I'm Back

December 29th. The air in Black Flame City was already thick with the atmosphere of the New Year. Many of the shop windows and entrances along Mingguang Street—the most extravagant, pleasure-soaked street in Black Flame City—had been redecorated and lit up with colorful lights. Countless businesses and restaurants had rolled out promotions, hoping to make a killing during the holiday season. In past years, even ordinary Black Flame City residents who rarely came to Mingguang Street to shop would take advantage of the festive mood to indulge themselves a little and experience the lives of the city's wealthy.

Perhaps only the observant would notice that while Mingguang Street still appeared as bustling as ever this year, far fewer members of the seven families that had once controlled Black Flame City's Coal and Steel Union could be seen in its high-end establishments.

Since the beginning of the year, these seven former ruling families of Black Flame City had gradually faded from the sight of ordinary citizens. Although many of their businesses and industries in the city still seemed to be flourishing, fewer and fewer members of the seven families appeared in public. Rumors had it that many of them—especially the younger generation—had left Black Flame City for other countries.

Captain Colin had finally bought a 140-square-meter apartment on Mingguang Street. It was not because he had finally saved enough money, but because housing prices in Black Flame City had fallen somewhat. At last, the most terrifying One-Eyed Dragon in Black Flame City had a "love nest" of his own. The nest was there, but its mistress was still nowhere to be found.

A few days earlier, Captain Colin had worked up the courage to confess his feelings to Teacher Daina, only to receive a single reply from her: "Thank you. We're