That morning.
From an alleyway beneath a tall building, two bodies wrapped in white sheets were carried out.
Yellow police tape once again cordoned off the surrounding block, holding back gawking passersby. The Patrol Department arrived at the first opportunity, their expressions grim as they carried in equipment and began a secondary sweep of the scene.
"Old Huang... Sigh. Who would've thought there was a mini-bomb hidden inside that corpse?"
"I heard he was working three jobs just to send his daughter to the Ring Academy. He even borrowed a lot of money from the gangs. Now that he's gone, all that debt..."
"Wonder if the company will even compensate his family. This should count as a workplace injury, right?"
"Heh, you should've seen the look on Fatty Cui's face. And don't forget, there's been talk of layoffs and pay cuts lately. We're just C-class temp workers."
The chatter of his colleagues reached his ears. Some sighed in sorrow, others cursed under their breath. Some clenched their fists, their expressions shifting.
Lu Chao stood at the edge of the police tape, listening quietly.
All the sanitation workers had been temporarily gathered together. They stood outside the alley's entrance, waiting for the Patrol Department to finish its sweep before they could resume cleaning.
"That's just fate."
"You might not see something like this happen once in three months, but Old Huang just had to be the one... If the two of us had been the ones to collect that body, we'd have been done for too."
Old Cheng, standing beside him, shook his head as he spoke. The man, in his forties or fifties, wore an expression of sympathy for Old Huang's fate, mixed with deep, lingering fear and a sense of relief.
Lu Chao fell silent at his words, finding the sunlight around him a bit too harsh.
Even with his accidental death, Old Huang's family probably wouldn't receive much in compensation.
Though they were nominally part of the Patrol Department, they were, in reality, outsourced temp workers who had signed contracts with a labor company.
Their benefits were a world apart from those of official Patrol Department members.
The former earned a meager income, faced layoffs and pay cuts, and lived hand-to-mouth. The latter, however, enjoyed all sorts of generous benefits and were provided with apartments near the city center.
"Is there... no chance for us to become official members?"
He watched as a patrol officer in a blue uniform walked out of the alley. Fatty Cui, their usually stern team leader, hurried over to greet him, a fawning smile on his face as he bowed and scraped.
Lu Chao hesitated for a moment before he couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
'This is the best way out I can think of right now.'
He remembered that his original self had been willing to risk this dangerous job precisely because of the Patrol Department's reputation.
After all, it was a key department of the Alliance Country's government—the coercive force responsible for urban security.
The significance of becoming an official member was self-evident.
"Oh?"
His smile vanished. Old Cheng turned his head to look at him.
"Difficult." Their eyes met, and he shook his head slightly.
"The Patrol Department changed its regulations three years ago. Just like the other corporations, they made educational background a key evaluation metric."
"People like us... forget about higher education, few of us even finished secondary school. In comparison, those elites who graduate from advanced academies are much more convenient for them to use."
There was a sigh in his tone, and Lu Chao could smell the faint scent of tobacco on his breath.
A chill went through Lu Chao's heart. So even this path was completely blocked by educational requirements.
"However..."
Suddenly, Old Cheng frowned.
Lu Chao was slightly taken aback.
"Actually, the Patrol Department did leave one opportunity for us outsourced employees."
Old Cheng lowered his voice. "Every October, there's an internal assessment. If your Life Energy meets the standard—over twenty points—you can sign up to participate. If you pass, you can transfer to the combat division and become a third-level patrol officer. The benefits and pay double, and you'll have chances for promotion later on."
"But... very few people pass the assessment. There are only a handful of spots each year. People like you and me shouldn't even think about it."
He then shook his head again, clearly not optimistic about this path.
A third-level patrol officer, also known as a provisional patrol officer.
Even so, their status and salary were higher than most, and countless eyes were fixed on those positions.
What's more, twenty points of Life Energy was a huge hurdle, very difficult to reach.
For nobodies like them, with no connections and no money, it was simply impossible.
'The internal assessment in October...'
However, Lu Chao's eyes brightened as a thought began to form in his mind.
It was currently June. He had a full four months.
As for Life Energy, it was the most comprehensive indicator of personal strength. The higher it went, the more one could accomplish feats that seemed impossible to ordinary people.
Fighting a hundred men at once, battling birds of prey, splitting steel plates with a palm strike... even extending one's lifespan. Those with powerful Life Energy were always highly valued by all factions.
The requirement of twenty points of Life Energy seemed difficult, but this was the only chance he had seen so far to turn his life around.
Instantly, he clenched his fist.
Lu Chao had a new goal.
'I have to try!'
...
VMM!
Five o'clock that afternoon.
The gray-black sanitation truck drove away from him. Lu Chao stood on the street near his home, watching it disappear into the distance.
This was one of the few perks of being a sanitation worker.
After their cleaning duties were done, their time was their own. They could choose to ride a sanitation truck home if it was heading their way, saving them a trip back to the labor company.
"Finally done."
His body felt sticky from a full day's sweat.
Lu Chao still had on his dirty black shoes and the same yellow-striped work uniform.
The rest of the cleanup had proceeded without any further incidents, though the Patrol Department's sweep had caused some delays.
Right now, all he wanted was to get home quickly, take a hot shower, and change into some dry clothes.
[Potential Progress: 98%]
'What kind of change will it be?'
He glanced at the panel subconsciously, his thoughts returning to what Old Cheng had said.
He planned to try for the internal assessment in October. It was the only way for him to bypass his disadvantage in education and escape this quagmire.
The key now was to choose a path for increasing his Life Energy.
Cybernetic augmentation, Martial Arts combat, or awakening an esper ability.
These were the three paths he had pieced together from his original self's memories and from the information he had looked up on his way home.
All were supernatural methods passed down to Earth Star by extraterrestrial civilizations. Each had its own advantages, and all of them could increase one's Life Energy.
He wasn't in a hurry to decide, because he was eagerly anticipating the change that would occur once his Potential Progress was complete.
His final plan depended on it.
TAP! TAP!
He immediately turned and strode in the direction of his home.
A light breeze blew a tattered newspaper against a black trash can on the street corner.
The concrete street before him was seven or eight meters wide, stretching out in a straight line. Utility poles stood along the roadside, holding up a tangled mess of black wires.
Dozens of buildings lined both sides of the street. They were all old and no more than ten stories high, with drab, gray concrete walls.
Exposed black gas pipes clung to the concrete walls, extending around the street corners, covered in deep yellow rust stains.
The ground floors housed a number of shops with neon signs, mostly small restaurants and hair salons, along with a few scattered convenience stores and a small clinic.
This was where his original self had lived.
The Iron Ring District, Factory Street.
This had been Ring City's industrial zone in the old era. It had enjoyed a brief period of prosperity before being gradually abandoned following the establishment and development of the Alliance Country and the formalization of diplomatic relations with extraterrestrial civilizations.
The nearby buildings were once dormitories for the workers. To accommodate Ring City's population growth, they were later repossessed by the Political Affairs Department and rented out cheaply.
It was already five in the afternoon, and there were quite a few people coming and going.
The aroma of synthetic meat wafted from a small restaurant as plainly dressed office workers hurried home.
"Hey, boss, give me a haircut."
"I'll have a synthetic fast-food meal."
"Tch, isn't she just a damn streetwalker? Raised her prices again?"
Some were getting haircuts, others were eating.
Flies buzzed in thick clouds over a black barrel in the corner, which was overflowing with plastic trash.
Lu Chao glanced around from the street entrance before looking away and quickening his pace toward an old building.
Since he hadn't gone back to the company, he had only given his clothes a quick cleaning. He still smelled of a mixture of disinfectant and rot.
Passersby frowned or covered their noses. Most shot him a look of disgust, as if he were bad luck.
"Study hard, you hear me? Otherwise, you'll end up doing this kind of work too."
"I know, Mom."
The voices of a mother and son reached his ears. They deliberately kept their distance from him on the street.
Lu Chao's face was expressionless. He was already used to the cold stares that came with his job.
He then turned off the road into Old Building No. 3 and climbed the rough concrete stairs to the fifth floor.
There was no elevator here, and only two apartments per floor.
The security doors only had old-fashioned keyholes, and most were stained with yellow rust.
CLICK!
He took out his key and inserted it into the lock.
Lu Chao turned the doorknob and walked into his home.
A shabby living room came into view. The white paint on the walls was peeling in places, revealing the gray base underneath.
A wrinkled black leather sofa was pushed against one wall. In front of it was a mahogany coffee table with a broken leg, propped up by a thick stack of books and piled high with various junk.
'Isn't he back yet?'
He glanced at the closed door to the left of the living room. There was no sound from within.
Leaning against the wall, Lu Chao struggled a bit to take off his black shoes.
He didn't live alone. A friend of his original self's, who had also grown up in an orphanage, was his roommate. They split the rent and some of the food costs.
His friend's name was Zhao Yuanqing. He was about the same age and worked at a repair shop during the day, not usually getting back until eight or nine at night.
Right after he transmigrated, he had suffered from a persistent high fever and was delirious. It was thanks to Zhao Yuanqing's care that he pulled through and gradually adapted to this world.
The stray thoughts passed. Lu Chao put on a pair of slippers, took off his work uniform, and walked into the kitchen.
Inside the refrigerator was a large bag of sliced bread and a few instant-heat boxed meals.
There was also a piece of frozen beef he had prepared in advance. This was his dinner for tonight.
'This should be enough, right?'
Based on his previous progress, Lu Chao deduced that this dinner should be enough to bring the Glutton's Potential Progress to completion.
Full of anticipation, he turned on the gas valve. He put a pot of water on to boil, cut the meat, and heated up his meal, his movements passably skillful.
While he was cooking, his smart wristband vibrated gently, displaying a message that caught his attention.
[Your bank card ending in XX92 has been debited 1,000 yuan today. Transaction successful! Current balance: 8,496.21 yuan.]
[Friendly Reminder: You have made 12 repayments on your (Welfare Loan). 108 repayments remain. The total remaining balance, including principal and interest, is one hundred and ten thousand yuan.]
The cold text of the message filled his vision. Looking at the bank deduction notification, Lu Chao felt a wave of helplessness and pressure well up inside him.
The so-called Welfare Loan was a mandatory repayment for the cost of being raised to adulthood by the orphanage.
Every orphan, upon reaching adulthood, was required to pay this fee to the Political Affairs Department for a period of ten years.
The amount varied depending on the orphanage and the period of admission. The total cost for his original self was 120,000 yuan, and he had already been paying it back for a year.
'Luckily, it's interest-free.'
'But even so, it's still a heavy burden.'
Shaking his head in silence, Lu Chao felt a tightness in his chest.
Those who came from orphanages already had a hard time surviving. With meager incomes, they struggled to find decent jobs, trapping them in a vicious cycle over time.
His original self had only managed to save up nearly 10,000 yuan because he was driven by his unwillingness to accept his fate. He often took on small, day-labor jobs and had even given up the idea of practicing Martial Arts, worried that his expenses would exceed his income and he wouldn't be able to keep up with the loan repayments.
After all, if he defaulted on the loan, the consequences would be severe. He could easily have his city citizenship revoked by the Political Affairs Department, losing his right to work and reside freely.
HUFF!
He let out a long breath.
Lu Chao forced himself to put these thoughts aside and looked at the cooked synthetic meal and the steaming hot beef.
He didn't want any of these worst-case scenarios to happen.
And right now, the only way to break the cycle...
GULP! GULP!
He picked up his chopsticks and shoveled rice into his mouth, chewing the meat fiercely.
Lu Chao ate ravenously, as if he had been starving for a long time, all while staring intently at the panel.
Bit by bit, second by second.
He watched the progress bar slowly climb from 98% to 99%.
His stomach began to feel full, but he kept eating, forcing himself to swallow every last bite.
GULP!
GULP!!
The warm meat slid down his esophagus and into his stomach. Once again, he had pushed himself to the limit.
His stomach was bloated and round; he couldn't eat another thing.
VMM!
Finally.
[Potential Progress: 99%→100%!]
[Potential Unlocked!]
[Innate Specialty Activation Successful!]