"Lin, my sister has just made great contributions to the academy. Why are you searching us...?"

Chen Xin's expression showed no change, wearing a flattering smile, but his heart was racing.

The middle-aged man in plain dark clothing lifted his eyelids, impatiently saying, "Everyone associated with the crash site of the floating vehicle must be searched... It's not just you; a sweeping operation is about to begin across the entire Eighth Ring. Do you think blocking the twelve bridges is only to stop those rioters?"

The Giant Academy is more than just a school. Even the ruling office of the Eighth Ring must consider the academy's stance. A school that holds extraordinary disciplines is a behemoth wherever it is found, more like the ‘mountain gate' of ancient times.

As he spoke, the middle-aged man glanced toward the door, his brow slightly furrowing.

Chen Xin did not notice; he just nodded submissively, bending lower, his eyes showing despair.

He never expected there would be a search.

He never thought it would come so quickly.

That wooden box...

Just then, the door swung open, and his younger brother stood there with a backpack, looking dumbfounded and innocent.

"Brother, why are you back again? I was just about to go to the library in Building 9... Who is this?"

Chen Xin's lips turned pale as he forced out an introduction: "This is Lin Yulang from the Giant Academy, here for a... routine search..."

"The... Giant Academy!!"

Chen Xiang's pupils dilated, his mouth agape, as if he had heard something unimaginable. His breathing became rapid, and his chest heaved restlessly, feeling anxious: "I'm Chen Xiang, eighteen years old, third in the family... Nice to meet you, Teacher Lin!"

He awkwardly bowed, his eyes fixated on the imposing middle-aged man, gleaming with admiration.

The middle-aged man straightened his back, coughed twice, and said with restraint: "Well, young man, you seem quite sensible... Your sister must be sending you over, right? Hmm, without a foundation, it's not suitable for you to be a student. You can assist me instead."

Chen Xin's expression froze, stuttering: "But... Teacher Lin, wasn't it agreed that I would enroll...?"

Lin Yulang smiled: "I don't think it's suitable, but you are clever... What? You're not happy?"

Chen Xin's face turned even paler, while Chen Xiang desperately nodded, his eyes shining brighter with dreams of the future: "Can I really follow Teacher Lin?"

"It's just a matter of saying it; you're more sensible than your brother." The middle-aged man nodded slightly, glancing at the large, thick backpack Chen Xiang carried. Just as he was about to speak,

Chen Xiang suddenly dropped the backpack, unzipped it, and smiled innocently: "Routine search... Teacher Lin, take a look at my bag!"

He flipped the bag upside down, and several books tumbled out, but more seemed stuck and didn't fall completely.

Lin Yulang casually rummaged through Chen Xiang's bag, confirming there was no problem before waving his hand and kindly saying: "Alright, go do your own thing. You can mention my name when you get to school—Lin Yulang."

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

"Yes, Teacher Lin!"

Chen Xiang quickly packed away the scattered books, bowed again, and since their home was on the second floor, with the elevator far away, he hurried down the stairs, letting out a heavy sigh once outside.

He didn't dare delay, quickly running to a side alley of the skyscraper, where a dirty ten-year-old girl stood holding a square object covered with black cloth, trembling in fear as a few fat rats scurried by.

"Prime Minister Bro..." the filthy little girl spoke foolishly, her face breaking into a bright smile.

"It's Chen Xiang."

Chen Xiang emphasized helplessly, pulling the little girl deeper into the alley, and as the two figures disappeared, Lin Yulang's head peeked out from the window of Chen Xiang's home.

After a quick glance, he smiled meaningfully before retracting his head in disdain.

In a sense, the Eighth Ring is considered the slum of the Great City, and this alley, overshadowed by prosperity, is the slum of slums.

Even dogs won't go in.

Meanwhile, deep in the alley,

Chen Xiang took the wooden box from the silly girl's hands, his palms sweaty.

"Did we make it through...?"

His gaze was profoundly deep:

"Did we really get away with it?"

In dire environments, cunning and deceit are abundant. However, while the upper class might stab you with a knife while dressed in suits and toasting with champagne, those of lower status will bare their teeth and claw viciously, gnawing a bloody chunk from their opponents with yellowed teeth.

In terms of treachery, perhaps the former is more skillful, but in terms of ferocity, the latter excels.

The critical point is that the social environment in this world is inherently cruel and dangerous; those who manage to "stand out" in such circumstances are never simple characters.

So, is Lin Yulang really so easy to deceive?

For instance, while his sister had secured a student admission slot for him, why did the other party change it to a so-called "assistant"?

Why go through such trouble?

Chen Xiang couldn't understand.

He carefully recalled every detail from earlier, confirming he hadn't revealed any flaws or hints, which allowed him to breathe a little easier.

"Prime Minister Bro!"

The nine-year-old silly girl lifted her head and smiled foolishly.

Chen Xiang snapped back to reality, ruffled the girl's hair, and said earnestly:

"Thank you, silly girl."

The silly girl just smiled blankly.

He didn't know her real name; she seemed naturally simple-minded, so he called her "silly girl."

One afternoon, when Chen Xiang saw this child gnawing on mud to fill her stomach in the alley, he gave her a piece of bread, and that was how they became acquainted.

Now, Chen Xiang lifted the black cloth again, closely examining the square wooden box, which was about the size of two palms.

It was carved with an image of a giant and some incomprehensible patterns, but strangely, there were no visible seams on the box, making it seem unopenable.

Holding the not-so-heavy box, he shook it lightly, and a clattering sound emerged from inside, likely containing two or three small objects...

What could they be?

Chen Xiang's breath quickened.

Just reporting information about the box could yield a reward of a million!

What would he get if he returned the box?

And what treasures could be inside the box?

He tried to open it but failed. Picking up a large stone from the ground, he slammed it down several times, causing pain to his hand, yet the box remained intact.

It made sense; the floating vehicle had exploded, and this box showed no signs of damage...

"Prime Minister Bro!" The silly girl piped up, "What are you doing?"

As she spoke, she sniffled:

"Are you going to drip blood on the blood box too?"

"Blood box?"

Chen Xiang was taken aback.

"Yes, yes!" The silly girl raised her little head, her dirty face full of confusion: "Just like that big sister from the other day, she dripped blood on a similar box, and then it opened!"

Furrowing his brows, Chen Xiang inquired further. Listening to the silly girl's stammering answers, he gradually understood.

According to her, she had seen a big sister drop blood onto a similar wooden box, which then opened, hence she referred to this box as the blood box.

As for who that "big sister" was or where she had encountered her, the silly girl couldn't clarify at all.

Chen Xiang examined the wooden box again according to the silly girl's description. The carved giant on it depicted a towering old man holding his hands at his abdomen, creating a round opening.

Was this the place to drip blood?

Could any blood work, or did it have to be specific?

After glancing around for a moment, he pulled the silly girl deeper into the darkest part of the alley.

Here, piles of garbage accumulated for who knows how long, mixed with hundreds of rat carcasses, emitting a thick, foul odor that made him dizzy and almost unable to stand.

Yet the silly girl continued to smile foolishly, seemingly unaffected, though still shrinking away from the fat rats lurking in the shadows.

After examining the box for a while,

Just as Chen Xiang hesitated whether to drip a drop of blood into it, his phone rang urgently.

"Little brother, I'm home. Where are you now?"

It was his sister.