Chapter 49: The Precious 'Ordinary'

Saturday — the fifth day since Tian Dao and the others arrived in Deep Blue Metropolis.

"Hey! Kong, Tian Dao! The beef in the fridge is almost gone — one of you go to the supermarket and buy some more!"

From the kitchen, Chen Xing emerged in her apron, the iron spatula in her hand slamming down onto the doorframe with a loud thud.

The sudden noise jolted Tian Dao, who had been lounging on the sofa, munching snacks and laughing heartily at a melodramatic soap opera.

On the other side of the room, Chen Kong, who had been quietly scribbling away at two school assignments, paused and set his pen down.

Why two? Because Tian Dao had conveniently dumped his own homework onto Chen Kong’s desk, claiming it was “a kind gesture” to help him “solidify his knowledge.”

Of course, Chen Kong wasn’t fooled. He knew full well it was just another of Tian Dao’s lazy excuses.

But he didn’t really mind. After all, one assignment was just as much work as two.

Still, to Chen Xing, both of them looked exactly the same — slacking off while she was sweating over dinner.

She was furious.

We’re all here on a mission — why are you two just lazing around like this?

The final straw came when Tian Dao didn’t even respond to her. Instead, he immediately dropped his chips, grabbed a file from the coffee table, and shoved it over his face like a shield — instantly pretending to be buried in work.

His performance was painfully obvious.

"Tian Dao," Chen Xing growled through clenched teeth, her eyes twitching. The spatula in her hand bent visibly — a clear sign she was one step from snapping.

Thankfully, Chen Kong stood up and stepped in to defuse the situation.

"Hey, sis, I’ll go. I’ve got nothing else to do."

Hearing that, Tian Dao instantly played along. "Yeah, yeah! Star, let Kong handle it. It’s just a few blocks away — no big deal."

Chen Xing shot Tian Dao a cold, piercing glance, then turned on her heel and stalked back into the kitchen with a sharp huff — clearly too annoyed to even bother arguing anymore.

But she didn’t see what happened next.

As Chen Kong reached the front door, a voice from the living room called out — loud and cheerful.

"Hey, Kong! When you’re at the store, grab me some snacks too, okay? Thanks!"

"Got it, Tian Dao." Chen Kong nodded, closing the door behind him.

He hadn’t taken more than a few steps down the path when he heard a sharp crash from inside the house — followed by muffled shouting.

“How come you don’t go yourself? Always making me send my brother!”

“Next time, you’re eating alone!”

Chen Kong smirked. He could guess what was happening.

Once the door shut, Chen Xing had stormed out of the kitchen, chasing Tian Dao around the house like a banshee. And Tian Dao, of course, was dodging like a madman.

He shook his head, smiling.

But after a few seconds, his smile faded.

"Ah… if only this kind of life could go on forever."

He sighed.

He knew it was just a fantasy.

In a month, he and the others would return to the base.

Back to being invisible — forgotten, unnoticed.

Oh well. Tomorrow’s problems can wait. Right now, I’d better get the ingredients and Tian Dao’s favorite snacks before everyone starves.

He slapped his cheeks lightly to snap back into focus.

Then he pushed open the gate of the villa and walked toward the nearest pedestrian street.

Just a few minutes after stepping out of the gated community, a figure perched on the rooftop of a nearby building suddenly stood up, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Waited all day… finally, the fish is out."

"Clau— how long can your Silent Coffin hold?"

Tieguan · Claude set down the cloth he’d been polishing the coffin with. His voice was calm.

"One hour. Beyond that, the noise you make will trigger the nearest Stellar Energy Detector. The Stellar Envoy Association will come looking."

"One hour? That’s enough. For a First-Rank Stellar Envoy, it’s not even a challenge — no matter how talented they are."

Rongshan stared down at the figure walking into the crowd below — Chen Kong, now heading toward a nearby department store.

His thick, bushy beard twisted into a grotesque, sadistic grin.

"Not my ideal toy… but as an appetizer? This one, Chen Kong… will do."

He placed his hand on the upright Iron Coffin, then pushed it open.

Inside, there was no corpse.

No weapon.

Only a swirling, unnatural vortex of black energy.

As Rongshan plunged his hand into the void, he whispered, voice thick with anticipation.

"Perfect. After all this time… I can finally see those arrogant, godlike geniuses — begging at my feet, whimpering like dogs."

Then, without hesitation, he stepped into the coffin.

Pang!

The Iron Coffin sealed shut.

And beneath it, the rooftop surface rippled like water.

The coffin sank into the distortion, vanishing entirely.

With his mission underway, Tieguan · Claude sat cross-legged in the center of the rooftop.

A cold wind swept across the roof. His black cloak fluttered, revealing the metallic sheen of his skin beneath.

His red electronic eyes fixed on the distant department store — where the Iron Coffin had just reappeared, materializing at the entrance.

His gaze flickered, processing. Calculating.

[Name: Claude · Tieguan]

[Type: Intelligent Mechanism Class / Control-Type]

[Rank: First-Rank Stellar Envoy]

[Stellar Source: Mechanical Sanctum]

[Crimes: Massacre of over a hundred people — solely to refine his own 'human data'.]

[Federal Wanted Level: One-Star]

[Federal Reward: 350,000 Stellar Source Coins]

Dusk settled over the city.

Chen Kong pushed open the supermarket’s glass door. The golden evening light stretched his shadow long across the tiled floor.

Inside, housewives pushed carts between aisles. A TV above the checkout played a weather report. The cashier yawned, glancing at his watch — counting down the minutes until shift end.

Simple. Ordinary. Warm with the quiet hum of daily life.

Chen Kong exhaled softly, heart full.

This… this is what peace feels like. If only…

He smiled faintly.

It wasn’t meant for me.

He turned toward the fresh produce section — but before he took two steps, a chilling presence washed over him from behind.

Clang!

The glass door trembled violently. Lights flickered on and off.

Panic erupted through the store. People screamed, scrambling, staring wildly around.

Chen Kong spun.

At the entrance — a swirling black vortex had erupted on the floor.

From it emerged a strange Iron Coffin, covered in glowing circuitry.

Thud.

The coffin opened.

A short, broad-shouldered man with a thick beard stepped out, grinning.

"Nice to meet you, unknown genius — Stellar Envoy Chen Kong."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end