He Offered Far Too Much

In Hillston District, Sifa emerged from the Backlund subway in work clothes and immediately felt out of place among the people coming and going.

This was Backlund's economic, commercial, and financial center, home to stock exchanges, clearinghouses, futures markets, the headquarters of the seven major banks, and all kinds of trading companies.

Nearly every man in the area wore a suit and top hat, looking every inch a gentleman.

The blonde girl walking ahead of him said with a pained look, "If I'd known you were coming to Hillston District, I would've found you a suit."

"Never mind. Let's hurry to Yilin Street."

Sifa had read about Backlund in newspapers and magazines, but this was his first time here.

His first time in this bustling city of more than five million people!

Pale yellow fog hung everywhere, making it hard to see. The city looked gloomier and darker than Tingen at night.

Yet it was far livelier than Tingen. Though it was already past nine in the evening, the streets were still crowded.

There were paved avenues, lawns and gardens with chimneys rising behind them, and shops and office buildings of every kind. Sifa could hardly take it all in.

They finally reached Yilin Street, one of the few residential areas in Hillston District. Rows of uniformly planned houses stretched as far as he could see.

The girl ahead muttered, "Even the cheapest place here costs one pound a week. That's so much more than our rent. It's a lot livelier, though. Anyone who lives here must have money."

Sifa caught up with her. "I still don't know your name."

The blonde girl kept walking. "You paid, and I showed you the way. After tonight, we're strangers again. Let's leave names out of it."

"If you insist on calling me