Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Twilight City, one of the largest city-states in the Eternal Sphere and the biggest city-state on the Eastern Continent, is also the most influential city-state in the region. Covering an area of three million square kilometers and with a population exceeding one hundred million, it is the second-largest city-state in the Eternal Sphere, following the Dawn Empire on the Western Continent.
Not long after entering the borders of Twilight City, they encountered a lively scene. In the distance, people were working in the fields while reporters captured the moment, and soldiers stood guard nearby. As they approached, they noticed that this particular field was enclosed and bore a sign: Royal Farmland. Upon inquiring with locals, they learned that this land was designated for royal family members aged sixteen to eighteen. It is a tradition for royal members to manage their own farmland, allowing them to experience the hardships of farming.
Twilight City operates under a constitutional monarchy where the royal family holds no real power but is highly respected among the populace. During prosperous times, they voluntarily relinquished their privileges and established a council to hand over governance to the people. In Twilight City, if a lord is assassinated, it becomes a political and diplomatic incident; if an important royal member such as a queen or emperor is killed, it signifies impending war.
Cui Ming remarked, "In Twilight City, there is only one cultural taboo: insulting or defaming important royal members in public is strictly forbidden."
Mi Xiaonan asked, "What happens otherwise?"
"Otherwise, you would get beaten up," Cui Ming replied. "Let's go; it's quite a distance. I remember we need to walk twenty kilometers to reach a town." They had initially planned to hire a car to drive directly in but were stopped by border guards because the driver had a smuggling record and was banned from entry for five years.
Beiyue curiously inquired, "How far is it from here to Twilight City?"
"Over seven hundred kilometers," came the response. The car would take about ten hours; Twilight City's roads are made of concrete. Due to electric vehicles having limited horsepower and weight capacity, they do not cause significant damage to the roads, which appear very smooth and clean. Cui Ming added, "Twilight City is vast; driving straight through downtown takes nearly two hours."
Beiyue asked, "Did your theft group have operations here back then?"
"Twilight City is one of our main bases; the Thieves Guild developed right here," Cui Ming explained. "To the north of Twilight City lies the steel processing area, which was originally a separate city but later merged into one. The southern part is the commercial district with the best environment. The Twilight Canal starts from the west, passing through six city-states before reaching the sea; to the west lies a port city along the river. The eastern side consists of agricultural areas surrounded by vast fields—all flat land with mechanized harvesting that looks spectacular. The central area is where you find the imperial city, administrative offices, embassies, finance sectors, commerce, and universities."
Beiyue asked, "There are many practitioners in Twilight City; where do most of them come from?"
“Beiyue, you’ve stumped me,” Cui Ming said, raising his hands. How could he possibly know where the practitioners were? If you asked him where the wealthy district was or where security was lax, he might have been able to answer. Cui Ming inquired, “Didn’t the professor give you the address of your father’s friend?”
Beiyue pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to Cui Ming: “Peaceful Seventh Road, number 1221.”
“I remember Peaceful Seventh Road is near the North District industrial area. Due to environmental issues, most factories in the North District have been shut down, leading to a sparse population. It’s a paradise for Gang and those engaged in illegal activities like selling narcotics.” The steel plant, known as Dawn Steel, isn’t located within Dawn City, but rather about twenty kilometers away, housing over sixty thousand workers. The steel plant has become a small city in itself. In the North District, most of the factories are focused on steel processing and are located on the outskirts; many of them are vacant. Twilight City plans to gradually repurpose this area for commercial and residential use.
Twilight City is also a nation of immigrants; many from the Eastern Continent seek work there after reaching adulthood. After ten years of employment and taxation, one can apply to become a resident of Twilight City. While they do not have voting rights, their children enjoy the same political rights as other residents. Because of this, competition in Twilight City is fierce. If you don’t work, someone else will; diligence is both a traditional virtue and a necessity in Twilight City. People work during the day and recharge at night, hoping to advance in their careers until they finally make a name for themselves or start their own businesses.
“Practitioners are outsiders; they shop and live like ordinary people but without any survival pressure, quietly existing in a city that seems unrelated to them. It’s as if they are marginalized and pushed to the edges,” Beiyue said as she took out a book she always carried with her and read a short essay by a practitioner author. This book is the only printed publication by the Alliance, collecting lyrical essays from practitioners about life. Beiyue obtained it from her professor, making it an important source for understanding practitioners' lives across different regions. She continued, “What’s even sadder is that here, for the sake of their future children, they deliberately ignore those they are attracted to, wrapping themselves in a shell of their own souls, appearing so lonely and isolated in this bustling city. Sometimes I wonder if it’s cruel to let children become practitioners.”
Cui Ming replied, “The exposure of practitioners is good for them. They no longer have to hide; they can shout out loud that they are superhumans.”
As they spoke, a convoy approached from behind—it was a royal convoy. The three stepped aside. In front were two black cars, with an elongated white car in the middle that stopped right before them. The rear door opened, revealing a strong and handsome man in a white suit with light golden hair stepping out. He stood over six feet tall, his muscular build stretching his clothes tightly, with a rose tucked into his collar.
Wow, a practitioner with no bodyguards? The two exchanged glances before the handsome man said, “If you don’t mind, I can give you a ride.” Though he addressed all three of them, his gaze was fixed on Beiyue.
Beauty stands out among trees; being attractive often brings trouble. Upon hearing this, Beiyue instinctively looked at Cui Ming. Throughout their journey—where they stayed, what transportation they used, what they ate—everything had been decided by Cui Ming.
The handsome man sighed and lowered his head: “Oh, you’re taken… No worries; just get in.” His tone shifted completely—from gentlemanly to casual as if he were haggling over vegetables at a market.
“Let’s not force it,” Cui Ming said.
“Fellow travelers shouldn’t waste time; get in,” the handsome man said impatiently.
They got into the car, which had two rows of seats in the back facing each other. Mi Xiaonan was about to sit down when Cui Ming tossed her to the opposite seat. Cui Ming then invited Beiyue to take a seat and sat down next to her. The handsome guy got into the car and picked up the phone on board, saying, "Drive."
As the car started moving, the handsome guy introduced himself, "I am Jayce, a local noble."
Comment 0 Comment Count