Not Human, but a Monster!

Settling in Yaoguang was much easier than in Yuguang.

The regulations here weren't strict. After Li Wei slipped away from the train station with Feng Zi, he soon found an inn with a bed-and-breakfast feel.

No identity card or other information was needed. As long as you paid, you could rent a room here.

Li Wei wasn't short on money, of course. He'd brought along the several hundred thousand he'd earned in the Barrier Field District and booked himself and Feng Zi the best suite directly.

Once they'd settled in, Feng Zi sat by the window, staring blankly at the light shining from the top of the White Tower in the center of Yaoguang. Then, as if she'd thought of something, she turned to Li Wei and said seriously,

"Even though we've made it to Yaoguang, where inspections and security are much more relaxed, you should be twice as careful from now on, 626."

Li Wei had been holding a mechanical pencil and marking up the materials Li Ming had given him, highlighting some of the key information. He looked up.

"Why's that?"

"Yaoguang is different from Yuguang. Although the academic atmosphere in Sun City is poor, and none of the great scientists would choose to settle here, it's still a Class I underground city. There are some scientists in Yaoguang. Most of them only do theoretical research and work, and aren't good at fighting, but they'll still be much harder to deal with than ordinary people if we run into them."

"Besides, they definitely know that you've mastered physics by now. Sun City's Sunlight Council will certainly report this to the Central Scientific Management Precept Bureau. The Twilight Grand Diocese won't just sit by while a bishop from one of its dioceses is killed, either. They'll send people to investigate. They'll all be coming after you!"

Feng Zi's expression was grave as she explained the situation Li Wei was in.

Li Wei, however, didn't seem particularly concerned. He truly didn't care how many people he'd attracted the attention of, or how much trouble that attention might bring.

By now, he already had a plan for how to make a clean getaway if he managed to complete this task—which might or might not be the main quest.

"How long would it take to get from that city you mentioned, Central, to Sun City, where we are now?" he asked suddenly.

Feng Zi thought it through carefully.

"Central is located between the West and East Districts, while Sun City is at the far edge of the East District. It's a resource-based Class I city. When I traveled from Central to Sun City by intercity train, it took me more than twenty days. The trains don't run continuously; they have to stop at cities along the way for supplies and maintenance, and all that takes time. Even if the Precept Bureau and the people from Twilight sent special trains, it would still take them about half a month to get here."

Li Wei glanced at the calendar in the room.

"Half a month, huh? So they won't get here before Sun City's Festival of Radiance, at the very least?"

"They definitely won't make it before the Festival of Radiance," Feng Zi said with certainty.

Li Wei put away the materials in his hands and nodded.

"Then we have a decent amount of time."

Hearing this, Feng Zi could tell he already had some sort of plan in mind.

"What opportunity are we going to look for to get into the White Tower?"

Li Wei looked toward the brilliant sunlight. Its dazzling glare made him squint instinctively.

"Don't they say only councilors and big factory owners can usually enter the tower? Then we'll find a few people who fit the bill and ask them. Maybe someone kind will agree to bring us in while they're there for the festival."

After hearing Li Wei's "terrible idea," Feng Zi shook her head like a rattle.

"There's no such thing as a kind person like that. You're being a little too optimistic, 626."

Li Wei merely smiled and rose from his chair.

"How do we know there isn't unless we try?"

Seeing that he looked ready to head out, Feng Zi asked suspiciously,

"Are you going to help that union president with something?"

Li Wei opened the door and waved over his shoulder.

"It's not exactly helping him. It's just a trade. What do you want for dinner? I can pick something up on my way back."

"Can't I wait for you, and then we can go out to eat together?"

"Then you'll miss out on a feast. Those people must have all kinds of delicious food at home."

Feng Zi's eyes widened.

"At home? You're going to visit someone?"

Before closing the door, Li Wei answered softly,

"Yeah, I'm paying a visit. Though in my case, I guess you could call me an uninvited guest."

Yaoguang, Ziguang Street.

This was the street closest to the White Tower in all of Sun City, which was also why it got the most sunlight during the day.

The street was divided into a commercial district and a residential district. The commercial district was naturally the most luxurious shopping area in Sun City. Most of its many shops dealt in luxury goods and high-end dining, and the people who frequented them were among the wealthiest and most influential in Yaoguang.

The residential district at the other end of the street was even more exclusive.

Among Yaoguang's residents, it was known by another name: "Councilor Street."

All thirty-six councilors of the Sunlight Council had homes here. The big factory owners and major capitalists had also made it their primary place of residence.

With so many important figures living their daily lives here, it naturally had the tightest security in all of Sun City.

Even though Tian Yuan had sent most of the Police Department's manpower to Yuguang to track down Feng Zi and Li Wei, there was still an armed officer on guard every few hundred meters along this street.

To give the impression that the Council was close to the people, the residential street wasn't closed off. Instead, it was open to the public at all times. During the day, Yaoguang's residents could bring their families to this garden-like area and enjoy the most comfortable sunshine.

So although security was tight, the street still had plenty of pedestrians.

By this time, news of the Twilight Bishop's murder in Yuguang had spread throughout Yaoguang's streets and alleys.

"That poor Bishop Twilight should've listened to the people who donated money to renovate the church. He should've moved the main church to Yaoguang. What kind of people live in Yuguang, anyway? Lazy good-for-nothings and slippery swindlers. Look how he ended up."

"I heard the bioman who killed the bishop was raised in Yuguang from childhood, so he was influenced by the place's atmosphere long ago. He's so evil he's barely human. He even cuts off other people's hands, feet, and eyes and attaches them to himself. He's so ugly, he's a monster!"

Two young mothers, walking together and pushing strollers as they brought their children to bask in the sun on Ziguang Street, chatted quietly about the news they'd heard over the past few days.

Just then, a tall, slender young man in a well-fitted dark trench coat, glasses, and a plaid beret stopped them with an apologetic expression.

"Excuse me, ladies. Could you tell me how to get to Ziguang Street, Number 161?"

The sight of his handsome, almost flawlessly sculpted face left the two young mothers holding their breath!

"Th-this street goes straight ahead. Turn left at the second intersection, and it's the third house."

One of the women replied softly, cheeks flushed and voice so nervous that she stammered.

Before coming here, Li Wei had stopped at a shop to change his clothes. Just moments ago, they'd called him "so evil he's barely human" and "ugly like a monster." Now the corners of his mouth curved into a charming smile.

"Thank you very much."