[Capital - Earth City]
The sky was just beginning to lighten, the morning sun hadn’t yet managed to sprinkle over this unique capital city, and it was assimilated by the internal lights of the city.
The entire city seed unable to transition from yesterday’s clamor.
Various surveillance robots coordinated with street cleaners, refreshing the city together.
Amidst the bustling streets,
a youth wrapped in a trench coat was noticeably slower than the other pedestrians on the street. He first found a Chinese restaurant, and despite being alone, he ordered portions ant for three.
As a diner was getting up to carry their noodles, they suddenly caught a glimpse out of the corner of their eye of what seed to be two won’s heads tucked inside the youth’s trench coat, eating with him.
But when he turned his head to look more closely, he found nothing.
After eating his fill,
the youth’s gaze locked onto the old newspaper stand set on the corner across the road.
It looked like a stubborn island from an old era, pieced together with rusty tal and worn organic glass panels. The interior space of the stand was cramped, almost entirely filled with towering piles of old magazines, yellowed newspapers, and stacks of physical books.
An old man in a standard white vest, hunched over, was sitting behind a precarious stack of old books and newspapers.
"Boss, how much for this book?"
"Regular version 800 Ruble, with chip illustrations 1500 Ruble, and the collector’s edition, which includes the author’s signature, is 18000 Ruble. I just happen to have a set here.
This book was a bestseller so ti ago, and the collector’s edition sold out long ago.
Just a few days ago, soone ca here to return it, so I have an extra copy. Do you need it?"
"I’ll take the collector’s edition."
"Alright!"
Seeing a big sale, the old man hurriedly rummaged through the pile of books to find the collector’s edition gift box. Its na - "Hell Island" - was gilded on the cover.
The youth, without any hesitation, completed the paynt via his wristband, took the book, and turned to leave.
The old man was overjoyed at making a big profit, but suddenly, in his sowhat decrepit mind, he recalled sothing; the youth’s face seed a little familiar.
He quickly pulled out another illustration-filled copy of "Hell Island" and projected the book character’s image.
The protagonist’s corresponding youthful image was exactly the sa as the young man just now.
As the owner dashed out of the newspaper stand to inquire, the other person had already vanished.
...
[E.I.A World Headquarters - Reception Zone]
"Detective Roddy, your visitation permit has been approved, and Mr. Kraft has also agreed to the visit request.
However, due to the particularity of the visit target, we still need to conduct a comprehensive check on you here."
"I ca directly back from the Exploration Bureau for the handover, do I still need to be checked?"
"Yes, it’s the rule. Mr. Kraft is the most special detainee, the highest level collaborator, even if the director himself wants to visit, he must go through the sa check process."
"Can I bring this?"
Luo Di took out the collector’s edition book he just bought. It was the novel Mr. Kraft created based on his experiences on the vacation island, perhaps to quickly gain so goodwill from the latter.
"As long as it ets the standard for carrying items, it should be fine."
"Alright."
After a full two hours of checks,
including even unrelated items like bathing and massage.
Finally,
Luo Di, having changed into a set of simple clothing provided by the World Bureau, officially boarded a special elevator, heading to the reception area deep within the General Administration.
Most of what is contained here are "Monster Avatars",
which are cut off from their connection to the corners through special containers, and rooms are designed to hold them according to their abilities.
Of course, so Monster Avatars, extrely unwilling to be contained, would choose to commit suicide, which would heavily damage the monster’s original form in the corner.
The containnt area is mainly used for humans to understand the corners, to understand the monsters.
As long as the Monster Avatar ets the cooperation requirents and reaches the corresponding containnt duration, they can be released from containnt here and freely return to the corners.
However, if any violations are found with the Monster Avatar, their pituitary will be reclaid.
Of course, these are just the rules; exactly how they are enforced remains unknown.
[Mr. Kraft] is entirely different,
his avatar can exist indefinitely and has not shown any overstepping behavior during cooperation with humans.
Although there may be minor actions, like the incident on Saiwei Vacation Island, he is essentially a "law-abiding" being, and his contributions to humanity far outweigh any harm.
He himself has also expressed a willingness to permanently keep his avatar on the human side and help humanity cultivate more talents that can explore the corners.
Of course, he has corresponding needs.
"Creation"
Mr. Kraft loves literary creation, especially novels that express themselves through pure text, a form of popular literature.
For every favor he does for humanity,
the World Bureau needs to have one of his works released nationwide through a regular publisher.*
*The content of the books will be reviewed by the World Bureau.
Comnts related to the released works will be delivered by staff daily, but interaction with fellow readers in any form is prohibited.
Nevertheless,
there are rumors that the rare readers who intentionally give poor reviews seem to mysteriously disappear. This is rare, though, and since it’s within the countries affected by the corners, no investigators pay attention to these matters.
...
The elevator reached the unknown floor in the reception area.
Unlike the other layers filled with holding rooms, there is only one room here, with a heavy hydraulic door set at the deepest part.
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