Until the next day’s departure, Chen Nian still couldn’t recall the Alpha’s name. However, when he looked at the pass, he saw the name “Drake” written on it.

Chen Nian decided to remember the name for now—after all, the man had gone out of his way to gift him something quite nice.

Whenever major events were about to occur, the upper levels would issue some passes, giving residents of the Underground City an opportunity to participate.

Drake worked in the transportation department and was fortunate to obtain one this time. Each pass allowed an additional person to accompany the holder, which was how he was able to invite Chen Nian to go up to the surface with him.

Chen Nian followed Drake and the crowd onto the large elevator leading to the surface.

It had been nearly two years since Chen Nian last visited the surface. Ever since his secondary gender had differentiated into Omega, he had never stepped foot on solid ground again.

Jiang Dai, his caretaker, had been adamant about not letting him go above.

When he was younger, Chen Nian had clamored to see real sunlight and the night sky. Jiang Dai would always distract him with other things, brushing off the topic lightly. Over time, Chen Nian began to realize there was more to it.

He wasn’t stupid. Jiang Dai’s severe injuries and the excessively tight security at home all pointed to one possibility—Jiang Dai was most likely a wanted man.

Perhaps Jiang Dai had found him by chance during his escape. Chen Nian didn’t particularly care about the truth. All he knew was that Jiang Dai had raised him, been the best family he could ask for, and if anything happened, he would undoubtedly stand by Jiang Dai’s side.

Chen Nian had always been someone who favored his loved ones over being fair.

“Are you happy?” Drake asked softly. The elevator was crowded, and the two of them stood in a corner, slightly squeezed together.

Drake didn’t mind—it gave him the perfect excuse to rest his hand on Chen Nian’s shoulder.

“Mm.” Chen Nian smiled at him. “It’s been so long since I’ve been up there.”

He was shorter than Drake, and from the Alpha’s angle, he could clearly see Chen Nian’s fair neck and the skin exposed through his collar.

Chen Nian wore a neckband that protected his gland, adorned with a delicate chain. It looked less like a medical device and more like a playful accessory.

After all, the surface wasn’t the place for him to stir up trouble. Chen Nian obediently wore his coat properly and refrained from using temporary sprays to dye his hair. His soft black locks made him look like a well-behaved child when he wasn’t speaking.

But the mischievous glint in his amber eyes betrayed the untamed nature that was typical of an Omega.

Drake’s heart was practically racing. What could be more thrilling than making the Omega he’d been chasing for so long happy?

He even had a hunch that if he played his cards right today, he might be able to coax Chen Nian into bed by nightfall and claim his first night.

In Z Zone, bets had been placed on who could take Chen Nian’s virginity first.

Alphas from all walks of life, even some with families, had joined in.

Chen Nian was like a blooming tuberose in the dark, exuding an intoxicating fragrance that drew Alphas to him, each desperate to penetrate his petals and taste his nectar.

If Drake succeeded, he wouldn’t just win the beautiful Omega; he’d also rake in a hefty pot of winnings and earn the title of the most enviable Alpha in the entire Underground City.

Lost in his daydreams of having it all, Drake didn’t notice that Chen Nian had already looked away and was observing his surroundings.

The elevator ascended steadily, piercing through the beacon and carrying them thousands of meters to the surface.

Humans no longer lived on land.

A thousand years ago, sudden climate changes triggered massive floods. The land sank during violent tectonic shifts, and the planet was gradually submerged.

At the brink of extinction, humanity united to build six supercomputers, using the pinnacle of technology and resources to create final refuges.

These supercomputers, called Beacons, floated above the water, calculating solutions to humanity’s crises while also serving as floating shelters.

For a thousand years, the Beacons absorbed special materials from the ocean floor to power themselves. The six Beacons were named Cinnabar, Triplite, Smoky Quartz, Azurite, Staryte, and Moonlight—the last of which had long since failed and collapsed.

Chen Nian lived in the 13th information processing district of Cinnabar, the first Beacon. Because it was located deep within and devoid of sunlight, it was nicknamed the Underground City.

The upper class had adopted gemstones and minerals as names, turning this naming convention into a societal trend.

The Empire’s crown prince, Shavri Vitaljevich, was a prime example. The young Alpha, as radiant as his name suggested, was the Empire’s brightest jewel.

But none of that mattered to Chen Nian. He was far more eager to see the unobstructed natural scenery of the surface.

As the elevator slowed, a slight sense of weightlessness made his body feel a little uncomfortable. After a few more minutes, the ascent finally ended.

Under the eager eyes of the Underground City’s residents, the elevator doors slid open, and a beam of sunlight spilled into the cabin.

“We’re here.” Drake looked at Chen Nian, the warm light falling on the Omega’s face, making his amber eyes glimmer like glass beads, their color even lighter than usual.

The two of them followed the crowd out of the elevator and stepped onto the “land” of Cinnabar Beacon’s surface.

A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of unknown flowers and a faint hint of moisture.

Chen Nian couldn’t help but take a deep breath. The air here was distinctly different—no stench of garbage or sewage, and no chaotic mix of pheromones.

On the surface, whether Omega or Alpha, everyone precisely controlled their pheromone release to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Drake’s pass only allowed access to the area designated for the royal parade, but that was more than enough to impress Chen Nian.

“It’s starting soon.” Drake naturally took Chen Nian’s hand as if the Omega was already his. “Stay close. It’s crowded here; don’t get lost.”

Chen Nian stayed by Drake’s side but let his gaze wander to the city in the distance.

Intricate buildings stood like a forest of steel. Sunlight reached every window, and natural rain fell on glass panes instead of sewage dripping from pipes.

There were no sudden power outages here. People lived freely under the sky, basking in nature.

The streets had been cleared in advance, and Underground City residents stood behind rows of guards and barricades, waiting for the royal parade to pass.

While standing next to Drake, Chen Nian’s thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

He spotted the ornate clock tower in the distance. The enormous hands moved silently with the passage of time.

The clock tower was the tallest building in the vicinity. From its summit, one could take in the entire area’s scenery, with wind, sunlight, and even clouds close enough to touch.

“It’s here!” someone shouted, causing the crowd to stir. Latecomers at the back tiptoed or climbed onto anything nearby to get a better view.

The procession approached from the far end of the street, electronic barriers forming a protective shield.

Chen Nian wasn’t particularly interested in the royal parade. The clock tower fascinated him much more than the people whose names he didn’t even know.

It wasn’t until the parade was halfway through that Chen Nian reluctantly turned his attention back to the noise.

Through the transparent protective barrier, he saw a mechanical warhorse passing in front of him.

The white-and-platinum steed was impressively tall, every joint and line radiating a unique blend of mechanical and organic beauty.

The Alpha atop the horse sat upright, his posture impeccable. His slender hands held the reins with elegance.

Platinum hair shimmered in the sunlight, almost silver in hue. Violet eyes looked straight ahead, steady and composed. This was Shavri Vitaljevich, the Empire’s crown prince, passing right in front of Chen Nian.

Following Shavri was an equally luxurious mechanical carriage. The windows were coated with a one-way visibility layer, making it impossible to see inside. But that didn’t stop people from imagining the beauty of the Omega within.

Seated in the carriage was the Empire’s esteemed imperial candidate and future royal consort, the only orphaned child of the great marshal Chen Wei.

The royal consort was an enigma. In today’s information age, not even his name had been made public, let alone his appearance.

Raised in the White Tower since childhood, the consort’s existence was shrouded in mystery, fueling endless speculation.

Chen Nian watched the parade with mild disinterest. After a few minutes of observing the crown prince and consort pass by, his attention inevitably drifted back to the clock tower.

Who knows when he’d have the chance to come up here again? A bold idea started forming in his mind.

As the parade moved further down the street, Drake turned his attention back from the procession and rubbed his nose. Like the other Alphas present, he had been straining to catch even a hint of the consort’s pheromones.

Rumor had it that the consort was a once-in-a-century top-tier Omega. Drake didn’t expect to see him but thought that just catching his scent would suffice.

Of course, Drake smelled nothing.

A bit disappointed, he consoled himself with the thought of Chen Nian.

Putting aside all his daydreams about unattainable beauty, Drake turned to Chen Nian. “Hey, there’s a bar nearby. Let’s—huh? Where’d he go?”

The Alpha looked around in confusion, only to find that the spot where Chen Nian had been standing was now empty.

The parade paused briefly in a courtyard for a rest.

Shavri dismounted from his horse and entered the carriage behind him, closing his eyes tightly for a moment.

Despite looking regal on the horse, he was tired and overheated.

Inside the carriage, Chen Wei’s lone heir, Chen Ci, shifted slightly to make space for Shavri and retrieved a bottle of sunscreen spray from a small cabinet.

The Omega’s porcelain-like wrist emerged from the embroidered gold cuffs as he handed the spray to Shavri.

Chen Ci gazed out the window again, a faint wistfulness in his voice as he said softly, “I want to go outside.”

Shavri took the spray, cooling his sunburned arms and neck. “The usual place?”

“Mm.”

“I’ll take you.” Shavri agreed without hesitation. After drinking a few sips of water, he added, “Just remember to come back on time. I won’t be able to cover for you for long.”

“Thank you.” Chen Ci nodded slightly, his expression as calm as ever, as if nothing in life could bring him joy anymore.

He adjusted the long hem of his white robe and followed Shavri out of the carriage, pretending they were heading to the restroom.

When Shavri was with him, Chen Ci didn’t need to have anyone else following.

At the restroom entrance, Shavri took out a personal device and hacked into the nearby security system, temporarily disabling surveillance cameras along Chen Ci’s route.

He worked quickly and skillfully, a clear sign this wasn’t his first time doing this.

“Go on. You’ve got five minutes of clearance. Be as quick as you can.”

Chen Ci nodded. “Thank you.”

The Alpha’s mental power extended silently, ensuring Chen Ci could leave the building and reach the clock tower unimpeded.

Once the cameras reactivated, Shavri checked to make sure they hadn’t captured Chen Ci, then returned to the parade.

After a brief rest, the procession was set to continue. The housekeeper approached to check on Chen Ci’s status.

Before he could get close to the carriage, Shavri preemptively stated, “He’s asleep.”

The housekeeper nodded and refrained from disturbing the Omega inside.

Shavri mounted his horse again, leaving behind an empty carriage.

No one could have guessed that the crown prince had lied.

This was his way of compensating Chen Ci. As his fiancé, Shavri was acutely aware of the stifling life Chen Ci had been forced to lead.

The White Tower was nothing more than a gilded cage, trapping an Omega who couldn’t even leave without layers of approval.

While Shavri couldn’t change Chen Ci’s circumstances, he did what little he could to help.

As the parade resumed, Chen Ci had already reached the clock tower.

He knew the route by heart, having repeated this act countless times. Nearly every major event gave him a chance to sneak out under Shavri’s cover.

These moments were among the few times he felt truly free.

Ascending the clock tower, Chen Ci moved swiftly. Despite his slender frame, he had excellent stamina, climbing over twenty floors with only slight breathlessness.

Reaching the top, Chen Ci quickened his pace, leaving the stairwell and crossing an empty corridor.

He hadn’t expected to turn a corner and bump into someone.

“Ugh.”

“Ouch!”

The collision was solid, and both let out startled noises. Chen Ci stumbled back, instinctively beginning to apologize.

“I’m sorry—”

But as he saw the person before him, the words caught in his throat.

His amber eyes widened in disbelief, and for the first time in his life, his face showed genuine surprise.