Act.13 Smells Like Teen Spirit · The Spirit of Youth

[Part 1: Human Kitchen]

Xue Ming grabbed Billy the Kid's phone and flipped through the pages. He counted the contact information of twenty-one wealthy women along the Eureka Volcano City seaside road leading to the rich district. He was closest to O'Connor Elizabeth, the accountant who managed the assets of the Mercy of Eros.

Xue Ming was completely baffled. "How did you manage to hook up with this rich woman?"

"The White Ape Hotel is one of Eureka's top attractions," Billy the Kid answered truthfully. "I work as a waiter here, and I chatted with the owner a bit while delivering food—she asked for my contact information."

"Wow!" Xue Ming scrolled through the contacts, pointing to the rows of rich women's numbers. "Where are these?"

Billy pursed his lips, glanced at Fuyanni, hesitated for a moment, and finally confessed.

"Isn't this just being prepared? Opportunities only come to those who are prepared. Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. A man's prime years are only a few years. If you don't take advantage of a woman now, you won't be able to later."

Xue Ming clapped vigorously and nodded slightly, "Why did you hesitate for a moment just now? Did you have to consider the look in your good brother's eyes?"

Billy the Kid swallowed nervously, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes, and said with a mix of frustration and annoyance.

"Gunsmith, are you here to kill Miss O'Connor?"

Xue Ming: "As far as I know, she's old enough to be your grandmother."

Billy the Kid quickly said, "Could you please not kill her, gunsmith? I finally found such a rich woman!"

Xue Ming: "Why?"

Billy the Kid explained in a panic, "She's willing to talk to me, she likes me, and I'll be able to be with her soon! I know she likes me, she calls me 'cutie,' and I..."

"Think it over again, Billy." In that instant, fire ignited in Xue Ming's eyes, an indescribable anger transforming into a sudden burst of murderous intent.

The surging spiritual pressure almost hit Billy's nose, but then, under Xue Ming's deliberate control, it was deflected to the other side.

It silently swept across the soy milk on the table, freezing the drink in an instant, turning the white foam into a thin layer of ice.

But Billy the Kid still didn't understand; he was completely oblivious to the gunsmith's changing emotions as he recounted his Fragrant Dream and spoke of boundless aspirations.

"The Mercy of Eros so many people, Jiang Xueming."

Billy the Kid mentioned the gunsmith's real name, trying to get closer to him.

"O'Connor is so beautiful, she must be kind inside and out! I thought to myself, I can definitely help her turn over a new leaf and start a new life."

"She only runs a casino, she didn't kill anyone. If she can atone for her crime by doing good deeds, like Flavia and Sister Duran, wouldn't that be great?"

So I think...

Jiang Xueming brought over the soy milk, interrupting, "Drink it, it'll get cold if you don't."

Billy the Kid seemed to sense something; although his mind was still immersed in the innocent and romantic fairy tale of instant success, his body had already felt a chilling murderous intent.

He reached out to take the gunsmith's gift, but as soon as he picked up the cup, the icy drink sent a shiver down his spine. Cold sweat instantly streamed down his face, trickling down his chin and into the cup.

He finally realized that the nameless man in front of him was not a relative or friend, nor a comrade-in-arms who had shared life and death with him. They seemed to have had a friendship, and there was a story between them on the plane from Reykjavik, Iceland to Hong Kong.

The gunsmith had countless lives on his hands; every word, every action, even a glance, exuded a sharp edge. That was something Billy the Kid couldn't bear. Despite how gentle and polite he had been when delivering breakfast to them, when he heard Billy the Kid talking about these things— Xue Ming seemed like a different person.

"Do you know what you just said, Billy?"

Fuyanni tried to smooth things over. "Hahaha, gunsmith, we were just kidding, just kidding!"

The gunsmith repeated, "Do you know what you just said, Billy?"

Billy didn't speak, but drank his soy milk with trembling hands, sweat pouring down his face.

The gunsmith reached for the straw on the table, a move that terrified Fuyanni —because in Jiang Xueming's hands, the straw could also be a weapon.

"If I heard correctly, you're pleading for the sake of a member of the Mercy of Eros, a blood-sucking, cannibalistic wicked woman?"

Xue Ming inserted a straw into Billy's water glass to prevent the soy milk from soiling the boy's beautiful beard.

"You're pleading for O'Connor Elizabeth? Using our friendship, our camaraderie in fighting Sixty-Three on the plane, to beg me, to kidnap me, to spare this woman's life?"

"You're comparing Flavia and Duran? Those two soldiers risked their lives to cover my entry into Forty-Eight District, and they never betrayed me. You're comparing O'Connor Elizabeth to those two? Billy? Is that what you mean?"

Billy the Kid didn't dare to speak, but he harbored a deep resentment.

He looked at the gunsmith's clothes, his shoes, his cuffs, his watch, his agile figure, his clear eyes, and his iron-like face.

He was so envious and jealous, so unwilling to accept it.

At that very moment, a kitchen worker ran out from the back kitchen—

--That young man was a fish-man hybrid, a kid who brought the Fuyanni and Billy the White Ape with him when he applied for a job.

However, in traditional fairy tales, fish-men are depicted with fish tails and human bodies, and have beautiful faces.

However, this child looked to be no more than eleven or twelve years old. He was round and chubby, with human limbs, but his arms were not fully developed. His upper arms had triangular fins, and his forearms were short and thick. Two animal feet extended from his tail, and his face looked exactly like that of a weasel shark.

"Don't bully my older brother!" the astral rare human-beast hybrid shouted.

Its legs weren't very nimble, so it hopped and skipped towards the cafeteria. With its keen Inspiration, it had already sensed the terrifying spiritual pressure emanating from the gunsmith.

It stood between Billy the Kid and Xue Ming, its still-adolescent, chubby body pressing down on it so that it couldn't lift its head. It bared its pink shark-like teeth at Jiang Xueming Ming.

Fuyanni immediately said, "He didn't bully us."

"The person who made Billy cry is a bad guy!" Little Shark said, holding a frying pan in one hand and a chef's knife in the other.

Billy the Kid pursed his lips, pushed the other child aside, and faced Jiang Xueming directly.

Gunsmith: "What's this kid's background?"

"It is..." Billy said hesitantly, his words evasive. "It's an orphan taken in by the owner of the White Ape. Both Fuyanni and I are fortunate to have it."

The little shark immediately raised its arms, holding the pot high. "Billy is going to make me rich! Being able to help Billy makes me the luckiest Shasha in the world!"

Gunsmith: "How could you lie to a child!"

"I didn't lie to it! It's just a monster!" Billy said, but then seemed guilty and unsure how to continue.

"Kid! You've lived on Mount Eureka since you were a kid!?" The gunsmith turned his head and stared intently at the little shark.

The little shark, as if struck by lightning, dared not lie. "Yes, yes."

Gunsmith: "Why are your parents missing?"

"Mommy and Daddy are dead!" Without almost any hesitation, Shasha shouted these words and began to cry out, "Mommy and Daddy are dead! They died together! They were killed by that bad guy with the tattoo on his hand!"

"Did you ask?" Xue Ming grabbed Billy by the collar. "Did you ask it? Did you ask this guide? It helped you! Did you even think about that?!"

"Billy, do you have a heart?"

"How many people have died at the hands of the Mercy of Eros?!"

"How many children like him don't even have the chance to make it onto the White Ape alive! O'Connor Elizabeth, she deserves to die! Gambling has ruined so many families! Billy."

Xue Ming patted Billy the Kid's face and wiped away the boy's tears.

"Billy, think it through! Look at it! What did it do wrong?"

Fuyanni hugged Shasha and cried her eyes out, not knowing what to say.

Jiang Xueming poured the two brothers a full cup of soy milk and then brought up another matter.

"In my hometown, history has turned page after page, and the story of cannibalism is always being rewritten—either erupting in silence or perishing in silence. The rich put the poor on their dinner tables, and the cannibal kitchens have been renovated again and again!"

"Do you find this funny, Billy? Do you think that being beautiful and kind-hearted, and being a kept woman, can be used as a comedic diversion to overshadow the blood feud between the Mercy of Eros and people? Or..."

"I'm just a nobody!" Billy cried out, his voice weak and feeble. "I'm just a nobody, gunsmith. I'm not as good as you. I just want to make money. I don't want to be a homeless person anymore."

But his strength was waning. Billy glanced at the Shasha, and tears streamed down the little boy's face like bullets.

Why is it so hard to make money?

Billy pursed his lips, looking simply aggrieved.

"Why is it so hard for me to succeed? Why? Why? Why can't I keep the promise I made to Shasha?"

Billy grabbed Xue Ming's hand.

"Why is my transformation so slow? Why am I powerless? Why am I inferior to the blood-bleeding monsters? Why? Was I born destined to be poor? Is my blood not good enough?"

"Should I go find the BOSS? Should I take the bus? But passengers only earn a little over four thousand yuan for a single mission, and they risk their lives. I earn more washing dishes here than they do."

"I finally got this opportunity, I finally got to sell my body to please O'Connor, I finally got a chance to rise to the top, and why did you have to come out and tell me this? This isn't right, why? I feel like my heart is breaking. Gunsmith."

Billy dared not look at Shasha, nor at Fuyanni. He feared that if he looked any longer, his friend who had shared joys and sorrows with him would also leave him.

The gunsmith simply stood there, like an iron statue. He didn't know how to answer the question; perhaps only the BOSS knew the answer.

"Billy, don't take shortcuts, don't take shortcuts, be careful, or you might not be able to turn back."

Xue Ming's fist loosened, finally turning into a few words of comfort.

"Taking it slow will be faster."

What Brother Ye Bei said earlier suddenly took on a new meaning. It was as if, at different stages of life, it was always like a crow on a branch, a bird meant to bring good news, but which people interpreted as a sign of death.

Eureka Volcano City is the terrorist organization with the largest number of followers, the most complex urban environment, and the most involved businesses and railway station officials that Jiang Xueming encountered in his confrontation with the Madness Butterfly Sect.

Among the many Madness Butterfly Sect, its territorial influence has already entered the top five.

To eradicate it completely, the BOSS even personally beat the drum to encourage the nameless individual, using this as a warning to others.

Because it's not just the Blood-Giving Monsters or the Madness Butterfly Sect that want to devour people.

There are countless others like Billy the Kid who take the "shortcut."

[Part ②: The Right Path of Humanity is Full of Vicissitudes]

On the road leading to the Council of Five Kings, there was a handsome old man with white hair.

His face was covered in scars, just like the previous leaders of the Guangling Zhixi Guard, who used cheap White Lady products to treat his stubborn wounds.

He is the owner of the White Ape, the old Khan, and the best owner of the VIP carriage on the train to Mount Eureka in the BOSS's mind.

Like many Europeans and Americans who inexplicably tattoo Chinese characters on their bodies, he also has three characters with unclear meanings tattooed on his arm.

--It's called [Brain Gold].

When the old Khan met the lobby manager, both of them were startled.

Marcus's manager was taken aback by this rare and unexpected visitor.

The old Khan was surprised that the lobby manager had been replaced.

Introduced by his manager, the old Khan walked toward the cabinet and saw Ming De sitting in front of a piano, having finished the day's affairs and trying to soothe his mood with music.

BOSS: "What brings you here?!"

The old Khan pulled a satellite phone from his pocket, his eyes slightly narrowed, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"Kang Que Johnny asked me to come and give you this phone."

The boss yelled, "He asked you for help, and you help him?!"

"I've checked it," the old Khan explained. "This thing doesn't have any psionic energy fluctuations; it's just a communication tool. The Mercy of Eros want to negotiate. If a war really breaks out in Eureka Volcano City, I'm afraid no one will be in a good place. They have more than two million citizens as hostages. I have to handle this matter carefully."

The boss rolled his eyes, suddenly feeling playful.

"Lift up your clothes and let me see your arms."

The old Khan lifted the sleeve of his right arm and saw the three Chinese characters for "[Brain Gold]".

"Hehehehe! Hahahahahahahaha!" The BOSS laughed so hard he rolled on the ground. "Aww! Haha..."

"I heard it from the tattoo artist at the VIP tea room," the old Khan said calmly. "These three words represent wisdom, purity, and wealth, respectively. I've also asked a lot of other people, and they all say the tattoo artist is right."

BOSS: "Hahahahahahaha!"

Old Khan: "If I had asked you, Boss, back then, would you have said this?"

The boss returned to normal. "I certainly won't say it that way. I'll tell you its true meaning."

Old Khan: "Really?"

BOSS: "Hahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahaha!"

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

The boss took the satellite phone and immediately urged the old Khan to hurry up.

"You need to get back to the White Ape right away; the Nameless Ones need your hotel as a base."

The old Khan nodded, glanced at the empty cabinet, and couldn't find the Hunter King.

"--I understand, I'll go back now."

The boss placed the satellite phone next to the sheet music and sat down in front of the piano.

Its large, golden eyes gleamed with intense hostility, turning bloodshot several times.

--It's not surprising that its eyes can change color.

When it's lush and green, it's because it's lazy and wants to take a short, relaxing rest.

When it shines golden, it represents its pride and majesty, hoping to be respected and understood.

When it turns bright red, it means it has developed murderous intent; it is enraged to the extreme and its ferocity is uncontrollable.

It hesitated for a while, then withdrew its outstretched paw, and finally pressed the call button.

After only one busy tone, Kang Que Johnny immediately answered the phone, his tone urgent, as if he had been waiting for a very long time.

"BOSS!"

"Don't be so affectionate, Mr. Kang Que."

"Ming De"

"Yes, there needs to be a bit of distance."

"I am deeply honored that you have come to Eureka Volcano City in person."

"Stop talking nonsense, I have nothing to discuss with you—you little bastard. If you're here to beg for mercy, I advise you to disarm and surrender. That way, your execution will be more dignified."

Kang Que Connor remained silent for a long, long time on the other end of the phone. When he heard Ming De's death sentence, he still couldn't accept the fact and seemed to think there was still a chance for things to turn around.

"Are you really going to kill me? Are you really going to use that nameless guy to hunt me down to the ends of the earth? Boss! Do you even know what's going on?"

"Stop with the riddles, get straight to the point." The boss was quite impatient. "Who's giving you money, who's protecting you, you can just say it directly, don't be shy—Don't be shy, do you understand? Do you want me to translate it for you in both languages?"

"I was once part of the assault team at Guangling Zhixi!" Kang Que Johnny's voice trembled, his emotions running high. "I served the railway! I was your favorite soldier! You held me when I was born! Boss! Why did you abandon me? I was a child blessed by you!"

The good cat replied, "I've blessed countless children; one more won't make a difference."

Kang Que continued, "When I was young, I always tried to please you. I knew you came from the East, so I changed my name to Confucius (Control Jonny). I wanted to become a teacher. After retiring from the assault team, perhaps I could teach in Galahad. You know, I have the ability."

The good cat continued, "A good name doesn't necessarily mean a good person."

"Why? Boss!" Mr. Kang Que's tone gradually turned resentful and bitter. "Why have you never even looked at me properly! Why? Am I not good enough? Am I not hardworking enough? After becoming a Shining Butterfly, I wanted to work for the Department of Transportation, I wanted to teach at Galahad, I wanted power, I wanted people to respect me! Just like they respect you! You ignored all these suggestions!"

The BOSS said casually, "You're an excellent warrior, you shouldn't be associating with the people in the Senate. You can't beat them. I've reminded you more than once that I hope you can retire soon and join the passengers."

"But I had a good time in the assault team!" Kang Que roared, "Because you were weak and negligent, you wrote a pledge before you even understood the situation—you wanted me to complete an impossible mission. When I was surrounded by the Madness Butterfly War Gang, they wanted me to personally kill all the brothers in the war group who knew the inside story."

"I know what's going on. They're jealous of me, jealous of my talent—they're afraid I'll snatch the position of staff officer for the Second Transportation Bureau, they're afraid I, a plain-born commander of the assault team, will steal the glory of their clan."

"They pity me, they sympathize with me, and they're even sparing my life to use me against you. Is that fair, boss? Is that fair? Is this fair to me?"

BOSS: "Times are moving forward, Johnny, times are moving forward."

"You're going to destroy me now!" Kang Que Johnny roared. "Don't you feel even a shred of remorse?!"

This is what a good cat says--

"--I can't feel guilty. You can't turn back now. You don't deserve it."

Kang Que Johnny finally gave up; he understood the meaning of the phrase "times keep moving forward."

Because of a little greed and a little stubbornness, he took a shortcut.

--The dispatch of the assault team requires the cooperation of the Transportation Department. Each mission involves going to unknown lands with VIPs to reclaim wasteland. When relatively reliable intelligence is available, the train heads to the wilderness to provide logistics for the soldiers, allowing them to be fully armed to deal with the natural disasters and ferocious beasts in the wilderness. All of this needs to be reviewed by Ming De, and the power to dispatch the assault team is also in the hands of the BOSS.

Kang Que Connor wasn't as miserable as he claimed.

--He sent himself to hell with his own hands. He secretly negotiated with the VIPs of the pioneers and signed a contract with the speculative capital team of the Yellowstone Senate. He submitted false information to Ming De, fearing that the brave and passionate Red Stone People would steal the credit.

As long as he conquers new lands, he can find a place to live. Perhaps as the railway network expands, he can become the new leader of the Transportation Department. With money and power as his weapons, his brothers can get better equipment, and everything can get better. He can surpass other warbands and become the most powerful assault force in the eyes of the BOSS.

He exposed all his weaknesses, offering his most Gate of Death to the enemy.

What Mr. Kang Que didn't expect was that the shrewd Yellowstone People would always bet on both sides, taking all the profits from the house. How could they let such a good opportunity slip by?

He was sold to the Madness Butterfly Sect for a fixed price, and the new land changed hands several times before being taken over by the Transportation Department, which was led by the Redstone Senate.

In this impossible mission, in order to survive, Mr. Kang Que transforms himself into the spokesperson for the Madness Butterfly of the compassionate god of love.

Even today, Mr. Johnny's subordinates believe that this leader loves to cry. But he cries all the while building his cannibalistic business into a large and powerful enterprise, without ever showing any remorse.

To this day, the BOSS still doesn't know how much truth is in Kang Que Johnny's mouth. Because this excellent warrior is always running around to different stations, dodging Victor's Soul Power inspection several times—the train is just too slow, Kang Que has gone too far, too far away, and can't catch up with his ambition. The Madness Butterfly is too close to him, and if he fails even once, he will fall to his death.

"Ming De." Mr. Kang Que calmed down and began to tell the riddle, "The end of the world has come. No matter how much you struggle, it's all in vain."

BOSS: "Are you about to start making threats?"

Kang Que: "I never expected your forgiveness, and this time is no exception. To pass the Prosecutor's Office's exam, I studied the laws of the underworld and know how many crimes I've committed."

Upon hearing "this time," the BOSS finally began to play the piano, finally casting aside all hesitation. He finally realized that this warrior had been lying from beginning to end, wearing a mask of hypocrisy while engaging in cannibalistic acts, and that everything he said was merely a grand excuse for his evil deeds.

Kang Que: "We are still trapped in the twentieth century, trapped in an iron cage, with an unseen ghost holding us fast. It forces us to continue eating people, and no matter how advanced the technology, how powerful the industrial machines, or how sophisticated the rules or laws, nothing can kill this already dead ghost."

BOSS: "My warriors will not only destroy you, but also your protective umbrella. I know who they are. After all these years, you haven't aged at all; I'm afraid the culprit is the [Immortals Alliance]."

Kang Que: "You can't fight human nature. There's an old saying in the East: 'Human desires are the natural order.'"

BOSS: "I have a mechanical musket, why would I be afraid of your ornate hunting bow? The Madness Butterfly's warriors will be turned into mincemeat, while my warriors won't even need to go to a military court, because the firepower is too overwhelming, there's simply no evidence to be found. You originally had the opportunity to become my right-hand man, you originally had the opportunity to become a gunsmith—but you gave up that opportunity."

Kang Que: "Time stood still at the beginning of the 21st century."

BOSS: "The bullet will give you the answer, because a newborn bullet will take the first person it sees as its mother and then run into your arms."

Kang Que: "You"

"The 'Dead or Alive' delivery phone bomb will play a ringtone, giving you time to say your last words. It's very humane, much more merciful than the Eureka tragedy. At least you have time to say your last words. The people you directly or indirectly killed didn't even have a chance to leave a last word!" The BOSS's eyes turned red as he said to this brat from the Madness Butterfly Sect, "You want to battle me with words? Who do you think you are? Just wait to die!"

The music was sometimes melodious and passionate, and sometimes tragic and intense.

The BOSS grabbed the satellite phone and smashed it to pieces. It breathed heavily, seemingly having not been this angry in a very long time.

[Part 3: The Non-Existent Movement]

All the lights along the seaside road were turned off.

--A dark shadow appeared in the night.

The mask of the Flash Butterfly Armor Suit blazed with torchlight, and the God of Slaughter arrived at the casino's entrance.

"It's at the agreed time," Jiang Xueming said to his partner. "Hasben and Tang Ning have already cut off the power to the seaside street."

Bai Qingqing pulled down her helmet, revealing the enemy through her night vision goggles. "I love you!"

Jiang Xueming: "Why bring this up now?"

Bai Qingqing: "I learned it from your younger brother. You have to plant flags before the fight starts. The more flags, the better the effect."

Jiang Xueming took the ASH12.7 out of the weapon case and handed it to his lover, while he himself took the Hunting Goddess and Jing Guang with him.

"O'Connor and Billy are on a date. We have to fight our way through eighteen housing blocks. According to the two students' investigation, we'll be facing 422 enemies. There aren't many psionicists, but they all have guns. Some cameras have night vision, but none of them have individual night vision goggles. When O'Connor gets back and tries to deploy her elite troops, we'll riddle her with bullets."

"How many holes are in the basket?" Bai Qingqing asked.

Jiang Xueming: "It depends on the size."

Bai Qingqing: "There has to be a standard, right? I need to reserve some bullets."

Jiang Xueming: "Just leave your head behind so reporters can take pictures."

Bai Qingqing: "My goodness, this is quite difficult."

There are still about ten minutes until the gamblers are completely evacuated.

Without power, ordinary citizens will soon have to leave.

Jiang Xueming started talking about Billy.

"Billy told me this morning that he wanted to plead for O'Connor."

Bai Qingqing was quite surprised--

"--Where does this kid get his confidence? This ordinary guy is really bowing down, it's hilarious! He thinks he's worthy to plead for the cadres of the Madness Butterfly Sect? What a big mouth he has!"

Jiang Xueming explained.

"No, that's not right, that's not the logic. Billy wants to marry O'Connor, become her live-in son-in-law, and live a life of wealth and comfort from then on."

Bai Qingqing scoffed.

"--No backbone!"

Jiang Xueming sighed, "He cried to me, telling me about the hardships of life, how difficult it is for ordinary people, and he made up many excuses, but he couldn't convince himself."

"He couldn't convince himself to be a bad person; he lacked the resolve. He hated his own incompetence. The job on the White Ape was introduced to the two brothers by a little fishman, Shasha, who was only twelve or thirteen years old—his parents had died long ago."

Bai Qingqing suddenly froze, as if she understood something.

Jiang Xueming: "Shasha's parents were also members of the Fish Head Gang, and they were killed by the Mercy of Eros."

Bai Qingqing's eyes suddenly reddened, and she didn't know what to say.

Jiang Xueming: "Billy lied to it, lied to the little shark, saying that he would take it to make a fortune and give it a good life."

Bai Qingqing's voice trembled with tears. "That bastard!"

Jiang Xueming: "But Billy couldn't get past his own conscience—he finally broke down in tears, admitting that he almost took a shortcut from which there was no turning back, and agreed to cooperate with our mission."

Bai Qingqing: "He's still a human being! He still remembers he's a human being!"

Jiang Xueming: "I think Shasha is the real angel, the little angel of these two brothers. It's so wonderful that Old Khan found it on the White Ape."

They waited, wearing cut-resistant gloves, crouching in the dark corner in front of the casino entrance.

I could see the countless twinkling lights of the city reflected on the distant beach.

I saw the eerie, cold light emanating from the White Ape on the shallow rocky bed.

Who can truly understand the joys and sorrows of human life?

Like O'Connor, like Kang Que Johnny.

Even knowing you'll lose, you'll still gamble.