Macau's morning traffic moved like steady streams of color as Liam weaved into the flow with ease. The Range Rover SV glided over the asphalt smoothly.

The sun had risen higher now, warming the city with a gentle golden glow.

Liam rested one hand on the steering wheel, letting the gentle breeze from the open window brush against his hair. He felt relaxed, having just a day entirely to himself.

He drove toward the first destination Lucy had pulled up on the navigation feed: The Ruins of St. Paul's.

The closer he got, the more people gathered along the stone steps leading up to the iconic façade. The structure towered over the plaza. It looked weathered, beautifully carved, standing like a lonely monument from a forgotten time.

Liam parked the car at a nearby street and stepped out. Tourists crowded the area, taking pictures, chatting, laughing, eating snacks. He adjusted his jacket and began walking toward the famous stone wall, blending into the flow.

His gaze drifted upward.

The ruined façade was far larger in person than in the photos he'd seen online. Its was carved details, with images of saints, angels, floral patterns, symbols. It held a strange mix of Western and Eastern influences. The stone steps beneath his feet were warm from the sun.

He stopped halfway up the stairs, watching the world around him quietly.

"It's beautiful," he murmured.

The view wasn't overwhelmingly stunning, but it carried depth, filled with history, stories and a sense of survival despite destruction. He appreciated structures like this—things that endured time.

"This landmark was built in 1602, destroyed by fire in 1835," Lucy's voice echoed softly in his head, as she gave him the history of the structure.

Liam nodded slightly. "It's amazing it still stands."

He allowed himself to enjoy the view for a few more minutes, before he turned and walked down the steps, slipping back into the moving crowd and moving to his next stop: Senado Square.

The plaza opened before him in a wide stretch of mosaic tiles. Buildings painted in soft yellows, greens, and creams surrounded the square in old colonial style. The energy was loud but friendly, with street performers playing music, families shopping, tourists taking dozens of pictures from every angle.

Liam walked slowly through it all, taking in the bright colors and the warm air. The square reminded him of something between Europe and Asia, blended into a single living postcard.

He passed a shop selling pastries and paused briefly. The scent of freshly baked egg tarts drifted out. He decided to buy a few of the snacks for himself, intending to eat them as he continued his exploration.

He stuffed one into his mouth and kept walking. He watched a group of children chase pigeons across the patterned tiles. He watched a man take pictures of his girlfriend as she struck pose after pose. He watched a vendor selling hand-crafted souvenirs, each one carved with care.

Normal life. Simple life.

He let himself enjoy the mundanity. Now that he actually thought about it, he's never enjoyed a moment like this before. He has always been caught one with one thing or the other.

While he has had fun a few times with his friends, he's never really shown much expression.

As far as he remembered, he's always been all smiles, even if he's happy or sad. This was due to the fact that he never allowed anyone to read him. It was the way he survived that hellish life before he got the system. But it seems that even after more than a month, he still hasn't changed.

"It seems I've gotten so used to hiding my true self and putting on that mask to survive, that I've forgotten what my true self really is," Liam sighed softly.

Liam smiled to himself, making a promise to himself to find his true self. And he intends to keep that promise.

After enjoying enough of the scenery, before leaving the Square and walking to Fortaleza do Monte fortress.

The climb up the stone path wasn't long, but the view awaiting him at the top made him stop in his tracks.

The whole city stretched outward, sprawling with casinos, tight-packed streets, endless maze of apartments, and far beyond that, the shimmering waters outlining Macau's borders.

Liam stepped to the railing and rested his arms on it, looking out quietly.

He wasn't admiring the city because it was grand. No. He admired it because it was alive. People living, moving, working, hoping, failing, trying. A living ecosystem of stories he wasn't part of, but might probably be in the future.

His shoulders loosened and his breath deepened.

"I really needed this," he whispered.

The wind brushed past him, warm and steady. For a moment, he simply closed his eyes and let himself exist.

Then he smiled and stepped back.

"Time for food."

It was already noon and he has promised to treat himself to some street food.

By the time he reached the small food alley, the place was packed.

Vendors lined the streets with hot grills, bubbling pots, stacks of skewers, baskets of buns, trays of pastries, and an endless list of dishes that made the whole street smell like a feast.

He walked through slowly, scanning the stalls one by one.

A vendor called out, "Young man! Try the pork chop bun!"

Another waved a spatula, "Fresh egg tarts! Just baked!"

Someone yelled, "Curry fish balls!"

Liam's smile grew. He approached the stall selling pork chop buns. The vendor placed one into a small paper wrapper and handed it to him with a wide grin.

Liam took a bite and he nodded slowly in satisfaction.

The bun was warm and soft, the pork freshly grilled, savory and juicy. The seasoning held just enough kick to make him pause and savor it.

He nodded in approval. "Very good."

The vendor laughed proudly. "Of course! Macau's best!"

Liam smiled and continued through the street, stopping at another stall. He ordered a skewer of curry fish balls, then a Portuguese egg tart from another.

Each bite was different—spicy, creamy, sweet, hot, crispy, soft.

He wasn't someone who made exaggerated reactions. He didn't close his eyes or hum in delight. But the subtle expressions, from slight widening of eyes, a slow satisfied nod, the faint hint of a smile made it clear he was enjoying himself more than he expected.

Liam bought a small cup of milk tea and walked toward a shaded corner, leaning against a wall as he watched the crowds move.

This was the first time in a very long time that he had eaten something messy, oily, simple, and very human.

He liked it.

He finished the last of his food and tossed the wrapper into a bin. Then he took a sip of the tea and stepped back into the sunlight.

"My next stop will be Macau Tower," he muttered to himself, making his way to the tower.

***

The elevator shot up quickly, and the moment Liam stepped onto the observation deck, the entire panorama of Macau unfolded beneath him.

The city looked small, scattered like toy blocks. Cars moved like tiny insects, and the coastline curved gently along the horizon.

He walked along the glass floor panel and looked down. A thousand feet of air separated him from the ground.

Most people stayed away from the glass. Some screamed and some clung to the railing.

Liam stepped onto it without hesitation. As someone who has flown past the sea of clouds with just his body and has fought monsters in the air, what's the fear of heights?

He walked around the deck, stopping occasionally to take in the angle of the view. He didn't take pictures, as he simply watched the world from above.

It was peaceful, quiet and detached.

After ten minutes, he turned away.

***

By late afternoon, the sky had begun shifting into darkening hues. Liam parked the Range Rover near the lakeside and stepped out.

The water reflected the city lights, creating long shimmering trails across the surface. People walked along the waterfront, some jogging, some holding hands, some taking pictures.

Liam leaned against the railing, watching the fountain in the distance shoot streams of water into the air, illuminated by soft blue and pink lights.

He watched families laugh. Couples sat close to their partners and children run along the walkway.

This was a good break, He took a quiet breath.

But now… it was almost time for something less peaceful.

The sky deepened into night, turning dark and cool.

Liam pushed off the railing and walked back toward the car. The engine purred to life and the headlights illuminated the road ahead.

He turned onto the main street and began driving toward the bright, towering giant in the near distance—one of Macau's biggest casinos.

The lights grew brighter as he approached.

Liam rested one hand on the wheel, with his expression relaxed.

"Alright. Let's make more millions tonight," he murmured with a small smile.

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