Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 159 First Arrival in Antai State

Guanyu County, on the southern border of Beixing Kingdom.

This small border town was effectively abandoned shortly after the end-of-the-world rules began.

The people who originally lived here all left, seeking refuge in nearby big cities. Only an empty county town remained, slowly withering away in the breeze.

At that moment, a figure appeared silently on the streets of the county town.

Guan Tong glanced at the many signs on the street that read "An Dai Bang Specialty Dishes" and nodded slightly: "This is it."

He had already planned to go abroad to collect puzzle pieces, and it wasn't just a thought. After spending more than a week preparing, today, March 9th, is the day he will leave the country.

He first arrived at Guanyu County, a small county town on the edge of the border. Beyond the county town was a small river, which marked the boundary between the Northern Star Kingdom and the An Dai State.

North of the river is the Northern Star Kingdom, and south of the river is the An Dai Kingdom.

Guan Tong walked on the deserted street, feeling both calm and expectant.

He didn't know what things were like abroad now, but he was certain that the environment would be more complex than in Beixing Country.

Small countries like Antai State have weak official power and low control over their own countries, and they will inevitably descend into chaos after entering the post-apocalyptic era.

Consider that even a country like Beixing Kingdom, with its very strong government, had a large number of violent organizations appearing in the wilderness before, let alone a small country with weak government control.

However, Guan Tong was confident in his own strength. Even if things were chaotic outside, he had a certain ability to protect himself and was not too worried.

As you walk to the end of the street, the small river that marks the border comes into view.

Guan Tong noticed that although the county town was deserted and had become a ghost town, many pieces of machinery were still operating in the border area.

For example, scanning cameras, or some automated patrol vehicles.

It seems that no matter how chaotic the world becomes after entering the post-apocalyptic era, the territory of a major power will still not be violated. If people from Antai State attempt to cross the border, they will be immediately detected by electronic devices and reported to the relevant authorities for processing.

Guan Tong was definitely trying his best not to be discovered. He released his shadow lines, crossed the river to the other side, and then used the Shadow Shift technique.

The next moment, he appeared in Antai State.

"Looking at the map, isn't the border city in Antai State called 'Antu'?"

Before coming, Guan Tong carefully researched the information and gained some understanding of the situation in Antai State.

Antu, though more of a border city, is actually the second largest city in Antai State. The country's capital, Ban Chin, is located next to Antu.

The location of the puzzle piece that Guan Tong sensed earlier was on the eastern edge of Banzhen City.

To get there, you have to cross Antu City first.

Although Guanyu County, north of the border, is deserted, Antu City, south of the border, is clearly still inhabited, and people are wandering around the streets.

This truly gave Guan Tong an indescribable feeling.

It was both novel and intriguing.

Because in the big cities of the Northern Star Kingdom, although there are many people, there are not many who wander around the streets.

Especially after the country entered a state of war, many people did not leave their shelters at all. They could complete all their needs for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, exercise, entertainment, and socializing within the shelters, so there was no need to come out.

But in Antai State, it's different. All sorts of people walk the streets in small groups, and many of them seem quite happy.

Guan Tong had hardly seen that kind of joyful expression since entering the post-apocalyptic era. He remembered that before he left Yunhua, everyone he saw on the road either had a bitter and resentful look on their face or a serious expression.

However, he soon figured out why the people on the streets of Antaibang were happy.

"Hey handsome, want to have some fun?" A group of young men and women walked up to Guan Tong and asked.

One of the women licked her lips and said, "Any of us can choose whoever we want, it's only 20 Limecoins an hour."

Guan Tong shook her head: "No need."

When he spoke, everyone was somewhat surprised: "So you're from the Northern Star Kingdom."

Although the people of An Tai Bang also speak Bei Xing language, their intonation is different and can be easily distinguished.

What surprised them was why people from the Northern Star Kingdom would still appear in Antai State after the end-of-the-world rule era had begun.

After the first doomsday rule was announced, all the North Star Chinese in An Tai State rushed back to their home country immediately in order to obtain safer protection and resources.

Even many people from Antai State try to enter the Northern Star Kingdom, causing a lot of chaos... So it is surprising that there are still people from the Northern Star Kingdom in Antai State.

Discovering that Guan Tong was from the Northern Star Kingdom seemed to pique their interest. One of the men, with a somewhat effeminate appearance, said, "Really not going? The rules just ended, what's the use of keeping these Ascension Coins? Why not spend them and enjoy yourself?"

“Exactly,” another woman chimed in. “Maybe everyone’ll die under the next rule, and then all those remaining Ascension Coins will be wasted. Wouldn’t it be better to use them for some fun, handsome guys from the Northern Star Kingdom?”

"..."

Just as they were talking, someone came over and picked out a woman: "Hey, Kama, I'm hiring you again. $20 an hour, right? Let's go."

The woman named "Karma" smiled slightly and left with the man who had spoken to her.

Seeing that Guan Tong was being tactless, the others shook their heads and walked away.

Guan Tong noticed that the group of men and women quickly found customers on the street and went into nearby houses chatting and laughing.

Besides those soliciting customers on the streets, there are also people sleeping in the open, grilling meat, playing football, and even piling up in a meaningless human pyramid formation in the alleys.

After reading it once, Guan Tong understood why the people in Antai State were so happy.

It turns out that everyone had fully embraced the idea of ​​living for the moment.

Living one day at a time, enjoying each day as it comes, with absolutely no illusions about the future. Those who have this mindset and are still alive should indeed be happy right now—because you know for sure you're alive. Actually, people with this kind of thinking also exist in the Northern Star Kingdom, the so-called "laissez-faire faction." But these people are still a minority; the majority are actively striving to survive, paying attention to various information every day, discussing how to improve their mental strength, become stronger, and so on.

This change in environment and atmosphere made Guan Tong feel a little uncomfortable for a while. Because of this, when he walked on the streets here, he felt a little out of place.

However, Guan Tong's purpose in coming to Antai State was to find pieces of the puzzle, not to study the local culture and environment. He declined to comment on the lifestyle chosen by the people there, expressing his respect and understanding.

We walked through the streets and alleys, moving forward all the way.

Guan Tong quickly noticed that someone was following him.

It wasn't that his senses were particularly sharp, but rather that the shadow surveillance eyes he had placed on his body could synchronize the surrounding situation with him, allowing him to respond to emergencies at any time.

Is it because my foreign features are somewhat obvious?
Guan Tong thought to himself. Judging from his clothing, he wasn't much different from the locals; they were both wearing thick winter clothes.

But you could tell from his demeanor and even his walking speed that he was very different from the locals. Most of the locals were lazy and leisurely, and very few walked with such a hurried pace as him.

Being in a foreign country, Guan Tong didn't want to easily get into conflicts with others. After wandering into a small alley, he used his shadow and teleportation abilities to move to another street.

The young men from Antai who had been following him looked at each other in bewilderment when they entered the alley and found he was gone.

"What about people?!"

"I don't know, it seems like they ran away."

"That guy looks like he has a lot of coins! It's such a shame we didn't manage to grab one!"

"Actually, I think that one looks like someone from the Northern Star Kingdom."

"Pah!" The leader spat on the ground, cursing, "So what if it's the Northern Star Kingdom? I might die under the next rule, what's there to be afraid of! Even if the King of Soro came, I'd dare to rob him. At worst, I'd just die, it's only a matter of time!"

While they were talking, they didn't notice that a solid black shadow was clinging to the wall, blending into the surrounding shadows, and transmitting all their words to Guan Tong on the other side.

"I see……"

Guan Tong wasn't surprised to hear their conversation.

In this precarious era, everyone else is just living for the moment and taking it one day at a time. So what if they see a lone foreigner and try to rob him?

"I'd better send Shadow to scout out the area around the fragment as soon as possible, and then teleport there... to avoid running into some messy things that might delay our business."

Guan Tong found a quiet place to stay, took out her fragment, and as she held it in her hand, a map appeared in her mind.

Ok?
Guan Tong was somewhat surprised when she saw the map.

"The location has changed?"

……

Panjang, the capital of Antai State.

Inside a house, three young men were playing cards when suddenly the windowpane shattered with a "crack," and several flashbangs were thrown in from outside.

"Buzz!"

Caught completely off guard, the three were suddenly struck by a blinding flash of light, collapsing to the ground screaming in agony as they covered their eyes.

“Ah! My eyes!!!”

Then, with a loud bang, the door was smashed open, and a group of armed men rushed in, punching and kicking the three of them before tying them up with ropes.

The three men were brutally beaten and completely bewildered. The eldest of them, with tears streaming down his face, roared, "Who are you people! What do you want!"

The armed men didn't answer; they just stared coldly at the three men, their guns pointed at them.

Then, several more people walked in from outside. The one in the lead was a pot-bellied bald man, accompanied by a short young man.

Upon seeing the two men, the three beaten and bound youths immediately understood what was happening and began to curse loudly.

"Pita! You betrayed us!"

"I'm going to kill you, Pita!"

"Why are you doing this?!"

The short young man named "Pita" said coldly, "I said I wanted to sell that thing for currency, but you wouldn't sell it. If you won't sell it, I'll find a buyer myself."

"Hahaha, this kid is right!" The pot-bellied bald man next to him laughed. "Look at you guys, so greedy. A bunch of little mules, daring to smuggle good stuff? Hand it over, it's better for the good stuff to stay in my hands, Uncle Basong."

The three bound men faced the gun barrels, neither daring nor able to resist. They knew who Basong was, nicknamed "Banzhen Crocodile," a smuggler who controlled a large armed force and was a local tyrant in Antai State before the end times.

Peeta betrayed him, so the fragment is definitely doomed.

Left with no other choice, the eldest among them had to trade the fragment to Basong.

Basong took a look and immediately narrowed his eyes: "Good stuff, indeed good stuff. Sell it for millions, it's nothing..."

"Uncle Basong, are you satisfied?" Pita rubbed his hands together obsequiously. "Well, here I am..."

Basson glanced at him and waved to his men. One of them drew his pistol and shot Pita dead.

"Pita!" The three were shocked. Although Pita had betrayed them, the four were still friends and exclaimed in surprise at the sight.

Basong chuckled and said, "I hate snitching rats the most, even if they snitch to me."

With that, he waved his hand, and his other men immediately raised their guns and opened fire on the three bound youths. Soon, the room fell silent, leaving only a blood-stained mess.

　Day 27 of my daily check-in challenge! Thank you all for your support with monthly tickets, tips, comments, and more!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)