Quest I

Rover stared at Xianyi, his expression remaining cold, though a faint crease formed on his brow. He remained silent for a moment, as if trying to process the information just handed to him.

"...And what exactly am I supposed to do with all of this?" he finally said, his voice still flat, though there was a hint of unspoken confusion beneath it.

Xianyi studied him for a few seconds before chuckling softly. "You're really the type who doesn't care for history, aren't you?"

Rover didn't respond. It wasn't that he didn't care, but all of this felt distant—disconnected from him. The Lord Karbiter, the rusted system, the Great Dragon of the past and present—all of it felt like scattered puzzle pieces that had yet to form a coherent picture in his mind.

Xianyi sighed before shrugging. "No matter. You'll understand sooner or later."

Rover shifted his gaze momentarily before locking eyes with Xianyi once more.

"I just want to know… why are you telling me all of this?" he asked at last.

Xianyi smiled, but this time, there was something unreadable behind it—something elusive. "Because whether you realize it or not, you are part of this puzzle."

Rover let out a quiet sigh, his expression as unreadable as ever. "You're just making things more troublesome for me."

Xianyi was silent for a moment before suddenly laughing—not mockingly, but with a genuine amusement that seemed to relish in Rover's impatience. "Ahaha, I like the way you talk. Straight to the point, no nonsense."

Leaning back slightly, he twirled the red scroll in his hand. "But unfortunately, like it or not, you still have to hear this. Because sooner or later, you'll be more involved than you think."

Rover merely watched him, expressionless, yet deep inside, he had the creeping feeling that this was going to be more of a hassle than he initially expected.

Xianyi's lips curled into a knowing smirk, his eyes glinting with meaning. "You may go now, Rover. Your friend, Jiayi, is probably waiting."

Rover said nothing. He simply cast a glance at the large window behind Xianyi. Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and moved.

Crash!

The glass shattered as his body plunged through it. The night air rushed against his face as he plummeted from the highest floor of City Hall.

Calmly, Rover activated his wind glider. His body stabilized midair, one hand casually gripping the handle. Below, the city lights of Qinshu shimmered—a fusion of urban brilliance and lingering echoes of an ancient past.

Inside the room, Xianyi chuckled softly at the display. "You really don't like taking the normal routes, do you?" He shook his head before returning his attention to the red scroll in his grasp.

The moment Rover received a transmission, a small hologram flickered to life, revealing Jiayi's figure. She looked slightly fatigued, but her gaze remained sharp as ever.

"Finally done, huh?" Jiayi greeted him with an easy tone, though there was a trace of curiosity laced within it. "I caught some reports about movement on the top floor of City Hall. I take it you finally met Xianyi?"

Rover didn't immediately respond, exhaling a quiet breath instead. Jiayi chuckled knowingly.

"Looks like I was right," she mused. "Xianyi's a hard man to read, but one thing's for sure—he doesn't meet with people without a reason. If he called you, then he has business with you."

She leaned back against something on her end, appearing more relaxed. "But that's your problem, not mine. What's more important is that I've prepared your mission."

Jiayi swiped her fingers across the holographic interface, instantly pulling up a digital dossier beside her image. Rows of data and reports populated the screen.

"You can go over the details later, but in short, there's been an anomalous energy signature detected in the northwest district. Some witnesses reported unusual light flares, and our sensors picked up minor disturbances in the area. It's unclear whether this is a threat or not, but I need someone to check it out firsthand."

Her gaze locked onto Rover. "And that someone is you."

Jiayi took a brief breath before adding, "Of course, I won't force you. If you need to rest after dealing with Xianyi, I can send someone else. But something tells me you won't refuse."

A small, knowing smirk played on her lips. "So? What's your answer?"

Rover regarded her hologram for a moment before letting out a brief sigh. "Fine. I'll go."

Jiayi's smirk deepened, as if she had anticipated that answer. "Knew you'd say that."

She tapped her fingers against the hologram. "I've already sent the data to your device. All the details are in there. Try not to cause too much of a scene, alright?"

Rover merely let out a low exhale before cutting the transmission. Without wasting any time, he moved toward the northwest district where the anomaly had been detected.

---

Rover arrived at the western district of Qinshu—a place that felt distinctly different from the rest of the city. If the central districts were a seamless blend of classical architecture and advanced technology, then the western district was rawer, rougher.

The streets were narrower, the asphalt uneven compared to the smooth stonework of the inner city. Neon lights in shades of blue and purple lined the rooftops of old shops, casting a cyberpunk glow that clashed with remnants of traditional structures still clinging to the past. Overhead, electrical cables sagged between buildings, some flickering intermittently as if the grid had long been in disrepair.

Street vendors continued their trade despite the late hour. The scent of grilled food mixed with the metallic tang of synthetic fuel from passing vehicles. Unlike the bustling southern district, which thrived on tourism and legitimate commerce, the western district belonged to locals and night workers—mechanics, smugglers, and those who lived beyond the reach of government oversight.

A massive holographic screen flickered on the side of an old building, broadcasting a news segment from the Qinshu Administration. A reporter spoke of increasing anomalous activity near the borders, but the pedestrians paid little attention.

In the distance, the silhouettes of industrial plants loomed, faint plumes of smoke curling from their towering chimneys. This district housed Qinshu's largest independent workshops—where old and new technology fused to create unregulated inventions. Independent engineers worked tirelessly here, often experimenting with devices that were either illegal or unauthorized by the government.

Rover navigated through a narrow alley wedged between two buildings. The walls were covered in luminescent graffiti that shifted colors every few seconds, reacting to movement. A few figures in long coats cast him passing glances before returning to their business.

The atmosphere here was wilder, less controlled than the inner districts, but Rover knew that this place had its own unwritten rules. And if Jiayi had sent

him here, there was undoubtedly something bigger lurking beneath the surface.