Act.04 Miss You

Foreword:

People can make mistakes, but they shouldn't make the same mistake twice.

[Part 1: Silver Bay]

Silverware is the most popular common currency among Yellowstone People. Whether it is Eleventh District, Forty-Eight District, or even most of the border areas of Mimir Hot Spring in District 18, there are abundant precious metal deposits.

All currencies in the world originate from debt. When people borrow money from banks, in any way and for any reason, this portion of paper currency has a reason to enter the market and fall into everyone's hands.

But silver is different. In the underworld, this precious metal is more valuable than gold. It is not only the base of pyroxene jewelry, but also a life-protecting magic weapon forged in the Blue Stone People's magic workshop.

In the largest money-issuing center of the underground world, in the territory of the Yellowstone People, speculators didn't trust the Blood Butterfly banknotes in their hands; they believed more in the value of the silver mine. Because while Ming De's stock might fall, silver would always be useful.

[Silver Bay] is such an organization; it's a group made up of scavengers. If you mention another abbreviation, [Beggars' Gang], you should understand it better.

It supplies newsboys to Armadillo Hunters, provides intelligence to various warbands, guards luggage for passengers, or offers loan services; it's willing to do any odd job or bounty.

From large-scale security escort services to small-scale home improvement and refurbishment services.

They act as tour guides for tourists from all over the world, explaining local customs and the rules of both the legitimate and underworld circles.

The beggars serve all sorts of people, from ordinary humans to rare beings from the celestial realm. Depending on the circumstances, they may even need to learn a few foreign languages, or even alien or animal languages.

After Teacher Victor left, Xue Ming had to go to the train station in White Dragon County to retrieve his equipment, inevitably dealing with middlemen. These middlemen were likely members of the Beggar Clan who moved between various war gangs and Religious order.

When Puxi Possy awoke, everything was going well. Because of the tape, she behaved very well. Her emotions only changed slightly when she heard the news of her father's death, but she quickly returned to normal and no longer inquired about the details.

"I originally thought," the young woman from Puxi said, leading the group out of the brown sugar factory, "That only I could kill him with my own hands. I never expected his death to be so sudden and so unexpected."

Whether it's the description of A Xing or the short messages coming from the prison.

Cult Leader, police officers, and colleagues in the laboratory all believed that Francis Ferdinand died from an electrical accident.

The person guarding the treasure was instantly killed by an electric shock the moment he pulled the switch.

No one knows Hasben's Soul Power ability. The short circuit in this pipeline indirectly caused a partial paralysis of the prison's surveillance system—which was also the escape route Duran designed for Hasben.

From the church area to the rooftop gardens, and even the foyer, God's eyes have been gouged out.

"Next, we'll split up." Puxi and her friends discussed their business, pulling them onto a minibus and heading towards the bus station in White Dragon County: "You two—"

--She pointed to Duran and Flavia.

"Come with me to the green wine workshop and say hello to the new guy."

So-called green wine is a soft psychedelic drug, often found in nightclubs, and is usually served in various food and beverages to entertain guests.

This type of hallucinogenic drug has strict requirements for the production environment and technicians. Generally speaking, apprentices who can sneak into the Green Wine workshop are then sent to work as assistants to drug lords in the inner circle of the Little Brotherhood.

Flavia was one of the best; she had previously worked in the green wine factory. As for the brown sugar factory, it was a welfare unit that provided jobs for temporary workers; generally, anyone who wanted to get a job there only needed two weeks of training.

Puxi's words meant that it was an order passed down from the Cult Leader, instructing Flavia to quickly select a suitable assistant and return to the working rhythm of the Little Brotherhood as soon as possible.

As Flavia's guardian, Duran simply nodded in agreement, not daring to question the Cult Leader's command.

Puxi then handed G117 a business card with the name and contact information of a manager from [Silver Bay].

"Once you find this person, report to the war gang in Forty-Eight District —as for which war gang and which district, it's all according to the Cult Leader's instructions."

Xue Ming immediately asked, "Can't I see the Cult Leader directly?"

"No!" Puxi was interrupted, sounding impatient. "Has no one taught you that interrupting others while they're speaking is extremely rude? Are you some kind of wild animal that can't understand human speech?"

A Xing said at the right moment, "I'm sorry, it's my fault for not disciplining him properly."

Puxi wasn't very good-tempered, and he talked to the two sisters about the rules of the Forty-Eight District.

"If you want to see the Cult Leader, you have to make outstanding contributions to the Little Brotherhood. I don't know what your status was in the Rose Sect before. No matter how much your matriarch valued you, when you come to our territory, you have to start from scratch, one step at a time, understand?"

Xue Ming nodded.

Thinking to myself, it seems that beheading the Cult Leader is definitely not an option in the short term.

"Our Cult Leader never shows his true face when he goes to do business; I've never even seen his real face," Puxi explained solemnly. "Only my father and his agents have actually seen his appearance. According to that logic, if you want to see the Cult Leader, you 'Little Brotherhood, right?"

Xue Ming: "Kill whom?"

Puxi fiddled with her fingers, tilting her head back with a nonchalant air, as if she were just spouting off random numbers, but the new girl took it seriously, a hint of mockery in her eyes.

"Of course, it's about eliminating those blind competitors, or killing the Astral Hybrid Lizards—our number one enemy, the Star Realm Gang. These hybrids have been fighting us for territory for sixteen years. Without them, we could easily travel and chat while returning to the Green Winery. Your good sister Duran wouldn't have to worry about being assassinated all the time."

The Star Realm Gang is, literally, a gang established by astral beings.

Duran stated that before the Cult Leader took over the affairs of the Little Brotherhood, the drug business was not the main source of income for this Madness Butterfly Sect. The Little Brotherhood initially sold "shortcuts" primarily to gamblers and casinos.

People often believe that there is a magical divination technique in the world that can bring good luck.

Money and happiness gained through luck are legitimate and legal income. However, when Mr. Lawrence expanded his drug trafficking business, he encroached on the profits of many drug dealers, leading to numerous gang fights and brawls.

In the words of the Cult Leader, drug use is a shortcut, essentially the same as a passenger taking Universal Elixir; it is an absolute shortcut that excludes all pain and misfortune from life.

Since human activities are inherently driven by the pursuit of rewards from neural signals in the brain.

Pleasure and sex, wealth or happiness, satisfaction and contentment. These signals can all be generated by different neurotransmitters, which is why, as Professor Victor would say, humans are slaves to their brains.

Whether rich or poor, people will always pursue nothingness, touching these poisons through a strong desire for self-destruction.

This is a ticket that goes straight to the final destination; it carries not only the spirit but also the very possibility of taking one's life.

In their early days, the Star Realm Gang's rare members roamed the wilderness. Due to their unique hybrid physiques, they were more skilled than the Little Brotherhood in collecting moss mushrooms and wild poisons, making them major drug producers in Forty-Eight District. Later, with the emergence of new chemical products, the Cult Leader, relying on his exceptional poison masters, overtook them and was about to eliminate these traditional craftsmen.

As they boarded the intercity express, White Dragon County receded into the distance. After traveling more than 80 kilometers, they arrived at the Clearwater Bay station and saw two enormous waterfalls, each about 400 meters deep, cascading down the distant cliffs.

The name Clearwater Bay comes from this place. It has beautiful scenery and abundant, clean groundwater resources, making it very suitable for human habitation.

Puxi left with Duran and Flavia, while Xue Ming looked at the business card of Silver Bay again and again.

This city is located about 7,500 meters underground. Unlike the Nine Realms, the Giant Mountain, and the Sky Dome, it has no exit and is not a major station. All the satellite towns and settlements are built around the Clearwater Bay Wharf. It can be said that this city exists precisely because of this underground river.

Xue Ming didn't have a phone with him, so he had to find a public phone booth.

As soon as Liuxing got off the bus, he saw many vendors selling food. Unable to resist his curiosity, he took a few steps outside.

She was immediately grabbed by Xue Ming and carried on his shoulder.

"Don't run around."

Seeing that there were no outsiders around, A Xing stopped calling out her pseudonym, "Big Sister! I just want to take a look!"

"This place is dangerous." Xue Ming walked through the dazzling array of candy stalls, smelling the pungent aromas of various foods in the air, remaining constantly vigilant. "Puxi dared to abandon us and wasn't afraid of us running around—that means she's very confident; she has a way of finding anyone in this area. She has eyes and ears everywhere."

A Xing: "So what do we do now?"

Xue Ming glanced at the prison uniforms worn by the two men, but the surrounding travelers and shopkeepers seemed used to it and found it unremarkable.

It seems that Clearwater Bay is a place with a truly simple and honest folk culture, and there are countless talented people who have escaped from prison.

"Go change your clothes first."

After exiting the station, the two casually picked out down jackets to wear from a clothing store next to the food and lodging street, but still didn't take off their prison clothes. In the changing room, A Xing kept asking questions.

"Big Sister, what's the deal with that woman from Puxi? Why did she just abandon us? Isn't she afraid we'll run away?"

Xue Ming's reply came from next door.

"It must be the Cult Leader's intention to continue testing us."

"What are you trying?"

"Let's see if we have any brains, and whether all we know is how to fight."

"Oh, so we should have brains, right?"

According to Puxi's perspective

At this point, Xue Ming had already changed her clothes and pushed open the door to A Xing's dressing room.

"We need to help our Little Brotherhood kill two hundred blood donors, or hybrids of calamity beasts, to get into their inner circle. Otherwise, we'll have to approach it from another angle, through drug trafficking."

The moment Xue Ming pushed open the door, she felt quite embarrassed.

--Because A Xing first changed herself into a pink floral dress, and then acted coy and pretentious, like Jerry being spied on while taking a bath, screaming loudly.

Xue Ming raised his hand and slapped Liuxing across the face, gently tapping it high.

"Are you serious? I really want to check your mental state. To be honest, this isn't the first time."

A Xing pushed away Ming Ge's gloved hand, looking embarrassed, "I just wanted to try it."

We've had our fun, time to get down to business.

Xue Ming changed the girl into a set of long-sleeved clothes and trousers that were easier to move in. After paying the bill with her sisters, she asked the shopkeeper about the location of the nearest public phone booth and then rushed over there without stopping.

Along the way, A Xing continued asking questions about the previous topic.

"Big Sister, what if you don't want to use force, but the Cult Leader wants you to deal drugs?"

"When did I say I didn't want to use force?" Xue Ming was deeply surprised. "Can't you sense my sudden surge of killing intent?"

[Part ②: By whose rules?]

The bustling streets were filled with people, and many young workers and newsboys were carrying square wooden boxes, hawking their wares.

Xue Ming put her arm around A Xing's shoulder and described Clearwater Bay as she saw it.

"When I came out of the train station, I didn't see a single middle-aged person over forty. It was as if the place was full of vitality and youthful energy."

"Women's makeup is so thick it could be bulletproof, the gummies sold by street vendors all taste like methamphetamine leaves, and the elderly people with remarkable vitality are probably paralyzed at home, their bodies hollowed out by drugs—criminals can walk around the streets in prison uniforms."

"Those weaklings who don't live past forty have probably already died by some flowerbed, collected by garbage trucks and turned into fuel for a coal-fired power plant."

"A Xing, I miss you so much right now."

A Xing tensed up. "How cheesy!"

Xue Ming shook his head. "I miss your male character. If only you could turn back, at least we'd have a 270-degree firepower projection network when we're back to back."

So--

Xue Ming ultimately failed to get through to the front desk of Nine Realms Station.

She didn't know if the public telephone system here was being monitored, or if the governor and local financial magnates were colluding and betraying her. If these people had also betrayed Ming De, then this call absolutely could not be made.

Professor Victor has already seen Puxi's memories, and when he returns to the Boss's side, he will surely explain everything clearly. There's no need for Xue Ming to tip him off.

But before she could press the first button on the dial...

Immediately, someone started banging loudly on the door of the phone booth.

Xue Ming opened the door upon hearing the sound.

--I saw a middle-aged woman, holding a child, squeezing into the phone booth, speaking fluent Spanish.

"Miss! Excuse me! Could I make a phone call first? My child has a fever! I need to contact my husband!"

Neither Xue Ming nor Liuxing paid any attention, and they left the phone booth, giving the mother the opportunity to communicate.

When they re-entered the phone booth, the mother with the child hurriedly left without saying goodbye or even a thank you, before they could even greet her.

This aroused Xue Ming's suspicion. She hesitated for a long time but still did not touch the dial or the receiver.

A Xing asked in confusion, "Big Sister? What are you standing there for?"

"Because."

Right now, at this very moment.

A stranger came in.

The man was wearing a cowboy hat and a white suit. He had black hair, was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, had a scruffy beard, and smelled strongly of smoke.

"Because this lady has already noticed."

The young Black man pushed aside the A Xing, revealing a bright smile. He wiped the dial of the phone booth with a tissue, and a layer of yellow grease was visible on the white tissue.

"Glycerin contains a specialty sweet treat from Forty-Eight District. This beginner-level dessert can bring you joy—we call it an 'appetizer.' Like nicotine, it can be absorbed through the skin. That mom who was blocking the phone booth earlier was about to try and sell you this drug. Her sales tactics were simple and crude."

A Xing felt a chill run down his spine. These wicked monsters in this land actually exploited people's compassion! Committing crimes while carrying children was something they could do so on cue?!

"I've been with you all this way." The young Black man introduced himself, "Leslie, the foreman of Silver Bay, the laborer on East Street, and the newsboy are all my brothers."

Xue Ming's eyes were stern, and he did not smile.

She didn't speak, but simply observed Leslie's expression.

Leslie then chuckled and said, "Don't you believe me? Why don't you lick the appetizer on the plate? Many people have had their lives ruined by this kind of trick, including my father."

Xue Ming shook his head. "I'm not sure about your identity."

"Then wait a moment, thirty seconds." Leslie stretched out his hand, revealing a gold watch from under his white suit, and then began the countdown.

The last ten seconds or so --

The two vendors, one on each side, carried the middle-aged mother back to the phone booth.

The woman just cried out, her face bruised and swollen, wailing pitifully as she suffered a brutal beating.

Leslie, on the other hand, was very familiar with the place. She pushed open the door of the phone booth and demonstrated the community rules of Clearwater Bay to the distinguished guests from the Little Brotherhood.

"She broke the rules by selling goods in two different jurisdictions. I have no right to punish her, but according to the Little Brotherhood's rules, she should have an arm chopped off."

Leslie greeted the portly boss on the right, then took a fine Bowie Hunting Knife and handed it to Xue Ming.

"The Silver Bay people cannot make a move. This is the territory of the Little Brotherhood. You are an important person to the Little Brotherhood, and we need you to come in person."

"Don't believe his nonsense! Girl! Girl!" The woman was forced into a phone booth, where an accomplice grabbed her chin and pinned her arms against the iron bars. "Don't believe him! Don't believe him! I didn't do it, I really don't know anything! I just came to make a phone call."

Leslie said casually, "Most of these drug dealers use and sell drugs at the same time; they'll do anything for money."

Woman: "Bullshit! You bastard! You black devil!"

Seeing that Xue Ming hadn't made a move for a while, Leslie's expression gradually became ambiguous. "You can't bring yourself to do it?"

A Xing didn't dare to breathe too loudly; she had told 3301 about this.

Even if it's an enemy, if it's a woman or a child, she'll hesitate, she'll have a moment of doubt.

Given the current situation, it seems like this woman brought a child to poison people. What is the Big Sister hesitating about?

Faced with Leslie's questioning, Xue Ming first went outside and examined the baby's symptoms from the arms of another stall owner, discovering that the infant was indeed running a fever.

She then uncovered the swaddling clothes and saw burns on the child's body, with traces of cigarette butts.

Turning back, she went into the phone booth, lifted the woman's collar, and amidst angry curses and terrified screams, tore open the cotton lining of the woman's arm, finding a bottle of bright yellow solvent inside.

Leslie was quite surprised and amazed by the newcomer's meticulous and cautious thinking.

Xue Ming said to Leslie, "Go out for a moment."

Silver Bay's steward immediately obeyed his employer's instructions and left with two laborers.

Xue Ming immediately changed his tune, adopting a carefree and playful demeanor as he spoke to the woman.

"How does this thing work?"

Women, on the other hand, can change their demeanor in the blink of an eye, transforming from someone who is wronged, aggrieved, and terrified into a shrewd and capable salesperson.

"This is just an appetizer, little sister. Let me tell you, just a drop on your arm and you'll feel pleasure instantly. Want to try it? Want to try it? Trust me, these beggars would never understand."

Xue Ming: "Really?"

Woman: "100% repurchase rate! As long as you're willing to try it! Other customers who have used it all say it's great!"

Before the words had even finished --

The woman felt an immense force rushing towards her!

A dark, synthetic fiber glove was pressed against her face.

Xue Ming: "People can make mistakes, but they can't make the same mistake twice."

That was the last thing she heard.

Leslie, who was standing guard outside the door, tensed up because the noise coming from inside the phone booth was truly frightening.

The screams were like those of a pig being slaughtered, a sudden, fatal blow that severed the trachea and arteries along with the body. The first half of the scream was strong and powerful, while the second half was weak and feeble. This was followed by convulsions of the limbs, the vibrations of the impact against the pavilion, and the striking marks of bright red blood splattered on the frosted glass like a waterfall.

The Black Brother's expression became quite interesting.

Until Xue Ming, his face covered in blood, walked out of the phone booth.

A Xing, standing beside the Big Sister, also had her face covered in blood, and spoke politely to the Black Brother.

"Could you please arrange a place for me to take a shower? These are my new clothes!"

Leslie licked her lips, feeling extremely nervous.

"She's just a drug dealer. She doesn't play by the rules, Ms. Glory. According to the Little Brotherhood, all it takes is one arm."

Xue Ming interrupted—

"--Dead."

The two bosses also looked like they had seen a ghost. The thinner one was holding a child, and when he saw the horrific scene of killing people like slaughtering pigs in the phone booth, he couldn't help but hug the baby tighter.

Xue Ming then spoke to the boss.

"Send the child to an orphanage. Are there any orphanages around here? Or how about sending him to the District 18? I'll cover the travel expenses and room and board."

Leslie and the two workers nodded in unison, not daring to say anything.

Then, Xue Ming returned the Bowie Hunting Knife to Leslie, patted the Black Brother's face, leaving a bloody handprint on his glove.

"Clean this place up."