Chapter 325: Troy Safe Zone

On the street, sporadic neon lights flickered.

Bolaka City, being a relatively large Safe Zone, many luxurious shops used diesel generators to light up their signs.

However, the street was crowded with many rickshaws, or sedan chairs carried by four people.

In a daze, this place seemed to have returned to modern times.

The buildings were chaotic, rough and ugly.

On the grayish cement-built storefronts along the street, colorful light bulbs were hung.

Vendors pushing various snacks loudly hawked their wares.

The flow of people was steady; occasionally, a pregnant woman holding a child would earnestly promote 'milk'.

Thugs squatting in front of the red-light establishments stared intently at passing customers.

The flesh trade occupied more than sixty percent of the shops.

Shaven-headed, relatively clean thin men gathered in groups, actively pitching the shop's new goods to passersby.

"New college students, from the dance academy, interested?"

"Big star, big star! A big star coming out of the Inner City!"

"Half a catty of grain for one night, with lodging included!"

Open and aboveboard.

Many pimps who were bald even pulled out a set of cards, on which explicit pictures were carefully drawn.

Quite original, these establishments employed many top-notch painters just to make the little cards look nicer.

【Bolaka Grand Hotel】.

Several foul-smelling slaves, under the overseer's watch, numbly jumped into the cesspool and then cleared the clogged makeshift sewer with their bare hands.

No protection, no gloves.

Yet even this job aroused envy among many passersby.

As a Safe Zone built relying on a military base, the whole layout was almost in utter chaos.

Toilets were perpetually clogged, so many people simply relieved themselves in the street.

Thus, as there was always work, the cesspool cleaners became stable 'civil servants'.

Zhang Tie looked at the feces-covered cesspool cleaner with a look of disgust, his face turning ashen.

"Sir! Hello!"

As if noticing someone looking at him, the feces-covered cleaner, his face blackened, respectfully saluted them.

Then, without a care, he dipped the white maggots at his mouth into the 'sauce' and stuffed them into his mouth.

Had a few people not previously witnessed Lin Ruolan eating, they would surely have vomited right then.

Under the guidance of Lv Shu, Lin An and the others, after paying three jin of flour, moved into the best hotel in the Outer City.

In the simply furnished room, Gao Tian could not help but rush to the toilet and vomit.

The bedsheets were yellowed, but compared to outside, they were already considered clean.

There was electric lighting, a broken TV, and a private toilet.

Compared to the slave shacks outside the city, this place was paradise.

By the three-layered window, Lin An, under Lv Shu's greenish gaze, took out a cigarette and lit it slowly.

Smoke curled, the flame flickering.

"Lv Shu."

"You said earlier you didn't know where the leader of Bolaka was—what's going on?"

"Is there any way to see him, or find him?"

A faint scent of tobacco lingered.

Lv Shu twitched his nose with an expression of enjoyment, greedily inhaling the secondhand smoke:

"Sir..."

"Maybe my rank is too low."

"But everyone says the Bolaka leader acts extremely cautiously; his residence in the Inner City Imperial Palace spans as much as ten square kilometers!"

"There have been riots and assassinations here before, so he trusts no one."

"In the Imperial Palace live his slaves, concubines, and close aides."

"Outsiders simply cannot enter, and no one knows exactly where he resides."

"Furthermore, rumor has it that the boss of our Wild Wolf Group, Lei Man, once caught a distant glimpse of Lord Bolaka."

"Wherever Bolaka goes, he wears thick armor, and it's said he has several layers of bulletproof clothing underneath."

"Whenever he goes out, he is accompanied by death warriors; thus outsiders have no idea where he might stay."

Lin An frowned slightly, casually tossing a cigarette to Lv Shu and the just-vomiting Gao Tian.

As if they had obtained a priceless treasure.

Lv Shu excitedly held a Liqun cigarette, his whole body trembling as he brought the smoke to his nose to sniff over and over:

"Sir!"

"Is this for me?!"

Lin An gave a slight nod.

This place has been in disaster for three years; supplies like cigarettes are estimated to have skyrocketed in price.

According to Lv Shu, even if he caught Bolaka's city guard commander, he might still not be able to find Bolaka.

That's somewhat tricky.

The 'Imperial Palace' built on the core of the Military Region surely has underground facilities and definitely an escape route.

Getting in isn't hard, but judging by how cowardly the vole said Bolaka is, eight or nine times out of ten they'll just run away.

Is there no way to find Bolaka?

He can't possibly stay hidden forever, can he?

The cigarette is yours; if you can think of a plan, the rest of the pack is yours.

After obtaining Lin An's consent, the vole devoutly and carefully lit it, then took a satisfying puff:

Sir, you are truly the most generous person I have ever seen.

This one cigarette can be traded for ten jin of food.

If you're willing, even the noble girls in the city would be willing to spend a night with you.

Of course, judging by your looks, you could surely make a fortune.

The vole exclaimed in admiration of Lin An's appearance.

To be honest, you can't find a man better-looking than Lin An anywhere in Bolaka City.

The gap is too great.

Even Bolaka's empress, the top beauty, doesn't have skin as good as Lin An's.

I really don't know where you lived before; it's as if you never get sun.

Under the temptation of a pack of cigarettes, the vole racked his brains.

Of course, mainly he really wants to cling to Lin An's thigh.

Those who have survived to now are not fools.

Especially someone like him, who can drive but has zero fighting strength, a small fellow.

Reading people's expressions and gauging the situation have become ingrained in his bones.

After smoking half a cigarette, the vole's eyes darted around:

Sir!

I've thought of it!

Having said that, he hesitated a moment.

Seeing Lin An gazing at him, he carefully stubbed out the cigarette, his expression turning stern as he voiced his idea:

Sir, envoys from the Troy Safe Zone will arrive at tonight's auction.

That safe zone's forces like to wear masks and cloaks, utterly mysterious.

They're coming not just to attend the auction, but also to discuss trade cooperation with Bolaka!

If you could...

The vole lowered his voice warily:

If you could kill them, you could completely pose as Troy's envoys!

I'm quite certain that the high level of the Bolaka Safe Zone has never had any dealings with them.

Because the Troy Safe Zone recently underwent a coup, these envoys are newly selected.

This information comes from Troy nobles we met fleeing in the wilderness; the intel is absolutely reliable!

As long as you can kill them silently, you can gain an audience with Bolaka!

His heart pounded wildly.

For the first time, the vole felt his courage soared to the heavens.

Having said that, he knelt on the ground with a respectful expression:

Sir, I wish to pledge my loyalty to you.

Perhaps I know little and it's not much use, but I'm willing to go right now to scout the Troy envoys' whereabouts!

I know the auction staff; I can get their information!

He actually faintly sensed what Lin An intended by asking about Bolaka.

Such formidable power is practically inhuman.

Mysterious, knowing nothing of the outside world, yet still seeking the emperor of the safe zone, Bolaka...

The implication goes without saying.

But it's precisely because Lin An and the others displayed such unfathomable ability that he dared to take the gamble.

Especially after realizing Lin An might actually be a 'good person'.

Lin An glanced somewhat surprised at the timid vole, lost in thought.

The auction, Troy...

If the operation goes smoothly, perhaps we could take over this safe zone by tomorrow.

The vole?

The vole's gall is as big as the sky.