TCPUAAV Chapter 90

 

Before leaving B3024, Ruan Shiqing had already contacted Luther in advance.

 

After winning the hovercar racing championship, Luther had taken a starship to Sikkim. Though they were now in different places, he and Ruan Shiqing had kept in touch.

 

Since arriving in Sikkim, Luther had witnessed the prosperity of the capital star and decided to stay.

 

However, beneath the surface of such a flourishing world, there was also intense competition and unseen discrimination. Over the past six months, he had switched through multiple jobs before eventually using his experience in B3024’s hovercar race to transition into a new career—joining a hover-motorcycle club and becoming a professional racer.

 

Unlike hovercar racing, which was explicitly banned, hover-motorcycle racing was legal.

 

Famous hover-motorcycle racers were treated like celebrities, enjoying immense popularity.

 

Though Luther was just starting to make a name for himself in the racing scene, his club saw potential in him and was actively nurturing his career. He was doing fairly well for himself.

 

Upon hearing that Ruan Shiqing was bringing the cubs to Sikkim, he had immediately offered to pick them up from the port.

 

So when Ruan Shiqing stepped out of the port with the cubs, the first thing he saw was a tall young man enthusiastically waving at him.

 

It hadn’t been too long since their farewell on B3024, yet it wasn’t exactly a short time either. Both Luther and Ruan Shiqing had changed significantly.

 

Back then, Luther had been a tall yet somewhat plain-looking youth with a slightly rustic style. Now, his short-cropped hair had been dyed a striking shade of gold, making his sharp features stand out even more. He looked much less naive and far more energetic and confident.

 

He wore a casual oversized T-shirt and cargo pants, with a single Blue Star earring on his left ear.

 

At a glance, he seemed like a completely different person—though when he grinned, some traces of his old self remained.

 

Ruan Shiqing greeted him first with a smile. “Looks like you’re doing well here.”

 

“Not bad.” Luther scratched his head sheepishly and looked him up and down. “You’ve changed a lot too.”

 

Ruan Shiqing had grown taller, his features had matured, shedding the last traces of youthful immaturity. He had now transformed into a striking young man.

 

But more than that… there was something different about him. A hard-to-describe aura, like a shining beacon that made people hesitate to stare too directly.

 

Luther chuckled and turned his attention to the cubs. “I’ll take you all to the hotel first.” Then, grinning, he added, “Are you guys hungry? If so, we can grab a meal first—I already booked a restaurant.”

 

“Let’s eat first,” Ruan Shiqing said, glancing at the excited cubs with mild helplessness. “They were already complaining about being hungry back on the starship.”

 

With that settled, the group boarded Luther’s land cruiser and headed to the restaurant.

 

Unlike B3024, Sikkim’s streets were wide and impeccably clean, lined with towering high-rise buildings. Land cruisers, hover-motorcycles, and other transport vehicles moved smoothly through well-organized traffic. On the sidewalks, crowds bustled about, some stopping occasionally to glance at the massive digital advertisements displayed on the buildings.

 

The atmosphere was lively and vibrant—befitting the capital star.

 

The cubs leaned against the windows, staring in awe, gasping excitedly at the dazzling sights.

 

Only the ever-unimpressed prince remained unmoved, lounging calmly in Ruan Shiqing’s arms, his gaze indifferent as if he had seen it all before.

 

Upon arriving at the restaurant, Luther led them inside.

 

The private room had already been reserved. Though the restaurant wasn’t particularly high-end, its ambiance was quite nice.

 

However, as they stepped through the entrance, the receptionist noticeably froze for a moment upon seeing their group.

 

Then, hastily regaining composure, they quickly stepped forward to greet them, their previously standard smile now laced with a hint of careful restraint.

 

Ruan Shiqing was puzzled by the staff’s reaction. After the manager left, he turned to Luther and asked about it—he didn’t think he was intimidating enough to warrant such a response.

 

“This restaurant primarily uses artificial ingredients,” Luther explained. “The food is affordable and of decent quality, so it’s mostly frequented by ordinary civilians.”

 

He gestured toward the little dragon cub, who was already clutching a tiny fork in anticipation, and the little mermaid, who was carefully spreading out a napkin. “Both dragons and merfolk are high-ranking, noble races that ordinary people wouldn’t dare offend. More importantly, they would never lower themselves to dine in a place like this, where commoners gather.”

 

Since coming to Sikkim, Luther had encountered the so-called aristocracy firsthand.

 

Not only would they never eat in a commoners’ restaurant, but they wouldn’t even spare the civilians around them a second glance. An invisible chasm separated the nobility from the rest of society.

 

The restaurant staff had likely assumed, upon seeing the little dragon cub and little mermaid, that their group belonged to the upper class. That was why they had been so careful and deferential.

 

As they spoke, the dishes they had ordered began arriving.

 

But instead of the usual waitstaff, the person serving them seemed more like the restaurant’s manager.

 

Though the manager maintained a polite smile, his body language was noticeably tense. “Our restaurant primarily serves artificial ingredients, but we’ve specially arranged for fresh ingredients for you today. We hope you’ll find the meal satisfactory.”

 

One by one, exquisitely prepared dishes were placed on the table, looking far more refined than what a casual restaurant should be capable of producing.

 

Seeing the manager’s overly accommodating demeanor, Ruan Shiqing quickly understood what was going on.

 

He didn’t bother explaining further, nor did he ask for the food to be replaced. Instead, he simply tipped the manager generously and added, “We’ll pay the full price for the fresh ingredients.”

 

The manager, realizing that these guests were easy to deal with, finally breathed a sigh of relief. After thanking them profusely, he carefully pocketed the tip and hurried away.

 

Watching the man’s retreating figure, Ruan Shiqing turned to Luther and said, “I didn’t expect these ancient noble clans to be so…” He hesitated for a moment, unable to find the right word.

 

Having spent so much time on B3024, he had gotten used to interacting with people like Hector and Lansing on equal footing. He had never realized just how much nobility in Sikkim set themselves apart from ordinary civilians.

 

This restaurant primarily used artificial ingredients because they were far cheaper than fresh ones.

 

Yet, judging by the manager’s reaction, the restaurant had replaced their usual ingredients with expensive fresh ones but hadn’t intended to charge them extra for it.

 

The deep-seated reverence ordinary people held for nobility was plain to see.

 

Luther, however, seemed unfazed. “Well, that’s nobility for you. If ordinary people can avoid offending them, they will.”

 

“But we’re not nobles,” the little dragon cub muttered between bites, cheeks puffed out as he chewed.

 

The other cubs nodded in agreement.

 

Having grown up on B3024, their worldview didn’t include distinctions between nobles and commoners.

 

Luther chuckled and added some meat to their plates. “I wasn’t talking about you.”

 

These cubs, raised by Ruan Shiqing, were naturally different from others.

 

Ruan Shiqing shook his head, choosing not to continue the discussion.

 

However, Rong Heng’s expression darkened in displeasure.

 

He wanted to argue, but he couldn’t.

 

Not all of the Four Ancient Clans were arrogant and overbearing.

 

For instance, the Ymir clan never cared about such pompous nonsense.

 

…

 

In the end, Ruan Shiqing insisted on paying for the meal. He settled the bill according to the cost of fresh ingredients.

 

“And there’s plenty left as a tip.”

 

The little dragon cub perched on Luther’s shoulder, his bat-like wings flapping slightly. His crisp voice rang out, “The food here is really good—just a little bit worse than my dad’s.”

 

He squinted happily, extending his chubby little claws and measuring out a tiny distance to demonstrate just how small the gap was.

 

The restaurant manager, having never encountered such a good-natured dragon cub before, finally relaxed. He joyfully escorted them to the door, visibly relieved.

 

After the meal, Luther drove them to the hotel in his land cruiser.

 

Ruan Shiqing had booked their stay in advance through the holographic web—it was one of the most luxurious hotels in Sikkim.

 

When they arrived at the grand entrance, Luther took one look at the extravagant facade and hesitated. “This hotel offers guided tours for guests… so I guess you don’t really need me anymore, huh?”

 

He had always known that Ruan Shiqing was capable and never short on money. But only now, standing in front of the high-end hotel, did he realize just how wealthy he truly was.

 

Even in Sikkim, few people could afford to stay at the Elise Hotel.

 

Yet here Ruan Shiqing was, planning to stay for a whole month—with five cubs and a robot in tow.

 

Luther had originally wanted to act as a hospitable host and show them around. But now, he suddenly felt a little self-conscious.

 

“A friend is always more thoughtful than a hotel guide.” Ruan Shiqing smiled. “After two days on a starship, we’ll take today to rest. Tomorrow, we’ll trouble you to show us around.”

 

His tone was casual, as if he hadn’t noticed Luther’s brief moment of awkwardness at all.

 

Seeing that Ruan Shiqing didn’t look down on him, Luther instantly cheered up again. “No problem! I don’t have any races this week, so I’m free anytime.”

 

With that settled, they bid each other farewell at the entrance.

 

Ruan Shiqing then led the cubs into the hotel.

 

A staff member guided them to their suite—a high-floor luxury penthouse.

 

As they took the elevator upstairs, they found themselves sharing the space with another guest.

 

The man was dressed in an immaculate white suit, and his striking red hair, draped over his shoulders, was impossible to miss. However, despite his eye-catching hair, his facial features were quite ordinary, given an air of refinement only by his noble demeanor.

 

The cubs, who had been chattering excitedly about the capital star, immediately quieted down. They stood properly beside Ruan Shiqing, no longer making noise.

 

The red-haired man, on the other hand, let his gaze sweep over the group, pausing momentarily on the cubs. His brows furrowed slightly.

 

When the elevator stopped at the top floor, Ruan Shiqing finally realized that the guest was staying on the same floor as them.

 

This hotel’s penthouse suites were spacious, with only two available per floor.

 

He gave the man a polite nod before leading the cubs into their room.

 

The red-haired guest remained standing at the elevator entrance, his gaze fixed on the small black dragon cub.

 

Only after their group disappeared completely from view did he finally turn and enter his own suite.

 

Without even taking off his disguise, he immediately dialed a secure communication line.

 

“I just saw a black dragon cub at the Elise Hotel. He’s with an ancient human. Look into their identities as soon as possible.”

 

Dragon cubs were extremely rare. Every single one was registered at birth, and designated caretakers regularly checked in on their well-being to ensure they were properly raised.

 

As the patriarch of the dragon clan, he was personally familiar with all existing dragon cubs.

 

And as far as he remembered—there were no black dragon cubs of this age in the entire dragon clan.

 

 

 

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Hoo???? Could it be our dear, mysterious, and supposedly missing Garland????

 

Thanks for reading!

For every three ko-fis, I will upload a bonus chapter~