Two Penniless Guys

The two of them reached the registration office with just over ten minutes to spare before it closed.

Since Mu Yi's test report classified him as an ordinary person, he was registered as one, too. The Identity Bracelet he received was silver, completely different from those worn by Mutants.

Once registration was complete, Mu Yi received a newcomer's guide to Crystal City and a generous assistance package for ordinary people.

Mu Yi tucked the guide away first, then opened the white canvas bag to look through his new-resident benefits.

There were two sets of Crystal City uniforms to alternate between. The fabric felt average, but it wasn't bad.

There were also five Nutrient Supplements, identical to the one Zhong Xuezhi had given him before.

After those came a whole stack of recruitment flyers, presumably because newcomers would need to find work.

Mu Yi couldn't help smiling. "They've really thought of everything."

Walking beside him, Zhong Xuezhi added, "Yours is only a temporary Identity Bracelet. If you decide to settle in Crystal City later, you can exchange it for a permanent one."

"They'll assign you a place to live then, too."

Mu Yi didn't say whether he intended to stay. He simply nodded. "Sounds good."

After answering, he tapped open his Identity Bracelet again and found that an ordinary person's projected interface was much simpler than a Mutant's, with a whole slew of complicated functions missing.

As he scrolled through it, he noticed that his account balance wasn't four zeros, but 10.00J.

This was probably another part of the assistance package for ordinary people. 10J didn't look like much, but he had no idea what prices were like in this world.

At that thought, Mu Yi looked up and asked, "What can 10J buy?"

Zhong Xuezhi countered, "You've never left your city, but haven't you ever spent money?"

Mu Yi put on a fierce expression. "Your currency units are different from ours, obviously. Cut the crap and tell me. What can 10J buy?"

Zhong Xuezhi took a step back and answered obediently, "Ten Nutrient Supplements. One will cover a meal."

"What else?" Mu Yi had no desire to touch Nutrient Supplements again.

Zhong Xuezhi smiled. "With only ten gold to your name, Nutrient Supplements are the best value. As for anything else... two bowls of the most watered-down mashed sweet potato imaginable, or a glass of cheap booze."

Mu Yi understood at once. "Normal food is expensive?"

"It's not too bad." Zhong Xuezhi took a moment to organize his thoughts before saying, "The ingredients available in Crystal City currently fall into three main categories."

"The first is original-species ingredients. They're extremely scarce, so they do cost more. Even a small serving starts in the four digits."

"The second is genetically mutated ingredients successfully cultivated through technological means. These are relatively affordable. Double digits will fill you up, and triple digits will get you a good meal."

As he spoke, Zhong Xuezhi raised both hands in front of him, making a V with one and an OK sign with the other.

Mu Yi raised an eyebrow. "And the third?"

Zhong Xuezhi lowered his hands and continued, "The third is pure-variant ingredients that have undergone special processing. Prices in this category vary quite a bit."

"Different Variants vary enormously in how difficult they are to obtain and how good they taste, so prices range from a few dozen to hundreds of thousands, or even millions."

After hearing this, Mu Yi rubbed his head, finally realizing that he was now a penniless guy who couldn't even afford a meal.

A moment later, curiosity prompted another question. "Mind giving me an interview? As the exceptionally capable Snow God, who goes out hunting all the time, do you have much money in your pockets?"

The exceptionally capable Snow God's shoulders slumped, and he looked mildly miserable. "I spend more than I earn. Buying shard crystals costs a fortune."

"Oh." Mu Yi laughed without a shred of sympathy. "Forgot you lot were a bunch of bottomless pits who never get enough milk."

Zhong Xuezhi: "..." How thoughtful of him.

The revelation that Zhong Xuezhi was penniless too kept Mu Yi chuckling for a while before he asked, "What's next? What else do we need to do?"

No sooner had he asked than a distinctive series of chimes rang out overhead. He couldn't tell where they came from, but it felt as though all of Crystal City could hear them.

At the chimes, Zhong Xuezhi straightened his shoulders again. "Nothing else we can do. The city's curfew is about to start."

"Curfew?" Mu Yi didn't quite understand. "It's not even seven in the evening yet."

Zhong Xuezhi, however, looked as though this were perfectly natural. "Crystal City has always been like this. You can't wander around outside after eight at night, or you'll be fined. Serious violations land you in jail."

Then he asked, sounding deeply suspicious, "Isn't your city like that?"

"Of course not!" Mu Yi answered loudly.

He didn't like staying home and often roamed around outside twenty-four hours a day. When he got tired, he would find any spot that looked decent and flop down. If he died, he died. If he didn't, he would get up once he regained consciousness and carry on roaming.

The word "curfew" was utterly foreign to him, especially one that began at eight in the evening.

Good grief, did people in this world have no nightlife at all?

While he was still reeling, Zhong Xuezhi smiled and slung an arm over his shoulders. "Well, nothing you can do about it. When in Rome."

Then Zhong Xuezhi guided him a few steps forward and continued, "Come on. Stay at my place tonight. We'll find you temporary accommodation tomorrow."

Mu Yi ducked out from under his arm and said in distaste, "Stop hanging off me."

Zhong Xuezhi flexed his fingers a couple of times and smiled. "You're just the perfect height for me to sling an arm over. It happens without thinking."

Mu Yi's brows drew together. That was precisely why he didn't like Zhong Xuezhi putting an arm around him. It made it blatantly obvious that he was a whole head shorter!

Seeing his displeasure, Zhong Xuezhi hurriedly shoved both hands into his trouser pockets. "Okay, okay, okay. No more hanging off you."

Mu Yi's brow relaxed a little, and he voiced his second objection. "While our deal is in effect, I'm not staying in temporary accommodation. I'm staying at your place."

Zhong Xuezhi understood. Mu Yi wanted easier access to his tail.

He couldn't help wondering, Huh... does he really like it that much?

Mu Yi also let out a hiss and urged him, "What are you spacing out for? Give me an answer."

Zhong Xuezhi came back to himself. Figuring that having a younger guy stay at his place was no big deal, he nodded in agreement. "Sure."

He agreed readily and acted just as promptly, strolling ahead to lead the way with both hands in his pockets as soon as he nodded.

Mu Yi's lips curled up, and he followed cheerfully.

He followed Zhong Xuezhi along the empty streets for three to five minutes before they stopped in front of a miniature crystal tower.

At the sight of the crystal tower, Mu Yi sounded surprised. "We need to take a Teleportation Array to your place?"

Zhong Xuezhi tapped rapidly on his Identity Bracelet as he explained, "Its location is unusual. The subway doesn't go there."

Once he finished tapping, he reached out and took Mu Yi's wrist, warning him, "Here we go."

Before Mu Yi could react, his vision lurched, and the dazzling, multicolored scene from last time appeared again.

But two or three seconds later, it vanished in an instant.

This trip was extremely short, so when the teleportation ended, Mu Yi felt neither dizzy nor disoriented. He had no discomfort whatsoever.

As a result, he saw with perfect clarity the large, uniquely designed detached villa standing before them.

He slowly turned his head and asked Zhong Xuezhi beside him, "This is your house?"

Zhong Xuezhi nodded. "Yep."

Mu Yi fell silent. What happened to being penniless?