Chapter 365: Forest City

Zhang Wenda found it hard to imagine that he would find a city in the middle of a swamp—a city completely covered in green vines and branches.

Towering buildings jutted out of the water at odd angles, like toppled seedlings. A network of vine bridges connected them, resembling a giant spiderweb.

Wooden boats of all sizes emerged from every corner of the swamp, gradually converging on the city like a decaying Venice in the murky marsh.

“What’s this place called?” Zhang Wenda asked in amazement as they drew closer.

‘This place is amazing,’ he thought. ‘Unlike that pool, there’s no height limit here. The buildings aren’t stuck underground.’ He was already starting to calculate how he would plan and manage the entire area if he took it over.

“Forest City,” Wang Shaojie chimed in from the side. “It’s massive, with a population of over one hundred thousand. You could say it’s the largest settlement in the entire region.”

As they ventured deeper, Zhang Wenda noticed more of the city’s details. No matter how precariously a building tilted, its interior had been converted into living quarters.

There were restaurants and hotels; basically, every kind of facility could be found here. Despite the lack of electricity, its various functions were surprisingly well-developed.

Just when Zhang Wenda was starting to think this place was no different from a city of the old world, a nearby shop dealt him a rude awakening.

The shop’s ceiling was crowded with hanging, woven-vine cages, and imprisoned inside them were people.

People of all ages and genders were stripped naked and displayed for selection, sold like pigs or dogs.

He watched with his own eyes as a man paid, dragged a teenage boy from a cage, and, amid the boy’s bloodcurdling screams, dug out his heart. The man then opened his own chest, placed the new heart inside, and wore a look of utter satisfaction.

Afterward, Zhang Wenda saw casinos and various brothels. All the establishments once suppressed by rules and laws were operating openly here.

At that moment, Zhang Wenda’s excitement completely vanished. The more he saw of the city, the more disgusted he became, feeling that this place was far more repulsive than the swamp itself.

Beside him, Hu Maomao’s expression grew increasingly grim, until she nearly stumbled.

Zhang Wenda turned to her. “Are you okay?” He immediately understood her reaction. “Rein in your ability. Don’t listen to their disgusting thoughts.”

Hu Maomao shook her head vigorously, her expression pained. “I can’t. The device I use to block them is gone.”

Hearing this, Zhang Wenda finally understood why Hu Maomao had been wearing a tinfoil pot on her head earlier.

“You should have said something sooner.” Zhang Wenda immediately reached into his Inner World and pulled out the tinfoil pot he had found in the inflatable trap.

“Is this yours? I found it on the way here.”

Hu Maomao eagerly took it and placed it on her head, pulling it down until it covered her eyes. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief. The constant barrage of thoughts finally vanished.

Having dealt with Hu Maomao’s minor issue, Zhang Wenda scanned the various buildings situated in the water, then turned to the Trash Bag beside him.

“I’ve seen enough. Take me straight to the place where they trade information.”

“Alright.” The Trash Bag turned and led the group toward the labyrinth of buildings.

Zhang Wenda shifted his focus from the architecture to the people. He soon noticed figures in black cloaks patrolling in twos and threes across the rooftops and suspension bridges.

These people bore no obvious, unifying symbols, but Zhang Wenda could sense a shared-air about them.

‘These must be the members of the Big Circle Organization that controls this territory,’ Zhang Wenda thought.

They didn’t charge an entrance fee, which meant the organization likely collected fees from the merchants instead.

“What do you know about them?” Zhang Wenda asked the Trash Bag.

The Trash Bag raised his head, glanced at them for a moment, and then quickly looked down again. “They’re the masters of this city. They call themselves the Big Circle. But they’re very dangerous. A lot of people have died here because of them.”

He paused, then looked up at Zhang Wenda. “In the zoo, they were the monkeys. The monkeys from Monkey Mountain. When Monkey Mountain fell, they all ran to the other exhibits to torment the other animals.”

Feeling Hu Maomao tug on his clothes from behind, Zhang Wenda took the hint and asked no more questions.

‘This guy’s job as a guide is done,’ he thought. ‘For the rest of the information, it’s best to ask someone else.’

‘His mind isn’t all there. If I keep questioning him, there’s no telling what’s true and what’s false.’

Led by the Trash Bag, they eventually entered a tilted, box-shaped building. With no electricity, the interior was very dark.

For light, every slanted room was lit with ochre-colored candles. The wax gave off a foul stench, and there was no telling what kind of grease had been used to make it.

They followed a steeply slanted staircase to the third floor, where they came to a wooden door covered in vines.

Just as the Trash Bag reached out to knock, a small wooden panel slid open high on the door. A pair of eyes peered out from the darkness within, scrutinizing Zhang Wenda and his companions, lingering on Hu Maomao for a few seconds.

Zhang Wenda stepped forward. “I hear you sell all kinds of information. Do you have anything on the current global situation?”

He didn’t ask about 1999 right off the bat; that would be too risky. He had no idea who these people were and decided to test the waters first.

“Of course we do, but it’s expensive. The question is whether you can pay the price,” the raspy voice from behind the door said.

“Name your price. How much?” Zhang Wenda asked.

“300,000.”

Wang Shaojie quickly leaned in close to Zhang Wenda. “The unit is the ‘daka’ I mentioned to you before.”

“Three hundred thousand daka?! I can get that, but can you even fit it all in here?”

Wang Shaojie quickly added, “It’s different here. The people of Forest City issue their own currency to avoid having to barter.”

“What does it look like? Show me.”

“Sigh… If I had any money, would I have been starving enough to pass out in that pool?”

Noticing the visitors muttering amongst themselves, the person behind the door grew audibly impatient. “If you can’t even afford the information fee, don’t bother asking for information.”

Seeing that the panel was about to slide shut, Zhang Wenda quickly said, “Can I pay with something else? For instance… this.”

When Zhang Wenda took the fist-sized pearl from the Triangular Device, the eyes behind the door instantly widened.

Clearly, these information brokers understood the pearl’s value. “Yes, of course you can!”

The door swung open instantly, and a Dwarf with a face full of wrinkles stepped out. His tone was suddenly far more courteous. “This way, please, sir.”