Sanjing Street, commonly known as the slums.

It was a dilapidated area in the southeast of Cloud Gate City—the shadow of modern society, a gathering place for failures.

The tallest buildings here stood only seven stories high, averaging five. They retained old-world architectural styles, yet their neat rows felt depressingly worn. Steel window bars were coated in dark brown rust; peeling exteriors made these once-majestic structures seem ready to collapse. Built in 2035, they’d become death traps in just twenty years, largely due to the construction team cutting corners.

The ground was littered with trash: fruit peels, tissues, plastic bags, bones, even animal carcasses. Walls were covered in macabre graffiti, some painted in unnaturally bright red that looked like blood. Most unsettling were the black plastic bags tossed in roadside piles—just the right size to fit a person inside…

Under gloomy skies, broken buildings and garbage-strewn ground filled the view. This abandoned zone housed nearly 100,000 residents, just ten kilometers from the glittering city center—a world apart. This small patch was a festering sore left by urban planning, the only refuge for those discarded by modern life.

In 2035, the "Sanjing Street" project was launched by the previous administration, converting 1,000 acres of farmland into residential and commercial zones. Though apartments and a shopping district were built, economic returns fell short. When shoddy construction was exposed, complaints from relocated residents piled up in an entire office. Coupled with debt, ownership disputes, and corruption, the entire previous government ended up in prison. The new administration avoided this hot potato, neglecting Sanjing Street until it became a lawless slum, existing in name only.

Few people walked the streets; most hid indoors. It was too dangerous—unless you looked fierce and tough, gangs of thugs would hassle you anytime. No police officer wanted this godforsaken place, and no one would step forward to help strangers in need.

A foul stench hit Bernie Butterworth, making him frown. A faint glow emanated from him as he cast a spell to purify the air. The air finally turned fresh, and Bernie’s expression relaxed.

“Master Bernie, casting magic so casually might expose us as Mages…” Alexei Dominick cautioned, walking behind him.

“The Mages Guild probably already knows we’re here, so no need to hide it,” Bernie replied. Alexei didn’t fully agree but held his tongue. Glancing around, he saw they’d indeed drawn attention.

The two, draped in red robes, were highly conspicuous. Yet an unusual aura clung to them, deterring anyone from approaching—even street thugs kept their distance.

“I chose this meeting spot, so I know this place well. Without modern surveillance, Ate won’t detect us immediately. Even if they do, it’ll be after we’ve acted…”

Alexei had always trusted Master Bernie’s words.

A woman’s scream suddenly erupted. Ahead, several ragged thugs surrounded a woman, groping her without restraint.

“Be obedient, and you’ll suffer less,” one thug said cheerfully. His tone was gentle, but his sadistic eyes brimmed with violence.

The woman was around thirty, plain-faced with small eyes and a large nose—almost ugly. Only her curvy figure was somewhat appealing. She struggled fiercely, but surrounded by six men, she had no chance to escape.

“Get lost.” Just as the woman despaired, a deep, stern voice gave her a glimmer of hope.

The six thugs turned to see two mysterious figures draped in red robes.

“Meddlers!” One thug crouched, then lunged forward, a blood-stained knife in hand.

“Hmph, boring…” Bernie extended his left hand, flicked his middle finger against his thumb, and with a light snap—like swatting a pesky fly—the charging thug’s body tore apart.

Blood splattered everywhere. Entrails and limbs scattered; the head rolled ten meters away…

Silence… The remaining five thugs froze. Meeting Bernie’s icy gaze, one snapped out of it first and sidestepped. The others followed suit, silently parting to make way.

Bernie spared no extra killings and didn’t even glance at the thugs.

“Thank you for saving me…” The rescued woman approached Bernie, only to meet his death-dealing flick.

“Foolish woman.” Alexei sneered contemptuously behind him, watching her body tear apart.

From the moment they met the pair, the five thugs stood frozen except for stepping aside. They watched the two walk away slowly, the emblem on their robes—a skeletal hand clutching a black rose—clearly visible.

“Who would’ve thought a single national election could split what was once the world’s second most powerful nation so dramatically? It’s almost theatrical. Though spies from various countries played a part, it’s still incredibly fragile,” Alexei remarked, gazing at the slum.

“The more suppressed, the stronger the rebellion—eruption is inevitable. Our goal is to restore this oppressed world to its true form sooner. That’s the world we’ve always dreamed of!”

“No praise for gods, no hymns for heroes. Justice and evil are both inferior. Only lawlessness is the world’s true balance scale.”

Only after the two red figures vanished did one thug mutter, “They’re Mages from the Waste Law Society!”

......

......

At dusk.

Walking down a downtown street, the setting sun stretched their shadows long and thin.

Yan Lingxuan and Su Fangwen walked side by side, three steps apart.

School had long ended, so no other students were around. This wasn’t a commercial district either, so few pedestrians passed by.

On the sidewalk, vehicles roared past the guardrail. The atmosphere was quiet. Su Fangwen couldn’t help sneaking glances at Yan Lingxuan; the bright red handprint on his face was still visible.

“You’re not into me, are you?” Su Fangwen immediately rolled her eyes.

“I thought you’d jump at the chance to go to Atlantis.” Earlier at school, Bai Lingyue, representing Atlantis, had invited Yan Lingxuan to enroll at Valhalla Academy.

Su Fangwen knew Valhalla Magic Academy well—it was the otaku groups’ endless topic, their ideal paradise where all magical girl idols came from. What surprised her more was that Yan Lingxuan had a sister, none other than Bai Lingyue: Valhalla’s top student, the world’s number one magical girl idol, rumored to be the academy’s strongest Mage. Her accolades were countless.

Su Fangwen sighed inwardly. She remembered being stunned by Bai Lingyue’s true appearance—the hair like polished silver, flawless skin, and exquisite features. It was almost unfair! Even she, confident in her own looks, had to admit defeat. And that blonde, blue-eyed German who slapped Yan Lingxuan—Katherine, she recalled—was another stunning beauty far superior to her, especially with that seriously unfair bust!

Unconsciously, Su Fangwen glanced at her own chest, feeling a bit down. Were all Valhalla girls this beautiful? And was Bai Lingyue really Yan Lingxuan’s twin sister?

“Don’t worry, your chest will grow if you massage it,” Yan Lingxuan teased. Su Fangwen stomped on his foot, but he nimbly dodged. Fuming, she could only glare at him.

Seizing the chance, Su Fangwen studied Yan Lingxuan more closely. Indeed, he wasn’t bad-looking. His face shape, nose, and ears closely resembled Bai Lingyue’s, and he was tall. Only those grandpa-like square glasses were an eyesore. Without them, and with better manners, he’d definitely be popular with girls.

“Your face is red. Just realized how handsome I am?” His deliberate flirtatious wink was utterly gross! Su Fangwen rolled her eyes again. But honestly, when a faint, mischievous smile curled his lips, he actually looked quite good…

“Why don’t you and your sister share the same surname?” Yan Lingxuan swung his bag of notebooks behind him, dropped the playful tone, and clasped his hands behind his head. “I took my adoptive father’s surname. My birth name was Bai. It was also to keep a low profile—‘Bai Lingxuan’ and ‘Bai Lingyue’ sound too similar. As twins who look alike, and with my sister being famous, hiding it would instantly reveal I’m a Mage’s relative.”

Relatives of Mages have a higher chance of becoming Mages themselves, depending on blood ties. So, being known as a Mage’s relative is almost the same as being known as a Mage. Though society today holds no ill will toward Mages, deep prejudice still exists among many. Plus, Mages are weapons more powerful than missiles, so they’re usually conscripted into the military by the state.

That’s why Yan Lingxuan didn’t want to admit it—anything involving “Mage” brought trouble.

As for his sister Bai Lingyue’s invitation, Yan Lingxuan’s reply was: “Give me time to think.”

Su Fangwen couldn’t understand. Hadn’t he been ranting about idols nonstop? Why hesitate now, with such a great opportunity?

“Enrolling at Valhalla Academy means becoming an Atlantis Mage. Due to international treaties, Mages can’t leave the country without permission. So, once I go to Atlantis, I might never come back…”

At that moment, Su Fangwen wore a very strange expression.

“Missing me already? Planning to confess before I leave?”

......

An awkward silence hung between them.

“I’m going this way. Goodbye.” Su Fangwen turned onto another street, ending their walk.