Chapter Forty-Two: Unleashing Power

The setting of Elysium is intriguingly constructed. In this near-future alternate path, Earth has already been abandoned by corporations and the wealthy. As the population exploded and resources were rapidly consumed, the quality of life plummeted, heralding a surge in disease and pollution.

In just eighty years, the population swelled from just over ten billion to an unimaginable hundred and fifty billion, pushing the planet far beyond its limits. Cities, battered by constant terror attacks from mobs and so-called resistance forces, had essentially been rendered obsolete. All remaining inhabitants of Earth now lived in shantytown-like settlements. It could be said that population explosion and resource scarcity had transformed the entire planet into one vast slum.

Meanwhile, the true elite had escaped to space stations, enjoying a life of luxury while continuing to plunder Earth's resources through economic and political means. In short, this world is profoundly unfriendly to any traveler.

Gao Ning reviewed the world’s background in his mind. He recalled seeing the film years ago; back then, he hadn’t paid much attention to the setting, but the universal medical pod had left him in awe. In this world, biotechnology had nearly reached its pinnacle. The universal medical pod could resolve one hundred percent of diseases and even rejuvenate cells, offering a diluted form of immortality.

Whether true immortality was possible remained uncertain, but eternal youth was certainly achievable. Clearly, the mysterious train coveted this technology, hence the mission. This time, the reward of twenty-five hours was far more generous than last, which meant the task would be at least three times as difficult.

Where to begin?

As he pondered, Gao Ning slowly rose and headed toward the settlement. The sun was nearly set, and soon the mechanical police would enter their dormant phase, turning Earth into a lawless territory. The protected zone was not far—just a ten-minute walk. It wasn’t that the prison wouldn’t prefer a secluded location; conditions simply didn’t allow for it, otherwise it wouldn’t have been forced into the mountainside.

Stepping into the shantytown under the last rays of light, Gao Ning was immediately surrounded by a swarm of filthy children. They shouted in unintelligible tongues and boldly searched him, hoping to find anything of value.

Two of them spotted his watch; their eyes lit up. After failing to pry it loose, they tried to bite it off.

Not far off, five or six burly men leaned against a wrecked car, watching with mocking faces.

They openly displayed their firearms, waiting for a reaction.

Gao Ning glanced at them, his eyes tinged with disdain. He stepped back, and before the children could swarm him again, delivered a series of resounding slaps.

With a succession of crisp sounds, the children tumbled aside like rolling gourds. They were stunned for a moment, then clutched their stomachs and wailed, rolling on the ground.

The men immediately rushed over, guns trained on Gao Ning, shouting, "You bastard! How dare you hit the kids? Kneel! Did you hear me? Hands on your head, kneel!"

Gao Ning eyed the pistol pressed to his forehead and said, "Has anyone told you this is dangerous?"

"He's threatening me! Did you hear that? This kid is threatening me!" The leader, a dark-skinned man, laughed, joined by the others.

"Kid, did prison make you stupid? I’ve got the gun, I’m God. Do as I say or I’ll blow your brains out. Now take off my suit—I like it, both the color and the fabric, it’s my favorite. And the digital watch and electronics, those fetch a good price. Hurry up!"

The leader swaggered, tapping Gao Ning’s forehead with his gun, confident of victory.

Gao Ning sighed. "I really shouldn’t have bothered trying to reason with you. Not a shred of sense among you!"

The tailcoat activated, stimulated by nerve signals, and Gao Ning’s movements more than doubled in speed.

In a flash, he snatched the gun from his brow, turned it, and squeezed the trigger without hesitation.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Five shots rang out, and the bodies fell in a fan, each with a neat hole in the forehead, blood streaming from the back of their heads, staining the ground.

The children scrambled up and fled in panic.

Gao Ning strode after them, covering several meters in a few steps, and scooped up the last child.

The child screamed and thrashed wildly. Gao Ning gripped his head and pressed the smoking barrel beneath his chin; he immediately quieted.

The child trembled, "I’m sorry, please spare me, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!"

Gao Ning felt a pang of sympathy, but he knew this was no time for softness.

He approached the bodies, gathered the scattered firearms, and slung them over his shoulder.

"Whose house among them is the largest?"

The child pointed without hesitation at the leader, "Duha! His house is nearby. He’s the head of a small gang, and all their daily loot is collected in his home!"

Gao Ning put the child down and said coldly, "Lead the way. Run, and you’re dead."

The child nodded desperately and led the way obediently.

Gao Ning followed leisurely, paying no mind to the corpses behind him. This world was chaotic; though technology was advanced, it belonged only to the wealthy. Global disorder had long since destroyed any semblance of law.

The government kept up a pretense of control with mechanical police, but in reality, street crime and murder were largely ignored. They cared nothing for how many civilians died. So long as the elite’s rule was unthreatened, the more poor died, the better.

Duha’s house was impressive.

It was a spacious steel-and-concrete flat, visibly reinforced, with a large yard and a sunken terrain that could serve as a natural trench.

The child was right; they were indeed a small gang with no surplus manpower. When out working, the house had to be locked up tight.

Gao Ning had expected to find more people to deal with and felt a touch of disappointment.

He fiddled with the electronic lock, selected the right option on his multifunction watch, and pressed his palm to the receiver.

In less than two seconds, the electronic door beeped and opened.

Gao Ning rolled his eyes; clearly, these electronics were inferior to those in the last world’s spy gear.

He glanced inside. Though there were plenty of items, not one escaped being meager.

The child crept toward the door.

“Stop!” Gao Ning said calmly, and the child jerked upright.

Despairing, he slowly turned, only to see Gao Ning opening the refrigerator and tossing him two cans.

The child hastily caught them, his eyes wide in disbelief.

Gao Ning piled more cans onto the table. “For three days, don’t tell anyone I was here.”

The child nodded frantically, clutching the cans as he bolted away.