A/N: Sorry guys for the delay, my hometown just got a blackout because of maintenance issues. In return for the delay, I'll post 3 chapters today, but you still have to wait. Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
Xian entered his modest home, the creaky door swinging open as he stepped inside. The warmth of the place was a stark contrast to the cold street, but it still felt empty, a small solace in his otherwise turbulent life. He hung his jacket by the door, kicked off his shoes, and set the bags of food on the kitchen counter.
His stomach growled, but he ignored it for the moment. The day had been draining, filled with both unease and strange revelations, and now he needed to wind down. He glanced around his home—nothing extravagant, just a simple one-bedroom apartment with a cluttered workspace full of half-finished gadgets and engineering tools. It was quiet, the hum of the city outside his window the only sound.
Xian moved to his bed and began preparing for sleep, a routine that was more mechanical than calming. He undressed, changing into something more comfortable, and lay down, the cool sheets against his skin. He stared up at the ceiling, his mind still buzzing with everything that had happened.
The kids... Ch'en... The Infected... it was all so much to process.
Xian let out a deep sigh as his thoughts drifted toward the Infected. He knew Terra's social hierarchy well enough by now—the rich and powerful, the elites who lived in towering cities, while those with the infection were cast aside, treated as outcasts, even though they were often the victims of the very system that condemned them. It wasn't just the Infected. There were entire districts, like the one he'd just been in, where poverty ran rampant, where children had no future except for the streets. He thought about how people with money and power turned a blind eye to the suffering, the inequality.
The technology of Terra, while advanced, was... limited in many ways. Sure, they had things like Originium-powered machines, automated systems, and complex weapons, but Xian had noticed the gaps. Comparing it to Earth's development, there was a clear difference. Terra's technological growth had been stunted by a lack of access to certain materials and knowledge—something Xian had quickly realized when he arrived in this world. They had their strengths, like in medical technology and weaponry, but basic infrastructure and other everyday tech still lagged behind. Earth had been ahead in things like communications, food production, and energy efficiency.
Xian shook his head, a small chuckle escaping his lips. Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks about this stuff.
As he thought about the future, he sighed again. Tomorrow would be awkward. The kids... He wasn't sure how things would go. Would they be reliable? Or would they run away the moment things got tough? He didn't know what to expect. But one thing was for sure: they needed a direction. And Xian... well, he was going to be the one to give it to them.
His mind shifted again to the more practical concerns of his life. Money. He thought about his finances. Ch'en's pay, while decent, wasn't enough to cover everything. It was just enough to get by, to buy some food, but certainly not enough to fund his future experiments and projects. His research required materials—specific tools, parts, and pieces of technology that would push him closer to understanding Terra's mysteries.
But the thought of getting more funding was complicated. He couldn't exactly go around asking people for money, not when he had a reputation to maintain, even though it was still small in this world. If he wanted to make any real progress, he'd need more resources. And that's where the kids came in, right?
Xian groaned inwardly. I mean, it's not like I'm exploiting them. They're not being forced to work. It's just... He rubbed his face. ...voluntary work for a better future. Yes, yes, totally not child labor.
But the idea nagged at him, and he couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it. Yeah, this totally doesn't look sketchy at all. I'm sure Ch'en would approve of me using kids as free labor. Right?
Xian smirked to himself, imagining Ch'en's reaction if she ever found out. She'd probably lecture him for hours. And that was if she didn't just punch him in the face for being so careless. He winced at the thought.
His mind wandered back to Earth, to the foods he used to love. The culinary delights of his home—freshly made pizza, juicy burgers, and the sweet smells of stir-fried dishes. Terra's cuisine was... well, it had its charm, but it didn't compare to Earth's. Xian decided he would cook something for the kids tomorrow. It might not be anything fancy, but at least it would be familiar—something to remind him of home, something they could enjoy while working for him.
He smiled at the thought. Maybe I'll teach them how to make pizza. That would be a laugh.
The thought of cooking lifted his spirits, and for a moment, it almost felt like he was back on Earth. But the reality set back in, and Xian's smile faded. Tomorrow... tomorrow will be another step. I just need to keep going.
He sighed once more, staring up at the ceiling. The weight of the world, of Terra's complexities, seemed to press down on him. But he had a plan, and he had to stick with it. I just need to be prepared for whatever comes next.
Xian's eyelids grew heavy, his thoughts slowing as the exhaustion from the day took over. With one final sigh, he closed his eyes. Sleep claimed him swiftly.
-----
The roar of the engine echoed faintly through Lungmen's night streets as Ch'en drove her car back toward the LGD headquarters. The streets were quieter now, the usual hustle of the city dimmed under the soft glow of streetlights. Her hands gripped the steering wheel firmly, her gaze focused on the road ahead, but her thoughts were elsewhere—back at the meeting with Xian.
She replayed the conversation in her head, her brow furrowing slightly. Xian's demeanor had been... peculiar. Nervous, almost jittery, especially when she brought up certain topics. It wasn't uncommon for people to get tense during a discussion with her; she knew her reputation as a hard-nosed officer preceded her. But Xian's behavior had gone beyond mere discomfort. There was something he wasn't telling her.
"He's hiding something," Ch'en muttered to herself, her voice low and thoughtful. She adjusted her grip on the wheel. "Every time I asked, he gave me reasonable answers, sure. But his body language? That's another story."
She had seen it countless times before—people who thought they could outwit her, who believed their words alone could conceal their guilt. Xian didn't strike her as a criminal, but there was a weight to his nervousness, a hesitation that set her instincts on edge. As an officer, she had learned to trust those instincts.
The case involving the company Xian had worked for had technically been closed months ago. Officially, everything had been resolved, the perpetrators caught and punished. But Ch'en had never been fully satisfied with the outcome. There were loose ends, inconsistencies that didn't sit right with her. And now, with Xian in the picture, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to uncover.
Ch'en's car rolled into the parking lot of the LGD headquarters. She shifted gears and turned off the engine, the sudden silence amplifying her thoughts. She stepped out, her boots clicking softly against the pavement as she made her way toward the building.
The cool night air brushed against her skin, but Ch'en barely noticed. Her mind was still on Xian. She replayed his responses, his nervous glances, the way he seemed to sweat bullets whenever the conversation strayed too close to sensitive topics.
If you're not going to tell me the truth, she thought grimly, then I'll find it out myself.
As she entered the building, a few officers still lingering in the lobby greeted her. She returned their greetings with a brief nod, her expression composed but distant. Her mind was already on the task ahead. She stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for her floor. The hum of the machinery filled the silence as the elevator ascended, but her thoughts remained elsewhere.
The doors opened with a soft ding, and Ch'en strode into the office. The room was quiet, most of her colleagues having left for the day. Only a few desks were still occupied, the glow of computer screens casting faint halos of light in the dim room. Ch'en made her way to her desk, pulling out the file on the company where Xian had worked.
She placed the file on her desk with a soft thud, flipping it open. The papers inside were neatly arranged, detailing everything the LGD had uncovered during the initial investigation. Ch'en scanned the documents quickly, her eyes sharp and focused. She turned on her computer, waiting for the system to boot up as she leaned back in her chair.
A sigh escaped her lips as she tapped her fingers against the desk. Her thoughts drifted back to Xian. His reluctance to share information was frustrating, but it also intrigued her. What was he so afraid of? What was he hiding?
"Im sorry xian but as an officer, it is my job," Ch'en muttered under her breath, "ill dugout those informations... if you won't tell me, the ill take action on my own."
Her computer screen flickered to life, and she immediately began searching through the database, pulling up old reports, testimonies, and anything else related to the company. She sifted through the information methodically, her focus unshaken.
As she dug deeper, she found small discrepancies—details that had seemed inconsequential during the initial investigation but now stood out under closer scrutiny. Financial records that didn't quite add up, equipment that had been reported missing but never found, and names of employees whose involvement had been glossed over.
Ch'en frowned, her gaze narrowing as she clicked through another set of files. Xian's name appeared in a few reports, but his role seemed minimal, almost insignificant. He was listed as a junior technician, someone involved in the day-to-day maintenance of the company's equipment. Nothing about him suggested he had been directly involved in the illegal activities.
But then there were the sketches—the blueprints of advanced technologies that had been seized during the raid. According to the reports, these designs were far ahead of anything currently in use in Lungmen, incorporating elements of Originium in ways that were both innovative and dangerous. Ch'en's frown deepened as she studied the sketches. If Xian had worked there, even in a minor role, he would have had access to these designs. Did he know more than he was letting on? Or was he just an unwitting participant in a larger scheme?
She leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. The pieces didn't quite fit together yet, but she was determined to make sense of them.
One thing was clear: the case wasn't as closed as it appeared. And Xian, whether he realized it or not, was a part of it.
Ch'en's gaze hardened. "You can't hide forever, Xian," she murmured. "I'll find out what you're keeping from me. One way or another."
She turned back to her computer, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she resumed her search. The night stretched on, but Ch'en ignored her fatigue. This wasn't just about solving a case—it was about uncovering the truth. And she wouldn't stop until she found it.