C20 Underground City(1)

"Welcome to the New World!"

Following the system's familiar opening lines, Xie Yu found himself standing on the ground of the virtual dungeon. Next to him stood another player, "Po Feng," clad in chivalrous garb, his figure striking as he faced the breeze.

"Xie Yu, it looks like our dungeon this time isn't too tough," Soong Mu remarked, scanning the desolate streets that seemed devoid of any immediate threat.

"Stay sharp. I've moved past being a Level 3 newbie. Together, we're over level 20. The system wouldn't hand us an easy dungeon," Xie Yu cautioned, his eyes sweeping the streets vigilantly. Without the formidable ally they had in Hibernation Awakening, the risk they faced had multiplied exponentially.

The city had an unusual air about it. Xie Yu gazed upward, searching for any sign of change, but it felt more like an underground realm than anything else. The sky was devoid of sun, moon, stars, or clouds—just a blanket of dull gray.

"Xie Yu, I've found the dungeon's introduction," Soong Mu called out, gesturing towards a nearby tree where he had retrieved a piece of paper.

Xie Yu approached and read the notice:

"In a forgotten world, a catastrophic disaster once occurred. The city crumbled and was swallowed by the earth. The survivors, clinging to the remnants of their knowledge, rebuilt their city. Casting aside all distinctions of race, nation, and region, they united to construct humanity's final bastion."

"Today marks the anniversary of the historic underground city. You must deliver this letter to the City Administration's headquarters before nightfall and hand it to Dr. Robert. The contents are of utmost importance and must not be lost, damaged, or delayed."

"Your assistance is crucial. Thank you."

Having absorbed the narrative, Xie Yu and Soong Mu exchanged a look. It was clear they were embarking on a quest to deliver a letter.

Upon opening the package distributed by the system, Xie Yu, as the team captain, found the letter crucial to the plot already nestled inside. It bore no signature, just a small emblem in the lower right corner. Xie Yu examined it closely and could barely discern four characters that seemed to be a company's logo.

"Baiyuan Pharmaceuticals?" he mused aloud.

The writing was unclear, and Xie Yu couldn't be certain he was reading it correctly. Was it actually Baiyuan Pharmaceuticals? Regardless, the immediate priority was to deliver the letter from the package to Dr. Robert.

Securing the letter once more, Xie Yu turned to Soong Mu and remarked, "We can't tell the time right now, nor can we be sure if it's morning or afternoon. But based on the mission's requirements, I'm leaning towards it being morning."

The mission stipulated that the letter must reach Dr. Robert before nightfall. If it were already afternoon, the challenge set by the script seemed excessively difficult.

He was skeptical that the script would allow them to effortlessly make their way to the City Administration's headquarters and locate Dr. Robert without a hitch.

"It's possible that Dr. Robert, the intended recipient of the letter, is already in a precarious situation. Finding him might prove to be a challenge," he speculated.

"If there's a need for combat, I'm your man," Soong Mu declared, flexing his arm with a mix of pride and confidence.

Xie Yu remained silent, taking in the traditional Western-style streets around them. The black lampposts cast a warm yellow glow against the city's gray dome.

"We should ask around for directions. It's an underground city; there have to be people here. Without knowing where the City Administration headquarters is, we're just wasting time," Xie Yu suggested.

Soong Mu nodded in agreement, and together they moved forward, hoping to find someone to ask for directions.

The streets were eerily quiet, and after a lengthy walk, Xie Yu and Soong Mu hadn't encountered a single soul, much less a helpful passerby.

"This doesn't add up. Where is everyone?" Soong Mu asked, scratching his head in confusion.

Xie Yu was somewhat puzzled. The script's background had clearly stated that after the disaster, humanity set aside all prejudices and rifts to construct this underground city. Nearly every survivor resided here; it was implausible not to encounter anyone.

"Look ahead, there's someone!"

Suddenly, Soong Mu perked up, pointing toward the street corner.

Following his gesture, Xie Yu saw there was indeed someone there.

"Let's go!"

Without hesitation, Xie Yu grabbed Soong Mu and they dashed toward the figure.

On the underground city's anniversary, nearly everyone stayed indoors. Russell, who was a germaphobe, had only stepped out to dispose of trash and unexpectedly encountered these odd individuals.

"Who are you?" he inquired, eyeing Xie Yu and Soong Mu curiously. Their attire was noticeably different—one very formal, the other somewhat retro.

However, since the city's inception, it had attracted an array of eccentric individuals from around the globe, each with their own hobbies, beliefs, and aesthetics. No one batted an eye at unusual attire unless someone was wandering around in the nude.

Still, a certain decorum was expected in formal settings.

"Hello, could you direct us to the City Administrative Bureau's headquarters?" Soong Mu approached and asked.

Xie Yu meant to intervene but was too late.

Their question was a dead giveaway that they weren't locals. As expected, the young man, still clutching his trash bag, looked startled. He tossed the bag aside and took off without a word.

"Why did he take off?" Soong Mu watched the man's hasty retreat, at a loss for words.

"Your question just outed us as non-residents. This place seems to have a strong aversion to outsiders, and now our identities might bring us trouble," Xie Yu mused, watching the man vanish around the corner. "Let's get moving. Besides, if we're looking for the city management's headquarters, it's probably right in the city center."

"Let's head towards the center first. Even if we're not exactly in the middle, we can still get there on time."

Soong Mu nodded in agreement. If Xie Yu suggested it, that was the plan.

Together, they proceeded down the road, keeping an eye out for road signs and maps along the way, inching closer to the central area.

"Hello, police? I believe I encountered two strangers today. They were inquiring about the location of the City Administrative Bureau's headquarters!"