Star Gate

Chapter 628: Finally Seeing Brother Hou (II)

“Don’t hold out for too much hope,” the girl murmured. “With the rise of the supernatural, there’s no hope for ordinary people like us. If you want a job, one of them supernaturals can be one hundred of you! People are even using supernaturals for hard labor. Workers were needed to build houses before, but now supernaturals can do it in a few seconds.

“What’s the point of studying? Do you want to study to be a teacher, then have your school shut down so you can sell vegetables in the market? If you’re an accountant because you’re good at math, a supernatural is still stronger than you. They finish their calculations in the blink of an eye while you’ve spent half a day messing with numbers. People can hire supernaturals to come once a month—they’ll finish the same amount of work that you do in an entire month and they’re cheap.

“So... don’t look at all these tall buildings and the general picture of riches. Life has gotten so much harder for us ordinary people after the rise of the supernaturals. We could fill our bellies before, but now it’s so hard to make money!”

Li Hao started, then nodded. That was true! Hong Yitang once said that supernaturals should do things for the ordinary citizens. But after Li Hao arrived in Skystar City, the girl’s conversation helped him suddenly realize that the abundance of supernaturals resulted in compressing the room for survival for mundanes instead.

There were no jobs involving hard labor or mental tasks available. Thus, there was no purpose in an education and it was harder than before to put food on the table. Li Hao sank into deep thought.

“Do you think supernaturals are good or bad?” he asked after a moment.

“It’s good if I have those powers and bad if I don’t!” the girl responded without hesitation. “If I don’t, then my life is awful. If I do, then it’s comfortable. Those officials should prevent the supernaturals from taking our jobs!

“Or they should find new jobs for us. Not everyone can be supernatural. We’re almost starving on the streets now.”

Li Hao inclined his head; that was true. The bike rolled into an area with ancient flair.

“We need to get off here,” said the girl. “Only officials can drive or ride a bike around the nine ministries. We can only walk on the ground and make sure you don’t look around. We might be arrested, that would be really bad.

“Oh, don’t look at anyone who’s dressed in luxurious clothing. Those are all important people, so you might be taken away or even killed. Nothing will happen to them as all they need to do is clap onto you the crime of being one of the three great organizations. No one will plead your case for you.”

“They can do this right in front of the nine ministries?” Li Hao frowned.

“Of course! They just need the proper background!”

The young man’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed. That was true, it just took getting used to. It seemed that everyone was familiar with the state of affairs. Special privileges were an accustomed part of life.

Li Hao alighted from the bicycle with no further questions. The girl pushed her bike to a parking spot while he looked ahead of them. There was an avenue that led to the depths, so deep that it resembled an abyss that would eat him. As long as the avenue was, it was not one of the Avenues of the Nine Ministries. It wasn’t the Avenue of the Inspectorate either, that was just what the people called it.

The official name as written on the road sign was the Nine Dragons Street. The nine dragons feted a pearl and enveloped the royal family with a cocoon of protection. These days, the protectors of yesteryear had turned their safeguard into a besiegement.

The little girl parked her battered bike and swiftly trotted back. “I told you it wasn’t far away.” She beamed merrily. “It would’ve taken an hour if you took a taxi. You would’ve just about died in traffic!

“Oh, keep your dog close. Don’t let it pee or poop anywhere. You’ll be in big trouble then!” she offered a few more reminders before pointing ahead. “That’s the Avenue of the Inspectorate, a lot of agencies under the Inspectorate are on this street. The Night Watchers are up ahead, they’re not too far from the Night Watcher headquarters.”

She set foot on the street and kept to the side instead of walking down the middle. “Remember to stay on the side.” She turned back to tell Li Hao. “The middle is reserved for those big hotshots. Do you see that? Those who can walk in the center are very different. If we can walk in the center one day, we won’t have to be like how we are now.”

The sides of the street were dimmer. There were also residences and storefronts in addition to the official agencies. However, the most central of this prosperous locale didn’t seem to be a good location for business. The stores were devoid of customers, yet there were people on both sides of the street.

It seemed that most of the passersby were like Li Hao, just here for a visit to see the stately Avenue of the Inspectorate. Meanwhile, Li Hao was almost going blind! There were so many balls of light around him, such dense clusters that he could no longer discern the weak from strong. He only felt that it was brighter than day in front of him—the balls of light disappeared when he blinked.

He would likely truly go blind if he kept watching.

This was a new trick that he’d recently mastered. Previously, he could only passively take in information around him. That could be somewhat controlled now as he could block out the balls of light if he didn’t want to see them.

There were too many powerhouses around! As expected as the heart of the dynasty’s core. This was also where the central headquarters of the Inspectorate and Night Watchers were located. Who knew how many Novas there were, and possibly even Arcanus?

But as Li Hao walked the streets, he sensed something different. Someone—or rather, something—was scanning him. Was there a surveillance system similar to what had been in place at the Steadfast Duke’s?

It would make sense since this was an important area, but people could freely walk through it. Plainly, the nine ministries were confident that they could handle all instances of trouble.

Whatever it was, it had no effect on Li Hao since he was a martial master—and a very powerful martial master at that. He was also equipped with the bronze mirror and had absorbed a lot of dark energy. Scanning him wouldn’t turn up anything.

His head swiveled from side to side as he blatantly ignored what the girl had said about not looking around. Being curious was the normal reaction when one was here, what did a child know?

The girl didn’t seem to be that familiar with the premises. She seemed to know the agencies’ general layout, but rarely came to this part of the city. She cautiously led Li Hao forward. “It’s all noble and respectable people around us. You’ll be at the streets that lead to the palace if you take this avenue to the end. Don’t go there, you aren’t allowed there! The royal family... Just stay away from them, or you won’t even know how you died!”

Li Hao inclined his head and fished out two paper notes from his robes. “We’re here and I know how to proceed. Here’s two hundred star coins, you don’t need to give me change!”

The girl was overjoyed and hastily accepted the bills. She patted her pockets and found that she didn’t have any change to offer either.

“Then... I accept!” she said awkwardly. “You’re such a generous person, big brother! Look for me if you ever need anything. My name is Yu Qi! I primarily guide people at the eastern quadrant. It’s a bit... scary here... Ask any child showing customers around if you’re in the eastern quadrant, they all know where I am!”

She ran off without a look back, plainly having wanted to go for a while now. She wouldn’t have come here if it wasn’t for the job bringing her here. Li Hao smiled; he’d had a chance to be generous for once—a full two hundred star coins. It was rare to bump into someone who wasn’t rotten throughout, so he was in a good mood. At least the girl really had brought him to his destination.

The young man set Panther down. Despite the dog shrinking itself to the size of a puppy, it was still pretty heavy. Li Hao fished out a top hat and placed it on his head, then summoned a sword that immediately turned into a walking cane. No, a staff!

This was how the aristocracy dressed itself, wasn’t it? Who knew?

Li Hao smiled and set off toward the mass of light that’d been present in the distance before. There were some people on the streets and a few inspectors patrolling in uniform. When they saw Li Hao’s outfit and an unleashed Panther... They didn’t arrest him like the girl said would happen. On the contrary, they ignored him.

People walking dogs on the streets weren’t usually an ordinary person, so no one really dared run afoul of him. The young man grew bolder when he saw this and strode to the center of the street. Panther docilely followed behind him.

One young man and one dog openly walked down the Avenue of the Inspectorate without reservation. They proceeded until a large complex appeared in front of them. It occupied a large expanse of land and people were on duty outside. They wore Night Watcher uniforms. These uniforms were slightly different from Inspectorate uniforms, but the difference wasn’t great. Only a professional like Li Hao could identify the differences with a single glance.

The young man approached the front gates. There were six supernaturals on duty who were moderately strong at Sunflare. This array of force demonstrated the strength of the royal city. In Silver City, Sunflares could be deputy directors.

The supernaturals on duty frowned to see Li Hao walk over with a dog. But seeing at how coolly composed he was, they didn’t immediately erupt with outrage.

“This is a zone restricted to Night Watchers, trespassers are not allowed!” one of them rumbled. “If you have business or a case to discuss, report to the Inspectorate...”

Li Hao displayed a medallion with a flip of his hand—a token of a high rank chief commissioner. The group paused when they saw the medallion; high rank chief commissioner wasn’t a low level official, but the one in front of them was an unfamiliar face!

Was he not from central headquarters? From nearby provinces, maybe?

“Sir, are you...” One of them stepped forward.

“I’m here to report for duty.” Li Hao smiled. “The director had me come. Am I a little too late?”

“The director... Might I ask... which director?” He was here to report for duty?

“Director Hou Xiaochen!”

The speaker blinked with surprise, but didn’t dare say anything. “Director Hou is in his office at the directors’ building! Do you need a guide?”

“That’s alright!” Li Hao turned him down and took a few steps inside before turning back. “Do you need to verify my identity?”

The group blinked and someone laughed drily, “No need!”

Was he joking? Would anyone dare pose as a high rank chief commissioner of the Night Watchers at their headquarters? If so, they could go straight to their deaths!

Li Hao smiled as well. They were confident, but also damned idiotic! If I’m really an enemy, I would still be a threat even if I died in the end. I can take a lot of people with me! They didn’t even bother checking my identity.

Well, that’s just as well. I can surprise the director!