Lake City sure loved its class distinctions.

From a game developer’s perspective, it was designed that way to stoke players’ upward mobility desires. But now that he was part of society, it felt downright uncomfortable. Whatever.

The city slapped grades on everything imaginable.

Even brothels had “ranks.”

No industry was as polarized as that one.

Lee Taebaek didn’t know why. During development, sexual elements like that weren’t seriously discussed due to game ratings. The city’s Red-Light District had naturally spawned outside his imagination’s scope.

Moments like this really drove home how alive and breathing this world was. Sometimes he wondered if Raken’s wasn’t some manifestation of his subconscious but a world that had always existed.

Lee Taebaek felt a pang of self-reproach as he reflected on the organic nature of the world through thoughts of the Red-Light District.

Anyway.

The Hundred-Fold Sect Branch 1 was in the lowest level district, and its Red-Light District catered to the poor. Wealthy patrons visited occasionally, but it was more like reconnaissance.

Or they’ve got some fucking perverted taste.

Red-light districts for the rich were naturally in the upper layers, but unlike the lowest ones, they didn’t openly solicit customers.

The upper layers are full of hypocrites.

Upper-layer red-light districts lured clients discreetly and selectively. They operated strictly on membership. You needed at least two recommenders to join.

One might wonder why go to such lengths, but that’s how the upper districts rolled. Thoroughly steeped in hypocrisy.

But who was Lee Taebaek?

He might not know the lower or lowest districts, but the upper layers were in the palm of his hand. He could sketch a 3D map in his head, upper layers only. He knew exactly where all the dirty secrets they desperately hid were.

I know the spot…

The problem was how to pierce the disguise. He’d built up a decent network in the lower layers lately. Leveraging ties to the Lilith Order, Beggar Clan, and Resistance meant no place down there was off-limits.

He might have unwittingly unified the lower layers. Totally unintentional…

But the upper layers were a different story.

Fewer connections, and their security was too tight to crack with contacts alone.

Whoever designed it was brilliant. Probably handsome too.

The small talk was dragging on.

And understandably so. Rock’s piercing glare was pricking his spine. Plus…

A Beggar Clan disciple lurked in the tent shadows, muttering. His bulging eyes were fixed on Lee Taebaek.

Beggar Clan members in the upper layers were high-ranking elites. Serious heavyweights. They could easily converse via transmission…

“Handsome guys gotta act the part.”

“Dragging around two women? End of the world. Polygamy, even…”

“That’s ’cause your mug’s the problem, pal. What’s morality matter in the city? If you’ve got skills and looks, you can have as many girlfriends as you want—no one’s gonna bat an eye!”

“Ah, the ways of the Jianghu have fallen to the dirt.”

“Hey now! Always with the ‘ways’ this and that!”

They laughed loudly, making sure to be heard.

Indeed. Lee Taebaek had brought Rock and Yu Dahui deep into Beggar Clan turf, under a bridge in the tent village.

He knew he’d feel a lifetime’s worth of shame all at once, but he’d come for a reason.

To meet the Beggar Clan’s top dog, Dragon Head Chief Hong Geolgae, and ask a favor.

“Recommend me.”

“…?”

The thicker-skinned, the better.

“Upper-layer Red-Light District membership.”

Don’t be intimidated, Lee Taebaek.

Rock felt like she was on pins and needles. She sat with Goeun on a bench in one corner of the tent village.

Rock’s vacant eyes turned toward the lake.

The city’s lake was a mirror reflecting the metropolis. Endless ambition and decadence mingled in lights that danced across the water. Beautiful surface, but the water quality was virtual poison—fitting for Lake City’s signature lake.

Gazing at the subtly rippling lake, she asked herself a question, a bit late to the party.

Why am I even here?

Lee Taebaek’s opening line—“Let’s hit the Red-Light District”—had stunned her into a dazed “Uh, okay,” and here she was.

She’d thought they were actually going to one at first, but he’d brought them to the Beggar Clan village instead. Why pick her out of all the battalion members, specifically…?

N-No way…?

A whip-crack echoed in her ears. Snap, snap. Lee Taebaek and Goeun had explained the situation.

But skeptical Rock hadn’t fully bought it. Men and women couldn’t just be friends, and roommates with zero feelings? No way.

Whenever she had downtime, Rock pored over her Dating Encyclopedia hidden under the bed. She firmly believed love could bloom even in this loveless city. The “round red label” on the corner was the genuine mark.

Rock glanced at Goeun with just her eyes.

These two are deep in it.

Not lovers, though—no mushy, ticklish vibe. So they must be one of those emotionless flings!

Tired of loveless sex. They turned to new thrills. That’s why the Hundred-Fold Sect, with all its kids…!

Her imagination ran wild. Steam rose from her white hair.

Lee Taebaek would drag her and Yu Dahui to the upper Red-Light District under mission pretense. There, he’d shed his shackles and reveal his true self.

Lee Taebaek was no ordinary human anymore. He now sat with Ten Wings.

Ten-Wing class are all unhinged. Can’t judge ’em by common sense.

This applied to Lee Taebaek too. His social circuits had fried long ago; nothing fazed him much…

“Rock, right?”

Goeun, who’d been chain-smoking, finally spoke. Rock patted her startled chest and nodded faintly.

“I’ve seen you around plenty, but first time chatting like this. You Resistance members mostly talk just to Kang Hyeonseong or the Commander-in-Chief.”

“*Hiss* *Hiss*”

“Don’t be so hostile. I’m just saying a few words ’cause it seems like you’ve got some weird misconceptions about Lee Taebaek.”

“…”

Goeun’s face lit up with trust at his name. Rock found it fascinating.

In this brutal city, could anyone trust someone that completely?

Even among Resistance members, true friends were rare. They were always ready to turn on each other if understandings clashed.

The 9th Battalion was tighter than most, but forever? Doubtful.

With their rebellious streaks, if it soured, it’d sour big time.

They’d bonded over shared views, not starting as friends.

“Ha. I’m ridiculous.”

Goeun chuckled suddenly.

“Me, an ex-mage scraping by as a broker till recently, spouting cringey lines like ‘trust someone.’ Gotta be living with somebody to say that.”

“…”

She snuck a glance at Rock. Height difference made her look up naturally.

“Anyway, you or Yu Dahui got no real bond with Lee Taebaek, right? Can’t relate. I get it.”

“…”

A blue cross pulsed on Rock’s smooth temple. Fair point. But it irked her.

That condescending tone and gaze, like she was lesser for not being tight with him. Just ’cause they live together? If I’d bunked with him, we’d be closer!

“*Hiss* *Hiss*”

Her irritation seeped into her breaths. Come to think of it, Yu Dahui trembled at Goeun’s mere mention.

Some past drama between them. Rock, who’d only been around minutes, was convinced Goeun was at fault.

Scritch.

Rock whipped out her Dating Encyclopedia and pen in a pinch. The red label gleamed on the cover.

Scratch, scratch.

She buried her nose in the mag, scribbling.

Moments later, triumphant Rock shoved her sentence at Goeun.

“…Don’t get cocky just ’cause your boobs are big?”

Goeun was dumbfounded.

“What matters is skill.”

And at the end, her jaw dropped.

“Let’s compete ‘down there.’”

Goeun suddenly got why the 9th caught flak in the Resistance. And maybe… Lee Taebaek was the most normal one…

Inside the tent, the war of words raged.

“Recommending me for the upper Red-Light District that hard? You already got membership. What, embarrassed to let your underlings know? Then don’t have it.”

“Y-You! I-I only go for intel! As Beggar Clan head upholding justice and brotherhood, would I stoop to such vulgarity for personal lust?!”

An odd scene: old man and youth bickering over red-light recs. Neither yielded.

“‘Justice and brotherhood’? Panicking and dropping fancy terms.”

“…”

Hong Geolgae agonized. How’d Lee Taebaek learn that?

He really did go just for info. But exposed, he’d lose face in the clan. His ironclad charisma as Dragon Head Chief would plummet.

I can hear the gears turning.

Lee Taebaek’s lip twitched up faintly.

He knew. Hong Geolgae wasn’t there for kicks.

No place in the city rivaled red-light districts for premium intel.

Street-level beggar intel was practical. Hong Geolgae’s hauls shaped the clan’s fate. Essential for survival.

I know.

But…

Not the time to be picky.

The curse’s power grew with time. Rock’s innate Gifted “Curse Speech” had a fixed threshold.

Goeun’s case was different.

Goeun’s was different. Heavenly Demon-imposed. Any delay, and it’d be irreversible.

Before that, he had to act as soon as possible.

He had to act fast. Blackmail wasn’t optional.

Lee Taebaek hardened his gaze, persuading Hong Geolgae.

“C’mon, just recommend me.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds…”

“You enter as an avatar anyway. Like playing park manager. No face to show. Long as I keep quiet.”

“Daring to threaten me…”

“Sorry. It’s that urgent. Those two I brought? Cursed.”

Hong Geolgae’s brow arched.

“Cursed…? Both?”

“Yeah. Lifelong rarities. One Gifted, the other with circumstances.”

“Hmm…”

“Think of it as saving two lives.”

And boosting my internal energy to boot.

Hong Geolgae crossed his arms, pondering. Scales tipped back and forth over his head.

After a beat.

“Needs two recommenders.”

Hong Geolgae asked.

Gotcha.

Lee Taebaek swallowed a smug grin and replied casually.

“Got one already.”

“…Who?”

He’d asked during their call earlier.

“Saber Master Muyachi.”