Snort.

John swiped his visitor pass to open the electronic sliding door.

He smelled a faint scent of alcohol, uncertain whether it was disinfectant or something else mixed in, stepped over the threshold, faced the hospital bed, and caught a whiff of a familiar perfume from his memory.

"Hey, it's me."

John paused for a second before greeting her.

"... Hi, John, whew."

Angelica's voice was extremely weak, her nostrils plugged with a respirator, her body covered in patches and IV tubes.

John stared a bit lost, realized he was staring too long, blinked, and turned his gaze away, saying.

"Sorry, maybe I should've brought some flowers?"

"Oh, please don't, that wouldn't be like you."

Angelica was emaciated, her hair and eyebrows all gone, surgical markings etched on her bald head.

She seemed in good spirits, though likely forcing herself.

John pulled a nearby chair, sat on it backwards, arms resting on the back, as he casually asked about her condition.

Black Light destroyed the lock program.

Angelica successfully broke free from Jingke Heavy Industry's control.

But the high-tech inside her was not only a prisoner's shackle but also vital for sustaining her life.

In the West District war occupied by the Black Gold Gang, Angelica was severely injured during childhood. The modifications carried out in Jingke Heavy Industry's labs during her years of rehabilitation affected her brain nerves and organs.

Black Light's overwriting was aggressive.

John had seen firsthand the tragic end of those hackers physically linked to him.

Gino also nearly died once.

Angelica surviving was indeed not easy.

From hindsight, it was clear:

Mr. Vito had prepared thoroughly over the years, leaving clues for every possibility.

Even using John this time, he didn't just wash his hands of it; he drew Jingke's attention, ensuring Angelica could leave Bolago as soon as possible.

Safikar Rescue Center was obviously handpicked.

The sword is guarding here.

Whoever comes dies.

Angelica's rehabilitation surgery was highly challenging, removing 46.6% of the implants, replacing damaged organs, and swapping the Black Light-damaged covert experimental Sianweistan with an artificial spine.

"I'm not too unlucky."

She flashed a boastful yet somewhat weary smile.

"Really? Damn, I think we're two unlucky devils."

John let out a bitter laugh, taking earrings out from his coat pocket, completing the task Gino had assigned.

Angelica looked at him with slight surprise.

"I really thought you didn't bring a gift, wait, Gino's?"

Angelica's gaze became much more complicated.

She had mentally prepared herself, even repeatedly warned herself:

Life in Eden City would soon be far away from her, don't think too much, don't reminisce, all relationships were over, but after all, she truly lived in the West District for so many years.

"How are they?"

"Hmm, can't say, the streets became unfamiliar in the blink of an eye."

John talked about Wenna and Jilead.

Angelica always was a good listener.

They seemed to be back in a corner of the Tipsy Bikini, chatting about others' experiences at the edge of dim LED strips.

John shrugged, as if comforting her.

"I'll do my best to take care of them."

"No, John."

Angelica shook her head.

"Don't tie other people's lives to yours. Even if life becomes worse, it's not your fault; the responsibility is too heavy."

"Hey, you know, I didn't kill or help for anyone, it just makes me feel a bit better."

John denied it familiarly.

Angelica didn't expose him.

John sat before the hospital bed, numb, talking, the conversation extending to Gerry, Maya, restaurant management, relationships in Damascus...

Talked for a long, long time, he even felt verbose.

Angelica listened particularly intently.

John could see her weakness, also realizing this farewell might be their last, but he really didn't know what emotions he should have, how to express them, what kind of response to give...

Every time when emotions ran high.

He always became extremely calm at a certain instant, as if all emotions exceeding the threshold were erased.

Just like now.

His heart was calm, frighteningly so.

Like a machine receiving instructions unable to process, trying desperately to compute yet unable to produce a "normal" response.

John suddenly felt a coolness on the back of his hand.

Angelica propped herself up and gripped him, her open-back surgery gown revealing a skeletal spine, the thin stitched scar still bleeding.

"You don't look too good."

"... Whew~ No, John, this is important."

Angelica held his hand tightly, furrowed her brows against the pain, and asked seriously.

"Come with me, please, leave Eden City."

"..."

John was a bit surprised, his raised eyebrows dropped, lips slightly parted but slowly curling upwards.

In the end, he smilingly refused Angelica.

"Mr. Vito didn't prepare two tickets."

"You know that's not the problem."

Angelica pierced through his excuse, and John, after a brief silence, helped her lie down.

He didn't say he could only live for ten days.

"I still lost the bet, whew~ If I had known you'd refuse, I certainly wouldn't want you to see me like this."

She sighed with a smile, lying on the bed, slowly closing her eyes.

"In the dreams I've had about leaving Eden City, the two of us should be spreading out a blanket in front of the landing window, getting some red wine to celebrate. Just rolling in bed, the demands are indeed a bit much, but at least there should be a farewell kiss to make it worthwhile."

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