Mechanical Alchemist

The upper echelons of the Cross Society actively recruiting Goron, the "Red Demon," was something Su Lun had expected.

After all, any faction in the outer city would see a great master expelled from the Inner City as a significant boost.

It was likely not just the Cross Society, the Crow Gang and the Steam Party were probably in talks as well, otherwise, Chairman Chak wouldn't have sent thousands of these core members of the Cross Society to his doorstep in person.

Now Su Lun had a rough idea of where the gap between Inner City professionals and Outer City professionals truly lay.

Although it is not that Inner City professionals are always stronger than those from the Outer City, the Inner City, which is home to over ninety percent of Old Lington's resources, undoubtedly has higher average combat power among professionals of the same rank.

Rare items like silver implants and induction materials, hardly seen in the outer city, were often auctioned in the Inner City, and even more rare ancient cursed objects appeared.

After all, only those Big Shots with deep pockets could afford the good items that Scavengers unearthed from the ruins.

Over time, the major conglomerates must have also accumulated many rare alchemic resources.

And the disparity in resources is the fundamental reason for the difference in combat abilities between Inner City and Outer City professionals.

It's like that "Red Demon" Goron, a bodyguard who could obtain top-tier resources, something unimaginable in the outer city.

....

Inside the Elephant Bar, the heavy metal music was deafening.

Su Lun followed Chian and Kai and found a booth to sit down.

Chian waved his hand grandly, "Hey, bartender—three 'Goldwheat' beers!"

The housewife who had won money at gambling spared no expense and directly ordered the most expensive Goldwheat beer in the house.

A large stein for each of the three.

This "Gold Medal Black Wheat Beer," coming directly from an Inner City brewery, was also quite pricey. One stein cost about a thousand riso, equivalent to half a month's wage for an ordinary worker.

Su Lun didn't find anything special about the taste of the beer, feeling it was similar to the blended whiskeys of his previous life.

But after looking at the ingredients, he understood that the great part of the cost came from the water used.

Though Old Lington's water supply wasn't scarce, it was lacking clean sources. The groundwater was mixed with heavy dark energy substances, which could lead to mutations if consumed directly.

Removing these contaminants required large water filtration plants. There were high costs involved, also rumored to be due to oligopolistic control; only Inner City residents had access to genuinely clean drinking water.

In the outer city, the common people could only enjoy inferior water, and it wasn't cheap. The cost of drinking water was also a major expense for most ordinary people.

....

Since Su Lun had only recently joined the gang, and although he found Captain Kai and Chian quite palatable, he wasn't very familiar with them.

After settling down, he just silently drank his beer, listening to the two of them chat.

"Sister Chian, you mean the guy who escaped disappeared around our Green Street?"

"Hmm... Our gang's tracker followed him all the way to the neighboring block, then the trail went cold. But neither that item nor the 'Sealed Item' can be placed into a storage ring, so it definitely wouldn't have been easy for him to escape. We think he's most likely hiding in one of the sewers nearby, too scared to show his face..."

"Also, Kai, you and the brothers should be more careful in your actions recently. There seems to have been some disturbance among the upper echelons of the Black Tower; there's been quite a bit of upheaval within the top-tier Inner City conglomerates. Both the Steam Party and Crow Gang have big financial groups backing them, and there might be some moves soon..."

"Understood, Sister Chian."

...

Su Lun listened on the side; the two spoke at length but never mentioned what "that thing" was.

Perhaps it was a tacit understanding, or maybe they themselves weren't clear on what was missing.

But Su Lun understood it was apparently some kind of "manuscript."

As for the rumors of Inner City disturbances, it seemed like something from another world, irrelevant to him.

What piqued Su Lun's interest more was something else, the so-called "Sealed Item" they talked about.

He also understood that the Sealed Item appeared to be a large black scythe about two meters long. The intruding gang had used that scythe to cut through the door of the gang's treasury.

Su Lun didn't feel confident enough to ask what a Sealed Item was, but it sounded like it had special effects similar to "Rune Puppets," those cursed objects.

The fact that the Cross Society, one of the top three gangs of the outer city, was mobilizing so many resources to search for it made Su Lun increasingly curious about the magical aspects of these so-called Sealed Items.

Now, the only information he had was that the scythe was large and sharp, capable of easily slicing through metal doors. And that the individual who had fled with the treasure was suspected of hiding in the sewers near Green Street...

As he drank, a sudden thought flashed through Su Lun's mind, "Eh... previously when stripping the memories of 'Shadow Scorpion' Abek, there was mention of a Sealed Item hidden in the 'Moonlight Inn,' wonder what it is."

Thinking this, he was somewhat lost in thought.

...

Since there was no opportunity to join the conversation, Su Lun was either drinking or idly flipping a copper coin in his hand.

At that moment, the coin skillfully moved between his fingers, from the base to the pinkie, and then flipped back from the end. No matter how he shook his hand, there was no sign of the coin falling off.

This was a direct reflection of his skills skyrocketing after he had successfully started his job.

He could now precisely control nearly every muscle in his fingers, making the coin stick to his skin, adeptly flipping without falling off.

Of course, this wasn't purely him being bored and playing around.

Su Lun was actually practicing a compulsory small skill for Puppeteers—the Art of Ten Finger Connection.

The most basic operation technique in marionette control.

It required the controller's fingers to be flexible and versatile, using subtle finger tremors to control the precise movements of the puppet's limbs.

Now, he had mastered the skill, but his muscle memory was still a bit raw and needed constant practice.

Just then, Chak, who seemed to notice that Su Lun was a bit bored, raised her cup and said heartily, "Cheers!"

"Cheers."

Su Lun clinked glasses and gulped down a big mouthful of liquor.

Chak drank boldly, gulping down the liquor, with drips flowing down her chin and neck.

She also noticed Su Lun's action with the coin and, raising an eyebrow, asked, "Are you following the gunman career path?"

Su Lun nodded, "Mmhmm."

There wasn't much to hide about this, it was even intentional.

Although he had started his job, Su Lun didn't plan to reveal his special vocation as a Puppeteer.

Occasionally showing off some gunman-specific talents could lead people to assume that was his profession.

The more he feigned mystery, the more it would pique people's curiosity.

Chak showed some interest and casually asked, "Would you be interested in learning the blade from me? Your hands are very dexterous, you should be able to pick it up quickly."

Su Lun shook his head and gracefully declined, "Thank you, Sister Chak... but my awakened talent is 'Hawkeye', so being a gunman might suit me better."

Until he had the ability to protect himself, he planned to continue being his inconspicuous self. Besides, "blade wielder" wasn't in his career plans.

"Oh, that's too bad..."

Chak pouted her lips and didn't say much else.

After pondering for a moment, she suddenly said something that sounded slightly somber, "Kid, don't die too easily. There will definitely be a place for you in the gang in the future."

This underworld big shot seemed used to life and death separations, expressing the most sentimental hope with the most mundane tone.

Don't die...

In the underworld, that's the best hope one could have.

Su Lun listened and nodded with a smile, "Mmhmm."

He felt that this big shot's temperament was quite to his liking, and he felt slightly moved.

But sometimes, plot twists can catch you off guard.

Just as the serious atmosphere had set in, at that moment, Chak suddenly put an arm around his shoulder, leaned in mysteriously, and said, "There's one more thing..."

"???"

Su Lun straightened up, thinking it was something important.

But in the next instant, the big shot's solemn demeanor completely collapsed.

Chak's eyes suddenly shone with the same green light she had in the casino, excitedly saying, "Hahaha... It's rare to meet someone with such good luck as you. I'm telling you, this kind of good luck could last several days. See you tomorrow at the arena, don't miss it!"

"..."

Su Lun's eyes twitched as he listened.

So, telling me not to die too easily wasn't out of valuing my skills, but because she was afraid her 'lucky tool' would be gone?

"Pfft~"

Hearing this, Captain Kai couldn't hold back, also spitting out his drink and then bursting into laughter.