The Untouchables

Little Bu held a pile of metal parts in her arms.

There was a gear missing several teeth, a rusty metal strip, a few bent connecting rods, and some parts in better condition whose purpose was impossible to discern. No matter how one looked at them, they seemed unusable.

Yet Little Bu cradled them with great care, her eyes full of affection.

It was one of her little hobbies. Once, she had secretly peeked outside from the entrance leading from the bottom level to the lower district, and happened to see a mechanical doll.

The doll was already battered and broken, but it could still barely move. It clapped its hands while hobbling along on a single leg.

Perhaps on an impulse, Little Bu had rushed out of the opening and left the bottom level to retrieve the doll.

Untouchables were not permitted to leave the bottom level, and she had been attacked by the residents of the lower district.

Frey's gaze fell upon Little Bu's right arm, pieced together from scrap steel. It lingered there for a moment before moving away.

"Lord Frey, how are things outside now?"

"Everyone's happy, living and working in peace, harmonious as can be." Frey gave a cold laugh and stepped forward. "Let's talk as we walk."

The group of Untouchables followed him onward.

Frey moved through the underground tunnels with practiced ease.

It was quite a coincidence. When he had first arrived in the Rhine, he had merely wanted to learn about the situation here and see whether he could help Castel's delegation.

Yet after only a little contact, he had noticed something unusual about the lower district. Then, through a strange twist of fate, he had encountered these underground residents.

Though it was dark underground, there were occasionally things hung upon the