Zoo trip

On the bus, Cesar sat by the window, gazing absent-mindedly outside. Next to him, Dorothy was enthusiastically poking and teasing the little dog held by an old man sitting in the front row.

 The old man faced forward, unaware of what was happening behind him. In a particularly shameless act, Dorothy plucked a strand of hair from Cesar and kept harassing the pitiful little dog.

 Ignoring the mischievous child next to him, Cesar looked boredly out of the window. They were still in the affluent area of the city. The streets were exceptionally quiet, with rows of large trees shielding the sunlight. The clean walkways were devoid of pedestrians. One elegant villa after another lined the streets, without a single high-rise building in sight. This was the most environmentally friendly neighborhood in Aiken City.

 Listening to the roar of the bus engine, Cesar retreated into his own world.

 In this land, gods, monsters, and magical creatures truly existed. Humans wielded magic, alchemy, unique bloodlines, talents, and more. Elves, dwarves, demons, and humans coexisted, with even more potent beings hidden among them. Ordinary people were well aware of all this and went about their lives calmly.

 For instance, dragons were commonplace and could often be seen in newspapers or the wild. Just like in mythological stories, they were egg-laying, flying, fire-breathing beings of immense power, possessing supernatural abilities. Yet, that was the extent of it. In the eyes of the humans of this world, dragons were akin to the majestic elephants of Africa on Earth; enormous and robust, among the strongest creatures alive, capable of crushing a man with one foot. But if a dragon enraged a kingdom, it could still be annihilated by a barrage of missiles.

 Unlike the apocalyptic forces in myths, the extraordinary powers in the current world couldn't destroy heavens and earth. Technology that had evolved over a century was now capable of subduing these forces. Over the past hundred years, there had been a constant collision between technology and magic. Under such unique conditions, the technological tree that kept growing had naturally veered off on a strange tangent.

 Comparing it to Earth's technology, Cesar noticed that the "steam engine," the so-called origin of all machinery, had undergone a complete transformation. Spurred by various forms of alchemy, magic, and extraordinary powers, it had replaced the internal combustion engine and thwarted numerous burgeoning technologies, giving birth to all sorts of bizarre inventions. There were airships, ornithopters, steam-powered flying vessels, and even steam-powered castles under development, capable of flight. And soon, there would be super steamships capable of leaving the atmosphere. Who could understand their operating principles? In any case, this was a world where dark technologies prevailed.

 Moreover, the "electrical civilization," Earth's greatest pride, had naturally failed to emerge. With the escalation of various energies in the air, electricity, the most fundamental form of energy, had become excessively active and uncontrollable. Though generators had been invented, electricity refused to follow conventional pathways. Wires were irrelevant, as the current no longer flowed from positive to negative, rendering electric motors useless.

 As time progressed, the balance between technology and magical powers was also slowly shifting.

 A century ago, the depleted energies of this world began to rejuvenate. Countless ordinary individuals awakened talents and gained peculiar abilities. The dark side's creatures grew stronger, ancient gods revived, and incidents of demonic transformation occurred sporadically across the continent. The rapidly advancing technology could no longer keep up with the pace of supernatural forces, giving rise to magical technology.

 In short, a world that was once in equilibrium began to tilt.

 These insights were all based on various reports and deductions made by Cesar over the years. The extent of the powers that gods and demons could achieve, whether contemporary technology could produce intercontinental missiles, and how many battles unfolded daily within the city out of his sight, were not things that he, a soon-to-be elementary school graduate, could comprehend.

 Though his father and aunt had always loved and protected him, allowing him to live the happiest and most peaceful 'ordinary' life, without exposing him to anything related to the supernatural, Cesar knew that it was a harsh world where survival was impossible without power.

 Since the age of seven, he understood that he couldn't lead the life of an ordinary person. His exceptionally strong father, his stepmother of a different race, his monster-like aunt, and his own mediocre abilities were the simplest proofs. Guided by those 'useless memories,' he had become a middle-schooler who desperately craved strength and felt an acute lack of security.

Now, at thirteen, with his second talent about to awaken, Cesar could only hope it would be something powerful. He wasn't asking for something overwhelming like 'Omega-level' abilities but would be content with something on par with 'Professor X.' He wasn't greedy; he just wanted to feel a bit more secure.

 Cesar sighed, pulling himself back from his reverie, and prepared to face the world outside the window, a world full of uncertainties, powers beyond understanding, and the unpredictable everyday life of an extraordinary teenager.

 "Brother, don't be in a daze! The next stop is almost here!" Dorothy poked Cesar and reminded in a low voice.

 "We're almost there, I've already seen the Citi Building." Caesar's gaze jumped out of the window and found an exaggerated building among the many tall buildings.

 That is the headquarters of the Citigroup in Akon City. This group of goblins spans multiple countries and specializes in drug research and development. Whether they are medicines for hospitals, stimulants or violent drugs for the military, or various professional 'bloodline potions' that need to be ordered, as well as the most popular 'psychedelics' in street bars, they all produce them. As a side industry, Citi also runs farms, orchards, and...zoos!

 Arriving at the entrance of the zoo, Dorothy jumped to her feet and urged: "Go and buy a ticket! Go and buy a ticket!"

 "Follow closely, don't run around." Xi Sa patted his sister on the head and took the lead to walk towards a small bunker with a strong 'goblin style'.

 On the way, the howls of various beasts came from the garden, which made Dorothy even more excited, and her eyes flashed bloodthirsty red light from time to time.

 "Hiss! I regret it. You are in such a bad state that you are not suitable for visiting the zoo. If you suddenly go crazy and wake up, you will be out of luck." Cesar regretted.

 "Oh, I will be good! Brother, you are the best to me!" Dorothy hugged Cesar's arm tightly, twisted it hard, and said coquettishly.

 "I'm afraid of you. I also want to see what the giant dragon looks like?" Xi Sa, who was willing to accept the soft but not the tough, compromised, and then spent 100 yuan to buy two half-price tickets and entered the zoo with his sister.

 The interior of the zoo is very large, and there are three roads branching off as soon as you enter: the free ordinary animal area, which is the largest and has the most forked roads; the ferocious beast area where monsters and various beasts are imprisoned, which is the most dangerous. The number of people is limited for a limited time. You can only enter within the marked time; finally, there is a special biological area that requires an additional fee. There are the rarest special creatures in the world, which are more precious than monsters and beasts. Some of them are experimental waste products of the Citigroup, and some are obtained by Citigroup from around the world. Expensive materials purchased from various places, as well as some advanced creatures captured from other continents.

 For the wealthy second-generation siblings, a mere amount of money is nothing, but for ordinary people, this is a heart-wrenching amount of money. Fortunately, the giant dragon was placed in the ferocious beast area as a treasure of the park to attract tourists.

 "Tch! It's so annoying, it's actually in the limited-time ferocious beast area! I still want to tease it!" Dorothy said with an unhappy look on her face as she looked at the content on the prompt bar.

 "This beautiful young lady, you can actually pay extra to extend the tour time in the ferocious beast area!" A sharp-eyed green-skinned goblin immediately noticed the brother and sister who had just entered. The clothes can be changed, but the temperament cannot be changed, and the aristocratic air cannot be completely shaken off.

 "Oh? Good news!" Dorothy laughed happily, "Tell me, what do you want to promote?"

 "Ha, do you two need a tour guide? I'm Dogemu Alajin, a senior tour guide! I know this zoo very well, and if I lead you, you two will definitely not take another step in vain. Of course, if you two If you are willing to spend a little more, you don't even have to walk!" the goblin said earnestly.

 "Do you have a mount?" Dorothy's eyes lit up and she asked in a very knowledgeable manner.

 "Of course, this is the list, you choose..." The goblin took out a roster and began to introduce it.

 This kind of horse riding business is a more profitable business than the restaurant in the park. Usually only the super wealthy who are too fat to walk and the ignorant children would choose it.

After a spirited negotiation, Dorothy, an impish young girl, mounted an enigmatic creature boasting a piercing cry, vibrant plumage, and a form straddling the line between a velociraptor and an ostrich. Caesar, meanwhile, opted for a sand camel beast, astonishingly reminiscent of an alpaca, with 99.9% similarity.

The combined fee for both rides depleted Caesar's wallet by 500 yuan, with the Archaeopteryx demanding 400 yuan and the Sand Camel Beast a mere 100. The earl's 600-yuan gift to Caesar evaporated in an instant. Thankfully, his private coffer saved him from the embarrassing fate of trekking back home on foot.

"Brother, your choice is so mundane! Couldn't you have selected something as majestic and splendid as mine?" Dorothy teased, perched atop her Archaeopteryx, gleefully plucking one of its exquisite feathers as a keepsake.

"Can't you see the charm in this little fellow?" Caesar responded, affectionately stroking the smooth strands of hair atop the creature's head, his smile undimmed by her jest. The opportunity to encounter and even ride a mythical beast from another realm was undeniably exhilarating.

"It's an oddity, with the body of a sheep and the neck of a horse. It can't compare to the grace of an Archaeopteryx!" she retorted, yanking the reins, which caused her mount to flutter its stunning feathers and emit a resonating, melodious cry. The spectacle was more breathtaking than a peacock in full display.

"You fail to see the subtler virtues, Dorothy. The sand camel beast, admittedly less flamboyant, has a unique feature I discovered in the handbook—it can 'spit'! I can direct it to spit, drawing the attention of other creatures without breaking any zoo rules or incurring extra charges!" Caesar revealed, his smile a mix of triumph and mischief.

"How crafty of you to uncover such a cost-saving trick!" Dorothy exclaimed, feigning indignation.

At her response, Caesar grimaced inwardly. The capacity for an inexpensive alpaca-rental to spit seemed infinite when equated to one-cent coins—sufficient for a staggering 10,000 volleys. Conversely, Dorothy's mount, the Archaeopteryx, was worth an astronomical 40,000 one-cent pieces. Her recklessness was truly incurable.

"Are you both prepared? Shall we proceed?" A goblin guide, astride a black-feathered ostrich, inquired from behind them.

"Just a moment, brother. Take a snapshot for me!" an excited Dorothy commanded, straightening atop her Archaeopteryx.

Complying, Caesar extracted a petite device adorned with shimmering magical runes and commenced capturing his sister's exuberance. Goblin Dogmu's eyes sparkled upon recognizing the gadget—a state-of-the-art portable camera, emblematic of cutting-edge Magical Technology. Far more advanced than its clunky predecessors, this marvel was a treasure only the affluent could procure. Dogmu realized he had encountered genuine aristocrats, perfect for a lucrative scam.

"Alright, let's advance!" A content Dorothy beckoned, steering her Archaeopteryx towards the mainstream area.

"Follow my lead!" Caesar tapped the mythical beast affectionately.

With a delighted "Guh...!" the creature galloped forward spiritedly.

Within three hours, under Dogam's guidance, the siblings had traversed shortcuts, exploring the general area extensively. A plethora of extraordinary creatures, unseen in their usual world, paraded before them. Some were familiar terrestrial beings—monkeys, giraffes, rhinos—while others were bizarre variations, including carnivorous pandas, venomous koalas, and six-legged elephants. Unique Tin Orchid specimens also graced their journey.

During their Monkey Mountain adventure, Dorothy indulged her whims, tossing coins at the monkeys, inciting uproar. The ensuing chaos summoned the monkey king, who retaliated with ground stones, albeit unsuccessfully against the unreachable Dorothy. This spectacle stirred ambitious young monkeys, inciting countless, ill-fated challenges against their still robust leader, asserting his reign for another half-millennium.

Embracing his inner child, Caesar manipulated his beast, spitting contemptuously at various creatures, delighting in a newfound loophole: ample hydration ensured limitless saliva reserves.

"Hungry! Let's grab a bite!" Dorothy proposed.

Post-tour, nearing one o'clock, despite their mounts, fatigue from hours of riding nudged Caesar towards a lunch break.

"Up ahead is the rest area, bordering the ferocious beast and premium zones, where mounts are prohibited," the goblin informed.

"Why's that?" Caesar queried.

"Creatures within the ferocious zone are formidable, causing mounts to panic and become uncontrollable. For visitor safety, park rules restrict mount usage to ordinary zones," Dogham clarified.

"Sneaky, ensuring a swift tour only to scout for fresh tourists!" Dorothy accused, eyeing the goblin disdainfully.

"Hehe..." The goblin sheepishly acknowledged.

"Never mind. Mornings on horseback suffice. Let's stroll this afternoon," Caesar consoled.

"Hmph, exchange two hundred coins for me. I plan to confront a dragon later!"

...

Upon reaching the bustling rest area, they found a diverse human crowd. Individuals of varying races—some exhibiting non-human traits, such as Caesar's horns, others with facial scales, multiple eyes, or live horns—milled about. Not mere novel orcs, these were hybrid humans with monstrous lineage or humans injected with exotic blood.

Intermingling were dwarves, elves, goblins, gnomes, and enigmatic figures in cloaks. Harmony prevailed, save for children's curious stares. Cloaked individuals passing Dorothy would shudder involuntarily, distancing themselves.

"That's a vampire!" Dorothy whispered to Caesar, tugging his sleeve.

"A relative of yours?"

"Uncertain. It's a low blood rank; no familiar scent," she shrugged, adding, "So crowded. Where to eat without attracting attention?"

"Follow me."

Securing a secluded spot, Caesar shielded Dorothy as she consumed two blood packs, then ambled with his satiated sibling.

After another 300 yuan squandered by his voracious companion, they reached the crowd's epicenter. A throng encircled a central square where formally attired goblin hosts stood, a line of chained zombies in tow.

Upon investigating, Caesar unraveled the spectacle's purpose. Citigroup, a bio-industry conglomerate, couldn't resist meddling with the "Zombie Act," holding official "zombie marketer" status. To boost zombie sales, they orchestrated events like this "national dragon tour," luring customers with a rare chance to witness a giant dragon—irresistible for anyone with discretionary funds.

Unsuspecting zoo-goers, anticipating the ferocious beast zone, congregated in the rest area, the park's most populous spot. Here, goblins staged 'intimate zombie encounters.'

For a trifling twenty yuan, participants could interact closely with zombies—petting, striking, and learning zombie management strategies. The goblins' underlying motive, besides the modest side revenue, was acclimating the public to zombies, easing innate fears, and reducing zombie resistance.

"How much does a standard zombie fetch?" Dorothy inquired, watching enviously

"Starting at 2,000 yuan for low-grade ones," Caesar informed.

"I want one!" Dorothy's eyes gleamed covetously.

"They're illegal in our city. Our aunt would disapprove."

"What a pity..."

"Patience, sister. Once of age, you can buy an entire town and fill it with zombies."

Encouraged, Dorothy brightened, her eyes locking onto the next attraction—a colossal egg secured on a lavish, guarded platform.

"A dragon egg! It's hatching soon!"

The siblings jostled towards the exhibit, anticipating the rare occurrence. Amidst the throng, goblin hosts circulated, distributing "Dragon Brochures," promoting Citigroup's new venture—the "Citigroup Dragon Plan." This ambitious project proposed creating dragon-related industries, given recent successes in dragon-breeding and training.

Their curiosity piqued, the siblings grabbed brochures, learning that dragon eggs were auctioned to wealthy enthusiasts. Successful bidders received a baby dragon, a certified dragon trainer for initial nurturing, and a comprehensive care package—training, food, and accessories.

" Can we afford one?" Dorothy implored, tugging Caesar's sleeve.

"Even if we could, where would we keep it? A dragon isn't a pet rabbit," he reasoned, amused by her childlike enthusiasm.

The crowd's excitement peaked as subtle cracks appeared on the egg's surface, hinting at the impending hatch. A goblin emcee, seizing the moment, elevated the hype.

"Ladies and gentlemen, witness a miracle—the birth of a noble creature, a dragon! In a moment, we'll see which lucky individual becomes its proud owner!"

As the crowd held its breath, the eggshell ruptured dramatically, revealing a tiny, squirming creature. A dragonet, wet and confused, emerged amidst gasps and applause. Its minuscule wings, disproportionate to its chubby body, flapped helplessly.

The goblin emcee, reveling in the spotlight, announced the starting bid—a staggering five million yuan. The affluent crowd, spurred by a mix of excitement and competition, launched into a frenzied bidding war.

Caught in the spectacle, Dorothy and Caesar exchanged looks of disbelief and amusement. The notion of owning a dragon, an embodiment of power and freedom, was intoxicating, even if it was a distant dream.

"Ten million " a voice boomed, silencing the crowd. A cloaked figure, earlier unnoticed, stepped forward confidently. The dragonet, sensing a presence, turned towards the newcomer, a connection sparking between them.

"Going once, going twice... Sold to the mysterious bidder for ten million yuan!" The goblin banged the gavel, marking the auction's conclusion amidst an electrifying atmosphere.

As the crowd dispersed, discussing the event, the siblings lingered, observing the cloaked figure approaching the dragonet. The creature, instinctively recognizing its new master, nuzzled into the figure's embrace, eliciting tender strokes.