New Moon City, a super metropolis in the game "Dawn," is the main stage for the game's storyline.
New Moon City is one of the "Five Mega-Cities" in the World Government Territory, with a population exceeding 32 million, advanced technology, and a prosperous multicultural society, yet it harbors countless intricate powers.
Hegemony Company, Iron Blood Alliance, Black Domain Group—the three giant corporations all have branches in New Moon City.
And of course, there are various corporations, large enterprises, ancient families, street gangs… they collectively make up this glamorous yet perilous city.
At this moment, Su Mo is in the "Border District" of New Moon City.
The Border District is the most chaotic area in all of New Moon City, where countless gangs have taken root, ruling their territories with an iron fist.
Numerous heinous crimes unfold here daily, with murders and violence incidents happening frequently. The monthly death toll from street shootings here surpasses the total from several years in the other districts of New Moon City, with crime rates skyrocketing ahead of all human cities.
The New Moon City authorities have not neglected efforts to govern the Border District, but the gentlemen of the "City Council" found that deploying security forces there to clash with thugs in a bloodbath was less effective than abandoning it as a lost cause.
Moreover, for the major corporations, they also require such a chaotic place to exist to pursue greater interests beyond the law.
Thus, with the assistance of various major powers, in Dawn 102nd Year, which is 50 years ago in the current timeline, the New Moon City Council signed the influential "Border Isolation Act."
After the act was enacted, the authorities of New Moon City withdrew all security forces deployed in the Border District and erected high walls to separate it from the "Inner City" district, allowing the chaos to continue.
From then on, the Border District became a stage for the thugs.
Although it is still nominally a district of New Moon City, the true rulers are those large gangs, controlling all matters big and small here.
The Border District is a place where only knives and bullets speak, survival of the fittest, and the weak are eliminated. Human life is no different from a dog's life.
However, this chaos did not make Su Mo uncomfortable; instead, it gave him a sense of returning home.
After all, he achieved the "King of the Borderlands" ending in his first playthrough.
At this moment, the first thing Su Mo needs to do is get someone to arrange a new identity for him.
He navigated the streets based on memory, arriving at his destination by evening.
The nights in the Border District are even more agitated than the daytime, with drunkards everywhere and colorful-hair hooligans all over.
Some are leaning over railings to vomit, disregarding hygiene and urinating freely.
Others are drunk and squabbling, drawing guns to shoot when words fail.
Pedestrians skillfully hide behind cover to jeer and watch, refusing to leave until someone is dead.
Su Mo turned into a narrow alley, where cigarette smoke and inferior perfume lingered. Pink neon lights shone on the storefronts, and rows of scantily dressed girls teased him flirtatiously.
"Hey handsome, want to play something exciting with sister?"
"You're new here. How about an 20% discount?"
"Black stockings or white stockings? I've got them all at home~"
Su Mo ignored them.
He is a man of integrity.
Messing around with these girls is sure to catch something nasty.
Su Mo turned down the alley, stopping in front of a low building covered in climbing ivy.
This is it, he thought.
On the steps at the entrance sat a bald strongman wearing a tight vest.
His physique was extremely exaggerated, nearly 3 meters tall, his arms thicker than an adult man's waist; obviously a "Prosthetic Implanter."
Despite his flesh and blood appearance, underneath the skin lie various implanted "prosthetics," impervious to bullets.
Su Mo approached the bald strongman, saying, "I'm looking for Haywood."
The bald strongman smoked a cigarette, giving a cold sidelong glance at the uninvited guest ahead.
Perhaps Su Mo's face was too unfamiliar, the bald strongman ignored him, spat on the ground with a "tui," and continued smoking.
Su Mo knew well that in the Border District, politeness and courtesy are useless.
Only fists speak the truth.
Su Mo activated Mad Corpse Blood Code, wrapping his fist in Rigid Bone.
"Boom!" He punched the wall, leaving a large hole.
Seeing a frail young man possess a Blood Code, the bald strongman furrowed his brow, his gaze growing colder.
He stood, using his height advantage to overlook Su Mo, his prosthetic eyes arcing with electricity, muscles swelling several times over, obviously entering combat mode.
Su Mo did not flinch from locking eyes with the bald strongman; though he lost in height, his aura was not overshadowed. He said coolly, "Big fool, can you bear the responsibility of delaying Haywood from earning?"
Before long after Su Mo's words, a hoarse voice came through the intercom by the door: "Tank, bring him in."
The bald strongman called "Tank" snorted coldly, motioning Su Mo to follow.
Su Mo followed Tank through the front door, entering the courtyard where many strongmen like Tank were drinking.
Judging by their aura, these were all bloodthirsty rogues, they sized Su Mo up with discerning eyes, neither hostile nor friendly.
Su Mo did not pay attention to them, directly walking into the main building.
The inside was dimly lit, a peculiar incense burning in the corner, an old man in shades sat with legs crossed on a wooden chair, while two young and beautiful girls massaged his shoulders and legs.
This man was "Haywood."
Don't be fooled by his silly shades; he's actually a well-connected local kingpin at the Border District with a respectable reputation among many gangs.
Because Haywood knows some government officials and has significant connections in New Moon City, he can handle many things ordinary people find difficult.
According to Su Mo's game experience, Haywood is trustworthy; he always delivers for money, refunds if unsuccessful, never resorts to shady actions whereby customers lose both money and goods.
Haywood glanced at Su Mo and spoke calmly, "Not from New Moon City, are you?"
Su Mo countered, "Oh? How did you figure that?"
Haywood: "I know everyone here who uses Mad Corpse Blood Code; never seen you before. Are you a corporate dog?"
Su Mo: "You're talking too much."
His calm demeanor made Haywood narrow his eyes; this youth seems to have a lot of dealings with the underground powers.
Su Mo wasted no more words, directly stating his intentions: "Fifteen thousand; get me a New Moon City citizenship, the kind registered with the Public Security Bureau."
Haywood grinned: "Young man, fifteen thousand to get you an identity? You're dreaming, aren't you?"
Su Mo frowned: "Isn't this always the price?"
Haywood chuckled lightly: "Oh, seems you did some digging. To be blunt, fifteen thousand might work, but that's a friendly price for regular clients."
"You're a new face; who knows what you'll do with the identity? What if the Public Security Bureau troubles me? Fifteen thousand won't cover those losses."
Su Mo: "So you mean extra money, right?"
Haywood did not beat around the bush, directly extending his palm: "Fifty thousand moon currency, not a penny less."