Intelligence Like a Sunburnt One-Eyed Oglin

The door of the Sharp Spear Tavern burst open, and a whistle sounded behind Zhou Yun.

Rag, wearing a linen robe and with a spaceship symbol painted on his ugly, greyish-white face, contorted his features as he walked towards Zhou Yun.

"Brother, Brother Zhou Yun! My good buddy."

"Why are you coming to the tavern for a drink in the middle of the day? You made me look all over for you!"

Rag shouted loudly, his voice full of vigor, like a newly rich nouveau riche.

The customers drinking in the bar turned their gazes towards him.

Old One-Eye remained unfazed, pulling an automatic pistol from under the counter and expertly cocking it.

Rag noticed this and froze on the spot, raising his hands in embarrassment:

"It's me, One-Eye, buddy. It's your old pal Rag. We've been brothers for years. You don't recognize me just because I changed my clothes?"

Zhou Yun gently shook his head at Old One-Eye.

"No one could forget that ugly face of yours, the one that could make someone puke for seven days and seven nights!"

Old One-Eye tapped the counter with the automatic pistol and scoffed:

"Don't think you can cause trouble in my tavern just because you've changed masters."

Hearing this, Rag shrunk his neck, then quickly nodded, saying with a grin, "I get it, I get it. We're all buddies, right?"

With that, Rag plopped down next to Zhou Yun.

"Rag, brother, I actually preferred it when you wore your old leather," Zhou Yun said, sizing up Rag with interest.

He had been a member of the local gang last night, and by noon today, he was already wearing the Ark Gang's colors.

Could this old rascal have been the one who guided the Ark Gang last night?

Rag chuckled and waved at Old One-Eye, signaling him to pour a glass of the pungent scarlet liquor.

Old One-Eye pushed the drink towards Rag and glanced at him, asking, "You weren't the traitor who led the Ark Gang, were you?"

"It was me," Rag said, patting his clothes with pride.

"The Pontiff values me highly now," Rag added, lifting his glass and taking a swig. "I'm getting closer and closer to my dream."

"You have a dream?"

"You have a dream?"

Old One-Eye and Zhou Yun both looked at Rag in surprise.

"Of course! Rag wants to become a gangster superstar! Live a life where I drink Amasec liquor every day," Rag declared, raising his glass and downing it in one go.

Zhou Yun frowned. He gestured to Old One-Eye and said, "Then get another one for my buddy Rag. My treat."

"To the future gangster superstar."

Old One-Eye nodded and casually turned towards the cabinet behind the counter.

"Good brother," Rag's lips curled into an extremely ugly grin upon hearing that Zhou Yun was treating him to a drink.

"So, who sent you to find me?" Zhou Yun asked, tapping the counter with his glass.

"The Pontiff!" Rag raised his voice slightly. "Brother, Rag has found another big job for you this time."

"Oh?" Zhou Yun raised an eyebrow.

"Here's your drink."

Before Rag could continue, Old One-Eye arrived at the counter with a bottle of opened scarlet liquor.

"Freshly brewed. First drink's for you, old boy."

Old One-Eye poured a glass and handed it to Rag.

Rag happily took the drink from Old One-Eye and gulped it down.

"Brother Zhou Yun, the Pontiff wants to talk to you about a big deal."

"She's seen the Agrippina Type 3 Assault Rifles you brought back."

As Rag spoke, his greyish face began to flush.

"Who told her those guns came from me?" Zhou Yun frowned.

He actually already knew the answer but forced himself not to punch this old bastard Rag in the face.

"Me!"

Rag puffed out his chest, his face filled with pride.

"Isn't this me introducing new business for my brother?"

Zhou Yun couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"Brother Zhou Yun, I'm not saying the Pontiff isn't a good person. She's much more generous than the old gang leaders."

"Our sector hasn't been very stable lately. While you were gone, a petty thief even came through our sector."

"That thief used a heat cutter to break open doors and steal things in the middle of the night. He even stole from the gang's headquarters. The old gang couldn't catch him after chasing him for ages."

Rag seemed a bit drunk, rambling about disjointed things:

"When times are unstable, we brothers need to help each other out more, earn more money."

Zhou Yun didn't pick up on his words, just calmly watched Rag babble on by himself.

As Rag spoke, he suddenly stopped, holding his head and frowning, he said hazily:

"Why does my head hurt a little?"

"One-Eye, what did you ferment this batch of liquor with? It's so strong?"

Old One-Eye glanced at him: "Mutant shit."

"That's really damn strong." Rag grinned, muddled.

He rubbed his temples hard, trying to sober himself up.

"You're drunk," Zhou Yun said plainly, looking at him.

Old One-Eye nodded in agreement: "You old rascal, go sleep in my back room for a bit."

"No way!"

Rag staggered to his feet from the chair, his consciousness already a bit fuzzy.

"Drunk is drunk." Old One-Eye walked out from behind the counter, slung Rag over his shoulder, and pushed him towards the back room.

"I'm not drunk, I'm not drunk. No need..." Rag shook his head violently.

"No, you are drunk." Zhou Yun also stood up, patted Rag's back: "Too lame."

"Then I have to..."

Rag clutched his head, which felt like it was splitting open, baring his teeth as he said:

"Then I have to sleep for a bit, Brother Zhou Yun, don't leave."

"Later, you have to go see the Pontiff with me."

"Okay, okay." Zhou Yun readily agreed, He and Old One-Eye carried Rag to the room behind the tavern and unceremoniously threw him onto the bed.

The knockout drug Old One-Eye added to the liquor took effect, Rag quickly fell into a deep sleep, like someone hit by Ryan's Uppercut.

"Your knockout drug is really potent," Zhou Yun marveled, looking at the dead-asleep Rag.

"I have unique channels for goods from the underhive," Old One-Eye rubbed his hands together towards Zhou Yun: "The knockout drug and that bottle of liquor will be put on your tab."

"Naturally." Zhou Yun nodded slightly to Old One-Eye.

Old One-Eye then looked at Rag on the bed: "What about this old rascal? He sold you out, kill him?"

"He's not too bad for this dump of a place in the lower hive. Stupid, yes, but uniquely high-quality and cheap."

Zhou Yun glanced at Rag on the bed.

Rag lay on the bed, his ugly face scrunched up, muttering things like "Amasec liquor, so strong." "We're rich, Brother Zhou Yun."

Zhou Yun couldn't help but chuckle: "Such a rare talent should be left to the Ark Gang."

"Just like that sunburnt one-eyed Oglin, this kind of earth-shattering wisdom should be left to the enemy."

"What sunburnt one-eyed Oglin? You're talking about things I don't understand again."

Old One-Eye shook his head, looking at Zhou Yun with his remaining eye:

"What are you planning to do?"

"I have a little plan. I plan to go meet that Pontiff."