Chapter 1 Star Dragon

Star Dragon, one of the six nations, mainly populated by people of East Asian descent, its totem is the Star-Forging Dragon coiling in the nine heavens.

Star Dragon harbors the deepest hatred for Germinal, tracing back to the Andea War. The Germinal Organization reached a secret agreement with Star Dragon's rival nations, launching multiple large-scale terrorist attacks within Star Dragon during critical moments of the war, resulting in over a hundred thousand deaths. The frontline troops were forced to return and defend, and Star Dragon nearly lost its position among the six nations.

The edges of every city are surrounded by endless electrified barbed wire fences, and checkpoints are the only way to enter, guarded by the army.

The train stopped at an open-air platform outside the iron mesh barrier, surrounded by large military installations – bunkers, pillboxes, sniper posts – all garrisoned by soldiers, seriously monitoring the arriving train.

Thousands of wanderers gathered in the station square, lining up to be inspected. Only after confirming they carried no weapons, were not wanted criminals, and had no infectious diseases, were they allowed to pass through the checkpoints.

The Six Nations have a policy of accepting wanderers, absorbing talented and elite individuals to increase the nation's population potential.

Han Xiao naturally wasn't willing to be inspected. The Germinal Organization must have issued a bounty for him, and a check would expose him. Although his goal was to contact the Thirteenth Bureau, Star Dragon's intelligence agency, he couldn't afford to be surrounded by the military.

Fortunately, there was a way to bypass the checkpoints.

In his previous life, red-named players wanted by their own countries couldn't pass inspection. As long as they found a hidden NPC in charge of smuggling and paid some money, they could successfully sneak into the city.

An inconspicuous man sat in the corner of the square, neither lining up nor leaving, very unremarkable.

This person was a "snakehead" operating a smuggling business. Ordinary people were unaware of their existence, and they generally only accepted business introduced by regulars. At this moment, a seemingly thin and frail young man came before him and asked, "Is it safe?"

The snakehead looked up at Han Xiao, confirming he was a stranger, and pretended to be ignorant, "What's safe?"

"Is this enough to pay?"

Han Xiao didn't want to waste words, throwing a backpack full of firearms to the snakehead. The snakehead opened the zipper for a glance, then quickly closed it. Good heavens, to dare carry so many guns around, what kind of underworld figure is this little master?

West Capital controls firearms, and Han Xiao wasn't entering the city to cause trouble, so these guns were useless to him.

"Enough, of course, it's enough."

The snakehead was puzzled, "How did you know I run a smuggling business?"

"That's none of your business."

Mind your own business and don't ask questions is the rule of this trade. The snakehead suppressed his curiosity and got up to lead the way.

A van was parked outside the station, already containing several passengers, who all cast scrutinizing glances. Han Xiao's expression was normal, and he found a place to sit.

The windows were sealed with light-absorbing black tape, blocking the view of the outside. The van would take passengers to a hidden entrance in the iron mesh barrier, where military officers, bribed by the snakehead, would turn a blind eye as long as the number of smuggled individuals wasn't too large.

Inside the van.

A short man next to him, bored, struck up a conversation with Han Xiao, who looked young. In his experience, these young ones were easiest to fool.

"Little brother, is this your first time in West Capital?"

Han Xiao glanced at him, "Yeah, what should I call you?"

"Ma Jie, and you?"

"Han Xiao."

Ma Jie put on an air of seniority, "Little Han, since it's your first time in West Capital, I'll give you a proper introduction. West Capital is divided into eight districts. The first district is the political core, the territory of those bigwigs, no one can enter. The other seven districts each have their own characteristics, secretly controlled by big shots in the gray areas. I have to give you a heads-up, don't provoke those gray figures, or you won't even know how you died."

Han Xiao secretly shook his head. The so-called gray areas are the gray profit chains consisting of drugs, prostitution, smuggling, and arms. Every city has people operating in the underworld, but compared to the official forces, they are nothing but a fart.

It's just that civilians instinctively fear the vicious underworld figures, while disdaining the official forces, because they know the official forces won't harm them, while the underworld figures are the opposite. This is human nature. It's like seeing armed guards in an armored car on the street, not many people will be afraid, but if it's a thug in plainclothes holding a gun, most people will definitely stay as far away as possible.

Ma Jie was showing off his knowledge in front of an expert. Han Xiao didn't expose him, amusingly playing along.

"Doesn't the army care?"

"Heh, what can the army do? Directly attack the city districts?" Ma Jie looked disdainful, highly praising the gray areas, with the intention of showing off, he bragged, "My cousin is a lieutenant under a big boss, a promising future, this time I'm here to join him, cough, to help him."

"How impressive," Han Xiao said perfunctorily.

With someone to flatter him, Ma Jie became even more enthusiastic, spitting as he spoke, "Of course, my cousin is also a well-known figure in West Capital, ever heard of 'Yellow Leopard'? Oh, forgot, little Han, you've never been to West Capital before, are you here to visit relatives?"

Han Xiao made up a story, "No, I want to find a job in the city and settle down."

Ma Jie's mind immediately started working. If he brought a young man to join his cousin, his cousin would think highly of him. He said generously, "How about it, want to follow me? Big brother here guarantees you a bright future!"

Han Xiao politely declined. In Ma Jie's eyes, it was just the arrogance of youth. He sneered:

"I'm telling you, what kind of life do ordinary wanderers live in the city? Living in slums! Eating moldy food! Don't think the Six Nations are all high and mighty, accepting wanderers, it's just for show, they don't take you seriously at all. What future can a young man like you have, with no one to rely on? You might as well follow me, I dare not say anything else, but at least I can guarantee you'll have enough to eat."

"No, thank you," Han Xiao shook his head.

Ma Jie thought Han Xiao was being unappreciative, looking displeased, he sarcastically said, "Ignorant fool, see how you regret it later, it'll be too late to try and please me."

Han Xiao closed his eyes, indicating he didn't want to waste words. Ma Jie was rebuffed, glared at Han Xiao, and stopped talking.

The van stopped outside a section of the iron fence far from the train station. Here, there was a gate with a danger sign, apparently a special channel for transporting military supplies.

An officer was waiting behind the gate. The snakehead stuffed a stack of money to the officer through the iron fence. The officer showed a satisfied smile, actually opening the gate of the military supply channel, allowing Han Xiao and the other smuggled individuals to enter.

"Follow the officer, he will take you to the suburbs, there will be no inspection," the snakehead said.

The officer didn't say a word, leading the way. Han Xiao and the others passed through various military buildings, walked out of the checkpoint base, and finally saw the tall buildings of West Capital in the distance, shining brightly in the sunlight.

The smugglers scattered like birds and beasts, each going their own way. Ma Jie glared fiercely at Han Xiao before turning and leaving.

Han Xiao walked down the street, his clothes tattered, and passersby cast disgusted glances, avoiding him. He had trekked through the forest for ten days and spent several days on a cattle train, the smell on him was simply earth-shattering, bringing tears to the eyes.

Without money, it was difficult to move an inch. He could only solve his thirst at the plaza fountain. The most valuable thing on him was probably his twenty-year-old virgin body's seven-day-old unwashed underwear.

Of course, those were all minor problems.

…

Half an hour later, Han Xiao walked out of a department store, already in a new set of clothes: a clean white shirt and black pants, still leisurely holding a cigarette, surrounded by smoke.

[You have unlocked the skill [Pickpocketing lv1]!]

[Pickpocketing: Increases the success rate of theft.]

Having a certain ability in reality greatly increases the chances of bringing it into the game. For example, if you are a soldier in reality, you may automatically master basic combat and basic shooting skills.

As the saying goes, it's good to have more skills. In the past, in order to fight wits and courage with the theft gangs that roamed the blocks downstairs, I taught myself pickpocketing. The purpose was to counter-pickpocket, of course, yeah, I even believe it myself.

Thief? Without evidence, be careful I sue you for defamation. I, Technician Han, abide by the law and love the motherland. I have never scored below eighty in political exams in junior high and high school, and I have received the Triple-A Student scholarship every year. I am only one step away from joining the Party to complete the Triple Kill achievement of the Young Pioneers, the Communist Youth League, and our Party. I am known as the Calabash Brothers who hate evil and the Young Gentleman who convinces people with virtue. Not to mention stealing things, I have never even peeked.

As for stealing now, cough, borrowing a passerby's wallet, it's forced by life. The political textbook says it well, analyze specific problems specifically, it can be understood, it can be understood.