famous specialties. It's a shame if we can't take the expressway, but not even getting to experience a normal driving speed would be downright regrettable."

"Okay!" The driver's face took on a gentle smile that somehow sent a chill down their spines. He reached over and pressed a few buttons on the dashboard.

"Passenger requests speed limit removal."

"Confirmed." A synthesized mechanical voice sounded inside the car. Melbourne and Pad's phones lit up at once. Pad picked his up and saw a confirmation window pop up in the Residency Code app:

"You are eligible to remove the speed limit. Would you like to proceed?"

"Yes." Pad tapped the confirmation without hesitation. Beside him, Melbourne wore an expression caught somewhere between fear and anticipation as he reached over and tapped it too.

"Passengers have authorized the removal of the speed limit."

The mechanical voice rang out, and the driver immediately began working the controls.

"Speed Limit Restraint Device: first, second, and third sequences disengaged. Reactor Suppression Valve disengaged. Vehicle safety locks released. Safety systems enabled..."

As a voice with the rhythmic cadence of a spell chant echoed through the car, Pad suddenly got a bad feeling. He turned to look at Melbourne, only to find him wearing the same expression as a kid on a roller coaster just before it started—scared, but excited.

Suddenly, the seats changed shape. Their soft padding molded around their bodies, holding them in place more securely.

Pad felt as though he'd sunk into a massage chair and hadn't yet had the chance to ask what was going on when the