North City

Dr. Gero took only a few trusted personnel on the trip to North City. He gave the other researchers severance pay and sent them away.

The transport plane General Red had arranged arrived on schedule, landing vertically in the open space behind the research institute.

The plane had a spacious interior, with separate passenger and cargo compartments. Rather than rows of seats, the passenger cabin resembled a private jet, complete with sofas, coffee tables, and even entertainment equipment such as a television and a sound system.

Today, Doris wore an overcoat over a dark red, form-fitting thermal suit. The suit was thin and lightweight; it did not make its wearer feel hot, yet it minimized the loss of body heat.

Doris's alluring curves were faintly visible beneath her coat. Fett kept sneaking glances at her from the moment they boarded, and Jiang Nan wisely found an empty corner to sit in, lest he invite trouble.

The plane took off smoothly, feeling much like an elevator rising. The passenger cabin was also well soundproofed, so no one was disturbed by the roar of the engines.

Jiang Nan took the opportunity to scan everyone in the cabin, including Dr. Gero. Apart from Doris, they all had power levels within the range of ordinary people. Suspicion stirred in him. Could Doris have some secret nobody knew about?

Jiang Nan began imagining an elaborate spy thriller starring an undercover female Federation agent. Just as he reached the part where the agent was captured alive and the beautiful policewoman was about to be brutalized, the plane began its descent.

Doris noticed it too. She looked out the window and saw an endless expanse of snow, as though this were a new world cut off from everything else.

North City was vast, occupying the largest landmass on this Earth. It was cold year-round, and "vast and sparsely populated" described it perfectly. Human settlements were generally concentrated in the south, with only a scattering of small towns farther north.

Looking farther down, they saw an enormous military base. Its buildings looked new, and construction was still underway at numerous sites. The entire base was almost the size of a town.

The plane landed smoothly, and the cabin door opened. The group filed out to find the tall, imposing Major Black waiting beside a formation of soldiers. At the sight of Dr. Gero, he hurried forward and clasped his hand.

"Dr. Gero, thank you for making the journey. I'll take everyone to your new residences first. General Red has also prepared a welcoming ceremony for tonight," Major Black said warmly.

After exchanging pleasantries with him, Dr. Gero led the group after Major Black.

Jiang Nan walked at the back of the group, scanning the Red Ribbon Army soldiers in sight.

A rising organization had a vitality that was easy to recognize. The soldiers wore thick training uniforms, their faces resolute, and carried out orders with disciplined efficiency. These ordinary soldiers had an average power level of around 7, higher even than the Earth Federation Police Jiang Nan had seen in West City.

Major Black, meanwhile, had a power level as high as 76. Long streams of white vapor escaped his nostrils with every breath, and despite wearing only a suit, he showed no fear of the cold.

A power level of 76 already came with such a formidable physique. Jiang Nan stole a glance at Doris up ahead, wondering how she had managed to reach 97.

Doris keenly sensed someone watching her and glanced back at Jiang Nan. Her golden hair danced in the cold wind, loose strands falling from her forehead to the corner of her lips, lending her an irresistible charm.

She's beautiful!

Their eyes met. Coming to his senses, Jiang Nan felt a little embarrassed and quickly turned to look aside.

Doris gave a dismissive snort, then turned away and ignored him.

Jiang Nan began speculating about her identity again. When he first met Doris, he had assumed she was a gorgeous assistant having an affair with Dr. Gero. But careful observation revealed that Dr. Gero was a scientist and an ambitious man through and through. There was no lust in his eyes when he looked at her.

Could she be his daughter?

That did not seem right either. They looked nothing alike, and as far as Jiang Nan remembered, Dr. Gero had had a family in his earlier years, but later became a lonely, dull old man.

Could she really be some kind of spy?

While Jiang Nan's imagination ran wild, the group reached the residential area General Red had prepared for them. General Red had spared no expense: each villa had its own private yard.

Naturally, the largest house at the front was reserved for Dr. Gero. The soldiers helped carry his belongings inside, while Dr. Gero went off to inspect his new home with satisfaction.

Following the principle of ladies first, the others let Doris choose before them. The houses actually had similar layouts, with only slight differences in their exterior decoration. Doris chose one close to Dr. Gero's residence, and the others then made their selections.

Once all the researchers had picked their houses, Jiang Nan approached to choose one too.

"Hey, pretty boy, what are you coming up here for? You don't seriously think there's one for you too, do you?" that fat bastard Fett sneered.

Seeing Major Black's puzzled expression, Fett explained, "Major, this boy isn't a researcher. Strictly speaking, he's just an errand boy. If you ask me, you should put him in with the soldiers instead of wasting resources."

Major Black was in a bind. They were all guests, after all. Whatever their roles, everyone who had arrived today was General Red's guest. How could he dare send one of them off to the soldiers' barracks?

"Jiang Nan, why are you joining in while everyone else is choosing their houses?"

Doris spoke up. Ignoring Fett, she waved a hand and said, "Take my things and come inside with me."

She paused, the faintest hint of a smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Let's look at our new house."

Taking the hint, Jiang Nan accepted Doris's suitcase from a soldier and eagerly trotted after her into the yard.

If looks could devour people, Fett would already have chewed Jiang Nan up, bones and all, and swallowed him. Why? Why?! Is Doris blind? Why does she insist on favoring this pretty boy?!

Fett's face darkened. In his mind, he had already sentenced Jiang Nan to death. Just you wait, you damned pretty boy. Once the doctor's Android experiments begin, you'll be the first test subject!

Doris's house had three floors. The entire third floor consisted of an enormous bedroom connected to a terrace, which naturally became her room.

Jiang Nan's room was on the second floor. He had few personal belongings. After hiding his powered-off phone beneath the bed, he went downstairs and arranged the documents Doris had brought on the new workbench.

When he finished everything and returned to the living room, Doris was lounging on the sofa with a steaming cup of coffee in hand. A record player in the corner played soothing music as she leisurely sipped her drink.

"Lady Doris, everything has been put away." Jiang Nan stood respectfully beside her, just as he used to when reporting to his department's president.

Doris narrowed her eyes and murmured an acknowledgment, then parted her red lips. "Sit."

Jiang Nan obediently sat down with both hands on his knees, like an elementary school student facing his teacher.

He had little choice. Doris had the highest power level of anyone he had met so far. She could probably kill him effortlessly with a single finger.

Doris continued sipping her coffee. After a stretch of silence, Jiang Nan spoke first. "Um, thank you for helping me out back there, Lady Doris."

She's going to be my lifeline for a while. I need to stay firmly on her good side. Without her protection, who knows how many nasty schemes that fat bastard Fett would have waiting for me?

Doris did not respond, leaving Jiang Nan sitting there in awkward silence.

After another while, Doris set down her cup. Looking into Jiang Nan's eyes, she drawled, "You don't seem worried at all."

Jiang Nan hurried to flatter her. "With you protecting me, Lady Doris, of course I'm not worried."

"I mean, you disappeared from Central City and ended up in this godforsaken place. Aren't you worried about your family at all?" Doris voiced the question on her mind.

Jiang Nan's expression dimmed. Sounding a little forlorn, he said, "I have no family in this world."

It was easy to lie with words, but much harder to fake the look in one's eyes. Doris caught the longing, loneliness, and calm acceptance of reality in Jiang Nan's gaze and knew he was telling the truth. Suddenly unsure how to continue, she fell silent again before finally saying, "Come here."

Jiang Nan stood and walked over to her, unsure what she intended.

"Come closer," Doris said.

Thinking she wanted to whisper something to him, Jiang Nan bent down and leaned in. Doris raised her hand and pressed a few places on the collar around his neck. With a click, it opened.

Doris casually tossed the collar onto the coffee table beside her. "You won't need this anymore. But don't even think about escaping. In a godforsaken place like this, running away means death."

"Yes, Lady Doris!"

Jiang Nan had plans of his own. As long as I build a good relationship with Doris and have an expert like her protecting me, I just need to keep my head down for five years. Then I can start my 'I don't eat beef' arc.