The first autumn rain arrived earlier than usual. It was a cause for great happiness for the freemen and slaves of Urawa Base City. In this era, water was more valuable than oil. Everyone collected the rainwater eagerly, since it could be stored for drinking after some simple purification. However, the radiation from star beasts had made natural rainwater unsafe for direct consumption. Still, every time it rained, it became a festival for the freemen and slaves.0

In the private backyard of the Urawa Dojo, a meticulously designed drainage system channeled precious rainwater directly into the sewer. The courtyard, styled like a traditional zen garden, was serene and minimalist.0

Faint white steam swirled gently in a four-cornered pavilion within the courtyard. It housed a...0