When Shang Yanwen woke up, he was already able to see through the shuttle's porthole, the cityscape of Comoros, fractured into grotesque fragments by towering spires.
A century ago, as a poor youth scraping by in the underbelly of the Korolya Nest Capital, he never imagined that his academic prowess would earn him a place at the Alliance's prestigious University of Law, and that upon graduation he would enter the ranks of government.
Even more unthinkable was that he would one day set foot in this city, once a cosmic blight, as one of its administrators.
Rubbing his eyes, Shang Yanwen asked, "How much longer until we arrive?"
"Director Shang, we'll be landing in five minutes, after which we'll transfer to a vehicle that will take us to the government building. Governor Xia Xingze is already awaiting your arrival," the female attendant's voice resonated inside the cabin.
Through the porthole, Shang Yanwen looked at the contorted cluster of buildings and recalled his hometown.
