015: Escape to the East District

Page 1/3

The Eisenberg supercar sped along the gravel road in the industrial zone, the rearview mirror reflecting the fiery glow of the factory district around the driver's seat. Flames burst and gunfire gradually faded away.

Bang, beep~

John slammed his fist on the steering wheel.

The Silver Knight honked sharply.

“Are you crazy?!” he shouted at the doctor. “Shooting at the passenger-side window—if the windshield had a nano-intercept net, the bullets would have bounced back and riddled us like a sieve!”

“The situation was critical, man. If we’d delayed any longer, we’d be dead. Isn’t that saving your life?”

“Saving me? Do I deserve to wade through this mess?!”

“...”

Lian Randall’s throat tightened, and he quickly calmed himself. “Sorry, John. I owe you big time.”

“The trouble’s not over yet.”

John pulled the gun back and rested it on his knee, then fixed a serious gaze on the rearview mirror.

Engine noises grew louder from behind.

A beam of headlights flashed from the side, dazzling them both into squinting, and then with a loud crash, the guardrail ahead was shattered.

Debris scattered wildly across the gravel road.

Through the smoke and dust, a red-painted desert buggy burst forth.

Goons from the Nocturne Bar were firing madly at them.

The Silver Knight lost its windshield; bullets scraped the hood and even grazed the A and B pillars around the driver’s seat.

Whoosh—

John suddenly drifted on the spot, turning the bulletproof-netted side forward, then accelerated and switched lanes to escape along another road.

The industrial area’s roads were rugged and narrow, preventing the Silver Knight from leveraging its speed advantage.

The desert buggy rammed recklessly.

Its front bumper had been heavily reinforced, a brutal alloy steel frame, probably salvaged from some armored vehicle.

John dodged through the hail of bullets with agile maneuvers on the gravel surface.

“Fuck!”

Dr. Randall felt utterly terrible.

His vision spun, the screech of burning tires and gunfire ringing in his ears, the immense centrifugal force threatening to rip his heart out.

“Duck down!”

John suddenly pressed the doctor’s head down.

Boom—

The planted timed bomb exploded.

The terrifying fireball surged like a beast rising from the earth, engulfing the desert buggy entirely in flames. Then, the blackened vehicle frame was spat out, rolling along the road wrapped in thick smoke...

[Eliminate Nocturne Bar’s goons (Completed)]

“Phew~”

Page 2/3

John exhaled in relief.

Lian Randall pounded his chest, still shaken. “This night felt like a trip back twenty years.”

“Stop showing off—you nearly got torn apart by gangsters.”

“Heh, no big deal. Who hasn’t lived on the edge? I’m just not young anymore...”

The doctor pulled a bottle of liquor from his inner pocket, kissed the rim, then tilted his head back and gulped it down.

John raised his eyebrows skeptically.

“Can a cybernetic doctor really drink on the job?”

“This is the cheapest dopamine I’ve got in my life. Besides, working at Nocturne Bar was low-skill, not worth taking seriously...”

“At least you got out of that dirty hole.”

“Let’s talk about that after we get out of here.”

The doctor sighed deeply and explained, “Big Nan Street is Nocturne’s turf. We set off such a big fireworks display in the industrial zone—there are definitely Nocturne goons on the streets hunting us... You have to get me past their blockade.”

[Mission Update]

[Escort Lian Randall to the destination. (Incomplete)]

“Have you figured out how to plan your new life?”

“I’ve saved some money. I’m opening a clinic on another street. The local powers there don’t get along with Nocturne; I’ll have protection.”

“Nocturne won’t hunt you down to the end?”

“Is it necessary? They’ve already pushed me this far. It’s mostly about saving face.”

The doctor shook his head, looking very clear-headed.

John drove across Eden City.

Nocturne had indeed set up a blockade, but it was the same old gang tactics—adding a few patrol cars outside, shooting on sight if they spotted the target.

The Silver Knight raced madly on the highway.

Neon signs cast colorful reflections on the wet road, leaving the pursuing trash truck drivers behind.

[Eden City – East District Commercial Street]

This was the last puzzle piece of the old city renovation.

Various old buildings were surrounded by skyscrapers, with refined commerce clashing against the city’s old face, creating a strange, fragmented contrast.

The street was bustling.

Several 24-hour stores were packed with customers.

The doctor tossed the empty bottle into a back alley and turned to ask:

“Are you familiar with the East District?”

“I’ve lived in Eden City for over twenty years,” John answered quickly, then paused. “Well, actually, I haven’t really been here much.”

“Hahaha, alright. I’ll show you around, get you familiar with the routes. You’ll need to come back often to look after my business.”

They descended the steps beside the street.

The East District’s vitality was underground, so many steps and secret entrances led down from the commercial street.

John passed through a passage and his view opened up.

This was originally a parking garage for a building.

Page 3/3

The main structure dated back to the 1920s, with support columns reinforced with steel. The civil defense facilities had been fully connected; exhaust fans hummed loudly, forming a sprawling underground maze together with the rest of the East District.

There was even an open-air plaza in the center.

“Open-air” because a huge gaping hole hung overhead.

It called to mind a certain terror attack that had shocked the entire city.

Eden City’s neon lights filtered through the gap like a cascade of colorful mist falling from the sky.

The place buzzed with people; shops clustered tightly, and there was even a band playing electronic dance music.

Around the stage were flame throwers made from car exhaust pipes, and the smoke and noise were enhanced by motorcycles burning rubber.

“Pretty lively, huh?”

The doctor walked along walls covered in glowing graffiti. The air was thick with nicotine mixed with pungent fragrances.

John observed carefully:

Shops made use of building corners and height differences.

Besides the usual electronic devices, illegal cybernetic limbs, adult chips, and contraband drugs, they also sold clothes, food, and vehicle modifications.

Every shop owner had undergone modifications and sported tattoos, raising the local average combat power through their appearance.

There were many dangerous elements, but the public order wasn’t too bad.

Armed personnel patrolled around the plaza.

“This place has existed since the Eden City Independent War broke out. It’s the most prestigious underground trading center in the East.”

The doctor spoke with familiarity.

“Middlemen and highly renowned mercenaries all like to come here. If you meet a celebrity, you can get them to sign your jacket or cybernetic limbs.”

“I’m not some dumb fanboy.”

“Hahaha, alright. But I have a feeling, John, you’ll be a prominent figure in Eden City sooner or later.”

Lian Randall stood before a panel and scanned his face for verification.

The electronic gate slowly rose, revealing a corridor lined with blue light strips, equipped with weapon scanners and disinfectant sprays.

He clapped his hands, activating the lighting system.

A refined private clinic appeared before them:

The interior was at least the size of a three-bedroom apartment, with a dedicated fully sterile operating room.

There was a metal frameless control desk and six extended monitors.

“All my savings are in here.”

The doctor looked proud but noticed John’s odd expression. “Hey, why do you look so pale? Did you get shot on the way?”

“I’m allergic to clinics.”

John waved his hand. “Some not-so-pleasant memories.”

Lian Randall pursed his lips and shrugged, “Alright then, let’s talk about your payment.”