"Beep beep".
Two beeps were heard from the machine, and the elevator began to move, descending straight down from the 14th floor.
The boy entered the elevator after being bid farewell by several guards.
The elevator doors closed, and the guards sighed.
Someone whispered, "Such a fine young man, ruined by Hou Yifan like this."
Another person chimed in with regret, "Judging from that kid's expression, he probably doesn't even realize what he's been through, right?"
Some people speculated: "If you ask me, it must be Jiulong from that red-light district, who abducted another innocent young man from somewhere."
"Hey, hey, stop nagging, Brother Gun is back."
"..."
The gossip about the boy didn't last long; no one had time to sympathize with him.
The boy in the elevator remained in a dazed state, his head bowed, standing there blankly.
The elevator slowly ascended, and when it reached the second floor, he obediently stepped out without any hesitation.
His arrival left no trace of anything unusual in the elevator; everything seemed so calm and ordinary.
There seemed to be nothing unusual.
The surveillance footage in the elevator of Meihua Main City, which is also the only surveillance camera, showed no abnormalities.
The boy stepped out of the elevator and onto the second floor of the Plum Blossom Main City.
There are far more people here than on the 10th floor. People come and go, each busy with their own things, either talking or hurrying by; various sounds fill the lobby, corridors, and terraces.
The boy's arrival went unnoticed; he was like a drop of water merging into the ocean, silent and unnoticed.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the "2 of Clubs" in the boy's hand flickered for a fleeting moment.
The numbers and suits that were originally displayed disappeared in a very short time, leaving only a card that did not represent any suit.
All of this happened in less than a third of a second, so fast that it was impossible to catch.
A barely perceptible smile appeared on the boy's lips, his eyes revealing a cunning glint.
He walked calmly through the hall as if nothing had happened.
And "he" is her.
—The river that disappeared without a trace from morning.
Yesterday, Sister Qiao tore up the two "Club Twos" cards, rendering the identity cards invalid.
Naturally, no one noticed that a piece with the "plum blossom 2" pattern was missing.
Even if the playing cards are broken into pieces, they are still props that can be reused by magicians.
As early as yesterday, when Chuanliu entered the main city and observed the entry process, she was already thinking about how to sneak in again.
The machine will sound an alarm if it encounters a color other than plum blossom.
However, WD's special edition does not have such restrictions.
No guards would have guessed that what Chuanliu showed them was just a corner of the "2 of Clubs" and the uniform back pattern of the playing cards.
Chuanliu strolled around the floor very naturally, as if she had always lived there.
The view on the second floor is completely different from that on the ninth floor.
If Hou Yifan's level was orderly and had a clear hierarchy, then the second level was a chaotic and disorderly place.
A cacophony of sounds and a chaotic scene assaulted the senses. A bustling crowd of people, of all kinds and dressed in various attire, had gathered. Some were impeccably dressed and ostentatious, while others were disheveled and listless. They spoke in hushed tones or argued loudly, their voices mingling to create a cacophony of noise.
Everyone has equal power, yet everyone tries to be superior.
Here, so-called gangs and factions are everywhere. All the "Plum Blossom 2" gangs try to win over some homeless people to make themselves look powerful and influential. Some gang members wear uniform clothing, carry simple weapons, and stand next to their bosses; others are of varying quality, patrolling the crowd, trying to collect protection money.
Of course, there are also those like Xiong Ajiao who are "beautiful" in a golden house.
They are among the lowest-ranking members of the official residents of Plum Blossom City, yet they are the goal that many people aspire to.
The second floor appears unusually cramped compared to the tenth floor. Yet, this not-so-spacious space is home to the densest concentration of people across the 14 floors of Plum Blossom City.
They were crammed together, each person's living space reduced to almost nothing. On average, it was even comparable to the homeless apartment where Chuanliu first lived when he arrived on the island.
As half a day passed, the ground of the second floor was covered with all kinds of garbage and waste.
Food scraps, broken utensils, the aftermath of a fight... all mixed together, emitting an unbearable stench that forces people to cover their noses as they pass by.
Even more often, one could smell the strong odor of heroin from some corner, permeating the air.
Some people live in a daze, indulging in fleeting pleasures that lead them to their deaths.
Their eyes were vacant, their steps faltering, like a filthy piece of toilet paper rotting there.
In this chaotic environment, various criminal activities occur frequently.
Vigilance, unease; malice, evil thoughts.
Everyone is inclined to evil, and this place is evil.
Who says Meihua Main City is a pure land?
Under the sway of power, life becomes a living hell.
However, despite its chaotic state, it remains a dream destination for all residents outside the main city of Plum Blossom. They yearn to come here in search of new opportunities. For those seeking a way of life, they must learn to adapt to this environment to survive.
Perhaps they have successfully "brainwashed" themselves, no longer feeling that there is anything wrong with this kind of life, but instead regarding it as the norm.
Chuanliu sighed inwardly, trying to minimize his presence as he continued to wander around, noting down the route for the second level.
She left quietly after Wu Fangming said goodbye, partly to make it easier to move around without other people.
Another reason is that, although the WD Investigation Bureau has denied that Qianchuan is a "kid", Chuanliu still feels that Qianchuan and "kid" are inextricably linked.
To put it more conservatively, the "little devil" is very likely related to the "disaster" that started two or even four years ago.
The "little devil" could be a victim of that "disaster," or he could be the instigator.
The fact that the WD Investigation Bureau specifically contacted him and asked him to find the "Joker" indicates that this "Joker" has extremely high value.
But he concealed his identity, and may not have even realized it when WD first exiled him to Paradise.
Who exactly is this "little devil"?
Therefore, Kawatsuki wants to investigate on his own, hoping to start with the "disaster" that happened two years ago.
Just as Chuanliu was pondering, a heavy arm was placed on her shoulder.
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