Mother Shen was still in a daze as she sat in the car. Her fingers clutched tightly around the strange pendant in her hand. Miraculously, holding onto the pendant seemed to genuinely calm her down.
Her expression was blank, as she couldn’t believe there were so many people waiting for them outside the city.
This was a car, something none of them had ever ridden in before. The only person who had truly ridden in a car was the gatekeeper.
They didn’t know where they were being taken. After rushing out in one go, they instinctively headed for the first place that said it would accept them. They were confused and frightened.
Mother Shen thought deeply of her son. Shen Houyun had mentioned a connection with Hope City, so these must be people from Hope City, right?
Suddenly, a voice came from the vehicle’s driver’s cabin, separated by just one door. It was a woman’s voice, gentle and soothing, as if she had deliberately softened her tone to comfort them.
“Hello, everyone. We’re part of the team from Hope City responsible for bringing you there this time. I will guide you to Hope City. Underneath your seats, you’ll find water and drinks. If anyone feels unwell or hungry, you can try the cola and juice. For those feeling thirsty, there’s bottled water. We’ve also provided some chocolates to give you a temporary boost of energy. The registration process upon entering Hope City might take some time, so please remain calm and patient.”
Cola, juice, chocolate?
There were many vehicles, and everyone had been divided and arranged in an orderly fashion, so no single carriage was overly crowded. People exchanged glances, evidently unsure of what to do.
The gentle female voice sounded again: “You don’t need to worry. If you’re willing to come to Hope City and remain loyal to its city lord, living as good citizens, Hope City’s city lord will provide you with the greatest protection. In Hope City, you’ll experience a beautiful life like never before.”
Mother Shen’s expression was somewhat peculiar as she suddenly remembered her son’s words whispered into her ear: “Mom, in Hope City, everyone can have enough to eat. Goods are cheap, and resources are abundant. For the price of one potato here, you can buy lots of chocolate there.”
All of them knew what cola, juice, and chocolate were. Mother Shen had tasted chocolate once, back when she was young and receiving a “customer”. That sweetness was something she could never forget. And now, with the chocolate her son, Shen Houyun, had given her, the sweet flavor sparked a sense of longing for Hope City.
Mother Shen bent down first. Beneath the seat in the carriage, there was a sliding door that could be opened. She retrieved a bottle of cola from within.
The driver seemed to have a view of the movements in the back compartment, as the woman’s voice came from the front seat, cheerful and amused: “Since the ride might be a bit bumpy, please be careful not to let it spray when you open the carbonated drinks, okay? Cola is one of our city lord’s favorite drinks. We even made sure to keep it chilled so that you can try out one of the city lord’s favorites.”
Mother Shen looked up in the direction of the driver’s cabin. Although she couldn’t see the woman’s expression, every syllable of the voice conveyed joy. Every word brimmed with pride, especially when mentioning Hope City’s city lord. Her voice overflowed with happiness.
That unabashed, wholehearted emotion made Mother Shen incredibly curious about this legendary city lord.
Mother Shen had never had cola before. Slowly, she released the bubbles, and under everyone’s gaze, she took a sip.
The icy, peculiar taste spread in her mouth, and the sweetness extended endlessly. It was entirely unlike food meant merely to fill an empty stomach; it was a flavor, like chocolate, that could bring happiness.
On Mother Shen’s aged face, a faint smile unexpectedly appeared.
Several mothers holding their children also showed a trace of longing in their eyes.
“We also have milk suitable for children, which can be found under the seats. If they’re not hungry, giving them some sweets might cheer them up,” the woman’s voice chimed, clear and vibrant.
A woman gently embraced her frightened child, who was too scared to even cry. She asked softly, “What do we need to give in exchange for these things?”
“There’s no cost for these items at the moment,” the woman’s voice responded. “Hope City is offering short-term assistance before you integrate into the city. In the future, once you find the work you want to do, the living expenses from this period will be deducted gradually from your wages. But don’t worry, it absolutely won’t affect your normal life or productivity.”
Wages… Could they really earn wages? Wasn’t work simply a duty, something they owed?
“What… do we have to do?” Mother Shen asked, trembling. The cold bottle of cola in her hand suddenly felt sharp and unsettling, her tension almost ready to burst. Were they expected to just relocate to another place for pregnancies?
“That depends on what you’d like to do,” the woman’s voice replied with not a trace of malice. “Currently, most people in the city are farmers, but many restaurants are hiring waitstaff, and some garment factories are looking for assembly line workers. The standard is eight hours of work a day, five days a week, with the rest of your time free to take on part-time jobs to earn extra money.”
This statement left everyone in the back compartment utterly stunned. In a 24-hour day, do they only need to work eight hours? And they even got rest days? On top of that, could they actually earn money?
The cheerful voice from the driver’s cabin continued introducing Hope City enthusiastically: “Because the population of Hope City is still small, there are a lot of vacant houses available right now. It’s first come, first served. You can apply for a loan from the city lord. If you’re interested, you can learn more about the loan details once we arrive in Hope City. A kind reminder: property prices may increase in the future, so it’s best to secure a house for yourself now!”
What did this mean? Many couldn’t wrap their heads around the logic. A house? What did they mean by a house?
A space of their own. Could it mean finally having a private space just for themselves, instead of being crammed into a shared space with many others?
“While earning money is important, I still recommend that everyone seize any opportunities to learn. Having a skill makes it much easier to find work!” the voice suggested.
“Learn?” a woman exclaimed in surprise. “Learn what?”
“Anything you’re interested in—you can learn anything! Our city lord has always encouraged learning. The threshold to enter schools is very low, with no age restrictions. Learn throughout your life. At any time, you can develop your own unique talents!” the voice explained.
This time, everyone was stunned.
Learning…
The scope of their learning had been limited to skills like childbirth and childcare. They understood the concept of learning, but they weren’t allowed to pursue it. Not only in their own city, but in other cities as well.
“Doesn’t the city lord worry that we might know too much?” a woman asked hesitantly.
“Why should they fear knowledge? Is learning such a monstrous thing?” The driver’s voice carried genuine confusion. They truly didn’t understand why learning would be prohibited, leaving the people in the back compartment momentarily speechless. They couldn’t articulate why it had been forbidden; it was simply how things had always been.
“Oh, and here’s an early heads-up,” the voice added cheerfully. “Hope City is a grounded, stationary city that doesn’t move around anymore. It has established barriers that protect against disturbances caused by Nightmare Beast seeds. The entire Angel City has been tested and confirmed, and it’s already stationed around Hope City as part of an allied coalition. So, everyone can rest easy!”
In that instant, everyone fell silent. They wondered if they had already been shot dead by the gatekeepers during their escape and were now trapped in an illusion.
Only Mother Shen remained steadfast, her hand tightly gripping the bottle of cola. Although Shen Houyun had already told her about this place, truly discovering that it was real brought her to tears.
Her son, the child who had been frail but had struggled and survived in this dystopian world—just how much hardship had he endured to find such a city?
Her son… Where was he now?
Before long, they arrived at Hope City. When they laid eyes on it, their perception of mobile cities was entirely overturned. They were astonished beyond words.
There were many of them, but just as many people were involved in taking records and conducting surveys. Mother Shen obediently followed instructions, queuing up. Every person received their first meal upon arrival in Hope City.
The initial confusion, silence, and hesitancy gradually shifted to conversation, cautious yet orderly communication, as if all the suppression they had experienced in their previous city was slowly dissipating. Their expressions became lighter, filled with anticipation and relief.
When it was finally Mother Shen’s turn to register, she observed the person in front of her—a young, beautiful woman dressed in elegant, clean clothing. Her hair was neatly groomed. In Arrival City, someone like her would surely have been chosen as a “prime candidate” for reproduction.
“Your registration is complete. You can proceed to the guidance area next,” the woman said. Mother Shen hesitated, wanting to say something, but seeing the long line behind her, she stepped aside and followed the designated path.
As she moved forward, she noticed someone among the patrolling figures. That was… a soldier.
The soldiers were tall and handsome, and their faces carried a relaxed expression, tinged with curiosity as they observed the crowd. The young women, usually candid about matters of gender and relationships, flushed under the soldiers’ gaze. The soldiers seemed to notice that their stares were making people uncomfortable, and quickly averted their eyes.
“Excuse me,” Mother Shen stepped out of the orderly queue and looked up at one of the soldiers.
He was so tall—exceptionally tall. He bent down slightly and asked, “What’s the matter?”
His voice was gentle, completely unlike any other man Mother Shen had encountered. Despite his towering stature, he spoke with unbelievable tenderness.
“You are…” Mother Shen began, but before she could finish, a youthful voice called out from behind her. It sounded eerily familiar, and she turned in confusion. Seeing the face of the boy, her eyes widened in astonishment.
It was the boy from her dreams!
The boy seemed to recognize her, too. His eyes flashed with understanding as he said, “Are you Shen Houyun’s mother? Hello, we’ve met once before. Do you remember?”
Mother Shen was overwhelmed with disbelief. Met before? Where had they met? Wasn’t it only in her dreams?
But with this one sentence, Mother Shen was struck by an odd feeling. The seemingly bright and amiable people around her suddenly shifted their demeanor, growing cold and distant as they stared at her.
A shiver ran down Mother Shen’s spine as fear surged within her. She turned around and saw that those who had previously been kind now looked at her with hostility.
Strangely, it seemed that only she could sense this shift.
The boy seemed to understand something and quickly said to her, “Auntie, could you come with me for a moment?”
Mother Shen slowly followed the boy, her heart filled with unease. She wanted to raise her head and take in the vast land surrounding them, but the unfriendly gazes coming from all directions made her feel terrified.
“My name is Wei Qixuan. I am the Deputy City Lord of Hope City and was once a member of it,” Wei Qixuan said, turning to see Mother Shen carefully curling into herself, her head almost bowed to the ground. The boy sighed, “You don’t need to worry too much. Although people here may not like you, they won’t harbor malicious intent toward you.”
Mother Shen was puzzled. “Did I offend you in some way?” she asked.
Wei Qixuan shook his head. “It’s not you—it’s your child. Shen Houyun did something that caused anger among us.”
The mention of her child’s name immediately stirred Mother Shen into action. She anxiously opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, uncertain if she had the right to ask.
“I know you want news about Shen Houyun,” Wei Qixuan continued. “At the moment, he hasn’t arrived in Hope City. He’s likely still in Arrival City. But for now, it seems he is safe. You don’t need to worry.”
Wei Qixuan’s words brought Mother Shen a moment of relief, though she couldn’t quite understand why a boy’s reassurance had such a calming effect on her.
“My son… What did he do to make everyone dislike him?” Mother Shen asked cautiously, sensing something from Wei Qixuan’s earlier words.
Wei Qixuan stopped and looked directly at Mother Shen. He slowly explained, “He launched an assault on the city lord in an effort to make him prioritize the situation in Arrival City.”
Mother Shen felt her breath catch.
“It was a suicide attack. At the time, he was almost killed by our people. It was the city lord who stopped them and saved his life. That’s how he lost his arm.”
The light, fleeting words weighed on Mother Shen’s heart like a massive stone. Her chest ached unbearably, and her fingers unconsciously covered her trembling lips. At that moment, the pain was so intense that it felt like she could barely endure it. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes, tracing the wrinkles of her aged fingertips. She found herself feeling both grateful and resentful for the child she had fought so hard to protect all those years ago.
Wei Qixuan watched Mother Shen cry for a long time until she gradually calmed down.
Mother Shen bowed deeply to Wei Qixuan and said, “I’m sorry, truly, I’m so sorry.”
Wei Qixuan sighed. “From your perspective, I understand your love and care for your child. But from our perspective, we nearly lost our revered city lord—someone we absolutely cannot afford to lose under any circumstances.”
Mother Shen’s hands clenched tightly. She had no way to argue.
“You seem malnourished, and your body is severely worn down, though you don’t look very old,” Wei Qixuan remarked as he resumed walking. “I was once malnourished, too, underdeveloped for my age. At ten, I looked like a five-year-old—big head, small body. I rarely had clothes to wear and had to raise my younger siblings. It was an utterly hopeless time, but the city lord saved us.”
Yet the healthy, well-groomed boy Mother Shen saw before her now bore no resemblance to the image he described.
As they walked, Mother Shen took in scenes of sprawling land, storefronts, and even bustling night markets still open under the dark sky. The peaceful atmosphere mirrored the dream she had.
“For us, the city lord is like a second parent—someone absolutely irreplaceable. He is our god, our hero. I understand your compassion for your son, but from our perspective, his actions are absolutely unforgivable,” Wei Qixuan said. His tone wasn’t particularly harsh, but his words carried the weight of his resentment toward Shen Houyun’s behavior.
Mother Shen’s heart sank. She had already begun to suspect something. “We… are not allowed to stay in Hope City, are we?” she asked tentatively.
Mother Shen knew her child had committed a grave offense—assaulting the city lord, an act that no city would tolerate. She vaguely sensed her son’s suicidal thoughts back then, as if he believed that once he died, no one would know she was his mother.
But even so, she would never deny Shen Houyun as her child just to survive.
She was proud to have Shen Houyun as her son.
“It’s not that,” Wei Qixuan said, shifting the tone of the conversation. “I never said you couldn’t stay. You can stay and do whatever you’d like, just like everyone else.”
His sudden change in tone made Mother Shen lift her head in confusion. She had mentally prepared herself to be driven out, but now found herself at a loss.
Wei Qixuan gave a helpless smile. “The reason I’m telling you this isn’t to make you leave Hope City. It’s to encourage you to feel gratitude toward the city lord. The city lord doesn’t wish for us to pursue Shen Houyun’s actions, and so we won’t.”
Mother Shen found it hard to believe. “The city lord… He truly won’t hold it against us? Someone so noble, how could he possibly forgive such a grave mistake?”
Perhaps hearing the words he wanted to hear, a look of relief finally appeared on the boy’s face. “Yes, our noble city lord is just that magnanimous. His kindness is our sunlight, his vastness our ocean, his…” Wei Qixuan trailed off, coughing awkwardly under Mother Shen’s increasingly bewildered gaze, abruptly ending his heartfelt praise.
“What I want to tell you,” Wei Qixuan continued, “is that because Shen Houyun did something very serious, many people in our city may hold strong opinions about you. But we will respect the city lord’s request and won’t treat you unfairly. However, their attitudes might not be pleasant. I hope you can endure it.”
Seeing the boy’s worried expression, Mother Shen didn’t feel displeased. On the contrary, she slowly revealed a gentle, relaxed smile.
From just this small matter, she could see the beauty of this city. Even anger and frustration were expressed so tenderly, even somewhat childishly, like a child throwing a tantrum.
“It’s okay,” Mother Shen said with a faint smile. “I’m truly grateful to all of you for allowing me to stay in Hope City. My son made a mistake; it’s only right that he faces some punishment.”
And besides, how could this even be considered punishment?
Wei Qixuan let out a breath of relief. He had brought her out specifically to address this issue. He didn’t want the city lord to find out they were treating Arrival City’s residents poorly and get angry about it. He had already seen too many instances of main city officials secretly venting their frustration in petty ways.
This frustration needed to be expressed somehow, but involving the city lord would not be ideal.
“Deputy City Lord Wei,” Mother Shen called out to Wei Qixuan, who was deep in thought. “You mentioned earlier that we’ve met. Could it really have been… in a dream?”
“You’re carrying that object, aren’t you?” Wei Qixuan pointed toward a small statue of the Divine Lord nearby. “It’s the power of god. You might not believe it, but god exists, and it responds to your prayers.”
Mother Shen felt that perhaps she should be more skeptical.
But ever since arriving in Hope City, seeing the carefree smiles of the people along the road, the tranquility and kindness all around, Mother Shen found herself with no doubt about the existence of god.
Mother Shen clasped her hands together, bowing deeply as she followed the rituals she believed were fitting for addressing the god.
Please, dear and revered god, protect my child.
—
The decision-makers of Arrival City issued an order to all the managers: they were to demand people from Hope City!
Because of the escapes of scattered individuals like Bai Fu and He Fang, as well as Shen Houyun, this was enough to prove it was all a conspiracy by Hope City. Hope City clearly wanted their people!
Buying people was acceptable, but stealing was not!
All the managers received the command to prepare for battle and launch an attack on Hope City.
However, this order left the managers puzzled. Attack Hope City?
Wasn’t Hope City allied with Angel City? Even though Angel City wasn’t a combat city, neither were they.
Despite their confusion, none of the managers disobeyed the order, for one simple reason:
Arrival City had stood tall not solely on its own but also by relying on countless other combat cities around it that demanded a continuous influx of population.
In the intense and bloodthirsty combat cities, replenishing populations, particularly women, was both a prize of conquest and a necessity. If the decision-makers of Arrival City issued this command, it meant other combat cities were likely already preparing for an assault as well.
Emboldened by this logic, all managers, including the gatekeepers of Arrival City, armed themselves and surged toward the frontlines against Hope City.
But what did they see?
The gatekeepers of Arrival City froze in place, their armor seeming to lose its luster. When the managers of Arrival City saw what the gatekeepers were witnessing, none of them had the courage to even lift their weapons.
Before their eyes—was that Hope City? Or Angel City?
In the vast, boundless space ahead, everything was surrounded by black. It wasn’t the Nightmare Beast Forest, yet it radiated an even more terrifying and formidable sense of intimidation.
A whole array of weapons lined up—ones they couldn’t even imagine. Brand new, flawless, and merely looking at them was enough to leave them stunned.
Standing at the forefront were gatekeepers, each clad in armor. However, their armor was entirely different from the managers’.
This armor was exquisitely detailed and beautiful, each one uniquely designed. The tall figures stood silently, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure. At their sides were heavy cannons—there was no need to speculate; it was evident that these weapons were far beyond anything they could contend with.
Suddenly, one of the armored figures moved.
One of the massive cannon barrels turned toward their direction, and everyone heard an earth-shattering blast. It struck an unoccupied area behind them with a deafening roar. The managers didn’t dare turn around, yet they already knew how terrifying the explosion behind them must have been. Despite the distance, the soil was flung into the air, scattering like countless small rocks that struck their backs directly. Instinctively, they covered their heads, while some were nearly incapacitated by the flying debris hitting them hard enough to collapse onto the ground.
It was just a single cannon shot, and then everything fell silent.
The managers immediately understood—this cannon shot was a response to the one they had previously fired toward Hope City.
The managers began to harbor thoughts of retreat. This was clearly not an opponent they could contend with.
Arrival City was merely a city sustained by the trade of people. It had no defensive capabilities whatsoever. Even their weapons, armor, and war vehicles were all cast-offs from other combat cities, making them utterly incapable of competing with the terrifying arsenal before them.
In this post-apocalyptic era, where manpower was the primary resource, was it even possible for a city to possess such an overwhelming stockpile of weaponry?
The people of Arrival City were trembling, their legs quaking uncontrollably. Yet, at the same time, they seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move.
They had heard a strange sound—a massive, booming noise, like footsteps.
And eventually, they saw it. The terrifying, turtle-shaped giant mech approaching from afar.
The people of Arrival City were utterly shaken. A mech—an actual mech. Such a flawless and finely crafted machine. Turtle-shaped mechs were primarily designed for total defense, which only served to underscore Hope City’s superiority in both attack and defense. Clearly, Hope City didn’t even regard Arrival City as a threat.
And at that moment, everyone’s eyes were drawn to the enormous turtle mech. Atop it, there was a small figure.
The figure was so tiny that it required squinting to see clearly.
Yet the people of Arrival City suddenly experienced a powerful realization.
The person on top of the turtle mech… was Hope City’s city lord!
He Fang slightly adjusted Hope City’s defensive line, pulling it back a bit to allow Arrival City to move closer.
Based on Arrival City’s constant attempts to transmit information to the outside world, it seemed likely that it lacked autonomous judgment.
Chong Ying sent a message to the opposing side, including some fabricated information about Hope City. He Fang wanted to observe how the other side would interpret it.
At dawn, Arrival City fired the first shot, breaching the defensive line and landing on Hope City’s territory. While no casualties occurred, it was clearly a show of force.
Following the intimidation attack, Arrival City immediately issued a declaration, demanding the return of the people who had been taken from their city.
Everything happened so abruptly. Yet it was all so predictable that He Fang felt conflicted about the situation. How could such a simple hint from Chong Ying have been taken at face value so easily?
Zhu Yan had previously theorized that the opposition’s decision-making system was likely a rudimentary artificial intelligence. Now, it seemed that this was indeed true.
For NPCs, it was an AI. But to He Fang, it was artificial stupidity of the highest order. How could something be so single-threaded to this extent?
Still, this realization brought He Fang some relief.
Because the intelligent NPCs from “Ruins Without Restart” were incredibly humanlike, He Fang would have felt uneasy if humanity had truly developed cities governed at such a level. But the thought that the rulers might just be artificially “dumb” intelligences actually improved He Fang’s mood significantly.
“I’m going to the battlefield.”
With that single statement from He Fang, the entire city sprang into action.
At first, He Fang envisioned himself leading the charge, raising a banner high to display the aura of a strategist, with a large group of soldiers following him under his command, bravely charging ahead.
However, somehow, after negotiations, the scenario changed entirely. He ended up seated atop the turtle-shaped mech, flanked by Chong Ying on his left and Chong Xiao on his right. While the elevated position seemed friendly and extremely safe, he couldn’t help but wonder if the people of Arrival City could even see him.
Yet, perhaps because of this vantage point, He Fang could clearly see the disparity in strength between the two sides. If Angel City had once believed it had the capability for a fight, then Arrival City was like ants waving sticks—a childish and futile gesture.
But this was precisely the effect He Fang wanted—to instill fear in the people of Arrival City.
“Zhu Yan, cut off Arrival City’s communication signals!” He Fang ordered.
“It’s been successfully cut,” Zhu Yan reported back via communicator.
He Fang smiled, adjusting his amplifier with his hand before taking a deep breath. “Dear people of Arrival City, greetings. I am the city lord of Hope City,” he announced.
His voice echoed loudly, so much so that even He Fang was surprised. It felt as though his voice reverberated across the vast space entirely. How could such a small amplifier cover such a large range?
It was somewhat embarrassing, but He Fang didn’t intend to show it. He wanted dominance, charisma, and most of all, to make people afraid.
“Arrival City has declared war on Hope City. Hope City will face you head-on, but make no mistake—Arrival City will undoubtedly lose!” He Fang proclaimed.
His words reverberated throughout the space, and the people of Arrival City knew in their hearts—it was the truth.
“You took our people, and now you expect us to grovel?” Finally, one person from Arrival City dared to speak. His voice was soft but stood out against the eerie silence of Arrival City.
He Fang didn’t hear it himself, but Zhu Yan relayed it to him via communicator.
“The people of Arrival City all fled voluntarily; they couldn’t endure the oppression of Arrival City. Here in Hope City, we are willing to accept anyone who sincerely wishes to come. We will provide everyone with protection!” He Fang squinted his eyes, staring at the managers who didn’t even dare to breathe heavily. Then, he directly pressured them, saying, “I want to see the city lord of Arrival City. Only your city lord is qualified to speak with me!”
He Fang knew that with the communication signals cut off, Arrival City’s city lord couldn’t appear. From his high vantage point, he could see the tiny, ant-like managers scurrying back, seemingly trying to pass the message along.
“Ten minutes. I will wait for only ten minutes. If the city lord of Arrival City still does not appear, I will ensure Arrival City is reduced to ashes!” As He Fang finished his sentence, all the long-range weapons were raised and aimed at Arrival City. He added casually, “Here’s my prophecy: the city lord of Arrival City will never show up.”
Time ticked by, minute by minute. Due to the distance, He Fang couldn’t see the reactions of the people in Arrival City, but he had his attribute panel.
On the panel, he could clearly see negative statuses such as “fear”, “crying”, and “despair” appearing.
By the ninth minute, no one had emerged.
How could anyone possibly emerge?
Zhu Yan had already completely taken control of Arrival City’s systems.
“What do we do? Time’s almost up.”
“Help us! Please, no, I don’t want to die.”
“Where’s the reinforcements? Shouldn’t there be reinforcements? Why haven’t any of the combat cities we traded with shown up?”
As time dwindled, the impending sense of death grew increasingly unbearable, shattering the mental defenses of the people from Arrival City. To make matters worse, the soldiers of Hope City had begun mock preparations for an attack, adding to the tension.
Suddenly, the psychological defenses of Arrival City’s people collapsed.
The soldiers sent back to find their city lord had not returned. Attempts to establish contact failed, leaving them with no directives or guidance.
Fear gripped every fiber of their being. They came to a harsh realization: no one was coming to save them.
He Fang noticed a tag appear on their attribute panel—”Deserters”.
Then, he watched as the once-arrogant managers scattered in all directions, their ranks utterly broken.
He Fang was momentarily stunned.
Still, he understood that this outcome was rational. In the face of absolute power, resistance was meaningless. He Fang thought to himself that with the sheer abundance of weapons at his disposal, he could likely crush the entire Arrival City simply by hurling them into the crowd.
Let them run.
He Fang leaned casually atop the turtle mech’s head, watching the group flee in chaos.
When all was said and done, these were just ordinary people, self-deceived and living in a stagnant world, where even governance had long since been abandoned.
“People of Arrival City, listen to me now,” He Fang announced after the ten minutes had passed. “Arrival City has no city lord you can trust, nor decision-makers who can help you thrive. You are nothing more than tools in a meaningless system of repetitive reproduction, whether you are women or men.”
“Do you really want to continue living like livestock in such an environment?”
“Selling your bodies, selling your children, suppressing your emotions and souls, all just to get a bite to eat?”
“I’m offering you a chance now—a chance to escape, just like those who fled before you.”
“Step out of Arrival City now, and I will welcome you into Hope City, where you can start your lives anew.”
“Hope City is willing to provide shelter for everyone who voluntarily chooses to come.”
After saying this, He Fang suddenly received a notification that his mission was completed.
His purple-level mission was finished!
In “Ruins Without Restart”, there were no experience bars, and infrastructure-building tasks wouldn’t reward him with significant monetary gains. He Fang figured that the ultimate reward for completing this purple mission was likely the people who would leave Arrival City.
With Hope City primarily populated by the old, weak, and sick, the addition of these new individuals would significantly increase the number of capable residents, which would directly drive development. With Angel City serving as an example, Hope City likely wouldn’t face a collapse due to developmental imbalance.
Now that the mission was completed… could it be that everyone in Arrival City already had thoughts of rebellion?
Had the earlier small group of escapees merely acted before the others had a chance to react?
He Fang felt as though he had uncovered the truth.
“Zhu Yan, can you control Arrival City’s systems to open all the city gates?” He Fang asked through the communicator.
“I can,” Zhu Yan responded.
In an instant, all the gates of Arrival City were flung open, one after another. These were gates to places they had once thought they could never leave, now opened wide. Beyond those gates lay another world.
He Fang’s voice was loud and clear, echoing for all to hear.
Hope City?
What kind of place was it?
It seemed familiar, yet unfamiliar.
But…
They had already missed one opportunity—were they going to miss another?
Could it really be worse than what they had now?
Would Hope City be paradise? Were the words of its city lord truly genuine? And even if it turned out to be hell, what did it matter? Even if it was a lie, wasn’t their entire existence, from the moment they were born, already in hell?
Arrival City held nothing for them to cherish anymore.
Beyond those gates, step by determined step, were countless feet crossing the threshold of their chains.
![Dissatisfied [e-sports]](https://www.freenovels.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/4997572.jpg "Dissatisfied [e-sports]")
Truly no matter if someone doesn’t understand
afterward its up to other people that they will help, so here
it happens.