“Good morning, Etherians!” announced a presenter, impeccably dressed in a sharp suit, beaming from the floating screens hovering above the bustling city streets.
“It’s a bright day in the city that never sleeps! Where luxury and innovation blend seamlessly, shimmering skyscrapers, world-class restaurants, and theaters where stars of fashion, music, and cinema shine brightest!” The camera panned over the vibrant city streets, showcasing each location mentioned.
“Etheria, our City Amongst the Stars, remains the hub of glamour. Who wouldn’t want to be here, amidst it all?”
His expression turned serious.
“Well, it seems not everyone shares that sentiment. Yesterday, our beloved city’s peace was disrupted. A dangerous criminal, audacious enough to challenge our law enforcement, was spotted downtown.”
The floating screens displayed the suspect’s image.
“He escaped from our brave officers and is now believed to be hiding in the city’s less glamorous areas. If you see him, report it immediately!”
With a lighter tone, the presenter continued.
“Authorities are asking for your help in locating this individual. Your safety is our priority!”
Returning to a cheerful note, he added, “Now, on to something more exciting! Did you see Lux Nyra, our city’s favorite model, who arrived yesterday?”
The screens zoomed in on photos of Lux and Adan Dray. “And she wasn’t alone! She was spotted with Adan Dray, the famed TN agent. Are we witnessing the start of a new romance? Stay tuned for more!”
As the segment wrapped up, the presenter’s smile remained, but viewers might still be wondering: Where was the criminal now?
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Somewhere on the outskirts of the city...
"Hey, sleeping beauty, it's time to wake up," a harsh, masculine voice announced just before icy water splashed onto the young man. Instantly, his amber eyes snapped open as the cold water soaked his hair.
"Uh, what?" He blinked groggily, confused. He found himself sitting in a chair with his arms bound to its back.
"Why am I...? Hey, this isn't funny!" He shouted, struggling against the restraints, but the ropes held firm.
"I know, I know. It’s not the best way to meet someone," replied a smooth voice. The speaker, a black-haired, fair-skinned man with blue eyes, stepped into view.
He was dressed in a black suit and stood before the white-haired young man in what appeared to be a small basement. Beside him was another man in a similar suit, though more robust, mature, and bald.
image [https://i.imgur.com/T19eNnz.jpeg]
"Don’t be distressed. We found you lying in the street, and gave you clothes, a bath, and a place to sleep," the man said in a friendly tone. "Since you didn’t wake up, we had to speed up the process. I'm sorry."
Ji-Won Kim remained silent, glancing down at his clothes. He was now wearing blue jeans, gray hoodie, and matching sneakers.
“Wait...” he said, looking up at the men. “Did you strip me naked?” He finished with rosy cheeks, turning his face away.
"A... hahaha." The black-haired man laughed at the reaction, clearly amused by Ji-Won’s concern over such a detail.
"Your common sense is so funny. You wake up in different clothes and tied to a chair, of course, you'd think that" he said between laughs. "But don't worry, no one touched you. We restrained you because we didn’t know how you’d react." He walked over to Ji-Won Kim and began untying his wrists.
"People from the other side are usually violent when they wake up, but you don’t seem to be that type," he remarked as he freed Ji-Won’s hands.
"I’m not from the other side," Ji-Won Kim clarified, bracing for the same judgment he’d received from the police and others.
"Of course not. You’re definitely a downtown inhabitant, judging by how we found you," the man in the suit said with a sarcastic chuckle.
"Well, there is an explanation for that," Ji-Won said, rubbing his wrists after being released.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
"We don’t judge here," the man replied. "We’re a sort of help organization. I’m Angelo, and this is Marco. We handle initiation for new members."
Ji-Won Kim frowned suspiciously. "New members?"
"Yes, our organization helps others, but it’s not free. We provided you with clothes and let you rest in a comfortable bed overnight." Angelo returned to his original spot.
"Now you owe us. You’ll need to work or pay off your debt. If you’re not from the other side, your family will surely be happy to cover it," Angelo’s kind demeanor shifted to a more sinister expression.
"So there are extortionists here too... I wish this were just a bad dream, but it seems I’m still stuck here," Ji-Won thought.
"And if I refuse?" he asked quietly, avoiding Marco’s intense gaze.
Though he had knocked down an officer the day before, Ji-Won was still a regular office worker at heart and found thugs and violence intimidating.
"Nobody likes ungrateful people," Angelo said seriously. "But before you make a hasty decision, do you really want to go back to the streets?"
"You were found cold and injured. With us, you’ll have a roof, food, entertainment, and even candy," he added, referring to narcotics. "Refusing seems like a foolish choice. Here in Etheria, people like you are looked down upon. Surely, you’ve noticed the prejudice."
Ji-Won Kim hated to admit it, but Angelo was right. The way people had treated him when he asked for help, the contempt from Timothy’s mother, and the rough treatment by the police all pointed to clear social bias against the underprivileged.
"Although that girl tried to help me..." he thought, recalling the brown-haired woman.
"Maybe it’s not such a bad idea to stay. With luck, I might learn something about this world and use it to my advantage... besides, these guys look like gangsters." Despite his outward calm, he was scared and tearful from his misfortune.
"We don’t have all day, sleeping beauty," Marco said, sending a shiver down Ji-Won’s spine as he sensed the threat.
"Okay, I’ll work, but only until I pay off my debt. I can’t imagine that a change of clothes and a night’s stay would cost that much," Ji-Won said.
Angelo’s smile reappeared, now with a sinister face, as like a cat playing with a mouse. "Excellent decision..." He seemed to remember something important but easily overlooked.
"Oh, how rude of me. I never asked your name. What is it?" Angelo asked pleasantly.
"My name..." Ji-Won Kim felt the question was peculiar. He knew his given name but felt it wasn’t appropriate to keep using it in that new world.
He decided to adopt a new identity. He would stop being the coward who longed for his old life out of fear.
With a resolute expression, he made his decision.
"Nova. My name is Nova."
"It’s a pleasure knowing you’ll be joining us, Nova. Please come with us now. We’ll show you around and assign you some work to settle your debt," Angelo said with a satisfied smile.
Angelo then moved to the cellar door, opened it to let in the light, and, along with the other two, stepped outside.
"This is the building of the organization. I hope you like it because you'll be spending a few days here," Angelo explained.
Nova’s eyes took a moment to adjust to the brightness. Once he could see clearly, he realized they were in an underground parking lot, surrounded by parked cars and empty spaces.
"Don’t get distracted. This is just the parking lot; we usually handle the induction here in case there are any issues," Angelo said, leading the way.
Nova frowned at the comment.
"Haha, I like that look on your face, but you don’t have to worry. We’re not violent people. We’re just trying to make a living in this city," Angelo added, noticing Nova's apprehensive expression.
They climbed a flight of stairs to the first floor. Nova noted the building was at least eight stories tall, judging by the view from the stairs.
The first floor had a somewhat dated reception area with worn paint and cracked tiles. Despite this, it served its purpose. A receptionist greeted them with a smile.
Angelo quickly outlined the operations of the Luxury Underground Organization, emphasizing their commitment to running an honest business. Their primary role was to offer exclusive, high-end items at prices significantly lower than their original cost.
Essentially, they were a second-hand manufacturing company that created near-exact replicas, often selling them at prices up to 1000% of the production cost.
The workforce comprised mostly of vagrants, drug addicts, and orphans, individuals marginalized by society. Many came from the streets, seeking food, shelter, and an escape from their precarious situations.
While Angelo portrayed their work as a charitable service, Nova found it troubling. It seemed to be a clear exploitation of the disadvantaged, compelling them to work off debts they hadn't accrued.
Despite recognizing the red flags, Nova had no choice but to comply. Alone and without support, he had to follow Angelo’s instructions and attentively listen as the tour of the factory continued.
Floor 1 - Reception
Floor 2 - Bags
Floor 3 - Clothes
Floor 4 - Shoes
Floor 5 - Watches
Floor 6 - Eyeglasses
Floor 7 - Candy
Floor 8 - Workers’ Housing
Each floor in the building was dedicated to a specific aspect of the factory’s operations, with the eighth floor serving as accommodation for workers without homes.
“For now, don’t worry about your job. Today, I’ll just explain how the business works; you’ll start tomorrow,” Angelo said as he continued the tour with Nova.
They explored the various floors, with Angelo detailing the work model for each. Due to time constraints, the specifics of the seventh floor were deferred to the following day.
Most tasks involved meeting a daily product quota, and workers were not allowed to leave their floor until the quota was fulfilled.
At the end of the tour, as the day concluded, Angelo informed Nova that the currency in Etheria was called Fels, paper money similar in value to the dollar.
Nova would earn 5 Fels daily, after deductions for room, food, and general services. This meant he would need 15 days to repay his 75-Fel debt.
It was clearly a scam—earning $75 for 15 days of grueling labor from dawn until dusk.
Nova had anticipated this from the start, so he refrained from expressing any discontent as Angelo provided the details.
Angelo then handed Nova the keys to his new room and directed him to the stairs he needed to climb to reach it.
After saying their goodbyes, Nova went upstairs, eager to rest after the disheartening news about his new opportunity.
Once inside his room, he closed the door. The space was tiny, furnished only with a thin quilt on the floor, a very thin sheet, and a barred window that resembled more of a prison than a living space.
"I imagine it’s to prevent suicides."
"They used to do the same thing in Korea," he thought as he walked over to the window to look out.
Street lamps cast a warm glow over the area, but the distant city center stood out with a striking brilliance. Even from that grim building, the colossal structures in the city center were clearly visible, their lights piercing through the night and creating a stark contrast to the surrounding gloom.
If it weren’t for the people and his escape from the police, Nova might have enjoyed visiting the city much more. With that in mind, he became distracted.
Then someone knocked on the door.
He jumped in surprise, unsure who might be on the other side. From what he had learned about Angelo, he knew that disputes between workers were forbidden.
"Who is it?" he asked cautiously, approaching the door without touching the knob.
"Nathaniel, I’m your next-door neighbor. Could you open the door?" A high-pitched voice answered, sounding somewhat comical and distinctly male.
Nova hesitated, feeling a mix of distrust and fear. But the person on the other side continued.
"I understand; I had a first day here too. Many of us did, so we know how tough it can be," the voice said sympathetically.
"Some of us pooled together to buy you a little welcome gift. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing." The sound of a plate being set down on the floor was audible.
"Please take it soon, as it might get stolen. Anyway, I hope you have a good night. It was a pleasure..." The voice paused, giving Nova a chance to introduce himself.
"I’m Nova. Umm, thank you," he replied, unsure of how to feel. He was suspicious but hoped that not everyone in this world was as terrible as he had feared.
After a few seconds, hearing the door of the next room close, Nova opened his door and saw a slice of what looked like chocolate cake on the floor. He picked it up, closed the door, and walked back to his mattress. Sitting down, he stared at the cake on the plate.
Hesitantly, he took a bite, setting the plate aside. Tears welled up in his eyes as he savored the cake, overwhelmed by the unexpected kindness and the warmth of being welcomed, even in this new world.