Monger felt as though an invisible iron fist had slammed viciously into his chest, all twenty-seven of his ribs cracking at once.
"Psykana?!"
Monger froze for a moment.
But he quickly regained his senses, enduring the pain as he swung the dagger in his hand, stained with putrid blood.
A stream of bubbling blood sprayed from the dagger toward the stern-faced man.
Yet the man suddenly vanished from where he stood. The blood missed and splattered against the nearby pipes.
The metal pipes were immediately corroded into tiny pits, white smoke rising in wisps.
The man suddenly appeared behind Monger.
Monger bit through his tongue, instantly filling his mouth with blood.
He spun around and spat a mouthful of bloody liquid at the man.
The mechanical hand above the man's head changed into a palm.
In an instant, an invisible wall seemed to rise before the man, blocking the corrosive blood.
"Where did such a powerful psyker come from in the Lower Hive?" Monger demanded in a low voice.
But the man did not say a word. The cap above his head merely pointed at Monger again.
Monger hurriedly rolled aside, only to see a pit half a meter wide split open in the ground beside him.
As though it had been smashed out by an invisible sledgehammer.
Monger's eyes reddened as he realized how powerful his opponent was.
He spat out a little blood and moistened his lips.
"Defile my blood, let flies dance."
"Unbearable itching, feed maggots with blood."
Monger murmured several brief phrases. Fine bubbles rose from the blood flowing across the ground, as though tiny maggots were rolling about within it.
"Wait, Monger, stop!"
Malkit's rebuke rang out as he stepped between the stern-faced man and Monger.
"We mean no harm!" Malkit said to the man before him.
Zhou Yun looked at the tall hooded man, then glanced at Monger, who was gripping his bloodstained dagger tightly.
Seriously, man? You call this meaning no harm?
I hadn't even done anything, and this dagger-wielding guy rushed at me like he was having an episode.
What? Does my handsome face look that scary?
Do you have a problem with this lion-like face full of justice?
And what kind of decent person has corrosive blood?
Zhou Yun glanced at the blood on the ground, which was still bubbling and hissing. If it landed on someone's body, it would strip off at least a layer of skin.
These two really were cultists.
"My name is Malkit, and this is my younger brother, Monger. We are... scavengers. Yes, scavengers."
Apparently noticing the deep distrust in Zhou Yun's eyes, the tall hooded man calling himself Malkit hurriedly explained,
"We came here to see if there was anything valuable. Monger must have mistaken you for a gang member patrolling the area, which is why he suddenly attacked you."
"I apologize on his behalf."
"Brother." Monger raised his head, seeming somewhat dissatisfied.
But Malkit shook his head fiercely at him.
So they mistook me for a gang member. Zhou Yun studied the two with some suspicion.
He recalled the Emperor Tarot card drawn by the winged figure in the white light.
But the less trouble, the better. Zhou Yun waved a hand, indicating that the matter was over.
The thing on his head had granted him formidable psykana, but it also consumed an enormous amount of mental energy.
If they really fought, who knew whether these two hooded men might pull out some Nurgle sorcery?
"Sir, you seem to be a psyker?" Malkit called out to Zhou Yun, who had turned to leave.
Zhou Yun glanced at Malkit and did not answer his question.
He had no desire to waste time on them, and not merely because they were dangerous.
Old Sector Eight had once been a major district of the Upper Hive. It covered a vast area, and its interior was as complex as a maze.
Moreover, quite a few gang members were patrolling nearby. Finding the PDF garrison within would not be easy.
He did not want to waste any time.
"No, I mean no harm."
Malkit chuckled and said gently,
"I merely mean that we may all be people who are not particularly welcome here."
"Why don't we work together?"
Patting Monger on the back, he said, "As you saw, my brother's and my blood are corrosive. I have similar abilities. We used them to corrode a hole through the ground and dig our way down here."
"And you? How did you do it? Your psykana seems capable of letting you use Instant Movement."
Malkit paused and pointed at the ground.
"We discovered a PDF outpost below. It is buried beneath a great deal of rubble, and no one can get inside."
"But perhaps your Instant Movement ability... can take us in?"
"..." Zhou Yun stopped and looked at Malkit. "You said a PDF outpost?"
"Of course, we can cooperate—"
Before Malkit could finish, Zhou Yun shook his head and turned to leave again.
"Wait."
Malkit tried to stop Zhou Yun again.
"Compared with lies, schemes, and deception, I place greater trust in tradition, inevitability, and love like that of family."
"There was no lie in what I said. I can take you to see where that PDF garrison is."
Zhou Yun frowned slightly.
These two were clearly cultists.
But cultists differed from one another. Cults that worshipped the Changer of Ways often favored lies and deception.
Yet cultists who worshipped Grandfather could sometimes be sincere, simple, and display trust like that of family.
Grandfather's followers were still dangerous, but at least they were far less likely to deceive people than followers of a certain Changer of Ways.
With the Instant Movement and Ring of Passage granted by the Psykana Cap, he still had a good chance of escaping if danger arose.
And besides...
Zhou Yun recalled the omen from that Emperor Tarot card: a partnership requiring patience and communication.
The Emperor Tarot was said to be connected to The Emperor's own will.
"Emperor, you're the one who made me cooperate with heretics, so don't blame me."
Zhou Yun muttered quietly.
"I can help you enter the PDF garrison."
He glanced at the two behind him and said warily,
"Take me there."
"I am glad that we can place our trust in one another." Malkit said gently. "Please believe me, everything we do will benefit everyone."
"I'm not interested in what you want to do, and I assume you aren't interested in the weapons in the PDF warehouse either."
Zhou Yun shook his head and said to Malkit,
"You take what you want, and I take the weapons. It's that simple."
"Of course."
Malkit smiled mildly, his good temper unnervingly pleasant.
"As a symbol of mutual trust, may I know your name?"
"...My name?" Zhou Yun frowned.
"Yes, your name." Malkit smiled. "As partners, we should at least know each other's names."
Zhou Yun nodded. "All right."
"You can call me... Ryan Russ."
Before you continue