Yan Luo’s departure was silent, just like how he hadn’t shown up at the Hunter’s Guild for the past few days. Occasionally, someone would think of him, mention him a few times, but soon be distracted by other topics.
Even Sasa only learned from Wang Lingyu that Yan Luo had already left Crimson No.2 and was heading to the venue of this season’s Hunter Skills Tournament.
Riding in the aerospace plane, Yan Luo arrived at the exosphere of Blue Star’s atmosphere.
For only there would he not encounter mutant creatures.
Sitting in his seat, Yan Luo turned his head to look and could see the vast, dark universe, as well as the azure, colossal planet below.
The aerospace plane navigated between artificial satellites, controlled by AI to avoid crashing into them.
The densely packed artificial satellites formed a sparse network, vaguely covering the entire planet.
Apart from the most common communication and scientific satellites, these also included space-based kinetic weapon systems capable of launching tungsten rods.
Though not overwhelmingly powerful against the ground, they were incredibly potent against mutant creatures.
Even a City-breaking Level mutant creature couldn’t withstand the assault of space-based weapons; ten tungsten rods would reduce the hardest body to fragments.
As for how many strikes a Catastrophe Level mutant creature could endure, that remains unknown, as Blue Star has yet to encounter such a creature.
Aside from using the Abyss as a jumping-off point, aerospace planes are virtually the only means of global transport on Blue Star.
Withdrawing his gaze from the ground, Yan Luo turned his eyes upward.
A colossal mechanical construct hovered in space; it looked like a pair of golden cymbals clamped together but was actually a city named ’Celestial City.’
The top-tier bourgeois families of Blue Star lived in that giant city, avoiding the effects of the Abyss and living leisurely lives.
They control the monopolistic enterprises on the surface by remote control, weaving a vast net over everyone’s head. Those who can slip through will be absorbed by them; the rest, they won’t even glance at.
Yan Luo felt no affection for Celestial City, although it was his first time witnessing the city’s existence with his own eyes.
With a cold snort, Yan Luo withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes to rest.
The aerospace plane quickly carried Yan Luo away from Celestial City, flying to the other side of Blue Star.
That once-called North America continent, now referred to as the northern part of the Western Domain, gradually unfolded in Yan Luo’s eyes and then quickly enlarged.
The aerospace plane rapidly descended and soon landed on the ground.
Yan Luo did not expect the landing spot of the aerospace plane to be a city instead of an exploration town.
Despite his doubts, Yan Luo picked up his luggage and deboarded the aerospace plane.
"Welcome, my unseen friend!"
As he got off the plane, enthusiastic applause erupted around, followed by a slightly exaggerated voice coming from ahead.
A young man in a black suit had slicked back his blonde hair, his face beaming brightly, revealing eight glaringly reflective white teeth.
"I am Leonardo Fields, President of Crimson No.1’s Hunter’s Guild."
Leonardo extended his hand to Yan Luo, who looked at him momentarily before shaking hands.
Leonardo vigorously shook Yan Luo’s hand up and down, attempting to pull Yan Luo closer, but found himself unable to move the younger man standing a few centimeters shorter, so he moved his own feet, standing beside Yan Luo, facing the reporters surrounding them, still tightly holding his hand.
"Look straight ahead."
Leonardo maintained a smile, using a ventriloquist-like technique to squeeze the words from between his teeth without altering his expression.
Yan Luo shifted his gaze forward.
After two seconds, Leonardo released Yan Luo’s hand, switching to patting his shoulder, "Welcome once more, my friend."
After saying this, reporters seemed to take a few more photos before dispersing in a buzz.
Once the press left, Leonardo’s demeanor instantly became much colder. Withdrawing his hand from Yan Luo, he adjusted his suit’s collar, and, taking the walking stick handed by an attendant, resembled the noble gentlemen from the height of 17th to 18th-century Western civilization.
However, for Yan Luo, he found this aspect of Leonardo more acceptable, as the previous excessive and flamboyant enthusiasm made him feel nauseous.
"The tournament starts in four days. You’ll have a pre-match interview tomorrow. I’ve arranged accommodation for you, so take a good rest today."
With that, Leonardo did not linger and walked away with his attendant.
Fortunately, he didn’t leave Yan Luo alone here, providing him with an AI guide.
"Mr. Yan, please follow me."
Appearing as a tall, curvaceous beauty with a sweet smile, the AI inclined her arm elegantly, leading Yan Luo on stiletto-clad legs.
Yan Luo smirked at himself and followed the AI’s pace.
Under the AI’s guidance, Yan Luo boarded a sedan, which entered the bustling city traffic overhead and took him to the uppermost floor of a residential skyscraper.
The AI escorted Yan Luo from the car, saying respectfully, "Mr. Yan, this is your temporary residence, and I shall be your steward. For anything you need during these days, feel free to tell me, and we will do our utmost to fulfill your requests."
Yan Luo shook his head and walked from the balcony into the expansive luxury apartment.
Granted, although Leonardo’s attitude was lacking, the accommodation provided was quite presentable.
Spanning at least 300 square meters, it was two-storied, with the upper floor almost identical in size to the first.
The apartment’s operating system showed that the rooftop swimming pool was also part of it, and Yan Luo could use it freely.
However, Yan Luo had no intention of using it; he came here solely to participate in the competition and win first place; he was not inclined to do anything else.
With a time difference between the Eastern and Western Domains, Yan Luo set out from Crimson No.2 in the evening and arrived in this city named ’Phoenix’ by morning.
He had a day to rest and ponder what to say in the interview.
The person responsible for coordinating with Yan Luo from Crimson No.1 had already sent him the questions the host might ask so he could contemplate them.
Yan Luo looked at the questions, finding them quite basic and straightforward, requiring no deep thought.
Subsequently, he set the matter aside and opened the world’s largest shared database to search for the latest schemes against demons.
Yan Luo knew well that his strength and speed were nothing compared to an Engraver; to become powerful enough to combat stronger demons, besides absorbing Magic Power, required diligent study.
Though from now on each demon might differ, even those of the same kind having significant variances in superpowers, learning more was never a mistake.
Study, intermittent entertainment, and physical exercise were practically his daily routine.
Even after arriving in the Western Domain and on the brink of competing in the Hunter Skills Tournament, he wouldn’t change his lifestyle habits one bit.
After a night in the luxurious apartment, Yan Luo followed the AI to the interview program’s studio the next day.
Yan Luo refused to apply makeup, silently sitting on the single-seater sofa, seemingly indifferent to everything happening around him.
On-site staff couldn’t help but point and whisper about him.
"Mr. Yan, if you do this, it makes things somewhat tricky for us," the host, holding the script, said to Yan Luo helplessly.
Yan Luo shook his head and said, "Whatever you want to ask, just ask directly, without considering my feelings."
It left the host speechless.
Sure, Yan Luo might say so, but could they really ask just anything?
The host prided themselves on having encountered many hunters, yet none were like Yan Luo.
Somehow, he had the nagging feeling that Yan Luo was a bit ’empty.’
Though physically present, he didn’t seem to fit into the world at all.
— Such a peculiar man!