Chapter 114: The Eternal District Council Assembly

Chapter 114: The Eternal District Council Meeting

Seated inside the vehicle, Xia Zheng’s thoughts lingered on the refuge hundreds of kilometers away, leaving his gaze somewhat vacant.

“I wonder if Ellie will cry when she wakes up…” A trace of deep affection and regret flashed across Xia Zheng’s eyes. Ellie was merely a minor character in the simulation, yet their fates had become deeply intertwined. All he could do was protect her as best as he could, hoping that when the simulation ended, her destiny might be different.

Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang sharply in his ear, rich with authority and a metallic timbre.

“I heard that Mr. Xia returned accompanied by a woman. May I ask where she is now?” The question snapped Xia Zheng back to reality. He looked at the female officer opposite him, dressed in a sky-blue uniform, two silver stars adorning her shoulders.

“Sorry, Lieutenant, the woman and I have parted ways. I have no idea where she went,” Xia Zheng replied calmly.

Another female officer scoffed, her tone biting, “But we just received word from the police in District One. Not long ago, you were seen returning to her home together. The two of you seemed very close…”

This sharp-tongued woman was only a junior officer, distinguished by three bronze stars.

“Sorry, that’s my personal business. What kind of relationship I have with her or what intimacy we shared is no concern of yours,” Xia Zheng answered with cool detachment.

“You…” The female officer’s face flushed crimson before she glared angrily. “But you brought her away from the scene. She’s an infected who came back from Peijiel.”

“Do you have proof?” Xia Zheng countered. The woman was left speechless. Another female officer frowned; clearly, there was no evidence. Xia Zheng alone understood the truth about Peijiel — the place had already fallen, overrun by infected. Yet, only he knew this.

“An, calm down. Officer Benson must be reasonable and wouldn’t allow infected individuals into the city,” the lieutenant said, her tone sharper and laced with accusation.

Xia Zheng nodded. “Thank you for your reminder, Lieutenant. But the most pressing issue now is not just the infected spreading from the satellite cities, but the far more terrifying mastermind behind it all — the Blood Clan. They are the root of this chaos. Only by eradicating them can Eternal Night City be saved.”

“The Blood Clan?” The two female officers finally showed some reaction. They had already learned from Xia Zheng’s reports and evidence that the Blood Clan might be the culprit behind the infection outbreak. However, the existence of the Blood Clan had been a subject of endless debate among the Eternal District Council’s upper echelons, fracturing them into several factions and leaving Eternal Night City ideologically divided and fragmented.

As the city’s political chief, the Council governed civic affairs, while the military controlled armed forces. Upon confirming the intelligence, the military planned to deploy a large-scale operation to exterminate the infected in Peijiel and the other satellite cities to prevent the infection from spreading to Eternal Night City. However, the Council opposed this plan, causing a rift between them and the military.

Rationally, Xia Zheng sided with the military’s strategy. Emotionally, he sympathized with the Council’s stance. This contradiction likely mirrored the prevailing sentiment within Eternal Night City.

After the serious discussion, the tension between Xia Zheng and the two female officers eased. He later learned their names: An, the sergeant, and Lieutenant Mary. They represented the military in investigating the infection incident and maintaining communication with the Council.

Traveling along the military-only lanes, the journey to Eternal District was significantly shortened. About an hour later, they officially entered its boundaries.

Eternal District was the heart of Eternal Night City. Its twelve subdivisions formed a protective shield. If necessary, preserving Eternal District meant preserving the entire city; it was the core.

Due to the Peijiel infection outbreak, Eternal District had implemented strict “easy exit, difficult entry” policies. Residents from outer districts now found it extremely hard to enter unless vouched for by permanent residents inside the city and subjected to rigorous military and CDC screening.

Outside the vehicle window, the cityscape of Eternal District unfolded: towering skyscrapers lined up like scales, luxury cars filled the roads beyond the military lanes. Well-dressed pedestrians strolled leisurely, while vibrant youth chased and played everywhere, seemingly untouched by worry.

The main streets of the district revealed little tension, far more relaxed than the outer city. The residents here generally enjoyed comfortable lives; even ordinary citizens rarely fretted over food or clothing — a stark contrast to the vast wealth gap outside.

Xia Zheng recalled his relatives still living in Eternal Night City: an uncle in the outer district, District 16, and an elder uncle and aunt residing in Eternal District. As a child, he had accompanied his parents to visit them during New Year’s, but with growing disparities between their families, contact gradually faded.

After the city’s fall, his parents had desperately searched for them, but all efforts were in vain.

“This city is truly ironic,” Sergeant An remarked coldly, watching the scenery pass by. “Outside, people live in fear and insecurity, yet here, it’s still a scene of revelry and prosperity.”

Mary cautioned softly, “An, be careful. If the old council members hear that, they’ll say we military officers are just blowing things out of proportion again.”

It was clear the military and Council’s animosity ran deep, even among lower and mid-level officers, dissatisfaction simmered.

Xia Zheng said nothing, quietly listening. He thought of this city on the brink of collapse, sorrowful that no one had truly anticipated it; most believed it was only a passing crisis.

The vehicle finally stopped before the Council building. Its signature sky-blue and white colors symbolized the spirit of the Azure — the primary colors of the city. Guards were formidable, comprising both federal police and military sentries.

After disembarking, Xia Zheng underwent medical screening and disinfection enforced by the health department. Only upon passing was he allowed to enter the hall with Mary and An.

The interior’s white framework instantly evoked a solemn atmosphere. The first floor housed various administrative offices subordinate to the Council. The Council meeting chamber sat on the second floor, the archives on the third, and a classified area on the fourth.

Despite many staff on the first floor, the atmosphere was quiet. But once on the second floor, the cacophony was overwhelming — as if they had entered a bustling marketplace.

Xia Zheng glanced at the two female officers, noticing their shared look of distaste. Mary caught his puzzled expression and, for once, smiled as she explained, “The Council is like this — constant bickering, even fights. All laws and arbitrations are formed amid this chaos. When An and I first arrived, it was hard to adjust. Even now… it’s still difficult, but there’s no other way.”

“So I’ll have to face the scorn of hundreds of people?” Xia Zheng suddenly regretted returning.

Both Mary and An sympathized with him. Engaging in verbal battles with so many was no trivial matter. Without exceptional oratory skills and refined composure, survival was impossible.

“Can I shout back if they insult me?” Xia Zheng asked while walking.

“Uh… I suppose… maybe…” Mary replied uncertainly.

“And if they hit me, can I fight back?” he pressed.

An burst out laughing, unable to contain herself at the mental image.

Mary chuckled as well, advising, “Better not. Don’t stoop to their level. Those old men are seasoned veterans, thieves of all sorts. Only the younger ones might be different, but even then, only legitimate self-defense is acceptable. If you cause trouble, the military can’t help you.”

Hearing this, Xia Zheng nodded, beginning to grasp the harsh environment awaiting him. It was like a brave soul venturing into a dragon’s lair alone.