Chapter 64

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 64: The Flavors of Another World

As twilight draped its delicate veil over the horizon, the evening winds whistled through the winding streets, carrying with them the whispers of a city that refused to sleep.

Glorious Fortress was not a city that retired with the setting sun. Despite the recent chaos—like the catastrophic theater fire and the shocking attack on the affluent district—events that had briefly dimmed the city’s vibrant spirit, the Inner City’s streets gradually regained their former liveliness.

For instance, In this renewed vitality was Central Street, where Chaoyang now found himself, served as the heart of the city’s nightlife.

“Sir, would you like to take a bath? We offer top-notch services here!”

“Hungry? Come on in! Golden Bream Restaurant guarantees the freshest fish, delivered just today. Satisfaction guaranteed!”

As they strolled along the bustling street, vendors called out to passersby with eager enthusiasm, their voices blending into a chorus of enticing offers. The shop signs, though lacking modern electric lights, glowed with an inviting warmth, employing clever methods to catch the eye. The entire street seemed to shimmer, each storefront vying for attention in the twilight.

“For a moment there, I couldn’t tell if we’re truly in another world or just some modern setting,” Luo Di couldn’t help but remark, her voice tinged with awe as she took in the scene around her.

“Technology aside, there aren’t many distinctions between our worlds—at least when it comes to people,” Chaoyang replied, his gaze sweeping over the lively street. “Everyone wants a good life, though not all can achieve it. As for the inherent differences between the worlds, those are quite evident, such as… that!”

He gestured toward a large, bustling street stall, where the scent of something both familiar and foreign mingled in the air.

“New Continent Specialty: Black Spirit Dumplings?” Luo Di frowned at the sign. “What is it?”

“What it is doesn’t matter; what’s important is that it’s a specialty!” Chaoyang grinned as he pointed at the skewers on the grill. “Boss, I’ll take two!”

“Coming right up, here you go!”

“Here, yours.”

Chaoyang handed one of the skewers to Luo Di. The Black Spirit Dumplings resembled grilled octopus tentacles on a stick, but instead of the usual rings, they were shaped into peculiar little balls, complete with distinct heads and eyes.

“Uh… Are these actually edible?”

“People around here seem to enjoy them.”

“Alright…” Luo Di hesitantly took the skewer and cautiously bit into one of the dumplings. Her eyes widened as a look of surprise crossed her face. “Mmm—! Delicious!” Her blue eyes narrowed in satisfaction, a contented hum escaping her lips.

“Oh? Really?” Feeling reassured, Chaoyang took a bite. The dumpling’s outer layer gave way to a soft, granular texture that burst in his mouth, flooding his senses with an intense savory flavor and a hint of sea saltiness. It was reminiscent of caviar, yet as the grains broke apart, an unexpected milky aroma blossomed, overwhelming his taste buds with its rich complexity.

“Indeed, it’s quite good.”

“You were purposely waiting for me to try it first!” Luo Di astutely observed, exclaiming, “Demon!”

“No way, you were just eating too quickly.” Chaoyang chuckled, finished his dumpling in one swift bite and immediately set his sights on the next target. “Look, there’s fruit juice over there!”

“This time, you drink first!”

“Sure, hmm… It tastes like coconut milk mixed with soda water, very refreshing.”

As they continued their stroll, Chaoyang deliberately sought out crowded street stalls, eager to sample the world’s specialties. By the end, what had started as a cautious game of who would try each dish first had evolved into friendly rounds of rock-paper-scissors. Even Luo Di found herself relaxing, a rare, contented expression softening her features.

“Weren’t you initially reluctant to come out and explore?” Chaoyang teased her. “Turns out it’s actually pretty interesting, right?”

“I—,” she hesitated, clearly torn. “I’m only following because the contract compels me! If you don’t believe me, try dissolving it!”

“Why would I want to terminate a contract I willingly entered?”

“Demon!” she huffed, though Luo Di couldn’t help but curl her lips upwards at that word. Quickly, she covered her mouth with her hand to conceal her relaxed expression.

However… it had been a long time since she last strolled through a night market like this.

In the past, her life had been a whirlwind of missions, constantly moving from one organization to the next, rarely stopping to catch her breath. After forming Skull’s Han, she completely forgot what it felt like to leisurely wander, as all her energy was devoted to the initial crackdown on criminals. Her meals during that period consisted mainly of fries and hamburgers. It wasn’t that she disdained eating fast food with her companions, but just… occasionally being able to set aside work and responsibilities, taking the time to savor the flavors of the food, didn’t feel bad at all.

No, no, I can’t continue thinking along these lines. Enjoying good food is one thing, but I must remember—he is a demon, adept at corrupting hearts.

Hmm… portraying herself this way also serves to keep him off guard!

Luo Di raised the half-eaten grilled fish in her hand, aligning it with the moon over the distant seaside. The faint glimmer of the ocean reflected off the fish’s silvery scales, creating a serene moment of connection between the two worlds. If she were looking out from the base’s window back on Earth, she’d see a similar night sky.

It’d be great if Bran, Hill, and the others could also taste these delicacies from another world.

At this thought, Luo Di suddenly felt concerned about her companions. “What did you mean earlier when you said that under normal circumstances, Paradise games wouldn’t affect real-world time? We’ve already spent two days here in the Paradise. How is it over there?”

“Approximately twenty minutes,” Chaoyang estimated, his tone casual as if discussing the weather.

“Twenty minutes?” Luo Di’s eyes widened. “The time discrepancy is that insignificant? But last time…”

“I’ve already told you, last time was an exception.” He met her gaze for a brief moment before shrugging helplessly. “Alright, no harm in telling you. In this world, there exists a passage connecting it to Earth. If you think of both worlds as two planes, then this passage acts as the axis between them.”

“And what happens next?”

“No matter which side I’m on, the speed of progression for both worlds remains essentially the same. The differences arise with the Players…” Chaoyang explained, his voice steady. “When I bring their souls to this world, it’s like a thread jamming the axis. The world I’m in continues its normal flow of time, while the other side seems to get stuck, slowing down drastically. I don’t fully understand the underlying principles; these conclusions were drawn from my observations. Additionally, the degree of slowdown isn’t constant; the shorter the duration a soul spends in this world, the stronger the deceleration effect.”

“So that’s how it works…” Luo Di’s astonishment was evident in her voice. “Then if I return to Earth now…”

“You would be detached from Paradise’s timeline. If I come looking for you after three days here, it might only be slightly over an hour later for you.”

“I can’t somehow jam that axis?” she asked, her mind racing with possibilities.

Chaoyang shook his head, “You’re quite similar to me; both of us can fully traverse through the channel and reach the other side with our true forms intact. Consequently, on your own, you cannot influence the flow of time in either world.”

“No wonder last time, I experienced the same amount of time as on Earth…” The girl pondered thoughtfully. “But when you stay here, don’t you effectively have infinite time?”

“To an observer, yes, but for someone experiencing it firsthand, this holds little significance. Moreover, I cannot remain indefinitely on one side because the channel is constantly changing. I can sense its expansion and contraction; if I stay too long here, I’ll lose track of Earth’s position. Similarly, if I spend too much time on Earth, I would also forget where Paradise lies.”

“Can’t you record some coordinates or something?” Luo Di asked, confusion tinging her voice.

“In truth, even creating this passage was a desperate gamble during a moment of despair.” Chaoyang admitted, a slight grimace crossing his face. “If I were to try again now, I might not succeed.”

As he spoke, he suddenly stopped, turning his head towards a splendidly ornate building about ten meters away. “Huh…”

“What’s wrong?” Luo Di also halted, mirroring his pause.

“Let me see… The name ‘Clouds Court’ sounds somewhat familiar.” Chaoyang reached into his pocket, pulled out the card, and under the streetlight, carefully examined the writing: No. 18 Central Street, Clouds Court Hotel. “It really is here!”

Could it be fate?

“Do you want to go inside?” Luo Di asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Hmm…” He raised an eyebrow, pondering for a moment. “Since we’ve unknowingly arrived here, why not just—”

In the next instant, his expression changed abruptly as he grabbed Luo Di’s hand and swiftly pulled them into the shadows by the street. “Don’t look that way!”

“Eh?” Luo Di remained puzzled, but she followed his lead without question.

Leaning against the wall, Chaoyang glanced sideways at the hotel entrance. There, parked, was a carriage surrounded by two rows of fully armed soldiers. But that wasn’t the main concern; what mattered most were the two individuals stepping down from the carriage.

One of them was Shandela Allen, the formidable commander of the City Guard whom he had briefly encountered at Wangshui Manor. The other person, dressed in a strikingly distinct outfit, was unfamiliar to him, yet they had just turned their gaze in Chaoyang and Luo Di’s direction!

Recruitment of Editors: https://gravitytales.com/recruitment-of-editors/