116 Grooming for Ren (1)

Ren ambled back to his dormitory. Streetlights at twilight were faint, the ground chilly and damp. Now and then, folks wearing tattered clothes pulled their coats tighter and quickly walked by the road.

Even though this was the heart of the Empire, aside from the special area around the Tower, most spots seemed pretty shabby. In this world, life wasn't easy for most alphas and betas. For regular folks, it was even tougher.

Underneath the dorm, a coal cart was parked. An older man with silver strands in his hair, along with his petite, frail granddaughter, was trying to lift a hefty box of coal, slowly lugging it up the stairs. The old man had to pause for coughs, while the young girl, probably seven or eight, did her best to hold the box higher, hoping to ease the strain on her grandpa.

As Ren approached the tight staircase, he effortlessly hoisted the coal box. A few quick steps later, and it was on the next floor.