A Twisted Heart

"Let's begin!" the officer said, then sat down to the side with an air of authority.

Under the officer's watchful eye, the woman nervously finished treating Suika. The officer nodded, and two military police officers immediately came up and took her away.

"Hey, you've taken everyone away, why didn't you ask me a single question?" Suika looked at the officer who was about to leave with some confusion. Was his attitude towards her a little too nice?

"First of all, I think this is probably your first time in Karaton, and you're not familiar with the area, which is why you've wandered into this place by mistake."

Secondly, you entered the city as Catastrophe Messenger, right? I believe that someone who can become Catastrophe Messenger would not appreciate such low-level entertainment.

Third... My name is Marlon Swire. If you have any trouble in Karaton, you can come to the police station to find me. If I can help, I certainly won't refuse."

After saying that, the officer left.

It was only then that Suika realized, "Oh, these are our own people."

It has to be admitted that the world seems big, but it's actually quite small; you can run into people who know you or people you know wherever you go.

She wasn't surprised at all that the other party knew her information, since the proof she provided when entering the city was the Catastrophe Messenger's certificate, which showed that she was affiliated with an organization.

Since this person is the officer in charge here, he will naturally assume that the affiliated organization is one of their own.

After all, for these family members, the interests of the family come above all else.

When I came out of the house, it was deserted and there was hardly anyone around.

Suika went to the city's commercial district, found a hotel to rest, changed her clothes, and had a meal before heading to the address Xia Li had given her.

Inside the Rhodes Island office, Kugen rubbed his temples after listening to Xia Li recount what had happened outside.

In the past, the Infected who came to work in Karaton were all quite honest. After all, in this environment where Infected are discriminated against, most people are extremely grateful to have a place willing to give Infected a job, so why would they think of robbing others?

All I can say is that those two guys deserved to die.

They don't even consider that most people who can walk alone in the wilderness are not to be trifled with.

Now a problem has arisen for them: among the Infected who have come to Karaton are relatives of the two dead people, and when they came in, they disobeyed Xia Li's orders and deliberately plotted to cause trouble for others.

Putting aside other people's abilities, his identity as Catastrophe Messenger alone required him to treat the matter with utmost care.

After all, it's a loss for Rhodes Island to have fallen out with a Catastrophe Messenger over something like this.

"You said you gave that Catastrophe Messenger an address from here, right?" Kugen looked at Xia Li.

"That's right..." Xia Li nodded. Leading this group of people had left her somewhat exhausted, and she didn't want to move much as she leaned back on the sofa.

"Then let's wait. If that young lady is willing to come, then there is still hope for the relationship between the two sides to improve. Otherwise, we will have to report to headquarters."

After all, it's quite troublesome to have fallen out with a traveling Catastrophe Messenger.

After finishing his Kugen continued with the tasks at hand.

Ding ding ding

Both of them perked up when the knocking sounded.

"Verdant Spark, a good name."

Although your place is in the middle of the block, it's actually quite hard to find.

I came from the city center, passed through two checkpoints, and asked several people before I finally found this place.

After Suika walked in from outside, she pointed to the plaque with a smile and said.

"This is the Infected neighborhood; it's quite a distance if you're coming from the city center."

The two checkpoints you mentioned are only for stopping Infected. They might question non- Infected, but they won't stop you.

Kugen stood up with a smile on his face after hearing Suika's words.

"I thought we were famous enough, but it turns out not many people know about us..." Xia Li raised her glass to Suika.

"After all, this is just a bar... It's normal for people who don't like drinking not to know about this place!" Kugen smiled and continued.

"Are there any guests?" At that moment, a pink head peeked out from the kitchen.

"Little Susie, please have a glass of juice for our little guest," Kugen said, looking at the Pink Piggy peeking out.

"No juice, how about a glass of ale, or whatever specialty cocktails you have?"

Miss Xia Li knows that I quench my thirst with alcohol in the wilderness; I don't touch fruit juice.

Suika waved her hand, indicating that she was no child and that the new type of wine was more appealing than fruit juice.

Kugen looked at Xia Li in astonishment, Xia Li nodded to indicate that Suika was right.

She had witnessed Suika's terrifying fighting prowess before in the wilderness, where she drank alcohol like water and became more energetic the more she drank.

"Okay, Susie, just get us a serving of French fries and we can go home."

"If you'd like a special drink, I do have one."

After finishing his sentence, Kugen walked to the bar and took out a bunch of different kinds of drinks and started mixing them.

Soon, Susie placed a large plate of French fries in front of them, then happily left after work.

"Is she also Infected?" Suika asked knowingly.

"That's right, Susie was infected due to an accident, but she has always been optimistic and positive, like a little sun warming everyone around her. People in this neighborhood really like this hardworking child."

Xia Li looked at Susie as she walked away with a look of affection in his eyes.

"Indeed, most of the Infected I've seen in the past have deep-seated hatred and suffering, and even the more normal ones are rarely as happy as her."

But she is someone else's sunshine, so when she is sad, where is the ray of light that illuminates her?

Thinking about what happened to this pink-haired girl, it's truly heartbreaking.

However, every cloud has a silver lining. If it weren't for those various experiences, Susie wouldn't have had the opportunity to go to Rhodes Island.

Although Karaton is a city where Infected can survive, it's only a matter of survival, unlike Susie, after arriving at Rhodes Island, was able to truly live according to her own will.

After hearing Suika's words, Xia Li looked outside thoughtfully. At this moment, Susie had already disappeared around the street corner. Without that touch of vibrant pink, the entire block looked a little gloomy.

"Come, this cup of Kugen Liquor is my proudest creation. Would you like to try it, young lady?"

At this moment, Kugen brought a cup of pale green wine to Suika.

He took the glass and took a small sip first, then Suika tilted her head back and drank the wine in one gulp, before giving Kugen a thumbs up.

Chapter 123 A Twisted Mind

Seeing how quickly Suika downed the drink, Kugen thought the wine was a bit strong, but seeing that she didn't turn red or out of breath after drinking it, he didn't say anything more.

It tastes bitter at first, but leaves a sweet aftertaste.

The rich layers and textures are truly exceptional.

The key point is that although it tastes very mild, it is actually a strong liquor.

Little bro, you're really cunning...

Overall, it would score 80 out of 100 for a mixed drink.

"Since I've already drunk your wine, let me let you try some of my good stuff."

Suika pulled over a row of empty wine glasses from the side, then opened the Ibuki Gourd and drank several glasses, each one different from the last.

"Come and try them, these are all good wines I've tasted in various places."

Kugen took the wine glass in surprise and asked with some doubt.

Originium Arts?

"No, what should it be called again... right, Arts Unit or Originium application item."

"Any wine I've ever drunk can be recreated here."

After speaking, Suika began pausing repeatedly towards the spout of the teapot...

Seeing Suika's actions, Kugen picked up the first cup...

Two minutes later, Suika looked at Kugen, who was lying unconscious on the sofa beside her, and then looked at Xia Li.

"Has anyone told him that if he doesn't drink, he should sit with the children?"

Xia Li rubbed her forehead.

"Could it be that your liquor is too strong?"

"Is it strong? The first glass was indeed quite strong, it was Yumen Shaodaozi (a type of strong liquor). The second glass was a sparkling wine I had in Leithanien before, the alcohol content wasn't high, its characteristics were the carbon dioxide and floral aroma. The third glass was a dry red wine from Gaul, not much alcohol either. This fourth glass is Lungmen sorghum liquor, homemade. What kind of alcohol content can homemade liquor have..."

He got drunk after only four cups! What else could it be but an inability to drink?

Suika counted on her fingers how many cups of wine Kugen had drunk.

"... So he drank four different kinds of alcohol, some of which were mixed with soda?" Xia Li finally understood how Kugen had been drunk so heavily.

She was still wondering how Kugen, who was the owner of the bar, could be so easily knocked out by four drinks. She realized that Suika had secretly spiked the drink.

"You came because of that incident when we entered the city, right?"

Seeing that Kugen was still unconscious, Xia Li could only speak.

"Indeed, that is one of the reasons I came here, but it's not the whole story."

Upon hearing this, Suika immediately leaned back on the sofa in a carefree manner.

"Regarding this matter, I've arranged for someone to send those people who were connected to the previous victims and who were involved in the incident at the city gate back to the Infected settlement in the wilderness, and they won't be brought to Karaton. Does that seem acceptable?"

After all, they are in the city, and according to Victoria's city laws, even if Infected, Victoria will provide them with a minimum level of safety and security in the city.

While killings in the wilderness outside the city are not protected, killing them inside the city becomes a crime.

They lost the city's protection because they offended you, so are you going to drop the matter?

Xia Li sat down in front of Suika and spoke very sincerely.

"I'd like to say yes... but are you sure you can get those guys out of the city?"

Would they agree to something that would lead to their own demise?

I guess they stopped paying attention to you after you went into the city.

Even though you've been speaking up for them, will they appreciate it?

They won't. They'll just think that those two people died because of you...

Wait, what about the other child?

Is he under your protection?

Suika suddenly frowned as she spoke.

Those guys on the other side can't tell the situation clearly, and they wantonly blame others. They're just like that place that labels all forces, countries, and people who oppose them as terrorist organizations.

Will they let go of the cause of this whole thing—the child who fell into a coma due to Oripathy and was ultimately saved by Suika's special medicine?

Hearing Suika's words, Xia Li's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, but she felt that no one should be so shameless.

After all, the child hadn't done anything wrong, so even if those people wanted to take their anger out on the child, they wouldn't go so far as to target him.

"What are you all standing there for? Let's go find that child!" Suika jumped up from the sofa and looked at Xia Li.

Finding someone in the Infected neighborhood whose face she can barely remember is like searching for a needle in a haystack, unless Xia Li helps her.

Although Xia Li felt that Suika thought too evil about human nature, considering that they planned to send the child to Rhodes Island later, it was only right to find him and bring him back.

"Okay, I remember they said this was their temporary accommodation before they left!" Xia Li opened the door and led Suika out.

A few minutes later, Kugen woke up and was stunned to find the room empty.

"Where are they? There are so many of them!"

After walking for a while, Xia Li and Suika finally arrived at the temporary residence of the newcomers.

Upon entering the room, Xia Li's expression darkened.

She glanced around and found that most of the people in the room were there, but the child and the other Infected were missing.

"Where are the Leite? Where did they take him?!"

Xia Li looked at the others with a dark expression, but the others in the room seemed indifferent, as if it were none of their business.

Suika scoffed, "These are the Infected you've been trying so hard to save? Cold, heartless, selfish—do they deserve to be saved?"

Some people wanted to argue when they heard Suika's words, but they immediately backed down when they saw her. After all, the terrifying punch from that night was still etched in their minds.

At that moment, Suika's ears twitched. She heard the sound of wind outside and immediately turned and ran out.