Published: February 13, 2025
Sijierka City has many unique features, but if we were to talk about its most famous aspect, it would undoubtedly be the alleys here.
In many native planets of the All Races of the Universe, the term "alley" not only represents memories but also symbolizes faded time, mottled colors, and a hint of slowness and backwardness.
However, when it comes to the alleys of Sijierka City, people's impressions are of prosperity, mystery, technology, fun, and… some indescribable unique characteristics.
The alleys here twist and turn, lined with shops, yet hidden among flowers and trees. Of course, one can only distinguish between the real and the fake upon closer inspection.
Whether it’s day or night, the place is intoxicating and bustling. As long as you wish, you can find any race from the universe to accompany you for a short or long period, engaging in deep or shallow conversations.
As for whether it’s long or short, deep or shallow, that depends on the thickness of your wallet and your personal skills.
Recently, the pillar economy of Sijierka City, which is the so-called alleys, has attracted quite a few new visitors. These newcomers clearly don’t seem like they come from prominent places; they have a bit of rusticity about them. Especially in the first few days of arrival, everything here appears novel to them, resembling country bumpkins who have never seen the world.
However, this was not a reason for the locals to despise these outsiders; on the contrary, they were quite 'proud' of them.
After all, they spend money, are willing to spend money, and most importantly, they are very wealthy.
As long as you have money, who cares about being rustic? That is not a problem at all.
Here, being broke is the biggest problem; it is the most unforgivable and despised form of rusticity!
Zi Fei is the owner of a gourmet chain with over ten shops in Sijierka City. Each shop offers more than ten unique delicacies from various races, ensuring a consistently good business.
Many people who come to the alleys of Sijierka City will solve their dining issues here; after all, by dining at Zi Fei's chain, they can essentially taste hundreds of delicious dishes.
“Boss, I’ve noticed some problems lately, and it’s concerning those outsiders,” a manager responsible for the chain's security said during the weekly meeting while addressing Zi Fei, who sat at the head of the table. “I’ve found that their numbers have increased recently. The number of people entering our chain stores daily has exceeded five hundred. Although it averages out to just a few dozen per shop, and possibly only a dozen during each meal, this exceeds normal circumstances. Even our most loyal customers wouldn’t come so frequently. I suspect the reason may be that there are a lot of them around, allowing for such a high frequency of visits to our stores.”
All the attendees were managers from various chain stores, as well as those responsible for finance, procurement, and kitchen matters. Hearing the security manager's words, they began discussing the situation amongst themselves.
Zi Fei crossed her arms, looked at the security manager, and said calmly, “Conclusion.”
“The conclusion is that we need to be wary of these people; I just feel they’re not good people. If necessary, we should report to the falling hammer legion,” the security manager replied, feeling confident about his assessment and looking expectantly at the boss for agreement.
Zi Fei's gaze made the security manager feel unfamiliar and anxious.
“Did these outsiders pay for their meals?”
“Uh… yes.”
“Did they cause any trouble?”
“Uh… no.”
“How is their level of spending?”
“Uh… above average.”
Zi Fei barely audibly snorted and continued, “What is the foundation of the alley culture in Sijierka City?”
“Uh… commerce, I suppose?”
“Did the Tarros Red Dwarf require reporting on suspicious individuals?”
“Uh… no.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Zi Fei suddenly raised her voice, startling the security manager.