Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: How to Survive in Fusion Punk
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hold on a second!
Jin before he opened his eyes in Lost City wasn't the type to follow the numbers—he was the type who chased them endlessly.
Success rate: a whopping 100%!
...or at least that's what he wished for at 90.
No, maybe 80.
70 or even 60 would have been nice.
Dreaming of binary success-or-failure thinking at 50.
But sadly, reality was a bit lower—a .400 hitter.
Anyway, Jin wasn't used to situations like this.
The shell looked pretty damn good, so it had plenty of plausibility.
But the actual owner of this body had spent the last thirty years without ever coasting on his looks.
So he had zero immunity to this sudden attention.
And she just cuts straight to the chase: I like you.
If it had been the clichéd "I've been watching you from over there..." it'd at least give the listener time to brace themselves.
But this? Pure extreme fastball.
I've said it, now you answer—stripping away all pretense in true wildlander style. It was more than enough to freeze Jin's brain solid.
His dazed eyes blinked like a buffering video.
And the one who finally opened his mouth was one of the thugs who'd been watching the farce.
"What the hell are you doing? You two know each other or what?"
A thick hand slammed down on the table.
And there—bam!—a scorpion tattoo etched into the back of his hand.
Wonder what this is.
The mark of a Scavenger from Mute Town, Area 49.
The boss's haneta: a venom arts master who handled all sorts of deadly poisons with ease, especially famous for grafting a long cyberware tail to the end of his tailbone because of his scorpion obsession.
Common consensus: a powerhouse with few rivals around here.
And here's the key point.
A boss's status is always tied to his underlings'.
So when the manor servant glares... huh?
These damn punks don't give a shit?
Haneta, I said. Scorpion haneta!
He faltered for a split second at the lack of reaction.
But his gaze quickly turned vicious.
Ignoring the symbol?
This wasn't just disrespecting him.
It was disrespecting the boss.
And by extension, the entire Scavenger crew.
So the guy hardened his resolve.
Put the woman he'd toy with later on hold.
Beat that pretty face first.
Fucking mutt.
If you're gonna be handsome, at least have some street smarts.
"You fucking prick... eyeing my woman?"
The moment the idiot spouted that nonsense and reached for the pistol at his waist—
Crunch!!
A sickening sound rang out, and the man's body locked up stiff.
Bonus: a dumbass look of utter confusion.
His trembling eyes slowly drifted downward, landing on the dagger spearing straight through the back of his hand.
"Aaaagh!"
The belated scream erupted.
His skewered hand splayed wide in agony, looking just like a scorpion stiffening up in death throes.
The dagger had hilariously plunged right into the scorpion tattoo's torso.
But the guy couldn't even think about pulling it out.
Because the one who'd slammed the blade through his hand was still gripping the hilt tight.
"...Y-you! You fucking psycho bitch!!"
The woman turned her head toward him as he writhed in pain.
Then, lifting her long lashes, she said:
"Pass."
The Scavengers all blanked out at the unexpected situation and line.
Jin was just as thrown.
What the hell?
He couldn't help but frown, and their eyes met. She smiled.
That was when it happened.
"You fucking assholes...! Don't just stand there like idiots! Do something, shit!"
The Scavengers snapped to at the stabbed guy's furious bellow.
"Fucking prick...!"
"Thinks his pretty face lets him run wild?"
In an instant, they pulled knuckles, hammers, knives—except the malice was all aimed squarely at Jin.
"Wait, why me?"
Jin twitched an eyebrow in confusion.
The Scavengers charged.
First up: knuckle-duster guy swinging big for the jaw.
He must've thought it was a guaranteed hit.
Thud.
His fist got caught in the opponent's palm. Eyes bulged.
"Wha...?"
Before the stupid yelp finished—crunch—his hand crumpled.
Like it'd been sucked into a hydraulic press.
"Gaaah...!"
His crushed hand and knuckles spilled drool from his mouth.
"You bastard!"
Meanwhile, hammer guy swung his arm down with all his might.
A full-effort strike, no doubt. But to Jin, it just looked pathetic.
Reminded him of that beastman swinging a way bigger, heavier sledge.
Next instant, the hammer arcing down from behind his head abruptly halted against a shoe sole.
Jin, lounging back on the sofa, had casually kicked his leg up.
Ziiing—
The hammer vibrated wildly.
The unspent shock transferred straight to the hand clutching the handle.
"Agh!"
The Scavenger let go with a pained face.
That's when Jin snatched the ashtray off the table and hurled it.
Crack!
The guy's head snapped back, skull slamming the floor.
The last one charged with a knife.
"Sh-shit!"
Jin just tilted his head to dodge the wild stab, then kicked the guy's shin.
Snap. A sharp breaking sound.
The Scavenger clutched his pretzel leg and tumbled, rolling on the floor.
Seeing that, the hand-stabbed guy grabbed his waist pistol with his good hand.
But he couldn't draw.
He'd locked eyes with Jin first.
"..."
In that flat gray gaze, he saw a line.
The line between life and death.
And he realized: pulling the gun would cross it for sure.
"I-it's... we messed up. We'll leave quietly, so forgive us."
Jin gave a weird look at the guy dropping his arm.
Well now, quick on the uptake.
Today was a good mood day, so he'd gone easy.
But there were limits—if they'd kept coming, he'd have killed them.
He'd drawn his line firm, and this sharp one hadn't crossed it.
Yeah, people need wits.
Jin nodded and turned front.
"He says that?"
"......"
The silent woman raised her dagger hand.
The bloody blade slid free—blood gushed. The guy clutched his hand and staggered back.
"...Let's go. Grab the kid."
As he hurried out—
The others hooked under the broken-leg Scavenger's armpits, dragging him out looking half-dead.
Watching their backs, Jin suddenly felt wronged.
"...Why the hell did they come at me?"
That was when.
"Here."
The diner owner, who'd silently watched the fight, set down four Coke floats.
Ah, right. Jin's eyes widened as he slurped the included straw.
Then added:
"Next time, just ask for help straight up. All that 'I like you' bullshit just pissed them off more. And the knife... whatever. Never mind."
The owner sighed heavily. The woman tilted her head.
"No idea what you're talking about. I really do like you. Been looking for you."
"Ugh, seriously. Again with this."
Jin narrowed his eyes.
What's her damage?
Skin so pale you could see faint veins, bold features, calm black hair down to her chest—
Undeniably stunning looks.
But aside from that... her actions were straight-up unhinged.
Dragging a bunch of goons, suddenly confessing she likes him.
Stabbing a handsy thug on impulse.
Screws loose, and not even in the usual places. Even pretty faces could rot your life if the inside was festering. Jin's defenses kicked in automatically. Though he'd loaded up pity without asking. "Anyway. Like Coke?" Without waiting for an answer, Jin slid one glass over, stabbed in a straw, and held up his hand blade-style. "Try it. Kinda bland compared to straight Coke, but mixes great with the ice cream—tastes good."
Her pitch-black eyes blinked. Then—slurp.
For someone who looked like she'd slice steak in a fancy restaurant, she gulped it down greedily.
Satisfied, Jin ordered ten more burgers from the owner and turned— "You're intriguing." She'd drained half the Coke already. "What's your name?"
Gotta give her points for persistence.
Jin chuckled dryly.
"Jin Evernight."
"...Jin Evernight."
She savored the name, then smiled faintly.
"I like it."
"Yeah?"
By now, Jin just rolled with it. Startled at first, sure. But context-free affection like this sparked zero reaction anymore. She seemed off, though. Better feed her solid and send her on her way. "Dig in, whatever you want. Order more if it's not enough."
He gestured at the junk food piling the table and dove in himself with gusto. The guy who'd inhaled twenty street skewers and drawn a crowd before. His enthusiastic eating always boosted appetites around him. Working its magic again? Her slender hand reached for a burger. No dainty nibbles—she took a solid bite. Chewing, she tossed a question.
"Where you coming from?"
"Me? Mute Town."
"What'd you do there?"
"You wouldn't believe it."
"I'm curious."
"Check the news later."
Jin fiddled with the tote bag beside him out of habit as he spoke. Trying not to think about it, but the cash inside kept drawing his hand. Feeling her eyes on the bag, Jin switched topics fast.
"What about you? Where from?"
"District 12."
"Hm?"
Jin raised a brow.
Bullshit.
Districts in the 10s were otherworldly in Lost City. Megacorps stacking skyscrapers to the heavens, like giants holding up the sky. Beyond: city hall and the Seven Families' turf. Felt endlessly distant to regular folk. Not something mentioned in an Area 49 diner. So Jin didn't buy it outright. Though he didn't call her out.
"Fancy spot."
Meal continued. She peppered him with questions—endless curiosity. Whatever the answer, it always ended in her "I like you" smile. Jin, numb to the pattern, gave half-assed replies and focused on eating.
"How'd you get so strong?"
"Just trained hard."
"Impressive."
"Yup. I'm pretty damn impressive."
A few more exchanges like that. Jin finished, patted his bulging belly.
"Ahh. Good eats."
Then belched long and loud.
"Thanks—broke up the boredom."
Winking the bridge of his nose, he started to stand— The woman, still watching silently, spoke.
"Jin Evernight. We'll meet again."
"Live well. And maybe rethink the meeting part."
Jin flashed a faint smile, paid up, and left. Stuffed the tote carefully in the bike trunk, fired it up, hit the highway.
Not a shred of lingering regret—enough to embarrass onlookers.
She watched his shrinking dot through the window, murmuring.
"Meeting again in a place like this. You've grown so much more than back then—no, incomparable. That kind of progress in just months. Did you really get mana-blessed or something?"
Her delicate fingertips touched the glass.
"...I want him. Want to make him mine."
Twisted desire dripped from her plump rosebud lips.
"Jin. Ev. Er. Night."
Her trembling hand clenched into a pale fist.
"No. Not yet. A little more... let him ripen..."
"......"
The owner silently watched her shiver, then made a call. Soon, modded vehicles rolled into the rest stop. Figures poured out, flooding the diner. All sporting scorpion tattoos here and there. Including the owner, chest covered by his shirt. He spoke to the bandaged-hand guy.
"Relax. That guy's gone."
"For sure?"
"Yeah."
The guy nodded, relieved, then eyed the woman.
Her gaze fixed out the window—like they didn't exist.
"Fucking bitch. Feeling lucky?"
He cracked his neck.
"Dealing with all of us? Even using every hole, night won't be enough."
She turned, face blank. They admired her beauty for a moment. Then vision darkened. Scavengers rubbed their eyes. But the gloom thickened, pressing down. Not the lights. Too early to flip them on.
"Wh-what the hell."
Scavengers gasped, looking around. Someone pointed.
"There...!"
All eyes followed. And saw. Her reaching into darkness that swallowed light. She grabbed something, brought it to her face. A silver mask evoking a crow. One Scavenger realized something was wrong and bolted— Invisible force crushed him. Squelch! Limbs twisted grotesque, just a puddle of blood left. All recoiled in horror. The androgynous voice from behind the rising mask: "Looks like today's haneta dies thanks to his underlings."
Next instant—jet-black wings unfurled from her back.
Wings eclipsing the sun.
Black bird singing apocalypse.
Crow.
Darkness fell.