The portal opened on the outskirts of Mira City. Jing Yi and his son stepped out.
"Whoa! That was so weird—we got here in a second!" the kid exclaimed, looking like he wanted another ride through the portal but couldn't.
Then, Rayen emerged, stretching his body. He smirked.
Heh, I'm back… City of Peace, my foot.
Just don't ruin my day.
Jing Yi turned to face Rayen and bowed deeply. "Thank you, sir, for bringing us here. We'll never forget how you saved us. We're in your debt." His son followed suit, lowering his head earnestly. "Thank you for saving me, big brother!"
Rayen smirked, amused by their gratitude. Don't give me so much credit. The portal that brought you here wasn't mine, I can't even make one. Still, he waved it off casually. "Don't worry about it. If you ever need help, don't hesitate to come to me."
Not financial help, though. I'm just as broke—living off Grandpa's money. He mentally scoffed, thinking of the old man who kept him funded.
Jing Yi and his son left for their mansion, while Rayen wandered through the city, searching for something worthwhile. As he walked deeper into the market streets, the bustling stalls gradually disappeared. Soon, all he saw were ragged huts and mud houses. The air grew thick with a foul stench—so bad that Rayen struggled to breathe.
What the hell? He covered his nose. Damn, this air's just as shitty as where I lived in my past life.
Is this the slums? Rayen quickly realized his surroundings and backed away. Wait...if I go further in, that's the red-light district—where rich and poor alike pay for women all night. Should I go? I'm nineteen, it's legal...but if the old man finds out—
A terrifying image flashed in his mind—Grandpa discovering he'd visited such a place. No way! Grandpa's insane! I can't afford that—literally or figuratively. Besides, he reassured himself, these activities only start at night.
Just then, the sun plunged below the horizon, darkness swallowing the streets. "What the hell? It was just sunset a minute ago!" Rayen blinked in disbelief. Did I really space out that long?
Suddenly, pink lights pulsed in the distance ahead—tugging at his curiosity. Rayen clenched his jaw, trying to resist, but his feet carried him forward anyway, cutting through the slums toward the district.
The game was rated under eighteen—they'd never show this part. That's exactly why he had to see it. A smirk twisted his lips. Let's find out what the devs censored.
Rayen pushed deeper into the slums, the distant noise of the district growing louder with every step. Then he saw it—the entrance archway, its flickering neon sign declaring: NIGHT HEAVEN.
He stepped inside.
Immediately, the stench of cheap perfume and sweat hit him. Ugh. This smells like a brothel's dumpster.
The district pulsed with pink light. Women in barely-there lingerie posed behind transparent glass walls, their movements practiced, predatory. Men—mostly fat, ugly, or both—loitered like flies drawn to rotting fruit. Every few seconds, another customer paid. Another woman disappeared into a back room.
They call this 'heaven'? Rayen scoffed. More like a meat market.
As he moved deeper, one thing became obvious:
The women here were stunning—far more beautiful than any ladies in the city proper. Were only the beautiful ones dragged here? The ones who'd sell themselves just to survive?
And the men?
Ugly. Fat. Greasy. The kind of pigs normal women would cross the street to avoid. No wonder they're here—where else could they buy what they'd never earn?
A bitter laugh escaped him. What a fucking joke.
A sudden chill cut through the air. What the hell? It's winter, but this feels unnatural. Rayen's fingers twitched—black energy coiled around his hand, forming a scarf. His outfit shifted in an instant: a long black trench coat, fitted pants, and the scarf now wrapped snugly around his neck.
Better. Warm. He exhaled sharply. Time to go. This place isn't worth sticking around.
Just as he turned—
"Ah—!"
A girl crashed into him. Not some dolled-up prostitute, but someone… normal. Brown hair, wide doe eyes, a face so small and delicate it looked almost childlike. Early twenties, at most. Dressed modestly, like she'd wandered into the wrong part of town.
The hell's someone like her doing here?
Before he could speak, her grip tightened on his coat. He followed her terrified gaze—three bloated, sweaty men leering from a few feet away.
Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Rayen's eye twitched. Is this some cliché damsel-in-distress shit?
One of the men licked his lips, the wet smack making the girl flinch. "Why you running, sweetheart? We'll pay double. Triple, even." His grin showed yellowed teeth. "Just gotta… play with us a little longer."
"I'm not a prostitute!" she screamed, nails digging into Rayen's coat. "I'm looking for my boyfriend—just leave me alone!"
The second thug snorted. "Boyfriend? If he's here, he ain't comin' back." He cracked his knuckles. "And if we don't leave you alone...what're you gonna do about it?" Their laughter was grease on gravel.
Rayen's eye twitched. For fuck's sake. I'm standing right here. Couldn't you shitstains at least pretend to be scared so I don't have to play hero?
The girl tensed, eyes darting wildly before locking onto Rayen. "If—if you don't back off…" She swallowed hard, then blurted, "This gentleman will beat you into the ground!"
Rayen's head snapped toward her. "Hey, Who said I'm volunteering—?"
"Please," she whispered, fingers clutching his sleeve. Her eyes—wide, desperate—glowed with a hope so raw it made his teeth ache. Damn it. First time a girl ever looked at him like that, and it had to be now?
With a sigh, he turned to the thugs. "Look, idiots. The brothels are right there. Go pay someone who actually wants you."
The lead creep smirked, eyeing Rayen's coat. "Ain't you fancy? Where'd you buy that—some cool store?"
Rayen glanced down. "Thanks. Handmade."
"Yo, make me one—"
"Enough!" The girl shoved past Rayen, jabbing a finger at them. "You were harassing me, and now you're—ugh! Men always twist things!" She ducked back behind Rayen like a kitten retreating to a shadow.
"Look, I don't wanna fight," Rayen said, slipping his hand inside his coat. The thugs immediately stiffened, eyes locked on his movement—probably expecting a weapon.
Instead, he flicked out a black identification card. "IAR Officer, Omiosen Rayen."
Their faces drained of color. "S-sorry sir! We'll leave right now!" The men practically tripped over themselves backing away before turning to flee.
The girl stared at him, then bowed deeply. "I didn't know you were IAR officer...forgive my rudeness earlier, sir."
Not like I actually am one. Just remembered the card design from WuXhun Online. Life force manipulation comes in handy for forgeries...didn't expect it to work this well though.
"Anyway, why's a girl like you in the red-light district? Are you by a chance lesb—"
Before he could finish, she flailed her arms in panic, face burning crimson. "N-no! I'm here to find my boyfriend! I heard he visits three times a week!" Her fingers twisted in her sleeves. "He... he never even kissed me in our whole relationship. But he comes *here* to—to—!"
Rayen held up a hand, deadpan. "Why are you oversharing with a stranger?"
"Ah—!" She clapped both hands over her flaming cheeks. "S-sorry! Sorrysorrysorry!"
Is she too Idiot or too innocent? Doesn't matter. Rayen scowled at the neon-lit streets. If her man's here, he's trash anyway. Gotta get her out before she gets hurt.
She bowed deeply again. "Please, sir! Help me find him! I need to catch him red-handed and—"
When she looked up, Rayen was already stomping away, arms splayed in exasperation. "Not my problem!" he shouted over his shoulder.
THUD.
The girl suddenly lunged, wrapping herself around his leg like a koala. "PLEEEASE!" she wailed, cheek pressed against his knee.
"Wha—?!" Rayen yanked her upright by the collar, face twitching. "Fine! Fine, I'll help! Just never do that again!" He dusted off his pants with violent swipes. "Only guys are supposed to pull that clingy crap anyway."
---
It was already late, and Rayen still hadn't come home, old man tried to sense his presence. His eyes snapped open. "Red-light district?!"