Deep Space Wandering Fleet
Chapter 288 - Chapter 288 Chapter 288 The Shattered Madonna Complex

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: The Shattered Madonna Complex Chapter 288: Chapter 288: The Shattered Madonna Complex As Ms. Zhong felt somewhat at a loss, a whip cracked viciously from behind her, wielded by a group of Glizer sheriffs following the humans.

Only one’s own kind knew how to deal with their own, and these Pangolins shouted harshly: “Get lost, scram!”

The group of Glizerians could only leave dejectedly.

“Let’s split up and survey the area; these sheriffs will ensure our safety.”

The group nodded, divided their routes, and moved ahead, followed by several sheriffs of the Gliese Civilization, acting as bodyguards–otherwise who knows what chaos might erupt in such a frantic environment.

Along the way, what Ms. Zhong saw and heard made her feel like she was suffocating.

Beggars lay in twisted heaps on the ground, preferring to beg rather than work. Seeing humans, they became even more fervent, one after another starting to beg wildly.

At first, she kindly gave them some money, which only incited more beggars to swarm around her, begging crazily.

“Please, give me some too!”

“Please!”

And the beggars who first received the money were now fighting with others, turning the whole scene into chaos.

“That’s my money!”

Eventually, two sheriffs from Saint Andreas put an end to the mess. Only severe whipping and even electric shocks could instill fear in these troublemakers.

“Madam, I think you should not give them money directly… These damn pests should just lie on the ground and quietly wait for their death!”

“I’m sorry; it was my mistake.”

Her expression gloomy, Ms. Zhong looked at their smiles and suddenly understood something, timely giving a “tip” which the two sheriffs happily accepted. However, the act of taking tips made her feel uncomfortably improper.

This city, chaotic and degenerate, yet it was taken for granted.

There’s truth to the saying nothing beats seeing something for oneself.

Soon, she found another scuffle in an alley, where two larger Pangolins were beating a smaller one.

From its size, the small one appeared still to be in its growth period.

Ms. Zhong thought for a moment, spoke gently, and her space suit’s translator immediately emitted the corresponding sound: “…I hope you can let it go; I will pay the compensation. Is that alright?”

After all, they, the humans, were here on an inspection–what did it matter if they looked for trouble or not?

The two sheriffs looked impatient but, considering the tip they had just received, managed to restrain their annoyance.

“Fine… for the sake of humans, I’ll let it go.”

The Pangolins beating up the other glanced around, saw the two following sheriffs, and not daring to make any fuss, quickly sneaked away.

“What’s your name?” asked Ms. Zhong.

“Andofo.”

“Why were you being beaten?”

“I stole… things.”

“…”

Ms. Zhong fell silent for a moment: “Why did you steal?”

“What else reason to steal? How else to live?” Andofo seemed puzzled.

This young Glizerian named “Andofo,” still underage, was already loitering in bad places, stealing things, skipping school.

Stealing, of course, was illegal.

But as long as one wasn’t caught red-handed, nobody bothered to meddle… Even the city’s sheriffs turned a blind eye, as long as the nobles weren’t the victims, who would bother with such matters?

But unfortunately for Andofo, he was caught stealing! Luckily, he was rescued by the kind-hearted Ms. Zhong.

“Come with me!”

“Human… lady… I’m so grateful. Can you give me some money?” Andofo’s eyes darted around quickly; humans here could be seen as ripe for the picking, sometimes making inexplicable decisions.

Stealing anything from them could fetch a good price.

Of course, no one usually dared to steal from humans. If a case involved a human, the enthusiasm of the sheriffs would inexplicably skyrocket…

“I can’t,” Ms. Zhong refused, as if it were the most natural thing, “Why don’t you attend school properly?”

Andofo replied, “What’s the use of school? Can it make money?”

Ms. Zhong paused, not sure what to say, “At least, the environment there is somewhat stable… Don’t schools provide meals? And you won’t be beaten.”

“People don’t get beaten at schools, and they don’t have the Happiness Element! There’s much more freedom outside!”

Ms. Zhong swallowed hard, trying to reason with him: “At your age, you’re supposed to spend your time in school. The Happiness Element… it’s not for someone your age to use…”

“I just don’t want to go to school…”

“Can you explain why? If you go to school, I might consider giving you some money.”

Andofo paused, tempted by the money, and disclosed more reasons. The incident’s origin was quite bizarre; a female classmate of Andofo’s had a birthday, and in an attempt to save face, he stole money to buy her a gift.

Then he saw several other boys with better gifts, became jealous, and they ended up fighting… After this fight, the school disciplined him, and he simply slipped out and stopped attending school–after all, no one cared.

“What kind of reason is that…” Hearing this, the well-meaning Ms. Zhong felt her worldview was shaken…

But she didn’t give up, simply assuming it was a school violence incident, due to unjust treatment leading students to refuse school. She promised to accompany Andofo back to negotiate with the school.

That’s when trouble arose. Upon reaching the school, Andofo acted as if he had strong backing, and debated loudly with the school leaders.

“First, those students who beat me should be expelled! Second, the school must ensure teachers can’t bother me while I sleep, eat, or talk in class!”

“… Third, others can’t beat me, but I can beat them; fourth, allow me to freely use the Happiness Element and to trade it within school…”

These bizarre demands made the principal repeatedly glance at Ms. Zhong and the two sheriffs, wondering if Andofo had human backing and at a loss for words.

Honestly, after such prolonged contact, the Glizerians’ adulation of foreigners–specifically humans–was seriously twisted.

To them, humans actually held special privileges!

First-class nobles, second-class humans, third-class officials, and the fourth-class–the common people.

The principal pondered whether to give Ms. Zhong, this human, some face…