Sensing the swirling dust encircling her, Crownslayer dispersed her fog in a heartbeat. She knew all too well that her mist was utterly useless under these conditions.
Standing right before her was a massive, rat-like humanoid. The sight immediately reminded her of a story Jeanne had once told the local children—a tale featuring four Petrams and a single Zalak.
"How can you say I have a bad temper?" Crownslayer asked calmly. "It's simply that Lungmen's security is far too abysmal. I was merely taking a stroll down the street, yet people suddenly ambushed me out of nowhere, didn't they?"
Looking at the towering Zalaks , Crownslayer instantly identified his identity. This was the legendary figure Jeanne had spoken of—the underground king who managed the slums, the master of Lungmen's shadowed underbelly: the Rat King, Lin Gerui.
He was a remarkably dangerous figure. Whether judged by Jeanne's past warnings or by Crownslayer's own sharp instincts, the Arts this elderly man wielded were anything but slow or feeble.
"That, indeed, is Lungmen's fault," the old man replied composedly. "Which is precisely why a retired old fellow like me has come out in person to ensure your safety. Please rest assured—even within the depths of these slums, you remain completely safe."
Lin Gerui conversed with Crownslayer in a relaxed tone, while the gang members nearby were nearly shaking in their boots. They were terrified that a single moment of irritation from the Rat King would cause them to vanish from the face of the earth permanently.
Hearing his words, Lyudmila lowered her drawn blades. If given a choice, she preferred not to spill blood on these streets; who knew what unnecessary troubles a kill might trigger?
"Then let us part ways here," the Rat King said casually. "I shall return to keep these fools in line so they don't charge out like mindless cattle looking to die. Though, should anyone else dare to trouble you after this, feel free to do as you wish."
The Rat King offered his casual farewell before strolling off like an old man taking an evening walk. His subordinates swiftly rounded up the terrified gang members and offered Lyudmila a polite nod before departing.
"Why, Rat King?!" one of the gang members wailed, his voice laced with bitter unwillingness. "You know full well they are tearing up the very roots of our slums! If all these poor souls and Infected leave, even someone like you won't be able to hold onto your power!"
They knew what fate awaited them, yet they couldn't wrap their minds around why the legendary figure who had always overseen their territory was taking the side of these outsiders.
The Rat King closed his eyes and shook his head, replying unhurriedly, "It is merely a momentary sting. If gouging out this festering wound allows Lungmen to heal properly, why should I mind?"
As he spoke, the surrounding yellow sands swirled into a sudden whirlwind. Within seconds, the gang members were swallowed whole, their voices silenced forever as they became another batch of nameless ghosts within Lungmen's subterranean passages.
Standing before the pitch-black drainage entrance, the Rat King remained motionless for a long time. Only after several minutes passed did he raise his gaze toward the sky, letting out a long, heavy sigh.
Indeed, carving away this malignant growth called poverty was a wonderful outcome. In everyone's eyes, it was a grand turn of events, something worthy of celebration.
Yet... Wei Yenwu. Can your grand city truly guarantee it will never breed new Infected or poor souls again? Can you promise that a second slum will never rise in the years to come? When that day arrives, what will you do then?
Or do you plan to treat Chernobog as your personal rubbish bin, tossing away anyone who opposes you or lacks value to your precious city? You had better think carefully, for that is hardly a lasting solution.
"Yusha, you may handle the rest as you see fit," the Rat King said, turning to his daughter as she walked up to his side, his tone laced with deep exhaustion.
He was genuinely weary and had no desire to meddle in the ancient grudges of these streets any longer. Whether Wei Yenwu intended to cleanse the district or leave it be, he would let the ruler of Lungmen do as he pleased. The old master simply lacked the drive to govern it any further.
In truth, everyone understood that Wei Yenwu's patience regarding the slums had reached its limit. He had long sought an opportunity to purge this land that refused to obey his public authority.
All he required was to retain a small portion of obedient, hardworking sheep. As for the unruly elements who refused to fall in line, the best outcome in his eyes was for them to simply vanish from Lungmen entirely.
Therefore, allowing them to depart alongside Reunion was actually a blessing in disguise. At the very least, it meant his own daughter wouldn't have to stain her hands with unnecessary blood, which was the best possible outcome.
"I understand, Father," Lin Yusha replied. She looked at her aging father, her gaze hardening with firm resolve.
She watched his figure fade into the shadows before turning to direct her loyal followers. They began sweeping through the alleyways, clearing out those who sought to profit off the chaos and teaching everyone who wished to remain a clear lesson on local rules.
And so, on the side unseen by the general populace, the deep slums began their quiet transformation. It seemed someone could no longer bear the chaos of this impoverished realm, choosing this moment to grant the land a complete rebirth.
Meanwhile, Jeanne was walking through the winding passages of the slums. The Reunion armband wrapped around her sleeve caused the surrounding dwellers to peer at her with wary eyes, yet not a single person dared step into her path or attempt a robbery.
Many of them had heard whispers of this organization—a formidable group capable of seizing an entire moving city within Ursus itself. Just thinking about such power filled the locals with overwhelming awe.
Jeanne had come here searching for a specific person. Alex had been practically buzzing in her ear about his missing sister for hours, and if she didn't help him track her down soon, the young boy was going to lose his mind completely.
Fortunately, luck was on her side. Before she had walked very far, Jeanne spotted a familiar figure tucked away in a quiet corner. A white-furred Ursus girl was surrounded by several small children, listening to their chatter in the quiet shadows.
When the white-furred girl caught sight of Jeanne, her pupils shrank slightly. She instantly remembered where she had seen this woman before—Jeanne was one of the two people who had barged into her home years ago.
"Misha?" Jeanne called out, a delighted smile breaking across her face. She hadn't even needed to rely on divine revelations to find her target. Her luck truly was holding up!
"You are... the person from back then?" Misha asked hesitantly, realizing she didn't even know the woman's name.
Seeing Misha's wary reaction, the children instinctively stepped in front of her to offer protection, but Misha gently pulled them behind her.
"You can just call me Jeanne. I came specifically to look for you," Jeanne said, offering the group a warm, friendly smile.
"To look for me? Why... I've already fled all the way here... Could it be that you've allied with those people too, and plan to..."
Misha's reaction was intensely defensive. Jeanne's sudden arrival clearly terrified her, and knowing this stranger had sought her out specifically filled her with deep unease.
"It's your brother, Alex! He nearly lost his head when he found out you had run away!" Jeanne explained hastily.
Hearing her brother's name, Misha lowered her guard slightly. Yet she couldn't bring herself to trust the stranger completely; though she was so weak she could barely keep her footing, she forced herself to stand tall and look Jeanne in the eye.
"Misha!"
Just as Jeanne was searching for a way to explain further, a heavily bundled figure rushed toward them from down the alley, shouting her name in sheer excitement.
Misha failed to recognize her brother at first glance, though the voice sounded eerily familiar.
"It's me, Alex!" Skullshatterer pulled off his headgear, revealing his face to hers. That single gesture completely shattered Misha's doubts.
The siblings immediately began exchanging stories of what had transpired during their time apart. Misha explained that Sergei had sensed danger six months ago and smuggled her out of the city; fearing discovery, she had laid low within the slums ever since.
Reuniting with her brother brought her immense joy, yet when she heard the news of her father's death, the shock dealt her a heavy blow despite having prepared herself for the worst.
Overwhelmed by the sudden rush of joy and grief, Misha's fragile body gave out, and she collapsed into unconsciousness right on the spot! The sudden collapse terrified Alex, who scooped his sister into his arms and began crying uncontrollably.
"Pull yourself together!" Jeanne scolded, knocking the dramatic boy over the head. "Your sister is just exhausted and ill, not on her deathbed! What are you wailing for? I'll carry her over to Rhodes Island for treatment. You take these children and head back first!"
Jeanne picked up the unconscious girl and departed without delay. The small children who had been huddled beside Misha dutifully followed behind Alex as he made his way back.
In their eyes, this older brother who looked so much like Misha had to be a good person just like her—someone they could trust completely.
To that logic, Alex could only shake his head, completely unable to follow their reasoning. He used to be the most radical person in Reunion, he would certainly not consider himself as one. He only became more passive after learning to believe in Reunion's ideals.