Faulty Utopia

"OK, bro, do we go back in and keep playing, or head to where we're staying?" Right as Song 6PUS said this, the building behind them huffed out another fierce puff of white fireworks.

"What else is there to play? Let's go to our place first." The day's hassles had Sun Jack's nerves stretched to their limit, almost snapping. Now he just wanted to find a place to rest.

Song 6, this dude, I don't know how he's so thick-skinned, just escaped death and he's here to chill.

As the car started moving, Sun Jack gazed through the glass at the bizarre world outside, feeling an ongoing sense of unreality.

After watching for a while, he turned to look at Song 6, who was driving the car. This dude couldn't even drive without multitasking; he had started live streaming again.

Although he seems pretty unreliable, he's actually loyal. "Old Six, not to nag, but you're broke, don't know to save some cash, still treating folks, still ordering drinks? At first, with you spending like that, I thought you were some rich kid."

"Shit, what are you talking about, is the cash I earn with my life meant to be hoarded?" Song 6PUS said as he floored the gas pedal and started speeding. "If you got money, you spend it like there's no tomorrow. What if you die and there's still money left? That would be the real loss."

Sun Jack shook his head slightly; he simply couldn't understand this guy's view on money and values.

In the past, he had seen the future world in movies on TV, but he never imagined the real future world would be like this.

Just then, a Chinese advertisement flashed by quickly, and Sun Jack knew he had entered the Queens District.

The car zipped between the uneven city buildings, and as time passed, the trash began to pile up on both sides of the road. The buildings around were still flashing with neon lights, but they were visibly getting rougher.

Seeing an old man staggering without pants, standing by the roadside peeing, Sun Jack couldn't hold back anymore, "Where the hell are you taking us?"

"To our living place, look, it's right ahead, that big building."

Following his pointing hand, Sun Jack looked through the car window and saw a skyscraper.

The building was odd, clearly the lower ten or so floors were lit with signs of life and adorned with ads, but the top was still in scaffoldings, looking quite discordant.

Calling it an unfinished building wasn't quite right since people lived below, but you couldn't say it was finished either with the top uncovered.

As the car door opened, Sun Jack, his brows slightly furrowed, followed Song 6 toward the unfinished skyscraper.

When the rain got blocked by cement, Sun Jack saw the people sheltering from the rain. They looked dazed, their limbs twisted and not much different from zombies, and the stench of excrement filled the air. Feces and trash bags were everywhere.

"Why do I feel like this isn't a good place?" Sun Jack covered his nose.

"Bro, don't worry. These are just some poor folks who have screwed themselves over with drugs. They might look scary, but they're harmless."

As if to prove his point, Song 6 pulled out a gun and shot towards the roof a few times.

The sound of gunfire sent these people scurrying along the wall, like a bunch of startled hamsters.

"See? If someone bugs you for food or smokes, just do this, and they'll back off."

They walked past the homeless and into the elevator, where Song 6PUS pressed the button for the 18th floor.

Stepping out of the elevator, Sun Jack found that this place was passable, at least devoid of the disgusting stench of urine and feces.

"Stairwell access control can divide two worlds; the trash below won't affect your living quarters above, rest assured."

Old Six said, approaching the third door in the hallway. With a scan of his iris, he pushed the door open and walked right in.

The room had a musty smell, but it looked relatively clean; the apartment wasn't big—just over 30 square meters. It had one bedroom, one living room, and one bathroom.

What was unique was that the division between the living room and bedroom wasn't a door but a projected 3D virtual waterfall.

As Old Six slapped the wall, the white wall on the right side slowly rose, revealing the Neon City cloaked in rain through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.

"How's that, bro? Nice place, huh?"

"Is this your apartment?"

"Hahaha, that's a funny joke. Who buys houses nowadays?"

As Old Six plopped down on the gray sofa in the corner, a virtual image program immediately projected right in front of him. "This was a buddy's place; I had access. Then he died, the room was left vacant, and I have no clue how many months he paid for. You can stay here for now. I've given you authorization. We'll talk about it when the landlord comes to evict you."

Sun Jack took a tour around the modest-sized room and found it had everything he needed—fridge, washing machine, a closet—saving him the trouble of purchasing anything, ready to live in.

Honestly, this was quite beyond his expectations. He had thought Old Six would just find some shabby room to fob him off with.

Old Six idly swung his left leg while sitting on the sofa, flipping through the floating 3D imaged programs. Finding nothing of interest, he stood up.

"Alright then, you rest up. We'll go take care of the neural system stuff tomorrow. I'm heading back to get laid; I've already spent the money at Club 69, and I can't waste that. My mother taught me from a young age to be frugal, and that place is pricey."

No sooner had Old Six left, Tapai asked, "Want me to keep an eye on him? Just in case he runs off."

"No need, that guy won't run away. Don't forget he's a streamer. But do keep an eye out tonight, to prevent any break-ins."

Although Old Six seemed quite righteous, one must guard against others, especially in such a strange city.

As Sun Jack sanked onto the sofa, his nerves finally relaxed at that moment, and he let out a long sigh.

He looked again at Tapai, at everything around him; the day's events seemed so surreal, making Sun Jack feel like he was dreaming.

It was as if he was under the illusion that by going back to sleep, he would return to his own world.

But when Sun Jack lifted his cold mechanical arm, watching his metallic palm open and close before him, he knew everything was real.

"Sigh, if only it were a dream," Sun Jack murmured as he looked up at the gray ceiling, gently probing the seam between metal and flesh on his arm.

At that very moment, just outside the elevator, Old Six was listening to some explosive death metal through his earphones, dialing a call to an acquaintance. "Bro, how much did the info on those two fetch @PUS?"

"What?! It didn't sell? Not even for 0.1?"