Mei unceremoniously stuffed the cash into a drawer under the workbench, then pulled out a datapad and handed it to Luke. "Your money only buys you this much."
"Enough! Enough!"
Luke couldn't contain himself, excitedly browsing equipment on the tablet. This repair shop owner wasn't just a mechanic; she could procure all sorts of equipment—a fact known to everyone on these streets.
Regardless of how advanced the equipment, as long as the money was right, the owner could get it for you. This ability seemed like magic to Luke.
Luke was only slightly better off than a penniless pauper. He'd gambled his entire fortune to barely afford a basic set of gear.
Forget about electromagnetic battle armor.
He got a set of exoskeleton braces.
An automatic rifle.
A semi-automatic pistol.
A dose of adrenaline.
And a modified motorbike.
That was all Luke could get with his entire fortune, plus one kidney. As a gift, Mei also gave him a datapad with GPS tracking.
Without GPS, getting lost within minutes was a real possibility. Steel City might not have interstellar search capabilities, but deploying a satellite was certainly within their power.
"Just this much!"
Luke suppressed his excited anticipation. The thought of this equipment in his possession made his dreams of fame, fortune, and lavish feasts seem just around the corner.
Mei watched Luke choose her equipment on the tablet, then scrolled to the last item and showed it to her: "The remaining funds can buy you emergency insurance."
"Emergency insurance?"
Mei explained, "I'm developing a new insurance service. Buy emergency insurance from me, and as long as you're still breathing, you can come here, and I guarantee you won't die."
"Sounds like a good deal."
Luke promptly bought the insurance.
Afterwards,
Mei retrieved the equipment from storage and handed it to Luke. Luke donned the simple exoskeleton, fiddling incessantly with the firearms, itching to go out and test them immediately.
Guns were a man's aphrodisiac.
Mei felt this country bumpkin would most likely be ground into hamburger by a mechanized creature. Watching Luke's eagerness, she said, "I think you should practice shooting first."
Luke agreed that practicing was a good idea. Before he could say anything else, a tall, slender woman with short blue hair and a striking figure entered the repair shop, wearing a semi-transparent coat.
"!!"
Luke's eyes widened. He wanted to say something…
Mei kicked Luke out of the shop and closed the door in front of her. The slender woman's gaze was firm and resolute, her demeanor showing unwavering determination.
"Boss, I was told you can get anything here?"
Mei nodded.
"Do you have the money?"
"I have the money."
"If you have the money, you can buy it."
Hearing this,
Hope flickered in the girl's eyes. She stated directly, "I want a top-of-the-line combat android. If possible, a full S3 model would be best."
S3 model combat androids were the highest-end neural-linked androids. With one equipped, anyone could become a warrior under the assistance of the AI program.
Mei was taciturn. She never asked these customers what they used the equipment for; if there was business, she did it. She then pulled out a stool and watched the show.
"Payment upfront, delivery later, no record kept."
"No problem."
The girl didn't hesitate, logging into her online bank to complete the transfer. Leaving the shop, a ferocious, crazed look appeared on her face.
She looked towards the direction of the upper city.
To hell with the rich, she thought. She wanted to smash everything to smithereens. A few dirty bucks weren't worth it. Her family had been turned into organ reserves, vanishing overnight. The girl intensely hated the upper city's monstrous actions.
You bastards won't let us live? Then no one lives!
Not far away,
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sharp crackle of live ammunition punctuated the air with a series of explosions. Luke had somehow found a target and was practicing his shooting on the street.
Even at twenty or thirty meters, he missed five out of ten shots, but Luke's expression was deadly serious. This was a gamble on his life.
Though life in the city center wasn't worth much.
A few days later,
The girl received a message from Mei. Following the instructions, she found a dilapidated storage container in a derelict factory in the lower city.
Creak!
A sharp, grating metallic screech sent shivers down her spine. The girl opened the container's lock. The moment she pulled the door open, the tools inside illuminated.
A complete S3 model combat android sat before her, its azure indicator lights flashing. A simple surgical robot, activated by the signal, whirred to life from a corner.
"Respected guest, your android's implant surgery will be performed by me. Before the procedure, I must inform you that implanting an S3 model android requires the removal of many of your organs…"
"Agreed. Completely agreed!"
The girl slammed the container's iron door shut. Looking at the S3 model combat android, the madness and excitement in her eyes were unconcealable.
It was real!
The boss hadn't lied!
She had actually produced a genuine S3 model combat android!
If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed it. She'd been prepared for being scammed, but unexpectedly, she'd achieved her desire.
What a surprise!
She couldn't wait.
"Okay, I understand."
The surgical robot skipped all the unnecessary pleasantries and went straight into the procedure, injecting the girl with anesthetic. A smile played on her lips as she drifted off to sleep.
When she awoke, a day had passed. If not for the AI program's display on her retina, she would have thought she'd only slept for a short time.
The surgery was a success.
The S3 model combat android implantation was complete!
The top-tier metallic armor, like muscle and skin, enveloped her body. Her senses and nerve responses were incredibly sensitive under the heightened sensory signal amplification.
The girl was so excited her body trembled.
This was power!
The surgical robot's optical lens shone with an azure light.
"Guest, the surgery was successful. Please settle the remaining balance. If you need anything else, please come again."
"Okay."
The girl used her neural interface to directly manipulate the network program, logging into her bank account to pay the balance. The entire process was automatically executed on her retinal display.
It took only two or three seconds.
"Thank you to the boss for me."
"I will convey your message."
With that said,
The girl put on her coat and hood, looking like an ordinary person as she left the derelict factory. No one would suspect the incredible fighting power hidden within her body.
That same day,
Rumble!
Luke was ready. He twisted the throttle of his modified motorbike, the engine roaring. He put on his filtered visor, an uncontainable excited grin on his face, confidently setting off.
"Boss, watch me return victorious and make a killing!"
Further down the road,
A convoy of vehicles was already waiting. A group of country bumpkins, yelling, twisted the throttles of their bikes and roared toward the East Gate.
...
Steel City didn't have a singular, supreme ruler. The city was controlled by a massive corporation called Houston, which controlled everything from the economy to weaponry.
Compared to the equipment available to Steel City's populace, Houston Corporation's weapons technology was at least two generations ahead. The S3 model combat android, for example, was one of their most advanced, publicly available pieces of equipment.
While anything could be bought on the black market for the right price, even then, S3 model combat androids were rare. Houston Corporation rarely allowed such advanced equipment to leak out.
Unless the seller was exceptionally resourceful.
Houston Corporation was controlled by a board of directors; there was no chairman. All Steel City matters were decided by the board.
Codley was a member of Houston Corporation's board, and a powerful one at that, managing the company's weapons and equipment division.
He held full authority over the company's weaponry and wasn't just a power-hungry figurehead; he commanded a powerful corporate military force.
Whenever advanced Houston Corporation equipment leaked out, he had to deal with it. Normally, as long as it didn't cause major disruption, he ignored it.
But that was the problem.
Lately, a considerable number of advanced Houston Corporation weapons had appeared in Steel City. Those madmen were using these unknown-origin weapons to wreak havoc.
This was giving Codley a massive headache.
"Still no leads?"
A young man with short blond hair frowned, his expression grim. He didn't understand. Online transactions were difficult to trace, but how hard was it to find leads on weapons transactions?
For over two months,
Houston Corporation's intelligence division had yielded nothing. It was almost unbelievable. Was the perpetrator a ghost?
His assistant shook his head.
"Absolutely no leads. We've apprehended several individuals, but even they claimed to have no memory of where they acquired the equipment; it's as if they've suffered amnesia."
Codley immediately spotted a flaw.
"Then access their memories. Even if their memories have been erased, there will be remnants, enough to trace the source."
"The intelligence division has tried. Their memories are like naturally overwritten data; they're irretrievable, leaving no trace whatsoever."
Codley was stunned. Even Houston Corporation only possessed data-retrieval technology for memories. How could there be memory overwrite technology outside?
When did external technology advance to this degree?
He dismissed the thought.
Codley asked again, "Are these weapons from the armaments division?"
"No."
The assistant's response left Codley speechless. He widened his eyes, slightly shocked. "What do you mean?"
The assistant produced a datapad and handed it to Codley.
"I've checked. Those advanced weapons didn't originate from the armaments division. The system has never registered those weapons."
Theoretically…
Codley twitched his mouth.
"Someone outside possesses the technology and ability to manufacture these advanced weapons!"
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"Yes."
This was a significant problem. Honestly, the leakage of advanced manufacturing technology wouldn't pose a threat to Houston Corporation's dominance.
The idea of using that equipment to oppose Houston Corporation was pure delusion. Houston Corporation's armaments division possessed even more advanced, undisclosed weapons.
But the breach of this technological barrier was itself a provocation and a challenge. They needed a strong response.
At that moment,
Bang!
A visibly anxious corporate employee burst into the office, hurriedly reporting, "Minister, the upper city is under attack! The attackers are using S3 model combat androids!"
Codley's expression froze.
"What?!"
S3 model combat androids?!
These weren't just advanced weapons; Steel City's regular security was maintained by the Security Bureau. Only in cases involving highly advanced threats would Houston Corporation deploy its mobile armed forces, unlike the Security Bureau's police force.
The mobile armed forces were fully equipped with advanced gear, and only the top elite were equipped with S3 model combat androids. How could such advanced equipment appear outside?!
This was a serious problem!
Codley knew now wasn't the time to ponder; he decisively ordered, "Deploy the mobile armed forces. Authorize deployment of S3 model combat androids."
"Understood!"
The employee hurried off to deliver the orders.
In the office,
Codley, increasingly enraged, kicked over a nearby chair.
"Find them!"
He was a civilized man, and he didn't usually curse. Today, however, he couldn't help himself. Codley's anger was uncontainable: "Spare no expense! Find out where those S3 model combat androids came from! I grant you full authority; you can utilize all the resources of the armaments division!"
"Understood."
The assistant had never seen Codley so flustered. If this wasn't handled well, the other board members would have something to say, and Codley would lose face.
Meanwhile, Upper City—
Boom!
A flash of fire accompanied a deafening explosion as a Security Bureau police car was sent flying, crashing into a building.
Bang!
A portly man in a suit was thrown by the blast, remaining on the ground for a long time afterward, a figure slowly emerging from the flames.
Icy steel armor gleamed with fiery sparks. The girl, with cold ferocity, crushed the man's head with her foot. If you're so good, you can transplant a new one!
In just fifteen minutes, she had killed nearly a hundred people. This fat man had been the ringleader behind harvesting her family's organs.
Her revenge complete, an unprecedented sense of relief washed over the girl. She let out a long, harsh breath, ready for the next target.
Around the corner,
The Security Bureau officers dared not approach. Their weapons couldn't penetrate the opponent's defenses; anything less than heavy firepower was suicidal, and the Bureau didn't have such firepower.
Just as they were at their wits' end,
Whoosh—
A black armed helicopter flew overhead. The turbulent rotor wash suppressed the flames. Fully armed figures rapidly rappelled from the helicopter.
"Mobile Armed Forces!"
The Security Bureau officers breathed a collective sigh of relief, then hurriedly retreated. This level of security incident was beyond their capabilities.
A crazed expression appeared on the girl's face, but before she could attack, a powerful figure dropped from the sky, carrying a massive container.
Crash!
The entire street shook like an earthquake, spiderweb cracks spreading across the road surface.
The battle concluded with the girl's decisive self-destruction, a move that clearly caught the Mobile Armed Forces off guard.
Several squad members were killed instantly.
Bang!
A massive explosion erupted, obliterating half the street. A figure was suddenly sent flying backward, knocking over a car.
"Damn it, almost died!"
Curros looked somewhat disheveled. His S3 model combat android was severely damaged, but he still looked incredibly excited and pleased. He hadn't experienced such intense combat in a long time.
In a word:
Satisfying!
It was precisely this thrill and violence that had drawn Curros to the Mobile Armed Forces; killing was perfectly legal within the unit.
He was a battle fanatic, a madman.
Before joining the Mobile Armed Forces, Curros had been a renowned adventurer, but ultimately, he found the Mobile Armed Forces more suitable.
Mechanized creatures were too boring.
Fighting humans was far more thrilling.
"Captain Curros, are you alright?!"
"Not dead yet."
Over 50% of Curros' external armor was damaged, revealing the underlying tough artificial myofibrils, and beneath that, the metallic feel of his bones.
His degree of androidization was higher than the girl's, making him stronger. The artificial myofibrils granted him superhuman strength.
Enough to lift and hurl a massive container.
Therefore,
Bone augmentation was inevitable.
Except for his brain, Curros was essentially fully androidized.
Witnessing the girl's self-destruction and its terrifying force, Curros felt a strange mix of fear and admiration. She muttered to herself, “When I get back, I’m having the engineers add a self-destruct function to me too.”
One last bang before death—what a thrill.
The girl's suicidal revenge caused significant destruction in the upper city. The explosion and chaos were too large to suppress. Within half a day, the entire incident had exploded online.
The lower city cheered, offering no sympathy. Meanwhile, the upper city’s elites were terrified and enraged.
Though the event didn’t shake Houston Corporation’s rule, it undeniably rattled the upper city’s sense of safety.
Pressure slammed down on both the intelligence division and Codley’s armaments division. The board of directors demanded swift action.
They needed to locate the source of these advanced weapons immediately, track down the manufacturers and distribution networks, and destroy them—without exception.
But Codley was at a complete loss.
Steel City’s network was a mess: tangled, decentralized, and almost impossible to police. Chaos was the norm, and data regulation was barely functional.
As the story of the incident went viral, countless users asked the same question:
Where had the S3 model combat android come from?
Some dared to dream of owning one.
Online chatter surged:
“S3 model combat android? Was that real?”
“Absolutely.”
“No doubt—it was an S3!”
“When’s it hitting the black market?”
“Never.”
“That android wasn’t from a black market sale. It had to be a direct leak from Houston Corporation.”
“The Mobile Armed Forces were terrifying. Who was that guy in the video?”
“That was Curros. Don’t you know her? Battle maniac. Complete lunatic.”
As speculation spread, another rumor began quietly taking root. Whispers of a ghost hiding in Steel City—a phantom capable of acquiring any weapon or equipment.
“A ghost?”
Hackers caught wind of the legend and tried to trace its origin online—only to find nothing. Like the story itself, the source was a ghost.
They wrote it off as fiction.
Even Houston Corporation’s intelligence division caught wind of the rumor, but no matter how deeply they dug, they found no leads.
Only one fact became increasingly certain:
This ghost existed—and the unregistered weapons truly came from her.
Her ability to wipe memory traces and erase network data was chillingly clean. Efficient. Brutally simple.
Online, she was just called “the Ghost”, but the real name was “Number Five Street Ghost.” A title only whispered within the boundaries of Number Five Street’s isolated network.
The network was cloaked, sealed off by layers of advanced data filtration. Any information relating to Mei never left.
Even the name "Number Five Street Ghost" was often reduced to just “Ghost.”
The effect wasn’t limited to data.
Even memories were altered.
Those who stumbled across the street wouldn’t remember anything about the unnamed repair shop owner. That was the power of the Information Cloaking Device.
...
Night.
Crash! Crash!
Heavy rain poured down in sheets. A young man in a fluorescent raincoat knocked on the iron door of the Number Five Street repair shop. Mei opened it, recognizing the visitor immediately.
It was Jeno—a native of Number Five Street. Quiet, sharp, and a hacker with audacity to spare. If there was profit, Jeno would chase it.
“Boss. Big job.”
He walked in and plugged a data chip into Mei’s tablet. Several files appeared. One caught Mei’s attention.
It was the blueprint for Houston Corporation’s newest combat android.
After the leak of the S3 model, Houston had rushed to upgrade their Mobile Armed Forces. The new SS1 model was slated for elite deployment—Curros was first in line.
With that, Houston aimed to secure its technological dominance and stamp out any thoughts of rebellion.
Jeno grinned. “A big boss wants one. But we’re short on firepower.”
Mei understood immediately.
“You want to borrow gear.”
“Exactly.” Jeno leaned forward. “If this deal lands, the reward will be massive.”
Mei responded with just four words:
“No records kept.”
That was her rule. Always.
Jeno knew better than to argue. He nodded, turned, and left—his fluorescent raincoat fading into the darkness, swallowed by the storm.
Then came the rumble of engines.
A convoy stopped outside. Several figures dumped a bloodied, half-conscious Luke at the door and vanished into the rain, leaving him face down in the gutter.
Compared to his bold departure, his return was pitiful. Still, most adventurers in Steel City fared worse.
...
Luke awoke with a jolt on the repair shop’s workbench. He stared at his body—no pain, no injury.
Then he realized where he was.
Number Five Street. The repair shop.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Mei hammered away at something nearby, while Shiro observed with mild interest.
Luke remembered the emergency insurance he’d bought from Mei. He never thought he’d actually need it.
He had been gored by a mechanized rhinoceros—his exoskeleton shattered, organs ruptured, bones pulverized.
In Steel City, that was survivable—if you had the money.
Luke didn’t.
That insurance had saved him.
He had gambled and lost everything. And now, he had nothing. In Steel City, being broke was worse than death.
Death was the end.
Survival meant more problems.
Panic and dread filled him. He was no longer the optimistic thrill-seeker he’d been days ago.
Mei, knowing exactly what had happened, said without looking up: “You lost. Completely.”
Luke forced a weak grin.
“Boss, are you hiring? No pay necessary. Just food.”
Mei pointed toward the ruins with her hammer. “Go. Maybe you can salvage something useful.”
Luke bit down his pride. Reality had slapped him hard. Now, he just needed to survive.
He ran toward the derelict factories, drenched in rain.
Teeth clenched, he vowed silently:
“Even if I’m just scavenging, I’ll earn my way out. I’m not dying in this hellhole.”
His dream of becoming an adventurer was far from over.
...
Mei’s mind often drifted into the ālaya-Vij?āna, the shared unconscious. With few exceptions, nearly all sentient life in the Earth Universe lay within her sphere of perception.
She had transcended the material. With her ability to manipulate causality, her influence had become godlike.
On Number Five Street, anyone daring to cross her met a grim fate.
“The Ghost?”
“That repair shop owner!”
...
Elsewhere on Number Five Street, in a damp basement buzzing with electronics, two hackers sat excitedly.
They had found an anonymous bounty online.
A massive reward was offered for any intel on “the Ghost.”
One hacker hesitated. “Are we really doing this?”
“Of course!” the other snapped. “Think about the money! Who cares if that shop guy lives or dies?”
“Yeah… you're right.”
They hardened their resolve. In Steel City, money ruled everything. A stranger’s life meant nothing.
A moment later,
Clink. Clatter.
A small black object rolled down the stairs.
Both hackers turned.
Boom!
The explosion reduced the room to flaming debris. The shockwave shattered windows up and down the street.
Moments later,
A group of gangsters arrived to investigate. One peeked inside and cursed.
“Wrong target!”
“Shit, who gave us that address?!”
“Those two were just unlucky.”
The hackers who thought to betray Mei never got the chance.
Their causal chain ended right there.
...
Not long after,
A bounty hunter arrived on Number Five Street. Many bounty hunters operated under Houston Corporation, directly or indirectly. Their target: the Ghost.
Their clue: advanced weapons traced back to this area.
This time,
He got lucky.
Mei’s reputation was well-known in the area. Even those who didn’t need repairs had heard whispers:
“If you have money, the boss can get you anything.”
The bounty hunter was stunned.
So obvious?
Houston Corporation had burned through countless resources—and all along, this woman had been operating in the open?
He felt both amused and incredulous.
He raised his lens and snapped a photo of the shop’s entrance. In the frame:
Mei, calmly repairing gear.
Beside her, a round white robot.
Target acquired.
The bounty hunter's mouth stretched to his ears. This bounty was enormous, enough to let him live comfortably for a long time. He couldn't wait to return and submit his findings.
He first contacted his intermediary, but strangely, he couldn't connect through the network chat for a long time. Unable to wait any longer, he turned and left Number Five Street.
"What's going on?"
The network signal was clearly fine. As the bounty hunter hurried away from Number Five Street, he repeatedly tried to contact his intermediary, finally managing to leave Number Five Street.
Beep!
A horn blared in his ear.
Before the bounty hunter could turn, he was rammed by a heavy-duty truck, sending him crashing into a nearby shop.
Boom!
The entire building shook violently. Several walls on the ground floor were smashed through. The front of the truck was beyond description—completely crushed into a mangled mass of metal.
Luke, who happened to be passing by, was terrified. After witnessing the accident, he entered a nearby parts recycling shop and placed his damaged parts on the counter.
"Boss, how much are these worth?"
"..."
The boss looked at the damaged parts with disgust and gave Luke a paltry sum before shooing him away. Luke didn't haggle; he took the money and left; he was almost starving.
Just as he was eating a cheap energy bar, a young man approached. Luke gave him a questioning look; they didn't know each other.
"I've got a job. Are you interested?"
"What kind of job?"
"Big money, but very dangerous."
"I'm in!"
No questions asked, no trust needed, Luke immediately agreed. At this point, he would do anything for money; he wouldn't do it if it meant he would die.
"My name is Luke."
"Jeno."
The next day,
Mei opened the door to find Luke and Jeno standing outside. Luke smiled, "Boss, I got a big job. I need to get some equipment."
Mei knew what these two were up to; Jeno was determined to secure this deal. His principle remained unchanged.
"Money talks."
"We have money."
Jeno immediately showed Mei his substantial funds. He hadn't been idle; he'd found a gang willing to invest.
The more money they made, the better the equipment. Ordinary equipment against Houston Corporation's heavily armed soldiers was suicide. They couldn't skimp on this.
Jeno said, "Boss, show me your best goods."
"Alright."
Mei pulled out her datapad, displaying a list of advanced equipment for Jeno and Luke. It was Luke's first time seeing this list; his eyes widened.
Electromagnetic pulse cannons.
Electromagnetic armor.
Combat robots.
S3 model combat androids.
...
Scrolling to the bottom, even Houston Corporation's newly unveiled SS1 model combat android was listed, leaving Jeno incredulous.
Houston Corporation had just unveiled this android; it hadn't even equipped the Mobile Armed Forces yet, and this shop already had it in stock? The speed was astounding!
Jeno once again recognized the boss's incredible resourcefulness.
Ideally, he could buy an SS1 model combat android directly from the boss, but that wouldn't be profitable.
Better to steal it.
Jeno said, "Boss, one S3 model combat android, a full set of advanced AI combat programs, one electromagnetic pulse cannon, and two combat robots."
The advanced AI combat program, combined with an S3 model combat android, could turn even an idiot into a warrior; combat experience was irrelevant.
Mei said, "Deposit first. I'll notify you when the goods arrive; the transaction will be completed within two days."
"No problem!"
Thus,
The transaction was completed.
His troubled expression wiped clean, the slightly more mature Luke smiled at Mei. "Boss, wait for our big news in a few days."
Mei knew this kid was gambling with his life again.
"I'll be watching."
Two days later,
Jeno received the goods. Luke, as the primary combatant, underwent S3 model combat android implantation and received the advanced AI combat program, transforming into a warrior.
Soon…
A truck carried the two, along with all their combat equipment. Besides Luke, the primary combatant, and Jeno, the hacker, the team included a driver and an emergency support technician.
"Alright, let's go!"
The burly driver roared, slamming the accelerator, and they sped off.
Inside the truck,
Luke, aided by the AI program, familiarized himself with the android's functions. His vision was filled with data and simulation screens; Jeno was at the console testing the equipment.
Luke muttered, "If this job succeeds, we'll become Steel City legends."
"Mm."
Jeno responded distractedly.
Under the setting sun,
The truck weaved relentlessly through the dense traffic, like an impatient bull charging toward the fading light on the horizon.
Then, a convoy of trucks bearing the Houston Corporation logo appeared ahead. They launched their attack without hesitation, reckless and audacious.
Bang!
Bang!
The truck doors opened, and two combat robots leaped onto the highway, charging toward the Houston Corporation convoy. The sudden attack caused the following vehicles to immediately slow down and increase their distance.
The show began!
Boom!
A fierce blaze erupted on the highway.
That night,
A piece of news exploded across the internet: Houston Corporation's newest SS1 model combat android had been stolen during transport; its current location was unknown.
Mei saw it.
Luke and his team had actually pulled it off, but things wouldn't end so simply; Houston Corporation wouldn't give up.
They knew this.
But those who participated didn't care; Luke desperately needed an opportunity to prove himself, willing to risk his life. He didn't want to keep scavenging.
Mei knew they wouldn't have a good outcome.
After obtaining the SS1 model combat android, Jeno swiftly met the intermediary, receiving a massive payment.
After splitting the profits, they parted ways.
Luke, holding more money than ever before, decided to indulge himself, enjoying a few blissful days.
On the third day after the incident, early morning,
Luke awoke with a throbbing headache, stumbling back to Number Five Street, a satisfied smile on his face. He'd never been this happy in his life.
Having money was truly the best!
The air felt refreshingly clean; the sun was exceptionally warm. Luke belched, swaying slightly.
He looked up at the sun, squinting.
"Ah, I should visit the boss."
But then,
Bang!
A second later, Luke's head exploded. Even the S3 model android's cranial armor couldn't withstand the electromagnetic pulse cannon's immense power.
Even if the armor hadn't been penetrated, the sheer force would have turned Luke's brain into mush; penetration was irrelevant.
His body slumped lifelessly to the ground.
Luke was dead.
He'd at least enjoyed himself; he had no major regrets about his life.
In the distance,
Curros lowered his pulse cannon, very pleased with his accuracy.
"One-shot kill! Max points!"
A Steel City legend had ended.
At the same time,
Bang!
A Mobile Armed Forces member successfully killed Jeno. He was just an ordinary hacker; he had no chance against the Mobile Armed Forces.
The bullet pierced his skull, shattering the computer screen before him. The dark computer room flickered with ominous lights.
No matter how well Jeno hid, as long as he remained in Steel City, Houston Corporation could find him.
No exceptions.
The driver and the support technician were also killed by the Mobile Armed Forces. They were smarter; the money in their accounts had already vanished.
Only Luke had wanted to save some money to buy equipment from Mei and then leave the city to continue his adventurer's dream.
Chaos and death were commonplace in the lower city. Gangs fought, and people died unexpectedly on the streets; a few deaths barely caused a ripple.
Luke and his team were country bumpkins who had clawed their way out of the garbage; dying in the garbage was of no consequence; that was the harsh reality of Steel City.
Mei yawned.
Her leisure was over; it was time to work.
Click!
She closed the repair shop and didn't reopen it. The Number Five Street Ghost disappeared from Steel City, leaving behind only a legend.
