Yan Shao put down his knife and fork, interlocking his fingers and resting his chin on them. "This is one of the reasons I came here."
Wang Cao Tian asked dazedly, "Aren't we here for a vacation?"
Jiang Yue chuckled. "I knew the academy wouldn't be so kind as to give us a holiday just like that. It turns out it was a feint, and we still have to work in the end. It would be a waste if we didn't work in a company."
Xia Zhi pushed his glasses up his nose. "Since the Divine Tower appeared, I've looked up a lot of myths about the Twelve Zodiacs. The reviews are mixed."
Lu Zhi drank some soy milk, his eyes calm. "How are the people living in the Evernight City and Evernight Island doing now?"
Everyone was stunned.
Lu Zhi looked out the window at the peaceful and harmonious atmosphere on the street. "What we've always pursued is a stable life and a prosperous nation. Our desires and wishes are simply peace and life."
"Are the people here not living well now?" Lu Zhi was simply stating a fact before their eyes. "No matter how they survive, as long as it doesn't endanger humanity or the nation and society, we have no right to interfere with them."
This "them" naturally referred to the Twelve Zodiacs.
"Lu, what junior said is absolutely correct." Yan Shao greatly admired Lu Zhi's perspective. "We are here this time simply for a visit, to confirm that the people here are not being controlled. Of course, it would be best if we could directly contact and converse with the Rat God."
Lu Zhi rubbed the rim of the paper cup with his finger and said after a pause, "When we came, Shen Qi told me that many apostles from foreign divine realms had entered the country, and they had been seen on Evernight Island."
Apostles of foreign divine realms believe in foreign gods. In the old days, they would be considered Christians, specifically people who acted on behalf of their gods.
"Apostles of foreign divine realms..." Yan Shao frowned slightly. "What do they want here?"
"Foreign divine realms again!" Jiang Yue angrily slammed the table. The metal surface made a dull thud, but it didn't leave a mark, showing that the hotel's facilities were made of strong, reinforced materials.
Wang Cao Tian muttered, "Won't they come up with something that wants to ride people again?"
"Cough..." Xia Zhi choked and said, "It's really hard to say."
Lu Zhi said faintly, "It's already Rat Riders now."
Wang Cao Tian looked as if he had been choked.
Indeed, looking at the hotel staff, almost everyone had a rodent pet. Little squirrels, flying squirrels, hamsters... They were all riding on people.
"Since we know there are foreign apostles on Evernight Island, we need to be more careful." Yan Shao tapped his fingers on the table. "The only problem is that we haven't confirmed their appearance or their goals yet. Let's take it one step at a time."
Lu Zhi's eyes drifted to the airships in the sky outside the window and suggested, "If they are targeting the Rat God, I think we should go to the Rat Emperor concert tonight."
The few people exchanged glances. Xia Zhi reminded them, "What about the others?"
"It's harder to act with too many people. Ah Yue, send them a message asking them to temporarily not enter Evernight Island and to stay in Evernight City." Yan Shao, in this short period, had gradually analyzed the unexpected situations that might arise. "Xia Zhi and Cao Tian, go and check if tickets are required for the concert..."
Lu Zhi thought that Yan Shao was indeed a rare leadership talent, otherwise, the academy and the country wouldn't be focusing on cultivating him. He was calm and composed, with a great sense of responsibility towards the country and its people.
"Lu, junior..." Yan Shao smiled and invited, "Would you like to go to Evernight City for a stroll? I heard there's a very famous art gallery in Evernight City."
Lu Zhi checked his watch. It was two o'clock in the afternoon. He had slept on the plane and didn't feel tired, so he agreed, "Alright, let's go."
"Then what about me?" Jiang Yue was dumbfounded. "You're all going in pairs, is it appropriate to leave me, a beautiful woman, behind?"
The four men looked at her with a subtle, consistent gaze. Jiang Yue was furious. "What are you looking at!"
Yan Shao said, "Confident women are the most beautiful."
Wang Cao Tian and Xia Zhi agreed in unison, "President is right."
Lu Zhi: ... The real man knows when to back down.
Yan Shao thought for a moment. "I remember there's an esports area near the art gallery."
Jiang Yue's eyes lit up, and she eagerly said, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Lu Zhi couldn't help but give Yan Shao a thumbs-up. Jiang Yue was an esports fanatic and could play almost any esports game, otherwise, she wouldn't have had such good chemistry with Wang Cao Tian in wanting to play real battle royale games.
The streets of Evernight City in the afternoon were peaceful and serene. It was likely Sunday, so there were quite a few people walking around, and even more sitting in shops, drinking afternoon tea and enjoying a quiet and leisurely holiday.
The architectural style of Evernight City was European, and the streets and alleys were filled with an exotic charm. Rodents could be seen everywhere, shuttling through the city, but it didn't affect the normal lives of the people.
Lu Zhi also noticed that many people did not keep rodent pets. He subtly inquired and learned that it wasn't simply a matter of wanting to keep one; one had to get the permission of the Rat Emperor to adopt one. Some people simply didn't like pets and weren't punished or looked at strangely by others.
From these small details of life, it could be seen that the people here kept rats voluntarily.
The roads were also very clean and tidy, with garbage cans being cleaned regularly. Rodents and humans coexisted very well.
"If we consider Evernight City as a country, then the king governs this country very well," Lu Zhi said, as if sensing something.
Yan Shao said, "This is the future the country wants to see."
Lu Zhi and Yan Shao entered the art gallery. At the entrance, there was only a young man dozing off. After confirming their identities as tourists, he let them in.
The first impression upon entering was that it was truly a place of wonder. It was very spacious, and indeed a solid cave, with passages in all directions. If not for the indicator lights, one would have felt like they were in a maze.
Yan Shao suddenly said, "Rats digging holes?"
Lu Zhi suddenly understood. That was right; the structure of this art gallery was like a hole dug by a rat. Before the two of them could finish admiring the paintings, an alarm suddenly sounded, startling Lu Zhi. "What's going on?"
Yan Shao said very calmly, "Well, generally speaking, when an art gallery alarm sounds, there are only two possibilities: fire or theft."
Lu Zhi thought it must be the latter because he heard a sharp warning: "Theft of the Rat Emperor's paintings, you dare... Ah—"
The two looked at each other and moved in unison towards the source of the sound.
As Lu Zhi rounded a corner, he saw two men in black suits with their backs to them. One was holding a painting, and the other was tightly gripping a plump, almost suffocated chinchilla.
Without thinking, Lu Zhi threw out his Vine and, while the opponent wasn't paying attention, rescued the chinchilla.
The man with light brown hair said something in English to his companion without looking back.
Yan Shao's expression suddenly became serious, and he stared vigilantly at the man with light brown hair. He suddenly shouted to Lu Zhi, "Run!"
Lu Zhi turned and ran without a second thought.