Currently, outside the spacecraft, surrounding the entirety of Ricando, a silver shield had been activated while the invisible spaceship had directly collided with it, unable to break through inside.
“Damn, seems like they have some kind of defensive line to stop the intruders.” Exhibiting a half-smile filled with frustration, Virus discovered first-hand.
Simultaneously, all around Ricando, figures of authority began to move as they started searching for the source of the intrusion or possibly attack attempt. Apparently, the activation of the city shield was a big deal.
Fortunately, they were incapable of locating him.
While the city went into a temporary state of chaos amongst its upper echelons, Virus landed the spacecraft on the ground once again.
‘Guess I can only somehow earn some money before being allowed into the city.’
In the meantime, getting off the spaceship, Virus discerned that covering the entire surface of the outer wall, various engravings were shining on them while they produced the sphere boundary that had prevented his entry earlier. ‘Well, I reckon the only option left is to go through one of the gate entrances.’
Returning to the gate once more, Virus began studying and inspecting the people passing by while wondering how he should earn some quick buck.
‘Maybe I should beg?’ Making this suggestion internally, a grin crept over Virus’ face. Of course, he was merely joking when he was proposing that idea since it was just his way of pointing out the irony of how poor he was right now.
His pride wouldn’t let him beg. He would steal, but not beg.
On the Technology Earth, he was so rich that whatever he desired was procured for him at the shortest notice. And yet, absurdly enough, the initial capitals for that wealth had been gathered through stealing from nearly everyone in the world!
On this planet, however, he was ironically piss poor to the point that even gaining access to a single city was proving difficult. And yet, he was unwilling to beg.
‘Should I display some of my cultivation and offer to work for a rich person as a bodyguard for a while?’ This new idea had just gone through Virus’ head when he noticed someone approaching him.
It was a disguised figure hiding her face beneath a cloak. Still, that meant nothing to Virus as he merely released her sense of awareness and received a perfect image of the woman in his mindscape.
Previously, when Virus was participating in the trial of the staircase, Virus had also released his awareness in order to figure out the identities of the two cloaked people, unfortunately, they seemed to be wearing special types of cloaks or something similar that prevented any kind of probing.
And about the veil hiding Hellarose’s countenance, to be honest, Virus hadn’t even tried looking past it since he was unwilling to do that to his savior. In case she was ever intent on showing herself voluntarily, Virus may take a look just to see exactly what kind of person possesses such a cheeky attitude, but if not, he didn’t really care.
And of course, neither of those mentioned above was the case with this woman in front of him who was wearing a cheap common cloak.
She seemed to be in her thirties while there was an extremely wild air about her that Virus discerned at once. Her tan skin together with the pronounced body parts also added further to that quality.
“Hey, do you need help getting into the city?” She said in the most tempting tone she could possibly make, just like a creepy uncle offering a kid a lollipop.
“Hmm? Who are you?” Furrowed in a frown, Virus queried.
“I just saw you were unable to enter Outer Ricando since you don’t have any money. But I think I felt some cultivation qi in your body, which stage are you at?” Clearly excited at the notion of coming across someone with a good level of cultivation, the woman interrogated.
“Why would I tell you that?” Staring with half-lidded eyes, Virus could already anticipate her answer.
“I’ll pay for your identity certification process plus ten more Qi Ingots as extra payment.” She said as expected.
“And what’s the catch?” Since nothing was free in the world, Virus wanted to know just how expensive she was selling those twenty first-grade Qi Ingots to him.
“You will know when we get there, you just need to follow me. Anyway, I’ll leave if you don’t want to, it’s not like I’m trying to force you or anything.”
However, those words only made Virus smile in mirth, ‘Huh, using that strategy, eh?’
“Alright, leave.” Grinning from ear to ear, Virus didn’t hesitate to tell her off.
However, as he predicted, the woman did not leave, “You sure? You’re losing a great opportunity, you know?”
“I’m sure. Go away now.”
“Wait… I’ll give you fifteen first-grade Qi Ingots.” Her voice was reeking of anxiety at this point.
“Hmm? Is that so?” Obviously, Virus could see there was something fishy about this entire situation, but that only urged him to want to do it more, “It sounds fun, I couldn’t possibly say no to fifteen first-grade Qi Ingots, right? Alright, let’s go!”
‘Let’s see where this little trip guides me to.’
“What? Are you sure? I can always just find another person if-“
Speechless that she was still proceeding with that nonsense strategy of hers despite it failing once, Virus exclaimed, “Cut the bullshit! I’ve seen through that little trick of yours already. Why do you even keep saying that? I told you to leave if you wanna leave!”
‘Is she perhaps slow in the head?’ Virus deliberated, truly suspicious now.
That response, however, abruptly startled the woman as her pupils dilated beneath the cloak.
“A-alright, let’s go.”
Subsequently, they set foot in the line until it was finally their turn. Seeing him return, the guard that had chased Virus away before started to get pissed off, “Damn it! Didn’t I tell you to fuck off? Do I have to beat you up before you understand?”
Virus’ countenance remained expressionless much like a buddha that could not be angered at all.
Alas, that made the guard even angrier. Therefore, he was about to get his weapon and start beating up this peasant that didn’t comprehend his place when the cloaked woman stepped up at last.
“I’ll pay for him, here.” Offering him the ten Qi Ingots of the first grade, the cloaked woman declared.
“Huh? So, you found yourself a sugar mommy to pay for you, huh? Well, looking at your face, it’s not a surprise.” Throwing another gaze full of contempt, the guard demanded next, “What’s your name, by the way?”
Seeing Virus remain silent without introducing himself, the cloaked woman clarified the process, “Your name will be carved on your identification plaque, so it’s essential. Moreover, they need to make sure you’re not an enemy of Ricando.”
“I’m Vee. Simply Vee with no last names.”
“I see. Vee, it is then. What’s the purpose of your visit?”
“Probably to live here.”
“Where are you from originally?”
“I used to live alone in a hut amongst the mountains, so nowhere really.”
“Just as I assumed, a country bumpkin with nothing at all. Okay, you two wait here and don’t move until I return.” After jotting down every one of his replies, the guard vanished off to somewhere.
In the meantime, Virus merely watched him leave his line of sight quietly.
