High above the bustling streets, the sun blazed in the sky, casting its intense heat over Evergreen City.

Nestled within the Aurelian Federation, Evergreen City stands as a premier international metropolis, one of the few first-tier cities boasting a high standard of living.

Here, residents enjoy stable jobs with annual earnings ranging from 500,000 to 1 million Unicreds; without this financial cushion, life can be quite challenging.

With a staggering population of 400 million and an additional floating population of around 200 million,

Evergreen City thrives as a hub of technology and culture.

The city earns its name from the abundance of trees that grace its landscape.

Committed to sustainability, approximately 70% of its industries operate on green energy, factories and transportation alike contribute to making Evergreen City one of the cleanest urban environments in the Aurelian Federation.

The city is divided into ten districts, each sprawling like an independent city complete with residential areas, business centers, industrial parks, and innovation hubs.

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Evergreen City: Pine Heights District

Pine Heights District is just one vibrant part of Evergreen City.

Home to about 100 million residents, this district is bustling with schools, universities, business centers, and residential complexes, everything you could need is right here!

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“Ahhh! What a boring day!” sighed Frederick as he strolled along the sidewalk.

Clad in a sleek school uniform with a black backpack slung over his shoulder and hands tucked behind his head, he wore an expression that screamed ennui.

Frederick was your average high school student attending a nearby school just a short ten- to fifteen-minute walk from home.

Coming from a middle-income family, his father managed a tech company while his mother taught at university, he had two younger sisters still in elementary school.

Life was comfortable; food and clothing were never concerns for him.

Academically speaking, Frederick was doing well enough to rank among the top ten students in his class.

Yet for three long years now, he felt utterly disinterested in everything around him.

The only spark in his otherwise monotonous life came from online novels, a solitary passion that left him with few friends since most of his peers pursued hobbies that didn’t resonate with him.

With hands shoved deep into his pockets and boredom etched across his face, Frederick ambled down the sidewalk when suddenly something caught his eye.

“Huh?” He stopped abruptly as he noticed a quaint bookstore nestled between two towering buildings.

Unlike typical bookstores filled with dusty tomes, this one seemed vibrant and inviting, its shelves brimming with colorful magazines at least in his impression these books like magazines to him that piqued Frederick’s curiosity.

“Wow!” he exclaimed softly upon stepping inside; it felt like entering another world compared to the outside hustle and bustle.

As he glanced around, he noticed the store was quiet except for the owner, who sat behind the counter engrossed in a game on his computer.

The shelves were lined with colorful magazines adorned with vibrant cartoon illustrations, but what truly caught Frederick’s attention was a particular book nestled among them.

He approached one shelf and spotted a cover that practically leaped out at him.

It featured a small boy clad in a bright orange jumpsuit accented with blue details,complete with a blue forehead protector and goggles strapped to his arm.

The boy wore an impish grin, brandishing a kunai knife in his right hand as if ready to leap into action! His wide smile and sparkling eyes radiated mischief, perfectly embodying his troublemaker spirit.

The background was painted with a cheerful blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds, setting an adventurous tone.

Towering buildings loomed behind him, their facades carved into the side of an enormous mountain, a scene bursting with energy and excitement.

Frederick’s heart raced as he took in the bold title “NARUTO,” emblazoned across the cover in large yellow letters outlined in black and shadowed in red, a design that screamed vibrancy!

“NARUTO!” he whispered dreamily to himself, momentarily lost in its allure.

Shaking off his daze, Frederick turned his gaze to another book beside it.

Just looking at this cover sent chills down his spine; while Naruto exuded warmth and adventure, this one felt dark and foreboding.

He picked it up carefully and examined it closely.

The cover depicted a young boy around 10-12 years old standing defiantly in a brown jacket.

He gripped the handles of 3D Maneuver Gear tightly, eyes ablaze with determination and fury.

Behind him loomed an ominous Colossal Titan, its massive hand reaching down menacingly from above.

Only fragments of its muscular form were visible: haunting empty eyes stared back at him through swirling steam-like mist that surrounded it, creating an atmosphere thick with dread.

A dark cloud-filled sky hung overhead, symbolizing despair and uncertainty while smoke and debris hinted at destruction wrought by Titans below.

In the distance stood faint outlines of colossal walls, the last fragile defense for humanity against these monstrous threats.

Just gazing at this cover filled Frederick with an overwhelming sense of oppression; the sheer size of the Titan evoked feelings of fear and unease within him.

The title appeared in jagged kanji that looked like scratches or cracks,an urgent reminder of the brutal world within its pages,and just beneath it read “ATTACK ON TITAN” in smaller text.

“Attack on Titan!” he muttered under his breath; even saying it sent goosebumps racing down his arms!

“Hey, kiddo! Come here!” Suddenly, the store owner, who had been engrossed in his computer screen, called out to Frederick, snapping him back to reality.

Frederick turned his head and walked over, curiosity sparkling in his eyes as he approached the counter.

“Hey there! I see you’re quite fond of these manga,” the store owner said with a wide grin.

“Manga? That’s what these magazines are called!” Frederick exclaimed, catching onto the term eagerly.

“Whoa now! Don’t you dare insult manga like that! Do these look like magazines to you?” The store owner’s expression shifted to one of mock indignation.

Frederick scratched his head sheepishly and smiled. “Okay, okay! My bad!”

“Forget it; I don’t have time to babysit you!” The store owner waved dismissively but couldn’t hide a chuckle.

“Can you tell me about these manga I’m holding?” Frederick asked excitedly, waving two colorful volumes in front of him.

The store owner pointed at one of them. “This one’s called Naruto!” His smile widened as he spoke.

“Yes!” Frederick nodded enthusiastically.

“The boy on the cover is named Naruto,” the store owner said before falling silent.

“Is that it? Come on, keep going!” Frederick urged impatiently.

“Nope! No spoilers for you!” The store owner grinned mischievously.

Frederick was momentarily speechless. “How much are they?”

“100 Unicreds each!” The owner’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he quickly replied.

“Huh! That’s so cheap!” Frederick muttered in disbelief while reaching into his wallet and pulling out two 100 bills for the eager shopkeeper.

The store owner couldn’t help but smirk at Frederick’s reaction.

“Goodbye for now! Once I finish these, I’ll be back for more!” Frederick waved enthusiastically as he dashed out of the store, practically sprinting home with anticipation bubbling inside him.

“Hehehe! Kid, you won’t be able to escape from the world of manga now!” The store owner chuckled to himself, knowing that a new fan had just been born.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep