“A meat grinder wrapped in civilization?”
Bai Feifei slowly repeated Xu Mo's words in her mind, her brow furrowing involuntarily.
Xu Mo's voice rang out lazily:
“Yes.”
“Everything you saw in Dawn City's Inner City—the power struggles, the conspiracies, the mutual backstabbing—is an absolute, souped-up version in Turing City.”
“No matter where you go, the brighter the light shines, the darker the shadows.”
Bai Feifei didn't say anything. Just listening to it made her feel a sense of awe, and she waited for the Old-Timer to continue.
“The bright side is that on the surface, the place is civilized, free, and highly technologically advanced.”
“But the dark side is absolute survival of the fittest, a cold contempt for the weak, and xenophobia.”
Xu Mo paused, his voice tinged with a hint of reminiscence:
“To sum it up, it's a metropolis with a bit of a cyberpunk vibe.”
The more Bai Feifei listened, the more serious her expression became.
She felt as if she were walking toward a giant beast of the abyss, and she was merely an inexperienced outsider.
The sense of oppression was far stronger than when she had first entered Dawn City's Inner City, and she couldn't help but feel nervous.
But soon, Xu Mo's tone suddenly relaxed:
“But don't be too nervous.”
“Turing is not a place you can just casually stroll into. If you don't step on them, they'll step on you.”
“In the end, it just comes down to who can step on whose head. That's the unspoken rule over there, got it?”
“Remember, you must put on airs. Just pretend you're a leader on an inspection tour. From now on, you have to get used to looking down your nose at people.”
The more he spoke, the more relaxed he became, as if imparting some vital survival experience:
“You have to ruthlessly suppress those snobs, or they'll just think you're a country bumpkin.”
“Of course, you actually are a country bumpkin right now.”
Bai Feifei: ...
She felt a bit dazed hearing this. Didn't this sound a bit too exaggerated?
She had originally come to Turing looking for a lifeline, yet she had to pretend she was a leader on an inspection tour.
“But we've already laid the groundwork this time,” Xu Mo continued.
“We were invited here in the first place; they're the ones begging us. Plus, you have the background of the Masked Hermit Society. Once we're there, just do as I say.”
As he said this, Xu Mo felt a surge of anticipation.
Back when he played the game, whenever he went to Turing City without sufficient strength, the experience was never pleasant.
The experts in Turing City were quite powerful. If one went around killing people recklessly here, there might actually be a real risk to one's life.
Back when he wasn't very familiar with the game, he had stumbled here several times.
This time, besides extending his life, he was also here to vent some frustration.
Bai Feifei: ...
Hearing this, Bai Feifei was momentarily speechless, but her nervousness actually faded.
Forget it, whatever he said went. She couldn't refute him anyway.
She had an Evil God Old-Timer living inside her; that was the most nerve-wracking thing of all, far worse than Turing City.
Everything else indeed seemed easy to deal with by comparison.
The aircraft flew over vast stretches of mountains and wilderness.
A few hours later, a massive, sprawling urban cluster finally appeared outside the window.
Bai Feifei couldn't help but lean closer to the window, her eyes widening.
This place was very different from Dawn City.
It was no longer a single major city surrounded by an Outer City, but an entirely different urban layout.
Numerous small, high-tech cities were linked together by an intricate network of major transportation routes.
It looked like a giant neural network.
Silver buildings of varying heights rose and fell, their transparent glass reflecting the light like precision components embedded in the earth, exuding an intimidating sense of high-end sophistication at every turn.
Bai Feifei's mouth fell open involuntarily, shocked that such a place actually existed in this world.
Xu Mo quickly warned her in her mind:
“Watch your facial expressions!”
“Tsk... show some dignity, will you? Remember your current status.”
“Don't look so unsophisticated. We're about to land.”
What status do I even have? Bai Feifei thought, but hearing his warning, she coughed, quickly closed her mouth, and tried her best to look calm.
“Teacher Bai, we've arrived in Turing City,” Xie Jin, who had been quiet for most of the trip, said with a nod to Bai Feifei.
“Welcome to Turing City.”
The aircraft slowly descended, finally landing in one of the central cities.
Just as the cabin door opened, a group of uniformed service staff gathered around.
A long red carpet had even been rolled out in front of the aircraft.
Bai Feifei was about to stand up, but her body suddenly shuddered, and she sat back down.
—Xu Mo had logged in!
“No, I feel like you juniors really don't understand how this works. I'd better handle it.”
Xu Mo decided to take control right at the start, guiding the storyline into a rhythm he was familiar with.
He adjusted his collar and stepped toward the cabin door, becoming the first person to disembark and take his first breath of Turing City's air.
Below, two greeters dressed in crisp uniforms with swords at their waists stepped forward.
One of them bowed slightly and said with a superficial smile:
“Honored guest, please follow me.”
As he spoke, he extended his hand in a guiding gesture.
Yet Xu Mo acted as if he hadn't even seen him, completely refusing to look him in the eye.
With his chin slightly raised, he looked down his nose at them, clasping his hands behind his back as he looked around arrogantly, as if inspecting his own territory.
He looked exactly like a wealthy landlord who had just stepped out of his sedan chair.
The two greeters' hands froze in midair, their expressions turning slightly awkward.
The atmosphere became tense, and Bai Feifei immediately felt uncomfortable.
What is he doing?!
Is this really necessary? Why does it feel like the Old-Timer is even better at putting on airs here than back in Dawn City!
Just what kind of Evil God of the Old Days is he? He really knows how to show off...
She hesitated for a moment before speaking up in her mind:
“Are we just going to stand here? Aren't we going to follow them?”
Xu Mo replied in her mind:
“Let them wait!”
“The clash has already begun. You don't understand at all. These people who think they serve important figures are actually far more snobbish than the actual important figures themselves.”
Bai Feifei: ?
In reality, the guards and greeters had been sizing "Bai Feifei" up out of the corners of their eyes.
Although they had received advance notice to welcome a guest, they didn't know who the newcomer actually was.
In fact, they were only responsible for protocol; guiding the guest wasn't part of the standard procedure. It was merely a small test they conducted within the scope of their limited authority.
They wanted to gauge the newcomer's personality and see if she was easy to deal with.
Seeing "Bai Feifei" putting on such immense airs and completely ignoring them, the scrutiny and curiosity in their eyes actually diminished, replaced by a touch of respect. They didn't even dare to urge her to move.
Just then, Xie Xuan also walked down from the aircraft.
Seeing this scene play out from behind, he quickly stepped forward and waved his hand at the surrounding staff:
“You may leave first. I will lead the way.”
The crowd immediately dispersed.
Xie Xuan walked up to "Bai Feifei's" side, gave her a slight nod, and gestured forward:
“Teacher Bai, please come with me.”
Rate on N.U.
