Mechanical Alchemist

Having stripped a second-order professional, Su Lun felt a significant improvement in his battle skills.

Looking back, he also discovered a keyword in Abaik's memories, "Moonlight Inn."

"What did that guy hide in that inn?"

Su Lun's curiosity was piqued.

As a "Scorpion," Abaik was an assassin-type professional, and as a notorious A-class wanted criminal, his favorite activities were stealing treasures and killing.

Over the years, he committed numerous major crimes and amassed a significant amount of stolen goods and money.

From the limited memories, Su Lun also learned that this guy had been caught by the "Umbrella Organization" and then disclosed several of his treasure hiding places, but it seemed he had hidden away a very important "forbidden item."

"What is a 'forbidden item'?"

Su Lun thought that if this second-order professional considered something capable of saving his life, it must not be simple.

However, he didn't dwell on it too much.

Abaik had only been caught recently, and it's possible that some people, thinking his whereabouts had not been exposed, were closely monitoring him. For instance, the "Umbrella Organization" in the inner city, a special law enforcement department composed of professionals.

Just like in a previous life, to find clues, the police would trace a criminal's historical movements.

If he now went searching for the "dirty items," it was highly likely that he would be targeted by those tracing the connections.

The more valuable the item, the higher the probability of being targeted.

Thinking this, Su Lun decided to wait until the heat died down, and then he would have a chance to inquire about the location of the "Moonlight Inn."

....

The gladiator fights for tonight had all ended, and after the noise subsided, the gamblers dispersed one after another.

The ordinary gamblers were unaware that because of tonight's final main event, the "Crimson Fortress" gambling hall had attracted many big shots.

In a private room on the second floor, smoke lingered and the air was filled with the strong, sweet scent of tobacco.

This was the top-grade cigar from "Baghum Tobacco Company," the price of a box was equivalent to an average worker's monthly salary.

In the room were several men and women with prosthetic mechanical limbs. Though they were dressed in genteel black suits, they could not hide the strong aura of violence about them.

They were gangsters.

If there had been outsiders present, they would have recognized the cigar-smoking, big-bearded vulture of a man as "Butcher" Banner, the leader of the "Steam Brothers" gang, a big shot from the outer city.

One of the most powerful figures in the outer city.

Banner had watched the entire fight. Although he lost a bit of money, he seemed to be in a good mood, "Tsk, tsk, this ability is kind of interesting... Send someone to contact this 'Red Demon' Goron. If he's willing to join our gang, give him the status of an officer."

A second-order professional expelled by the Batalov family, other families in the inner city would no longer employ him.

This guy could only make a living in the outer city.

For their gang, such a person was the best "newcomer."

Hearing this, the man standing by the door in the private room responded, "Yes, boss."

At that moment, the seductive woman nestled in Banner's arms also spoke up, her voice coquettishly saying, "Old man, what do we do about Green Street? The gambling halls here are a juicy morsel... 'Cross Society' sent a young punk over to watch over the place, making it hard for us to step in."

Banner, his unmechanized hand roaming unabashedly over the woman's chest, said, "Heh, just a greenhorn who's recently advanced to professional status. Since they don't let their officers interfere, we shouldn't demean ourselves. In a couple of days send a few people to deal with this team and also test 'Cross Society's high council's reaction..."

The seductive woman seemed to know some inside information and guessed something from his words, curiously asking, "Old man, did the leader of 'Cross Society' really run into trouble?"

"Well..."

Banner did not commit to an answer but considered for a moment before saying, "Chak indeed hasn't shown up in Cross Society for two or three months. There's talk he went outside the city to handle a 'curse space' and apparently met with an accident."

After a pause, with a hint of suspicion in his eyes, he changed his tone, "However, knowing that old bastard as I do, even if he's really in trouble, he would have arranged some countermeasures. Right now, who knows, that guy might be planning some big move, preparing to screw someone over. That's why, we need to probe...

otherwise, these few streets, 'Steam Brotherhood' would have swallowed them long ago."

As Banner spoke, his hand became increasingly presumptuous.

The seductive woman was already wearing a long dress, and with his lifting, quite a bit was revealed.

Yet, the others in the room acted as if they were blind to the lascivious scene, not daring to look directly.

The seductive woman, somewhat breathless, reproached, "Old man, are you coming to my place tonight?"

Unexpectedly, Banner shook his head, "Not tonight."

At these words, the woman's mouth puckered with a "hmm?"

In this seemingly careless pout, there was an irresistibly charming and tender mischief, as if emanating some inexplicable magic power, begging for affection.

Banner looked at the envious glance of the woman and smiled, unconsciously explaining, "I heard news that there will be some excitement tonight, so I have to go out again."

"Excitement?"

The woman's eyes sparkled with curiosity upon hearing this.

After a moment's thought, Banner didn't hide much and said, "Apparently, the 'Cross Society' brought back a mysterious antique from the ancient ruins they discovered last time. And coincidentally, many big shots from the inner city are interested in it. So, a group of people will likely make a move on the Cross Society's vault tonight."

His words were vague, omitting many key details, yet the woman could tell the issue was explosive.

She seemed excited as she asked, "Will we be going to war with the 'Cross Society'?"

Banner shook his head and clarified, "Not us. It's probably the 'Crow Gang' and the big shots behind them in the inner city who want to take action. It's not really war, just a surprise attack. We're just going to watch the excitement. Of course, if there's an opportunity to exploit, we might as well pick up the slack."

...

There were no more bodies in the arena today to strip souls from, so Su Lun didn't stay any longer.

As for the other gambling on the upper floors, he wasn't interested in participating.

On his first day entering the city, Su Lun planned to familiarize himself with the environment, at least getting to know the three blocks of Green Street. After all, the Cross Society was the local serpent, and it wouldn't do for the gang members to be unfamiliar with their own turf.

The more chaotic the order, the more developed the entertainment industry.

After leaving the gambling stall, Green Street was aglow with lights and bustling with activity.

The streets were teeming with people.

Scavengers could be seen everywhere on the street, carrying weapons and gear, firearms, swords, steam-powered mechanical arms, leather armor, cowboy hats, and Mark boots—standard equipment for a Scavenger.

The ordinary people from the outer city earned only a couple of thousand Iris a month, while sitting in a tavern on Green Street could cost hundreds. Therefore, almost all the customers there were Scavengers. They risked their lives hunting in the wilds outside the city, and upon striking it rich, they enjoyed a life of inebriated dreams in the city.

Su Lun walked onto the street, weaving through the crowd.

Graffiti paintings were everywhere on the walls of the street, with designs that were thick with dark styles—abstract, satirical, and even lurid advertisements...

In the dark alleys, the incessant "hissing" sound was always heard, which was the sound of steam escaping from the ruptured pipes on the walls.

The city was filled with high chimneys spewing white smoke, exhausts from the steam boilers underground that powered city's factories' energy and hot water supply.

In the damp alleys near the taverns, one could always see a couple of Drunkards lying beside trash bins, vomiting and passing out. Rats looking for food seemed to be used to the sight, occasionally sniffing the drunkards, perhaps considering if they could be food.

Su Lun thought of the half-corpse he had seen behind the alley of "Elephant Tavern" and his eyes fell on the dark and flowing sewers. In those pitch-black holes, it seemed as if there were pairs of crimson eyes hiding...

After walking for a while, feeling an empty stomach, Su Lun found a restaurant that looked relatively clean.

The main dish was mushroom thick soup with rye bread.

Rye and mushrooms were specialties of the underground city.

Meat, however, was an expensive luxury.

Even the restaurant owner didn't know what kind of animal's meat he was serving that day.

Su Lun didn't care, as long as it was non-toxic; in his eyes, it was all just quality protein.

Even though the taste was a bit strange, it was much better than the dry rye bread he had been gnawing on before.

...

A gangster's workday only lasted half an hour.

Su Lun thought this leisure would last for a while.

But unexpectedly, on his first day, he encountered an emergency.

While dining in the restaurant, the communicator hanging at his waist suddenly started ringing urgently: "Everyone, hurry to the alley behind 'Emperor Spa' for assembly!"

Kai didn't explain anything over the communicator, but his tone sounded urgent.

The assembly point wasn't far, so Su Lun didn't delay and quickly made his way over.

By the time he arrived, dozens of Cross Society members were already gathered in the dark alley. The steam motorcycles roared, and the motorbikes and armored personnel carriers were all in position...

Gangs were always quick to respond to a flag signal, and an emergency assembly usually meant a clash was imminent.

Most of the gang members were still unaware of what had happened, their faces sporting smug grins.

Seeing the array of weapons and ammunition being distributed, Su Lun frowned slightly, realizing that the situation seemed serious.

Kai was brief and serious as he said, "The gang's main warehouse was attacked; we need to get there immediately! We're not sure who the enemy is yet, but everyone... prepare for battle!"