The boarding area was set in a semicircular glass room.
It was already early November, and the temperature had dropped significantly. The temperature difference caused by the indoor heating had covered the glass walls with a layer of water vapor.
A cat-shaped robot crouched at the entrance, waving its paw at everyone leaving. "Goodbye~ Hope to never see you again~"
Sensing Chu Ran's presence, the cat-shaped robot turned its head, its pupils emitting a faint blue light to scan Chu Ran and the suitcase in her hand. It sweetly recommended, "Hello, based on the number of people, luggage, and volume, I recommend you choose a private hovercar. The specific model will be further recommended based on your destination."
Chu Ran walked over to the ride guide sign next to her, which listed over a dozen operating companies, each with multiple vehicle models.
The more eye-catching vehicle names were followed by very appealing prices.
"Please state your destination, and the optimal travel plan will be recommended for you."
"No. 23 Old Street."
The vehicle models and companies on the screen scrolled rapidly. With a ding, digital fireworks scattered. "Dear customer, we recommend the Feisu Travel small private hovercar. The total distance is 35.6 kilometers. You can use the Feisu Travel exclusive lane. Estimated travel time is 20 minutes, costing only 199 carats."
The cat-shaped robot meowed, "Would you like me to help place the order?"
Chu Ran raised an eyebrow. "Do you get a commission?"
"Just a little, just a tiny bit," the cat-shaped robot's voice became even sweeter, as sticky as honey. "If you buy, Mengmeng can give you a 1% discount!"
Chu Ran turned her head. "You have a name?"
Mengmeng's already round eyes grew even rounder. She meowed a little displeasedly. "Of course I have a name."
With that, she puffed out her chest. "I am a Comet VⅥ Mythos series custom high-end robot. The kind with my serial number displayed on the company's showcase board."
Chu Ran clapped. "Wow, that's so impressive. How about giving me a 90% discount?"
Sweet talk, then the dagger was revealed.
Mengmeng's ears visibly flattened. She turned away, ignoring her, waiting for the next guest.
Guess that's not happening. Chu Ran turned to the screen. "Let me see an economy option."
Her father was dead, and the military guys were dead too. She was so pitiful.
The smart screen didn't discriminate against the poor. Against a backdrop of fireworks, it recommended the economy single-person hovercar under Feisu Travel company, costing only 29 carats.
Chu Ran clicked confirm.
There weren't many people inside the boarding area. Chu Ran waited for less than five minutes before she saw a black hovercar glide smoothly to a stop in front of her.
Chu Ran got into the car, and the door closed automatically. With a whoosh, the hovercar shot off.
Soon, Chu Ran experienced the truth that you get what you pay for. Even flying in the sky, the car couldn't escape the fate of being stuck in a long traffic jam.
Fortunately, near Old Street, there were hardly any cars.
The buildings on Old Street were of varying heights, their white walls mottled and peeling. Some windows were open, with poles sticking out holding drab-colored clothes. The first floor was all shops, with colorful signs placed horizontally and vertically, vying for the most eye-catching spots.
In front of a few closed shops, there were even street stalls. Dense arrays of various trinkets were laid out. Stall owners with gray hair sat on small stools, swaying their heads.
Chu Ran immediately understood why the rent was so cheap.
Building No. 23 was at the end of Old Street, with a very old restaurant on the ground floor. The shop owner, an older woman, sat at the entrance, drinking and chatting with her old friends.
When Chu Ran walked over with her suitcase, the voices paused briefly, then grew louder again.
"Another one."
The apartment was on the seventh floor.
Just as Chu Ran reached the door, she heard a ding from beside her. "You have received a package."
Package information appeared on the screen to the left of the door.
"Sender: Fortune Cat
Item: 30 pieces of Black Divine Stone and an operation manual"
Chu Ran was surprised. Was the delivery this fast?
The system had already registered Chu Ran's information. After scanning her pupils, the door opened automatically. The interior was old-fashioned, but the furniture and appliances were complete. A barrel-shaped robot butler placed the Black Divine Stones on a storage shelf.
The Black Divine Stones looked like black diamonds, transparent and hard. They couldn't be ground or cut directly with tools.
Chu Ran handed her suitcase to the robot butler, opened her wrist Light Brain, and searched for the cheapest and nearest Creation studio.
A full set of Creation tools cost over one hundred thousand carats, which she couldn't afford yet. She could only rent a Creation room.
She had thought there wouldn't be a studio very close by, but when she saw the recommended studio address on her Light Brain, she was a bit surprised.
"So close and so cheap? A shady place?"
Looking at the remaining numbers in her account, Chu Ran directly packed two pieces of Black Divine Stone.
Poverty made one fearless.
The studio wasn't far from Old Street. The space was small, with windows occupying most of the gray wall. Under the dark brown eaves hung a silver wind chime, swaying and emitting a crisp sound.
Pushing open the door, a person turned around. "Welcome to Miracle Studio. I'm the owner, Hu Meng. Currently, all Creations for sale are in the counter on the right. Do you need a personal explanation?"
She had a sweet appearance, with round eyes and a round face, silver hair, and light brown pupils. A wire on her right arm connected to the wall behind the counter.
Noticing Chu Ran's gaze, Hu Meng explained gently, "My right arm is a prosthetic."