From Eden

Prologue: Fragility

In early October, Josh's distant mother in San Francisco called with a command: endure the semester, work to repay debts, and send their sister to high school.

Josh, unfazed by the call's end, knew that in the frosty Republic, being able to take the college entrance exam was a rare chance. Completing his education through part-time work was already a stroke of luck, surpassing most boys in the Hukan neighborhood.

At the very least, it was so.

Just a few days ago, several families fell victim to supernatural beings, a milky-white hazy creature they called, "The Dandelion". The mother, anxious and fearful, expressed her wish to send the younger sister to a city college for safety reasons, as there would be more people there.

All in all, the ultimate purpose behind it all was to make Josh cease his trivial research and focus on acquiring a practical vocational skill.

With his mother suffering from a lung disease and limited time remaining, it is said that one's words carry weight when faced with mortality. Her worries are not unfounded.

Three days ago, the President authorized special agents to enter the university campus under 【Rule Seven】, leading to the arrest of a group of male university students known as "proponents of patriarchy."

Unless something unexpected happens, their relatives and future descendants will be branded as criminals and barred from taking government exams or working in major companies.

Josh remained neither sad nor happy; he had faith in his mother.

He believed that his father's previous disappearance, the horrific incident of their family being destroyed by "The Dandelion", and the recent arrest of the male college students had overwhelmed his typically kind and loving mother.

She feared that Josh's insatiable thirst for knowledge would be led astray and corrupted by those "progressive males" once he reached the higher grades of university.

University offers opportunities for good jobs and success, but with an older sister who has recently graduated, the family cannot afford to send another boy to college.

Without asking about his sister, Josh packed his belongings, disregarded the course director's email, and set off for Buffalo City with only 230 Qibis left.

The rundown bus took to the road, and the cool glow of the artificial sun cast a harsh reflection on Josh's pale skin through the window.

His keen hearing picked up the conversation of the two women in the back seat. They were talking and laughing until they noticed his skin color, at which point they started whispering to each other.

"The w*******g in the outer city..."

"Just domesticated guy, that's all."

Josh stayed calm and unaffected. Despite not being a domesticated person from the outer city, his one-quarter Caucasian heritage made him a target of discrimination without question.

They adorned their faces with sun-kissed makeup, their smiles beaming like coated apples, pretending to be sweet, and began boasting about their jobs or the jobs they had heard others boast about.

"Honestly, the counter at the Twt branch is so dull. I haven't seen a single customer all day. I feel like the facial control chip I implanted was a waste."

"You're still working? I'm just spending my husband's money—sigh. I thought this guy was honest, earning a bit of extra cash through recycling. Turns out, he had secretly saved 2,000 Qibis. Can you believe how frustrating that is?"

"Men, these primitive beings, dare to retain private property even after marriage. Shouldn't Rule Seven give him a good lesson?"

"I want to, but he has to go to work at the bank tomorrow, so I'll have to bite my tongue..."

"What a wimp—anyway, it's so gross. There was a man in front of me, and the mere thought of sharing the same space with a man makes me feel nauseous."

Ignoring it completely, Josh carefully took note: Banks can make money.

Arriving in Buffalo City, the rough journey left him weak and hungry. He lingered outside a small restaurant, eyeing the instant dishes with seasoning packets starting at 10 Qibis. The synthetic aroma and spiciness from the food additives made his mouth water.

When the ordering robot asked him what he wanted to eat, he quickly escaped, resembling a defeated soldier.

After wandering for a while, he found an elderly lady selling wraps near a phone booth. Josh felt relieved and filled a jug with tap water from a nearby water dispenser. He devoured two wraps, hungrily biting into each one.

He then lay beside the pillar under the bridge, intending to rest for a short while, but Josh ended up dozing off in a daze.

Confused by the artificial sun, he briefly checked the time on his terminal and quickly jumped up, hurrying to the bank for his scheduled job interview.

He ran through the crowded honeycomb-style apartment buildings, where someone was collecting the bodies of a family of three. The doctor murmured, "Another spirit killing... Now the prosthetics and chips are infused with resentment. Is there anyone willing to take them back?"

Covering his nose, Josh hurriedly walked away.

The radio broadcast carried the mellifluous voice of a female host:

"Good afternoon, Frostcoat. Today's heroine is Judge Alsi Rodomuler. For the past 10 years, Judge Alsi has been diligently upholding justice, never letting a male criminal slip through the cracks, effectively protecting the rights of Frostcoat's women..."

"Recently, the President visited the capital of the Red Arrow Empire, Woxington, and had dinner with Emperor Kaiser II. They discussed ecological civilization construction and addressed the issue of discrimination against international students. The President emphasized the importance of upholding the status of Frostcoat women as a reflection of the progressive system..."

"Experts have discovered that males with implants tend to become excessively vain and prone to violence. Legislation should limit the number of male implants to avoid harm to women. However, surveys also indicate that female brains cannot handle the burden of implants. Wait, who wrote this? Remove the last sentence immediately..."

"Breaking news—due to the increasing cases of workplace gender bullying, the House of Representatives is considering reducing male job positions. This aims to prioritize women with vocational qualifications over male Ph.D. holders entering female spaces."

"Our report: There have been multiple recent sightings of 'The Dandelion' among the public. If you encounter these creatures, please call the Special Control Bureau hotline. Only professionals can handle the danger posed by these mysterious entities..."

"Reminder: Supernatural entities are drawn to those with negative emotions. For your safety, please maintain a positive mindset..."

Buffalo City is truly vibrant. He even saw a silver hovercar gliding overhead, with its snow-colored sheet metal and nano-bulletproof coating, a standard feature for the wealthy.

Josh gazed at the hovercar passing by above, recognizing it as the TX7000 "Snow Wolf" model, capable of reaching a top speed of 600 kilometers per hour. Even if he were severely injured by a cyborg fanatic, the hovercar could swiftly transport him to the hospital.

The vehicle must have been incredibly smooth because as it brushed past him, Josh saw the man and woman inside gracefully dancing ballet while sipping wine. Fresh fruits and pastries were casually scattered on the floor.

He spotted a grapefruit, which likely cost around 230 Qibis per kilogram, and it seemed to weigh about three kilograms.

As the car flew away, Joshua remained transfixed, staring at the sky.

"That seems like the true essence of human life."

He extended his hand, longing to touch that part of the sky belonging to humanity.

After finishing the interview and leaving the Buffalo City Savings Bank, he had already changed into a security uniform.

Josh held a rubber baton, vaguely remembering that he had come to interview for a job that would earn money.

"Feeling disillusioned? Even a vocational school graduate could work as a bank teller, but they won't hire a man like you,"

Lanny Johns teased him, patting him on the shoulder to comfort him.

"Don't worry, no one will rob the city bank. We don't have much in the vault. Even if you don't have an implant, it's not risky to work as a night patrol security guard."

Josh said he just wanted to make money.

"Make money? With your education, you should go to Twt and become a bounty hunter. You can easily make around 170-180,000 Qibis per job,"

Lanny pushed his chest and laughed,

"But with your body, forget it. It probably won't even last a few years--you might lose your life. This job is easy. You just need to be with me at night, go up and down the basement, patrol, and check the surveillance. You can easily make 2,000 Qibis per month."

Josh remained silent and explained that 2,000 Qibis was not enough to cover his sisters' school expenses.

"Poor child, but all your hard work is useless."

Lanny looked at him sympathetically.

"I used to think that as long as you work hard, you can overcome the influence of gender... This is Frostplate, a country of women. Be grateful. It's still better than the outside world."

Josh remained silent and spent a day at the security post.

Time passed second by second, and he looked out of the bank through the bulletproof glass.

The artificial sunlight was always fixed there, just like poverty always accompanied him.

In a daze, he saw the Snow Wolf hovercar again, with its pale blue hydrogen flame gently spewing, and the owner of the vehicle was free and generous, overshadowing the entire Frostplate.

"Hey, Josh, let's have dinner. We'll be on night patrol later, and no sleeping allowed."

Lanny broke his daydream.

Dinner was a synthetic energy paste provided by the bank, with a hint of salt that made Josh lick his lips unconsciously.

He remembered the best meal he had in school, porridge with mushroom-filled pancakes, with chili oil, salt, chicken essence, and cumin, it was very extravagant.

Lanny drank a can of beer, claiming that alcohol and cigarettes were the cheapest luxuries.

"You'll understand sooner or later, in Frostplate, men have no future."

Josh said:

"I saw a man driving a 'Snow Wolf'..."

"You mean Abner? His mother is the mayor."

Josh didn't listen to those words. He looked out at the sky, the white hovercar always lingering in his mind.

"I didn't have a chance to go to school, uncle, I want to make big money."

Lanny shook his head:

"Silly child, everyone wants to make money."

"When I save enough money, I'll get augmentation surgery," Josh said. "I'll become a bounty hunter at Twt... I must earn money, my family relies on me."

"That's impossible."

Lanny poured cold water on him:

"Every year, there are hundreds of boys like you who borrow high-interest loans to get augmentations and become outlaws. Only a few manage to survive—most end up owing a lot of debts and getting their families torn apart, being sold on the black market."

He didn't listen.

Josh raised his hand and reached out towards the artificial sun in the sky.

The sunlight wasn't as cold anymore, everything seemed to have a glimmer of hope.

"I've imagined how people should live... being able to soar through the skies of this country."

Saving money, getting augmentations, becoming a bounty hunter at Twt, paying off debts, affording tuition fees, improving life...

【Her Excellency the President emphasizes: Upholding the status of Frostplate women is a reflection of the progressive system in Frostplate】

Just as the flame of hope was starting to ignite, the voice of the news broadcast sounded in his ears again.

Josh's face froze.

In this country, will his life change?

He didn't dare to think too much and quickly shook his head, preparing to keep himself busy to forget these unpleasant things.

"Let's go, uncle, we have work to do!"

Lanny was surprised:

"Why the rush? The bank is closed, and no one is rushing you. Even if you work enthusiastically, no one will notice."

Josh said sarcastically:

“It doesn’t matter...it doesn’t matter.”

"Aren't you happy? There's a bit of resentment in your tone."

“No, I’m fine,”

Josh replied.

Two hours later, Lanny suddenly collapsed, his body covered in white frost.

Josh was crushed under Lanny's body, falling heavily to the ground, his head hitting the corner of the table and opening a cut, blood pouring out. He stared in horror at the phantom in the distance.

It was the touch, just the touch, that froze Lanny to death.

"What is this? Stay away!

Josh struggled to get up, panicked.

"Don't kill me, I don't want to die... I haven't flown in the sky above Frostplate yet."

But the phantom didn't understand human words.

It floated closer and closer.

"Why kill me... my life is not worth anything? Why don't you kill those rich people?"

Josh struggled, but Lanny's body pinned him down, and in his panic, he couldn't break free.

"Why me? What did I do wrong..."

Josh was terrified, overwhelmed by the cold suffocating sensation, tears streaming down his face unconsciously.

In despair, he suddenly remembered the words from the broadcast:

【Friendly reminder: Dandelions are easily attracted to people with resentment. For your safety, please keep a good mood.】

It turned out to be a dandelion, it was his resentment that attracted it.

... Pfft.

Josh grinned, laughing out loud.

It turned out that even complaining was not allowed for poor people.

Of course, rich people wouldn't be attacked because they had no resentment in their hearts.

He cried and laughed, facing the approaching dandelion, no longer afraid, only resentment and unwillingness.

The rich can go to college, ride expensive hovercars, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, and even maintain a good mood without being attacked by dandelions.

Dandelions aren't scary, the real thing to fear in this world is poverty.

Josh closed his eyes and, like a materialist, cursed with resentment,

"Oh gods, if you exist, please destroy this damn country."

The dandelion approached, extending its shapeless claws, and swinging down toward Josh.