·

Red River City.

The Fish Song Restaurant, Presidential Suite.

Waiters with identical smiles served the dishes one by one.

Grilled fish, pan-fried fish, stewed fish, braised fish, fish with pickled greens, sashimi, boiled fish fillets, boiled fish balls... Soon, the entire table was packed to the brim. Without exception, every dish was fish, prepared in styles from all over the World.

Red River City was renowned throughout North Carolina for its delicious fish. It was so famous that even the upper class from first-tier cities would travel hundreds of miles just to savor the delicacy. This drove the entire city’s economic development, leading to a quality of life that utterly crushed Rusted Iron City. The Fish Song Restaurant was the largest and most luxurious restaurant in Red River City, built in the city center specifically for the wealthy to enjoy its exquisite fish dishes.

Now, the place had been silently taken over by "Matthew."

The owner of the Fish Song Restaurant sat across from Zhou Chen and the others, urging them with a gentle expression, "Go on, eat. It won’t taste as good when it’s cold."

Catherine and the others stared silently at the food on the table. Even the two members who had grown up in Red River City didn’t move.

Who would dare eat food offered by a Corrupter?

But to their surprise, Zhou Chen picked up a fork, speared a piece of grilled fish, and put it in his mouth. A crisp CRUNCH echoed. The fish was fresh, tender, and succulent. The tantalizing flavor exploded on his taste buds, and he couldn’t help but revel in it, spearing another piece.

Catherine and the others were startled. None of them had expected "Siegfried" to actually dare to eat something served by a Corrupter. What if it was poisoned?

After chewing a few pieces of fish, Zhou Chen put down his fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin. "It’s delicious, as expected. Thank you for your hospitality. Unfortunately, I already ate on the way here, so I don’t have much of an appetite."

"What a shame. The fish from our Red River City is one of North Carolina’s finest. It would be your loss not to enjoy all of it," said Matthew, the owner of the Fish Song Restaurant.

"One can eat anytime." Zhou Chen casually tossed the napkin aside and looked at Matthew, speaking earnestly. "But opportunities for cooperation don’t come around so often. Can we talk now?"

"Of course," Matthew, the owner of the Fish Song Restaurant, nodded cheerfully.

Zhou Chen knew full well that this spread of food was a show of force, a test of their courage and strength.

To dare to eat knowing the food was provided by a Corrupter meant one either had extraordinary courage or absolute confidence in their own strength. Only by demonstrating one of these two qualities could they earn the "Matthews’" approval. If none of them dared to eat, their fate would be Assimilation through contamination... Of course, whether they could win a fight was another matter entirely.

"Mr. Siegfried, your Extraordinary Ability is quite peculiar. You brainwashed one of ’me.’ But precisely because of that, through the link in our psychic network, ’we’ learned about the Poisonous Sore Gang," Matthew said.

Zhou Chen didn’t deny it. Brainwashing naturally involved implanting some relevant memories. If the victim didn’t know about the Poisonous Sore Gang, how could they swear allegiance?

"A few days ago, I saw the news on TV about the Poisonous Sore Gang’s attack on the Rusted Iron City Government. Later reports said you were annihilated by the Government Army and suffered heavy losses. It seems those reports were true." In the eyes of the Matthews, Zhou Chen and his group had come to Red River City to recruit fresh blood, establish a new outpost, and escape the Government Army’s pursuit. The reason for this, naturally, was the Poisonous Sore Gang’s recent defeat.

Zhou Chen’s expression remained unchanged. "What are you trying to say?"

"I’m trying to say that we greatly admire you. We admire your actions, and we admire your ideals," Matthew, the restaurant owner, said in a sincere tone.

Zhou Chen was momentarily taken aback.

Matthew began to speak slowly. "I grew up by the Red River. My family made a humble living by fishing and selling fish. We were hardworking. When I was nine, a group of upper-class celebrities came to the lower district for an ’adventure,’ all wearing protective suits. It was for a reality TV show where the stars had to spend a week in the slums and find the most delicious way to cook Red River fish.

My father was selling fish at a stall in the market back then. A female celebrity came to buy some. My father just glanced at her a couple of times, and she started screaming hysterically, branding him a sexual predator. Her bodyguards then beat him to death. I was sitting in front of the TV, watching the live broadcast of that reality show, and I saw them kill my father with my own eyes.

People from the lower district have no rights to speak of. No one was willing to stand up for us, and we never received any compensation. That celebrity even threatened to kill our whole family. My mother knew we were helpless, so she took me and we fled in the middle of the night, moving to the other side of Red River City.

When I was eighteen, my mother died of illness. I used the fishing skills I’d learned growing up to earn some money, marry a wife, and have a son. For someone from the lower district, I felt this was already a great happiness. I didn’t dare ask for more.

But a year later, another chemical plant was built in Red River City. It continuously discharged wastewater into the river, worsening the pollution. My wife, my son, and several of my neighbors died from drinking the contaminated water. Meanwhile, the factory owner made a fortune and spent his days in debauchery.

It was so unfair. They killed so many people just to make money, yet we couldn’t even get an explanation. Many who went to demand answers were beaten to death by the factory’s security guards... I often wonder how much better things would be if the Rebel Army led by Havier had succeeded back then. The people of the lower district certainly wouldn’t be treated worse than animals like we are now.

I have seen too much injustice and oppression, too much of the humiliation and degradation of the lower class. That’s why I admire the Poisonous Sore Gang. Even if your efforts are like an egg smashing against a rock, you have done what I never dared to do, what I have always wanted to do."

After hearing the story, Zhou Chen nodded, completely unmoved. "So?"

Everyone here was from the lower districts of North Carolina. Who didn’t have a tragic life story?

"I want to speak directly with the Plague Doctor," Matthew said. "And let me be perfectly clear: don’t even think about recruiting in Red River City. One-third of the city’s population has already been Assimilated by me. This is my city.

However, I would welcome you to establish an outpost here. I can provide you with cover.

And my bargaining chip is that armory."

Matthew knew perfectly well the Poisonous Sore Gang’s main reason for sending people to Red River City—the Red River City armory.

’One-third of Red River City’s population is "Matthew"? That’s fucking terrifying. Recruiting here is completely unrealistic... Hmm... Even if we take the armory, it’s right next to a red-alert level contamination source. Who would dare work there? We’d have to eliminate "Matthew" eventually. But right now, we’re in the lion’s den. We have to play along and hope the Plague Doctor can handle him...’ Zhou Chen mused for a moment, then nodded at Catherine. "Contact the Plague Doctor."

Catherine took out a satellite phone and dialed the Plague Doctor’s number. A moment later, the call connected. Seeing that Matthew didn’t try to stop her, Catherine explained their current situation truthfully.

On the other end of the line, the Plague Doctor was silent for a long time before speaking. "Mr. Matthew, I will consider cooperating. However, there’s one thing I’d very much like to know—are your actions a form of rebellion against the North Carolina Government?"

"Of course."

Matthew answered without hesitation. "In the past, I had no Power. Any resistance was futile. But now that I have Power, why shouldn’t I take my revenge?"

The Plague Doctor paused briefly. "In that case, can you tell me how you were corrupted?"

"Two weeks ago, I contracted the Crystal Disease. The torment was so unbearable I wanted to die. In my despair, I grilled a Red River Man-eating Fish, planning to kill myself after one last meal.

While eating the fish, I thought of my parents, my wife, and my child. I looked back on my life and saw that it was filled with suffering and Darkness. The little happiness I had was cruelly Deprived. Just as I fell into complete despair about the World, a strange Power surged within my body. The symptoms of the Crystal Disease vanished, and my entire being transformed into a monster made of octopus tentacles."

"I see." The Plague Doctor’s voice sounded calm. He mulled it over for a long time before continuing, "Mr. Matthew, the Poisonous Sore Gang’s losses were too severe, so we can’t dispatch more forces to attack the armory. However, with Siegfried and his fellow Ascenders cooperating with you, taking the armory shouldn’t be a problem.

But what I really want to know is, why would you, who has Assimilated a third of Red River City’s population, want to cooperate with the Poisonous Sore Gang?"

"Because of Siegfried’s Extraordinary Ability," Matthew answered truthfully. "A Hand of the Empire squad is stationed at the armory year-round. We are Corrupters. The moment we get close, the Dashing Pegasus Armor will sound an alarm. Only by having him brainwash a few key personnel can we get inside."

"Siegfried, what are your thoughts?" the Plague Doctor asked.

"...I’m fine with it."

’Zhou Chen was actually a little puzzled. The Plague Doctor had agreed far too quickly. Was he afraid the Matthews would kill them? Or did he really want to cooperate with a Corrupter? That didn’t seem like his style.’

’No matter how grand their ideals or noble their character once was, once someone is corrupted and falls into an Abyssal Creature, their very essence becomes Twisted. What exists in that shell is no longer a "person," but a bloodthirsty, ferocious monster. There was no way the Plague Doctor didn’t understand this.’

’Or... was the Plague Doctor planning to burn the bridge after crossing it? Kill the donkey after it’s done grinding? Was he going to wait for the Matthews to help them take the armory, then bring his own people to eliminate them?’

’But this was a red-alert level, massive contamination source. One-third of Red River City’s population had been Assimilated. Even the Star Association would have a hard time dealing with this.’

’Relying on the Black-robed Man was even more impossible. He was currently the government’s number one public enemy, a thorn in their side, on the run everywhere.’

’What exactly was the Plague Doctor thinking?’

"Since you’ve all agreed so readily, it’s settled. We move in half an hour," Matthew said with a smile.

·

The atmosphere in the jeep heading toward the armory was tense.

"Everyone, be careful and be ready to adapt. Something’s very wrong with Matthew," Zhou Chen warned in a low voice.

Matthew was too suspicious. He was acting overly eager, giving them only a thirty-minute buffer before starting the mission. Even the plan was hastily thrown together. Why was he in such a hurry to attack the armory?

Could it really be as he said? That he admired the Poisonous Sore Gang and wanted to help them fight the North Carolina Government?

What a joke!

In Zhou Chen’s eyes, Matthew’s entire sob story was bullshit. He didn’t believe a single punctuation mark of it.

So, to find out Matthew’s true objective, Zhou Chen decided to use his cheat.

"What does Matthew want to do?"

[Wish Value -500]

[Matthew’s target is the secret laboratory beneath the Red River City armory. It contains the Forbidden Object C-156 · Southeast Branch Hanger and holds Matthew’s wife captive—a Siren Sea Demon that strayed into the Red River and was captured by fishermen.]

’Zhou Chen was stunned. ’So Matthew’s words really were all bullshit. All that talk and not a single word was true—it was all an act. And his wife is a Siren Sea Demon?’’

In Greek Mythology, Siren Sea Demons were monsters similar to Mermaids. They often lurked among reefs and isolated islands, using their enchanting songs to lure and bewitch sailors, causing them to fall into their waiting maws. They were extremely vicious creatures, but their bodies contained many special rare materials. For this reason, they were highly sought after by Blacksmiths and Alchemists, who had even established artificial breeding farms for them.

"Tell me Matthew’s true identity," Zhou Chen wished again.

[Wish Value -500]

[Matthew’s true identity is a member of Fallen Paradise, codename ’Sea Monster.’]

Fuck!

This bastard is from Fallen Paradise!