Chapter 511: Shadows Over Heichao City

Lu Xin took a moment to fully understand before finally grasping Han Bing’s words.

Heichao City was facing such severe pollution, yet no one knew its true source.

Even the distress signals from Heichao City hadn’t clarified what exactly was directly causing the pollution.

So naturally, they had no idea whether the pollution was the work of some unconscious contaminant, a mental monster, or even an ability user—and recklessly showing up would only invite unnecessary danger.

They didn’t even know if approaching directly might trap them in some unknown snare.

One must admit, Han Bing had indeed given this matter far more careful thought than Lu Xin.

“Alright, I’ll follow your lead,”

Lu Xin readily agreed to Han Bing’s suggestion.

…

After a night’s rest, they resumed their journey toward Heichao City and, after midday the next day, entered its boundaries.

Heichao City had earned its name due to the damp, gloomy marshlands that surrounded it.

Originally, Heichao City wasn’t set in such an environment.

But after the Red Moon incident, as order collapsed and water control facilities were neglected and gradually degraded, massive floods wreaked havoc unattended, compounded by weather and terrain factors, eventually transforming the area into vast marshlands.

Looking up, puddles and muddy water stretched in every direction, evoking an atmosphere of gloom and damp cold.

Yet, during that wild era when madmen roamed the wastelands, these marshlands turned into a natural barrier against the lunatics. As a result, someone had built a high-wall city right in the middle of that oppressive mire to shelter a large population.

The Steel Monster cruised along the winding road amid the marsh, its presence eerie and monotonous.

In the endless, murky expanse, with withered yellow reeds and waterlogged dead trees scattered everywhere, the desolation was palpable.

Clusters here and there appeared in strange formations, twisted branches glaring ferociously—almost like silent, motionless skeletons.

…

…

What does a city robbed of sleep for half a month look like?

Surprisingly, it seemed remarkably normal.

Following the main road, Lu Xin and his companions reached the eastern gate of Satellite City Three, a section of Heichao City. There, they saw that the Steel Drawbridge had been lowered—a heavy iron-plated road leading straight into the satellite city, flanked by barbed wire, sharp wooden structures, and guard posts.

Two teams of four soldiers each were stationed on the bridge, checking passing vehicles.

Judging by the setup, security was tight, though the soldiers themselves looked languid and drowsy.

“Hello, business travelers entering the city…”

The vehicle rolled up to the gate as Han Bing handed four IDs to Gecko in the driver’s seat. Gecko then leaned out, grabbed a stack of IDs with several hundred-dollar bills tucked inside, and directly handed them to a few armed soldiers approaching.

Lu Xin couldn’t help but feel a spark of curiosity.

Han Bing’s plan was to scope out the situation inside without alerting the Administration Hall first.

But if the other side were to learn of their intentions, wouldn’t that expose them?

Yet, to his surprise, after a brief glance the soldiers simply returned the IDs—the money tucked inside had vanished. Then, a soldier leaned toward the car and asked, “Do you have any guns onboard?”

Gecko grinned and replied, “Boss, we only have two sidearms. The rest of the weapons aren’t with us.”

The soldier immediately glared at Gecko and snapped, “Stop that smirking attitude.”

Gecko’s face instantly tightened.

The soldier waved dismissively, “Alright, go on in. Don’t cause any trouble in the city; if you do…”

“…just come back to us. For a price, we’ll fix everything.”

…

“So humanized…”

Once the vehicle entered the city, Lu Xin couldn’t help but murmur in admiration.

Still harboring a few doubts, he glanced at Han Bing, who had just received the IDs. As if reading Lu Xin’s thoughts, Han Bing opened one of the IDs to reveal his photo, along with an address—XX City, XX Company, complete with an official seal and a passage stamp. He chuckled, “I’ve already thought of the concealment issue, so I prepared extra identities for us.”

“We can pose as a special medical team sent from Qinggang, or as wandering vagrants from Sea Country, or even as businessmen wholesale trading illicit Black Grass smoke from a major settlement. We could even claim to be knights cooperating with Central City.”

…

Hearing this, Lu Xin felt a surge of respect for Han Bing—this kid was incredibly meticulous.

The vehicle drove onto the main road of Satellite City Three in Heichao City, unveiling the city’s glamorous side before their eyes.

It was just as dusk set in; streetlights and shop lights had begun to glow. The neon signs, bustling crowds, an array of merchandise, overly made-up women, the mingling stench of alcohol, cheap perfume, and even mixed traces of vomit filled the air…

Lu Xin lowered the car window silently and murmured, “This place actually seems even more prosperous than Qinggang…”

“Everyone survives in their own way,”

Han Bing explained with a smile. “Surrounded by swamps, Heichao City suffers with difficult crop planting, but those vast marshes also sever the roads on either side. Taking a detour is too long, and crossing directly means you must pass through the city. Thus, a commerce-centric survival model emerged—mainly focused on goods transshipment and taxing major trading groups.”

“Beyond that, the continual flow of convoys, merchant groups, knights, and travelers from all walks of life spurred a boom in casinos and other vice trades. Meanwhile, Heichao City, as the Alliance’s largest Black Grass cultivation base, amassed great wealth. But of course, with wealth came chaotic order—upper echelons indulging in pleasure and the lower tiers a jumble of scum.”

“Otherwise, sneaking in wouldn’t be this easy!”

…

“Black Grass?”

Lu Xin understood Han Bing’s point but couldn’t help being drawn to the peculiar term.

He had heard the name in Qinggang before, though back there it was strictly forbidden.

“Yes, exactly what you think it is,”

Han Bing continued, “Although Heichao City, bolstered by its wealth and strategic centrality, joined the Alliance, its way of life remains closer to the wilderness. While laws in other High-wall Cities strictly prohibit Black Grass, here they publicly enforce Alliance regulations while secretly fostering its trade—chuckles.”

Lu Xin could tell Han Bing was being as subtle as possible.

Yet as he listened, he felt no unease about these matters.

Even with Heichao City right outside the window, he subconsciously felt these issues were not his concern.

Perhaps every city has its own character.

What seems unbelievable in Qinggang appears perfectly natural in Heichao City.

Gecko drove on steadily through the throng, never interrupting Lu Xin and Han Bing’s conversation.

Only after they finished did he laugh, “Save the criticism for later, Captain. Where to next?”

Prompted by his reminder, Lu Xin looked outside to the bustling, endless streets.

On either side, massive buildings and packed crowds testified just how huge this city was.

Especially since this was just one of Heichao City’s satellite cities—there were four others of similar or even larger scale…

It was overwhelmingly vast…

And such an immense place could be completely enveloped by that mysterious pollution?

At least on the surface, there wasn’t a trace of it.

Lu Xin sighed and turned to Han Bing, “What’s your suggestion now?”

At that moment, Han Bing was examining the readings on a compact Mental Detection Device. Hearing Lu Xin’s question, he looked up, smiled, and said, “After days of non-stop travel, my suggestion is to find a place to rest first and then decide our next move.”

Lu Xin replied, “Then let’s find a place to stay.”

He added, looking at Han Bing, “Since we might be exposed to pollution here, you’ll be all right, won’t you?”

Han Bing, not an ability user, naturally had a weaker resistance to pollution compared to Lu Xin.

In response, Han Bing clipped the small Mental Detection Device onto his wrist—it looked just like an ordinary electronic watch—and smiled, “Since we’re working in such a dangerous place, I made some preparations. If pollution gets near me, at least I can detect it early and hold out for about ten seconds…”

Lu Xin paused, “And then?”

Han Bing shot him a glance and replied, “Then, of course, I’d call out for Mr. Lone Soldier…”

…

Lu Xin found himself speechless.

Deciding to secure a resting spot, they soon found an opulent hotel near the center of Satellite City Three in Heichao City and parked the vehicle outside before heading in together.

Inside the quiet lobby, explosive music blared from behind the counter.

A receptionist clad in a professional suit danced to the music while holding a digital camera aloft. She shook her head and wildly tossed her hair as the sound reverberated in the empty lobby, lending it an oddly hollow, eerie atmosphere.

Yet, she was visibly excited, her hair swinging like a mop with a whooshing sound.

“Thump-thump, bang-bang…”

Gecko, swaying to the music as well, tapped the counter and laughed, “Four double rooms.”

Lu Xin asked in surprise, “Why specifically mention double rooms?”

Behind the counter, the dancing woman seemed oblivious to Gecko’s remark.

“Hey… four double rooms…”

Gecko reached out, switched off her music, and raised his voice, “Shhh!”

In an instant, the music cut off and the receptionist’s movements froze.

Her frantic dance halted abruptly.

Under the scattered hair at her feet, a pair of bloodshot eyes emerged, their gaze empty as they fixed on them.