Yaojishi Danny truthfully confessed his origins, and Suren confirmed that this incident should have nothing to do with the Inner City.

　　He also asked a few familiar faces on Green Street, who had also heard that outsiders had recently been coming to this neighborhood to capture orphans and vagrants.

　　He then agreed to help with this small favor.

　　Suren wore a brown, dirty braided wig, changed into a rock-and-roll-style shiny leather outfit, and then used his lock-picking skills to "borrow" an inconspicuous steam motorcycle. He then carried Danny, following the scent all the way to the West District.

　　It must be said that Danny's sense of smell was outrageously good, as sensitive as a dog's nose. Even after half an hour, he could still find the scent and guide Suren to the Knight District in the West District, more than ten kilometers away.

　　Suren had suspected before that the Steam Party was the one capturing orphans on Green Street. Now that he had arrived in the Knight District, he knew roughly who was behind it.

　　Parker, the "Anchor" he had killed in the conflict, used to be the patrol captain of the Steam Party in this district.

　　And from that guy's memory, Suren had also extracted some intelligence. They seemed to have been capturing people all along to fulfill some kind of "delivery mission."

　　.......

　　Suren drove Danny around the street for a while, and then found the black truck used for capturing people in an inconspicuous dark alley.

　　But the truck was already empty.

　　After a search, Danny finally confirmed that the scent of his friends was located in a building called "Black Duke," a few hundred meters away from the truck.

　　Suren had heard of this entertainment club; it was very famous and lively in the West District.

　　He parked the motorcycle in an inconspicuous abandoned building and had Danny hide in the darkness.

　　Then he swaggered onto Knight Avenue.

　　The West District was the territory of the Steam Party and the place with the strongest steampunk elements in the entire Outer City. Everywhere on the streets, one could see guys with various modified mechanical arms and prosthetic limbs. The buildings on the street were mostly Saxon or Romanesque dome-shaped gray-black buildings, with steel skeletons and steam boiler exhaust pipes on the outer walls. The street surface was covered with complex train tracks, and there were multi-layered train bridges made of pure steel frames overhead. Steam trains passed by from time to time, with a whooshing sound and a cloud of white smoke filling the air.

　　A scene of bright lights and greenery; this was the "Green Street" of the West District.

　　Suren had only taken a few steps when a white-faced man with a pointy mouth and monkey-like cheeks came over, mysteriously saying, "Hey friend, do you want to modify a prosthetic limb? I have the cheapest goods in the Outer City here, with a one-year warranty..."

　　The Steam Party's territory might lack everything else, but it never lacked mechanical modification shops.

　　Suren's rock-and-roll attire, with no mechanical prosthetics installed on his body, made him a potential customer in the eyes of these local bullies.

　　However, these shops that needed to solicit customers usually didn't have very good modification skills, and there was a high probability of infection,畸变(jībiàn, mutation), or malfunctions.

　　Although he had never been here before, he was familiar with these tricks because the gang had absorbed a large number of memory fragments last time.

　　Seeing that Suren ignored him, that guy came closer again: "Friend, I also have high-end goods from the Inner City here, do you want to take a look?"

　　Suren didn't say a word, just flashed the firearm at his waist. Only then did that guy pick himself up and leave.

　　He was very familiar with the ways of the underworld. Dealing with these annoying guys, the more polite you were, the more trouble you would get.

　　Suren walked straight towards the "Black Duke Club."

　　Then he encountered pimps, flower-selling little girls, cigarette-selling vendors...

　　"Brother, want a babe? Newly arrived noble ladies from the Inner City, only three thousand lisuo (currency) a night. Oh my, you probably don't know, those noble ladies have such tender skin..."

　　"Sir, would you like a rose?"

　　"The best Berkeley brand cigarettes, cigars from the Bagem factory, would you like a box, sir?"

　　"..."

　　Suren flicked a ten-lisuo coin to the little girl, took a rose, and walked into the club's gate.

　　Inside the gate was a security checkpoint surrounded by iron mesh, with a neat row of firearms hanging on the wall. Several muscular men in suits, wearing sunglasses and with their arms crossed, were scrutinizing the passing guests. These were Steam Party members responsible for guarding the place, the same as Suren's previous job.

　　These guys would focus on identifying some unfamiliar faces.

　　Naturally, they also noticed Suren, who was visiting for the first time.

　　Deep inside the enemy gang's headquarters, Suren didn't show the slightest bit of timidity. He walked in as casually as a regular customer and even handed the rose to a welcoming girl at the door dressed in a sexy bunny girl outfit.

　　He didn't know where he had extracted this memory from, but he happened to recognize this girl, "Hey, Moira, want to have a few drinks with me tonight?"

　　That bunny girl looked at Suren and immediately clung to him, "Oh ~ sir, it's been so long since you've been here..."

　　The professional ethics of nightclub girls were so good that even if she didn't remember you at all, she would act spoiled as if she were seeing a returning patron.

　　Suren laughed and naturally put his arm around the girl's slender waist, stepping into the club's gate.

　　Seeing that he was a regular at the club, those gazes of attention instantly left his body.

　　.......

　　Inside the club's entrance was the hall, which was the dance floor and the stage.

　　The lights were dim, and the air was filled with psychedelic potions and an explosion of hormonal atmosphere.

　　Green Street's entertainment venues were patrolled every night; Suren was already numb to it. There was nothing new here; it was just the same old pole dancers and erotic dancers on the catwalk...

　　A band with zombie makeup was playing wildly on the stage, and the restless men and women on the dance floor were twisting their bodies to the rhythm of heavy metal music...

　　Suren, on the other hand, was drinking with that bunny girl in a booth in the corner.

　　A thousand lisuo tip allowed him to enjoy Moira's gentle and enthusiastic service.

　　After all, this was the territory of an enemy gang.

　　Suren's plan was simple: if a problem could be solved with money, he would try to avoid taking action.

　　If people were really here, three teenagers wouldn't cost that much money.

　　Drinking a round of drinks at a nightclub could help him become a familiar face, and then talking business wouldn't seem so abrupt.

　　Before long, after drinking for a while, the girl's face was flushed, and she seemed a little tipsy. Suren felt that the time was right, and he clinked glasses with a "clang," saying to the girl as if very casually: "Hey, Moira, is 'Gold Tooth' Bardi in the venue?"

　　Illegal human trafficking in the underworld usually had specialized slave traders. This Bardi was a broker active in the "Black Duke" club, specializing in introducing business.

　　The girl took a sip of wine and said lazily, "Bardi? Mr. Nicholas, are you looking to buy some slaves?"

　　Suren said, "Yes. A nobleman's new residence in the Inner City needs a batch of young children to train as servants. I want to pick a few sensible ones to send over..."

　　Hearing this, the girl's娇躯(jiāoqū, delicate body) clung closer and said charmingly: "Oh, I almost forgot that your business, sir, has dealings with the nobles in the Inner City~ Should I help you notify Bardi?"

　　Suren laughed: "That would be great."

　　.......

　　Before long, a skinny man with gold teeth and a mechanical vest walked over.

　　"Sir, I heard you need to buy some slaves?"

　　"I heard you have good goods in hand; I'm looking for some younger ones..."

　　"Then you've come to the right person."

　　After a few straightforward words, Suren followed this Bardi out of the back door of the club. Then, he went down a steel staircase to the basement, arriving at a dungeon-like underground room.

　　More than a dozen women with panicked expressions were locked in the iron-barred dungeon. They were all young, and their appearance was not bad. They were bare-chested, with only a few pieces of cloth covering their private parts, and most of their fair skin had some whip mark scars.

　　This kind of illegal human trafficking business was very common in the Outer City.

　　Bardi introduced with a flattering face: "Sir, these are really good goods. A few of them were maids from noble families who were sent out from the Inner City not long ago. Look at those tits, those legs, they even know the real noble etiquette. If you buy them back, I guarantee they'll serve you until you're turned on ~"

　　Suren wasn't here to buy female slaves. Not seeing those teenagers, he looked dissatisfied: "Brother Bardi, is this all you have? I need young ones, easy to train as servants!"

　　After a pause, he didn't forget to provoke him: "I heard people say that you, Brother Bardi, have the best goods on Knight Street!"

　　Hearing this, Bardi immediately patted his chest and said: "That's for sure! I can guarantee that in the entire Knight District, only the goods in my hand are the best and most complete, the best!"

　　Suren glanced at him, meaning: So it's just these?

　　Bardi explained with a troubled face: "To be honest, these are all truly good goods. The next best...the next best ones weren't kept."

　　Hearing this, Suren said again: "I say, Brother Bardi, I need a few young ones, preferably eleven or twelve years old, male or female is fine. As long as I'm satisfied with the goods, the price is negotiable!"

　　Since Danny had confirmed that the people were in this building, there must be other places to hold slaves.

　　This Bardi definitely knew.

　　Sure enough, this sentence "the price is negotiable" immediately made Bardi change his tune: "Then wait a moment, I'll bring a few for you to see."

　　Suren waved his hand, "No need for so much trouble, just take me to see them directly."

　　Sure enough, there was another slave warehouse.

　　But hearing that Suren wanted to go, Bardi looked embarrassed: "This... I'm sorry, it's not very convenient."

　　Suren realized that it might be some secret base, so he didn't insist. He shook his hand and gave an impatient expression, "Forget it, then hurry up."

　　"Okay, you wait a moment, I'll be right back."

　　Saying that, Bardi left his two men behind and walked out alone.

　　With someone guarding nearby, Suren didn't wander around. He just sat on the chair with his legs crossed and waited.

　　He looked nonchalant, but in reality, he was listening carefully.

　　He listened to the movement of the iron stairs outside the door. After that Bardi went out, he seemed to have walked upstairs, and then came down again a few minutes later.

　　Suren's auricle twitched slightly, and he silently muttered in his heart: "That guy went to the third room on the left on the third floor, then came down and walked at least one hundred and ten steps to the southwest, it should be in that building... What did he go up to do? Ask the boss for instructions?"

　　Just by hearing the movement outside the door, Suren had already judged the walking trajectory of that Bardi, secretly pondering a backup plan in his heart.

　　.......

　　Before long, Bardi came back, followed by eight teenagers chained with iron chains.

　　Their outfits were all ragged, and at a glance, it was obvious that they were small thieves and vagrant orphans just caught from the streets. It looked like some of them had resisted and had been beaten, with bruised noses and swollen faces.

　　Suren took a look and saw a familiar face. He remembered that his name was Brown.

　　But... wasn't there supposed to be three of them?

　　There was only one here, which meant that two others were still being held.

　　Suren looked at them and felt that things were slightly troublesome.

　　Bardi saw that Suren didn't speak and asked, "This... are you not satisfied?"

　　Suren pursed his lips, putting on a look of disapproval.

　　These were actually of good quality, even better than the other two he was looking for. However, if he couldn't buy them all at once, then it was meaningless.

　　If he picked any more, his purpose would seem less simple.

　　Suren shook his head, took out a stack of tips and left them on the table, as if he had no desire to keep watching. "They're barely passable... but that boss needs really good goods. Brother Bardi, please keep an eye out for me these few days, I'll come back to see them in a few days."

　　Although he didn't make a deal, Bardi looked at the tips on the table and was equally delighted: "Sir, don't worry, in three to five days at most, I guarantee I can find you something you'll be satisfied with."

　　........

　　Suren returned to the booth in the hall again, and that bunny girl was still waiting for him in the booth.

　　"Mr. Nicholas, didn't you find anything suitable?"

　　"Oh... Bardi doesn't have anything that satisfies me for the time being. I'll have to come back in a few days to see."

　　"That's a pity. Sir, want a drink?"

　　Suren picked up his glass, but his mind was thinking that since the deal couldn't be made, it seemed that he could only use force.

　　Fortunately, he already knew the location where they were being held, so it wouldn't be too troublesome.

　　At this moment, he suddenly felt that someone flashing past in the dance floor in front of him looked familiar. "Huh... why do I think that person looks a little familiar?"

　　He didn't see it too clearly, and he couldn't remember who it was, guessing that it was someone from the extracted memories.

　　The girl accompanied Suren for another round of drinks. Suren felt that it was time to take action. He said, "Wait for me for a few minutes, I'm going to the bathroom."

　　Hearing this, the bunny girl seemed to have misunderstood something and smiled ambiguously, "Okay~ Do you want me to go with you?"

　　In a nightclub, the bathroom was not only a place to solve bladder problems, but also a place to walk kidneys...

　　Suren pulled out some tips and stuffed them into her bustier, fondled her, and laughed, "Just wait for me."

　　Saying that, he left the seat潇洒(xiāosǎ, gracefully).

　　........

　　Suren left the booth and went to the bathroom.

　　Avoiding the drunk customers, he directly climbed out of the bathroom window and then appeared in the back alley. He took off his coat and covered his face with a skull bandana.

　　Because of his excellent hearing ability, he could easily avoid others.

　　"One hundred and ten steps to the southwest, it should be that small building. There are two guys drinking on the second floor, probably sentries..."

　　Suren was too familiar with some of the underworld's habits. He could clearly distinguish which were the patrons and which were the Steam Party members.

　　Taking advantage of the sentries' distraction, Suren quickly approached the small building.

　　Then he摸(mō, stealthily) went inside and saw a basement with a heavy iron door.

　　There were three guards playing cards at the door. Suren walked over, and in the three people's stunned gazes, he pulled out a silenced pistol and solved two of them with two "poof" sounds.

　　Then he pointed the gun at the last person's head and said coldly, "Open the door."

　　That person was already trembling with fear, "The...the key is with Boss 'Dam'."

　　"Where is Dam?"

　　"Third floor...303."

　　Suren didn't say a word of nonsense and solved that guy with one shot.

　　The lock on the heavy iron door was very complicated and couldn't be opened with just skill. He turned his head and walked out of the basement.

　　.......

　　Suren also guessed that Bardi went to the third floor earlier probably to get the key.

　　He didn't take the stairs guarded by the Steam Party members, but instead came to the small alley outside the bathroom where wine bottles were piled up. In the dark, he unlocked the implant armor. The spider arms firmly gripped the wall, easily climbing up the wall.

　　He wasn't in a hurry to go up, but instead listened carefully on the outer wall of the second floor.

　　"There's only one person's breathing, it should be that Dam."

　　Dam was the head of the slave traders in Knight Street and wasn't a professional, so he didn't pose much of a threat to Suren.

　　His original plan was to go in and kill that guy, get the key, and solve the problem within a minute.

　　But unexpectedly, as soon as he stuck his head out on the window, his gaze froze.

　　In the room... a naked fat man was tied to a chair, and a woman with short purple hair was holding a knife against his neck, seemingly "interrogating" him.

　　The man was naturally the slave trader Dam, and looking at that woman, Suren finally knew why he had felt that the person flashing past in the dance floor earlier was inexplicably familiar.

　　This actually... was that mysterious woman who topped the Black Market list with a bounty of three million!