novelraw Chapter 174: When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Chapter 174: When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Su Zhan was speechless.
After asking, he found out.
The Transcendence Society's Aberrants were completely unwelcome in Black City.
Once they appeared, the higher-ups would send people to suppress and eliminate them.
Su Zhan became even more speechless.
Damn, I came to the wrong place.
This Black City looked chaotic on the surface, but actually didn't even have Transcendence Society Aberrants.
He asked further, are there any Transcendence Society Aberrants in Black City now?
Zhang Qin replied, there are, but they're the ones who stole goods from the black market—those Aberrants are from the Transcendence Society.
At this moment, Su Zhan couldn't help but sigh about fate.Initially, he just wanted to casually take on a mission and come here to investigate the Mist Incident.
Now it's settled.
This mission is connected to finding the Mist Incident.
It's really fate.
What surprised him was that Zhang Qin actually knew about these Aberrants.
According to Zhang Qin, among the Aberrants who stole that batch of black market goods, one was previously acquainted with him.
That person had even invited Zhang Qin to join the Transcendence Society, but he refused.
Su Zhan quickly asked him then.
Zhang Qin explained that this Aberrant was previously called Wang Peng, and he'd probably changed his name by now, but this person had one bad habit.
He loved gambling.
Over ten years ago, he gambled away everything his family had.
Ending up with his wife and children leaving him, alone and destitute.
Then he became an Aberrant.
Zhang Qin said that gambling, like drugs, is hard to quit, and he believed Wang Peng still couldn't kick the habit—this would be an important clue.
This was indeed a very important clue.
Su Zhan asked again, do you remember what he looked like?
Zhang Qin shook his head at that time, saying it had been over ten years and he'd long forgotten, only remembering that he had a red birthmark on his right shoulder—just an irregular patch of red skin—and couldn't recall his appearance either.
In the room.
Su Zhan pondered the available clues.
Suddenly, he had a bold idea.
He always needed to search for Transcendence Society Aberrants to find the Mist Incident himself.
It was too troublesome.
Why couldn't he summon the mist himself?
He was an Aberrant too!
If he could obtain the method to summon the mist, then he could quickly level up by himself!
In that case...
Thinking this far.
Su Zhan patted his head to clear his thoughts.
He was getting a bit impulsive.
Doing this definitely wouldn't work.
This would be equivalent to creating disasters and killing people.
If Transcendence Society Aberrants summoned the mist, then naturally there was nothing to say, and he could still save people.
But if their positions were reversed, it would be exactly the opposite.
He hadn't reached the point of wanting to take revenge on society yet.
However... mastering an additional skill would definitely be beneficial.
Whether to use it was one matter, having it available was another.
As the saying goes, having many skills won't burden you.
Su Zhan kept this idea in mind.
...
The next morning.
Su Zhan entered Black City's largest shopping mall.
Neon Square.
He walked directly toward a trendy store with a sign flashing blinding pink lights.
The music inside was deafening.
Holographic projection models wearing various exaggerated outfits strutted through the air.
"Welcome~"
A shop assistant with rainbow-dyed hair swayed her hips as she approached, her electronic mascara flashing fluorescently: "Handsome, what style are you looking for?"
Su Zhan pointed at the most flamboyant outfit on the wall.
A fluorescent green jacket embedded with LED light strips.
Pants made of color-changing material, shoes with built-in glowing wheels and sound effects.
Well, first he needed to dress more like a local.
This would help with his disguise.
In Black City.
If you wore flashy clothes, people wouldn't give you a second glance.
But if you wore regular clothes, casual wear.
Then people would immediately know you were from out of town.
What was this called?
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
"Whoa! Great taste!"
The shop assistant snapped her fingers: "This set is the latest model, guaranteed to make you the coolest dude in Black City!"
In the fitting room.
Su Zhan looked expressionlessly at his reflection in the mirror.
The LED strips on his jacket automatically cycled through rainbow colors.
The pant legs rippled with electric current-like patterns as he moved.
His shoes emitted blue light with built-in jet sound effects.
"How is it?"
The shop assistant knocked on the door outside: "Need help adjusting the lighting mode?"
"This set works."
Su Zhan pushed open the fitting room door.
The shop assistant's eyes lit up, her electronic eyelashes flashing wildly: "It suits you so well! Want to add a smart necklace? It changes color according to your mood!"
Half an hour later.
Su Zhan walked out of the mall carrying shopping bags.
Now he wore a fluorescent green jacket, color-changing pants, and glowing shoes.
Around his neck hung a smart necklace constantly switching skull patterns, with an additional watch on his wrist that could project memes.
Passing by a shop window.
Su Zhan glanced at his reflection.
Now he looked like a true local trendsetter, the kind with particularly extravagant taste.
On his way back to the hotel.
Sure enough, no one gave him a second glance.
There was even a young person wearing similar glowing shoes who gave him a "cool" hand gesture.
The front desk lady did look at him a couple more times: "Changed your style?"
"Yeah."
Su Zhan nodded: "Suits Black City."
The front desk lady was leaning against the counter playing with an elegant electronic vaporizer.
Lazily exhaling a puff of pink smoke.
The air immediately filled with a cloyingly sweet fruity fragrance.
"Newly arrived Neon Dream."
The front desk lady shook the vaporizer, its body flashing with enticing gradient lights: "Black City limited edition, want a puff?"
Su Zhan shook his head: "No thanks."
"Don't be such a spoilsport~"
The front desk lady lightly stepped out from behind the counter, blocking his path: "Look in the lobby..."
She pointed toward the lounge area.
Several businessmen in suits were sharing gold-rimmed pipes, while leather-jacketed youths in the corner were passing around leaves.
"Here, this is basic social etiquette."
The front desk lady magically produced an exquisite metal box, opening it to reveal neatly arranged colored cartridges: "Strawberry popping pearls, ice blue aurora, psychedelic purple mist... there's definitely one that suits you.
Here, fitting in is more important than following the law. Want to gather information? Need someone to handle something? There's no better door opener than this."
Su Zhan's gaze swept across the lobby.
Indeed, almost everyone held various smoking devices, with colorful smoke drifting through the air.
This was just like sharing cigarettes.
He wanted to be a local now.
But it seemed like locals were all into these leaves.
"So?"
The front desk lady curled her lips triumphantly: "The first one's on me."
Su Zhan reached out and took the Neon Dream.
Under her surprised gaze... he directly snapped it in half.
"I don't need this kind of door opener."
Su Zhan said calmly.
The front desk lady stared at him dumbfounded.
Su Zhan paid no attention.
Turned and left.
What a joke.
He wouldn't touch this kind of thing.
Although carrying it would definitely help conceal his identity better.
However... this was a matter of principle.
Next up.
Was going to Black City's largest casino to find his target.
From what Dao Ge and others had told him, this casino was called—Black Gold Casino.
Officially backed by Black City, completely legal and legitimate.