Chapter Forty-Three: The Inner City

The inner city of the Energy Capital was shaped as a perfect circle. Within its bounds, it was divided into five distinct districts, each with its own unique character. Viewed from above, the boundaries and differences between them would be immediately apparent.

From a directional standpoint, the eastern part of the inner city was the administrative district. Here stood all the major departments of governance, and correspondingly, the Patrol Bureau of the outer city was also located on the eastern edge.

To the south lay the commercial district, the most bustling quarter of the inner city. Just beyond a single wall, the marketplace of the outer city sprawled in lively contrast. This was where Ye Shanshan set up her stall, and where Jin Yinghui’s mission office was located.

The western sector of the inner city was residential, with houses of various grades. Yet even the lowest tier of dwellings here far surpassed the home of Zhang Jingye, which Ye Chen and his companions had previously visited.

To the north stood the factories, as well as the prison surrounded by pitch-black, towering walls. Outside the city, the northern sector was likewise crowded with workshops and small factories.

As for the fifth district, it needed no explanation—it was, of course, the City Lord’s mansion. The core factory, where the harvesting needles were produced, stood right beside the City Lord’s residence, both under the protection of the Defense Bureau’s forces. Rumor had it that beneath the harvesting needle there was a large-scale factory, but whether this was fact or speculation none could say. Even residents of the inner city could not enter this area at will.

Thus, this city was planned and constructed in a way that evoked the sense of an ancient feudal capital, with its outer city, imperial city, and palace.

Today, Ye Chen and his companions entered through the East Gate, the passage most often used by members of the Outer City Patrol Bureau on official business.

Standing before the imposing entrance, Ye Chen looked up. On either side of the gate, massive stone walls loomed, stacked with heavy blocks, standing tall and forbidding amid the wind and snow. Between them, a black metal gate barred the way. The white snow and the dark gate created a stark, oppressive contrast—an unspoken warning for outsiders to keep away.

It was Ye Chen’s first time so close to the gate. Usually, even when passing by, he would give it a wide berth. Armed guards flanked the portal, their cold, unyielding gazes making passersby avert their eyes and avoid stepping out of line.

Everything seemed to function as it should, yet a sense of absurdity lingered. It was as if the inner city was a vast warehouse, overflowing with more food than its people could ever consume, yet surrounded by walls and iron gates, guarded by men with bared teeth, keeping wandering rats from sneaking in for a taste.

In the eyes of those within, the people of the outer city were precisely such rats—vermin, insects, beneath notice.

Today, however, their guide was Qiao Mucao, who seemed well-acquainted with the gatekeepers. Contrary to their usual icy demeanor, the guards greeted him warmly, one even clapping him on the shoulder.

A cheerful smile played on Qiao Mucao’s face as he handed over cigarettes with practiced ease. The guard accepted them without a glance, tucking them into his pocket to enjoy later. This exchange was an unspoken custom among the Patrol Bureau staff—good cigarettes, always, as Captain Lu had personally instructed.

Though familiar with the guards, Qiao Mucao still dutifully presented his credentials, which one of them glanced at before returning. Another guard gestured at Ye Chen, asking, “New recruit? Don’t recall seeing you before.”

The collar of Ye Chen’s jacket revealed the uniform of an outer city patrolman, making his identity plain. Qiao Mucao, seizing the opening, launched into his usual banter: “That’s right, a new guy. I’ll tell you, I see great things in his future! Look at him—handsome, resolute, the uniform suits him perfectly. On the way here, I noticed several ladies eyeing him from the roadside. If I had looks like his, I’d have quit this patrol gig ages ago, found a rich widow to keep me company...”

The guards wore expressions of strained tolerance. Internally, Ye Chen’s exasperation was boiling over—how could this guy spin a yarn without so much as a pause for breath?

Qiao Mucao was just winding up for another tale when Ye Chen clapped him on the back and whispered, “Didn’t you say Captain Lu had a task for you?”

“Oh! Right, right, nearly forgot. Officers, we’ll be on our way—if we get out early enough, I’ll come back and tell you the whole story. Did I ever tell you about the time I went outside the city... Hey! Don’t pull me!”

Ye Chen dragged Qiao Mucao away without a backward glance. Behind them, the guards silently gave Ye Chen a thumbs-up—this young man had promise.

The passage into the inner city was nearly ten meters long, and Ye Chen was once again struck by the sheer thickness of the walls. But before he could finish marveling, the scene before him seized his attention.

So this was the inner city... He was at a loss for words—a simple exclamation was all he could muster.

Qiao Mucao, glancing back, was not surprised; every recruit he’d ever brought here had reacted the same way.

They found themselves in the administrative district, where the roads were broad, straight, and crisply intersected. The buildings lining the streets were uniform, like magnified versions of the Patrol Bureau headquarters—standing in neat, orderly rows.

Vehicles, rare in the outer city, flowed ceaselessly along the avenues. These were not built for wilderness travel, so their engines were quiet, free of the thunderous roar Ye Chen was used to. The night’s snow had already been cleared to either side of the streets to prevent slipping, and pedestrians hurried along the sidewalks.

As they passed, some people ignored Ye Chen completely, others cast a brief glance before looking away. Yet their clothing—whether in material, color, or cut—was far superior to anything sold in the outer city markets. As a seasoned hunter, Ye Chen could instantly judge the quality of the materials: the soft, long-haired furs and the glossy leather jackets were all top-tier goods.

He finally understood why the inner city’s demand for wild game had never abated—what a vast market this must be. Perhaps, he thought wryly, he might run into the giant sand lizard he had once hunted—only now, it would be a coat on someone’s back.

Compared to his own scarred leather jacket, the passersby likely saw him as someone wearing rags fit only for the trash. No wonder a few well-dressed pedestrians had looked at him with scorn as they went by.

Ye Chen could only laugh at himself: this was the best outfit he owned, and here in the inner city, it made him look like a beggar.