Puddles reflected the neon lights.

The ripples created illusions like crumbling pixel blocks.

John carried the corpse, pushing open the mortuary's iron door with one hand.

The rusty metal structure emitted a series of wails, revealing a narrow and cramped living room and waiting area, and the sound of the door extended down the dark concrete stairs further into the building.

The incandescent lights embedded in the ceiling sizzled.

Inside, it was filled with mosquito corpses.

"Hello, is anyone there?"

Gino asked cautiously.

She seemed to have triggered some voice-activated mechanism; some mechanical structure suddenly activated, and after a brief pause, a series of noises ensued.

The entire building came alive.

Tap, tap tap.

Footsteps came from below, echoing in the narrow building, finally stopping at the stairwell entrance.

John and Gino's eyes tracked the sound through the walls, finally landing on that dark corner.

The place was silent for a few seconds.

A head composed of mosaics slowly peeked out.

His entire face had been replaced with a pixelated board, the yellow line-drawn expression showing a smile as if John and the others had brought a gift that could keep him happy for days.

"Welcome to the Extreme Netherworld Destination,"

[Name: Sugar Bean Man]

[Faction: Ghoul]

[Scan: Cheek humor, surgical component joints, hormone vascular plexus, auxiliary heart, etc.]

[Bounty: Organ smuggling, multiple murders, trafficking of contraband, etc.]

John took a step back as soon as he saw the scan information.

Ghouls weren't any good.

But on second thought, it was understandable:

To compete for the mortuary business on Sakura Cross Street, if you didn't rely on the Xiaoting Gang, you'd have to back up to the Ghouls.

"The sign outside is very clear, you should know what kind of business we're in... hmm? You even brought a corpse, saving a lot of hassle."

Sugar Bean Man's body was fully exposed as he spoke.

Even Gino, standing behind, took a step back.

Because this guy's mosaic head was only normal-sized, but the body hidden in the corridor exceeded two meters, bloated with extravagant muscles paired with two thick mechanical prosthetic limbs.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm a doctor, friend, dismantling arms and legs requires some skill and strength, you've seen it yourself, I'm holding this place on my own, no assistant here, I have to do everything myself..."

As Sugar Bean Man spoke, he had already moved up close.

Along with his approach came a wave of terrible air—a sharp, acrid scent of disinfectant mixed with the stench of decaying bodies and internal organs.

Sugar Bean Man was like a deformed wall of flesh blocking the corridor.

John stared expressionlessly at the mosaic board, his hand naturally falling next to his work jacket.

Inside was a smart submachine gun loaded with bullets.

Sugar Bean Man leaned slightly forward, blocking the cold and pale light, his whole body dimming, emitting a strong oppressive feeling.

He extended a pair of thick prosthetic limbs, wanting to touch the corpse.

He was very close.

John saw the torque in the other's elbow rotating, deep in the joint clogged with dirt—unclear if it was bloodstains or lubricant.

[Open fire. (Optional)]

[Negotiate. (Optional)]

"Name a price."

John raised his head, his tone calm.

He could even feel the heat radiating from that mosaic face.

Sugar Bean Man's outstretched hand paused in mid-air, clenched into a fist, then suddenly, playfully, spread all fingers.

"Five hundred euros! Haha!"

A crackling, distorted, sharp laughter like that from a broken car stereo came from his throat.

The price made Gino frown.

John didn't believe it either.

"Are you kidding? At this price, how many people in the entire city could afford to burn bodies!"

"Oh, calm down, darling ~"

Sugar Bean Man's smile remained unchanged.

The facial lines on the mosaic board were orange, with a deep purple below that shifted with his breathing, seemingly expressing different emotions.

"Look at all the stuff you're carrying, pretty impressive and not cheap, you must be someone big in the underworld, and for a street legend like you to come to this corner in person, without a middleman to make introductions, there must be some inconvenience. And I'm just a businessman, I don't want to make you angry, just let me earn a little~"

Secrecy comes at a cost.

This was the street rule.

Sugar Bean Man was clearly discussing business.

[Make the payment. (Optional)]

[Refuse the transaction. (Optional)]

Beep beep.

John waved a finger to pay the fee.

Eden City was still under lockdown, and the Eastern people on Sakura Cross Street were tense.

Even street robberies didn't dare to get big.

If the mortuary was to shoot and not wrap things up quickly, it would draw the NCPD or even SAT's encirclement.

It wouldn't be good for anyone then.

Five hundred euros was acceptable to John.

Take a step back.

If the serum didn't revive him, what point would the balance numbers have?

The payment notification beeped unnaturally loud in the cramped room.

Gino seemed surprised, her expression complex, but in the end, she said nothing.

"Great, big shot, just wait, I promise to handle it beautifully for you!"

Sugar Bean Man grabbed the body bundle with one hand and disappeared at the end of the concrete passage with the same steps as when he came.

John followed a few steps.

He saw a downward staircase under the dim light.

Mirrors caked with grime were embedded in the walls.

The flickering overhead lights revealed an operating room pieced together from small tiles, with the incinerator and morgue seemingly deeper within.

A moment later.

The sound of flushing water echoed.

Bang, bang, bang—

A powerful electric current surged into the old equipment, and a loud noise mixed with the smell of burning fuel wafted up.

John felt a bit dizzy.

The gas was toxic.

He returned to the original room and sat down next to Gino.

A metal bench.

A background wall full of footprints and scuffs.

Two people sat side by side, one holding a traditional cigarette and the other an electronic respirator.

Neither John nor Gino felt like speaking.

Rumble—

The body started burning.

The ventilation pipe rumbled loudly.

Exhaust was vented out, in exchange, the air soaked by sewage and evaporating drugs from the outside alley poured into the room.

The fan roared, making one dizzy, even causing tinnitus.

John and Gino gradually adapted to the same rhythmic vibration, even feeling a bit of tranquility, as if they could empty their minds amidst the noise.

The sounds covered by the rumbling gradually surfaced.

Gino and John both heard it:

Crackling came through the walls, like instant popcorn popping in a microwave, or a synthetic meat strip sizzling with a plastic scent.

"Ugh—"

Gino didn't know what she smelled or thought of.

Creaaak—

The old metal door was pushed open once more.

A new customer and fresh air flooded into the room simultaneously.

Gino showed a thank-God expression and then looked at the newcomer with John.

He was wrapped up tightly like a walking square, wearing a long coat inappropriate for the season, nearly overheating himself, he hurriedly tugged at his clothes for breath as soon as he walked into the room.

[Prosthetic: Messiah-Medusa V]

[Part: Visual System]

[Function: Built-in external lens jammer, full environmental visual enhancement, ultra-high-speed scanning algorithm.]

A brief stream of data flashed in John's pupils.

In his eyes, the "new customer" turned into a shattered mosaic, quickly re-composing amidst the data bombardment.

The other had installed an [External Lens Jammer]

This was a plug-in prosthetic, used to prevent secret filming and protect personal information in public environments.

John didn't forcibly scan the other's information.

He could have, but there was no need.

John switched his cyber-eye mode.

After a brief pause, all the details on the other's body were exposed.

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