Chapter 1 The Evening Rain

As evening approached, a misty drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Pedestrians on the street opened their ever-present black umbrellas, which looked like black duckweed drifting through the pitter-patter of the rain.

The sun had just set, and the city's light was already dimming.

The gas lamps along the roadside glowed with an orange light, row upon row, stretching into the distance.

The River Locrone was the largest freshwater river in the city of Lindon.

It divided the vast city in two.

Many steel bridges of various designs spanned the river, like steel monsters lying prone on the ground. Black steam trains sped across the iron bridges from time to time, the white smoke billowing from the locomotives blending with the thick evening fog, enveloping the entire bridge. Like ghost trains, they passed through the fog, appearing and disappearing.

In an upscale restaurant by the river, Suren admired the ancient and immense city through the glass.

Raindrops fell on the windows, like glittering crystals slowly sliding down.

Here, on the nineteenth floor, he had a panoramic view of most of Lindon.

Lindon had largely maintained the architectural style of a thousand years ago, with few high-rise buildings. Especially in the northern part of the city, where the wealthy resided, many ancient manors from a thousand years ago still stood.

As night fell, the city seemed to awaken, and the lights suddenly glittered.

Like flowers blooming in the gloom, the colors suddenly became rich and vibrant.

The table was covered with an exquisite blue-black checkered tablecloth, and there were delicate desserts arranged on the table, along with just the right amount of red wine in the stemmed glasses.

The starlight-like lights were reflected in Suren's eyes.

Reina, sitting across from him, said, "This is Lindon's rainy season. It rains at least four or five days a week. And there's the thick fog that never seems to dissipate."

Hearing this, Suren realized he had been lost in thought. He raised his glass and gently clinked it against hers. "Cheers."

Reina smiled radiantly. "Cheers."

Since the meal started, a happy smile had never left her face.

Suren took a small sip and put down his glass.

Personally, he preferred chugging rum to sipping fine red wine in such an upscale restaurant.

But eating with an old friend like Reina was always pleasant.

Since the restaurant was owned by the wealthy Reina, there was no one else on this floor. Even the maids in their uniforms only appeared when serving food.

The two ate, drank, laughed, and chatted without any restraint.

"I remember the trial in Old Lindon. If you hadn't saved me, Mr. Suren, I would have died. Oh, just the thought of dying in those dark sewers is terrifying. And then you made me the 'bait' to lure out the assassins. Thinking about it now, you were so mean..."

"And that time in the inner city, you were even worse, you actually 'kidnapped' me! Later, everyone laughed at me for a long time, saying why I was so stupid that I didn't resist and just got kidnapped..."

"Wow... Mr. Suren, before you were in the newspapers, I thought I was becoming very powerful, and I was looking forward to surprising you when we met again. But I didn't expect you to be so, so amazing..."

"..."

Because it had been so long since they had seen each other, Reina kept talking about their past encounters.

Suren listened to his own stories and couldn't help but chuckle.

The events in Old Lindon seemed like a long time ago.

They weren't familiar when they first met, and he seemed to have done some things that now seemed terrible.

But there wasn't a hint of blame in Reina's tone, only good-natured teasing and banter between friends.

The more they talked about the past, the stronger their friendship grew.

......

It was still early, and Suren wasn't in a hurry to go out and take care of business.

The two transitioned from talking about the past to the current situation.

Suren also glanced at the recent newspapers.

In the *Lindon Daily*, he saw a report about the "Queen Roderica" cruise ship accident, and the Giant Hermit Society was also described as a cult.

However, in another mainstream media outlet, the *Queen City Daily*, Suren saw a different version.

A reporter claimed that the shipwreck was merely a politically motivated fabrication. It was an ordinary maritime disaster, but someone wanted to use it to attack certain government policies. There was even an interview with a "survivor" who described the incident in vivid detail.

Suren frowned as he read.

He thought that the accident, in which nearly five thousand people had died, would serve as a warning to the politicians in Lindon who were trying to promote religious freedom.

He didn't expect to see such a distortion of the facts.

Reina seemed to sense what he was thinking and said helplessly, "The *Lindon Daily* is owned by the Roberts family, the Dukes of Misty Mountain, the family behind that young master Alex that you saved. They are also strong opponents of the Faith Act. On the other hand, the *Queen City Daily* is owned by the Rodriguez family, and the Grand Councilor is a staunch supporter of the Faith Act... So, the two newspapers often attack each other. Moreover, the Royal Intelligence Agency has been using the difficulty of investigating a sunken ship as an excuse, and has not announced any official findings, so the public hasn't taken it too seriously..."

"..."

Hearing this, Suren couldn't help but feel helpless.

Controlling the news media could indeed conceal the truth.

Such a serious event was simply dismissed as an accident.

However, one thing was certain: the Rodriguez family must be Outer God believers.

Reina continued, "It's the passage of the Faith Act that broke that political balance and tacit understanding. Lindon's political situation is very chaotic now. There have been several assassinations of members of Parliament. There are also gang wars and military rebellions... All factions are seizing the opportunity to grab power."

"..."

After hearing this, Suren fell into deep thought.

Lindon's situation was truly terrible.

Especially the infiltration of the Giant Hermit Society.

He didn't feel how urgent the situation was before, but now that he knew that those Outer God believers were spreading [Mind Awakening Potions] containing parasites, that was the worst thing of all.

The danger was even greater than countless cruise ship incidents.

Suren had given the potion he bought at the docks to Dr. Banks for research, and the conclusion was even more troubling: current research instruments couldn't detect the parasites in the potion at all. Moreover, even after taking the potion, the parasites would remain dormant in the human body tissues and would not be detected.

That was terrifying.

If the instruments couldn't detect it, then it meant that every user had a ticking time bomb inside them.

If Suren hadn't seen through the trick with his All-Knowing Eye, and the matter had been discovered a few months later, Lindon might have been plunged into an irreversible crisis.

The only good news was that the parasites could only survive in the [Mind Enhancing Potions] made with Blood Refinement Crystals. This ruled out the possibility of them being put into the tap water and poisoning the entire city.

For the moment, the channels of transmission were limited, and the infection wouldn't spread too widely if only addicts took it.

But intuition told Suren that things might not be so simple.

Those Outer God believers dared to directly sacrifice an entire cruise ship and assassinate the heir of a Grand Councilor's family, so there was nothing they wouldn't dare to do.

Suren had a faint feeling that those guys might be brewing an even bigger conspiracy.

However, even a terrible case like the cruise ship accident, in which thousands of people died, could be twisted by those politicians with ulterior motives. He felt that his words alone wouldn't be convincing.

A hallucinogen that couldn't be detected by instruments would definitely not be taken seriously.

So, tonight Suren planned to investigate the Vaughn Brotherhood to see where the supply came from.

If he could get some definite news, he could pass it on to Yekaterina's Lance family and the Roberts family. The two Grand Councilors should be able to nip this threat in the bud.

......

As they talked, the time flew by, and it was already ten o'clock in the evening.

Outside the window was a scene of bright lights and revelry. As the fashion capital of Loyain, Lindon's nightlife was incredibly rich.

Suren looked at the time and didn't plan to stay at the restaurant any longer. He said to Reina, "Ms. Reina, I'm going to check out the bars frequented by the Vaughn Brotherhood gang members. That's all for tonight... Where do you live? I'll take you home first."

"Ah..."

Reina's bright eyes flickered, and she looked hesitant.

She had heard Suren talk about the hallucinogen problem, and now that she saw him about to leave, she naturally knew what he was going to do.

After thinking about it, she still spoke her mind, "The Vaughn Brotherhood is mainly active in the 'T2 Rolling Stone Bar'. I've been to that area before. What I mean is, Mr. Suren, can I go with you?"

Suren looked at her expectant eyes and asked, "You want to go with me? I'm not going to a bar for fun. It might be troublesome."

Reina nodded seriously. "I'm not the weak, delicate girl who could only rely on you for protection anymore, Mr. Suren."

After a pause, she blinked her lively eyes, her curiosity and anticipation almost overflowing, and added in a soft voice, "Besides, I've never been to a place like that before. I want to see what it's like..."

Suren's brow twitched slightly as he listened, and he soon smiled. "Alright. Let's go together then."

Indeed, Reina was now at the level of a third-tier professional, and she was fully capable of protecting herself in normal circumstances.

Moreover, Suren's own strength was not weak, and no matter how dangerous it might be, he was more than capable of protecting one person.

Hearing this, Reina's clear black eyes immediately lit up. She exclaimed excitedly, "Really?!"

"Yeah."

Suren nodded and looked at her office attire. "Go change your clothes. It's not appropriate to go to a bar like that."

"Okay! Wait for me, I'll go change!"

Reina, like a little girl who had received a piece of candy, had a face full of excitement and anticipation. She skipped away happily like a rabbit. "I'll be quick!"

Suren watched her cheerful back and shook his head with a wry smile.

He came from the underworld, so naturally, he was unfazed.

But this girl, who had been a well-behaved daughter from a prominent family since she was a child, and had never even been to a bar, it was no wonder she was so excited.

......

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Reina came back in after changing her clothes.

She jogged over, saying, "Sorry, Mr. Suren, for making you wait. The makeup took a little longer."

Suren looked over, and his eyes lit up.

Reina met his gaze and asked a little nervously, "What's wrong? Does it not suit me?"

Suren smiled slightly. "It's good."

The girl was wearing a gothic lolita dress.

It was short in the front and long in the back, with a dark black base and multiple layers of black gauze with bat, black rose, and thorn patterns. She wore buckskin boots, and black stockings outlined her slender legs perfectly. The inner lining was a white short-sleeved shirt made of high-end fabric, and the laced neckline revealed a bit of her sexy cleavage, adding a touch of sexiness to the dark and mysterious dress.

She also wore smoky eye makeup to match the outfit. The black eyeshadow not only didn't look out of place but also gave her a mature and enchanting beauty. She also had black nail polish on her nails and wore some gothic skull silver jewelry.

Darkness, fear, loneliness, despair...

She looked like a standard gothic gang girl.

Hearing the compliment, the unease in Reina's face, which was wearing this type of clothing for the first time, dissipated and turned into a slight smile. "Thank you. Shabina taught me. She said this is the most fashionable style for the ladies in Lindon's nightclubs. I was afraid it was a bit off..."

Suren took another look and replied, "It looks good. It suits you too."

Black stockings, good!

Those legs... super good!

Suren had always known that Reina had a wonderful figure. But because she used to wear a formal business suit, it was hard to tell what her figure was like. Now that she had changed into a new outfit, she looked shapely all of a sudden.

It was like she had become a different person just by changing her outfit.

But it was also good, since probably no one would recognize her as the president of the Thunder Cat Trading Company.

He didn't look any further and said, "Let's go then."

Reina smiled brightly. "Okay."

She looked at Suren's gentleman's suit and asked, "What about you? Are you going to change your clothes?"

"Of course."

Suren stood up, stretched out his arms in a dashing manner, and immediately changed into a leather jacket and motorcycle style with a spell.

He hadn't thrown away the outfit he wore when he ate at the Crusaders.

With the leather jacket on his body and his waist tightened, he hung the [Thunder Serpent] and [Azure Demon] pistols, and his temperament immediately became dangerous.

Seeing this, Reina marveled and looked like a little fan girl. "Wow, so amazing."

She looked at the two pistols and asked knowingly, "Are those the two guns from before?"

Suren said, "Yes."

Reina was even happier.

......

The two quickly went downstairs. Then, in a small alley on the street, Suren took out the parts of his motorcycle and assembled it.

Even in a metropolis like Lindon, motorcycles were standard equipment for gangs.

Suren assembled the motorcycle, straddled it, and started it. The steam boiler roared.

He tilted his head to the back seat and said, "Get in."

Reina's eyes were full of excited little stars. "Wow... I've never ridden a motorcycle before."

As she spoke, she straddled the seat.

Because she had never ridden one before, she felt a little lost in the novelty, and didn't even know where to put her hands.

Suren reminded her, "Hold on to me. Hold on tight."

"Oh."

Reina responded and smiled happily. She naturally hugged him and leaned against Suren's back.

"Woo~"

The motorcycle sped away.

......

A drizzle was falling from the sky, pattering on their faces with a slight chill.

Reina looked at the street scenes flashing by, her lips curved into a slight smile, and her eyes were full of the bright lights.

Like a knight carrying a beautiful princess, the motorcycle sped through the rainy night, and time seemed to become the most gentle and beautiful thing.

Entertainment venues had to be clustered together to attract popularity.

In Lindon's rich nightlife, the South District also had a place. Near Kactrol Port was a very famous bar district, which was located at the intersection near 11 Fox Gem Avenue in the Queen's District.

Merchants from all over the world who needed to seek pleasure frequented the port all year round, so the nightlife here was exceptionally bustling.

Unlike the nightclubs formerly under the jurisdiction of the Crusaders, Lindon's nightclubs were not only frequented by gangs and outlaws, but also by a large number of salaried workers.

Stock traders, teachers, doctors, lawyers, finance professionals... those who had the money to go to bars were usually elite members of society with high salaries.

They worked hard all day and came to the bar in the evening to drink, listen to music, have a romantic encounter, and vent their pent-up emotions.

There were also big bosses who spent money like water here, attracting a flock of beautiful women to throw themselves into their arms.

But nightclubs were also a breeding ground for sin, and heinous crimes such as murder, robbery, and gunfights also occurred frequently.

Suren wasn't too familiar with the roads in Lindon. He relied on Reina's guidance all the way, and after twisting and turning through the dark alleys of Lindon, they finally arrived at Fox Avenue.

As soon as they entered the district, they saw a scene of bright lights and revelry in the distance.

Various neon lights, mainly purple and red, created a scene of extravagant decadence.

The walls on both sides of the street were covered with colorful graffiti of various mysterious symbols. Some punk gang members with colorful hair, full of tattoos, or with nose rings and lip rings were squatting along the side of the road. They cast dangerous and flirtatious glances at every stranger who came to the district.

Reina behind him was instinctively a little nervous, and the arms she was holding around him tightened slightly.

Suren, however, was as familiar as if he had come home.

He drove the car directly to the door of the "T2 Rolling Stone Bar".

This was one of the most bustling nightclubs in this district.

As soon as the car stopped, several gang members guarding the entrance looked at the modified motorcycle and immediately started whistling. "Hey~ buddy, your motorcycle is really cool!"

Motorcycles were a business card for gang members. As soon as they saw the modification, they knew whether they were insiders.

Suren chuckled, threw the car keys to the parking valet at the door, and gave him a two-hundred-liso tip. "Park the car well for me."

As he spoke, he put his arm around Reina's slender waist and walked into the door of the bar.

The Vaughn Brotherhood members had "anchor" tattoos on their arms, which were easy to identify.

These guys at the door all had them.

Moreover, when Suren just passed by, several guys sneezed.

This was a heavily polluted area.

......

From the door, there was still a flight of stairs to enter the bar. Suren looked at Reina, who had a calm expression, and praised, "You're doing well."

Reina secretly glanced behind her, and when she saw that there was no one else around, she stuck out her tongue. "Shabina taught me a lot of disguise techniques... But, I'm still a little nervous."

Suren laughed when he heard this.

After turning a corner and opening the soundproof curtain, the deafening heavy metal music rushed into his ears like a bombardment.

The bar was dimly lit, and scantily clad girls were twisting their bodies and leading the dance on various stages. Young men and women in the dance floor were swinging their bodies wildly to the rhythm of the music.

The air was filled with the smell of hallucinogens and hormones.

The subwoofers were vibrating so much that even their hair was shaking. Suren, however, looked as usual, turned his face and asked Reina next to him, "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yes!"

Reina looked around, as if everything she saw was new.

Her eyes were full of novelty.

The two were led to their seats by the bar's waiter.

Suren randomly pointed to the menu and ordered some drinks.

Before long, a waitress dressed as a sexy bunny girl brought the drinks.

Reina looked at the bunny girl whose chest was almost exposed, and didn't feel embarrassed. She said with emotion, "Wow... so sexy."

The music was so loud that she couldn't even hear her if she didn't put her ear close to her, so the two were very close when she spoke.

Suren smiled and didn't say anything. He filled Reina's glass with wine, raised it, and clinked it against hers. "Cheers."

Reina held the glass, which was about the size of her face, and drank it all down.

Restless music, hallucinatory fragrance, ambiguous performances...

Everyone in the bar had a look of crazy venting on their faces, and their eyes were blurred.

Erotic performances were always the core selling point of nightclubs.

Not only in the dance floor, but also around them, there were strippers dancing enchanting dances that aroused hormones.

The clothes on their bodies also fell one by one, causing the surrounding drinkers to exclaim and scream constantly.

There was a small stage three meters away from Suren's and Reina's seats. The blonde girl had already stripped down to only a thin layer of fabric covering her private parts, and was still dancing hard on the steel pipe. The surging scene made people blush a little.

Reina finally felt a little shy, but she was full of novelty. She also asked in a low voice, "Mr. Suren, should we give a tip? I saw other people giving tips."

Suren looked at her full of interest, and spread his hands. "Of course. If you're willing."

When Reina heard this, she took out a few bills and, imitating the other drinkers, threw the money over.

It was as if she had made a bold attempt, and she looked very excited. She exclaimed softly, "Wow~"

Suren could tell that Reina was really happy.

It was probably rare for her to be able to indulge and vent her emotions like this. She also tried to learn the postures of the other drinkers in the bar, and swayed her body to the rhythm of the music.

Although her movements looked a little clumsy, the smile on her face became more and more brilliant.

The two drank one cup after another, enjoying the rock and roll music that made their hearts beat along with it.

......

Suren knew that he hadn't come to the bar just to have fun. His eyes were also scrutinizing everything in the bar.

His soul perception was released. The first-floor dance floor, the second-floor private room area... and almost everyone in the office area was in his perception.

There were quite a few experts, two at the fourth tier, and seven or eight at the third tier... They all seemed to be from the Vaughn Brotherhood.

Suren also noticed that someone was looking at him. Unfamiliar faces were always easy to notice.

At this time, he deliberately took out a Scarlet Potion, and then poured it into his glass.

Sure enough, before long, a guy with a red rooster comb hairstyle came over and said familiarly, "Hey, boss, is this your first time at Rolling Stone?"

His mouth was full of rotten black teeth and rotten breath. This was a sequela of taking hallucinogens all year round.

Suren glanced at the crow on this guy's shoulder, and then looked at the upside-down cross that was clearly a new tattoo. He said lightly, "The pet is not bad. The tattoo is also very cool."

"Isn't it? Crow pets are the most popular in Lindon right now."

The rooster comb guy looked smug, and pointed to the upside-down cross on his forehead. "I also think this tattoo is super cool!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but sneeze.

Suren fanned himself slightly to reduce the smell on his body, and asked tentatively, "This tattoo pattern seems to be from some religion?"

The rooster comb guy said mysteriously, "Have you heard about the Queen Roderica cruise ship accident recently? It's the religious symbol of that cult."

He also saw at a glance that Suren was a veteran in the underworld, and said directly, "I'm telling you, this is definitely the most trendy tattoo on the streets. It's super cool! The rich young masters in the North District are all getting this..."

"..."

Suren smiled when he heard this, but didn't say anything.

So they knew it was a cult.

Indeed, Outer God sects were dreaded by upright people, but in the eyes of these rotten guys, they were simply saviors.

The more alternative and darker something was, the more trendy it was.

Seeing that Suren didn't speak, as if he didn't want to be disturbed, the rooster comb guy immediately stated his intention. "Boss, do you need some Mind Enhancing Potions to help you have fun?"

Suren said lightly, "I have it. And I guarantee, the goods in your hands are not as good as mine."

As he spoke, he took out a Scarlet Potion in a ostentatious manner and shook it.

The rooster comb guy obviously recognized the potion and immediately realized, "Oh, boss, you know your stuff."

Suren looked indifferent and said, "The goods are good, but Bacchus diluted his goods too much. That guy really has no credibility."

As soon as the rooster comb guy heard the name of the gang member, he immediately dispelled all doubts and helped explain, "These are top-quality goods, and the production is very low now. To be honest, if it wasn't diluted, you might not be able to get it."

Suren looked disdainful, threw a stack of banknotes on the table, and said generously, "Money is not a problem. It's important that the goods are good."

The rooster comb guy understood the implication and said, "Sorry, I don't have any stock on hand."

But he was afraid of losing such a generous customer, hesitated for a moment, and then quickly said, "If you're not leaving for the time being, a new shipment may come tonight. Can I reserve a few good ones for you then?"

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Suren thought, a shipment is coming tonight?

He had only come to try his luck, but it seemed like he had found it directly.

If there was a delivery, would someone come?

He directly took out a few banknotes as a tip, with an expression that he wasn't interested in talking more. "Come and find me when you get the goods."

How could the rooster comb guy not understand this look? He glanced at Reina next to him, and showed an ambiguous smile. "Okay. Boss, you have fun first, and I'll bring you good news!"

......

Reina next to him listened all the way, and after the person left, she blinked her eyes, and a hint of thought flashed in them.

However, she didn't say much, and raised her glass.

Watching the person leave, Suren quietly replaced his wine, and clinked glasses with Reina and drank.

Drinking in the bar didn't need to be so refined, they drank in large glasses.

One cup after another.

Reina, who hadn't changed color when drinking red wine before, gradually had a tempting blush on her cheeks, as if she was slightly drunk.

The young men and women in the dance floor were wantonly swinging their bodies, and in the dim light, there was restlessness, enthusiasm, sexiness...

It was rare to come here, and they didn't know if they would ever come to this kind of place again. Reina had some thoughts in her mind.

She suddenly pointed to the dance floor in the distance, hooked Suren's arm next to her, and looked eager to try. "Mr. Suren, should we go dancing?"

After a pause, she said expectantly, "I haven't tried it yet..."

PS. Asking for a guaranteed monthly ticket.