Deep in the Living
Chapter 130 - 124 Fallen

Chapter 130: Chapter 124 Fallen

The class leader walking in front felt Luo Di’s discomfort clearly.

"Feeling like your worldview has been shaken? There are more thrilling activities coming up that you’re definitely going to like, and that’s the main reason I brought you over tonight."

"Such a huge underground place can even be described as an underground city; it’s impossible that it hasn’t been discovered by the Investigation Bureau. It indicates that this so-called ’Underground Eden’ is known and even approved by the Investigation Bureau."

Luo Di thought back to the time when he and Anna went to the Investigation Bureau’s archives.

The archives were immense,

with women clerks busy at their posts, all bearing tattoos and adornments that definitely didn’t fit the standard clerk profile, and some even wore nose rings.

The volume of files they dealt with at the time might have included some related to this place.

The leader’s face, covered by rubber clothes, transmitted a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Human beings are a very complex animal, and it’s precisely because of this complexity that ’Corners’ which would normally only appear in real environments can grow from deep within the human brain, inducing various terrifying forms of fear.

Never categorize people who haven’t grown Thought Corners as ’normal people’,

as some humans may have thoughts that are even more pathological than Pseudo-People, beyond any cure.

Humans, due to their overly complex thoughts and the selfishness deeply engrained in their genes, once they form a ’community’, will attempt to divide themselves into classes to highlight their differences and protect their own interests.

But this new nation, constructed by the world united and built upon the Corner, seriously breaches this ’inherent rule.’

Take you, Luo Di, for example, coming from an ordinary, even poverty-leaning background, you’d belong to the lower class among communities.

However, someone ordinary like you can achieve class mobility in an instant through ’World Connection’, and could even proceed to the World Bureau in the Capital City, stepping over most people’s heads.

Of course, your case is special.

To mention a common scenario, a high school student achieves good admission results, works hard and enters the Investigation Bureau, later becoming an Official Investigator after completing pituitary absorption.

Such situations are relatively common, right?

In this way, the ordinary student also achieves class mobility, even surpassing those so-called ’elites’ who migrate from the outside world.

Guess what these people who once lived among elite circles think?

Not only is this gap between layers broken,

but as ordinary people, they are also constantly threatened by the Corner, and the number of Pseudo-People has surged in the last decade. Formerly thinking they lived safely in upscale neighborhoods, even elite classes now face dangers.

At this point,

this group of immigrant elites from the outside world will experience serious psychological issues.

Of course, this was foreseeable.

Many smart people also anticipated this early. If nothing was done, this elite circle could likely see a large-scale transformation into Pseudo-People.

And some of them indeed possess excellent management skills, key cogs in driving national infrastructure; if such cogs failed, it would be very troublesome.

Naturally, the state needs a pressure valve to provide these elites with effective and quick relief.

Several solutions exist, but all have problems.

Thus, a major company took the risk of possibly facing public outcry and bankruptcy to establish this underground city called ’Eden’ in Mingwang City.

Here, these old-world elites can directly spend money to buy temporary privileges and status, freely vent unrestrained.

Through various forms of release to achieve internal balance, and rapidly depleting their funds, they then refocus on their former jobs, striving to earn money and contribute to the nation.

Once they accumulate enough money, they start this cycle again, always maintaining a balanced state.

As we now see, this company gambled correctly, even moving up a notch in their corporate hierarchy.

But it must be said, this company is powerful, managing this place quite well. The filth and ugliness that exist here, are also completely concealed from the public eye.

Those so-called elite groups can regain a sense of superiority here while indirectly establishing a cooperative relationship with this company."

"Mercury Group."

"Exactly... This company is quite formidable, currently ranking fourth in the national company strength rankings through its hotel and underground city ventures."

Luo Di’s voice continued from under the mask: "This underground city must have functions beyond just being a ’pressure valve’, right? Besides making money here, the Mercury Group must also be acquiring something more important than money."

"You are quite perceptive.

Indeed, in this country, to stabilize a position, ’money’ is just the most basic thing. As I said earlier, in this country built on the surface of the Corner, survival is the primary concern.

The most crucial thing is talents like you, Luo Di, who can hunt Pseudo-People.

This underground city has a special way of ’screening for talents’."

At the same time, it is also a favored de-stressing activity among the elites of the old world. I also came here with Isabella once, watching a screening competition as a spectator, and indeed it was interesting."

Speaking of which.

The class leader had already led Luo Di to a huge dark building, with neon lights on the side displaying just two characters:

"Fighting"

Even though the iron gate in front was not yet open, Luo Di’s spine had already sensed the scent, stirring slightly.

The class leader placed his palm on the surface of the gate seeming to complete some special verification, then the huge iron gate opened inward, and many pedestrians who did not qualify to enter cast envious glances.

Behind the iron gate, there were two paths,

One was a walking path that led directly to the general spectator area,

The other was an elevator that led directly to the members’ area,

Isabella was a regular at Eden, had contributed significant funds, and had long obtained membership here.

"Come up with me first!"

Ding!

As the two rode the elevator to the top floor’s ringed member area,

The elevator doors opened,

A wave-like roar hit them,

Along with several spotlights set overhead.

Even from a distance, the purest sounds of physical impact could be heard.

Luo Di could hardly wait to step out of the elevator, the underground Duel Arena capable of accommodating a thousand people unfolded before his eyes.

Each spectator, wearing a mask, clutched hefty betting tickets in their hands, screaming and cheering for the contenders they had placed their bets on.

A super huge octagonal cage was set in the center of the arena,

Two contenders were engaging in one-on-one combat in the most primal form.

Underneath Luo Di’s mask, his eyes were fully widened, witnessing a combat style he had never seen before - the most primitive and brutal physical combat.

Moreover,

The identities of the contenders were also intriguing; one was a normal human, and the other was a Pseudo-Person.

At that moment, the class leader leaned in and whispered:

"This is the most interesting place in this underground city! Everyone can see the pure slaughter between human and Pseudo-Person directly, and engage more profoundly by betting.

Either side winning is good.

If the Pseudo-Person wins, it indicates the quality of their pituitary is excellent, and it can be extracted later to cultivate outstanding investigators.

If the human wins, then it shows he has the potential to accept a pituitary, and he can be nurtured as talent; there might even be a chance for him to head into the inner workings of the Mercury Group, handling dirty tasks.

Sometimes, if a Pseudo-Person is killed, their pituitary might even be auctioned off on the spot.

These old-world elites participating in the gambling would spend a hefty amount to purchase it, as they too desire to obtain this power, this ability to disregard the rigid class layers of the old era."

However, Luo Di’s focus was elsewhere,

"Are these Pseudo-People... from the psychiatric hospital?"

"What else? Most early detected Pseudo-People worldwide are sent to the psychiatric hospital here, kept in the intensive care area.

Currently, humans still don’t have a way to treat Thought Corner. Guess where these patients go after staying in the hospital for some time?

Those who have undergone medication treatment and have relatively stable thoughts, most are sent to this underground city to maximize their value.

Otherwise, why would the Mercury Group specifically choose Mingwang city, this remote place, to build the underground area, instead of other cities?"

"Pseudo-Person enslavement," "deadly gladiatorial gambling," "pituitary trade"

Luo Di truly understood what the so-called "corruption" mentioned by the class leader meant.

Indeed, Luo Di, who grew up receiving a standard education, no matter how rich his imagination, could never have conceived such an underground city.

But now, he had quickly accepted the setting here.

His attention was completely captured by the combat on the stage,

Just watching this pure physical battle, his spine seemed to have sensed a delicacy it had never tasted before, eager to savor the flavor within.

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