Chapter 590: Current State of the Empire

Please, employee A-00112, Supervisor Wang Zhaofeng, hurry to the Mother Nest Weapon R&D Center.

All personnel, please note: the company reminds everyone to strictly follow inspection, quarantine, and disinfection procedures and regulations; violations will at minimum result in dismissal.

Please, employee…

The upper-level lobby was bustling with voices, but the mechanical-sounding female broadcast drowned out everyone's conversation.

The lobby's ceiling stood fourteen meters high, its outer perimeter lined with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, providing excellent lighting, and a "well" layout was used to arrange numerous teleportation matrices…

That is, a glass-tube structure resembling a columnar glass pipe.

These areas were marked on holographic screens with "Titan Star (Access Level: Very High / Special Application Required)", "Europa II Research Station", "Mars Foundry", and also "Luna Base (Access Level: High)".

At this moment, Wokan, An Na Jin and their equipment luggage were in the teleportation zone of Luna Base.

The two left the glass column.

After arriving at the bustling and even more spacious public area…

?!?

The previously noisy environment suddenly fell silent.

The busy people also all stopped, staring at Wokan and An Na Jin with shocked expressions.

OriginalBody…

Out of the Empire's several thousand and a population approaching ten quadrillion, there are only a handful; most importantly, each OriginalBody has a staggering height and exceptionally strong physique, making them the strongest beings aside from the Emperor.

This also means that OriginalBodies are beyond ordinary people's sight, let alone close observation or contact, even for Umbrella staff.

Yet, what now stands before everyone are two "living" OriginalBodies?

Although Wokan and An Na Jin have not been publicly disclosed, as Umbrella employees, even their obviously youthful, shy faces already stand at two and a half meters and three meters tall, respectively, immediately ruling out the possibility of them being Astate or Imperial Guard.

In contrast, Wokan and An Na Jin.

The two brothers were similarly a bit nervous, as this was their first time appearing in public without a father, or the accompaniment of various doctors and the Red and White Empresses.

Especially when some female employees threw ambiguous glances at them, An Na Jin, whose mind was far more active than Wokan's, couldn't help but blush.

"Dong, dong."

However, as the distinctive footfalls of magnetic boots echoed, the crowd finally recovered from their astonishment and returned to their own affairs.

It was a squad equipped with Thor Hammer Mark XII (the latest model, its power backpack nearly vanished, making it lighter and suitable for assault or stealth), helmets following the customary "Jiong" face Mark III style, the Glorious Iron Fist Squad, patrolling by at this moment, temporarily easing the awkward situation of the two External OriginalBody juniors.

Although OriginalBodies are rare, Human Truth has been publicized for nearly two hundred years, and the practice of "equality" among the populace has long spread.

That doesn't mean there are no "privileges"—such as military priority, martyr family priority, and similar rights are deeply ingrained, because these people are worthy of respect and admiration.

Thus, in today's Human Empire society, regarding so-called celebrities, actors, or internet personalities, the crazy fanbases and star effects seen in some universes simply do not appear.

People simply believe that those with high salaries and incomes must produce qualified works, and their words and actions are held to stricter standards than ordinary citizens; otherwise, they will be swiftly blacklisted or suppressed.

Just this alone eliminates any airs of "acting high and mighty" or "looking down on others".

"They're only" OriginalBodies, and both are underage OriginalBodies with no outstanding achievements, so employee curiosity dominates.

But if Shengjilesi and Fuge Rimu were present, some female employees might go "crazy".

Seeing this.

Wokan and An Na Jin nodded to the Iron Fist elders, expressing thanks, then proceeded to the "service terminal" at the edge of the public hall.

They waited in line for a moment.

The two arrived before a holographic terminal with tangible feedback.

After a few operations, An Na Jin pulled up the flight information for Raccoon City Airport.

At this time, Raccoon City was just after 9 a. m., and flights departing the main universe for Universe 03 did not depart until after 5 p. m., because such "long-distance" trips require extensive preparations to ensure flawless execution.

However, direct flights are pricey; even the lowest-tier one-way ticket costs one thousand Empire Credits (purchasing power equivalent to four thousand Soft Girl Coins).

Both have pocket money, but they spend each month on many online purchases; Wokan mainly buys various metallic ores from different star systems, while An Na Jin buys more paper comics, games, and vehicle models.

After all, the two are veteran otaku.

One thousand Empire Credits…

A bit pricey.

?

Continuing to browse, An Na Jin discovered a flight departing at 5:40 p. m.; it required fifteen minutes to reach Makulag, then departure at 1 p. m. local time the following day—twenty-six hours later—to head for Terra in Universe 03.

The main point is, a single-person one-way ticket is only six hundred?

"This…" An Na Jin raised his right hand, quickly tapping the flight entry with his index finger, displaying the detailed information before them:

"Brother, this might be a cruise ship, so we can enjoy the scenery and also visit Robert's Makulag; what do you think?"

"Fine." Wokan had no objection.

"Alright, I'll pay for the ticket; you cover the delicious and refreshing expenses there?"

"Mm."

"Great! I've paid."

Finalizing the itinerary target, the two immediately touched the holographic panel, entered the biological star system, and when the payment page opened, An Na Jin proactively placed his right hand on it and breezily paid 1,200.

The service terminal emitted a mechanical-sounding female voice: "Please wait a moment, the delivery robot will arrive shortly, estimated in fifteen seconds…"

The service terminal then emitted a mechanical‑sounding female voice reminder: "Both of you, please wait a moment, the delivery person is about to arrive, estimated in fifteen seconds…"

As the brief countdown ended, a hovering unit painted bright white and yellow, its overall shape resembling a mechanical sentinel but more rounded, with limbs no longer as sharp as the previous "delivery robot", arrived at the service terminal.

The female voice continued: "You may hand over your luggage to the delivery robot for shipping."

In response, the two immediately chose to ship the luggage, and even marked "hazardous material" on the shipping form.

The Human Empire has never ceased selling firearms to civilians.

But up to now, with violent incidents involving firearms not exceeding ten thousand, all requirements, specifications, and laws have become highly refined.

But up to now, with violent incidents involving firearms not exceeding ten thousand, all requirements, specifications, and laws have become highly refined.

Moreover, with scanning and monitoring technologies highly refined, even delivery, consignment, and intra‑city shipping can be used to transport heat weapons (provided both sender and receiver hold permits).

As long as it is a regular colony, smuggling is essentially eliminated, let alone the Empire's core, Earth.

And Wokan's and An Na Jin's melee weapons are very likely to be tagged as "valuable hazardous items" during the member‑delivery scan.

As for the couriers…

The current Human Empire has already employed a large number of machines to boost efficiency and facilitate society.

The two brothers have before them one such representative; as long as they locate a service terminal, they can arrange any service anytime, anywhere, freeing their hands.

Even so, the term "unemployment rate" has long vanished; although service, construction, and manufacturing sectors are nearing saturation, a society with virtually limitless resources has no need to worry about food, clothing, shelter, or transportation.

An Na Jin thinks airfare is expensive, but that's only because Sui Bian won't let their OriginalBody spend lavishly.

Consignment processed.

The two do not linger in the Umbrella Building; they use a teleporting lift to reach the first‑floor lobby directly, then proceed to the First Avenue in the center of Raccoon City.

Standing at the main entrance, looking up, they can only glimpse the azure sky through a "slit"; with streetlights and illumination fully installed, the two OriginalBodies would find it hard to tell whether it is day or night without looking upward.

Mainly because the surrounding structures are massive office towers and apartments, all soaring about five hundred meters high, giving an inexplicable sense of oppression.

Fortunately, Empire law stipulates that no building may exceed fifteen hundred meters; anything over one thousand meters requires application and certification, thus fundamentally preventing hierarchical structures like those of Kolosang.

As for the pedestrians, most wear black formal attire (resembling a Zhongshan suit, not a Western suit), striding briskly as if hurrying to a destination.

After all, the residents who can work and live here are mostly elites from various fields, numbering in the tens of trillions, with an extremely fast pace, eager to make use of every moment.

When they saw the two OriginalBodies, some people froze briefly, but quickly returned to their own affairs.

Mainly because the pedestrians lack the insight of Umbrella employees, they treated the two OriginalBodies as ordinary Astate.

Only a small fraction of travelers mutter softly, then pull out phones to take photos, intending to post on social networks to satisfy a certain "show‑off" urge.

And also.

As a city of pivotal importance within the Empire, during their stroll the two OriginalBodies also encountered numerous Glorious Iron Fist units on patrol—a sight unimaginable in most colonial metropolises.

Today Raccoon City is a steel jungle, yet iconic structures such as the Clock Tower, City Hall, and Police Station have been preserved.

Meanwhile, some holographic screens broadcast recruitment ads for the Empire Navy and Army.

A classic scene shows ordinary Empire soldiers on the far left, with, moving rightward, Krig, Sangheli, auxiliary troops, and Astate.

Though the Ironblood and some Virin have already obtained human citizenship, their numbers are far below even a fraction of Sangheli's, so they cannot become representative figures in the Empire's armed forces.

The two brothers used the public transit system to tour many famous sights, even visiting a wax‑figure hall where the Emperor, the Plague Doctor, Wang Shaofeng and others held meetings.

Moreover, not only Raccoon City but all cities and settlements within the Solar System have public transit, restaurants, and malls with seats reserved exclusively for Astate.

After all, the combined annual total of other legion reserves, Glorious Iron Fist, and Tuthmos numbers at least five hundred thousand, and this figure keeps rising.

When their respective legion's designated holidays arrive, some Astate shed their armor, set aside their burst‑arrow rifles, and enjoy a long‑awaited leisure.

Afternoon.

After Wokan and An Na Jin finish the sweet‑tasting, Chinese‑style fast food placed in the mall, they dash nonstop toward the suburban zoo.

They saw "wild" griffins that were all collapsed on the ground, motionless, some even with bloated bellies, and also a nine‑headed serpent that had its teeth removed and venom glands extracted.

At last, the two are satisfied as they board a maglev train heading to the suburban Star Port, where numerous cruise ships, cargo vessels, and merchant ships longer than five kilometers are docked.

Yet the cruise ship targeted by the two OriginalBodies appears far too tiny beside those colossal vessels.

It is a "small" yacht only six hundred meters long.

After the two use biometric data to pass security under the staff's surprised gazes, they finally sit in the rear row of the left‑side cabin, a special seat assigned by the flight attendants, and finally understand why it was so cheap…

Because every detail exudes a "cheap" feel.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the flight has taken off as scheduled; please fasten your seatbelts to avoid unnecessary accidents."

As the flight attendant's gentle reminder sounds, An Na Jin, seated by the window, watches the scenery outside slowly recede from the Star Port area; upon reaching above the cloud layer, the yacht instantly performs a sudden jump.

It lasts only a moment.

Outside, the view flashes a streak of black‑and‑white "fine line"; then, before him and his elder brother appears the barren, brown‑tinged surface of Pluto, and…

A star‑gate the size of a massive installation.

Even at a distance of over a hundred thousand kilometers, the two OriginalBodies can still see a continuous stream of ships and vessels entering and exiting the seemingly "mirror‑like" star‑gate along their routes.

At this moment.

The yacht, operating at maximum conventional thrust, reaches the channel directly in front of the star‑gate in less than half a minute, then continues a regular approach toward the "mirror."

When the cruise ship's top speed contacts and passes through the "mirror," the surroundings remain dark space speckled with starlight, showing little change.

Yet the stars that should have been stationary transform, like the "FTL travel" depicted in mid‑to‑late‑20th‑century sci‑fi, into dense "parallel meteors," even skimming past vividly colored nebulae.

After witnessing such scenery, the two brothers, on their first departure from the Solar System, cannot help but think privately…

This fare wasn't spent in vain.

Fifteen minutes vanished in an instant.

When Wokan, An Na Jin, and the other travelers exit the cabin, walk across the gangway to the Star Port, and prepare to retrieve their consigned luggage to continue admiring Makurag's alien scenery, they see a squad of veteran troops equipped with dedicated Terminators marching toward them.

Yet the leader is a slender figure in a fitted blue robe, with waist‑length light‑yellow hair, an elegant face, but with elongated ears—a female Virin?

The other party approaches.

A smile spreads across their face.

Getting straight to the point, they say, "Welcome to Makurag; I am Ifeireni, representing the Lord of Limits to greet his brothers."

These chapters are a transition, showing the Empire's current life through the two OriginalBodies; tomorrow the "Anomaly" will emerge, and a preview image will be posted—I'm not sure if it will pass review…

(End of chapter)