Chapter 69 “City-State Life”

This Translation is hosted on bcatranslation.com

After completing a comprehensive evaluation of all test subjects, Duncan reached a profound understanding of Ai’s capabilities in transporting a variety of items aboard the Vanished. Ai showcased an impressive ability to transport a broad spectrum of items seamlessly—ranging from organic to inorganic, and even extending to supernatural and mundane objects. Notably, the diversity of these items did not affect the stability of the transport process, nor did it alter the items’ inherent properties.

Among the items transported, some displayed mobility when aboard the Vanished, which indicated they were sub-units of a larger, controlling entity. For instance, shells functioned as components of an ammunition system and lost their mobility once removed from the Vanished, becoming ordinary objects.

The transport process had a minimal impact on Ai’s energy levels, whether it involved transporting a single ceremonial dagger initially or multiple items later. Ai consistently returned vibrant and energetic, suggesting that the volume of cargo transported was well within its capacity.

To date, Duncan’s tests focused on the type of items without exploring potential limitations related to their weight or volume. He recognized the need for further testing to ascertain these factors.

Duncan meticulously recorded all the data he had gathered, ensuring no detail was overlooked. After confirming his thoroughness, he sighed in relief and leaned back in his chair.

He acknowledged the shortcomings in his testing, such as the limited variety of test species and the small sample size, which might not provide robust data.

Looking forward, Duncan planned to test a wider array of item types, along with varying weights and volumes, to determine the limits of Ai’s transport capabilities and the stability of repeated transports. Only with sufficient comparative data could he confirm the reliability and validity of his findings.

His cautious approach was driven by an innovative idea or strategy. Given Ai’s proven ability to safely transport various items between the land and the Vanished, Duncan considered the possibility of transporting people, particularly those not entirely human, like Alice.

Duncan was aware of the limitations of using only his ability to navigate the spirit world as a link between the Vanished and the terrestrial city-states, recognizing the challenges related to manpower and oversight. Additional assistance would significantly enhance his operational capacity.

However, Alice, referred to as “Anomaly 099,” was not an ideal candidate for assistance. While she appeared elegant and enigmatic when inactive, her incompetence was glaringly apparent when active. Despite this, Duncan had no better options at the moment.

Reflecting on his sole reliable crew member’s tendency for accidents, Duncan sighed again.

The generally hostile nature of the Vanished complicated his efforts. Duncan suspected seeking allies within the human world would be futile, as he would likely attract miscreants and villains—those bent on a “Great Annihilation,” meddling with gas lines and engaging in demonic rituals.

These characters could easily ally with a demonic entity, given their ample free time used for plotting invasions. However, Duncan knew they were not the allies he sought.

“At least Alice is compliant,” Duncan sighed to himself. “With the right guidance, she might become something noteworthy.”

Even if Alice did not develop into a helpful assistant, Duncan thought it would still be beneficial for her, having been confined in a coffin for many years, to experience the world outside, which she was completely oblivious to.

After organizing his thoughts, Duncan sorted through the significant collection of items he had brought. These items were not immediately necessary for his return to the Vanished, so he needed to store them in the shop.

The second floor of the antique store offered limited storage options. Nina, his niece, could arrive at any moment to help with cleaning. Some items, like a century-old shell, would raise suspicions if left in plain sight. However, Duncan found suitable hiding places for these items after some consideration.

Concealing the sun amulet on his person was straightforward; storing the salted fish in the kitchen made sense. The century-old shell and a sailor’s dagger from the same era were easily handled—Duncan took these items downstairs to the shop and placed them discreetly near the counter. Amidst the variety of authentic, cluttered, and counterfeit antiques, the dagger and shell blended seamlessly on the ground floor.

As for the cheese from the Vanished’s kitchen, Duncan found an ideal spot for it as well—the trash can.

After arranging everything, Duncan wiped his hands—though they weren’t actually dusty—and felt quite satisfied with his efforts. He then looked outside at the sky.

The “sun,” obscured by magical runes, was high, indicating it was noon.

Nina would return later that day. Until then, Duncan planned to explore the city to better acquaint himself with its layout and nuances.

Given the unlikelihood of any customers visiting the antique shop today, Duncan dressed for the cool weather by donning a dark brown coat and fixing his disheveled, decadent hair. He made an effort to appear more lively, despite his body being worn from the effects of alcohol, drugs, and illness. Then, he left the shop.

As he stepped out, he was greeted by the sound of fluttering wings from the second floor. Ai, a dove, flew out independently and landed on his shoulder, tilting its head and declaring proudly, “To Erxianqiao, take Chenghua Avenue…”

Duncan gave the bird a sideways glance. Initially, he had intended for the dove to keep watch over the second floor of the shop since carrying it around would attract undue attention. However, Duncan had inadvertently left without giving his bird any instructions, which led the bird to decide on its own to join the journey.

Observing the bird’s self-satisfied expression, Duncan couldn’t help but sigh and laugh in resignation. “Alright, you can follow if you want,” he conceded.

With the bird perched comfortably on his shoulder, Duncan made his way to the main thoroughfare opposite the antique shop. He strolled along the road briefly until the distinct chime of a bell, mingled with the sounds of a steam engine, announced the approach of a vehicle from afar. Lifting his gaze, he spotted a brown double-decker bus adorned with blue stripes making its way along the road and slowing to a stop at the nearby bus station.

This was a typical form of public transportation in Plands, propelled by steam engines and charging a fare of six Pesos. This fare allowed access to most of the lower city areas. The route map displayed on the back of the bus indicated that the final two stops of this line would traverse the fringes of the upper city area, specifically a locale known as the Crossroad.

Duncan was familiar with the Crossroad. He recognized it as a transitional zone within Plands, characterized by lively commercial activity and quality housing. It was regarded by many from the lower city as a goal for elevating their living standards. The district also attracted middle-class citizens who sought a decent lifestyle but could not afford the upper city’s exorbitant costs. The area boasted cinemas, museums, and a selection of upscale dining establishments.

Remembering that Nina’s school was located near the Crossroad and that she had spoken of the museum there, Duncan decided swiftly. He hurried to the bus station and boarded the bus just before it departed.

The bus was relatively empty, with over half of the first-floor seats vacant. Standing next to the driver’s compartment was a ticket collector dressed in a dark blue uniform. The young woman, with her shoulder-length hair and minimal makeup, instinctively reached for her ticket clip as Duncan boarded. However, she paused upon noticing the dove on Duncan’s shoulder.

“Sorry, no pets allowed on the bus, it’s the rule,” she informed him, pointing at the dove, “including pigeons.”

Duncan looked at Ai, his bird, which innocently flapped its wings and cocked its head at him.

“Go cling to the roof.”

“Coo, coo,” Ai responded, flapping its wings vigorously and exiting the bus. As it took flight, it seemed to curse, “Coo, coo, coo.”

The ticket collector watched, astonished, as the man and his bird seemed to communicate effortlessly. She was momentarily lost for words.

“Is it okay now?” Duncan inquired, pointing upwards to indicate the bird’s new location on the roof. “The bird is on the roof, you can’t do much about that, can you?”

Regaining her composure, the ticket collector replied, “Ah… yes… the fare is six Pesos, for an all-day pass.”

Duncan reached into his pocket, exchanged two coins for a blue ticket, and then settled into a window seat to quietly relish his first bus journey in this new world.

The steam engine roared to life, its startup accompanied by subtle vibrations and the distinct sounds of mechanical friction.

Simultaneously, the bus’s bell chimed crisply. Following this, the bus itself jerked slightly as the landscape outside began to retreat in the opposite direction.

Duncan settled back into his seat, a smile playing on his lips as he relished the vibrations and the surge of acceleration from this marvel of engineering.

He mused internally, “Steam engines are indeed marvelous, a testament to the civilized world and the strides we’ve made in technology.”

With a nod to himself, he decided he would integrate a similar system into the Vanished—perhaps starting with a boiler that could heat water. This would allow them and their future passengers to enjoy hot showers on board.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when the bus shuddered violently, halting his reverie as the scenery outside froze.

The young ticket collector thrust open a window near the front of the bus and called out energetically, “Anyone boarding? We have plenty of room! All the seats are spacious!”

Caught off guard, Duncan chuckled quietly to himself.

In that instant, this city-state, still new and strange to him, seemed suddenly vibrant and teeming with life.

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