28: Section 28

"Just friends, and yet he keeps such a close eye on you?"

"4068 asked me what I've been up to lately, but I just brushed him off. He tried to follow me several times, and I caught him. I didn't expect him to follow me all the way here this time."

"That kid's desire for control is way too strong! You're not his personal property; he shouldn't meddle so much. Even Upper Citizens don't control Dust Citizens that strictly!"

"Hmph!" 4277 was a bit angry.

"Don't be angry," Jing Yuan advised, then added, "I didn't mean anything else, it's just that the workshop and tools you're using are for Upper Citizens only. If word gets out, it'll be bad for both of us."

"I understand."

Jing Yuan smiled slightly, but his heart felt complicated.

4277 was a kind girl. If her involvement with 4068 led to a bad ending, it wasn't something Jing Yuan wanted to see.

"Might as well break them up if I can!"

After leaving the workshop, Jing Yuan returned to his residence to rest.

The next day.

Jing Yuan bathed and changed his clothes, then followed instructions to head to the Hall of Dawn.

Inside the Hall of Dawn, the entire hall felt magnificent under the reflection of warm lights.

Having lived on the Lighthouse for so many years, he had only ever seen the gates of the Hall of Dawn; this was Jing Yuan's first time stepping inside.

"Why is this place decorated like a clubhouse?" Jing Yuan muttered to himself.

"What did you say?" a nearby Law Enforcer asked in a stern tone.

"Nothing!"

Led by a Law Enforcer, Jing Yuan changed into a vacuum-sealed grey robe and put on a golden mask.

When entering the main doors, two Law Enforcers stood guard at the entrance. Seeing their posture, Jing Yuan was half-afraid they would shout, "Welcome! One male guest!"

Jing Yuan shook his head and thought to himself, "What am I thinking! The Hall of Dawn is a sacred place burdened with the heavy responsibility of human racial succession. How can it be compared to that kind of place!"

Walking down the golden corridor, Jing Yuan couldn't help but start thinking about strange things.

He remembered in the plot of 'pest control' that Marc stormed the Hall of Dawn, fighting over a dozen Law Enforcers along the way. But today, there was no one in the corridor except for the Law Enforcer following beside him.

Reaching the end of the corridor, two more Law Enforcers stood guard before the doors.

Stepping further inside, they reached the center of the entire hall.

The layout of the entire hall was very ceremonial, like a sacred altar.

A large golden bed was set in the center of the hall.

Two Law Enforcers were stationed on either side, with a thin veil separating them from the large bed.

Jing Yuan looked forward as a blonde woman, also wearing a grey robe and a golden mask, walked toward the center of the hall.

The blonde woman wore a mask, so her face couldn't be seen, but her figure was top-tier. She was at least 1.7 meters tall, and the glimpse of her pale legs beneath the robe was enough to capture one's soul.

As the two of them walked to the side of the golden bed simultaneously, the Law Enforcer across the veil spoke: "Since this is your first time performing a Breeding Mission, an instructional video will be played for you before the mission begins!"

Jing Yuan was completely stunned. An instructional video?

This stuff... Subsequently, a holographic image was projected in the hall, showing two animated characters giving instructions.

It was a literal instructional video, devoid of any emotion... Jing Yuan didn't care for this kind of video. He turned his head and looked at the blonde woman beside him, who seemed to be studying it very seriously.

When the key movements were shown, a look of surprise appeared in the blonde woman's eyes.

"Is it her first time at the Hall of Dawn too?" Jing Yuan felt a hint of curiosity.

"Alright, the instructional video is over. Begin!" the Law Enforcer said.

Jing Yuan glanced at the Law Enforcer and asked, "You're going to watch here?"

"We must ensure you complete the mission."

"How are we supposed to complete the mission with you watching?"

Jing Yuan argued with the Law Enforcer.

The blonde woman's eyes showed some surprise, as if she recognized the man in the golden mask before her.

"If you feel embarrassed, we can turn around. But you must complete the mission, otherwise you will be punished."

"I know."

After saying that, the two Law Enforcers turned around, and Jing Yuan and the blonde woman moved onto the golden bed.

Previously, Jing Yuan had only been looking for a reason to spite Charles and didn't actually want to come to the Hall of Dawn; he had ended up in a difficult position of his own making.

But now, with a vivid and fragrant woman right in front of him, Jing Yuan's primal desires had long since been stirred.

At this point, saying he had no thoughts about it would be too much of a facade.

Only Upper Citizens could come to the Hall of Dawn. Whether Upper Citizen genes had a better survival advantage in the apocalypse, Jing Yuan didn't know, but because they were genetically selected, most of them were quite handsome or beautiful.

Jing Yuan was 186 cm tall with a sturdy build and a handsome face; he was quite prominent even among Upper Citizens.

The blonde woman in front of him was over 170 cm tall with a slender figure. Although her face couldn't be seen, it likely wouldn't be bad.

Jing Yuan took the blonde woman's hand and said softly, "Let's begin!"

"Okay!"

As soon as the blonde woman spoke, a sense of familiarity hit him.

Jing Yuan's pupils shook. Could it be her?

Chapter 29: Charles's Request

There were many different races on the Lighthouse, and there were quite a few blonde women of suitable age, so Jing Yuan hadn't initially associated the blonde woman in front of him with the one he knew.

But as soon as she spoke, the familiar feeling came.

Jing Yuan stroked her palm. Judging by the distribution of calluses on her hand, she likely had a long-term habit of handling guns.

If she could handle a gun, she should be from the Wasteland Hunters or the City Defense Force.

This narrowed the scope.

"What are you thinking about?" the blonde woman asked when she saw Jing Yuan dazing off.

"Nothing!"

Jing Yuan leaned in and sniffed her neck. So fragrant!

"I'm starting!"

"Mhm!"

Jing Yuan's hands trembled slightly, but his movements were very gentle.

As the mission officially proceeded, the two went from initial discomfort to gradual enjoyment... When the mission ended, Jing Yuan changed back into his own clothes and left the Hall of Dawn.

Entering 'sage time,' he breathed in the cold air outside, and suddenly his mind began to ponder big questions about survival and racial reproduction again.

This method could indeed ensure the continuation of the species under limited resources, but was it really right?

Jing Yuan looked back at the gates of the Hall of Dawn. No matter how sacred and great it was decorated to be, it was still just a tool used by the upper echelons for transactions.

"Upper Citizen Jing Yuan!" A Law Enforcer suddenly appeared behind Jing Yuan. "The Leader requests your presence!"

Jing Yuan gave a contemptuous smile. As the saying goes, 'one's mouth is soft after eating someone else's food.' He might as well go see what Charles actually wanted!

Light and Shadow Society Cathedral.

Charles sat in a high position, looking down at Jing Yuan.

"How was it? The taste of going to the Hall of Dawn is quite good, isn't it?"

"It was alright! Although it wasn't what I wanted, it'll do." Jing Yuan also had a fake smile on his face.

"Not what you wanted?" Charles laughed. "Jing Yuan, is there anything on this Lighthouse that can be hidden from my eyes? Going to the Hall of Dawn with someone you like—isn't that what you all want?"

"Someone I like?" Jing Yuan was a bit confused but continued with his previous line. "I still prefer those Light Bearers by your side."

Charles wasn't annoyed this time. Instead, he said, "Fine, I don't care who you like! Our deal is simple: I give you what you want, and you give me what I want. This time was my show of sincerity, so is it your turn to show yours?"

Jing Yuan stepped forward and said, "What does the Leader need me to do?"

Charles smiled slightly, thinking he had succeeded: "Tomorrow, you Wasteland Hunters will head to The Surface again for a collection mission. I need you to make Captain Marc take a fall."

"Make Marc take a fall? Do you think a newcomer like me can do that?"

"There are many methods. It depends on how you choose."

"For example?"

"For example, Phage Beasts run rampant on The Surface. You only need to lure them over, and they will naturally do the work for you."