Chapter Fifty-Two: Despair Is the Majority

The armored vehicle sped down the road. The logistics unit of the Department of Anomaly Management had already coordinated the entire route, clearing traffic so that Qi Chen and Warm Guy could head straight for their destination without hindrance.

However, the residence of Officer Lou was not in the center of City Three, but rather close to its edge. On reflection, that made sense; after all, his role was to oversee the city’s defenses.

This detour gave Qi Chen a chance to take in the sights along the way. Despite the vastness of City Three, there were really only a few places he’d visited—just the streets where he’d idled away his earliest days, and now, the central district.

“How long has the Tower been here?” Qi Chen asked, his head turned to the window, curiosity and awe in his eyes as the scenery streamed past.

“It’s older than the city itself. The Tower’s been standing longer than our combined years,” Warm Guy replied, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on the window, a faint worry shadowing his face. “In fact, City Three was built here precisely because the Tower could be constructed at this location.”

Qi Chen understood the implication: building the Tower must have required special conditions.

His gaze lingered on the passing landscape. Now, as they drove further, the view had changed significantly from the city center. The Tower’s pale light washed over rows of low buildings. Only by looking back toward the center could one make out the occasional high-rise. These modest dwellings were, in truth, the real heart of City Three.

The streets were empty, and even the shops lining them had their doors half-closed, not yet open for business. The citizens were all at work; everyone had to labor to sustain their lives and to keep City Three running.

“Compared to most, we’re actually quite fortunate,” Warm Guy said, glancing at Qi Chen and, seeing his curiosity, continued his explanation. “As long as you’re willing to work, you can at least earn enough to get by.

“Our food industry is decent, too. Farmlands have been specially cleared along the western wall, growing new crops developed by the research institute. They don’t taste great, but the yields are decent.

“City Three probably has the smallest need for outside resources in the entire Alliance.”

Qi Chen listened intently, comparing Warm Guy’s words to his own experiences since arriving in this world.

Indeed, he’d been in this fog-shrouded world for some time now. Though the pervasive gray gloom made everything feel stifling, the people of City Three didn’t appear overly despondent. Maybe most were simply repressing their confusion and fears, keeping a mask of normalcy.

“You haven’t been to other cities, so maybe you can’t fully appreciate what I’m saying,” Warm Guy said with a wistful smile, sorrow in his eyes. “I’m not originally from City Three. I came here over a decade ago and have been with the Department of Anomaly Management ever since.

“I could tell you what my old city was like.”

Hearing his forcedly light tone, Qi Chen turned, giving his senior his full attention.

“I used to live in City Two,” Warm Guy recalled, his brows knitting. “It’s my hometown, but I can’t think of a single fond memory. All I remember is one thing: every day, I wondered how I’d fill my stomach.

“My friends, my family, all of us thought about nothing else. But what was the point? If you wanted to eat, you had to work. But you know what?” His voice turned suddenly mocking. “There wasn’t even any work to be had!”

Qi Chen said nothing. His own life made it hard to imagine such a situation.

“City Two had more people than City Three, but far fewer jobs. Most of the resources were controlled by the city’s big merchants. The administration was hopelessly corrupt, officials and businessmen colluding together. Even when you could see the heavy fog looming in the distance, all they cared about was immediate profit.

“How could ordinary people fight that? Even the anomaly walkers sided with the administration! After all, who doesn't want to be above the rest?”

Qi Chen nodded; he could understand that much. There’s only one Superman, and to be the hero of the nation was already something. As for those who aspired to be gods, that was another story.

“Doesn’t such an order collapse?” Qi Chen asked.

“Of course it does,” Warm Guy replied, his tone suddenly indifferent. “If you can’t survive in the city, not even by giving your all, people aren’t stupid—they’ll find a way out.”

And where was that way out? In the fog.

A wave of sorrow suddenly welled up in Qi Chen’s heart. Weren’t these cities originally built to protect people from the dangers of the fog? And now, people were being driven toward it.

“That’s how I left City Two,” Warm Guy said evenly, then allowed himself a genuine smile. “Luckily, I eventually found my way to City Three.”

Seeing the heartfelt smile on his companion’s face, Qi Chen felt the weight of what he’d heard settle more deeply within him.

In this world of perpetual mist, the desperate were the majority.

Even in City Three, where people’s basic needs could be met, they could not escape the confusion and oppression of their souls. It was just like the firefly incident he had once handled.

“What’s the world inside the fog really like?” Qi Chen suddenly asked, curious about the unknown beyond the city—as curious as he was about the other cities of the Alliance.

“Not much to say,” Warm Guy replied, clearly reluctant but continuing nonetheless. “You know what the greatest ongoing challenge for the Alliance is?

“Building a network of roads that can connect all the cities.

“The problem is the terrible dangers lurking in the fog. The mist’s effects leave anyone living there for long with mental issues—just look at those slit-pupil cultists from before. Do you think ordinary people could do what they did?

“And aside from those deranged raiders, the anomalies in the fog are beyond count. Anything you see might be an anomaly, and you could trigger a deadly effect without ever realizing it.”

“If you can avoid leaving the city, it’s best not to go. But… sooner or later, you’ll get your chance.”

At that, Warm Guy suddenly fell silent and pressed the brake.

“We’re here.”