The word hit Kang like a fist to the gut.
"D-dead? Why? How?"
The man smirked, as if recalling something amusing.
"That delusional fool entered the Neon Crucible, thinking he could win enough money to pay off his debt. He really believed his so-called martial arts or something could help him beat fully augmented fighters."
He burst into laughter.
"With those stupid dancing kicks and weak little punches... Hah! It was the most pathetic fight, and the most pathetic death I've ever seen."
Kang's hands were trembling. Blood began to drip down from his clenched fists. Calm down, not yet… He kept repeating to himself. He still needed information from this pig. Anger could wait.
"What about his family? Wife? Children?" Kang forced the words out, waiting as the man's laughter faded.
"No wife. And all his so-called disciples ran away after watching him die. Smart bunch, I suppose. Maybe not smart enough to avoid being fooled in the first place, but at least they woke up in the end."
That was enough. Kang could feel the last thread of restraint snapping. He drew in a sharp breath, preparing to unleash his fury, when the fat man suddenly added.
"Oh right, he had a daughter. She was banished to the slum three months ago for her father's debt. Which means she's either dead, if she's lucky, or suffering a fate worse than death down there."
The words doused Kang's anger with cold clarity.
A daughter. A descendant of the Liu family. His master's bloodline still lived, trapped in the slum. He turned and ran without another word. There was no time to lose.
At the nearest junction, he summoned the Guide.
"How do I get to the slum?" he asked quickly, cutting off her automatic greeting.
"You cannot go to the slum unless you have official business there, which requires certification from the city government office," the Guide replied politely. "It's a place where criminals are sentenced, not suitable for tourists. I advise against it…" The Guide replied politely.
"Criminals are sent there?" Kang interrupted, focusing on that detail.
"Yes, depending on their crimes, criminals may face temporary or permanent exile to the slum…"
"What kind of crimes would guarantee being sent there," he cut in again, "but not serious enough for their belongings to be confiscated?"
"That's a great question, dear citizen," the Guide chirped brightly. "So you want to know about crimes that guarantee exile to the slum without losing personal possessions. Those would include but not limited to civil offenses such as…"
Kang's patience ran dry. He cut her off.
"What if I beat an irritating fat guy to near death?"
"That's a great question, dear citizen..."
"Just give me the answer. Now," Kang snapped.
"As long as the victim's life isn't in danger and there's no permanent injury affecting their quality of life, the sentence would likely match what you're asking for, more or less, depending on other factors…"
That was all Kang needed to hear.
-----
Thirty minutes later.
Two police officers stepped out of their sky patrol vehicle and entered the scene. A fat man was lying on the ground, badly beaten, groaning continuously. Nearby were two other men — one a construction worker, the other a young man in casual clothes with a travel bag slung over his shoulder. The young man looked calm and composed, while the construction worker was pale and trembling.
The female police officer offered the young man a reassuring smile.
"Are you the one who made the report about a physical assault?"
"Yes, officer," Kang answered calmly.
The other officer knelt beside the injured man and raised his right arm, speaking into what looked like a wrist device.
"Activating emergency medical procedure. Requesting Nurse Joy."
Almost immediately, a pink hologram materialized beside him — a stunning girl with pink hair in a nurse's uniform. Kang couldn't help but wonder if they really had to make all virtual assistants that beautiful. Then again, why not? If people could create beauty, they always would. Humans are lookist creatures. That's simply the truth.
The holographic nurse began her work, scanning the victim with clinical precision. After a short pause, she gave her report.
"The victim's in stable condition. He has multiple bruises and abrasions across the body, mostly from blunt impact, but nothing life-threatening. No fractures detected, no internal bleeding, and he remains conscious. Around the mouth, there's moderate swelling and a small cut on the inside of the lower lip. No broken teeth or jaw damage. Just soft tissue injuries. He'll be sore for a few days, but there's no sign of permanent harm."
With that, the nurse finished her report and disappeared. Both officers sighed in relief. Since the victim's life wasn't in danger, they could focus on a simple investigation while waiting for the medical transport.
Kang stood there, listening to the nurse's report, nodding slightly. Quite professional, he thought. Both the nurse, for her precise assessment, and himself, for delivering exactly the right amount of damage to reach that condition.
The female officer, slightly charmed by the polite and good-looking young man who had reported the incident, spoke in a softer tone.
"Did you happen to see the perpetrator?"
She didn't notice how the construction worker's face turned even paler the moment she asked. Her attention was completely on Kang.
"Yes, officer," Kang replied with another calm nod.
Her eyes brightened.
"Great. Then could you tell us which direction he ran? We can access the Guide's memory and..."
"That was me, officer!"
Kang said it plainly. After all, he was an honest citizen, and he didn't want to waste the officers' time. That would be a misuse of taxes.
The female officer froze, completely stunned by what she had just heard. Kang smiled at her politely, his expression calm and almost charming as he extended both hands toward her.
"I turn myself in, officer!"
-----
It was a quick trial with nothing to discuss.
"Liu Kang, twenty-one years old. Former Neo-European citizen who applied for Neo-Asian citizenship, granted two weeks ago.
After reviewing all evidence and hearing both testimonies, this court finds the defendant, Mr. Liu, guilty of physical assault resulting in bodily harm. The injuries inflicted were non-fatal and left no lasting damage, and the defendant cooperated fully during the investigation.
Therefore, the court sentences Kang to three months of corrective confinement and labor in District 13, Area 9 Slum, effective immediately. Court adjourned."
Kang bowed his head, showing both acceptance of the verdict and gratitude to the judge. Two police officers escorted him out of the courtroom, the same ones who had handled his case. The female officer looked at him with a grudging expression, still clearly upset about the embarrassment he had caused her. Kang offered a small shrug of apology. This was, after all, the fastest way he could think of to reach the slum and find the Liu family's daughter.
After receiving his belongings back, Kang was taken to the elevator located inside the same government building where his trial had just concluded. Quite convenient, he thought. They must have planned that when designing the city.
The elevator loomed like a steel monolith, its frame vanishing into the haze above and the neon mist below. Thick cables the size of tree trunks stretched upward into the glowing skyline of the upper city, while hydraulic pistons hissed with mechanical breath. Panels of flickering holograms marked each level like a spine of light along its shaft. When the doors opened, a gust of recycled air mixed with the scent of ozone and oil rushed out. The locals called it the Descent, a hundred-meter drop from privilege to punishment, from glittering towers to the rusted chaos of the slums below.
The two officers didn't enjoy the ride either. The descent felt like being swallowed by a giant creature, sinking slowly into the darkness of its stomach. And in a way, that might not have been far from the truth.
Unable to bear the heavy silence any longer, the female officer finally spoke.
"Why did you do that?"
Kang looked at her, searching for the right words.
"Well, they said this is the easiest way to get to the slum. I have some business there—urgent business," he said honestly, feeling a bit guilty for dragging her into this situation.
"What idiot told you that?" Her voice rose sharply.
"That lovely Guide, of course. Speaking of which, is she available in the slum? I'd like to thank her somehow."
The female officer's face reddened with anger. She started muttering about reporting the matter to the Information Department and having all their AIs re-educated.
The male officer replied instead, his tone calm.
"No, there aren't any Guides down there. You won't even be able to access Cyberspace without going through a lot of trouble."
"Sounds troublesome," Kang said carelessly. In truth, he had no idea what Cyberspace even was. Most of his time since waking up had been spent rebuilding his physical condition — including plenty of time "working out" with Rosaline. It was no wonder he hadn't learned much about this world yet. He had planned to do that eventually once he reached the dojo.
With a heavy clang, the elevator shuddered to a stop. The faint hum of machinery faded into a low mechanical sigh, and for a moment, there was only silence and the dim pulse of red emergency lights flickering through the metal grate. Then the doors slid open with a hiss, releasing a wave of hot, humid air laced with rust, smoke, and the faint stench of sewage.
Outside stretched the underbelly of the city, a maze of corroded steel, tangled cables, and neon signs fighting to stay alive through layers of grime. Somewhere in the distance, a generator coughed, and the sound of shouting drifted through the smog.
Kang took a slow breath. He had arrived.
"Well, this is it, your destination," the male officer said, his voice carrying a hint of dry humor that didn't quite hide his unease. The doors finished opening with a metallic groan, revealing the chaotic sprawl beyond.
He gave Kang a faint, almost pitying smile.
"Welcome to the slum."