Chapter 156
Translator’s Notes: I know some people are looking forward to Cillin being awesome, but hey, side characters need to get some of that thunder as well!
Chapter 156: The Wolf King of ‘Dance Night’ [Part 1]
Who was superior and who was inferior was obvious at first glance.
There were people on the spectator’s grandstand that were shouting the name of the racer Udoze replaced loudly and waving his hologram. The so-called experts nitpicked the scene just now, and they showered that racer with even greater praise.
None of these were known to the racers who were competing right now. They only knew to put all of their concentration on the compet.i.tion, for even the slightest misstep meant a horrible death.
The circuit of sandstone area had almost been finished, and the next circuit was the Seven Joined Lakes.
As usual, the red flying car was the first to plunge into the lake. The underwater monitoring devices recorded the race beneath the lake as it was. Some medias also had stake out points underwater to a.n.a.lyse and report the race in greater detail.
Although there were no sandstorm beneath the lake water, but factors such as drag, buoyancy, water pressure and so on would affect a flying car’s travel. The drivers had to prevent their oxygen supply system from being damaged as well.
Every circuit required the racers to mull over problems from different angles, and employ different responses to them.
"Look, a water monster!" a kid pointed at a long creature that looked like a green anaconda on the screen and screamed loudly.
Yes, not only were there annoying water plants inside the lake, there were also all sorts of living creatures living inside it. If a flying car accidentally got tangled up with them, it would not be easy to pull free. Worse, they might even become food for these underwater creatures.
However, it was obvious that the racers were used to this already. There were only very few racers who got played or became a little too careless and ran into trouble.
Udoze continued to take the lead. Outside the water, he could rely on the wind to make judgments, and inside the water, he could utilise the water flow itself to make judgments. The lake water of the Seven Joined Lakes would not be in a completely still state, and the presence of the underwater creatures and the flying cars would cause quite a bit of commotion. Moreover, the water flow of the connecting pa.s.sages between the lakes would be faster, so they could all become a helping hand if them used it right.
There were plenty of people who could not imagine just how exactly the racer inside the red flying car had managed to perform to this extent. It was just like how they could not imagine that the true driver of this flying car was in fact a seventeen years old boy who was cast to the edge of the city, and could only practice using an old, shabby car.
Day after day he underwent practices that were almost harsh, and he did not let down his innate gift. He utilised all external forces he could utilise to create even more miracles.
The critics were looking at the time. In past records, the shortest time used to finish the sandstone area was five hours and twenty one minutes. However, Udoze did not use even five hours at all to complete that part of the circuit. His time was more than twenty minutes shorter than the current record holder. Even a second shaved could make people go crazy, much less twenty or so minutes. Right now, everyone was waiting for him to break the second record.
And the result did not disappoint. The time he used to complete the Seven Joined Lakes circuit was sixteen minutes shorter than the record. When the red flying car burst out of the lake, the people even thought that it would rise straight into the sky and be free of any external forces.
The third circuit, stone forest.
The wind in the stone forest was not much better than the sandstone area. While it wasn’t as violent as in the sandstone area, it was definitely as strange. Winds that lacked any specific orientation could even blow towards you from a certain part between the stones while you weren’t paying attention, disrupting the car’s balance and causing it to crash or fall from the air.
The saying that those who were inexperienced were not suited for Acallela’s compet.i.tion made sense. It was because the act was no different from suicide.
The red car’s body was a clear contrast against the white stone forest in the background. The last part of the circuit was almost entirely the red flying car’s solo performance. The cars behind him had already been shaken off far, far away, and the three holograms at the center of the spectator’s grandstand which had the best view angle were reserved for this red figure alone. It looked like a soul that led the way of an era.
The car rolled within the stone forest looking like it could not find its balance, and every time the viewers thought that he would crash, they would see him smoothly avoiding a rock pillar in the next second. The car’s body was just centimeters away from the rock pillar. Even as observers, the people were unusually nervous. Sweat appeared on many people’s forehead, but they were not from fright, but from excitement. In the end, there were many people who noticed that the racer of this car only looked like he was in a difficult situation. In reality, he was handling the situation with ease.
The waves of shouts were only louder than the last. The racing team ‘Storm’ was already starting to promote that racing star and selling souvenirs. The many large images were all filled with that racing star’s appearance.
The existence of a body double was even more saddening when compared to the bright brilliance of a racing star.
By now, Tang Qiuqiu had lost the impa.s.sioned emotions she was feeling earlier. She felt that Udoze was very pitiful.
This was because the entire circuit was on the same lat.i.tude. Therefore, they would return to the spectator’s grandstand that was also the finish line once they they had gone through a full circle. When the red flying car burst through the finish line and entered the spectator’s grandstand, the entire place boiled over as the spectators stood up and roared the racing star’s name.
The flying car entered Storm’s specially prepared workshop. Udoze got off the car and pa.s.sed the seat to the fully equipped racing star. He ignored the person in charge’s ‘you ran well, I’m raising your salary’ bulls.h.i.+t, took off his jacket, changed into casual clothing at the dressing room, tossed down the clothes that did not belong to him and walked out of the racetrack.
The racetrack continued to heat up as usual. The cheers of crazed racing fans could be heard from afar.
Udoze let out a long sigh and raised his head, walking towards the distance. However, when he saw the debit card Cillin raised in the air, Udoze’s depression subsided by a lot.
Cillin waved his hands, "Today’s rewards is pretty good. Let’s go make a transfer!"
"Okay." Udoze moved his arms for a bit to make his tensed muscles relax.
"Udodo, you won a lot of money this time." Tang Qiuqiu giggled. She had also invested a portion of her money from the free mission into the bet this time, but the reward was a tremendous pleasant surprise that she had not imagined.
"Three hundred thousand, right? It’s enough for me to partic.i.p.ate in a lot of races." Udoze sighed.
"No, you missed an order of magnitude."
Udoze’s walking movements abruptly froze. He turned around stiffly and looked at Cillin, "Didn’t you bet that the red car would win?"
"Yeah, I did. But I also bet that it would break records." Cillin said smilingly.
"So&h.e.l.lip; so that means&h.e.l.lip;" Udoze swallowed his saliva. He was so nervous he almost bit his tongue. He wasn’t this nervous even when he was competing in the race.
"It means, the payout is multiplied by thirty times." Tang Qiuqiu gave him the answer directly.
Thirty times meant that the final sum of the payout was three million!
Udoze panted hoa.r.s.ely
Cillin, Tang Qiuqiu, the gray cat: "&h.e.l.lip;"
Cillin knew that they could not understand Udoze’s feelings.
All of his grievances, all of his unwillingness. What he thought was an unattainable dream the day before, when he had almost sunk into numbing darkness, he realised that the sun was behind him all this time, and hope was within reach the second he turned around.
Udoze had not cried even the time he crashed into a mountain rock, suffered grievous injuries and almost died. At this moment, he suddenly felt that everything was worth it!
So he had no fame, no trophy cups of his own and all of his efforts botched by his racing team’s PIC with insignificant bulls.h.i.+t&h.e.l.lip;
So what!
After he was done crying, Udoze raised his arm and wiped his snot and tears away with his sleeves, "I’m treating today. No one is going to s.n.a.t.c.h the bill with me, get it!"
"You don’t say!" the gray cat said with a matter-of-fact tone.
"Hehe&h.e.l.lip;"
Udoze had walked airily almost all the way to the city center of Wind City Vento while smiling like an idiot. It was there Cillin transferred Udoze’s won bet to him. Since the money was transferred through Cillin’s hands, the government would not find out that Udoze had partic.i.p.ated in the gambling even if they were to investigate his account. Udoze was absolutely certain and a.s.sured on this point.
After staring adoringly at his card like – no, more than he would stare at his lover for half a day, Udoze finally recovered his wits. However, he still could not withdraw the smile on his face. Suddenly, he thought of something and scratched his head. He told Cillin, "It’s still early. I’ll bring you guys to a great place tonight, but before that I need to visit a person. Oh right, maybe I can introduce you guys to each other. He is a medicine maker."
"A medicine maker?" Cillin said in surprise.
"Mm, he is a really great medicine maker!" Udoze wore a look of infinite adoration on his face.
"Let’s go together then. Let’s have a look at this great medicine maker of yours." Cillin was rather curious about the person Udoze spoke of.
Translator’s Notes: Excuse me for the delay, I was visiting family. Here you go!
Chapter 156: The Wolf King of ‘Dance Night’ [Part 2]
The group of three followed Udoze to an unremarkable house at a different city district falling under the outskirts of the city center. Most of the buildings in the city center were built from alloy, but this house was built from stones just like Udoze’s house. However, this house was much bigger than Udoze’s house.
The courtyard’s door automatically opened after Udoze had pressed the doorbell. There were some unnamed flowers inside the courtyard, and there were some sort of drug ingredients left out in the sun on an exposed table.
When Cillin stepped into the courtyard, his footsteps came to a momentary pause. His eyes were filled with deep ponderment as he stared at the house.
This place truly was filled with crouching tigers and hidden dragons*!
*meaning to say talented individuals in hiding
"Sorry to bother you, big brother Rikulab." Udoze said.
Creak——
The house door opened to reveal a man almost thirty years old with half open eyes wearing a sleep robe that hadn’t been washed for G.o.d knows how many days. His messy hair and rather depressing-looking stubble gave him the wholesome appearance of a drunkard in dire states. Right now, this mister drunkard was leaning against the door and holding a wine bottle, and after he downed a mouthful of wine he looked at the people walking into his house. However, his pupils shrank indiscernibly when he swept a glance over Cillin.
"Neurotoxin?" Rikulab’s voice was hoa.r.s.e and low having not spoken for several days. But his tone was very certain.
"Enhancement drugs?" Cillin looked at Rikulab.
"Good eye."
"You too."
Udoze did not know what Cillin and Rikulab’s dialogue meant, but the gray cat did.
Cillin was carrying with him a dagger wiped with neurotoxin on the blade, whereas Rikulab’s body carried the scent of a drug; a kind of enhancement drug.
Both the neurotoxin on Cillin’s body or the enhancement drug on Rikulab’s body were self-made and had never been made public. However, both parties had noticed the drugs on each other’s body and identified their functions at first sight. Not even specialists might necessarily be able to do this.
Rikulab tugged the corners of his lips for a bit before turning his gaze to Udoze.
Udoze looked a bit anxious as he pa.s.sed a bottle of wine worth ten thousand GAL credits to Rikolab, "Thank you for your help all this time!"
Rikulab accepted the wine bottle without bothering with any courtesy whatsoever and gave it a look, "Yo, you earned money from your race?"
"Cough, yeah." Udoze continued to scratch his head and said embarra.s.sedly. He believed that Rikulab would not betray him, but it really wasn’t something to be talked openly.
Rikulab did not appear to have the intention to ask further anyway, and he waved his hands and said, "Alright, I’m taking this wine. You may leave; I still have some Zs to catch."
"Er, big brother Rikulab, you’ll be going to ‘Dance Night’ tonight, won’t you?"
The answer Udoze got was the sound of a door slamming against its hinges.
However, Udoze paid it no mind and actually led Cillin and the others out with a smile on his face.
"He’s a drunkard!" after that left the house, Tang Qiuqiu said with certainty.
"Big brother Rikulab just loves to drink wine. He’s still a very good person though; at the very least he would not look down on us natives."
"He’s not from Acallela?" Cillin asked.
"No, he came here more than ten years ago. He would lend money to poor people, and although he takes interest, the rates aren’t high and are very humane too. He sells medicines on credit, unlike the city hospitals that needed to see money on the table before anything else. Also, when my mother and I were in the direst straits, it was big brother Rikulab who gave us material a.s.sistance. There was a time when my mum was terribly sick, and my skills weren’t that good yet, we were hard pressed for money and could not afford to see a doctor. It was Rikulab who helped us."
"In that case, that drunk uncle is a pretty nice person."
Udoze let out a mysterious smile, "You guys will be surprised by the place I bring you to tonight!"
"Ceh, cliffhangers!" Tang Qiuqiu pouted and said.
E/n: wouldn’t it be nice if we had a good cliffhanger
"I suddenly recalled that that place isn’t suitable for kids." Udoze said with a bitter face.
Tang Qiuqiu glared, "I’m going!"
In the end, Udoze could not withstand Tang Qiuqiu’s glare and took the trio to a place at the city center when night arrived – the ‘Dance Night’.
‘Dance Night’ was a nightclub; a place that provided people with entertainment. Here, it was always overcrowded. First timers would find themselves a little intimidated, just like an outsider who had suddenly barged in.
The entire place was permeating with an unrivaled atmosphere of madness and ambiguity. This was absolutely not a quiet place, nor was it a place where one came purely for the drinks. Here at ‘Dance Night’, something must happen before the people could be satisfied.
Those who did not have powerful heart and lung capacity, or are animals who had to rely on drugs before they could set themselves loose should stay away.
When they walked into ‘Dance Night’, the extraordinary air that a.s.saulted their senses caused them to experience a split second of absentmindedness again.
Inside, the seats and the dance floor were mingled as one so as to facilitate fantasies among the customers towards the dancers who were dancing on the dance floor in close range. It also made it convenient for people to express themselves freely when they were tipsy.
Here in this place as far as the eyes could see, everyone was dead gorgeous and ridiculously beautiful. Here, even the sharpest of bright colors or exaggerations to the point of excessiveness would not draw too many showers of attentions. There were plenty of lady-killers and hot babes in every small circle dazzling everyone’s eyes.
People who enjoyed liveliness or desired to vent could sway and turn to their heart’s content. It was an extreme madness that exceeded even the madness of the racing fans at the spectator’s grandstand.
The races dancing inside the explosive music that could burst one’s eardrums were mostly from outside Planet Acallela. People wearing all sorts of strange clothes twisted and turned their bodies, painting a picture of ghosts and demons dancing in riotous revelry*.
*while normally meaning evil people acting wantonly in the political scene, in this case, just take it at face value
Some young girls were even dressed in leopard furs, accentuating their s.e.xiness with a bit of charm and adorableness. Every and any one of them would give you the impulse to commit a mistake.
Those depressive feelings could only be transformed into discontentment or roars, roars that could only be contained by a wide s.p.a.ce. The wide public venue enabled everyone who came here to howl in joy and madness, drawing out long rhymes as if they had been possessed.
The essence of the music from all kinds of races and all kinds of cultures were being played at the venue. While carrying within it the power to bring heat, it drew people into a mad spree of phantom sounds like a spell, turning them into animals that had lost all sense of reason. As a result, everyone’s eyes were bloodshot under the effects of the music and alcohol, sweeping their gazes greedily over everything within the dance floor before twisting their bodies and squirming through the crowd. They were all playing the simple game of hunter and prey with each other. In such an environment, it was nearly impossible to sit down quietly and drink wine.
With music of different styles and of different eras, the pa.s.sionate and untrammeled musical feast would fully stir up one’s fervor. Be it blues, arousal, dynamic, psychedelic or pa.s.sionate, they all challenged one’s ear nerves and self-restraint.
There was also another area at ‘Dance Night’ that was slightly quieter than the rest. There were retro fas.h.i.+on, soft and comfortable long sofas, and psychedelic aromas. When the people were done hunting at the dance floor, they would come here to enjoy their prey. Hence, relaxing music resonated beside the ears; pure, sweet, fine wine and attractive desserts were sprinkled lazily across the long sofas as your body, and your prey could not help but grow more and more restless&h.e.l.lip;
The story of this dream-like place was both simple and marvellous. Feasting and pleasure seeking, merry nightlife, sensual pleasures, luxuries and indulgences, and all sorts of brilliances left the people unable to stop themselves. Be it the good or the bad, you would feel as if you had gotten everything you wanted in this narrow and mad little world. It would force out the devil in your bones and turn you into an animal who continuously sought for stimulation and primal pleasures. It would put you in a trance and make you think that you live for the nightlife, and that you couldn’t wait to get drunk even harder than you already were.
Cillin’s group found a small private room at the top floor that was slightly further away from the dance floor. The transparent part.i.tion allowed them to see the scene beyond the private room in the dance floor. The music could clearly be heard as well.
Tang Qiuqiu did not like this place. She couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.
Cillin did not allow her to see the sceneries outside, and he ordered some desserts for Tang Qiuqiu. Tang Qiuqiu herself was happy with this arrangement
While looking at the madly twisting bodies on the dance floor outside, the pandering dance movements and unbridled kissings, Cillin let out a sigh. They really shouldn’t have brought Tang Qiuqiu to this place.
However, just as Tang Qiuqiu finished her desserts and looked a little drowsy, the lights on the floor abruptly turned blurry. Then, a kind of suppressed excitement and restrained patience emerged from the entire dance floor. Then, with a pop, they boiled up entirely.
In that moment, the lights were running, the music was running, and every area and every segment was running all over the place. The whole visual effects gave off the impression of a grand feast.
The crisscrossing lights all gathered on one spot, and there stood a man carrying and merging both flamboyance and reservation into this seemingly demonised place at the same time.
If say that a love song and a bouquet of flowers would be enough to win over a woman’s heart, then this man could win a dozen hearts with a single movement.
While accompanied by the music and the light’s illumination, and striding with rhythmic footsteps, he mixed a gla.s.s of wine for himself and downed it in one gulp. Then, he put down the cup without any reluctance and walked step by step into the dance floor like an arriving king.
The people in the dance floor automatically opened up a path for him. They opened up the stage that belonged the the Wolf King of ‘Dance Night’.