Chapter 105: Chapter 9 Identity Crisis
After the great war of alien invasion, humanity established several base cities on Byron Star, and Steel Dome City was one of them.
Due to limited resources, a strong class barrier quickly formed among the people.
Steel Dome City was a city full of steel technology fantasies, but Xu Mo and his group ended up in an old and shabby civilian district.
These were government-provided affordable housing, yet even so, purchasing one was still a luxury for many people.
Most people only rented here.
According to Qin Fu and the others, only the hotels in these areas did not check for identity cards.
Thus, Xu Mo and his group could only stay in this area.
For Xiao Qi and the others, who had just experienced grand scenes, the sudden downturn felt like returning to the Underworld.
It was hard to imagine such rundown places existing in a bustling city.
At dusk, Qin Fu took them to eat at a noodle restaurant.
“We’ll just have to make do,” Qin Fu said apologetically, regretting that he couldn’t entertain Xu Mo properly.
“The taste is pretty good,” Xu Mo said, not minding.
For him, the most important thing was to first understand this world.
The upper and lower parts were two completely different worlds.
“Uncle Qin, have the monsters ever breached the city?” Xu Mo asked.
“That was many years ago,” Qin Fu began, “Since humans have established a complete defense system, it has not been easy to breach. Moreover, as human power continues to grow, they will eventually become the rulers of Byron Star, just like before.”
“If it were breached, would the human shelters still exist?” Xu Mo asked tentatively.
He did not know what the people of the upper world thought about the Underworld.
Therefore, Xu Mo was quite cautious on this matter.
“They should still be there,” Qin Fu seemed unsure, “I haven’t heard much about the shelters anymore, because many humans have gradually come up from underground over the years.”
“Hmm,” Xu Mo nodded slightly, not saying much.
Ye Qingdie, Elsa, and others were eating their noodles with their heads down, feeling a bit distressed.
Apparently, the Underworld had been forgotten!
The company in the Underworld had absolute power and did whatever they wanted.
It was indeed a large factory.
And, from Qin Fu’s tone, it seemed that nothing had changed after the last incident.
The company wouldn’t allow people from the Underworld to come up.
For a civilized city, the existence of the Underworld was a deep-seated evil.
This kind of evil was not to see the light of day.
Thus, they maintained strict control over everything.
Anyone born in the Underworld would never have a chance to come up normally.
Unless they became Puppets or Genetic Warriors.
“Am I very unusual?” Elsa asked, looking up at Qin Fu.
“Not really,” Qin Fu shook his head, “There are quite a few people in the city who use Genetic Evolution Liquid to enhance their survival abilities, but… generally, it’s the lower-class people. Those from good backgrounds usually don’t use Genetic Evolution Liquid. As far as I know, even if they do, they use some very high-quality Genetic Evolution Liquid, which is rare in Steel Dome City.”
“Lower-class people,” Xu Mo turned toward Qin Fu and asked, “What exactly is Genetic Evolution Liquid?”
“It is derived from the genes of other species, such as monsters,” Qin Fu said softly, causing Elsa to lower her head as she heard his words.
She thought about Jiang Tong’s humiliating words and felt even more distressed.
Indeed, it was a despicable species.
The genes of monsters.
Xu Mo also understood why people of status would not inject Genetic Evolution Liquid.
“What is considered high-quality Genetic Evolution Liquid?” Xu Mo asked further.
“High sequence,” Qin Fu explained, “Like S-grade or even higher. I haven’t had any experience with it, but I’ve heard that the genes of some alien ‘humans’ are considered high-quality genes.”
Xu Mo roughly understood.
The Underworld cultivated Genetic Warriors, possibly as machines of war.
The lower-class people used Genetic Evolution Liquid for survival.
Qin Fu didn’t tell them something.
In Steel Dome City, those genetic humans with obvious features of other species were considered inferior and discriminated against.
After finishing their noodles, the group walked along the old streets of Steel Dome City.
There were people coming and going; Xu Mo saw many genetic humans.
Their features varied; some had very large ears, some had long noses.
Even some people had horns growing on their heads.
Elsa also encountered many scrutinizing gazes. She kept her head down, not looking at others, and sank into deep inferiority.
Apparently, the upper world was not as wonderful as one might imagine.
“Do we have any chance to go to college?” Xu Mo asked Qin Fu.
In reality, he was asking not for himself but for Elsa.
Hearing Xu Mo’s question, Qin Fu sighed and said, “It’s difficult.”
“You are without identity cards, and colleges require a complete resume and prior basic education for enrollment, which all need to be verified,” Qin Fu said, feeling very sorry.
Xu Mo’s abilities had already been witnessed by him.
He would certainly be outstanding in a college.
Although Qin Fu knew Xu Mo would not be ordinary even without entering college,
it would be smoother for him if he took the college path.
For Xu Mo, that would be a direct path to changing his fate.
“Unless he has an exceptionally strong talent that disregards his background,” Qin Fu said, “or someone with a strong background helps.”
Both paths were difficult, and he was just stating them.
Whether or not they could be actualized remained to be seen.
“Can I buy a Communicator?” Xu Mo asked.
“No, you need to link it to an identity card,” Qin Fu replied.
“…”
Xu Mo felt quite helpless.
Being without an identity meant he couldn’t do anything.
“Should we ask Miss Lin Xi for help?” Qin Fu suggested, “Miss Lin Xi seems quite approachable.”
“Let’s see after tonight,” Xu Mo responded.
“There’s a hotel over there; I’ll go and ask,” Qin Fu indicated towards the side of the road.
Generally, all hotels and inns required identity cards.
But in places like this, the small inns were not strict with their checks; a little bribe often did the trick without thorough verification.
A moment later, Qin Fu came out and said to Xu Mo and the others, “It’s possible.”
The group entered the hotel.
They arranged for two suites.
Qin Fu’s family and Xu Mo’s group of five stayed in adjacent rooms.
The suite was simple, but it was enough for Xu Mo and his group.
They had experienced the environment of the Underworld, and this place was somewhat better regardless.
The suite had three rooms.
Ye Qingdie and Elsa shared one, Xiao Qi and Ying shared another, and Xu Mo had one to himself.
There was a television projector in the living room.
After Uncle Qin had taught them how to use it, he left.
Thus, the group gathered around to watch TV.
And they found it quite enjoyable.
Everything in the Underworld was restricted to imprison the thoughts of the people.
Besides that, they were finally able to take a comfortable bath.
However, there was only one bathroom.
Once Ye Qingdie entered, she monopolized it without coming out.
“Sister Butterfly, isn’t that a bit too long?”
Xu Mo was somewhat speechless; these days in the ruins, they had been quite stifled.
“It’s still early,” a lazy voice came from inside.
“Half an hour is early?” Xu Mo was speechless.
“Are you in a hurry?” Ye Qingdie’s voice came, “Why don’t you join me?”
Xu Mo was stunned for a moment.
He was almost seventeen!
Was this really okay?
“Sure,” Xu Mo responded.
This time, it was silent inside.
A moment later, the door cracked open, saying, “Just come in yourself.”
Xu Mo fled in panic…
It would be the death of him!
A moment later, Ye Qingdie came out with her hair still wet, wrapped in a bathrobe, exuding a seductive charm.
Xu Mo dared not look.
Ye Qingdie gave Xu Mo a contemptuous glance.
Coward!
“Bro Mo, can you handle it?” Xiao Qi peeked his head out and asked weakly.
Xu Mo slapped him casually and then went to take a bath; there was still a faint fragrance inside.
After shedding their battle armor and finishing their baths, they felt totally relaxed.
Even though the conditions were modest, they hadn’t felt this comfortable in a long time.
Ye Qingdie put on her favorite red long dress, looking sexy and graceful, not at all like someone who had just come from the Underworld.
Rather, she looked like a city beauty.
Xu Mo found himself lost in thought as he gazed at Ye Qingdie, unable to shift his gaze for a moment.
“What are you looking at?” Ye Qingdie saw Xu Mo staring and asked smilingly.
“I was thinking that in this world above ground, I definitely want Sister Butterfly to have the best of everything,” Xu Mo said with a radiant smile.
He hoped to make up for the youth they had lost in the Underworld over the years.
Hearing Xu Mo’s words made Ye Qingdie’s nose feel a bit tingly.
“One day I’ll take Sister Butterfly shopping, to buy clothes, lots of them,” Ye Qingdie said with a smile.
It seemed that this was her wish for now.
Xu Mo felt somewhat ineffectual.
Ye Qingdie thought about it and felt she seemed ineffectual too.
But to be able to wear beautiful dresses freely and pursue beauty, isn’t that every woman’s dream?
In the Underworld, she had never even had these.
“We’ll buy,” Xu Mo said with a smile.
The modest hotel yet felt unusually cozy, like relaxation after long suppression.
They even thought about how nice it would be to have a home of their own.
However, this cozy feeling did not last long.
Someone knocked on the door.
Xu Mo sensed outside and noticed two men in uniform.
“Who is it?” Xiao Qi asked.
No one replied; the knocking continued.
Xiao Qi looked towards Xu Mo.
Xu Mo knew they couldn’t avoid it and signaled to them.
Ying and Xiao Qi approached the door.
Ye Qingdie stepped forward to open the door and asked, “Can I help you?”
“Security Bureau, someone reported you for gathering and causing disorder, now show us your identity cards,” the two men barged into the room.
Ye Qingdie stepped back gradually.
Seeing Ye Qingdie’s beauty, the two men scanned the room again and saw another attractive Gene Person.
They sneered internally; these lowlife waste from the lower levels really liked to cause trouble.
Without needing Xu Mo to speak, Xiao Qi closed the door and together with Ying, each struck the two men’s necks.
“Gathering my ass,” Xiao Qi muttered lowly.
Xu Mo felt a bit of a headache, was staying in a hotel this much trouble without an identity card?
Now that they had knocked out the Security Bureau’s men, it was trouble again.
The hotel was obviously not a place to stay any longer.
There was a knock at the door again.
It was Qin Fu.
Xu Mo let Xiao Qi open the door, and Qin Fu, seeing the situation on the ground, cursed lowly, “These bastards, they’re clearly trying to extort us.”
There was apparently an inside man at the hotel specifically targeting people like Xu Mo who didn’t have a hukou.
If they went in, Xu Mo would probably be squeezed dry.
Anything on him, they wouldn’t think of keeping.
A person without a hukou was basically considered a criminal.
Xu Mo felt a bit helpless, it seemed impossible to live in the city without an identity card.
A card appeared in his hand and he handed it to Qin Fu, saying, “Please contact Miss Lin Xi for me.”
He would avoid using this favor if possible.
But now, he didn’t have another choice.
Being new here, the only person who could help him was Lin Xi.