Chapter 12: Shadowing

The door of the Gladstone Type III car opened automatically, and David settled into the soft seat. As soon as the car detected his identity bracelet, the power system activated on its own. The Gladstone Type III gently lifted off the ground, maintaining a height of 0.3 meters as the garage door slid open. The vehicle exited the garage automatically, and a map of the entire Peran City appeared before David.

Since David was still underage and his clearance level was too low, he was not allowed to drive the car by himself; he could only use the autopilot mode, with the city’s traffic system controlling the entire journey.

Sitting comfortably, feeling the car's stability and silence, the vehicle merged onto the main road. Here, it was necessary to mention Peran City's traffic—or, rather, the entire traffic system on Rock Planet and even throughout the Interstellar Federation.

Given the Federation’s technological prowess, flight had become easily achievable long ago, and after tens of thousands of years of development, the technology was highly mature. However, whether in star systems near war stars or in peaceful sectors, one principle was always upheld: only citizens with the appropriate clearance could fly. Ordinary citizens like David could only drive cars that hovered 0.3 meters above the ground, never exceeding a height of 1 meter.

Air traffic was divided into several tiers, with higher altitudes requiring greater clearance. As David left in the Gladstone Type III, he sensed a gaze watching him. Of course, this perception was not his own, but rather that of the shadow attendant concealed beside him.

A chill ran through David’s heart; the trouble he had feared was finally upon him. He simply could not understand why anyone would covet someone like him, an ordinary high school senior. Yet the facts were clear: he suspected that Trainer Jeremy had tried to kill him through the sacrificial manual. Jeremy had indeed succeeded—David’s predecessor had died because of it.

This gaze was very likely Jeremy checking whether he had perished. Perhaps, upon discovering David was still alive, he would make another attempt. For now, though, David felt at ease. The patrol vehicles frequently passing overhead assured him that, at least today, no one would dare make a move against him in broad daylight.

With the car on autopilot, David relaxed and directed the shadow attendant by his side. The shadow attendant floated up, passed through the car’s body, and went outside. Through its eyes, David saw a nondescript car containing a burly, middle-aged man.

This was not Jeremy, as David had suspected. He was certain he did not know this man, yet the man’s gaze toward him was anything but unfamiliar. The shadow attendant could only stray ten meters from David, so after getting a good look at the man’s face, it instinctively followed the Gladstone Type III as it moved away.

After David’s car passed, the unremarkable vehicle started up and followed at a distance, which made David tense. But he soon realized the man was only tailing him from afar, not trying to close the gap, so he relaxed and paid the pursuer no more mind.

Enjoying the ride, David noticed the Gladstone Type III quickly stabilized at a speed of seventy kilometers per hour—by no means its top speed. In fact, the vehicle could reach up to five hundred kilometers per hour, but such speeds were unnecessary in the city, and David did not have clearance for them.

The car’s impressive performance was also thanks to the krypton crystal mines. However, despite its merits, the Gladstone Type III was not powered directly by krypton crystals, as that was too costly.

The Interstellar Federation had spent twenty thousand years studying krypton crystals. During that time, other forms of energy emerged, but the convenience and abundance of krypton crystals in the universe allowed them to outcompete all others. The biggest advantage was that, after their energy was depleted, the remaining crystals could be fitted with a conversion device to absorb stellar energy directly for storage.

Although the energy stored this way was far less than that of raw krypton crystals, it was still more convenient, safer, and more economical than other forms. What surprised David most was that this world had never developed nuclear energy. Perhaps the existence of krypton crystals meant scientists here never felt an urgent need for alternative power, or perhaps this was simply the right technological path for this universe.

Of course, that did not mean there were no weapons on par with nuclear arms. The antimatter main cannons on capital ships, once charged and fired, could destroy small planets.

For urban use, the Gladstone Type III’s energy module lasted David a whole year without replacement. His thoughts wandered, marveling at the advanced technology of this world, and inevitably he thought of the terrifying insectoids, with whom the Federation had battled for millennia.

The insectoids fought alone against the Federation and the Divine World—a testament to their strength. As David mused, the shadow attendant kept careful watch on the distant car following behind, which never tried to close the gap, seemingly intent on avoiding detection.

At this moment, the Gladstone Type III came to a stop, and David saw the entrance to the police station.

He stepped out, and the Gladstone Type III automatically drove itself to the nearby parking lot. The shadow attendant followed, while the pursuer, evidently surprised to see David heading to the police station, didn’t stop but drove away.

At the entrance, David swiped his identity bracelet, which then displayed an arrow indicating his designated path through the station—a route he was not allowed to deviate from. While this feature maintained order, David found it most unpleasant. Of course, with sufficient Federation clearance, one could go wherever one pleased, but for now, he could only follow the arrow to the assigned location.

The destination was a conference room in the police station, a spacious area of three hundred square meters. At the moment, it was noisy and chaotic, with the sound of crying mingling with raised voices.

“My child had already received a special admission letter from Yako University, and all you can say is that it was an accident! That was a wanted criminal, I’ve already found out—four Interceptor drones were in pursuit, and that’s what caused this tragedy!” an angry middle-aged man shouted.

Yako University, though not on par with Naan University, was still a key institution on Rock Planet, especially its mathematics department, which had produced many renowned figures. To receive a special admission letter from Yako University was proof of exceptional talent, and no wonder the man was so furious.

His words inflamed the emotions of those nearby. Since that morning, these bereaved families had gathered here, demanding the truth and justice for those responsible.

“My child had a chance to become a Warrior—who gave the order for the Interceptor drones to attack? I demand a thorough investigation!” another furious man pointed at the officer before him and shouted.

His demand only heightened the crowd's agitation, and the scene verged on chaos. At that moment, a thought struck David—perhaps that red knowledge sphere of Mathematics (99% Beginner) he’d acquired had belonged to the child of the first man. As for the other, whose child had hoped to become a Warrior, he was likely the source of the Martial Arts (70% Beginner) or Heavy Axe Mastery (33% Beginner) knowledge spheres.

David glanced apologetically at the two men, guilt welling inside him for everyone present. He felt as though he were a thief, having stolen the treasures of those who had already lost so much.