Heading to Yorknew

The sky had just begun to brighten, and a thin veil of morning mist still clung to the courtyard. Orange-yellow light spilled from the kitchen window, carrying the faint aroma of freshly boiled rice porridge.

Ryan stood at the doorway with a simple travel bag on his back. His father was busy at the stove, while his mother stood by the threshold with one hand supporting her slightly protruding belly, a trace of reluctance on her face.

"How long will you be gone this time?" his mother asked softly, her voice much gentler than usual.

"Maybe three or four months." Ryan smiled. "But I won't be going too far, and it won't be very dangerous. Once I've dealt with things there, I'll come back."

He gave his mother a gentle hug, then said with a smile, "When I come back, I hope it'll be a little sister."

His father gave a light cough and laughed. "Your mother's hoping for a boy."

"Either a little brother or a little sister is fine." Ryan waved with a smile, stepped out the door, and walked toward the street bathed in morning light.

The door behind him slowly closed. As the sunlight illuminated his back, it also quietly opened the way to a new journey—destination: Yorknew City.

Ryan took an airship through Heaven's Arena and, after several smooth hours in the air, landed at Ringen Airport in Yorknew City. Through the porthole, he saw a bustling, noisy metropolis. As the venue of the world's largest auction, Yorknew City was still brightly lit at dusk. Its skyline of towering buildings was gilded by the setting sun, while crowds surged along the streets and vehicles streamed endlessly past.

The air was filled with the sound of commercial broadcasts and vendors hawking their wares. Ryan, visiting for