Lucius watched as the jeep drove through the massive gates of New York and quickly drove through a few military checkpoints. Once Sergeant Skull showed his ID and explained his reason for returning to the city unexpectedly, their stern gaze would change to that of shock and some soldiers would even try to wave at Lucius, but he paid no attention to them.
Soon their vehicle entered the residential area and Lucius was quite surprised. He was expecting a filthy place for powerless humans to live, but to his surprise, the region was clean, peaceful, and secure. He watched children play on the streets, at lemonade stands run by children his age trying to make some quick money, at stores, and youths slightly older playing basketball.
The living situation here was satisfactory. It reminded Lucius of the stories his father would tell them, describing how beautiful America was before the night of the Blue Death incident.
People present wore intrigued looks as they glanced at the jeeps speeding through the road, but couldn't see through the tinted glasses. After an hour's drive, they exited the residential area and approached another wall similar to the first but this time almost fifty meters high.
[As expected… Marginalization will always exist in society. The rich always search for a way to stand out to make themselves feel superior. That is why equality can never be achieved] The voice said, but Lucius ignored it.
Even with the height of the wall, from the distance Lucius could see towering skyscrapers, kissing the clouds, and a huge spaceship in the sky with a bright red and blue siren. Unfortunately, he couldn't make sense of its figure from the distance.
"That is the titan city marauder… With that bad boy in the skies, no villains, Deviants, or criminals can escape its all-seeing eyes." Sergeant Skull explained when he noticed Lucius's curious gaze.
"Deviants?" Lucius was confused.
"Ooh, that's the new name given to rejects. A few still smuggle themselves into the city occasionally and wreak havoc. It's quite common for them to attack facilities outside New York, that's one of the main reasons Scavenger guardians are important." Sergeant Skull explained.
"Oh." Lucius muttered and returned his attention to the scenery.
Entering the commercial district, they were met with even stricter security. Still, once they heard about the discovery of a new guardian, they eagerly let them through while giving Lucius a polite wave.
Rising high above the city streets were towering skyscrapers piercing the sky like gleaming glass and steel monoliths. These skyscrapers possessed diverse architectural styles, from sleek, minimalist towers to organic, curvilinear structures that seemed to flow like liquid glass. Some buildings were adorned with digital screens that displayed dynamic images and advertisements, while others featured lush rooftop gardens and green spaces.
But what caught Lucius's attention were myriads of futuristic vehicles that glide effortlessly through the air.
"If you work hard enough and gain enough status, I'm certain you can afford one someday." Sergeant Skull said to Lucius, but he simply shrugged his shoulders in response, leaving the man confused.
'For a child surviving on bread and porridge, he is not moved by wealth. Is this boy broken or too retarded to understand the concept of Luxury?' Sergeant Skull was skeptical about Lucius' mental health.
Lucius focused on the maglev trains that traveled at incredible speeds along elevated tracks. As they moved, they came across lush green spaces and urban parks adorned with towering trees, vibrant flowers, and meandering pathways that winded through manicured gardens and serene water features.
The city had a network of smart sensors and integrated systems that monitored and managed everything from traffic flow and energy consumption to public safety and environmental quality.
Just thirty minutes later, they arrived in front of a massive building with a name boldly displayed on its gates; Bureau of Guardian Affairs.
"Where is this?' Lucius asked as they stepped out of the jeep.
Ahead of him was a towering skyscraper touching the clouds, its surrounding was a simple trimmed green landscape with a few trees with some birds choppering loudly under the canopy of leaves.
As they walked through automatic sliding doors emblazoned with the bureau's official insignia, Lucius was greeted with the sight of a spacious reception area bathed in natural light. By the right was a sleek, circular desk staffed by courteous receptionists that served as the focal point of the room.
From the circular desk, a plain-looking man, in a black suit, hurriedly walked up to them. It felt like he had been informed about Lucius's arrival and as soon as they entered he greeted Sergeant Skull while scanning Lucius who was still covered in dirt and filth.
"This is the child you spoke of?" He asked curiously.
"Yes…" Sergeant Skull nodded with a proud smile. "Your boss will be pleased with his potential!"
"Haha, haha!" The man seemed doubtful but laughed regardless. "We will find out after the test. Please come this way."