The doors of the Sharp Spear Tavern were pushed open, and a burst of whistling sounded behind Zhou Yun.
Rag, dressed in a flax-colored robe and with a spaceship emblem painted across his ugly gray-white face, worked his ugly features as he approached Zhou Yun.
"Brother, Brother Zhou Yun! My good pal."
"Why'd you come to the tavern for a drink in the middle of the day? You made me look everywhere for you!"
Rag shouted in a booming voice, full of vigor, like some nouveau riche who had just struck it rich.
The customers drinking in the bar all turned to look at him.
Old One-Eye remained impassive. He took an autopistol from beneath the counter and expertly chambered it.
Noticing this, Rag froze on the spot and awkwardly raised both hands.
"It's me, One-Eye, old Rag! We've been good brothers for years. You don't recognize me just because I changed clothes?"
Zhou Yun gently shook his head at Old One-Eye.
"No one could forget that ugly face of yours. It could make someone puke for seven days and nights!"
Old One-Eye tapped the counter with his autopistol and barked, "Don't think changing masters means you can cause trouble in my tavern."
Rag shrank his neck at that, then hurriedly nodded and said with a grin, "Got it, got it. We're all pals here."
With that, Rag plopped himself down beside Zhou Yun.
"Rag, I still liked you better in your old hide," Zhou Yun said, studying him with interest.
Last night, he had still been a member of the local gang. By noon today, he was already wearing Ark Gang clothes.
Could this old bastard have been the one who led the Ark Gang here last night?
Rag chuckled and waved at Old One-Eye, signaling for a glass of the pungent scarlet liquor.
Old One-Eye pushed the drink over to Rag, glanced at him, and asked, "Don't tell me you're the traitor who led the Ark Gang here?"
"That was me." Rag patted his clothes with considerable pride.
"I'm pretty highly valued by the cult leader now." Rag took a swig from his glass and said, "Old Rag's getting closer and closer to his dream."
"You have a fucking dream?"
"You have a dream?"
Old One-Eye and Zhou Yun looked at Rag in surprise at the same time.
"Of course. Rag is going to become a gangland superstar and live the good life, drinking Amasec liquor every day!" Rag said, raising his glass and draining it in one go.
Zhou Yun frowned, then gestured to Old One-Eye. "Get my brother Rag another glass. It's on me."
"To the future gangland superstar."
Old One-Eye nodded and calmly turned toward the cabinet behind him.
"Good brother." The moment Rag heard Zhou Yun was buying him a drink, an incomparably ugly smile split across his face.
"So, who asked you to find me?" Zhou Yun asked, tapping the counter with his glass.
"The cult leader!" Rag raised his voice slightly. "Brother, Rag found you another big job this time."
"Oh?" Zhou Yun raised an eyebrow.
"Here's the drink."
Before Rag could continue, Old One-Eye arrived at the counter carrying an opened bottle of scarlet liquor.
"Freshly brewed. You're the first old bastard getting a taste."
Old One-Eye poured a glass and handed it to Rag.
Overjoyed, Rag took the drink from Old One-Eye and gulped down a mouthful.
"Brother Zhou Yun, the cult leader wants to discuss a big deal with you."
"She's seen those Agrippina Type 3 Assault Rifles you brought back."
As Rag spoke, a flush had already risen on his grayish face.
"Who told her those guns came from me?" Zhou Yun frowned.
He already knew the answer, but he forcibly restrained himself from smashing his fist into Rag's stupid face.
"Me!"
Rag puffed out his chest and declared proudly.
"Wasn't I introducing new business to you, brother?"
Zhou Yun could not help rolling his eyes.
"Brother Zhou Yun, I'm not saying the cult leader is actually a pretty good person, and she's far more generous than the old gang bosses."
"Our district hasn't been very peaceful lately either. While you were gone, a little thief started roaming around our district."
"That thief uses a thermal cutter to burn open doors in the middle of the night and steal things. He even stole from gangs. The old gangs hunted him for ages and still couldn't catch him."
Rag seemed a little drunk as he rambled on about scattered matters.
"When things aren't stable, us brothers have to help each other more and make more money."
Zhou Yun did not respond, merely watching calmly as Rag chattered on and on by himself.
As Rag spoke, he gradually stopped.
He held his head, his brows tightly furrowed, and said groggily, "Why does my head hurt a little?"
"One-Eye, what did you ferment this batch of liquor with? It hits hard."
Old One-Eye shot him a look. "Mutant shit."
"That's fucking strong." Rag grinned and mumbled hazily.
He vigorously rubbed his temples, trying to stay awake.
"You're drunk," Zhou Yun said calmly as he watched him.
Old One-Eye nodded along. "You old bastard, go sleep in the room behind me for a while."
"No!"
Rag staggered to his feet, his mind already growing unclear.
"Drunk is drunk." Old One-Eye came out from behind the counter, slung Rag over his shoulder, and pushed him toward the back room.
"I'm not drunk. I'm not drunk. No need..." Rag shook his head violently.
"No, you're drunk." Zhou Yun also stood up and patted Rag's back. "Pathetic."
"Then I..."
Rag clutched his head, which felt as though it were about to split apart, and grimaced.
"Then I need to sleep for a while. Brother Zhou Yun, don't you leave."
"Later, you have to come see the cult leader with me."
"Sure, sure," Zhou Yun readily agreed.
Together with Old One-Eye, he carried Rag into the room behind the tavern and tossed him onto the bed.
The sedative Old One-Eye had added to the liquor took effect.
Rag soon fell into a deep sleep, like Russ after taking Ryan's Uppercut.
"That sedative of yours is seriously potent," Zhou Yun remarked as he looked at the dead-asleep Rag.
"I have special channels for goods from the underhive." Old One-Eye rubbed his hands at Zhou Yun. "Put the sedative and that bottle of liquor on your tab."
"Of course." Zhou Yun gave Old One-Eye a slight nod.
Old One-Eye looked at Rag on the bed. "What about this old bastard? He sold you out. Kill him?"
"He's not all that bad for this shithole in the lower hive. He's just uniquely stupid, and excellent value for money."
Zhou Yun glanced at Rag on the bed.
Rag lay there with his ugly face scrunched into a knot, muttering things like, "Amasec liquor, strong stuff," and "We struck it rich, Brother Zhou Yun."
Zhou Yun could not help smiling. "A rare talent like this should be left for the Ark Gang."
"Like some sunburnt one-eyed Oglin, this kind of earth-shattering wisdom should be left to our enemies."
"What sunburnt one-eyed Oglin? You're talking about something I don't understand again."
Old One-Eye shook his head and looked at Zhou Yun with his sole remaining eye.
"What are you planning to do?"
"I have a little plan. I'm going to meet that cult leader."
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