TYMIMA Chapter 82

Phobos Bay was the Federation’s largest eastern port area, where Passion County was located.

 

This place boasted the Federation’s longest white coastline, with temperatures consistently above 25 degrees year-round, making it the most beloved holiday destination for people from the central regions.

 

But this was only a recent development of the past few decades.

 

A hundred years ago, affected by the greenhouse effect, Phobos Bay had high temperatures and was prone to natural disasters like tsunamis and typhoons, making it difficult for humans to survive long-term. Only the red-brown-haired Bovnians lived here in communities.

 

Back then, Passion County was just a backward, desolate small village. Some nations even dumped their most vicious exiled criminals in Phobos Bay, leaving them to fend for themselves.

 

After Dawn Day, continental plates shifted, Phobos Bay’s temperature gradually decreased, and with the appearance of underground cities, people abandoned coal, oil, natural gas and other non-renewable energy sources, turning instead to crystal ore development. The greenhouse effect greatly improved and glacier melting finally stopped.

 

Passion County unexpectedly became the most liveable seaside city.

 

Massive investments poured in, people of all ethnicities migrated with the investments, and gradually Passion County became what it is today.

 

But because this place once had harsh environments and sparse population, the Federation government hadn’t paid much attention, so now Phobos Bay had become a sovereignty dispute zone.

 

The Federation government believed the former Phobos Bay belonged to Aether City’s jurisdiction, and since Aether City became part of the Federation, Phobos Bay naturally belonged to the Federation government.

 

However, other factions believed world order should be divided by Dawn Day as the boundary line. Phobos Bay was a true no-man’s land—whoever occupied it first should own it.

 

The first to invest in Phobos Bay was the Polar Glacier Organization. Their region had severely cold temperatures with half the year in polar night, and locals suffered from muscle weakness and sleep disorders.

 

So they spared no expense, investing substantial funds to build ecological zones in Phobos Bay and migrate populations to Passion County.

 

Meanwhile, Pacific Island Nation, being far from other continents, was greatly affected in technological cultural exchange and import-export trade. They urgently needed to establish a base near the Federation.

 

The Polar Glacier Organization lacked the capacity to occupy the entire white coastline, so they had to watch Pacific Island Nation come for a share.

 

Since internal factions weren’t peaceful, after multiple negotiations, the Federation government, Polar Glacier Organization, and Pacific Island Nation were forced to reach a joint development agreement. Phobos Bay thus became the region with the richest history and culture and strongest inclusivity in Earth’s history.

 

Tasman Pirate Nation, having long monopolised international trade ports, naturally set their sights on this prize when they noticed increasing cargo ships departing from Phobos Bay.

 

However, being marine creature-form Awakened ones, they had no interest in long-term land living, so King Sandro devised a solution—developing tourism in Phobos Bay to make money.

 

They leased mature ports built by the Polar Glacier Organization and Pacific Island Nation, attracting Federation citizens to take holiday cruises to Tasman for tourism.

 

Since several key straits were occupied by Tasman Pirate Nation, only they could manage the world cruise business, whilst other factions could only set cruise routes near the Caribbean Chieftain State, which anyone could bully.

 

Of course, for supplies passengers needed on cruises—like lemons to prevent scurvy—Tasman Pirate Nation had to purchase from other factions.

 

Thus various factions checked and cooperated with each other, making huge contributions to Phobos Bay’s development.

 

The flight from Desert City to Phobos Bay International Airport landed at 3 PM. The aircraft announcement was made in eight languages, so passengers were already carrying bags off the plane before the announcement finished.

 

Lance lifted his blanket and sat up, lazily rubbing his neck and shoulders before gathering energy to take his luggage and walk out.

 

After over ten hours of flying, his legs were inevitably somewhat swollen. As soon as he stepped out, the oncoming heat wave made him slightly uncomfortable.

 

This was why he hadn’t wanted to participate in the bidding.

 

Because of Mad Clown’s special abilities, he hadn’t taken long-haul flights for ages. These things were indeed unbearable until you experienced them.

 

“So hot here.” Wu Peng had already changed into summer clothes on the plane, but the moment the cabin door opened, he was instantly drenched in sweat.

 

Fulunla cupped her hands over her eyes, blocking the still-dazzling sunlight: “Who said Phobos Bay’s climate improved? It’s still blazing hot.”

 

Mudeli: “Maybe we Desert City people can’t adapt. Look how well Lance is adapting.”

 

Though Lance was also squinting from the sunlight, he indeed wasn’t sweating, and his pale skin looked delicate and smooth in the moist air.

 

Fulunla sighed: “Ah, envious. Feels like his skin type wouldn’t even tan.”

 

Wu Peng was puzzled: “Tanned looks better—why envy not tanning?”

 

Fulunla: “We have different aesthetics.”

 

Adrian glanced at Lance’s slightly dishevelled long hair, saying indifferently: “Lance’s ancestors probably lived here.”

 

Fulunla: “Huh?”

 

Lance also turned, looking at Adrian with slight surprise.

 

Adrian: “This was once a Bovnian settlement. Bovnians are characterised by red-brown hair.”

 

Lance was slightly stunned—he’d never heard of this.

 

Fulunla looked at Lance’s dazed expression, quite puzzled: “Lance, you don’t know you’re Bovnian? Your parents didn’t tell you?”

 

Mudeli stroked his moustache thoughtfully: “I guess Lance just has Bovnian heritage. Pure Bovnians are rare now—they began intermarrying after Dawn Day, and many later moved away from Passion County. But only older people know this, since much historical data was forced to disappear.”

 

Bovnian.

 

Lance silently repeated this in his mind.

 

Adrian: “Let’s go.”

 

The group got off the plane, took a pre-booked car, and drove to Phobos Bay dock.

 

Passion County now lacked traditional metropolitan skyscrapers. The residential and office areas here were all small buildings under three storeys high.

 

After decades of development, the entire white coastline was now covered with human traces. The car drove along the long coastal road, with cool sea breezes brushing past windows, glass-like seas lapping white beaches, and endless green palm trees before their eyes.

 

Fulunla shrieked, pointing at a huge palm tree: “Look, what’s that!”

 

Everyone looked up at the tree.

 

Wu Peng: “Where? What? Why are you shouting?”

 

Fulunla: “The trunk, the trunk!”

 

Mudeli: “Hm?”

 

Fulunla wailed: “Ah, it’s gone past—what kind of eyesight do you all have!”

 

Lance calmly explained: “That’s an iguana. They’re quite large, usually grey and light yellow, but they can change colour based on light. If they stay still on trees, they’re indeed hard to spot.”

 

Fulunla: “So big, scared me to death—thought it was a crocodile.”

 

Wu Peng squeezed to the window, curiously staring at the palm trees: “Wow, there really is one.”

 

Even the usually emotionless, cold-expressioned Adrian turned to glance out the window.

 

Mudeli laughed: “Desert City doesn’t have such interesting animals. Lance is indeed from Harbor Tan.”

 

Lance propped his elbow by the window, chin in hand. The coastline scenery reflected in his amber eyes, but his thoughts were on the nearby dock.

 

The flight from Harbor Tan to Phobos Bay had arrived an hour earlier than theirs, so Zhan Pingchuan had already passed this route.

 

He probably was as curious about the tall palm trees and giant iguanas as the people in this car.

 

Lance unconsciously lifted the corners of his lips.

 

If only that explanation could have been given to his little wolf cub.

 

As Lance expected, Zhan Pingchuan was naturally quite interested in the subtropical scenery here.

 

On the way to the port, Abaddon slept soundly, not seeing any of the scenery.

 

Lily hugged her knees, leaning against Abaddon as a human-shaped pillow, half-asleep.

 

Dream Witch was on the phone with her lover.

 

“Why are you unhappy again? Sister is going on a business trip—I’ll bring you back a gift.”

 

“What gift? Of course your favourite ZYEA apple bag.”

 

“What, you don’t like bags? How’s that possible? Don’t you love designer bags, Andy?”

 

“…Oh, you’re Kasa.”

 

Only Zhan Pingchuan was worthy of Phobos’s passionate, beautiful scenery.

 

“Holy shit, a lizard! So big—I really want to keep one.”

 

“The sand is all white—amazing! Our Desert City only has yellow sand.”

 

“These palm trees are so green!”

 

Zhan Pingchuan rolled down the window. Silver light flashed from his fingertips as he cut down a long palm frond and pulled it into the car.

 

He played with it for a while, then tied the palm frond into a rough little crown, planning to give it to Lance.

 

Zhan Pingchuan checked the time, estimating Lance hadn’t gotten off the plane yet. He wondered if this thing could last that long.

 

Dream Witch discovered her lover had blocked her and sighed helplessly: “Omega minds are truly incomprehensible.”

 

With that, Dream Witch turned to glance at Zhan Pingchuan: “Right?”

 

“Hm?” Zhan Pingchuan was baffled.

 

Dream Witch pinched her brow: “They think one thing but say another. There’s no creature more complex than Omegas in this world.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan immediately distanced himself from Dream Witch: “No way. My baby is especially easy to understand. He grew up in a simple environment with no concept of society’s evils. Even when flirting, he speaks so seriously—super cute.”

 

“…”

 

Dream Witch: “Let me ask again—your baby is still the one called Lance, right?” Sounds like he has nothing to do with my little brother.

 

Zhan Pingchuan said matter-of-factly: “Of course. It’s our family tradition—we only love one person in our lifetime.”

 

Dream Witch gave a thumbs up, saying sincerely: “Lucky.” You get to experience dating two different personalities of one person.

 

Zhan Pingchuan was kind-hearted and decided to reluctantly give the rival some emotional advice from an experienced perspective.

 

“Sister Qi, I think you don’t understand your Omega thoroughly enough.”

 

Dream Witch swept up her coffee-coloured hair, pulling up a smile as she studied Zhan Pingchuan with interest: “We’re just lovers—agreed from the start. But you must understand very thoroughly.”

 

Zhan Pingchuan stroked the little crown in his hands, modestly saying: “You’re too kind—just generally thorough, with occasional oversights.”

 

Like how Lance apparently didn’t like artistically rich large bathrooms.

 

“No need to be modest. There aren’t many Alphas as thorough as you nowadays.” Dream Witch said pitifully.

 

After about an hour’s drive, High Tower Guild arrived at Phobos Port.

 

At this time, three giant cruise ships were docked at the port. The one with a deep blue hull and large white-painted TASMAN letters was the Manxing Sea they were boarding.

 

The Manxing Sea had twenty decks, seven thousand guest rooms, and five thousand crew members.

 

Thirty inflatable rescue boats and seven small craft were tied to the ship’s hull. The cruise ship’s top deck had a huge water park and helicopter landing pad.

 

Looking from afar, a fierce, coiling five-clawed black dragon—Tasman Pirate Nation’s flag—flew from a towering mast.

 

Dream Witch woke up Abaddon and Lily. Abaddon’s huge head lifted with a confused “Ah.”

 

Lily, being young, recovered quickly and was energetic shortly after waking.

 

She came as Dream Witch’s cousin to play. Since she was underage, she held no position at High Tower Guild.

 

Dream Witch put on sunglasses, strode out with her snow-white long legs, and walked proudly toward the red-carpeted VIP passage under staff guidance.

 

Ahead of them were over ten wealthy people who’d paid high prices for suites.

 

After waiting about fifteen minutes, the passport verification officer beckoned High Tower Guild’s group over.

 

Dream Witch removed her sunglasses, let the camera photograph her face, then handed over her passport.

 

A thin, sallow-faced Alpha inside the window took the passport, squinting his slightly protruding eyes as he carefully checked Dream Witch’s passport ID.

 

Soon, he pressed the approval key, then grinned and returned the passport to Dream Witch with both hands.

 

Lily and Abaddon also passed smoothly.

 

Until Zhan Pingchuan.

 

The verification officer took Zhan Pingchuan’s passport, first looking at the ID’s initial letters, then glancing puzzledly toward Dream Witch.

 

Dream Witch met his gaze, saying indifferently: “This is our High Tower Guild employee.”

 

The verification officer received Dream Witch’s signal, looked down again, made a show of checking, and approved Zhan Pingchuan.

 

When he handed the passport to Zhan Pingchuan, he found Zhan Pingchuan casually crossing his arms, leaning against the counter with a half-smile, watching him.

 

The verification officer’s nerves tightened.

 

“Your passport.” He spoke in a smoky voice.

 

“Oh, thanks.” Zhan Pingchuan took it between two fingers, his gaze sweeping over the verification officer’s blackened fingernails.

 

This person had probably contracted something, causing his nails to turn black and deform.

 

Phobos Bay was so free and unrestrained that various controlled drugs inevitably ran rampant. Long-term residents easily fell into indulgent depths.

 

Generally, such people were easiest to bribe.

 

Zhan Pingchuan gripped his passport, weighing it in his palm. As he walked toward the boarding spiral staircase, he pulled out his phone and quickly sent Adrian a text.

 

Adrian’s phone vibrated as he drove on the coastal road. He looked down—Zhan Pingchuan’s message had only one line:

 

[Beware of the passport verification officer.]

 

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)