The Katana pierced the Bloodfiend Cat's jaw from behind, the impact forcing its maw wide open.
Hematic Pump!
The newly tattooed kidney allowed Putato's blood to surge before the Bloodfiend. Power erupted from his entire body.
Putato, veins bulging, stomped against the wall and leaped down. Honesuki instantly severed the monster cat's mouth. Putato gritted his teeth and reached into the sharp maw, hooking out the head.
"Everyone, gather!"
Putato, his right hand covered in wounds from sharp teeth, was overjoyed to see the head he had just fished out. But he immediately regrouped with the other two iron-men to guard against the monster's next move.
To Putato's surprise, the Bloodfiend Cat merely hung from the ceiling, slowly drawing blood from the bearded man.
"It seems what you say is true. To risk your life for an iron head is truly strange."
"If it were a long-term Fixer partnership, I might understand. But you've only known each other for less than a week."
"Few people in The City are moved like you for others. That's also why I didn't drain you dry in the beginning. This emotion, like fine wine, gets better with age."
"Then how can one become your friend?"
The blood replenishment allowed the Bloodfiend Cat's wounds to heal rapidly. In an instant, its external injuries were 70-80% better, making Putato's heart sink.
The outcome seemed certain. If the opponent was this strong, he had no chance of victory. He had to think of another way!
Putato could only close his eyes and say, "I'd like to say we're friends now, but this isn't a test. I can't give you a standard answer."
"This time, I intruded rashly. Let's make a deal."
"I will absolutely not reveal your information, nor will I come here again. Let's just consider it as if nothing happened."
"Of course, as an apology, I can serve as your source of blood for a period of time, until you are satisfied." He hadn't expected this person to be so troublesome. Why did he encounter a late-game boss during the beginner's phase?!
The healed Bloodfiend Cat gradually advanced. Putato's breathing was rapid. He immediately prepared to jump out the window, even though they were on the fourth floor.
"Becoming a long-term blood bag for a Bloodfiend means easily being sucked dry." The Bloodfiend's voice was calm, yet it exuded an oppressive aura.
Putato hurriedly offered a friendly smile, "Uh, then we can be friends, right? As long as you support me in climbing to the pinnacle of The City, our friendship will be unbreakable."
Too close.
Putato nervously glanced towards the window. He could clearly hear the Bloodfiend Cat's panting now, seeing the crimson fur intertwined with blood.
"Friends, delicious."
It flicked its tail. Its enormous body rapidly shrank, once again transforming into a calico cat, standing before the desiccated corpse of the bearded man.
Putato tentatively walked towards the door. Realizing the Bloodfiend wasn't stopping him, he quickly signaled the iron-men to carry the headless frame out.
Before leaving, an incredulous Putato turned to look at the cat.
He pondered for a moment, then couldn't help but ask, "Right, last time at the Prosthetic clinic, I was hiding in the ventilation duct. Did you intentionally attack the Stray Dogs members?"
"Of course. Those mechanical servants didn't matter to me. I originally intended to leave quietly after recovering, but I didn't want them to kill such a delicious you."
"Thanks."
Putato calmly turned and left. Only after stepping out of the building did he finally breathe a sigh of relief, almost collapsing to the ground.
Sweat had completely soaked his jacket. The situation just now was truly too dangerous.
"Putato, are you alright? We should leave here quickly."
Consta immediately helped Putato up. They rushed back to the Prosthetic clinic before Night in the Backstreets fell.
Everyone was uncommunicative. Putato, in his current exhausted state, wasn't in a condition to perform Prosthetic surgery. He could only temporarily place Mo's head in a rice cooker.
"It hurts like hell."
Putato looked at his arm, which had stopped bleeding, suspecting that the Bloodfiend tattoo was at work. This growth talent was indeed very strong.
As long as he fought against an enemy of a similar type, he could gain resistance.
But thinking of that mysterious Bloodfiend cat, Putato felt his stomach clench with anxiety, even pain.
[Putato: Are you there?]
[Pangolin: I'm always here. Do you like large bone soup? I can send you a homemade portion now.]
[Putato: No, I want to ask if anyone would transform a cat into a Bloodfiend?]
[Pangolin: Don't get close to Bloodfiends. They turn rancid. That combination with trash broth flavor simply shouldn't exist in the world.]
[Pangolin: However, these guys think highly of the trash broth in their veins. They wouldn't bother with cats or dogs. It can only be a high-ranking Bloodfiend who suffered a fatal injury and had to manipulate an animal's body to evade detection.]
Damn it!
This cat, could it be Blood-red Night?!
[Putato: Is that so? I thought it was a special ingredient. Isn't there a Star of the City called Blood-red Night who is a Bloodfiend?]
[Pangolin: Who cares about that trash broth? But when I was at the market, I heard that Charles' Office recently completed a major commission. They took down Blood-red Night biolently.]
[Pangolin: For this, I can't help but praise them a few times. They should have wiped out the Bloodfiend long ago.]
Could it be such a coincidence?
Putato now felt there was a very high possibility that the Bloodfiend Cat was the defeated Blood-red Night.
Earlier, did she truly want to let him go, or was her old wound flaring up, making her struggle to deceive him and buy more time for recovery?
Putato clearly noticed that this cat's intelligence level was gradually increasing. Perhaps at the Prosthetic Clinic, she hadn't intentionally saved anyone; she merely couldn't control her instincts.
If bloodsucking could restore her strength, then for Blood-red Night, there would be no need to let him go and increase the risk. The reason: failure to act due to weakness. It could only be that she was a paper tiger at the time, all bark and no bite.
Putato, with his muddled thoughts, still decided against turning hostile with the Bloodfiend Cat. After all, if they truly compared development speed, could her bloodsucking be faster than his work promotions?
...
A night passed.
"What in the world is this Axe Gang doing?!"
Putato, sitting up, paced back and forth, annoyed. The more he thought, the less he could find a way to deal with the Axe Gang boss.
He couldn't play any kind of "bitter meat" trick. People in The City weren't idiots.
Unable to figure it out, Putato simply decided to perform surgery on Mo, re-connecting the nerve pathways which was much simpler than connecting biological nerves.
By the time Consta and Arnold returned from shopping, Putato was almost done. The two handed over the protection fees they had collected to Putato and discussed where to go in the afternoon.
"Could we play the 'Drive a tiger to devour a wolf' trick?"
Taking off his anti-static gloves, Putato thought of the Bloodfiend Cat and Yixin, but he couldn't command them.
"Putato!"
Mo angrily shook Putato's shoulder, a bit annoyed that he was engrossed in his thoughts and ignoring her.
"Putato! If you have something to say, say it! Don't ignore me! Didn't you say I was your friend?"
"Mo, can't your words include us?"
Seeing the three Iron-men surrounding him, Putato felt a warmth in his heart and briefly explained his promotion dilemma.
"What's wrong with Gyeong-mi's brain? He only makes you an Executive after you can deal with the Axe Gang boss?!"
"Oh, is there even a bounty? That's too stingy."
"Or how about we ambush him when he goes to the toilet?"
Putato covered his face, feeling it was his own problem to rely on their intelligence.
Putato, accidentally recalling game lore, discovered that the Hook Gang, who had attacked the refrigerated truck and contributed the Biological Scythe, seemed to have a very good relationship with the Axe Gang.
They were Syndicate allies who hunted together. Perhaps he could start there and lure the Axe Gang boss out.
Thinking of this, Putato immediately stood up, intending to go to Backstreet 23 again.
The four of them sat in a taxi. Fortunately, the Iron-men collected protection fees; otherwise, Putato wouldn't have money for the ride.
"Hey, driver, can you not watch that kind of movie while picking up passengers? Don't you feel embarrassed?"
"Besides, what if you get too excited? How can you concentrate on driving?"
Putato looked at the taxi screen to the right of the steering wheel, a little speechless.
"Uh, that's not a movie."
"Then what is it?"
"My home surveillance."
Putato immediately realized that this taxi might not be very safe.
...
"Bro, don't do anything crazy. Get an Office to deal with it. If you don't have enough money, I can even connect you to a Syndicate." Putato, in the car, ceaselessly tried to calm the driver's emotions, afraid that one swerve would lead to a fatal accident for both of them.
Getting out of the car, Putato handed his business card to the driver, watching the taxi quickly drive away.
Fighting alone in The City was very prone to accidents. Even someone as powerful as Blood-red Night was defeated. Putato believed it was necessary to establish his own network of connections, such as the three Iron-men by his side.
Otherwise, he would have to personally handle everything.
"What an original way of execution. Later, we can also hang those who don't pay protection fees on utility poles." Mo looked up, sighing with emotion.
Putato snapped back to attention, following Mo's gaze. On top of the utility pole, there was a screaming head!
Such a terrifying sight made Putato's eyes widen. Looking down the utility pole, he saw Hook Gang members communicating with people inside a minivan.
The surrounding pedestrians, witnessing this scene, began to whisper.
"It's the Hook Gang again. Those savages are too brutal, hanging people in the streets all day."
"At least they're predictable. Haven't you seen that minivan? That Carige Gang psycho drives around constantly, abducting anyone who's isolated."
"I remember the head on that pole—he was a barber from the Carige Gang territory. A few days ago, I even saw his neighbors from the knitting guild trying to resist."
"Don't make me laugh. With people like them?"
Putato didn't dare look at the severed head. He suppressed his rising anger and approached the Hook Gang members. Their conversation reached his ears.
"This idiot actually hired a Syndicate to destroy a Syndicate! Everyone needs to see the fate of those who deal with the Carige Gang!"
"Alright, alright, is this even news? Who told him to pay so little? Our Hook Gang isn't an Office that needs to protect client confidentiality."
"If they had saved up a bit more and hired an Office, they wouldn't have suffered. They chose to be greedy, and now we reap the benefits."
The minivan roared to life and drove away, leaving the Hook Gang members behind, counting their earnings. However, upon noticing Putato and his three companions approaching, they immediately shifted into a defensive stance.
"Who are you?"
"I am an old acquaintance of the Hook Gang. Call Tae-in."
The gang members, half-believing and half-doubting, made the call.
A moment later, a throng of red-sleeved coats gathered.
"You bastard, you still dare to show your face here!"
Tae-in, wearing an eye patch, flew into an immediate rage at the sight of Putato, the shameless thief. The other Syndicate assassins, having heard the story, instantly began to mock him.
"Haha, I see it now, Tae-in—how did your Biological Scythe end up mounted on a machine?"
"I was wondering why Tae-in hasn't been killing as much lately. Turns out his meal ticket was snatched by a stranger."
Naoki, meticulously observing Putato, was curious why the man hadn't fled yet.
Although their Hook Gang had fewer members, they were professionals who took on assassination commissions. Last time, Tae-in had simply been careless and dismissive.
Naoki noticed that the group was clearly led by Putato and immediately spoke up to warn the others.
"This guy even has subordinates. He must be a Stray Dogs Executive. Last time, he was probably just here to deliver meat to the chefs."
McCullin, wearing a white mask and wielding a greatsword, emerged from the crowd.
"Last time was only because Tae-in needed emergency medical attention. This time, there's no reason to let him walk."
The moment McCullin mentioned this, the one-eyed Tae-in's face twisted into a fierce mask, and he immediately ordered Putato's execution.
The sounds of blades and swords attacking like a tempestuous storm rang out. The three Iron-men swiftly shielded Putato in the center.
"I'm here to talk business. What do you want?"
"Do you plan to stay as small-time thugs, rotting in this same alley forever?"
"What are you implying?"
Realizing that Putato's subordinates were formidable fighters, Naoki, who hadn't yet moved, finally spoke up.
"I'm asking if the Hook Gang is interested in replacing the Stray Dogs and joining the Thumb?"
For a moment, every Hook assassin froze.
Who in The Backstreets didn't know the legendary Five Fingers? They were the true Stars of the City.
"The Stray Dogs suffered heavy casualties from a fierce Office assault. I, representing Yun's Office, want to invite you to dismantle the Stray Dogs together."
"What nonsense! Can our small group handle the Stray Dogs? They're a Syndicate under the Thumb!"
"I heard your relationship with the Axe Gang is solid. Bringing them in would solve the numbers problem. Besides, the Thumb is currently at war with Void Fist. As long as you declare loyalty immediately after your victory, there will be no issues."
Even Tae-in, whose mind was clouded by rage, paused to consider Putato's words.
In The Backstreets, everyone dreams of rising to the top. No one can resist the allure of massive profit.
"Wait, something's wrong. Aren't you a Stray Dogs Executive? How can you represent an Office?"
"You've misunderstood. The bald man with me last time was the Executive. I'm just a nobody in the Syndicate. After all, I'm merely an undercover mole for Yun's Office."
"What the Office wants is the reputation of eliminating the Stray Dogs. It's vital for our commission rates and for recruiting Fixers. Everything else—the spoils, the territory—can be yours."
The crowd's breathing turned heavy with anticipation.
Not to mention the Stray Dogs' years of accumulated wealth, their territory alone was enough to make the Hook Gang powerful beyond their wildest dreams.
How could these men, who lived by the blade for coin, hesitate in the face of such a temptation?
Naoki, however, frowned. Her delicate face was etched with unyielding hesitation. After hearing the assassins' chatter, she immediately challenged Putato.
"Aren't you afraid we'll just turn around and sell you out to the Stray Dogs? For us, the risk is much smaller, and they might even pay us a handsome reward."
Seeing her take the bait, Putato's heart settled, but his expression grew grave. "It's simple. Because the Stray Dogs boss is personally coming to Yun's Office tomorrow for negotiations. He wants us to submit completely, and I cannot allow that to happen."
"If you and the Axe Gang agree, the Office will arrange for you to ambush them in the meeting room. If the assassination is successful, you can absorb the Stray Dogs immediately."
"And your secret won't save you. At worst, the Office truly surrenders, and then you get absolutely nothing."
"Yun, the Office representative, is a good man. He gave me a job when I was a drifter, and later even lent me the funds for Prosthetic modifications."
"He was the only one who affirmed my worth, believing I could reach the pinnacle of The City."
"No matter the cost, I cannot stand by and watch his Office fall!"
Putato's eyes were bloodshot, his fists trembling with feigned anger, causing Naoki to chuckle coldly to herself.
There really is such a foolishly loyal person, she thought. Yun had clearly bought an idiot to do his dirty work. No sane person would send Putato as an undercover agent into a Syndicate protected by the Thumb.
This was clearly pushing someone into a furnace, yet Putato was still grateful.
The Hook Gang members lowered their weapons. Although they found Putato's loyalty ridiculous, they couldn't ignore a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
They left a guard to watch Putato and immediately went to contact the Axe Gang.
This operation was far beyond what the Hook Gang could handle alone, but even a fraction of the profits would be enough to satisfy these bloodthirsty assassins.
"Putato, is this actually true?"
Mo asked him, half-believing, half-doubting, only to receive a sharp glare in return.
"You don't need to know what's true or false. Just follow my lead."
As he spoke, a group of Axe Gang members in black suits swaggered down the center of the avenue.
"Oh? I heard there's a lucrative business deal on the table."
The Axe Gang boss, wearing a black fedora, arrived with a confident stride, flanked by two axe-wielding Executives.
Oaks tipped his fedora and greeted Putato. His handsome face was full of smiles, though his crimson curly hair made his appearance somewhat androgynous.
"I am Oaks. Are you the Fixer from that Syndicate?"
"I am Putato. They should have explained the situation. I won't let Yun's hard work be destroyed by the Stray Dogs. Give me a straight answer."
"Is the Axe Gang in, or not?"