Knock knock knock knock.

Lee Taebaek descended the stairs and opened the door. His Python revolver was tucked into his waistband.

“Hello, are you Lee Taebaek?”

A man stood there holding a duffel bag in one hand. It was Slit-Eyes. His mask covered the lower half of his face too. They hadn’t exchanged words yet, but he seemed like the type with a completely blocked mind, no give or take.

“I’m here on orders from the Branch Leader…”

Jin Sobang’s subordinate spilled out his words.

Some Beggar Clan-style name ending in “dog” or whatever—he’d boldly erased it from his mind from the start.

Too many similar names, and the characters get jumbled in his head.

Whether Lee Taebaek looked bored or not, the man kept chattering nonstop. He was utterly businesslike, like outputting input data exactly as it was.

That’s why they sent him. Figured he was the type least likely to be swayed. Obvious.

Slit-Eyes extended his arm, handing over the bag.

“Here, this bag contains 300 million won.”

The moment he took it, Lee Taebaek’s hand holding the duffel bag dropped with a thud. 300 million as compensation.

Worth patching myself up with my body, at least.

No injuries, though.

Still, it felt like the value of labor was diminishing. Damn, what were my twenties even for?

“Oh, and…”

As regret soaked in, Slit-Eyes reached behind him.

Lee Taebaek’s hand dropped too, ready to draw his blade in an instant. Chronic suspicion was one of Lake City’s essential virtues.

But when he saw what Slit-Eyes pulled from his back pocket, Lee Taebaek’s hand froze. It was a device.

“He told me to pass this along too.”

Slit-Eyes held out the device as he spoke.

“I assume you know how to use it, so no explanation needed.”

Lee Taebaek rolled the device in his palm, getting a tactile feel for it.

The device’s design was similar to a smartphone.

The controls were roughly like Earth’s smartphones too. As the developer, he’d deliberately gone for a familiar design to accommodate gamers.

“I’ve put my number in there. If you have anything to say to the Branch Leader, pass it through me. I’d appreciate it.”

Slit-Eyes backed away from the door. Even with the orthodox-demonic truce, he’d want to leave this place ASAP.

“By the way, the device is registered under ‘Imugi’—the Branch Leader picked it arbitrarily. Seems like you wanted to hide your real name when ordering it, so I hope my guess is right.”

“…Why Imugi of all things…?”

Flip open a dictionary and pick any word at random—it’d be better than Imugi.

“No idea. Should I ask the Branch Leader?”

“Nah.”

Time to use this as leverage for more.

“He also added that if you need anything, he’ll accommodate as much as possible.”

“Need something, huh.”

Lee Taebaek fiddled alternately with the device and bag strap, thinking. Then he glanced at Slit-Eyes and flinched dramatically.

“Ever heard of the Lilith Order?”

“Uh, sorry. Doesn’t ring a bell.”

“I see.”

Slit-Eyes let out a sigh of relief.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“Haven’t said what I need yet.”

…Pardon? Wasn’t that question what you needed?

Slit-Eyes panicked. His pupils visibly dilated between his slit eyes.

“If you’d answered yes, maybe. But you don’t know, so cough up something else.”

“Wh-what do you…”

Slit-Eyes recalled Jin Sobang’s warning.

-That guy’s a total robber. Shameless as a Black Path thug with the schemes of a Demonic Cultist—pure vicious.

Was that what he meant? It was just politeness, but this guy talks as if it were a sure thing.

“That mask looks good.”

“Pardon?”

“Looks good on you. The mask.”

“Well… this is a custom job made with hydraulic cylinders, so I can’t just…”

“Whoa, hydraulic cylinders? So it adjusts perfectly to your facial contours. Would fit me great too. What do you think?”

“…You have such striking features, it’d suit you well.”

At the flattery, Lee Taebaek beamed innocently.

“Thanks.”

The man trudged back the way he’d come, expression blank.

A glint sparkled from his knothole eyes. Tears streamed pitifully down his bare face.

Just as there’s a mantle beneath the surface, there’s a lowest level district beneath Lake City’s lower districts.

Districts 32 to 40 made up what could be called the urban sprawl. Anything 31 or below got called the lowest level.

A crime-ridden hellhole swarming with life’s failures and gangs. The abyss of Lake City itself.

Daily life there meant having neighbors who were gangsters, hookers, or convicts as the norm, with shootouts happening every other day.

It was a zone that never made it into the scheduled release of Raken’s. There were censorship issues, but more than that, the plan was to sell it as DLC later.

Hiss.

He held the mask to his mouth. The filter hissed steam, adjusting its size to fit his lower face perfectly.

Lee Taebaek checked the fit.

True to Blue-Robed Faction gear, the quality was top-notch. The seal against his skin felt natural.

“Gotta gear up proper for the lowest level.”

That’s right.

The lowest level district. More precisely, District 35.

Lee Taebaek intended to head into that den of lawlessness. To investigate the Lilith Order thoroughly.

Can’t just sit idle in this room forever—not when the homeowner could check out any time.’

It was a cradle of crime, but also Mecca for info. Especially rumors that didn’t circulate up top—they swirled around the lowest level.

Even the Beggar Clan hasn’t heard of it.’

Only the lowest level left. He’d have to check there to dig deeper.

“Some legwork should turn up something.”

With preparations done, Lee Taebaek stepped out of the shop.

A drizzly rain fell over the grayish city. Perfect weather for carrying a Para Blade.

He followed the GPS route on his device. People hurried along without glancing at each other.

This is the extreme of civilized society.

He took the streetcar. It only went as far as District 34, and after that the tracks ended, so he had to walk.

Fitting for the lowest level, where civilian infrastructure was tossed to the dogs. Lee Taebaek clicked his tongue and got off.

The streets were surprisingly sparse, since it was a place that was flashy at night. But there were especially many back alleys between the ramshackle buildings.

Outlaws in the shadows of buildings glared at Lee Taebaek with predatory eyes. Corpses littered the ground by their feet—their victims, no doubt.

Lee Taebaek walked without hesitation. His nerve had grown; those murderously intent stares didn’t faze him.

He half-hoped they’d pick a fight.

But his imposing presence made the outlaws withdraw their fierce glares and vanish.

Lee Taebaek felt a pang of disappointment. His steps had led him to a shantytown.

Half-built structures were the decent ones. Most were just rebar skeletons, exuding eerie vibes.

“GPS craps out from here.”

He pocketed the device with a sigh.

“Hey—you there!”

A sharp, provocative bark. Turning, he saw three thugs emerge from an alley.

They all stood with their legs cocked at a cocky angle. Snickering, they beckoned him over.

Like cartoon delinquents. Lee Taebaek let out a “huh” of laughter.

“Boss, that punk’s laughing.”

“Ignore him. Scared shitless.”

Thugs One, Two, and Three jeered.

“But damn, long lashes. Ain’t he a chick?”

“Idiot, with pecs like that?”

Leaky pronunciation, familiar tattoos.

Triad Gang remnants.

“Don’t care! I’m down.”

“Me too.”

“Unanimous.”

Some stragglers left, huh. Makes sense—not dragging the whole gang to a deal.

Shaking off reverie, Lee Taebaek approached. The thugs lewdly thrust their hips.

“Ooh, coming on his own? Smart boy. No point resisting.”

“We’re Triad, heard of us?”

“Big bros’ll be nice~ heh heh.”

He collapsed the umbrella and hit the switch.

Lee Taebaek swung his arm, dismissing the alert window.

Slash.

The blade pierced the skull, churning the brain before emerging. One gangster collapsed, eyes bulging like dead fish.

Another screamed.

“Sp-spare me… no, mercy—!”

His hidden hand crept toward his tailbone.

“I’ll mer—cy you to death!”

Lee Taebaek’s blade stabbed point-blank.

Splatter!

Blood trailed through cracks in the stone pavement. Thud. A vivid red splash. The head rolled.

“‘Mercy to death’? What bullshit is that.”

Lee Taebaek mechanically wiped the blood from his blade like before.

Then, deliberately slow for show, he sheathed it. Only after the long sword hum faded did he step forward.

Gangs are already too far gone to run anyway.

So, instill terror for maximum interrogation effect—that was Lee Taebaek’s thinking.

Not exactly normal folk behavior.

But it hit the mark.

Watching his buddies die like toys before him, the gangster paled in horror. His body stiffened like a bug in a web.

“Your buddies. Explain instead.”

Lee Taebaek spoke, eyes narrowed low.

“Th-they were always morons!”

“Morons run with morons.”

“…Ughhh, that one especially, total sadist. That rampage just now? Came from the head you were toying with. I just…”

Taebaek stayed silent.

He just took a step.

“N-no, stay back!”

Another step.

“St-stay back, I said!”

The gangster thrust out his arm.

Then regretted it instantly.

Lee Taebaek twisted the wrist like wringing a rag.

“These punks got zero learning curve. Forgot the buddy who died twitching?”

Pop. The arm squeezed like a dishcloth, bone spearing out at the elbow.

Sparks flew in the gangster’s eyes. A dagger slipped from the twisted hand.

“Did Haiyen drill you all the same? Same damn moves.”

“Aaaah! Aaaaah! Aaaaaagh!”

“Use some imagination, get a compliment.”

Lee Taebaek jammed the umbrella into a pavement crack and clenched his fist. Don’t kill. Gently.

Smack!

The head snapped back. Just as he was about to black out, Lee Taebaek yanked the gangster’s collar.

“You buggy bastards.”

As the face righted—

“Keep crawling out like cockroaches no matter how many I squash!”

Another punch caved the nose. Short, pulling jabs followed.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Releasing the collar, Lee Taebaek frowned, knitting his brow. Knuckles bruised from the impacts.

Buffed [Faith], and it healed instantly.

Flexing—no pain.

Lee Taebaek glanced at the sunlit area beyond the shadows. Pedestrians pretended not to hear or see, hurrying away.

He chuckled unwittingly.

Even in Lake City, the lowest level was special. Alley brats peeked out, biding time.

Once he left, they’d swarm the corpses like rats, stripping even the silver teeth.

But no intent to stop them.

He affirmed their way of life. Those gang sprouts survived the week selling scraps. The dark side of cutting-edge tech was no different from primeval jungle. Strip away modern hypocrisy, and dystopia’s raw face stares back.

“Wh-what do you want! T-tell me what you want!”

The gangster clutched his nose with his good hand. Blood gushed between knuckles.

“Lilith.”

The blunt topic froze him.

Lee Taebaek grinned, raising his fist.

“Old saying: nothing beats a beating for memory. Don’t clam up before King Yama.”

“I-I remember! Those Red-Light District bastards!”

“Red-Light District?”

Lee Taebaek tilted his head.

“Y-yeah! A month ago, maybe. Bunch calling themselves Lilith worshippers showed up in District 32.”

“Go on.”

“Handed out charity to old hookers, free condoms to johns. Oh, and sex toy sanitizer too!”

Red-Light District, hookers, condoms, sex toys.

Lineup true to the game’s genre.

Proud yet disoriented.

Chaos Goddess’s cult, alright.

“Lead the way.”

“Y-you’ll spare me?”

“One more hit, and your eyes pop out like a frog’s. Cool with that?”

“Right away via shortcut… ugh.”

The gangster limped forward despite groans.

“Quit whining. Arm’s hurt, why limp? Want me to cripple the leg too?”

This guy’s cyber.

“…Leg cramp… sorry.”

“Bullshit. With all these strays around.”

Psycho too.

Combined?

Cyber Psycho.

“Not laughing?”

Lee Taebaek prodded the gangster’s spine with the umbrella. The man forced a servile grin.

“H-ha! Yeah, right! Chk! Chk! C’mere kitties~ catch my cramp!”

Stab.

“Ugh!”

“Lame.”

Real nutcase? Pretty eyes aside, his mind was thoroughly cracked.

“Move.”

…Yes.

Blood dripped from the elbow with each step, dotting the ground like markers.

“Sniff… boo hoo…”

The gangster muttered pitifully.

“I don’t know about this life, but what sin did I commit in my past life…”

“Tell me about it.”

Lee Taebaek joined the lament.

“What’d I do wrong in my past life to suffer like this?”

“You look like you’re enjoying it, though.”

“High’s kicking back in. Mouse talking now.”

“Chk! Chk!”

And so the pair headed to Lee Taebaek’s “destination,” the Red-Light District.

Yowl~

Strays lifted heads to see them off. Simultaneously, brat urchins poured into the alley.

Shoving shoulders, they hurled themselves at the corpses.

“XXXX!”

Cheap curses rode the rain.

“…”

He glanced back at the scene. Uneasy.

With the gangster in front, he delved into the city’s abyss.

What a shitty world I made.

Bitter taste lingered the whole way.