90: Come, rent a room

Lin Yu called a car, not heading to any bustling commercial district, but rather towards the city's edge, an old industrial zone.

The scenery outside the car window gradually transformed from towering, gleaming buildings to dilapidated and desolate structures.

Finally, the car stopped outside an abandoned freight yard.

"We're here."

Lin Yu paid the fare and, along with Lin Yao, got out of the car.

A smell of mixed engine oil, rust, and unknown decaying matter assailed them, causing Lin Yao to instinctively frown.

This was the "safe" place her brother had mentioned?

She watched Lin Yu expertly navigate around several collapsed containers and enter a dim alleyway.

At the end of the alley was an inconspicuous, rust-covered iron gate.

Standing by the gate were two burly men with bulging muscles, wearing black vests.

Lin Yao's heart instantly leaped into her throat.

The aura emanating from those two men was full of violence and bloodlust; they were definitely not ordinary people.

However, Lin Yu walked past them as if he hadn't even seen them.

Just as Lin Yao thought a conflict was about to erupt, the two burly men bowed their heads in unison to Lin Yu.

Although they didn't speak, it was a gesture of genuine, almost reverent respect.

Lin Yu took a black card from his pocket and swiped it in an inconspicuous slot on the gate.

This place was the Black Market VIP channel.

Without enough money on the black card, he couldn't pass.

Lin Yu had never used this route before.

"Beep."

The iron gate silently slid open to both sides.

Behind the gate was a completely different world.

Noisy, chaotic, yet with a strange sense of order.

In the wide underground passage, people came and went, each wearing a large cloak and various masks, hiding their identities in the darkness.

On both sides of the passage were stalls displaying various items that would never be seen on the open market.

Enchanted weapons glowing with dangerous light, unknown creatures wriggling in glass jars, cursed artifacts emanating an ominous aura... This was... the Black Market?!

Lin Yao's mind buzzed, a complete blank.

Although she was a student, she had heard of such places.

They were gray areas, outside the law and order, belonging to professionals.

They were breeding grounds for crime, havens for desperadoes.

How could her brother bring her to a place like this?

And... she looked at Lin Yu walking ahead, her heart churning with shock.

Lin Yu retrieved two cloaks and handed one to Lin Yao.

Lin Yao took the cloak and put it on a bit clumsily.

The cloak's material was peculiar; it not only blocked external sight but seemed to mask one's aura as well.

She noticed a small number on the cloak's tag.

Three thousand.

Was this the price?

Three thousand for a one-day rental?

Lin Yao gasped.

From entering the gate to putting on the uniform black cloak,

and then skillfully navigating through the crowded masses towards a shop with a sign that read "Insect Dwelling"... her brother's every move exuded a deep-seated familiarity.

She followed Lin Yu into the shop named "Insect Dwelling," and the scene inside once again overturned her perception.

This was not the Grocery store (grocery store) she had imagined, but a discreetly luxurious reception area.

A receptionist wearing a ghost mask and a crisp uniform stood behind the counter.

"Sir, what service do you require?"

"Accommodation," Lin Yu's voice sounded somewhat muffled under the cloak, "I want the best."

The receptionist's movements paused for a moment, then he resumed his professional demeanor.

"The best 'Infinity' suite, ten thousand per day."

Lin Yao's heart skipped a beat.

Ten thousand a day?

This was already a whole month's income for an ordinary family.

However, Lin Yu just shook his head.

"I said, the best."

The receptionist was silent for a moment, seemingly re-evaluating the client before him.

"...The 'Divine Concealment' class residence, independent space, absolute privacy, with the highest authority. Daily rent... four hundred thousand."

Lin Yao felt like she couldn't breathe.

Four hundred thousand... a day?

What kind of concept was that? Burning money like paper?

"Two rooms," Lin Yu's voice showed no fluctuation, "They need to be internally connected."

"Automatic renewal."

He placed the pure black card on the counter.

Seeing the card, the receptionist's body visibly stiffened.

His attitude instantly became extremely respectful.

"Very well, distinguished guest, I will process it for you immediately."

Lin Yao was completely stunned.

Her large eyes under the mask were wide and round, staring unblinkingly at Lin Yu.

Automatic renewal?

Four hundred thousand a day, two rooms would be eight hundred thousand.

Brother... what exactly had he been doing outside?

Could it be... what Aunt Su said was true, that he was working as a security guard for someone outside?

What kind of security guard could earn so much money!

No, that's not right.

A thought uncontrollably emerged from the depths of Lin Yao's mind.

Brother, is he a gang boss?

This absurd yet seemingly only logical explanation plunged the young girl's thoughts into complete confusion.

Under the personal guidance of the receptionist, they passed through a dedicated passage and arrived at the so-called "Divine Concealment" residence.

It wasn't a room at all.

Instead, they were two doors suspended in the void.

Lin Yu and Lin Yao each walked into a door.

Behind the door was an impossibly vast luxury suite.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows was a brilliant galaxy, with countless stars slowly revolving.

Lin Yao walked to the window and could even see a blue planet hanging not far away.

"Is this... a virtual landscape?" she murmured to herself.

A soft electronic voice sounded in the room.

【You can switch between over three thousand surreal landscapes at any time according to your preference.】

Lin Yao jumped, turning around to find a translucent operating interface had appeared on the wall.

She tentatively tapped "Deep Sea," and the galaxy outside the window instantly transformed into deep blue water, with huge schools of whales gracefully swimming past the window.

Yao Yao was dumbfounded.

This was simply a place where immortals lived!

The side walls of the two rooms could be made completely transparent or have a passage opened as needed; at this moment, Lin Yu walked over.

He completely ignored the breathtaking scenery around him, walking directly to the operating interface.

"These basic services are too few."

He said, while tapping on the screen.

【Space expansion service activated, space enlarged tenfold, daily fee increased by five hundred thousand.】

【Virtual sparring service activated, can simulate any opponent below level 100, daily fee increased by three hundred thousand.】

【Skill teaching service activated, built-in full-profession basic skill library, daily fee increased by two hundred thousand.】

【Top teacher one-on-one anonymous guidance service activated, daily fee increased by five hundred thousand.】

【Customized medicated meals and medicated bath conditioning service activated, daily fee increased by one hundred fifty thousand.】