The moment he stepped out of the Thunder Martial Arts Hall, Li Chen noticed that there were a few extra tails following behind him.

Looks like the Schufestan family works pretty efficiently.

Makes sense.

They are, after all, an Uppermost Hive consortium.

Even if their intelligence network can’t compare to top-tier families like Solares or Montmorency, they’re still far beyond what ordinary companies or organizations can match.

At the very least, putting up a bounty on the dark web with solid information is definitely within their capabilities.

‘Still, these guys are pretty average.’

Li Chen rubbed his chin.

‘It’s not just their tier—more importantly, their actual combat literacy. Yeah, they’re complete amateurs. Probably some mercenary group trying to make a quick buck?’

Tsk tsk.

There’s a road to heaven and you won’t take it.

There’s no gate to hell and you insist on barging in.

Mercenaries may all be in the business of licking blood off blades, but compared to fighting people directly, what they do most often is hunt in the wastelands, search for treasure and excavate pre-civilization ruins.

Compared to true underground criminals, lawless outlaws, or the so-called “professionals” trained from childhood by major consortia, their raw combat power isn’t necessarily weaker.

But in specific fields—

Tail work, security, assassination, analysis, cleanup and other such specialized tasks—

They really are completely inferior.

‘Walking around openly with combat cybernetics like that—are those two worried they aren’t eye-catching enough already? Oh… they’re mercenaries. Judging by their tier, their star rating isn’t bad. Maybe they genuinely want to show off.’

As for why they’d show off while on a mission?

‘Obviously because that bunch only looked at the basic target information provided on the dark web and assumed this was an easy piece of fat meat. They never seriously thought about why, if it really were that simple, the client wouldn’t handle it themselves and instead specifically post it on the dark web.’

Before even clashing with the two uninvited guests behind him, the experienced Li Chen had already completely analyzed their mindset and thought process.

‘Typical Upper City rookies.’

Unlike warriors from the Lower City or even the hellish depths of the Lower Hive, the Upper Hive is rich in resources and families there are generally well-off.

In terms of warrior tiers alone, they’re on a completely different level from the former two.

But correspondingly, many mercenaries born in the Upper City, while possessing decent tiers, are far inferior in real combat experience, dark-web familiarity and even things like “unnecessary morality.”

The gap isn’t small—it’s massive.

‘Trusting the dark web’s description of a mission target is stupid.’

Walking toward the Central Commercial District, a mocking smile appeared on Li Chen’s face.

‘But on the flip side, if I wipe them out immediately, that would just alert the enemy.’

Li Chen’s gaze flickered.

‘Fine. I’ll play along with them for a bit.’

So he deliberately pretended to be completely unaware.

Maintaining the light, brisk pace expected of a second-tier warrior, he soon arrived at his destination.

‘Mm. This is it.’

Stopping in his tracks, Li Chen lifted his head and looked at the massive space before him.

Towering buildings.

Heavy traffic.

A bustling scene, separated from the outside by a thick alloy wall.

The Central Commercial District.

A gray zone connecting the Lower City and the Upper City.

It belonged neither to the proud, aloof Upper Hive elite citizens, nor to the vast masses of Lower City laborers.

Mercenary guilds.

The Martial Artist Review Committee.

Auction houses.

Notary halls.

Information brokers.

Labor dispatch agencies.

Industries that hovered on the edge of city-hall law—things Upper Hive citizens disdained as “undignified,” yet still found “necessary”—were the mainstream here.

Here, Upper Hive citizens could elegantly patronize companies whose business was killing people, paying a generous sum in exchange for a one-and-done solution.

Of course, if they didn’t trust the other party’s “reputation,” they could turn left to the notary hall.

By paying an additional “security deposit,” they could purchase “insurance” to ensure their commission would be carried out properly and their personal interests protected.

Here, Upper Hive citizens could shed the refined masks they wore outside and hand their ugliest, darkest desires to Lower City people to carry out.

Or they themselves could become prey for others.

Naturally, all of this had to be “legal.”

But aside from taboos that infringed upon the core interests of the top ten consortia, there were very few crimes that couldn’t hide behind transactions and the law.

‘Back then, Lin Caining and I spent a long time scraping by here too.’

Tsk.

When they first arrived, that girl from the Lower Hive had decent talent.

But limited by her origins and the lack of techniques suited to her physique, she could barely even afford her monthly rent.

It was only because he worked multiple part-time jobs to exhaustion, acting as an intermediary to make connections for her.

Helping her accumulate a reputation that he finally laid down the foundation for the Judicators mercenary group.

‘I wonder if our place of origin is still there.’

Li Chen still remembered the excitement of signing his first contract in his life.

The first legally protected asset he ever owned.

The first commission he completed.

And that “secret base” renovated out of an unfinished building.

“…”

For a moment, Li Chen found himself almost afraid to step into that bustling marketplace where people came and went without restraint.

“Sir?”

A figure in a Public Security Bureau uniform walked up to him.

“Do you need any assistance?”

The officer smiled gently, her features delicate.

The purified air carried a natural fragrance.

For the wealthiest Upper Hive citizens, the Central Commercial District wasn’t dangerous.

In fact, it was safer than many other places in the Upper Hive.

Or rather in the commercial district, Upper Hive citizens might lose everything for various reasons, but their lives would remain safe.

Because those in power here understood very well without Upper Hive citizens, this district would inevitably wither and decline.

The harsh side of the commercial district was reserved exclusively for the Lower City and the impoverished Lower Hive.

“No.”

Li Chen politely declined the officer’s goodwill.

Under her lingering gaze, he followed the flow of people into the Central Commercial District.

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The moment he entered the Central Commercial District, dazzling neon lights flooded Li Chen’s vision.

One holographic advertisement after another flashed before his eyes.

The district was the same as ever.

‘Lively as always.’

A dazzling array of advertisements precisely struck at the deepest desires of many people’s hearts.

Tempting promotional language gave rise to endless fantasies.

Li Chen swiped them away without interest.

Ding.

[Detected a large amount of useless advertising information. Dear Platinum Member, would you like to activate the information-filtering function? Remaining uses this month: 8.]

Buzz—

Peace returned to Li Chen’s ears.

Glancing at the elegantly dressed Upper Hive women around him, staring fixedly at the advertisements and giggling foolishly, Li Chen knew the big shots behind the district were about to make another hefty profit.

‘The Central Commercial District is absolutely safe—but only in terms of life.’

As for everything else, like wealth?

The very thing that maintained the fundamental difference between Upper Hive citizens and the pitiful Lower City laborers?

Well… Hopefully those women wouldn’t be too foolish.

‘My goal is very clear anyway. To get that Eternal Gold.’

Li Chen recalled the day’s intelligence.

‘If I remember right, that mercenary group was called Midnight Aurora, a three-star mercenary group.’

Three-star mercenaries.

According to the Mercenary Guild’s classification, that roughly corresponded to fifth\ or sixth-tier warriors.

Even in the Upper Hive, that wasn’t weak.

‘Moreover, by common sense, warriors who explore the wastelands outside Hive City are generally stronger than those who live inside the city.’

Surviving outside the city, where there was no trace of civilization, only mutated monsters, viruses and pre-civilization combat robots meant anyone who came back alive definitely had real skill.

‘Once you have a name, searching for information becomes easy.’

Scratching his head, Li Chen decided to contact an “old friend” he had just reconnected with yesterday.

Miss Weasel.

Ding.

Lazily sprawled on a soft bed, stuffing fresh grapes into her mouth like a little white rabbit gnawing on carrots, Miss Weasel yawned and rolled over when she saw Li Chen.

“Oh my, so it’s the handsome guy who climbed the social ladder and moved into a luxury mansion penthouse~”

Seeing Li Chen’s strikingly handsome face—even squeezed in a crowd, completely unpresentable, yet still radiating incomparable charm—Miss Weasel felt a sour feeling in her chest.

‘Why do these grapes taste so awful now?’

“Alright, Miss Weasel, I don’t have time to fool around.”

Li Chen rolled his eyes at his old acquaintance.

Back then, this woman always liked to mock him, but thinking back now, she probably saw through his unreliable relationship with those bad women long ago.

“I’ve got a big deal for you.”

Li Chen went straight to the point.

“Have you heard of the mercenary group Midnight Aurora?”

“Mmh, let me check… got it.”

Miss Weasel opened her database.

“Hmph. If you went to other large intelligence agencies, you might not even get firsthand information. A very typical mid-to-high-tier mercenary group. Most members are from the Lower City, rising through personal talent and opportunity after surviving gang warfare, eventually catching the eye of an Upper City agency. Through that agency, they were invited into the commercial district, gained sponsorship and initially followed large organizations around, acting as corporate mercenaries—doing dirty work like cleaning up traitors.”

Miss Weasel scrolled through the data.

“After accumulating their first pot of gold and raising the members’ tiers, they advanced to a three-star mercenary group. They probably felt corporate mercenary work had a ceiling, so they transitioned into a relic-exploration group. They cleared some ruins—not core zones, but still gained quite a bit.”

Just as Miss Weasel said, Midnight Aurora was practically textbook.

A group of ambitious girls who showed talent in Lower City gang wars, cooperated and fought their way out.

They were lucky enough to be noticed by Upper Hive agents watching the Lower City wars, gaining access to the commercial district—half a foot into the Upper Hive.

They followed corporations, made some money, wanted to become true Upper Hive citizens.

But they likely disliked corporate restrictions and didn’t want to be company dogs.

So they chose to “venture” into the outside world.

As for the outcome—

“Recently, their luck ran out.”

Miss Weasel shrugged casually.

“Heavy casualties. Even the old captain died. Just like the saying goes—every gift of fate already has its price marked in secret. According to my informants, about a month ago they took the most lucrative job since founding the group. It involved Faust Investment’s investigation of Ruin No. 81.”

Miss Weasel’s gaze turned deep.

“I don’t have evidence of the client’s exact demands, but according to other mercenary groups familiar with them, the conditions included registering all of their senior members as Upper Hive citizens.”

Upper Hive citizens?

Compared to Bai Wei’s newly obtained “honorary citizen” status, it was nothing.

But to Lower City residents, it was like ancestral graves emitting smoke.

Even more precious than tens of millions of credits.

“Faust Investment…”

Li Chen immediately caught the key point.

‘If I remember correctly, that company is under the Schufestan consortium?’

Tsk.

Another group devoured and discarded by a heartless consortium.

And again, from that arrogant woman’s family.

There was definitely more to this.

‘But I’ve already retired from the underworld.’

Li Chen suddenly looked up and said boldly.

“Package everything you have on that mercenary group’s members, that expedition and any related information for me.”

“Hey, Li Chen!”

Miss Weasel suddenly shouted.

“You’re not planning to get hot-headed again and interfere in disputes between Uppermost Hive big shots, are you? You already have such a good wife—cherish her…”

“Pfft.”

Li Chen laughed.

‘This weasel was still the same as ever. Sharp tongue, soft heart.’

“Don’t worry. I’m too lazy to get involved in their killing games.”

Li Chen curved his lips.

“Know yourself and your enemy and you’ll never lose. I just want to plan my bidding strategy later and secure a more favorable price.”

He walked straight into a building located at a prime spot in the commercial district.

‘After all… I have to save money for my wife.’

Dream Auction House?

What an ominous name.

Everyone knows—Hive City has no room for dreams.