Ethan and Ricky moved forward, stepping into an underground passage. The corridor was still guarded by nurous City Guards, each ard with a Crystal Core Firearm. They gave the two a cursory inspection—more for show than anything else.
Peace had lasted so long here that the guards had grown complacent, just going through the motions.
Once cleared, Ethan and Ricky continued down the tunnel. The sound of their footsteps echoed—click, clack, click, clack—until a faint light appeared ahead, along with the distant hum of traffic and city life.
"What do you think the Inner City’s really like?" Ricky asked, eyes wide with anticipation. He quickened his pace, unable to hide his excitent.
Soon, they reached the exit. Light spilled in from ahead, and as they stepped out, a whole new world unfolded before them.
Ricky froze in place, completely stunned.
The street stretched wide before them, flanked by towering skyscrapers that seed to scrape the sky. Sleek cars zipped by with a low hum, and above, suspended railways crisscrossed between buildings, with trains hanging upside down as they sped along.
In the sky, advanced aircraft weaved between the high-rises, darting and gliding like birds of steel.
Pedestrians strolled the sidewalks, dressed in stylish, high-tech clothing. So even had pets—though not the kind Ricky was used to. One woman walked a chanical dog made of gleaming silver alloy, its design sleek and futuristic.
"Whoa..." Ricky’s jaw dropped, eyes filled with awe. The scene before him shattered everything he thought he knew.
So this... this was the Inner City?
Ethan scanned the surroundings, taking it all in. The level of technology here was far beyond anything Earth had to offer.
"Not bad for a human civilization," he muttered to himself.
"Captain, where do we go now?" Ricky asked, still gawking at the cityscape.
Ethan thought for a mont. "Let’s find a place to stay first."
"Oh, right. Yeah." Ricky nodded quickly, but as he looked around at the towering buildings, a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face.
Do they even have rcenary Inns in the Inner City?
He got his answer soon enough.
Here, they were called Hyperlux Hotels.
The one they found was a colossal structure, over a hundred stories tall, gleaming with opulence. The exterior shimred with polished tal and glass, and the interior was even more extravagant.
As they stepped into the lobby, their feet sank into a plush white carpet that looked like it had never seen a speck of dirt.
"This is insane..." Ricky muttered, glancing down. The carpet felt softer than his clothes—and probably cost more too.
At the front desk stood two stunningly beautiful receptionists, both smiling warmly, their posture perfect, their deanor professional.
"Good evening, gentlen. How may we assist you today?" one of them asked, her voice smooth and pleasant.
"Uh..." Ricky’s cheeks flushed. He’d half-expected the Inner City folks to be arrogant, maybe even look down on him. But these won were polite, even respectful.
"We’d like two rooms. The most luxurious ones you’ve got... thanks."
"Certainly. The deluxe suite is 100,000 Credits per night, with a 10,000-Credit deposit. Please swipe your chip or authorize the transfer when you’re ready," the receptionist replied, still smiling.
"Wait, what? That much?" Ricky blinked, stunned. But then he rembered—he was rich now. That kind of money was just numbers to him.
He confidently placed his chip-embedded wristband on the counter.
"Thank you, sir. If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to call," the receptionist said with a radiant smile.
Ricky felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him. Being rich really did feel amazing.
And these receptionists? Gorgeous, polite, and professional. The Inner City really was on another level.
But then—click.
A red light scanned across his wristband. The receptionist’s eyes glowed briefly, and with a chanical whir, the skin on her hand peeled back, revealing a sleek tallic surface underneath. From her palm, two room cards slid out with a soft hiss.
"Please enjoy your stay."
"Wait... you’re a robot?!" Ricky’s eyes went wide, his jaw dropping again. That sa perfect smile stayed frozen on her face, making it even more surreal.
Well... that was awkward.
Grabbing the room cards, he quickly turned and scurried off.
They took a high-speed elevator straight up to one of the top floors. Their suite was massive, spotless, and filled with brand-new, high-end furnishings.
Everything glead. Not a speck of dust in sight.
"No wonder it costs a hundred thousand Credits a night," Ricky muttered, eyes wide with amazent. For soone who grew up in the Outer Zone, this was like stepping into another universe.
At the front of the room stood a massive floor-to-ceiling window.
Ethan walked over slowly, taking in the view. The city stretched out beneath them, a sprawling urban landscape glittering with lights and motion. From here, you could see nearly half the Inner City.
Ricky joined him at the window, squinting toward the southeast. "My girlfriend once told her school—Pinnacle Academy—is sowhere over that way."
Ethan nodded. "Things are quiet for now. If you want to go, go. Just keep an eye out for anything related to the Hawke family while you’re at it."
"Captain, you’re the best!" Ricky’s face lit up with gratitude. Honestly, ever since they’d arrived in the Inner City, he’d been itching to go find his girlfriend. The thought had been gnawing at him like an itch he couldn’t scratch.
But he hadn’t dared bring it up—he was waiting for Ethan to give the word.
And now, not only did Ethan not stop him, he actually encouraged it.
Ricky thanked him again, then spun around and bolted out of the room, practically skipping with excitent.
Ethan lingered at the window for a mont longer, then turned and walked over to a large screen embedded in the wall. It was like a computer back on Earth, only way more advanced—capable of projecting full 3D holograms.
He powered it up and connected to the local network.
Ti to dig up so useful intel...
anwhile, Ricky had left the hotel and was jogging down the street. But it didn’t take long for him to notice the stares.
He was still wearing his Outer Zone clothes—worn, faded, and patched up in places. In a city like this, he stuck out like a sore thumb.
"Huh?"
He quickly realized people were giving him side-eyes, so even wrinkling their noses as they passed. Yeah... this wasn’t gonna work.
He glanced around and spotted a clothing store just across the street. Through the spotless glass windows, he could see rows of sleek, stylish suits on display.
Without hesitation, he darted inside and dropped so Credits on a brand-new outfit.
He fumbled a bit with the red tie, trying to knot it like he’d seen in vids, then slicked his hair back to look more "grown-up." Finally, he slipped into a sharp-looking suit that made him feel like a whole new man.
In his mind, he pictured the mont he’d see her again—how surprised she’d be, how beautiful she’d look...
On the way to Pinnacle Academy, he even stopped to buy a bouquet of red flowers. After a few wrong turns and so asking around, he finally arrived.
The campus was a cluster of sleek, futuristic buildings, all gleaming under the sun. A large sign out front read: Pinnacle Academy.
At the gate stood a stone monunt, engraved with the school’s motto: Never Give Up.
Students bustled in and out—young n and won, all good-looking, confident, and full of energy. They moved in groups, laughing and chatting, the air practically buzzing with youth and ambition.
Only the best of the best got to study here—people with talent, brains, or both.
Ricky hesitated at the entrance, not sure if he was even allowed in. So instead, he flagged down a passing student.
"Hey, excuse —do you know soone nad Lena Hart?"
"Lena Hart?" The guy paused, thinking. "Yeah, I think I do."
"It’s lunchti right now. Try the restaurant street across the road—she’s probably eating over there."
"Oh! Thanks, man!" Ricky nodded gratefully and hurried across the street.
This side of the road was lined with restaurants—fancy ones. Every place looked like it catered to the elite, with polished glass doors, elegant lighting, and nus that probably didn’t even list prices.
Ricky clutched the bouquet tightly, craning his neck to peer through the windows, scanning each place like a hawk.
"Damn..."
He spotted tables loaded with food he’d never even seen before—colorful, aromatic, plated like art. Everything looked delicious.
"Lena eats like this every day? How the hell can she afford it?"
...
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