Kogan and Mei Lan entered their home.
During the time they had spent together, and contrary to what she had expected, his presence didn't bother her at all.
It was true that she had grown used to having Shan Yu around—she still missed him and hadn't forgotten what he had done for her.
While she was with Kogan, the house remained completely silent.
They would wake up in the morning, have breakfast, go out on missions, then return for dinner and go to sleep.
No arguments, no discussions—just quiet.
In a way, it was a good thing. She didn't have to engage in exhausting conversations with him.
But at the same time, she was beginning to feel the urge to talk to him.
After all, they were going to spend their lives together!
***
"Ahh," Kogan exhaled as he lay back in the bathtub.
The water temperature could be adjusted thanks to the water supply network, where the pipes passed through simple essence-powered devices.
The heating mechanism consumed essence, but it wasn't deducted from their salaries—one of the privileges of the first rank.
Currently, Kogan was still receiving ten essence per month, which was less than what most first-rank members earned.
Those who hadn't reached the first rank yet all received a fixed salary of ten essence.
But among first-rank individuals, salaries varied depending on the nature of their work and their contribution points.
Still, the differences weren't that significant.
It could range between forty to seventy.
For example, Captain Ray Kang earned an average of forty-five essence.
In the future, if Kogan discovered that he had actually been in the first rank, they would pay him the missing essence for the months he had received the standard salary.
Things were still under control—as long as proper compensation existed, there was no reason to worry.
"How did I make such a mistake?" Kogan muttered as he glanced at his hand.
His eyes were black with a faint yellow glow.
"Such easy integration among them is suspicious," Kogan thought as he stepped out of the bathtub.
In his previous world, whenever a newcomer arrived in the city, all the residents would scrutinize, evaluate, and spy on them.
But here, almost no one cared.
What kind of world was this, where people weren't curious about others' lives?
He put on his clothes and left the bathroom, heading to his room to sleep.
He needed to take advantage of the fact that dawn hadn't broken yet to get some rest.
***
Hours passed, and evening arrived.
Kogan opened his eyes after a peaceful sleep.
He put on his clothes and went to the bathroom to wash his face, then entered the kitchen.
He had missed breakfast but hadn't missed lunch by much—he could still eat it.
He found a dish covered with a lid.
He removed the lid and saw some well-cooked meat.
Mei Lan had woken up before him and prepared this lunch; it seemed she had eaten her share and left his portion.
"Meat," Kogan inhaled the enticing aroma of the meat.
It was still hot.
He smiled, recalling his previous life, which hadn't even lasted a year.
Back then, he rarely ate meat, to the point that he believed as long as he ate meat regularly and sufficiently, he would live forever and his body would never weaken.
But now, he could eat it whenever he wanted, and fruits had become rare and precious.
Who cares about fruits when there's meat?
"Looks like I can test my theory about living forever here," Kogan mocked.
He sat at the table and began eating his meal in peace.
***
It was noticeable that darkness had begun to settle outside.
Unlike the morning, which bursts in suddenly and fully, night arrived gradually.
It was as if the day was a powerful wave of light that spread over the entire world, then slowly receded until darkness took over.
No sun, and no clouds without the sun.
Kogan stepped out of the house to take a walk around the city.
Mei Lan wanted to follow him, but somehow he stopped her and explained that he wanted to walk alone.
She was still worried and scared about what Wei Li might do.
But she thought it through and convinced herself that since it was daytime and they were inside the city, he wouldn't be able to do anything under the watchful eyes of the ruler and his high-ranking subordinates.
Kogan had always loved to wander.
In his previous city, Kogan used to go out offering his services to people to earn a living.
If he was refused, he would simply continue wandering.
He compared the homes of the poor with those of the rich,
exploring the difference in lifestyle between the two classes.
This was what made him want to leave his city and move to live in the great capital, where it was said there was no place for the poor.
If Kogan were to make a list of the things he hated, the poor would definitely be at the top.
Kogan walked quietly down the street.
Many houses were lined up side by side, with only a small space between them.
Near the city's edge were inns where those who hadn't reached the first rank lived.
Beyond that were neighborhoods for those who were in the first rank, like Kogan.
These neighborhoods were calm and beautiful, with houses arranged in an elegant manner.
A street with various shops separated the first-rank residents from ordinary people.
At the city center stood the main palace where the ruler lived, and around him lived his four high-ranking subordinates of the second rank.
They were the elite of society and the city's pillar of protection.
"Excuse me, you fool,"
Kogan looked toward a group of children in front of him.
"Did you know that you're stupid and clumsy?" one child said, moving his hands as if trying to ask for directions or something similar.
His friends held their mouths to keep from laughing.
"Well, I guess that's enough for today, you fool"
The child and his friends left, laughing hysterically.
Kogan paid them no attention and continued his walk.
The city's diameter was about 4 kilometers and could be fully explored in less than a day.
***
In a place far from the inns,
Wei Li, Bai Tong, Wei Tong, and Jin Chao had gathered.
"Tonight, we begin our plan," Wei Li said.
The three of them looked at him with some hesitation.
"What, don't tell me you've softened just because you got some essence. Do you really think that'll last?" Wei Li growled in anger.
"Since we don't know for sure, I think we should wait a little longer and make sure," Jin Chao spoke rationally.
Jin Chao was known for his logical thinking. Although hatred sometimes clouded his judgment, he was generally level-headed.
"Wait? the curse waits for no one! She's luring us in so we lower our guard—then she'll crush us!" Wei Li shouted.
The others just looked at him in silence, uncertainty on their faces.
Ever since they regained their essence the night before, they had become certain that they weren't cursed.
And so, they didn't want to risk going through with that plan.
Sure, they were jealous of Mei Lan, but when thinking clearly, as long as she hadn't harmed them, they had no reason to interfere in her life—
especially if such interference could lead to their own doom.
"It seems the curse has already taken hold of you," Wei Li muttered before storming off without looking back.
The three of them watched him go, pity in their eyes.
"He's completely blinded now,"