Chapter 370: Entering the City (1)

Chapter 370: Entering the City (One)

“Good citizen certificates are certainly available. Who wouldn’t carry one when venturing out as a respectable person?”

Mr. Ma wore a broad smile, presenting the two documents Xie Bi’an had carefully prepared, sealed with the Dog Mountain City Procuratorate’s official stamp, through the car window.

His fingers flicked lightly, revealing several crimson banknotes tucked within.

“This freezing, blizzard-ridden weather, and you expect us to individually verify everyone’s credentials—truly a burden.”

“Not a burden at all. It’s our duty to ensure the safety of Osaka Castle.”

Elder Gu remained silent as he accepted the documents from Mr. Ma’s hand, his gaze sweeping over the papers. “Where do you hail from?”

“Shu region, Chengdu Prefecture.”

“The Empire’s mainland? Well, you’ve traveled quite far.”

Elder Gu nodded, confirming the details on the certificates, his eyes lingering on Mr. Ma before turning to Li Jun seated beside him.

“What brings you to Osaka Castle?”

Li Jun smiled. “To pay respects to an old friend.”

“What kind of friend would compel you to journey from the Shu region to this foreign territory?”

Elder Gu let out a cold laugh. “I take it you’re here to strike it rich.”

No wonder this Elder Gu would say such a thing.

Since the New Year’s Day, the New Eastwood faction, invoking the Empire’s authority, declared the full implementation of the New Policies across the criminal districts. Many from the mainland, dissatisfied with their prospects, hastened to the criminal zones, hoping to capitalize on the inevitable upheaval.

Thus, in recent times, the influx of outsiders to cities in this region had surged, nearly all of them low-ranking officials.

Clearly, this Elder Gu had mistaken Li Jun and Mr. Ma for naive gold-seekers, blind to the complexities beyond their grasp.

“Looking at your ragged appearance, you must both be fledglings newly promoted to the sequence—either the Military Sequence or the Agricultural Sequence. Only these two have such low entry barriers.”

Elder Gu’s expression was one of having already discerned their every thought, every fiber of their being. He raised a hand and tapped the car roof.

Thwack!

The old canvas tent Xie Bi’an had meticulously prepared promptly scattered dust, coating Li Jun and Mr. Ma from head to toe.

“The number of youngsters like you, blinded by paper money, I’ve seen too many of lately. Either they swagger in as newly promoted officials, storming into this foreign land to behead a few rebel leaders for bounties, or they’ve committed misdeeds back home, seeking to profit from the Empire’s New Policies here, hoping to balance their scores upon return.”

“You young scamps think the foreign land so simple! This Elder Gu won’t tolerate such naivety.”

Despite their awkward posture, Elder Gu continued unabated, his words a relentless torrent.

“Think carefully—if those rebel bounties were so easily claimed, why, after all these years, has the Empire not extinguished them? Yet news of cities attacked by rebels still circulates intermittently?”

“Moreover, I’ll tell you: though this foreign land has been under Empire’s control for many years, these rebels’ very souls have never truly embraced the Empire as their own. ‘For those not of our tribe, their hearts will be different.’ You’ve heard this saying before, yes? These locals, their cores are rotten to the core—many secretly collude with the rebels, even providing intelligence despite the risk of execution.”

“Yet they dare, mere months after their hair is still short, to stride about with guns, confronting our city guards as if facing a street fire. Upon maturity, their cruelty deepens—they hurl explosives into the Procuratorate’s offices! Have you heard of Kaneshiro Castle? There, the rebels reduced the administrative building to ashes, executing officials who oversaw the New Policies as warnings to all.”

“Your vacant stares suggest you’re too simple-minded to grasp this. If you proceed so blindly, you may never even glimpse a rebel’s shadow before a bullet silences you. Daring to conceive of entering this land for gain—truly foolish and bold.”

“This old fool talks more than Ma Wang. I’m blind, yes, but this face is a fake, isn’t it?”

Mr. Ma muttered oddly, squinting at the Elder Gu’s steely gaze. “Brother, we haven’t even entered the city yet—how do you know we’re no good?”

“No one’s your brother.”

Thwack!

Elder Gu erupted in fury, slapping Mr. Ma across the face, sending him reeling. He stood stunned, his breath still catching.

“At my age, you youngsters should at least dare call me ‘Uncle’ instead of ‘Brother.’”

“Uncle, is it really that chaotic out there?”

Li Jun restrained a smile, his tone smooth as silk. “In the Empire’s mainland, I’ve heard the foreign land hosts the Empire’s most elite Jinwei Guard. How can they not quell these rebels?”

“Even the sharpest blade requires an enemy to strike. And not every Jinwei Guard…”

Elder Gu hesitated, unwilling to press further, ending the conversation abruptly.

“Enough. If you comprehend speech, turn toward the station outside the city—there’s still time to catch the last ‘Expedition Vessel.’”

Li Jun glanced at the swelling bruise on Mr. Ma’s face, then silently placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Uncle, your kindness is deeply appreciated. But we’ve traveled so far to reach here. If we’re turned away at the city gates, it would bring disgrace upon our return. Permit us entry—if the situation is as grave as you say, we’ll depart at dawn’s first train.”

Upon hearing Li Jun’s words, Elder Gu saw reason was futile. He tossed the two certificates to Li Jun, his spirit dimmed, then waved him on before turning to the next vehicle.

“Foolish words cannot sway the stubborn.”

The wheels crushed the remnants of the previous car’s tracks, emerging from the dense night into the city’s radiant lights.

Li Jun rested his right arm on the window, gazing at the neon signs flanking the road, the promotional projections cycling endlessly overhead.

The hurried footsteps of laborers, the lingering figures of strays in alleys, the raucous tavern cries, the flickering lamps of the night market.

Muscular men with exposed arms swayed down the street, vendors hawking illusory dreams, their eyes glinting with coiled desire.

The city teemed with life, yet Li Jun watched it all with ravenous interest, even the woman seated cross-legged atop his head.

If only there were no clamor in his ears, it would be far better.

“What a disgrace to the Empire! What a disgrace! Old Li, didn’t you see? He dared strike me, and dared let me call him ‘Master’!”

Li Jun wore an expression of helpless resignation. “He called you ‘Uncle.’”

“Uncle, too! When I was young, Ma Wang, that boy was still in his swaddling clothes—yet he dared strike me.”

Mr. Ma gripped the steering wheel, muttering curses, still unrecovered from the slap he’d just received.