Chapter 301: Copper Sparrow Terrace

The Vivan Port supermarket was bustling with activity, packed shoulder to shoulder with people.

Some were foreign tourists drawn by the final swimsuit show at Vivan Port, mostly from Jiuzhou, who loved crowds. Others were small vendors driving three-wheeled carts, selling local specialties and handicrafts—two thousand years ago, they rode donkeys and camels.

A giant billboard of a bikini-clad beauty stood tall atop the ancient city wall dating back to Ottoman rule, pink curtains hanging high; the central runway of the supermarket had been cleared, and several workers performed final checks on the sound equipment and props, yet the number of traffic police maintaining order on the streets was hardly more than usual.

“Strange,” Xia Yubing rolled down the car window, leaning over to watch the noisy crowd and police scattered everywhere, puzzled: “Last Dragon Boat Festival, tens of thousands gathered along both banks of Qinzhou. The local police deployed all their forces and even borrowed officers from nearby cities just to be safe.”

Although today’s crowd at Vivan Port was smaller than Qinzhou’s, the city’s scale was smaller, making population density even higher.

“With such massive foot traffic and density, why are there only slightly more police on duty than usual?” Xia Yubing gazed toward the distant supermarket and asked: “Isn’t Forsoles afraid of accidents—like stampedes?”

“Of course not,” Ning Zhe said calmly. “The people of Vivan Port have high quality. There are no vagrants or hooligans. Women can walk safely at night.”

“Really?” Xia Yubing blinked, surprised: “So it’s true what those marketing articles back home say—lost items aren’t picked up, doors aren’t locked at night?”

Has Europe achieved the sage’s rule and universal harmony or what?

“Not at all,” Ning Zhe shook his head. “There are no vagrants or hooligans not because foreigners are morally superior, but because their military, police, and special forces arrest people too quickly.”

“Why’s that?” Xia Yubing was even more confused.

“Because of Strange Events,” Ning Zhe continued. “While both sides experience irregular Strange Events, the European Confederation’s approach differs from ours.”

“The Jiuzhou government cultivates batches of expendable agents with generous welfare benefits, sending them into Strange Event zones to uncover rules. Those who succeed are instantly promoted; those who die? Their families are supported by the state… But not just anyone can become an expendable agent—background checks are mandatory before training, to prevent them from becoming Ascended and turning to outlaw heroism.”

“The European Confederation does the opposite. Here, whether it’s a petty carjacker, a street gang collecting protection money, or a pickpocket, all are arrested immediately, given a quick knowledge infusion, then thrown into Strange Events as test subjects. Out of a hundred sent in, maybe one survives. Even if they survive, they’re imprisoned and exploited by centuries-old Noble Houses who grant Ascension.”

“But in recent years, Strange Events have grown more frequent, and criminals are chronically in short supply. In cities like Vivan Port, police now routinely arrest vagrants off the streets to meet quotas—year after year. Slowly, the city’s vagrants were all rounded up, yet test subjects still aren’t enough. Demand outstrips supply.”

Hundreds of thousands of military, police, and special forces officers surveil city residents daily, eagerly waiting for someone to commit a crime so they can go out and meet their quotas. In the past two years, they have begun killing innocent citizens and falsely labeling them as criminals. Every month, law-abiding citizens mysteriously “commit crimes.” Police departments in two different cities have even clashed over who gets to claim jurisdiction over the same “criminal.”

Both sides use arrests to fill the need for Strange Event test subjects: Jiuzhou uses good citizens; Europe uses societal trash. Which method is better? Ning Zhe didn’t know, and didn’t care. He drove slowly, casually explaining all this to Xia Yubing.

“...That’s the situation. Now do you understand why so few police are maintaining order in Vivan Port?”

Xia Yubing’s mouth hung open in an O shape, letting out a long: “Oh…”

Ning Zhe drove through the crowded central district, leaving the supermarket, now playing warm-up music, behind them. He followed the breakwater to the seaside, parking at the base of a cylindrical tower converted from an old water tank.

This tower was owned by Forsoles Milicato. After buying the water tank, he spent three years obtaining renovation permits and five years turning it into a private entertainment facility, never open to the public—only he and a few friends ever came. Forsoles named it Copper Sparrow Terrace, evoking the spirit of Cao Cao.

European nobles didn’t understand what the name meant, but heard it was copied from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so it must be awesome.

Ning Zhe parked. Xia Yubing stared for several seconds at the large characters “Copper Sparrow Terrace” above the water tower’s entrance before following Ning Zhe, guided by staff, into the elevator.

“Welcome,” the elevator attendant bowed slightly to Ning Zhe as Fan Daike, her voice soft: “Your guests are waiting on the top floor. Shall we go up now, or would you like a drink first on the fifth floor?”

“Top floor,” Ning Zhe said.

“Understood,” the attendant said, pressing the button for the top level without further question.

The Copper Sparrow Terrace elevator wasn’t enclosed indoors—it was an open glass shaft clinging to the water tower’s outer wall. Standing inside, one could directly see the long, curved breakwater and the glittering, gem-like sea.

Exiting the elevator, the two reached the open rooftop terrace. No servants were present. Beneath a domed glass ceiling lay emerald-green grass; pebble paths flanked by unnamed flowers led to a lush cinnamon tree at the center. From afar, chairs and tables beneath the tree appeared occupied by several people.

Xia Yubing walked behind Ning Zhe and quietly poked his waist with her finger: “That elevator attendant looked at you strangely. Could this be a trap?”

“Being cautious is good,” Ning Zhe said coolly, “but you’re overthinking this. That attendant has been with Fan Daike.”

“Ah, this…” Xia Yubing was about to speak, but the people beneath the cinnamon tree had noticed them and were already approaching.

No error in content at all!

“Long time no see, esteemed Mr. Dai!” A well-dressed man with long hair stepped forward warmly—it was Liu Hongwen, whom Xia Yubing had seen in the files.

Ning Zhe politely shook his hand, then turned his gaze to another man beside him.

Dressed in a suit, portly, his face unnaturally yellow and sickly.

“How is your health, Chairman Shen?” Ning Zhe smiled.

“Thanks to you, quite well,” Shen Qing forced a smile, squinting. “If only we could bring the God of Wealth to Europe sooner… By the way, who is this?”

Shen Qing’s gaze shifted to the tall woman beside Mr. Dai.

“I haven’t introduced you yet,” Ning Zhe said smoothly, smiling. “This is Xia Yubing, Miss Xia from Qinzhou. Like you, she’s a wise soul who fled Jiuzhou’s tyranny and chose to join Europe.”

(End of Chapter)