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Arthur moved through the crowds like fleeing shadows, his coat concealing his features to give him the appearance of "the suspect"—ironically, the perfect disguise for his protection. He had left the city where he had parted ways with Celestia after a hasty goodbye; she had raised no objection to his desire to visit his sister, merely offering a practical warning: "Be in the Central Continent a week before the academy starts to register, and avoid trouble..."
Though the clock showed morning, the towering skyscrapers devoured the natural sunlight, replacing it with artificial "neon" lights mimicking daylight, creating an atmosphere of "lost time" where one could not distinguish night from day.
(This is boring... Why are we walking like common folk?)
A small head emerged from the collar of Arthur's coat. It was a lizard, or so it seemed, with shimmering purple scales and a majestic design suggesting a miniature dragon that had lost its wings in a losing bet. Its beauty was so captivating that it was impossible to believe it was merely a "wild lizard."
(We've been walking for hours! My feet—which I don't even use—have started to hurt. Take out that Means of transport you boast about and let's leave quickly!)
Arthur sighed, adjusting his hat, ignoring the glances drawn toward the glowing creature on his shoulder. Fortunately, lineage spirits weren't rare, but a "lizard" with such allure was a magnet for eyes.
Arthur whispered harshly, "First, we're in a security checkpoint zone; flying or driving is prohibited until we reach the main gate. Second, do you really think I enjoy walking ten kilometers? I'm not a monk training in the mountains."
He sighed in annoyance at the dense crowd pushing like ants. The surveillance system here was terrifying; cameras and sensors could detect criminal intentions before they happened. Arthur watched as petty thieves were apprehended before they could even reach for a wallet.
Most were children... homeless, driven by necessity.
Every time he spotted a miserable child, Arthur would discreetly slip some cash into their hand. True, the world was digital, but "cash" was still king in every era.
After an hour and fifteen minutes of soul-crushing walking, the main gate finally came into view.
All Arthur could think about was "freedom." Escaping this suffocating concrete box.
As soon as he crossed the gate, warm, real sunlight hit him, as if welcoming him and telling him his annoying adventure in the city was over. Arthur decided to live the moment, opening his arms slightly, closing his eyes to take the deepest breath possible of pure natural air.
"Finally... the smell of freedom..."
"Cough!... Cough-cough-cough!"
The majestic scene suddenly turned into a farce. Arthur's face turned red, his eyes watered, and he began coughing as if expelling his lungs from his body.
A worker approached, calmly handing him a pill as if distributing candy, saying in a deadly routine tone:
"Oh, are you okay? Sorry, this happens to beginners a lot."
Arthur was choking due to "mana thistle," a perennial desert plant. Thanks to its mana saturation, its pollen was so potent it could make a "Master"-ranked fighter kneel, crying and suffocating if unprepared.
After swallowing the antidote and regaining his breath with difficulty, Arthur wiped the tears of "humiliation" from his eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice laced with cold anger, desperately trying to regain his dignity:
"How... how can you plant such a biological weapon in front of a central gate?! Are you trying to assassinate visitors?!"
The worker replied, scratching the back of his head, unfazed by Arthur's terrifying aura:
"Apologies, sir, but it's part of the 'purification' policy. Besides, the problem is with you... who opens their lungs fully and inhales all at once in a desert area? You should breathe... carefully. Like tasting hot soup."
"Huh?... Tasting soup?... You know what, don't explain. Just get out of my sight."
"(Hahaha! What a sight! A 'half-primitive' almost died from a wild flower! History should record this!)" the lizard mocked in his mind.
"Shut up, or I'll make you a meal for that flower."
Arthur reached the vehicle parking area, opening his system's storage space to retrieve a strangely shaped key. He pressed complex symbols, then dramatically threw it to the ground.
The key began to disintegrate and reassemble using "nano" technology, transforming in seconds into a sleek black electronic motorcycle.
(I still can't believe that small piece hides this beast.)
"Get used to it; you'll see things that defy your old logic."
The lizard shook its head and leaped lightly to settle on the digital dashboard in front of the handlebars, raising its head with pride disproportionate to its size.
"Oh, look! How cute!" a group of girls exclaimed, pointing at the lizard.
"God, its soul is so beautiful!" added a young man, giving Arthur a thumbs-up.
The lizard enjoyed the praise while Arthur adjusted the "transparent shield" settings to protect against the wind (and those damned pollen grains).
"Human trash doesn't understand true beauty. If you weren't weak, I wouldn't have to appear in this 'cute' pitiful form to distract people."
"Really? Enjoy your fame, you 'cute one,' because the road is long."
Arthur shot off on the motorcycle like an arrow, then smoothly veered toward the high-speed motorcycle lane, a feature he loved in this orderly world.
(So, where is this 'little lady' we're heading to?) the beast asked, watching the road.
"The little lady? You mean my sister? She's in another state. Unfortunately, we'll have to cover the distance by bike; I want to see the cities up close, I haven't had the chance to properly admire this world."
The lizard looked at Arthur in surprise, its eyes gleaming mischievously:
"And what's the point of admiring a place... we're going to destroy and burn it in the future?"
The atmosphere suddenly changed. The comedic air vanished, replaced by a terrifying chill. Arthur didn't turn, but his voice came out cold as a knife blade:
"Destroy it?... That's something only you and your master will dream of."
Arthur didn't direct his aura toward the lizard, but his tone was enough to silence it. The road remained silent, broken only by the whistle of the wind and the motorcycle's quiet engine.
After two hours of riding, passing through routine inspections that had become a boring part of every citizen's life, Arthur finally arrived in front of the massive white building.
The hospital. Where the last remaining piece of his humanity lay resting.
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Arthur stood at the hospital entrance, his hands trembling unconsciously in his coat pockets. Hesitation gnawed at him; he had never experienced the meaning of "family." All he possessed were fragments of the "original Arthur's" memories—confused, faded recollections that neither satisfied nor nourished him in his current situation.
But suddenly, amid his tension, a "flashback" erupted from an ancient time—not from this Arthur's life, but from his past as a personal bodyguard. He remembered a young girl who had been the second closest person to his heart, after his only friend. He recalled how, at eighteen, he had followed her like a shadow, until the day she forced him to play this "game" he now found himself trapped in.
Arthur muttered softly, "Without you... I might not have known how to take a single step here. I wonder... how are you now?"
His tone was a strange mix of his usual sorrow and a rare hint of happiness, but the moment of clarity shattered with an anxious female voice.
"Si—Sir? Are you alright? Do you need medical assistance?"
A young nurse, having monitored him through security cameras, mustered the courage to approach this "suspicious" figure standing motionless like a statue. Arthur initially ignored her, but realized he had no choice but to enter. When he told her he had come to visit his sister, it only deepened her suspicion; who would wear such a dubious disguise to visit a patient?
*(I told you your appearance would cause us trouble! Look at her face—she expects you to pull out a bomb, not a bouquet of roses. Man, reveal your face and spare us!)* the lizard mocked in his mind.
Arthur ignored his creature's chatter and followed the nurse to the office of the specialist in "mana corruption." Arthur knew this doctor well; he had been one of the few who hadn't shut their door in his face. He had secretly treated Arthur's sister when she fell victim to the illness, at a time when the government refused financial support unless the corruption reached the patient's brain, turning it into a hopeless case.
The moment Arthur stepped inside and revealed his "special nursing code" and identity, the stifling atmosphere in the office erupted into an outburst of emotion. These weren't just medical staff—they were the family the original Arthur had often rejected out of pride, yet secretly respected deep down.
"Finally, lad!" exclaimed the specialist, a smile breaking through his tired face. "You can't imagine how we felt when we heard about your kidnapping. We thought we'd lost you forever, until news came that you were alive and receiving special training under a respected master. Only then could we sleep peacefully."
A young nurse named "Jin" laughed, winking at Arthur: "Man, if you'd seen how Stella and Karen cried when they heard about your kidnapping… you'd have thought you were a national hero!"
The nurses "Karen" and "Stella" blushed, and Karen quickly retorted, "Jin! That's not funny! And you and Michael cried like children too—don't deny it!"
A light-hearted scuffle broke out among the nurses, and in that moment, something happened that Arthur hadn't done in a very long time.
"Hahahaha!"
A pure, genuine laugh erupted from the depths of his heart. This was the first time he had laughed sincerely in this world. He realized these people truly loved him.
Arthur stood up and bowed deeply, saying with gratitude, "Thank you… for everything. Even in my absence, you didn't abandon my sister. I owe you my life."
Everyone smiled warmly, remembering the struggle of this young man who had never given up. Michael and Jin pulled Arthur into a tight, brotherly embrace, tears welling in their eyes.
"Never forget, Arthur—we're always here. We promise we'll never leave your sister; we'll care for her as if she were our own."
For the first time, Arthur felt a sense of safety wrap around his heart. Words failed him, so he simply nodded, carrying all his gratitude in that silent gesture. But, as emotional moments rarely last long with Jin around…
Jin suddenly wiped his tears and said with a mischievous grin, "Alright, now that we've finished the family drama and confirmed you're safe… it's time for real work!"
Eyes turned to Jin in confusion as he raised his hand enthusiastically. "Let's reveal our little Arthur's face and see how handsome—or ugly—he's become after all these years of kidnapping!"
Arthur's eyes widened in panic: "Oh no…"
(Oh yes! Now the real show begins!) the lizard cheered with malicious excitement.
Before Arthur could resist, Jin and Michael pounced, yanking off his hat, glasses, and heavy coat in one swift motion.
In that instant… a deafening silence fell. Everyone's mouths dropped in shock, and the nurses froze in place. The person standing before them wasn't the "Arthur" they remembered… but something entirely different.
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(Author: How can someone escape attacks from a primitive dragon but not escape the grip of a nurse slower than a Siberian tiger 🤔)
(Viewer: And how do we know you're the author? You're the one who should tell us.)
(Author: Maybe in the next chapter. Maybe.)
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