Chapter 64: Tier 4 City
The cityscape was dotted with buildings reminiscent of his old world, yet their overall look was different.
Atmosphere felt more compact, with towering structures dominating the skyline in this part of the city.
This buildings rose like giants of steel and glass, stretching towards the sky with a commanding presence.
Each one seemed to vie for space, their surfaces shining in the waning sunlight.
Some were sleek and modern, reflecting the colors of the evening sky, while others showed signs of age, their worn exteriors bearing witness to years gone by.
Below, the streets buzzed with activity.
Cars zoomed past in a flurry of colors, their headlights casting long shadows on the pavement.
Pedestrians hurried along, their faces obscured by the hustle and bustle of city life.
Some were dressed in suits, clutching briefcases tightly, while others wore casual attire with backpacks slung over their shoulders as they navigated the crowded sidewalks.
Amidst the chaos, the sounds of the city wrapped around Reign like a familiar tune.
Horns honked, voices chattered, and the distant rumble of trains added to the urban symphony that surrounded him.
However —
This urban landscape was odd in his opinion, especially considering there was plenty of open space outside the city walls.
'Why aren't they expanding the city?' Reign mused aloud.
Melissa, seating beside the driver, overheard him and offered an answer. She was more knowledgeable about this topic than George.
"It's because the Hunter Association and the government lacks the manpower to protect this city, so it's better to reduce the land area," she answered.
"Reign, do you know how a city gets promoted?" she asked, wanting to provide him with more common information about the world that he might need in the future.
"Base on population?" he replied.
"That's one aspect," Mellisa explained, "but the primary concern is the city's ability to defend itself. That's why a city must have sufficient manpower in order to be promoted."
Reign attempted to understand her explanation, but it only raised more questions for him.
"But why? I find this place really peaceful," Reign inquired.
The issue with demons seemed almost non-existent, so why bother limiting the area?
"On the surface, yes, it may seem peaceful. But the truth is, the relationship between Demons and Humans is very fragile. In other cities like this one, it's normal for it to be destroyed overnight due to a skirmish ." Melissa paused for a moment, taking a breather before continuing.
"The only reason the existence of demons isn't widely known is because of propaganda, and the city's internet is limited to internal connections. This means that other cities don't even have a way to communicate with each other."
'This world is more complicated than I expected,'Reign muttered to himself.
He had thought it was just a normal city, but it turned out to be much complex. No wonder when he tried to search the net, information was limited. They didn't even have a map of this world, only the city.
"Have you heard anything about other cities? Why are some safe while others aren't?" Reign inquired further.
"I'm not entirely sure, but I've heard that most Demon Lords have their own territories, and there's some sort of agreement between humans and demons. That's probably why a full-blown war hasn't erupted," she responded."
As they continued to navigate the city roads, Reign and Melissa engaged in conversation, aiming for him to absorb as much common knowledge as possible.
After 45 minutes of travel, they arrived at what seemed to be a forgotten corner of the city.
The landscape transformed dramatically as towering skyscrapers gave way to dilapidated structures and narrow alleys.
The buildings here were haphazardly constructed, their facades weathered and worn from years of neglect.
Piles of garbage littered the streets, mingling with the stench of decay that hung heavily in the air.
The sounds of bustling city life were replaced by the distant echoes of hardship, as residents moved about with weary expressions, their spirits seemingly weighed down by the burdens of their surroundings.
This was not a place where dreams thrived; it was a place where survival was the only goal.
"Welcome to the Slump," Mellisa introduce the place .
"This place is like a garbage dump," Reign snorted in disdain. He had expected to be taken to some kind of skyscraper for his test, not led to this grimy area.
"Don't be too judgmental," Melissa cautioned. "While it may look like this, even the authorities can't just waltz in here. This place is home to the majority of criminals. You can meet all sorts of people here."
'Can't believe she's actually defending this garbage dump,' Reign sighed inwardly.
Seeing Reign's lack of response, Melissa decided to remain quiet until they reached a two-story building.
The place had a sign above it that read "Midnight Bar." Unlike the other buildings, this one was well-maintained, making it stand out .
As they stepped out of the car, they were instantly greeted by four burly men with imposing physiques. Each one was bald and had the unmistakable look of bouncers.
"Hey, Bob, I'm here to enjoy the night," Melissa announced with a playful wink, using the familiar code to signal her intention to gain access to the HQ.
"Come with us," Bob instructed, casting a gaze over Reign and George. "But the dog stays outside,"
"George, he said that you have to stay," Reign spoke up with a fake sad tone.
"He was talking about Wick!" George retorted, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Oh, my bad,"
Not wanting to waste any more time, Reign instructed Wick to stay in the car, leaving the window open for him.
As they made their way to the bar, Reign's attention was caught by the sight of several women in the lobby, their attire teasingly revealing.
Each one greeted them with a sultry smile, but it was the girl with pink hair and a nose piercing who drew his gaze.
Her black crop top hugged her curves enticingly, leaving little to the imagination, while her shorts barely covered her private parts, accentuating her alluring figure.
"Hey, handsome, want to have some fun?" the hooker asked with a playful smile, her voice dripping with seduction.
"You can have me for only 3000 credits," she purred, her suggestive gaze locking onto Reign.
Reign didn't reply immediately, not because he was interested in her, but because he had something else on his mind.
He glanced at Mellisa and asked, "How much is a kilo of raw beef?"
Everyone was taken aback by his unexpected question, but Melissa still answered calmly, "300 credits."
"You're too expensive for me. I'd rather buy 10 kilos of meat than get you," Reign responded casually, brushing off the girl completely.
Melissa couldn't help but giggle after witnessing how Reign handled the encounter with the hooker. She found his quirky retorts amusing.
Even George was having a hard time keeping his laugher.
As for the pink-haired hooker, she was visibly annoyed, but she managed to control herself after realizing that this group of people was being escorted. They might be VIPs, after all.
'What a snobbish guy,' the hooker exclaimed, rolling her eyes dramatically. 'Probably thinks his dick is made of gold!'