Chapter 347: The Capitol
Chapter 347: The Capitol
“Master had gone mad, coming straight here.” Silly Dog had come to understand humanity’s hierarchy during this time. The Dugu family incident in Yuanshi City taught him humans possessed means to restrain him. Though he wouldn’t die, an artifact’s strike might require six months to recover from – or worse, leave him vulnerable to being devoured by other oddities.
The artifact’s power remained etched in his mind, filling him with deep dread.
He thought avoiding artifacts meant safety. Never imagined his master would drag him before one during a brief nap.
The Congress building.
Shending’s power center, designed by its chief architect.
The glass-encased structure featured a central star-shaped core flanked by four diamond-shaped towers, symbolizing Shending’s dominion over all directions.
At the star building’s peak sat the Supreme Assembly – ten individuals governing Shending, known as the Ten Speakers. Below them existed the 200-member Congress. Councilor Zhu, whom Zuo Meng killed earlier, belonged to this group. With overlapping jurisdictions and frequent power struggles, congressional status meant little in Shending. Backgroundless members could die unnoticed, though weaker assailants still faced legal consequences.
“Tourists stop here!”
Zuo Meng reached the restricted zone.
A black-clad guard blocked his path before entry.
Though the Congress building doubled as tourist attraction, visitors normally stayed behind red lines. Zuo Meng’s boundary crossing alerted security personnel.
“Developing tourism… Dajin City’s different.” Zuo Meng observed. “Using artifacts to connect ten surrounding cities for expansion.”
Unlike other cities’ isolation zones, Dajin’s periphery stood fully accessible. Ordinary citizens traveled freely via highways and tour buses, creating prosperity starkly contrasting with border regions.
This uneven development created concentric circles of decay radiating from the artifact. At the edge in Linmu City, few ever left their homes. Further out in the lawless outer states, oddities roamed freely with daily casualties – the chasm between warzone and paradise.
“Country bumpkin!”
A fashionable woman walking her poodle sneered deliberately within earshot. Her dog yapped arrogantly at Zuo Meng.
He glanced at the ordinary woman.
“Baby, stay away from uncultured rustics.” She retreated two steps, addressing her dog. “They might carry diseases.”
“Clean plate policy.”
Zuo Meng instructed Silly Dog without looking.
He never tolerated insults. Direct retaliation was his way.
“Yessir!”
Silly Dog shook off earlier artifact fears, reverting to his natural idiocy. Excitement grew – bigger trouble meant better feeding!
Though oddities don’t need sustenance, Silly Dog retained murderous instincts.
“It… talked?” The woman stammered, staring at the speaking canine.
“MONSTER!!”
Silly Dog’s jaw distended grotesquely. A resounding CRUNCH devoured woman, dog, and pavement chunk alike.
“MURDER!!”
Nearby tourists shrieked. Chaos erupted.
Border residents knew of the Underworld – like the Li Sisters Zuo Meng met in Qiongzhou who learned of supernatural dangers pre-awakening. But Congress-controlled Dajin’s long peace left citizens unprepared.
“Brazen public killing!”
Security personnel’s scalps prickled, but congressional training kicked in.
Extraordinary beings causing trouble.
Two guards radioed backup while channeling fourth-level Transcendent energy. Mid-tier Transcendents as doormen proved Congress’ resources.
To Zuo Meng’s group, they might as well be ordinary people.
The guards froze mid-approach, crushed by mounting inhuman aura. Earlier bravado dissolved into terror. Zuo Meng and his dog now matched mental images of a notorious terrorist leader.
“He’s… the Divine Miracle Society’s Great Sage!”
They backpedaled, swallowing hard.
“Dajin Security Statute One: No supernatural displays before ordinary people. Maintain separation between Underworld and outer world.” True to capital efficiency, a black-robed figure clutching a congressional tome arrived in under ten seconds.
“Street killings using Extraordinary Power violate Statutes 1, 9, and 13.”
The lawbringer closed his tome calmly. Zuo Meng sensed terrifying energy surpassing normal Transcendents, especially from the authority-radiating book.
An artifact!
“Add Statute 72 against oddity pets, 96 against spreading illegal ideologies, and 108 against factional conspiracy endangering Shending.” The man smiled faintly.
Correct, Sir Sage of the Divine Miracle Society?”
This ruthless opponent had come armed with artifact after sensing Zuo Meng’s presence.