Mechanical city-states.
And the next step in limb acquisition, mysticism exploration, and other things.
Han Dong who was lying on the bed was filled with all these thoughts, so much so that unconsciously several hours passed until three or four in the morning before he fell asleep.
As a researcher, he was fond of, or even obsessed with, 'new things'.
After understanding the general world pattern, he had been eager to go to the Knight Academy to learn about the deeper things and the new things that he could never come across in the original world.
As a result of sleeping too late, this sleep went straight to an unknown time... until woken up by the sound of arguing outside the door.
" Why is it so noisy?"
After Han Dong stretched his lazy back, he stuck to the bedroom and eavesdropped.
Probably heard a few keywords, 'forced conscription' and 'tax collection'.
"Forced conscription is supposed to be forcing youths to their way into the Destiny Space... through a large number of bases in exchange for a very small number of 'returnees', right?
Nina just said yesterday that because I became a 'Returner', she was able to avoid forced conscription, so it seems the civilian district administrators aren't very well informed."
Han Dong pushed out the door.
He saw two policemen dressed in dark linen formal wear with pentagram badges on their chests, and were at the door asking Nina to wear the wind-up device used for counting down.
"What are you guys doing?"
Hearing Han Dong's voice.
The two officers, one fat and one tall, cast a puzzled look, staring at Han Dong's bony body, and the fatter officers immediately laughed.
"Haha~ You're the 'Returner'? ...Such physical qualities can survive in the Destiny Space, no kidding!"
The other tall, thin man had a tricky eye and immediately spotted the wind-up device worn on Han Dong's wrist.
"Hm! Wearing a time device... you actually dared to disobey the council's order and didn't participate in the last [Destiny Space]!"
In their opinion, an elite who could become a 'returnee' would generally not come from a civilian area, much less such a young man who was malnourished and resided in such a poor environment.
Therefore, Han Dong, who wore a wind-up device on his hand, was immediately identified by them as an escapee who feared death and was unwilling to participate in the Destiny Space.
According to the charter set by the council, escapees would be deprived of their rights for life, sold as slaves, used as human decoys for the Order, or simply executed.
The two of them pushed Nina and her mother out of the way and took out a simple iron bracelet, intending to tie and take Han Dong away.
"You let go of my brother..."
Nina struggled forward to stop it.
"Annoying!" One of them was impatient and was about to smack Nina with a slap.
In an instant, a murderous gaze was cast.
Han Dong's bamboo pole-thin arm stretched out, stopping the thin and tall security officer from doing so.
Even though Han Dong's strength was pitifully small, there was a powerful idea that came from his brain.
Through the stare as well as the palm contact, it was transmitted into the other side, causing the policeman to actually stop with some fear.
"Nina, you stay at home with your mother, I'll be back from a trip with them."
Han Dong smiled an assuring smile, just as he had done before when he entered the Destiny Space... This caused Nina, who was on the verge of tears in a hurry, to slightly contain her excitement and assist her mother to lean against the side.
The other obese policeman scoffed.
"You still want to come back? It's not just about you.
Once you're guilty of getting away with it, they're also guilty of covering it up! Your sister will be sold into slavery, right? Too bad her complexion isn't too good, she shouldn't sell for much, haha."
"Charles, what's all this talk? Bring this kid back and we'll get a nice bonus."
The tall and thin vigilante easily broke free of Han Dong's 'grip', not taking the fearful situation just a moment ago seriously, and quickly chained Han Dong's hands together.
"Yeah... make time to go to the 'Mona Tavern' tonight! I heard that new goods came in there."
The more the two spoke, the more energetic they became, grabbing Han Dong and heading to the local police station.
During the escort, a voice filled with evil resentment echoed in Han Dong's mind
"Should we kill them!"
"No... I did it on purpose, just to learn about the local security management policy, Miss Chen Li you just rest well, if it' really dangerous I will call you."
Han Dong's heart was still warm, not expecting Chen Li to keep an eye on him at all times.
The tall and thin vigilantes who had previously been stopped by Han Dong's outstretched hand looked back from time to time, always thinking that Han Dong was a bit strange... but they indeed hadn't received any notification from above.
Usually if there were 'returnees' in that street area, the above would issue a notice, putting the returnees and their families on a special list for special treatment.
[Samai Street Police Station]
"When the sheriff goes out for a while...you'll have to be careful in your cell with this body, so don't die."
Unlike a normal detention center, this police precinct's underground holding cell didn't divide the rooms, but had the offending guys all thrown together in one place.
It was simply separating the men and women.
Although it was not so much as a death sentence, there were many cases of detainees being carried out with serious injuries, especially the majority of 'serious hip injuries'.
Han Dong's physical fitness was bottom of the barrel everywhere he went.
As soon as he walked into the detention room, there were immediately 'big brothers' who took an interest in the brown-haired and thin Han Dong.
This way, the few days of detention wouldn't be lonely .
Inside the sheriff's precinct.
The tall, thin sheriff's deputy said.
"Charles, Where's the boss?
Why don't you come back yet, I'm afraid this kid's body isn't up to it, and we won't get our bonus if he gets bombed out by a couple of big guys in turns later."
"Don't worry, the guys down here aren't stupid, they're just low-cost burglaries...it's different if they get someone killed, it's fine.
I heard the boss was summoned 'up there' early in the morning...he'll be back when he's done, I guess."
This group of policemen weren't exactly able-bodied men.
Just a bunch of ordinary people from middle-class families.
Because some distant relative had become a 'returnee' they had gotten their hands dirty and were in good health themselves, passed the exam for the low-level policeman and got the proper job.
They had a steady income and were not subject to forced conscription.
In terms of guts, they were even more wimpy, unwilling to contact Destiny Space at all.
With the sound of hoofbeats arriving at the entrance of the security bureau.
A middle-aged man wearing a high hat, a black trench coat and a silver emblem on his chest, entered the premises.
"Sheriff Dace! We found an 'escapee' when we searched the dwelling to-day, and are locking him up down there."
The sheriff got really angry when he heard that!
The person he despised the most was an escapee who dared to violate the supreme charter set by the council and did not participate in Destiny Space on time due to his own cowardice.
Normally, he would have been the first to go to the detention room and beat the person up before sending him to the local court.
But today's situation was a bit peculiar.
The sheriff entered with a happy smile on his face... Today, he was called up temporarily because of one thing only.
There was a 'returnee' in the civilian area he managed.