Chapter 70: Different Districts, Uneven World

North District is a high-end residential area.

There are no so-called high-rise apartments; it's all detached villas, one after another.

Even entertainment venues are located in huge villas that vary in decoration style but are all luxurious and extravagant.

Those who can own property in North District are basically formal wizards of second rank or above, or wizard apprentices from major families.

If a family's influence is slightly lacking, they must consider carefully.

After all, their background isn't strong enough, their strength is even insufficient; a slight conflict leaves them utterly unable to fight back.

They might even bring disaster upon the family behind them.

Only when there is a genuine need will they grit their teeth and barely squeeze into this social circle.

The few wizards permanently stationed at the various administrative bodies of RuoWoSuoSiCheng, if they haven't built their own housing in the surrounding areas, basically live in North District.

Lin Ke rode the rail transit train, hurriedly passing through without getting off to linger in North District.

In life, class distinctions are evident everywhere.

Money is one aspect, power another, and strength is the most important aspect.

Having no money, no power, and no strength, one can only do as now—pass by the door without daring to enter.

Upon entering the East District, Lin Ke finally got off the rail transit train.

This is the most prosperous district of the entire RuoWoSuoSiCheng, with both residential and commercial areas.

There are big malls, independent shops, small stores—everything you could want.

Food, drink, play, enjoyment—all are available.

Lin Ke didn't wander around the residential-concentrated area of the East District; instead, he strolled for a long time in the commercial and entertainment zone.

Unfortunately, even the smallest eatery requires at least half a standard-grade magic stone just to enter and consume.

This is probably the gathering place of RuoWoSuoSiCheng's "middle class."

Most of those living here are formal wizards pursuing advanced studies at the Advanced Academy, or wizard apprentices from medium and small families, plus merchants who came from other regions to do business.

Life here is quite comfortable, consumption is not low; although it doesn't match North District, it far exceeds the economic capacity of ordinary people like Lin Ke.

Lin Ke can't afford to spend, so he can only casually look around and leave.

After all, he's merely here for an on-site inspection, comparing the map of RuoWoSuoSiCheng he memorized to familiarize himself with the terrain.

It's definitely not because he's poor that he doesn't go into shops, right?

The sun hung high, approaching noon, Lin Ke entered the South District.

Compared to the East District, the South District's housing renovation quality, consumption level, and entertainment venues are all lowered by more than one major tier.

This concentrates all of RuoWoSuoSiCheng's factories, workshops, and studios.

Those wizard apprentices forced to endure exploitation in factories, workshops, and studios, striving to survive (the majority being Storm Sea Newbloods), live crowded together in apartment blocks resembling pigeon cages.

Work is exhausting, pay is meager, free time is scarce, making enjoyment difficult.

Therefore, the most common establishments in the South District are restaurants, followed by general stores selling inexpensive goods, and the fewest are bookstores, laboratories, etc., related to knowledge, culture, and magic.

Here, population mobility is very low, or more accurately, outflow is very low.

Each year, a batch of Storm Sea Newbloods who failed to advance to formal wizard within four years, plus a tiny number of local wizard apprentices for various reasons, are sent to the major factories, workshops, and studios of the South District.

In a lifetime, only a very few lucky ones manage to leave the South District alive, achieving formal wizard status within ten years of leaving the academy.

Even after they leave, these people remain at the bottom of society, but it's still better than living hopelessly in the South District.

In the South District, clothing, food, housing, transportation, and all other aspects are mainly affordable or even cheap.

The main circulating currency is also standard-grade magic stone, but gold and silver coins can be used in many places.

Lin Ke, feeling a bit tired and hungry from wandering, casually picked a small eatery that looked relatively clean and went inside.

Via the smart brain installed at the lower left corner of each dining table, Lin Ke ordered a steak set meal, spending 30 silver coins!

When Lin Ke set out, he carried some gold and silver coins on him.

They were a gift from Mo Li.

This steak set meal can't be said to taste like chewing wax, but it is indeed somewhat hard to eat.

The ingredient quality is too poor, even inferior to the synthetic food made by the smart kitchen in the academy cafeteria.

Lin Ke, adhering to the principle of not wasting food, forced it down his stomach to barely stave off hunger.

From this small meal, Lin Ke gleaned a lot of information.

Other things aren't worth singling out, but one point must be emphasized.

That is, the lower-level wizard apprentices are truly exploited in every way, as long as they don't die.

There is no such thing as quality of life.

The South District borders the East District and faces the North District across the small Central District, yet they exist in different worlds.

If the North District is likened to heaven, the East District is the human world, and the South District lies in the depths of hell.

Lin Ke left the South District with a slightly heavy heart, heading toward the West District.

This time, he did not take the rail transit train but went on foot.

The West District is special.

As humble as the South District, its buildings, streets, and various public facilities all conform to urban planning, being straight and level.

Yet the West District is a circle of brightness on the outside, while inside it's a tangled mess.

The section adjacent to the North District has an aircraft airport, a rail transit train station, and a passenger car station.

This exactly separates the West District from the North District.

Alongside the academy's section, there is again an aircraft airport, a rail transit train station, and a passenger car station.

It blocks the line of sight from the academy.

The westernmost section consists of six freight car stations in a row, and a passenger car station.

These three sections join to form an open-box shape, enclosing the interior of the western district.

Inside the western district, public facilities are half‑scrapped; buildings and streets grow wild and lawless, just like the residents who live there and constantly come and go.

If we must draw an analogy, no two words fit the role of the western district's interior in Ruowosuosi City better than "trash can" and "sewer".

Lin Ke strolled leisurely into the interior of the western district.

His gaze was steady, his spirit calm, his pace neither fast nor slow—nothing like a newcomer's first visit to the western district.

Faced with the hostile stares of almost everyone he met along the way, Lin Ke showed little reaction.

He merely stayed alert, walking with steady, measured steps.

A few street thugs who had genuinely harbored ill intentions, seeing Lin Ke's body covered in rune items and even two magical implements, felt an urge to act but also hesitated.

Those lacking sharp eyes don't last long in the western district.

The street thugs couldn't immediately tell whether Lin Ke was a fat sheep or a man‑eating wolf.

Otherwise, they might end up not getting any meat and instead get slaughtered themselves.

By the way, those damn swindlers really deserve to die!

They've swindled the street thugs into not daring to openly pickpocket!

After following him for several streets, once they confirmed Lin Ke's destination, the few street thugs finally withdrew.

This person is heading to the black market; he must not be provoked lightly.

Nine times out of ten, he's a ruthless swindler!

Volume 1, "First Arrival," ends here.

The continuation is a bit rushed, but not too much progress is crammed in—just a small plot spanning roughly four to six chapters, which might be moved later.

Like the later added volume summary, the snail extended its antennae, sensing this strange world. Linke Grand, who had just arrived, was indeed overly cautious in many respects.

Volume 2, "Outside the Ivory Tower," the stimulated snail bravely leaves its comfortable shell, actively seeking to endure wind and rain, to embrace wind and rain, to accept tempering.

Thanks to the readers who have been following along, thanks for everyone's encouragement, and thanks to the comment section for its prodding.

Life's journey is long; take care, each of you. Wishing everyone happiness and good health!

(End of chapter)