The Post Sky Tipping Era

"In such soil, it’s no wonder a rebellion has sprouted, with residence taxes even reaching these people. How can they survive without rebelling?" Li Yi thought silently as he watched them.

Sewers extend in all directions, but not every place is suitable for living. Some areas are dangerous with industrial wastewater and toxic gases, which must be avoided. Additionally, some areas often have large quantities of sewage discharged and cannot be stayed in. Finding a suitable place to settle here is not easy; it not only requires ample knowledge of the area but also quick action. Once someone else claims a spot, you can only look elsewhere.

Ke Ni’s home is set up at the end of a sewer. She hangs a small bed on the wall and has constructed a platform using steel plates, on which she places various household items, as well as some unsold parts.

"This is my home now," Ke Ni declared proudly. "It’s the best spot in the area, found after moving five times."

Li Yi looked around and agreed.

This place was relatively cleaner and tidier than others, not so smelly. Of course, a good place naturally has quite a few neighbors, making the area rather lively.

But Li Yi’s arrival made them tense, worried that he, a stranger, might easily disrupt their hard-earned stability.

"Ke Ni, tell me about Philadelphia and your story," Li Yi said as he found a spot to sit and started the conversation.

"My story? I’m an orphan, and ever since I can remember, I’ve lived with my grandfather in the sewers of Philadelphia. My grandfather told me my parents had connections with the genetic warriors and the rebels, so they were killed by the people from the Genetic Federation... With me, Grandpa hid here, but six years ago, he passed away, and since then I’ve been living here alone. But I’ve taken good care of myself, scavenging at the dump to earn money and running errands for people. I know this place very well; I always deliver goods to the clients fastest."

Ke Ni slightly lowered her head, always feeling sad when talking about the past, yet when speaking of survival, she seemed confident, optimistic despite the tough circumstances.

Li Yi listened quietly.