Inside the walls, there was garbage.
A massive circle surrounded the city, and centuries of accumulation had left it filled with dense and tightly packed trash.
There were no paved roads—just mounds upon mounds of waste.
More concerning, however, was the noxious fumes these heaps emitted, laced with deadly toxins.
Anyone who ventured too close would be poisoned unless they wore protective gear—gear far sturdier than ordinary protection.
Zeno, being acquainted with the elders of Meteor City, naturally had channels for entry.
A vehicle pulled up to the hotel entrance.
The driver appeared to be a scruffy middle-aged man, and the car was dilapidated, seemingly modified in a way that didn't quite fit its original design.
The two climbed into the vehicle.
The sound of the engine starting echoed as they quickly left the city.
After driving for a short while on the main road, they turned onto a narrow path where human presence was scarce and the road was uneven.
Ordinary cars might have difficulty navigating such a route.
However, this rickety-looking vehicle was surprisingly sturdy.
Ron reflected on the information he possessed about Meteor City.
First, it was a massive garbage dump.
Second, it was resource-poor.
Third, it was controlled by Elders.
Fourth, many criminals originated from this place.
For instance, the Phantom Troupe."
But they weren't the only group.
There were countless people in Meteor City, leading to many individuals going in various directions.
The Phantom Troupe was simply the most famous among them.
As they travelled, people became increasingly sparse until no one was around. Ron noted that there hadn't been a single building in sight for the past half-hour. A barren wasteland.
It was a desolate wasteland.
After two more hours, a mountain loomed into view—a towering, oppressive sight that cast an eerie atmosphere over the area.
Along with it came a powerful stench that filled Ron's nostrils.
"Sir, we have arrived at the main gate," the driver said, glancing back at Zeno and Ron.
Zeno nodded. "Continue."
"Yes, sir."
The driver shifted his foot from the brake to the accelerator.
As they drew closer, Ron realized that this "mountain" wasn't a natural formation at all; it was a towering pile of trash—a literal mountain of garbage.
Behind it stood another garbage mountain, and a narrow path stretched between them.
Seeing Ron's curiosity, the driver proactively explained, "This is the main entrance to Meteor City."
"The garbage around this path has been processed."
"It still emits a foul smell, but compared to other garbage mountains, it's significantly reduced."
"Especially the kind of odour that is harmful to humans."
"As long as you pass through quickly, you shouldn't be too affected."
"Of course, this doesn't apply to those with weak constitutions."
"This path is about ten kilometres long."
"There will be guards watching over it; outsiders cannot enter freely, and those inside cannot leave freely."
"If anyone tries to break in or out, they will be attacked."
"They are elite guards directly under the Elders."
The ten-kilometre journey wasn't long, but it wasn't fast either.
The road was bumpy, narrow, and winding.
Ron could feel many eyes watching the vehicle.
However, after a glance, they would look away.
Soon, a gigantic iron gate appeared before Ron.
"Gentlemen, you'll need to disembark here," the driver informed them.
"Okay."
Zeno and Ron exited the vehicle.
Ron surveyed the iron gate before him.
It resembled the trial gate at the Zoldyck Family estate, but based on Ron's assessment, it likely didn't weigh nearly as much—perhaps only that of the first few gates.
"Grandpa Zeno, did you come here this way last time?"
"No."
Zeno shook his head. "Last time, we took an airship directly to Elder City."
A dozen guards turned to look at them, confirming the driver's identity and the proof he presented, which bore the elder's seal, before deciding to let them pass.
A small door opened.
"Sir, you can enter now."
The driver led the way.
Upon passing through the iron gate, a desolate and lifeless atmosphere engulfed Ron, making him feel as though he had stepped into another world—here, everything was indeed completely different from the outside.
The driver inquired, "What would you like to see, sir?"
"Meteor City is not like the outside world; it's chaotic. Even though I am a subordinate of the Elders, I cannot fully guarantee my safety within Meteor City."
Zeno glanced at Ron. "Ron, do you have any thoughts?"
Ron looked at the driver. "How should I address you, Sinior Park?"
"You flatter me; just call me Park," the driver replied.
The driver was unaware of Ron and Zeno's identities, but he recognized that Zeno was a respected figure among the Elders, and Ron was obviously close to him.
They were both significant people—much more prominent than himself.
The driver didn't dare allow Ron to address him as a senior.
Ron nodded. "Park, have you lived in Elder City since childhood?"
"No, I grew up in the garbage mountains…" Park replied. "Until one day, during a gang conflict, I caught the eye of an elder and was brought to Elder City, becoming a subordinate to the elder."
"Can you introduce me to the basic situation of Meteor City?"
"Sure."
Park straightened himself before slowly explaining, "The entire Meteor City is isolated from the world; aside from the Elders and a few others, no one has contact with the outside."
"It can generally be divided into three areas."
"The first is Elder City."
"That's the most prosperous area of Meteor City, and it's not much different from the outside cities. It's controlled by the elders."
"There are a total of twelve Elder Cities in Meteor City."
"This area gathers over eighty per cent of the resources of Meteor City."
"The second area is known as the Chaotic Zone."
"This area is home to many gangs, and while food is no longer in severe scarcity, other resources are still lacking, leading to frequent conflicts and killings."
At this point, Park paused for a moment.
"The twelve Elder Cities actually emerged from previous gangs, evolving into their current forms after years of management."
"The places where those gangs reside are usually referred to as camps."
"The people within the camps are divided into two types."
"One type is the gang members, and the other is the people protected by the gangs. These individuals live in the camps and must surrender a large amount of resources. If they don't provide enough, they risk being expelled."
"The third area is called the Garbage New Zone."
"Most people here survive by scavenging in the garbage mountains."
"The fourth area is known as the Garbage Old Zone."
"The people there also scavenge in the garbage mountains for survival, but since the resources in this area's garbage mountains are even scarcer, the conditions of the people here are somewhat different."
"I can't explain it clearly; it's a state that's quite frightening to behold."
Ron hesitated for a moment. "Let's go check out the Garbage Old Zone first."
Park nodded. "Alright."
"However, we might need to walk. Driving here would attract unwanted attention and could easily cause disturbances. Is that acceptable, sir?"
"Additionally, you two gentlemen will need to change your clothes."
Ron and Zeno changed into a new set of clothing.
They appeared to blend in more with the environment of Meteor City.