Achieving Demon Godhood from Unlocking Talents

「Half an hour later.」

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!

The steel cables hanging outside the concrete building drew taut, their mechanical force pulling the yellowed iron-frame lift slowly upward.

A sturdy iron mesh, like a cage, was welded fast to the metal frame to prevent anyone from accidentally falling out.

A group of seven or eight inspectors stood inside, including Luo Xuan, the Secretary-General of the special commission. As the lift rose, they surveyed the concrete complex before them.

An open-air steel staircase was bolted to the concrete wall, mottled with yellow rust, flecks of it flaking off.

Each floor of the building had a steel platform where the lift could stop, as well as a single, dark entrance to that level.

Whether on foot or by lift, this was the only way through. Two meters inside lay a concrete corridor connecting the densely packed rooms.

"This complex must be a relic from when the Alliance Country was first founded. To be honest, the living space is extremely cramped, the entrances and exits are congested, and it severely restricts the flow of traffic during peak commute hours."

"I think this building should be torn down and rebuilt. This whole area could be part of a new urban plan, completely redeveloped according to the latest Alliance housing regulations."

"No, I have some reservations about that suggestion. We should consider the cost. If we tear it all down and start over, the price would be a bit too high..."

The voices of the commissioners and engineers drifted from the iron-frame lift. Unnoticed, it had already ascended to the height of the fourth or fifth floor.

An Exploration Level powerhouse from the First Superpower Bureau escorted them the whole time. He was dressed in a loose-fitting black suit, wore an earpiece, and had his hair slicked back. He looked to be around forty and appeared exceptionally serious, constantly scanning the surroundings.

"Don't worry, Leader Wu is a veteran of our Superpower Bureau."

Standing below to provide support, Lu Chao looked up at the scene as Yao Jin's reassuring voice reached his ears. "He broke through to the Exploration Level seven years ago. Back in Yao Capital, he was often in charge of security for various VIPs."

"Not only is he incredibly experienced, but he's also highly competent. Speaking of which, if it weren't for him, our burden would be even heavier."

Lu Chao nodded, watching as the iron-frame lift stopped at the sixth floor and the group of commissioners entered the building.

He then withdrew his gaze and looked around.

Chen Xiao, Sun Jiayuan, and the others were scattered about. Some were positioned by the open-air steel staircase to provide support, while others were on standby at the two passages at the front and back of the building complex.

This was the central area of the concrete complex, like a public square.

The surrounding concrete buildings formed a circle with no gaps, making it one enormous, ring-shaped complex.

Thousands upon thousands of windows dotted the various floors. Neon signs for hair salons, clinics, chess and card rooms, and the like hung from the second and third stories.

Looking higher, the view changed slightly. The subterranean rock layer that served as the sky was somehow circular, making it seem as though they had fallen into the bottom of a hollow, disc-shaped valley.

"You don't see architecture like this very often."

"Heh, that's because you've never been to Yao Capital."

Yao Jin smiled, her hair tied back in a neat ponytail. She spoke in a crisp, confident manner, "Yao Capital has underground districts like this, too."

"But unlike Red Maple, Yao Capital has undergone three rounds of underground city renovations. The environment in the Hive District there is pretty good."

A hint of pride was in her voice. It wasn't regional discrimination, but pride in the Alliance Country.

That was the last place the Celestial Heroes stayed on Earth Star. Many things there are more pure than in the outer city-states.

'So that's how it is.'

Lu Chao understood. He also realized why the United Committee's commissioners wanted to start with the renovation of the Hive District to reduce resistance to the city-state integration and quell dissenting voices.

It was because Yao Capital had already accumulated considerable experience in this area.

The two of them continued to stand guard, making small talk.

Figures occasionally appeared in the corridors and rooms of the surrounding buildings—clearly residents, murmuring amongst themselves. Meanwhile, the two passages at ground level had been temporarily sealed off by the Superpower Bureau, so there was little foot traffic.

This went on for about half an hour.

The commissioners emerged from the concrete building, preparing to take the steel-frame lift back down to the ground.

Seeing this, captains like Yang Heng and Sun Jiayuan breathed a sigh of relief and ordered their team members to stay sharp.

Lu Chao and Yao Jin also stopped talking and resumed scanning their surroundings, just in case.

It seemed everything was going smoothly, and the inspection of this area was about to conclude.

BUZZ!!

Their earpieces vibrated, suddenly emitting a piercing hum.

Every Superpower Member felt a sharp pain in their eardrums. Lu Chao and Yao Jin frowned slightly.

Before they could react, a wave of voices surged from outside the building, seeming to come from the direction where the motorcade was parked.

"Protest!!"

"We oppose the city-state integration!!"

"Get the inspection team out of here!"

Everyone's expression changed. Lu Chao and Yao Jin exchanged a grave look, realizing the situation had taken a turn.

"There's trouble."

"Sounds like a wave of protests."

Not daring to be careless, the two quickly ordered all members to assemble and be on high alert, while simultaneously looking up at the building.

The residents in the corridors looked startled and uncertain. They all rushed back into their rooms, as if to see what was happening outside.

The group of commissioners, who had been about to take the iron-frame lift, were flustered. However, under the calm direction of the Exploration Level powerhouse, Leader Wu, they kept their composure and quickly made their way down the open-air steel staircase.

Superpower Members moved forward to escort them. They had all dealt with numerous protests in the past and had a certain amount of experience handling them.