Forty-Nine Doomsday Chapter 158: First Arrival in Andai State

Southern border of Beixing Country, Guanyu County.

This small border county town had been in a state of actual abandonnt not long after the Doomsday Rules began.

All the people who originally lived here had left, heading to nearby major cities to seek shelter. All that remained was an empty county town, gradually withering away in the gentle breeze.

At this very mont, a figure silently appeared on the county town's streets.

Guan Tong glanced at the many signs on the street that read "Andai State Specialty Cuisine" and nodded slightly. "This is the place."

He had previously decided to go abroad to collect puzzle fragnts, and it wasn't just an idle thought. After spending about a week and a bit preparing, today, March 9th, was the day he would leave the country.

He first arrived at Guanyu County, this small county town on the edge of the national border. Beyond the county town was a small river, and that small river was the dividing line between Beixing Country and Andai State.

North of the river was Beixing Country, south of the river was Andai State.

Guan Tong walked on the completely deserted streets, his heart both calm and sowhat expectant.

He didn't know what things were like abroad now, but he was certain the environnt would definitely be more complex than in Beixing Country.

For a small country like Andai State, with insufficient official power and low control over its dostic affairs, it was bound to descend into utter chaos after entering the era of the Doomsday Rules.

Just think, even in a country like Beixing Country where the official power was very strong, a large number of violent organizations had previously appeared in the wilds, let alone a small country with weak official control.

However, Guan Tong had confidence in his own strength. Even if it was chaotic outside, he had a certain degree of self-preservation ability and wouldn't be overly worried.

Walking all the way to the end of the street, the small river that served as the national border dividing line was already within sight.

Guan Tong noticed that although this county town was no longer inhabited and had beco a ghost town, many chanical devices were still operating in the border area.

For example, scanning caras, or so automatic patrol and alert vehicles.

He figured that no matter how chaotic the world beca after entering the era of the Doomsday Rules, the territory of a major country was still not to be violated. If people from Andai State tried to cross the border taking advantage of the situation, they would imdiately be detected by electronic devices and reported to the relevant agencies for handling.

Guan Tong definitely wanted to avoid being detected if possible. He released a shadow line, crossing the small river to the other side, then used Body Swap on himself.

The next mont, he was already within Andai State's territory.

"Looking at the map, this border city in Andai State is called 'Antu,' right?"

Guan Tong had carefully checked the information before coming and had so understanding of the situation in Andai State.

This Antu City was less of a border city and more like Andai State's second-largest city. The capital of this country was right next to this Antu City, called "Banzhen City."

The location of the puzzle fragnt Guan Tong had previously sensed was on the eastern edge of Banzhen City.

To get there, he had to first pass through Antu City.

Although Guanyu County north of the national border dividing line was now empty of people, Antu City south of the dividing line clearly still had people, and they were just wandering around the streets.

This gave Guan Tong an indescribable feeling.

Both novel and curious.

Because although the major cities of Beixing Country had large populations, not many people idly wandered the streets.

Especially after the country entered a warti state, many people didn't even step out of their shelters. Food, clothing, shelter, transportation, exercise, entertainnt, and socializing could all be completed within the shelter, so there was no need to co out.

But Andai State was different. People of all kinds walked the streets in groups of three or five, and many of them looked quite happy.

That kind of happy expression was sothing Guan Tong had hardly seen since entering the era of the Doomsday Rules. He rembered that before he left Yunhua, everyone he saw on the road either had a face full of bitter resentnt or looked very serious.

However, he soon figured out the reason why the people on the streets of Andai State were so happy.

"Hey handso, need so fun?" Several young n and won walked up to Guan Tong and asked.

One of the won licked her lips and said, "You can pick anyone among us, just 20 Ascension Coins per hour."

Guan Tong shook his head. "No need."

As soon as he spoke, they were all a bit surprised. "So you're from Beixing Country."

Although people from Andai State also spoke the Beixing language, their intonation was different, and you could tell just by listening.

And the point of their surprise was why, after entering the era of the Doomsday Rules, there would still be soone from Beixing Country appearing in Andai State.

After the first Doomsday Rule was announced, all Beixing Country people in Andai State imdiately fled back to their country to obtain safer shelter and resources.

Many Andai State people even tried every ans to enter Beixing Country, which had caused quite a bit of chaos... Therefore, having a Beixing Country person still in Andai State now was what surprised them.

Discovering Guan Tong was from Beixing Country seed to interest the group. One man with a delicate, sowhat feminine face said, "Really don't want any? The rule just ended not long ago, what's the use of keeping Ascension Coins? Better to spend them and enjoy yourself."

"Exactly," another woman chid in. "Who knows, maybe we'll all die in the next rule. If you have Ascension Coins left unspent then, it's just a waste. Wouldn't it be better to use them for so fun, handso guy from Beixing?"

"..."

While they were talking, soone ca over from the side and selected one of the won. "Hey, Karma, I'll choose you again this ti. 20 per hour, right? Let's go."

The woman called "Karma" smiled slightly and left with the man who had spoken.

Seeing Guan Tong was unresponsive, the others shook their heads and walked away.

Guan Tong noticed that this group of n and won quickly found clients on the street, chatting and laughing as they entered nearby houses.

Besides these people soliciting on the main street, there were others sleeping in the open, grilling at, playing soccer, and even piling on top of each other in human pyramids for unclear reasons in the alleys.

After looking around, Guan Tong understood why the people here in Andai State were so happy.

It turned out everyone had thoroughly implented the philosophy of carpe diem.

Live one day at a ti, enjoy one day at a ti, with absolutely no illusions about the future. With this mindset, those still alive at this mont indeed deserved to be happy—because you could be sure you were still alive.

Actually, there were people with this kind of thinking in Beixing Country too, the so-called "give-up faction." But these people were still a minority. Most people were still actively seeking survival, paying attention to various information daily, discussing how to increase more Mind Power, beco stronger, and so on.

This shift in environntal atmosphere made Guan Tong feel sowhat uncomfortable for a mont. Precisely because of this, when he walked on the streets here, he stood out slightly.

However, Guan Tong's purpose in coming to Andai State was to find puzzle fragnts, not to investigate the local cultural environnt and customs. Regarding the lifestyle choices of the people here, he offered no comnt, only respect and understanding.

Passing through streets and alleys, he continued forward.

Guan Tong quickly noticed that soone was following him.

It wasn't that his senses were particularly sharp, but the Shadow Surveillance Eyes he had placed on his body could synchronize the surrounding situation to him, allowing him to respond to ergencies at any ti.

Is it because my foreigner characteristics are sowhat obvious?

Guan Tong thought. In terms of clothing, the difference between him and the locals wasn't huge; both wore thick winter clothes.

But in terms of deanor and even walking speed, it was clear he was very different from the locals. Most locals were lazy and listless, with few walking as briskly as he did.

Being in a foreign country, Guan Tong didn't want to easily get into conflicts with others. After turning into a small alley, he used a combination of his Shadow and Body Swap to transfer to another street.

Those few Andai State youths who were following him entered the alley only to find the person gone, imdiately looking at each other in confusion.

"Where'd he go?!"

"Don't know, seems like he ran off."

"That guy looked like he had quite a few coins! Too bad we couldn't rob him!"

"Actually, I think he looked like soone from Beixing Country."

"Pah!" The leader spat on the ground, cursing. "So what if he's from Beixing Country? I might die in the next rule, what's there to be afraid of! Even if the king of Suroma ca, I'd dare to rob him! At worst, I die, it's bound to happen sooner or later!"

While they were talking, they completely failed to notice a solid black shadow clinging to the wall, blending with the surrounding shadows, transmitting everything they said to Guan Tong on the other side.

"So that's how it is..."

Hearing their conversation, Guan Tong wasn't surprised.

In this kind of precarious era where others were living one day at a ti and enjoying themselves, seeing a lone foreigner arrive, what could they do but rob you?

"I'd better have the Shadow go scout the area near the fragnt location first, then use Body Swap to go there... to avoid encountering ssy situations that delay the main task."

Guan Tong found a quiet place to stay, took out his fragnt, and when he held it in his hand, a map appeared in his mind.

Hmm?

As soon as he saw the map, Guan Tong was imdiately sowhat surprised.

"The location changed?"

...

Eastern part of Banzhen City, the capital of Andai State.

Inside a civilian house, three young n were playing cards when suddenly the window glass shattered with a crack, followed by several flashbangs being thrown in from outside.

"Bzzzt!"

The three were completely unprepared and imdiately suffered from the blinding flash attack, covering their eyes as they fell to the ground, screaming.

"Ah! My eyes!!!"

Then ca a bang as the door was broken down, followed by a group of ard personnel rushing in. After beating the three with fists and kicks, they tied them up with ropes.

Having taken a severe beating, the three were completely clueless about the situation. The oldest among them, with tears streaming, roared, "Who are you people! What do you want!"

The ard personnel didn't answer, just stared coldly, their gun barrels aid at the three.

Then, a few more people walked in from outside the door. The leader was a pot-bellied bald man, and beside him was a short-statured youth.

Seeing these two, the three young n who had been beaten and tied up imdiately understood what was going on and began cursing loudly.

"Pita! You betrayed us!"

"I'll kill you, Pita!"

"Why did you do this?!"

The short youth called "Pita" said coldly, "I said we should sell that thing for coins, but you guys wouldn't sell. If you won't sell, I'll find a buyer myself."

"Hahaha, this kid is right!" The pot-bellied bald man beside him laughed loudly. "You guys, really greedy. A bunch of small-ti punks, daring to privately hoard good stuff? Hand it over. Good stuff is better kept in the hands of your Uncle Basong."

Facing the gun barrels, the three tied up didn't dare and couldn't resist. They knew who Basong was, nicknad the "Banzhen Crocodile." Before the Doomsday Rules, he was in the smuggling business, controlling a large group of ard n, a local tyrant in Andai State.

With Pita selling the information to him, the fragnt was definitely not going to be kept.

Helpless, the oldest among them could only trade the fragnt to Basong.

Basong took it, looked, and imdiately narrowed his eyes. "Good stuff, really good stuff. If sold, a few million would be small change..."

"Uncle Basong, are you satisfied?" Pita asked obsequiously, rubbing his hands. "Then what about my share..."

Basong glanced at him and waved to a subordinate. The subordinate pulled out a handgun and shot Pita dead with one bullet.

"Pita!" The three were shocked. Even though Pita had betrayed them, the four were friends after all, and seeing this scene, they couldn't help but cry out.

Basong chuckled. "I hate snitching rats the most. Even if they snitch to , it's the sa."

With that, he waved his hand. The other subordinates imdiately raised their guns and fired a barrage of shots at the three tied-up young n. Soon, the room fell silent, leaving only a bloody ss.