Chapter 489: Volume 6 Chapter 1 The Trembling Sounds
Gazalin’s first city, Tanville. This city, with a population of nearly forty million, sprawling excessively over the plain in the night, mournfully silent.
The hustle and bustle of the past has faded like yesterday’s bloom. Building after building, block after block, littered with scarce lights. The city once bustling with endless traffic and brilliant lighting is now so decayed and desolate.
In the pitch-black night, ruins and broken elevated flying highways could be faintly seen. In the corners of the streets or among the ruins, some figures were flickering in the light of bonfires. These people were the original residents, the former masters of this city. But now, they could only gather quietly around the bonfires, warming themselves, staring blankly at the flickering flames.
The only place that seemed bright might be the sixth district not far from the Imperial Palace.
Although most of the houses in the district were still shrouded in darkness and silence, at this moment, the main street was bustling with an endless stream of flying cars, crowds of people, brightly lit hotels, and nightclubs, making the place extraordinarily bustling and lively. This was one of the few social venues in today’s Gazalin.
Several well-dressed middle-aged men were chatting and laughing in front of a luxurious flying car. A team of patrolling soldiers walked past them.
These soldiers were still wearing the traditional Gazalin uniforms, but leading them was a dark-skinned, lower-class lieutenant. This wasn’t surprising, as there were also lower-class-looking people coming in and out, surrounded at the doors of nearby hotels and nightclubs.
The ethnic segregation system of Gazalin seemed to have been completely shattered in this instant.
Everyone knew that the armed forces representing the Royal Family and the old powers had been annihilated. Now ruling this country were the Feiyang Republic’s Expeditionary Army and the democratic government they were about to establish.
Although it was somewhat uncomfortable, with the Freedom Front coming to the forefront and the Independent Army announcing the democratic equality program, who dared to bring up the ethnic class system anymore? For some nobles and most Vibo people, as long as those lower-class people didn’t turn around and lord over them, they were already quite satisfied.
The new order was quietly established in a watchful manner. Life could no longer tolerate any more upheaval. As for what the future would be like, let’s just take it one step at a time.
The patrol team gradually walked away. Dozens of scantily dressed women timidly emerged from the dark corners in the cold wind, standing again at the boundary between the lights and the night, tired and numb, displaying their bodies, soliciting business.
Occasionally, these pale-faced women would turn their heads and enviously look at the luxurious Tanville Hotel not far away, hoping to meet a good client today, take them inside, have a hot bath in a warm, clean guestroom, and eat something. For such modest desires, they were willing to use every means to please the clients comfortably.
Tian Xingjian was staying in a luxury suite on the eleventh floor of the hotel. After being relieved of his duties and stripped of his insignia, he was no longer suitable to stay at the base. The room was arranged by Douglas, at no cost to him. This bumpkin felt he had gained a great deal, so he decided to enjoy himself here as much as possible before returning to Leray.
The spacious living room was resplendent with gold. Bright chandeliers, soft antique sofas, thick cashmere carpets, precious oil paintings, advanced automated service systems, and ample heating made everyone who returned from the battlefield feel like they had entered paradise.
The rosewood with gold-inlaid dining table near the huge floor-to-ceiling windows was already filled with food brought by the waiters. The wine in the goblets, purple napkins, and two candles set a somewhat ambiguous atmosphere in the room.
Bonnie was wearing a light blue long dress, her red hair coiled at the back of her head, revealing her swan-like elegant, fair neck. A pair of delicate, exquisite collarbones, so perfect that one couldn’t bear to look away. The V-shaped light floral embroidered neckline revealed a patch of fair, smooth skin. Her full, upright chest appeared even more prominent against her slender waist.
She sat lightly by the dining table. Her arms, her chest, her waist, and her soft buttocks lightly pressing against the chair, every part of her exuded whimsical charm.
"So... you’ve been dismissed?" Bonnie slightly frowned. Fatty invited her to dinner, and was now sitting opposite her gobbling down food without saying a word.
Fatty was handling a large meal, nodded vigorously with his mouth full.
"Blockhead!" Bonnie gritted her teeth in anger. The outfit she had carefully chosen, this guy hadn’t taken a proper look at it from start to finish. Ask the Gazalin Nobles Circle, who had Bonnie ever dined with without wearing a uniform? What a waste of her efforts on a blind guy!
Bonnie pretended not to see Fatty nod, reached out and pinched Fatty, seeing his confused face as he raised his head, she scolded, "I’m asking you a question!" The ambiguous atmosphere in the room made her momentarily shy, her ears quietly reddened.
Fatty didn’t notice Bonnie’s abnormality, and said aggrievedly, "I just nodded."
"Didn’t see!" Bonnie decided to be unreasonable.
"Oh." Fatty half-closed his eyes, woodenly nodded vigorously: "See now!"
"Pfft." Bonnie could never resist Fatty’s seemingly honest face, she couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand and lightly kicked Fatty under the table with her foot.