The four individuals returned to the front of the clinic. The doors had been repaired, looking complete and intact.
However, after Putato scouted the area, apart from the bearded man's corpse still lying there, he didn't see any trace of the Bloodfiend.
"Could it have escaped?"
"Hmph. Last time, I underestimated it and allowed it to successfully ambush me. Not this time."
After inquiring at several households, Putato discovered that they were all new residents who had just moved in that very day.
Contemplating the injury he had inflicted on the Bloodfiend yesterday, Putato's heart sank. He feared that all the previous residents had become the other party's sustenance.
"Hey, you lot! This is Stray Dogs territory. Get out quickly!"
"If I see you again, I'll blow your heads off!"
"But we don't have money for rent."
Putato impatiently felt his pocket. It was cleaner than his face.
As if sensing Putato's predicament, Consta recommended the Good Office to the residents. It wasn't yet time to pay rent there.
The Bloodfiend felt like a parasite. Coexistence was impossible.
But for something of this magnitude, ascending to the pinnacle of The City could provide the solution.
After all, once the source of all evil, the Seed of Light, was released, it could cause The City to spawn new Bloodfiends. Thus, theoretically, the Seed of Light could also revert Bloodfiends back into humans.
"Let's head to the highest floor!"
After a moment of deliberation, Putato immediately set his sights on the rooftop.
If the Bloodfiend wanted to avoid disturbance, that would be the quietest location.
However, the final section of stairs leading to the highest floor was obstructed by debris. Fortunately, the diligent work of the Prosthetic individuals was truly professional-grade, and they easily pushed it aside.
Creak.
Putato carefully pushed open the rusty, dilapidated iron door. A pungent smell of blood immediately assaulted him.
"I assumed you wouldn't come."
The corpses were arranged in a circle on a platform. A white plastic toilet sat precisely in the center. The calico cat perched atop the cistern.
Its red, glowing eyes resembled flickering rubies, now intently fixed upon Putato, who had completely opened the iron door.
"Your toilet isn't flushed."
"Meow?"
The calico cat instinctively looked down at the bottom of the toilet bowl, then let out a displeased hiss.
Putato could confirm this creature was quite rational. It likely wouldn't descend into a berserk state after satisfying its hunger.
"Hmph. You claim you want to become the pinnacle of The City? That's more audacious than anything I've ever attempted. But I can still offer my support. Besides, it won't worsen my own standing."
"So, my friend, are you truly prepared to allow me to drink your blood?"
"This is a promise I made to myself. Of course, I won't go back on my word."
"That is why I call you a unique individual in The City. But are you unaware of the consequences of being completely drained of blood?"
"What?"
Putato suppressed the urge to retreat and raised his hand, stopping Mo and the other two from drawing their blades.
The cat child, as it moved, transformed again into a ferocious beast surrounded by blood-red energy. Its dark red tail coiled around Putato, making him feel dizzy from the intense scent of blood.
"As long as you are bitten, you will become a Bloodbag. Simply put, your fate is sealed."
"Can't this thing be controlled with a switch?"
This seemed distinct from the Vampires Putato had anticipated. At least they could spread their kind under controlled conditions; no wonder Bloodfiends had such a notorious reputation.
The monster's blood-soaked maw opened near Putato's face, prepared to devour his head at any moment, just as it had done to Mo's head yesterday.
"There's no alternative besides intentionally converting you into my Family."
"Even so, are you still willing to bite me?"
The huge red eyes, observing Putato stunned with fear, smiled as anticipated.
"It seems not?"
"No matter who it is, Bloodfiends are an exception, aren't they?"
"Even those foolish Bloodfiends who affiliate with Syndicates will be scorned by those wretches for negotiating peace."
Putato's thoughts raced. He immediately realized there was a crucial opportunity for him. His work radar was extremely sensitive.
Even a frivolous group like the elder wretches could receive work rewards. Why wouldn't a specialized social organization like the Bloodfiend Family?
Other Bloodfiends thirsted for blood, but what did that concern him, the work emperor?
From his previous work talents, he could observe that they were created and perfected based on the specific characteristics of the organization.
Whether it was the [Cyborg] talent enhancing Prosthetic compatibility or the [Wild Dog Tattoo] talent increasing the load capacity of tattoo augmentations, they were all significant improvements.
This was the true value of work-based Distortions!
"Come on then, this is my promise, even if the target is a Bloodfiend!"
"My name is Putato. May I have the honor of becoming your Family?"
Putato decisively rolled up his sleeve, revealing the blue veins on his right wrist. The protruding flesh immediately heightened the Bloodfiend's desire to bite.
This firm resolve and courage instantly halted the Bloodfiend's urge to strike. The beating heart beneath the blood-red fur seemed momentarily astonished.
"Until now, no one has believed in me. No one has dared to extend their wrist in front of a Bloodfiend."
"Actually, I understand them. Because when Bloodfiends thirst for blood, they disregard their own kin. Let alone maintaining reason. But I don't understand you."
"In that case, I am also willing to try believing in you. My name is Elena."
Although this was admittedly risky, Putato's trust in his Work Card remained unwavering. Without Khaji's prior assistance, he never would have reached this point.
Under the worried gaze of the three iron-men, the calico cat perched on the toilet cistern gently bit Putato's wrist.
Elena swore she had never fed so gently before. The sharp teeth that sought the veins only penetrated the blood vessels slowly, almost like a delicate needle prick.
"I'm starting now. This is my first time converting a Family as a Bloodfiend."
"Elena, I trust you."
Let me see your limits, Khaji!
Putato felt no pain in his wrist. If he hadn't seen Elena burying her head there, he would have assumed she hadn't even begun.
A sensation of weakness suddenly surged through his body. Following it was the deep-seated rage he had suppressed for so long.
The tragedies of The City he had witnessed previously no longer stirred his indignation. This strange apathy only intensified Putato's fury.
He absolutely did not want to become merely another resident of The City.
A strange vibration emanated from his wrist. A powerful heart resonance made his senses swim. Standing on the rooftop, he felt as if he were about to slip into a profound dream.
His legs felt unsteady, ready to give out. Everything around him distorted and warped violently.
"Pinnacle of The City."
"What?"
A very familiar voice echoed.
An endless sea of blood surged forth. Putato, standing on barren land, suddenly rose high, flinging them all down.
"Pinnacle of The City!"
The blood-red tornado engulfing the sky attempted to ascend, but was instantly blocked once more by an invisible, towering barrier.
Putato felt himself oscillating between consciousness and unconsciousness, desperately trying to pinpoint the source of the voice.
It was someone he could never forget.
"Pinnacle of The City!!!"
"Aaaah!"
Putato suddenly awoke with a sharp jolt. He knelt on the ground, clutching both wrists. It felt as if his brain had been violently churned by a mixer. His mind and soul felt as if they were being completely torn apart.
Only when Putato opened his eyes again did he fully regain his senses and feel solid ground beneath his feet. Everything before him seemed like a horrifying nightmare.
"Putato! Are you alright?"
"Damn it, I knew this monster was unreliable! Get lost!"
The three iron-men surrounded him with concern, while Elena clung to the railing outside, watching anxiously.
Putato slapped his own face sharply, finally able to process his thoughts.
"What just happened?"
Mo, wrapping a bandage around Putato's wrist, immediately began to reprimand Elena. What she said was too rapid for Putato to fully grasp.
Coupled with the other two men agreeing beside her, it left Putato even more bewildered.
"Stop!"
"Elena, what transpired just now?!"
The calico cat, acting unusually subdued, flinched and seemed slightly wronged.
"I, I don't understand either. This is my first time drinking blood and being abruptly ejected. Although that sounds strange."
"You do understand, right? When I drink your blood, it's like using a bite to siphon coffee. The moment I started the Family conversion, our link was immediately severed."
"The elders never mentioned anything like this."
Khaji, you truly are amazing.
Putato instantly grasped the entire situation.
It was the Word Card protecting him from becoming Family, but how could the pinnacle of The City possibly tolerate being manipulated by outsiders?
Touching the raised Card on his chest, Putato wasn't sure if he himself had become an aspect of the Distort, or if the Distort had somehow manifested upon him.
In any case, this seemed like a beneficial development.
"Putato, are you okay?"
"You are my first friend as a Bloodfiend. I never intended to hurt you."
Elena was still explaining beside him, looking nothing like the bloodthirsty, indiscriminate Blood-red Night.
Perhaps this was merely a vulnerability stemming from her injuries, a facade. But at least the current circumstances were advantageous for Putato. He feigned confusion.
"I don't know. Just now, I could only feel the sea of blood engulfing me, but ultimately, nothing happened."
"Elena, is it possible that my physique is a bit unique?"
Elena simply fell silent in thought, then shook her head.
"Don't worry about it. After all, you kept your promise to me. While the volume of blood was small, it was unexpectedly satisfying."
Hearing this, Putato's anxiety finally eased. This meant Elena wouldn't be targeting him immediately, at least for the time being.
Moreover, perhaps she could even prove helpful in certain matters. Compared to these hostile households, Putato would much rather see her bite those insane Syndicate members to death. It would certainly benefit his career progression.
"So, is our business concluded then?"
"That is impossible."
Mo heard this and raised the two biological scythes she held. The other two also became alert, swiftly picking up the corpses.
"Didn't you say you'd keep going until I was satisfied?"
"And our friendship won't stop here, right?"
Looking at the two small blood holes on his wrist, Putato frowned. He still felt a bit empty and weak. With this kind of blood-letting every day, he would probably succumb to anemia.
But he still nodded towards Elena.
"However, I urgently need your help with something."
"Of course, no problem, friend."
Overjoyed, Putato hastily gave Elena a few instructions and then rushed off. He still needed to inform Gyeong-mi about the final stage of the plan.
To secure his promotion, Putato was driven to exhaustion.
Arnold, closing the iron door behind him, tilted his head to look at Putato being helped downstairs by Mo. The square symbol on his head flickered faintly.
"Putato, aren't you tired?"
"Ever since I saw you, you seem to be constantly rushing. Why the hurry?"
Putato simply turned his head and smiled at him.
"Money must be earned early."
"Exactly. Arnold, hush!"
...
In front of the factory.
Putato sat on a trash receptacle, massaging his temples. A hot sandwich was placed before him.
"I bought a few more for you. Don't you like sandwiches?"
"Even the most delicious things become monotonous eventually."
He had to concede that The City's sandwiches were basically the standard fast food fare in The Backstreets, with virtually no other alternatives.
Opening the sandwich, Putato only ate the ham and lettuce inside, too lazy to bother gnawing on the dry bread crusts.
After finishing his meager dinner, Putato opened the trash receptacle and tossed the leftovers inside.
From within the trash can, Putato heard a voice expressing gratitude.
"It's so late; why are you here?"
Parui, with his hands behind his back, inspected Putato from head to toe.
"How come you are always stationed at the main entrance? Aren't you supposed to be a security guard?"
"Nonsense. That Molar Office earlier attacked us without provocation, resulting in a critical shortage of personnel. I've been on rotation for days."
"Surely, they wouldn't assign such a vital post to a new recruit like you."
"Guarding the main entrance is indeed crucial. I need to see Boss Gyeong-mi now. It's Syndicate business. Help me procure some gasoline barrels."
"What purpose would you have for that? And who are these three individuals?"
"They are my newly recruited subordinates. You understand, they are those rats."
Putato offered no reply, merely waving his hand before entering the passage. The three iron-men immediately began searching for suitable gasoline barrels.
Because Lobotomy Corporation's cheap energy sources were both abundant and sufficient, traditional fuels had plummeted in value. Utilizing them to construct explosives was incredibly cost-effective.
Entering the familiar dormitory sector, the gang members leaning on the railings and chatting immediately fell silent upon noticing Putato's arrival.
Dino, lifting dumbbells, narrowed his eyes, leaned half of his body over the railing, and shouted.
"Hey, Putato, I heard you defected to Stray Dogs. Why haven't we seen any squad accepting you?"
"It's not that no one wants you."
"Honestly, I can understand. After all, you're a traitor. Even I am aware there's a significant rift."
"Also, wasn't it you who instigated the recent issue with Molar Office? You just caused chaos at the factory, and now they're here."
The two sides of the dormitory area immediately erupted in laughter.
Putato met Dino's scrutinizing gaze without a hint of guilt, then pointed his index finger at the other's head, subsequently turning his thumb downwards and jabbing.
Dino, enraged, dropped his dumbbells.
"Because I possess more capability than everyone sitting here!"
Putato extended his hand and stood centrally on the runway, surveying the area.
"When I joined the Syndicate, I already made an accord with Boss Gyeong-mi to engage in trade with The Backstreets Butcher. Now, I intend to defeat the Axe Gang boss and seize control of the Axe Gang."
"What I am about to accomplish surpasses 99% of the people present, while you can only squat in the dorms and smirk."
Facing the ridicule from both factions, Putato raised his voice again.
"Executive Dino, I have no need to validate myself to you."
"But Boss Gyeong-mi repaid my past loyalty with blood, so I will unequivocally prove my allegiance and worth to him!"
Putato, adept at managing his superiors, completely ignored the alienation from his colleagues.
After his bold declarations, Putato quickly departed, not looking back, and entered the manager's office.
Gyeong-mi and Zulu were both studying a simplified schematic map of The City. A prominent blue fist symbol was displayed on it, with small text beside it reading "Void Fist."
Sensing an entry, both looked up simultaneously.
"Kid, do you think you can't handle the Axe Gang boss?"
Gyeong-mi immediately crossed his legs, observing Putato with a degree of interest. Zulu stood silently beside him.
"Boss Gyeong-mi, actually, I am an internal operative."
Bang.
Gyeong-mi slammed the table. All the small ornaments on the surface jumped into the air.
"You damned rascal, what insidious scheme are you concocting now?"
To Putato's utter surprise, Gyeong-mi refrained from striking him across the face. However, seeing the dark expression on his face, Putato sensed the blow was still imminent.
"When I was with the Brotherhood of Iron, Yun actually approached me, requesting I serve as a Syndicate spy under Fixer status."
"Yun might have intended only to utilize my skilled hands, or perhaps seize the chance to eliminate the Brotherhood of Iron, but I remain grateful for his initial hope that I would seek retribution."
"But later, unforeseen events occurred, and I met Boss Gyeong-mi. Circumstances shifted this way."
Hearing this, Gyeong-mi, whose eyebrows were twitching violently, abruptly stood up.
"So, what is your true meaning?"
"I feel that concealing this matter would only displease Boss Gyeong-mi, which is why I am being entirely transparent now."
"Furthermore, Yun unexpectedly informed me that the Axe Gang plans to assault Yun's Office tomorrow. They aim to use it as a forward base to contest territory with us Syndicates, so he requested I contact you for cooperation."
"If you, Boss Gyeong-mi, doubt my account, you can proceed to Yun's Office immediately and verify. There are quite a few unfamiliar vehicles nearby."
"I believe this presents the optimal opportunity to ambush the Axe Gang."
Seeing Gyeong-mi begin to deliberate, Putato pressed his advantage, continuing the narrative he had meticulously crafted earlier.
Then, he waited anxiously for the result.
Click.
The sound of cracking bones suddenly rang out. Putato felt a large hand clamp tightly around his chin. The immense pressure felt like industrial-grade pliers.
Gyeong-mi's narrowed eyes revealed a fierce glare as he stared intently at him.
"You little menace, you are so full of complications."
"But since this occurred before I joined Stray Dogs, I'll let it slide. Produce your Fixer license."
Suppressing the instinct to flee, Putato quickly retrieved the license that Oaks had already verified.
Gyeong-mi released Putato, took the license, and then, without even glancing at it, tore it into shreds.
"You've made a lot of promises, but I don't care about that messy baggage. As long as you adhere to the commitment you made when joining the Syndicate, we are allies."
"My word is my bond!"
"Zulu, go dispatch someone sharp to investigate Yun's Office."
"Understood."