One-Eyed Monster

The precautions for going to Xinbal aren’t actually that complicated, but Igor and the other two still felt it necessary to discuss them thoroughly, considering they might face significant challenges ahead that they need to be mentally prepared for.

Unbeknownst to them, the steam train had already entered the realm of the Imperial Capital, and the atmosphere instantly changed.

Although they hadn’t arrived at the Imperial Capital yet, the pace inside the steam train had quickened.

People started packing their belongings, as if once the steam train reached the station, they couldn’t wait to get off.

No one could understand why the people on this steam train sped up, nor could anyone fathom why people inside the train were ready to disembark even before reaching Xinbal Station.

”They’re really in quite a rush, aren’t they?” Igor said curiously, still bewildered by the situation.

”You should know, in Xinbal, time outweighs everything!” Coban Kangen chimed in, starting to pack up their not-too-numerous belongings as well.

Despite Coban Kangen’s explanation, Igor still didn’t quite understand, and he looked at Coban Kangen with a face full of confusion.

”Time is money!” Coban Kangen said to Igor, slightly puzzled by Igor’s lack of understanding.

In Xinbal, time is everything; people always seem to be in a hurry, as if wasting a bit of time could cost them dearly.

In Xinbal, everyone walks briskly; carriages’ bells are constantly ringing, underscoring the importance of time. People here regard time highly, as if they’re squeezing every minute to live, feeling as though there might be no tomorrow after today.

Of course, that’s a bit exaggerated, but regardless, people in Xinbal still place a high value on time.

Punctuality is important here; if you’re told to reach a destination by three hours and two quarters, you must arrive by then. Being late by a Gudu Time invites contempt, and if given a quarter to complete a task, you have to finish it within that quarter, as surpassing a Gudu Time earns you disdain. In Xinbal, time is a measuring standard, making the Imperial Capital’s rhythm quite distinctive.

Even though the steam rail train hadn’t stopped at Xinbal’s main station yet, Igor could still feel the rapid pace of Xinbal.

This quick pace made Igor slightly uncomfortable; he found it oppressive, forcing him to constantly adapt...

”Time is everything...” Igor mumbled quietly, carefully trying to grasp the ultimate essence of this phrase.

Coban Kangen noticed Igor’s demeanor and found it amusing, but then he calmed down. After all, he had lived in Xinbal for a long time, and such a concept of time was deeply ingrained in him. He knew that facing such a time concept for the first time was challenging for someone who hadn’t been here before. Surely, catching up with time is quite difficult.

Igor’s current state was somewhat amusing, but upon seeing Igor’s efforts, they would calm their hearts down. Even though Igor babbled like reciting scriptures, he was striving to adapt to the rhythm. No one would criticize someone trying to change themselves, and Igor was such a young man that brought Coban Kangen much satisfaction.

Most people, when confronted with such a situation, would freeze there, helpless, lacking any idea of how to adapt to this rhythm.

But Igor showed a different side, actively adapting to the pace, wanting to better integrate into this Imperial Capital.

And not only Igor, even Kadi followed Igor’s steps, tensing up completely. Their current demeanor indeed resembled the residents who had exited Xinbal.

”Aren’t you guys going to take a breather?” Coban Kangen suggested kindly. He thought both Kadi and Igor might have gone a bit overboard.

”Time is everything!”

”Time is money!”

Igor and Kadi replied with Coban Kangen’s earlier words, looking more like they had lived in Xinbal for a while.

Coban Kangen could only cover his face, adding: ”Can’t waste time...”

The steam rail train finally began to decelerate with a woeful sound; clearly, Xinbal was almost there. At this moment, everyone on the train was in action, with hurried appearances as if fearing someone else would beat them to it.

The administrator of the steam train repeatedly shouted for everyone not to rush and to proceed slowly forward. But the people of Xinbal didn’t slow their speed; they continued hurrying...

Still, despite their rush, there was no chaotic mess; although everyone seemed very anxious, they maintained a high level of order, the entire crowd moving briskly but orderly, impressively.

Igor stared in disbelief at this scene, joining the hasty crowd as he got off the train. After disembarking, his amazement grew.

The sheer volume of people in Xinbal was beyond his imagination.

Igor felt like a small black speck drowned among a swarm of ants.

Hawking cries, shouts, carriage bells, steam train sounds, all sorts of noises mixed chaotically, rushing towards Igor and the others.

Despite their best efforts to adjust to this rhythm, it was still their first time in the Imperial Capital, and many scenes shocked them. Igor and Kadi were still young and inexperienced, even though they’d undergone many ups and downs before, they remained essentially youthful at heart.

A youth’s curiosity overrides everything else, and everything in the Empire’s capital seemed wondrously new to them.

This novelty curbed their previous efforts, halting their steps as they looked around, mouths agape, eyes wide with astonishment.

”Hey, don’t block the way!”

”Young people should be active, what’s with standing still?”

”Indeed, can’t you see everyone’s busy?”

”If you keep blocking here, we will call the Court of Guards!”

...

Igor and Kadi’s brief pause nearly drowned them in a chorus of voices.

Those complaints, warnings, persuasions... relentlessly bombarded Igor and Kadi, leaving them momentarily unsure of what to do.

This is Xinbal, where everyone is in a hurry, everyone fears falling behind the rest; here, time is the precious everything, the pace is so fast it’s suffocating...

Igor and Kadi awkwardly moved their bodies, afraid to block others again, meanwhile their previous efforts resumed. The brief pause didn’t render their efforts useless.

Indeed, Xinbal’s pace offered Igor and his friends an unfamiliar experience, but gradually, they started getting accustomed to that rapid pace...