Paradise City spanned an immense footprint. With a population exceeding twenty million, a self-sufficient economy, and apex military force, the city-state ranked among the greatest metropolises in the entire world.
Yet just a few dozen kilometers beyond its borders lay nothing but wasteland and ruin.
Few knew exactly how the world had collapsed, but everyone knew what came after. Residual nuclear radiation, a worsening environment, and the ruptured subterranean voids—these compounding factors had forged the true overlords of this world.
The endless swarms of frenzy beasts.
Roaming the land, the frenzy beasts were the most ruthless hunters, and countless apocalypse survivors had ended in their jaws.
If the beasts' aggression and migratory reach had not waned significantly over the past century, humanity would likely still be cowering in some forgotten corner, eking out a dying breath.
Thirty kilometers south of the city limits, scattered frenzy beasts were already roaming. For a major faction, however, this territory could still be traversed at will.
Overhead, the iron-gray Vile Canopy hung in an eternal shroud. Yet beneath that shadow, a steel behemoth was slowly drifting forward.
Because of the Vile Canopy, electronic communication technology was essentially lost. Add the rare but terrifyingly powerful airborne frenzy beasts, and aircraft had become a luxury beyond humanity's reach.
Even the Academy could produce only lumbering airships. A three-hundred-meter flying behemoth was the greatest glory humanity could hoist into the sky.
A massive gurgling sound, like a bursting bubble, echoed through the air as the airship slowly came to a halt above.
"Senior, target spotted," the observer reported.
In a collapsed ruin nearby, a white-haired, red-eyed girl sheathed her Battle Blade. A terrifying monster resembling a saber-toothed tiger, covered in fleshy tumors, lay dead on the ground, sliced neatly in two.
Luo Xi looked up at the sky. She gave the rope in her hand a tug, dragging a bound, stumbling Sean out beside her.
The airship slowly descended, lowering a suspended platform.
The Academy's squad fanned out to scout the area, with Qiong Ying and Lu Xin leading the way to Luo Xi.
"Miss Luo Xi, the Academy appreciates your help." Qiong Ying just wanted to finish this transaction quickly; she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Luo Xi glanced up at the airship blotting out the sky. Pulling a livid Sean to her side, she said calmly, "Save your thanks; this is a trade. This airship is mine now, right?"
Lu Xin, looking pale from his injuries, shot a vicious, eager glare at Sean before turning to Luo Xi. "It's a loan, Miss Luo Xi. Hand him over to us, and the airship's usage rights are temporarily yours."
"Fine." Luo Xi gave Sean's rope another tug. "Let's go aboard. Demonstrate it for me once, and then he's yours."
Qiong Ying and Lu Xin exchanged a glance, then nodded.
The request was not unreasonable.
Once aboard the airship, they found the interior of the steel behemoth tremendously spacious, with heavy guards stationed at every turn.
Upon arriving at the cockpit, Qiong Ying gave the order: "Take us back to Paradise City."
"Hold on," Luo Xi interrupted.
Qiong Ying turned. "Miss Luo Xi?"
"Demonstrate it right here." Luo Xi swept her gaze over the surrounding instrument panels and operators. "Fly outward. Once I learn how, you take him and leave, and I fly the airship away."
Qiong Ying frowned, looking conflicted. "Miss Luo Xi, the airship is the culmination of the Academy's technology. Its value is immeasurable. Moreover, piloting an airship isn't something you learn by watching once; pilot training takes at least a year."
Luo Xi showed no sign of yielding. "I don't trust your people to pilot it. Our agreement was clear from the start: Sean for the airship. I don't need additional pilots."
Qiong Ying's brow furrowed. "But a novice pilot faces a massive crash risk, especially if you encounter airborne frenzy beasts. We cannot risk the Academy's technological marvel like that."
At that moment, an impatient Lu Xin chimed in. "Miss Luo Xi, how about we demonstrate how the airship operates, and then leave a crew behind for you?"
A flash of anxiety crossed Qiong Ying's eyes behind her glasses. Was this idiot crazy?
The airship's value was immeasurable, and he was just going to lend it to an outsider?
Lu Xin glanced at his companion and smiled at Luo Xi. "I don't think you're the type to run off with the airship, Miss Luo Xi. You need this to save your people."
The moment the words left his mouth, Qiong Ying knew something had gone wrong. Luo Xi's gaze turned ice-cold.
An unstable energy force field caused the very air to vibrate slightly.
"How do you know about my people?"
Qiong Ying cursed inwardly. Their information came from another member of the Iris Hive Tribe, but it had never been mentioned during their transaction with Luo Xi... This idiot!
She immediately spoke in a grave tone, "Miss Luo Xi, please forgive the Academy's presumption, but the matter is of great importance. It was necessary for us to investigate our collaborator's background."
Denial was useless; better to admit it and hope the other party would understand.
Luo Xi's stare remained frigid. "Is this the Academy's sincerity?"
"Miss Luo Xi, please believe—"
Just as conflict was about to erupt in the cockpit, a faint, strange muttering echoed in the ventilation system control room at the rear of the airship.
A staff member was absentmindedly fiddling with a small toy in his hands. This post was largely ignored, and there was rarely any real work to do.
To be precise, ever since the airship was built, it had never gone on a long voyage...
He failed to notice a hand suddenly reaching out from the corner, clutching a tightly sealed leather bag.
...
Back in the cockpit, the tense atmosphere finally eased under Qiong Ying's repeated explanations.
Sean, who had remained silent the entire time, finally smiled.
"Looks like things aren't very harmonious on your end," he said with a smile.
Before anyone else could speak, Luo Xi's eyes turned cold. With a flick of her hand, she slapped an iron half-mask onto Sean's face, sealing his mouth and nose.
She turned her head and said coldly, "He offered me better terms earlier, but I have now proven my sincerity."
Qiong Ying and Lu Xin exchanged a look. Catching her partner's gaze, Qiong Ying finally sighed.
"Thank you for your trust and understanding, Miss Luo Xi."
She waved her hand. "Start the airship. Give Miss Luo Xi a demonstration first."
It was a show of compromise.
The steel behemoth slowly moved forward, heading toward the deserted wasteland outside the city.
Lu Xin finally got his opening. He sized Luo Xi up and offered a smile. "A pleasure doing business with you, Miss Luo Xi."
"Mm." The latter merely gave a calm nod.
What an ignorant country bumpkin... Lu Xin's expression didn't change as he looked toward Sean. "Then, may I interrogate this guy first? Don't worry, we're on the airship, so it's not like I can steal your trade item. Besides, our deal is essentially done, isn't it?"
Luo Xi hesitated, but ultimately handed the rope over to him.
Qiong Ying secretly shook her head. She couldn't easily stop him; the idiot was a lecturer's son, after all...
Still, even though the guy was slow in the head, he should know basic limits. Beating and humiliating the captive a bit to vent his anger would be the extent of it.
Lu Xin yanked the rope, a flash of pure malice crossing his face.
He ruthlessly delivered a kick to Sean's body. "Mr. Sean, let's have a little chat first."
The interrogation room door shut tightly.