PNB Chapter 406 [Empire] The puppets play with everyone
Chapter 406 [Empire] The puppets play with everyone
When I woke up, sunlight streamed into the room through the curtains. It was almost noon. My head was still a little fuzzy, and I felt like I was being pressed down on the bed by some kind of immense pressure, until Shan Qi's calm voice broke the silence.
"Get up, we should go." His tone wasn't one of urging, but rather a commanding understatement. He had already changed his clothes, washed up, and packed everything quickly, as if everything was planned. I didn't even have time to climb out of bed before he'd already "stuffed" me into the car.
Everything happened so quickly that before I knew it, I was standing outside his mansion, which was so exquisite it seemed almost unreal. What made me even more speechless was that Shan Qi hadn't prepared any clothes for me. I was wearing an extremely expensive, high-end suit—clearly not my size, with the sleeves and trouser legs extending horribly. I rolled up my sleeves and trouser legs, trying my best to look like a normal person who could fit in.
"Really..." I sighed helplessly, but immediately prepared to accept it all. After all, this luxurious outfit was much better than wearing yesterday's dirty clothes to enter the classroom.
When I arrived at school, everyone's eyes were fixed on me, especially the teacher's. There was a strange glint in her eyes, as if she wanted to tear me apart, yet at the same time, she couldn't help but envy, even jealous, my outfit. As I walked into the classroom, the air felt heavy, as if everyone was judging me. But in the end, I sat down steadily and began my afternoon class.
Although the class remained dull and boring, I suddenly felt a sense of distance, a sense of not belonging. I donned the outfit with such surprise and surprise, even speechless emotion, that I felt a sense of uncertainty about my place. However, as the teacher continued to explain, my thoughts gradually returned to reality. This feeling of unease and discomfort always found some relief in the classroom, at least temporarily allowing me to focus on the lecture notes.
By the end of the last class, the gazes in the classroom still lingered, but I no longer cared about them. Yes, all of this seemed like a part of Shan Qi's forced arrangement for me. I couldn't escape, but I was also powerless to resist.
While I was quite frustrated with the suit, I had to admit that the quality was truly astonishing. The fabric was soft and textured, and it felt almost unrestrictive. Even more surprising, no matter how the outside temperature fluctuated, the suit seemed to adjust automatically, giving me a cozy, enveloping feeling.
In the slightly warm classroom, I barely felt the stifling heat. As I left, a chilly wind blew in my face, biting the air. But the suit seemed to handle it all, and I didn't feel the chill at all. It was like Shan Qi dressed like this year-round; wearing this kind of clothing, winter and summer seemed like no problem.
"No wonder he always dresses like this regardless of the cold winter or the hot summer. It turns out this really is the 'warm in winter and cool in summer' effect." I couldn't help but talk to myself with a hint of ridicule in my eyes.
Thinking of this, I suddenly understood Shan Qi's intentions. He seemed casual and cold-blooded, but there was always some hidden ingenuity behind it. Even his choice of clothes was carefully planned.
"It seems that I finally experienced the charm of 'haute couture' today. Shan Qi is indeed a man with vision." I couldn't help but feel a little emotional. Although I didn't like this forced arrangement, I had to admit that the quality and design of the clothes really exceeded my expectations.
However, this feeling of comfort always carries with it a strange sense of oppression, as if I were wrapped in some invisible force, and I seemed to be in a situation from which I could not escape.
After school, Shan Qi didn't pick me up, which surprised me, but I didn't mind. After all, he seemed so busy, always tangled up in countless things. Like countless tangled strings pulling at a single puppet. Those puppeteers, full of themselves, believed they were toying with their magnificent puppets, but they didn't realize that the puppets were toying with everyone.
I know that he can't be with me all the time. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, his pace of life is completely different from mine.
I had no particular destination in mind, and I didn't want to go straight back to the dorm or anyone else's house; that seemed too ordinary. I walked out of the school, looking out at the cityscape, and suddenly felt lost. The city simulation system was set to winter mode. It was a dry, cold winter, and the air was bitingly cold. The wind blew through the streets, making it almost impossible to breathe.
In this environment, I walked aimlessly, as if carried away by the rhythm of the city, until before I knew it, I found myself on Mercenary Street. No, to be more precise, it was the "high-end street" exclusively for those senior mercenary veterans.
Mercenary Street isn't just any ordinary neighborhood; it's a section of the city dedicated to serving mercenaries, mercenary groups, weapons dealers, and other combat-related businesses. The architecture here is rugged, and the vibrant neon lights create a stark contrast to the seemingly dangerous shops. From time to time, people hurried through the streets, their steps firm and their eyes alert, as if ready for the next battle.
There was neither the familiar atmosphere of a schoolyard nor the hectic pace of a city. The streets felt oppressive and menacing, yet also possessed a certain allure. For me, despite the strange atmosphere of this place, it also allowed me to temporarily escape from all my worries and troubles, immersing myself in a world of strangers, a world apart from the ordinary people of this world.
I slowly walked down the street and glimpsed a shop window displaying a variety of weapons and exotic beasts, even some that looked like ancient contract runes and strange symbols. These items didn't seem to belong to the atmosphere of this neighborhood. Perhaps they were placed there to attract mercenaries seeking special missions or those with the money, free time, and a strong curiosity.
I stood before the window, gazing at the exquisite yet dangerous items, and couldn't help but recall the exotic animal specimens and mysterious portals of light and shadow I'd seen at auctions. I couldn't help but wonder if I, too, could secure these items at a low price and then stage a mysterious auction. Just thinking about it made me smile.
However, just as I was about to move forward, a voice suddenly sounded behind me: "What are you doing here?"