Chapter 32: 'It Was Going To Be A Long Night'

"I am Charlotte Whitlock," Charlotte said while reaching out her hand.

"Lucian, Lucian Woodward," he said while shaking her hand.

After the commotion Charlotte caused, Lucian took her to a more desolate corner of the street to keep the attention away from her.

"So... how exactly did you get here?" he asked.

"I saw a few people looking around like they were looking for something. They turn to an alleyway and I followed. Next thing you know, I was here. I don't mean to cause any harm really," she honestly explained.

"Oh, I believe you. But it takes a bit to gain the trust of the people here," he smiled and rubbed the back of his head.

"But they don't mean any harm really. You can never be so careful about newcomers. This is all a secret after all."

"A secret?"

"Rule 167, businesses can't be open without the approval of the authority."

"Ah? Rule 167?"

"Haven't you heard? It's the new rule implemented about a year ago?"

"Ah, I guess things just slip my mind. I don't pay attention to things."

"Even the new rules implemented?"

"... Well, I don't plan on doing anything wrong in the first place so it's quite easy to not break any rules. If living how I normally live won't break anything, I don't need to pay attention right?"

"... You are a strange girl."

"Haha, I get that a lot."

She imaginatively wipes away the nonexistent sweat.

"Well, since you're here anyways, why don't I show you around?"

"Ah, I want to know where we are first."

"I'll explain on the way."

He showed her the street stalls they were earlier at. The crowd calmed down a bit and people went back to minding their own businesses.

Charlotte looked around and was eager to try the food. But she was a bit more observant this time around and found that people pay with cash.

'Without cash, how am I supposed to buy things? I guess paying with a card leaves traces.'

She turned around and saw Lucian talking to the lady at the meat stand. He got two sticks of meat and hurried over to her.

"Here, take one. You can transfer me the money later when we get out."

She took one of the sticks and took a bite. The sweet sauce on the meat quickly spread through her mouth.

'As I thought, nothing beats street food!'

She looked around while savoring her stick. She keenly saw a stall selling mooncakes, something she hasn't had in a very long time.

Lucian saw her gaze, "You can buy some and bring them home if you want."

"But wouldn't that-"

"It's okay, the packaging is disguised as something from another store. Just don't let anyone see what you bought when you get home."

"Including technology right?"

"Yes, especially technology. They will make a report once they see you with something that doesn't sell anymore," he casually warned while finishing his meat stick.

She nodded and walked down the street.

There was a small portion of kids and teens playing a few games. From shooting arrows at targets to scooping goldfish, it was very lively.

Although she wanted to join them, she was pulled aside into a small restaurant. The sign was a big bowl of ramen with the name of the restaurant engraved on the bowl.

They walked into the restaurant and found several people inside chatting it up. Some were talking and eating, and some were done and stayed for the booze.

She took a seat at the counter and gazed through the menu.

"You have room for ramen?" Lucian chuckled.

"I haven't had it in a while. Besides, even if I gain weight, I'll be fine," Charlotte smiled.

They both made their order to the man in front of them. He served them both iced tea and went back into the kitchen.

"So... you must be curious as to where we are?"

"Yes, though I have a guess as to what this is."

"Well, ever since the rules were implemented, the things that made up cultures, such as food, slowly faded away. They want to ensure the ideal of high-class society, and that resulted in them denying stores that sold food that was deemed 'low-class'," he started while taking a sip of the tea.

"You know that we are living in a society that is slowly reforming to the authority's liking. A high-class world where technology aids people, only allowing what they deem as a 'luxury' to exist and completely getting rid of the traditions of the minor cultures here. In a sense, we, the low-class people are going to slowly die out."

She took a sip of the refreshing tea and laughed.

Lucian tilted his head in confusion.

"It's kind of ironic."

"Ironic? Ironic how?"

"Well if you put it that way, doesn't that sounds like survival of the fittest? In nature, the strong prey on the weak, that is the basic principle. Those who can't survive simply won't. It's like the society you mentioned, a society that is anything but natural. Yet, the weak or the people who are labeled as 'weak' are outcasted, indirectly killing them so that the 'weak' will go extinct. Truly, human nature comes so far and has evolved don't you think? It wasn't just the technology. It evolved into something new yet still maintains its roots. That makes it ironic."

"... If anything it makes this a bit scarier," he gazed at Charlotte.

"This is just the reality we exist in. The world waits for no one."

"I guess so. But so many things are wrong with the society we try to build."

"Yes... almost like an imagined man-made utopia. I see what you are trying to do," Charlotte murmured.

"Man-made utopia?"

"Ah, ignore what I said."

The man next to Lucian then lightly scoffed.

They both turned and looked toward him. He was wearing a black hood, completely covering his face.

"Hey! Why laugh?" Lucian questioned.

The man replied, "The world around us has always been black."

One could really hear the arrogance in his voice, as if the man in front of them has seen it all.

"Who are you?" Lucion said while reaching for his hood.

The man caught his hand and smirked, or what Charlotte imagined was a smirk.

He let his hand go and slowly leave while waving his hand goodbye.

Silence enveloped the restaurant as the other people who witness the whole ordeal kept their mouths shut.

Lucion touched his hand and let out a 'tsked'.

"Honestly, what is with the secrecy."

"People all have their secrets. Just like how you wore a hood earlier today."

"You saw me?"

"Yeah, we were in the same cafe," Charlotte smiled.

"Two bowls of ramen ready!"

"Let's eat first," Charlotte looked back at her meal.

'It was going to be a long night.'