I'm a Civilized Man

Xilin was immersed in his book, copying all the information into his mind. He paid no attention to the other two people in the display area. As long as there was no danger, he wouldn't snap out of that state.

After flipping through the books on the shelf that seemed useful, Xilin chose ten. When he turned around, he saw the other two watching him with strange expressions. He smiled and nodded at them, then told the clerk, "I'll take these ten."

"Oh... Okay... Sure. Please wait a moment." The clerk finally came back to himself. He scanned and demagnetized the ten books Xilin had chosen, marked them with a "Bookstore Celebration Quiz First Prize" label, then handed them back to Xilin. "You can pick up your VIP membership card at the main service desk."

"All right, thanks."

After Xilin left, the clerk still looked incredulous. "Jincheng, did he really finish reading them?"

"He probably memorized the few books he looked through."

"Is he even human? I'd heard of people who never forgot anything, but watching someone scan books like a machine is downright creepy." The clerk shuddered as if the thought had gotten to him.

"This year's freshmen are full of hidden talent." Ci Jincheng closed his book and returned it to the shelf. "I'm heading out too. I'll come back when I have time after checking in. The new batch of books will arrive in two days. Someone will contact you."

"Sure, I'll tell the manager. I've already submitted my graduation application, and I'm sure I'll hear back soon. I'll be counting on you to help arrange where I go."

Ci Jincheng made a reassuring gesture and left the display area too.

The ten books Xilin had chosen were all large, hardcover editions. It wasn't convenient to put them in his subspace here, since he couldn't risk exposing the secret of his ring, but carrying them would be a hassle. So he arranged to have the store hold them and planned to contact them to deliver the books once he'd checked in and settled into his dorm. Since Xilin had won first prize in the quiz, the store didn't charge him anything extra for holding them.

Xilin had just left the bookstore when someone called after him.

"Daongs Xilin, wait a moment!" Ci Jincheng hurried over with a book in his hand.

"What is it?"

"I just wanted to give you a heads-up. The names of the winners are displayed on the big screen in the store. There aren't any pictures, but people still notice. Around here, it's common for upperclassmen to bully freshmen. If you can't find solid evidence, though, the Security Team won't do much about it."

Xilin smiled at that. "Thanks for the warning. May I ask who you are?"

"My name's Ci Jincheng. I'm a freshman too, but I know Seven Luminaries Academy fairly well. If you need any help, just ask."

Xilin thought for a moment. "Do you know the Trade Zone? Do you know where I can get a good deal on a Flying Skateboard?" Since Ci Jincheng had shown him goodwill, Xilin didn't turn him down. In a new and complicated place like this, another friend meant another source of support.

"I know a place that sells decent Flying Skateboards. It's freshman season, so there should be plenty of special offers, and the quality's still pretty good. I bought mine there."

Ci Jincheng led Xilin to the shop. A screen outside displayed the Flying Skateboards on sale. Xilin looked over the merchandise. It seemed good, and the prices really were reasonable. The purchase also came with two discount coupons for the open-air teahouse on the top floor of the shopping mall.

To thank Ci Jincheng, Xilin used the two complimentary coupons at the teahouse.

The top floor of the mall was furnished with tables of different sizes, some round and some square, each with a large sunshade. Groups of people rode the elevator up after shopping to have tea and snacks.

It wasn't peak time, and several tables were free. Xilin and Ci Jincheng sat down for tea and chatted about Seven Luminaries. They hadn't been seated for long when eight people surrounded them.

"Well, look who's here! You guys have no loyalty. You come up for tea without inviting us?" One of them greeted them warmly, as though they were close friends.

Xilin and Ci Jincheng exchanged a glance. Trouble.

The eight surrounded the little table. The one who'd greeted them came over, pulled up a chair, sat beside them, and popped a snack into his mouth. He spoke lazily. "I hear you two just won yourselves a nice pile of money by answering those freakish questions. What good little bookworms you are."

His words were flattering, but the mockery in his eyes was plain. To people like them, anyone who could answer those questions was a bookworm, and bookworms were easy targets. They'd always looked down on those sickly, artsy types...

Xilin had changed clothes after leaving the departure port, and Ci Jincheng wasn't dressed to show off either. They were both wearing modest casual clothes, with nothing to give away their status. No wonder these people had picked on them so quickly, assuming Xilin and Ci Jincheng didn't have much backing them up.

But...

The hand holding the snack froze in midair and began to tremble. A gun barrel was pressed against the man's forehead.

Aside from Xilin, none of them had even seen Ci Jincheng move. The gun had appeared without warning. Only when it was pointed at the man's head did they realize he'd drawn it at some point.

Firearms were strictly regulated on Seven Luminaries, and most people weren't allowed to carry them. The group hadn't expected one of the two seemingly easy targets to be armed. What was more, this seemingly bookish guy was definitely formidable!

The eight froze. They'd bullied plenty of people, but this was the first time they'd run into a target like this. They didn't dare flee or shout. They barely dared to breathe. No matter how many of them there were, they couldn't compete with a gun. It was as if an icy hand had clamped around their throats, and a chill spread through them in an instant.

Xilin showed a flicker of surprise only when Ci Jincheng drew his gun. Otherwise, his expression didn't change. He continued drinking his tea and eating snacks. He'd paid for them, after all; it would be a waste not to eat them.

Ci Jincheng held his teacup in his free hand and sipped his tea leisurely. "I'm a civilized man. I don't like solving problems with violence."

Yeah, right!

The eight screamed inwardly. What the hell was this supposed to be, if not solving problems with violence? What would he do if he got violent? Use a high-energy laser cannon?!

"I... We..." The man with the gun to his head stammered so badly he nearly bit his tongue.

"Get lost." Ci Jincheng had no interest in hearing an explanation. It would have been pointless anyway. His finger twitched, and the gun vanished. He withdrew his hand and continued drinking his tea, not once looking at the man.

The group knew the gun hadn't vanished. The other man had simply moved too fast for them to follow.

The moment Ci Jincheng pulled his gun, even an idiot could tell he wasn't someone to mess with. Staying would've been idiotic!

Ci Jincheng watched the group flee without even glancing their way. His bookish smile remained. "On Seven Luminaries, the best way to solve a problem is through overwhelming force."

Xilin raised his cup in salute. "Good advice."

After they finished their tea, they exchanged Comms IDs, and Xilin rode his new Flying Skateboard toward the Global Train station. There were dedicated Slow Lanes in the sky, for slower flying vehicles such as Flying Skateboards. Faster vehicles like flying cars had their own lanes.

Xilin had bought some ready-to-eat snacks and put them in his bag so he wouldn't have to go looking for a shop if he got hungry. Riding his Flying Skateboard and looking down at the people below and the high-rises on either side gave him a fresh perspective. He didn't use the Manual Control Rudder, since it consumed more power. Energy Ore and Energy Storage Boxes weren't cheap, and Xilin was confident he could control the Flying Skateboard without the rudder.

When he reached the station, he still had to wait twenty minutes for the next train. He put away his Flying Skateboard, bought a newspaper, and sat down to wait not far from the platform.

The great thing about a Flying Skateboard was how little space it took up when folded. More than a meter long when open, it was less than twenty centimeters long when folded. Since his backpack was full of food, Xilin set the skateboard down beside him.

"Hey, kid over there!"

No one answered.

"Hey, kid over there reading the newspaper!"

Still no answer.

"Hey, kid over there with a Flying Skateboard on your left, a backpack on your right, reading Seven Luminaries Weekly!"