“Unexpectedly…
there’s still such a thing?”
Stringing together all the clues he had, it seemed that Dikaide’s explanation was the only possibility.
Early on, when repairing that conveyor belt, Youcao had already felt a bit strange.
The parts and lubricating oil on it were all new; logically, there shouldn’t have been any parts falling off.
Now, he finally understood.
All of this was actually that factory director’s way of profiting illegally.
Youcao was about to say something, but Dikaide stopped him.
He put away his serious expression, then smiled and said, “Youcao, don’t get involved in this matter.
After mixing around in the Satellite for so many years, we bottom-dwellers also have our own ways of doing things.”
“Anyway, I’m really grateful for what you did tonight.”
“Hmm…
the day after tomorrow, how about the day after tomorrow!
I’ll be off then, so give me a chance to express my gratitude.
How about I treat you to a big meal in Sector A?”
“I know a very good restaurant in Sector A13.
Let’s go there to eat!”
After a night of idle chat, Youcao had gained a basic understanding of the Satellite’s structure.
This dilapidated and desolate city wasn’t entirely filled with garbage.
The entire city district was divided into various large and small sub-districts from A to Z.
Among them, Sector A was the most prosperous area of the Satellite.
Many shops and storefronts were established there.
Although it couldn’t compare to the prosperity of New Domino City, it was still a rare “treasure” amidst the trash.
“Then I’ll come to the factory to find you the day after tomorrow evening,” Youcao replied with a smile.
He also had a few things he wanted to ask Dikaide about.
Dikaide nodded, and the dinner plans were thus settled.
Hirata Shun and Rally, who were beside them, didn’t interject.
From their gazes, it was clear both of them really wanted to go, as going out for a meal was incredibly rare for them.
But unfortunately, their breaks were staggered; they couldn’t very well have three out of five people on a night shift go to a get-together, could they?
With that, after bidding farewell to the others, Youcao walked out of the factory building into the dazzling sunlight.
At the same time, at the Sector Security on the other side of F Sector, a sleepless Trudge had just finished writing the so-called “pursuit exercise” report.
Countless crumpled paper balls lay on the desk.
Clutched in his hand was the only report that was somewhat passable.
Even so, the handwriting on it was still unbelievably messy, as if it contained some kind of venom and resentment.
“Damn it…” Trudge slammed his fist down heavily.
“Such a huge incident occurred, and it’s just covered up with a single phrase ‘pursuit exercise’? Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
What a joke!”
Compared to his colleagues, Trudge was one of the few security officers who actually wanted to get things done.
He knew that with his own strength, he couldn’t change this filthy Satellite, but at least he could do his best to clean up some of the trash.
Last night, someone had clearly committed a serious crime almost reaching the maximum penalty, yet the people above merely uttered a casual remark and allowed a criminal to continue acting unlawfully.
What Trudge hated most were those punks who used their D-Wheels to cause destruction everywhere.
But under the pressure of authority, he had no choice but to comply.
“Tch!
No!
It’s not like I *have* to listen to that guy!”
Rage burned in Trudge’s heart.
Reflected in his eyes was the image of a Duelist riding a D-Wheel speeding past him.
“It’s just because letting a suspect escape became leverage against me, which is why I have no choice but to be controlled by him!”
“If I can catch that guy and bring him back, I won’t have to write these nauseating fake reports anymore!”
Silently making up his mind, Trudge grabbed the report on his desk and strode out of the office.
After submitting the document, he, who hadn’t slept all night, didn’t go home to rest.
Instead, he put on his helmet, mounted his Sector Security D-Wheel, and rode off into the distance along the street…
Sector F29, Maomu Street, Number 767.
Dim sunlight shone in through the narrow windowpane, finally landing on an ancient, worn wooden plaque.
On it were three powerful, calligraphic characters: “Glacial Flow School”.
This place was a Duel Dojo that had long fallen into disrepair.
Many of the furnishings clearly showed their age, yet the wooden weapons racks and poles were free of even a speck of dust.
Though old, everything was wiped clean, especially the plaque hanging on the wall.
At this moment, two people were kneeling in the Dojo, one old and one young.
Curiously, the one in the main seat wasn’t the white-haired, venerable elder, but a young girl no older than twenty.
The elder, dressed in simple, old clothes, sat in the subordinate seat.
In front of him was a lacquered black Discipline Ruler.
On the sleeves of his antique robes were embroidered the characters “Monk”.
Looking along both sides towards the Dojo entrance, one could see two rows of neatly arranged Dojo robes.
Each one had a side with characters facing upwards.
From the main seat downwards, those titles were “Shouhei”, “Asura”, “Penglai”, “Yuan”…
“How long has it been?” A young girl with long ice-blue hair finally spoke, breaking the long silence.
The old man kept his eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
He merely replied with two words: “He’s here.”
No sooner had he spoken than a stumbling, shuffling sound of footsteps came from outside the Dojo.
A young man, reeking of alcohol and with similarly blue hair, stumbled drunkenly in and plopped down onto the floor.
“Where’s the Stardust Dragon?!
Where did you put it?” The cold-faced young girl snapped loudly, her two arched eyebrows standing up and her expression sharp.
“Heh, couldn’t find it~” The young man sighed heavily, his eyes half-closed, drowsy and on the verge of sleep.
“The D-Wheel is also lost, oh, and the helmet…”
Hearing this, the old man swiftly snatched the Discipline Ruler in front of him, and immediately got up, intending to strike.
The young man first instinctively flinched in fright.
Then, resigned to his fate, he yelled with a drunken, hoarse voice: “Hit me!
Keep hitting!
The Glacial Flow School only has three people left!
Just kill me, and it can be disbanded right here!
Come on!”
The old man forcibly swallowed his anger, merely widening his eyes and glaring.
Although the young man spoke defiantly, he ultimately didn’t have the guts to meet his gaze.
He just kept his head down and swayed slightly, looking like he was still quite drunk.
The young girl sitting in the main seat was equally furious, but more than that, she felt a profound disappointment in him.
Her expression grave, she explained once more:
“Yuan, that D-Wheel is currently the Glacial Flow School’s only hope.
The Ice Barrier Dragon, Stardust Dragon, is even more a precious artifact left behind by previous Dojo masters.”
“I’ve said it before, I’m not stopping you from becoming a D-Wheel Rider, but the prerequisite is that your age meets the requirement.”
“You’re only seventeen.
You don’t even meet the conditions to ride a D-Wheel.
And what’s more, you shouldn’t be drinking alcohol.”
“Heh heh heh…” Hearing this, the young man, who was called “Yuan”, couldn’t help but sneer.
“Is it really an age problem, my dear sister?”
“Don’t deceive me anymore!
I already knew it the last time I fainted in a Duel.
I’m one of those special individuals who are extremely sensitive to Solid Vision projections!”
“Others can withstand four thousand or even forty thousand damage points without issue.
But me, I might not even be able to withstand a thousand points of virtual impact!”
“You and the old man have stopped me time and again, all for this reason.
However, today I’m officially telling you both!”
“I, Tianguang Gupo, even if I die, I’ll die on the Duel field!”
“If I can only have one identity in this life, then it must be a Duelist!”
(end of chapter)