After returning to the preparation room, Roy seemed unwilling to waste even a second. He hastily waved his hand at Julis and the others.
"Good luck to you all! I have urgent business, so I'm heading out first!"
Before Julis and the others could react, Roy had already left the preparation room.
Yabuki stared blankly at the spot where Roy had vanished in mere seconds.
"That was fast! What about the interview he promised me?"
"What's so urgent that he had to rush off like that?"
Julis sighed helplessly as she looked in the direction Roy had gone.
She and Kirin had come all this way to cheer for them, yet he ran off the moment his match ended without even staying to support them in return. It left her feeling a little dejected.
"Hmm... I think he'll probably be this busy for a while."
Claudia pondered for a moment before a realization seemed to dawn on her, and a somewhat lonely expression crossed her face.
"What exactly is he up to?"
Julis shot her a puzzled look.
"Well... that's a bit hard to explain."
Claudia smiled faintly, masking her earlier expression as she dodged the question.
After all, she couldn't just reveal that Roy was rushing off to Jie Long for special training with Fan Xinglou.
That would disrupt the balance between the corporate factions.
Julis furrowed her brows deeply, shooting Claudia an annoyed glare.
After all the worry I poured into you yesterday, you're keeping secrets from me now!
...
Redevelopment Zone.
After leaving the Sirius Dome, Roy didn't head straight to Jie Long. Instead, he found himself back in this lawless district. The towering skyscrapers faded behind him, replaced by derelict buildings and shuttered storefronts.
"According to the email, the location should be somewhere around here..."
Roy checked his map as he cautiously made his way forward.
As he pressed on, signs of life gradually appeared around him.
Roy surveyed his surroundings and realized he had entered a peculiar area on the outskirts of the redevelopment zone. The streets were bustling with people—though not as crowded as the main thoroughfares, the foot traffic rivaled that of a residential district, giving off a faint sense of liveliness.
Most of the storefronts lining the streets were adorned with neon lights, their interiors reeking of alcohol and heavy perfume. The raucous laughter of men and the coquettish giggles of women occasionally spilled out, creating an atmosphere thick with indulgence.
"...This is the red-light district, isn't it?"
Roy's expression cracked for a brief moment.
The redevelopment zone was a den of chaos—home not only to students who had fallen through the cracks of their respective schools but also to Genestellar criminals from outside. Even the upper echelons of Seisoukan preferred to turn a blind eye to this place.
Yet, wherever people lived, some form of prosperity inevitably emerged. The redevelopment zone was no exception. While the harbor area stood eerily deserted, the outer edges boasted lively streets like this pleasure quarter—a unique feature of the district.
The entertainment district was largely under the control of Rewolf Black Institute. Given the academy's unique philosophy where winners took all, this fostered an environment of rampant inequality and individualism. It was commonplace at Rewolf to see criminals who either bribed or threatened others with money. Such lawless elements particularly favored unregulated zones like the entertainment district, where Rewolf students congregated, forming entrenched gangs that became too big to dismantle.
It was said that several of the top-ranked gangs were founded by Rewolf students, illustrating just how chaotic this academy was.
Of course, for Roy, that wasn't the issue.
He stealthily slipped into a narrow alley, retrieving a hat and face mask from his imaginary pocket. After disguising himself enough to avoid recognition, he returned to the main street.
After all, he was a top contender for this year's Festa championship!
What would people think if they saw him visiting the entertainment district?
How would he ever land endorsement deals or commercial collaborations again?
"Is that... Roy?"
But as luck would have it, just as Roy emerged from the alley in his disguise, someone stepped out from deeper within, staring in shock at his retreating figure.
"Why would he be here?"
Could it be... he was here for women?!
She gasped sharply and hurried after him.
Meanwhile, Roy, now fully disguised, felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Following the map's directions, he ventured deeper into the entertainment district, arriving at a moderately populated area before entering an abandoned building.
The moment he stepped inside, the world seemed to spin around him. The dilapidated building vanished in an instant, replaced by an endless void of darkness. Floating in midair before him was a nine-year-old girl.
"Took you long enough, kid! Kept me waiting!"
Fan Xinglou's smile was innocent, but her tone carried the gruffness of an old-timer.
"Hand over your school emblem!"
Roy complied, pulling out the Crimson Lotus emblem of Seidoukan Academy from his pocket.
According to Festa regulations, all students—whether on or off campus—were required to wear their school emblems. Failure to do so would result in disciplinary action and loss of credits.
Fan Xinglou pocketed the Crimson Lotus emblem and, with a flick of her wrist, produced a Yellow Dragon emblem, tossing it to Roy.
"Put it on."
Next, she threw him a black bodysuit and a mask.
"Wear these."
Roy changed into the outfit, donned the mask, and fastened the new emblem. The mask didn't obstruct his vision, but its intricate patterns were unsettling—depicting some monstrous creature that seemed alien to this world, radiating sheer ferocity.
"I'm not afraid of the conglomerates, but I'd rather avoid unnecessary trouble."
Fan Xinglou nodded approvingly at Roy's transformation.
"From now on, you're Chaofeng of the Third Division of Jie Long's Nine Dragon Sons Special Operations. I'll take you to Jie Long next—don't blow your cover!"
Roy gave an understanding nod and flashed an OK sign.
"Let's go!"
With a wave of Fan Xinglou's hand, the space around Roy twisted violently again. When everything stabilized, he found himself inside the wooden pavilion he'd visited before—this time not on the rooftop, but within one of its rooms.
"Follow me!"
Fan Xinglou strode ahead, pushing the door open and stepping out.
Roy followed silently behind her, surveying the attic before him through his mask.
This was the interior of the Huangchen Palace, the wondrous space created overnight by the first-generation Banyuu Tenra. From the outside, it looked no different from any other attic, but inside, it was a labyrinth of corridors and rooms—so vast that one could easily get lost. Even among Fan Xinglou's disciples, not everyone was qualified to enter the depths of this palace.
"This must have been built using Seisenjutsu too. I wonder if my Mystic Eyes can dismantle it?"
Roy followed Fan Xinglou onto an elevated corridor, his gaze flickering with a hint of eagerness as he studied the surroundings.
"Don't you dare activate those eyes of yours!"
At that moment, Fan Xinglou suddenly turned around, as if sensing something, and shot him a warning glare.
"If you collapse my Huangchen Palace, I swear I'll make you regret it!"
Roy hastily shook his head and waved his hands.
No way.
Absolutely not!
He'd just find a chance to sneak a peek later.
After all, Fan Xinglou only told him not to collapse the palace. So if he just took a little look—tested whether his Mystic Eyes could seize ownership of the Huangchen Palace—it shouldn't be a problem, right?
***
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