Marvel: The other side of the double-passing door is Devouring the Stars

Chapter 471 Attack on the Police Station!

“Understood,” Allen nodded. “Then, let’s begin. Lesson one—how to hide yourself in a high-tech city.”

It was late at night, and only a dim desk lamp was still lit in Allen's small apartment.

Rowan sat on the sofa, contemplating his next move. Allen, meanwhile, was in the kitchen cooking a simple quick meal—the best dinner he could provide.

"Here, have something to eat," Allen said, carrying two steaming bowls of nutrient solution. "It may not taste very good, but at least it'll fill your stomach."

Luo Wen took the bowl and took a sip. It was indeed quite ordinary, a bit like watered-down porridge, but considering their current situation, he couldn't complain.

“Allen,” Rowan suddenly said, “what do you think was the real purpose behind my teacher assigning me this task?”

"Evade capture, then survive for a week," Allen said matter-of-factly. "Isn't it obvious?"

“No,” Rowan shook his head, “I don’t think it’s that simple.”

He put down his bowl and said earnestly, "My teacher is a King-level Immortal, a powerful being standing at the pinnacle of the universe. With his vision and wisdom, the task he assigned me couldn't simply be hiding."

"What do you mean?" Allen asked, intrigued.

“I was thinking,” Rowan said slowly, “that if he only wanted me to hide for a week, he could have simply dumped me on a desolate planet or deep in the mountains. Those environments, while dangerous, would at least lack the sophisticated technology for tracking me.”

“That makes sense,” Allen nodded.

“But he specifically chose a planet with a highly advanced technological civilization, and even had me attack the police station,” Rowan continued, “which shows that he wanted me to face not just the problem of survival, but how to survive in a highly organized and systematic society.”

Allen's eyes lit up: "You mean, he wants you to learn how to hide and survive in human society?"

“It’s not just about hiding,” Rowan stood up and paced back and forth in the room. “If it were just about hiding, I could stay here with you and not go out for a week, and it would pass quickly. But what’s the point?”

“Indeed,” Allen said thoughtfully, “anyone could do that. No special abilities are needed; all you need to do is find a place to hide.”

“So,” Rowan stopped, a glint in his eyes, “I think what the teacher really expects isn’t for me to live like a rat hiding in the sewers for seven days, but for me to learn…to adapt and integrate.”

“Adaptation and integration?” Allen repeated the word.

“Yes,” Rowan nodded, “A true strong person should be able to survive in any environment. Not just the wilderness, not just the battlefield, but also the complexities of human society. My teacher sent me here to learn how to not only survive in a completely unfamiliar, even hostile, civilization, but also how to move freely.”

Allen was silent for a moment, then exclaimed, "Your analysis makes a lot of sense. If that's the case, then your goal isn't to hide for a week, but rather..."

“Instead, within a week, I’ll obtain legal status, allowing me to move openly and legitimately in this city,” Rowan continued, “and without anyone suspecting that I’m the wanted criminal who attacked the police station.”

“This…this is almost impossible,” Allen gasped. “Do you know what this means? You’re now the city’s most wanted man. Your image, energy signature, even your genetic information have been recorded. To gain legal status, you’d have to enter the government’s citizen database and add complete identity information. But that database has the highest security level; even I, a former journalist, can’t access it.”

“I know it’s difficult,” Rowan said earnestly, “but it’s not impossible.”

"What method?" Allen asked curiously.

“First, I need to understand how this planet’s identity system works,” Rowan said. “Then, I need to find loopholes or weaknesses in the system. Finally, I need to exploit those loopholes to create a completely new and legitimate identity.”

Allen gave a wry smile: "You make it sound so easy. This planet's identity system has been running for three hundred years, undergoing countless upgrades and improvements. Finding a loophole is easier said than done."

“But it’s not entirely impossible, right?” Rowan looked at Allen. “Every system has weaknesses, every rule has loopholes. It’s just a matter of whether we can find them.”

Allen pondered for a long time, finally sighing, "You're right. Besides, since your teacher dared to assign you this task, it means he believes you can complete it. Otherwise, this wouldn't be training, it would be suicide."

"So," Rowan sat back on the sofa, "could you explain the identity system on this planet in detail?"

“Of course,” Allen said, sitting down as well to begin his explanation.

“The identity system on Alpha X-17 is called the ‘Citizen Chip System,’” Allen said. “Every legal citizen is implanted with a nanochip at birth. This chip records all of that person’s information—name, genes, biometrics, education, work experience, criminal record, and so on.”

"Nanochips?" Rowan frowned. "Implanted in the body?"

“Yes,” Allen nodded, “the chip will be implanted in a specific area of ​​the brain and connected to the nervous system. It’s not just identification; it can also perform various functions such as payments, communication, and information retrieval. You could say that without the chip, you couldn’t live a normal life on this planet.”

“What if the chip is lost or damaged?” Rowan asked.

“The chip is almost impossible to lose because it’s inside the body,” Allen explained. “But if it’s damaged, it can be reimplanted at a government citizen services center. However, reimplantation requires strict identity verification—biometric scanning, genetic testing, and verification of past records. The whole process takes at least three days.”

"In other words, if I want to obtain legal status, I must have a chip, and the information on that chip must be recorded in the government database," Rowan concluded.

“That’s right,” Allen nodded, “and the chips and databases are networked. The government can track the location, activity, and spending records of any citizen at any time. That’s why the crime rate on this planet is so low—because any crime is tracked immediately.”

"So, is it possible for someone to bypass this system?" Rowan asked, "For example, by forging chips or tampering with database records?"

Allen paused for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "Yes, but it's extremely rare. I've heard rumors that top hackers can do this. But these people are very secretive and don't show themselves easily."

"Do you know someone like this?" Rowan's eyes lit up.

“I…” Allen hesitated, “I do know someone. But that person is difficult to approach and has an eccentric personality; they might not be willing to help.”

“Anyway, at least we can try,” Rowan said. “This is my only hope now.”

Looking into Rowan's determined eyes, Allen finally nodded. "Alright, I'll take you to see him. But I must warn you first, that man is very wary. If he thinks you're in danger, he might call the police immediately."

“I will be careful,” Rowan assured him.

“Then we’ll go tomorrow night,” Allen said. “That guy only works at night. Now, you should rest. You’ve been through so much today; you need to recover.”

Rowan nodded and lay down on the sofa. Although the environment was simple, he quickly fell asleep—a habit he'd developed on the battlefield, allowing him to fall asleep and recover quickly regardless of the circumstances. Allen looked at the sleeping Rowan and sighed softly.

“What an interesting young man,” Allen muttered to himself. “I hope he succeeds.”

The next day, under Allen's guidance, Rowan began to learn how to disguise himself in this high-tech city.

“First, you need to change your walking posture,” Allen said. “The planet’s surveillance systems not only recognize faces, but also analyze gait. Everyone walks uniquely, like a fingerprint.”

Rowan tried to change his gait, but found it difficult. Years of martial arts training had instilled in his steps a powerful and rhythmic quality that was hard to alter.

“Relax, don’t be so tense,” Allen demonstrated. “You’re walking like a soldier right now. Learn to be like an ordinary citizen, more relaxed, more laid-back.”

It took Rowan an entire morning to barely master what appeared to be a "normal" way of walking.

“Secondly, you need to control your energy fluctuations,” Allen continued. “While ordinary citizens won’t sense them, this planet has specialized energy detectors. If you accidentally leak out the power of the laws, it will be detected immediately.”

“I can do that,” Rowan said. He had learned how to conceal his aura while cultivating on Blood Luo Star.

“Also, you need to learn how to use the technology on this planet,” Allen said, pulling out a holographic projector. “This is my backup device. While you can’t use all the functions without the citizen chip, it will at least make you look like a normal person.”

Rowan took the projector and fiddled with it for a while. The operating logic of this device was completely different from that of electronic products on Earth, but thanks to his learning ability, he quickly mastered the basic operation.

“Good, you’re learning quickly,” Allen praised. “When we meet that hacker tonight, remember to talk less and observe more. That guy is very perceptive; anything suspicious will alert him.”

“Understood,” Rowan nodded.

It's night time soon.

Allen took Rowan away from the apartment and took a public levitation rail to the other side of the city.

“The place we’re going to is called ‘Lower Town,’” Allen explained on the way. “It’s the most chaotic part of the city. Government control is weak there, and all sorts of shady businesses are concentrated there.”

The suspended track traversed the bustling city center, gradually entering a dilapidated area. The buildings here were old, their walls covered in graffiti. Neon lights flashed blindingly everywhere. A strange smell permeated the air, a mixture of engine oil, garbage, and some kind of chemical.

“This place looks… completely different from downtown,” Rowan observed his surroundings.

“Yes,” Allen said, “Alpha X-17 appears to be a highly advanced civilization, but in reality, the gap between rich and poor is enormous. People in the city center live in luxury apartments and enjoy the most advanced technology, while those in the lower city struggle to survive in dilapidated buildings.”

The two got off the tracks at a dark street corner and walked into a narrow alley.

The alley was almost completely dark, with only the occasional flashing neon lights on the walls providing a little illumination. Rowan had a keen sense of perception; he noticed that many eyes were watching them.

“Don’t be nervous,” Allen said softly. “Although it’s chaotic here, it has its own rules. As long as you don’t cause trouble, generally no one will bother you.”

They turned several corners in the alley and finally stopped in front of a rusty iron gate.

Allen knocked on the door three times, paused, and then knocked twice more. This was clearly some kind of code.

A moment later, the door opened a crack, and a hoarse voice came out: "Password."

“The end of numbers is chaos,” Allen said.

"The essence of chaos is freedom," the voice responded, and then the door opened completely.

Behind the door stood a short old man, probably only about 1.5 meters tall. He wore a tattered robe, and his hair was a mess, like a bird's nest. But his eyes were very bright, gleaming with a sharp light.

“Alan, long time no see,” the old man said, his voice hoarse but full of energy. “Trouble again?”

“It’s not me, it’s my friend,” Allen said, pointing to Rowan, “He needs your help.”

The old man scrutinized Luo Wen, his eyes scanning him from head to toe like a scanner.

“Interesting,” the old man suddenly laughed. “A martial artist, and a very strong one at that. What are you doing in the lower city?”

Luo Wen was startled; the old man had recognized him at a glance.

“Don’t be surprised,” the old man said. “Although I’m a hacker, I still have good eyesight. The aura you exude is completely different from ordinary people. Although you concealed it well, it still couldn’t fool me.”

"You have a good eye, senior," Luo Wen said respectfully, bowing.

“Don’t call me senior, just call me Ghost,” the old man said. “Come in, it’s not convenient to talk standing at the door.”

The three entered the room. It was a basement, not large, but filled with various equipment. A dozen holographic screens hung on the walls, displaying various data and codes. The air was filled with the hum of machinery.

“Welcome to my studio,” Ghost said. “It may be a bit rudimentary, but it has the most powerful computing system in the entire city.”

He walked to a chair, sat down, and turned to look at Rowan: "Tell me, what kind of help do you need?"

Rowan glanced at Allen, who nodded, indicating that he could tell the truth.

“I need a legal identity,” Rowan stated bluntly, “including a citizen chip and database records.”

"Oh?" Intrigue flashed in the ghost's eyes. "Let me guess, you're the one who attacked the police station yesterday?"

Rowan did not deny it.

(End of this chapter)