"I'll have Parui take care of the job, but why are you so concerned with helping me?"
Putato suspected this guy was just seeing him become a Stray DogsExecutive and had finally decided to bond, trying to keep the spy from slipping away.
Yun merely turned his back, gazing at the ashtray on the table.
After a moment of thought, he finally spoke.
"Don't misunderstand. It's because you're very capable, and you've perfectly demonstrated it. Your path in The City will absolutely not end here."
"I want to get acquainted with a high-tier Fixer. Even if I spend a lot of money, they might not necessarily bother with me. At least you'll remember our old friendship, so my investment won't be in vain."
"Moreover, I haven't had a chance to thank you for the Axe Gang incident. Consider this a regular part of Yun's Office's dealings."
"This new Identity requires you to bandage the lower half of your face. That way, even if Gyeong-mi has suspicions, as long as you're not caught on the spot, there's no way to confirm it."
"His name is Vanda. He likes to cover the burns on his face with breathable bandages. He is a quiet, reclusive person with no relatives or friends."
As Yun spoke, he handed over a bundle of white bandages.
Flipping through the bandages in his hand, Putato finally nodded, pulling out the treatment report.
With this new Identity, even if Yun wanted to tip off Gyeong-mi, it would be much more troublesome. After all, what did FixerVanda have to do with Putato?
"How quickly can that promotion happen? And if I want to buy Green Journey intelligence, is it better to go to an independent Office or the Association?"
"Why are you suddenly interested in that? K Corporation announced a few days ago with the Association that they're recalling all Green Journey assets. Going against a Wing of the World like that will cost extra money."
"And not a small amount."
This news wasn't outside Putato's expectations. Involving a large Corporation was always this troublesome, but he didn't have that much cash now.
He couldn't just turn around and sell the building Gyeong-mi gave him; that guy would definitely be furious.
"However, there are also opportunistic methods."
Yun spoke cryptically, reaching out to dismiss Finn, who was peeking in at the door. Before leaving, Finn winked at Putato in greeting.
Putato, still thinking about how to make money, immediately brightened up. Dealing with the Association still required a professional Fixer like Yun.
"A Grade 8 Fixer is actually already overqualified to confirm related assignments. Although your colleagues might be displeased, you can investigate the Green Journey laboratories left behind yourself."
"These kinds of commissions issued by the Wings of the World are very dangerous. Who knows what monsters will be in the laboratories? But at least you can obtain direct information."
"If you're not confident, don't just take any mission. Otherwise, the Association will consider you unreliable during the year-end assessment."
He hadn't expected to eventually return to work. This was familiar territory for Putato.
It was just that the setting had shifted from a Syndicate to the Association.
He then returned to the factory, taking out the head of the two-axe Executive he had killed. Parui, who had changed into new clothes, pretended not to see anything.
"The low-grade Fixer examination isn't that strict. Vanda already has the qualifications; he just lacks a meritorious deed that can convince the Association."
"However, getting this new Fixer license requires you to go personally. But don't worry, you just need to bring the proof from Yun's Office and the old license."
"After all, there are too many modification technologies in The City. Distinguishing people solely by appearance is very troublesome."
"You can do all these things yourself later."
Putato was surprised, not expecting the other party to be so thoughtful.
It seemed the Fixer system was more suitable for a working person. As long as he relentlessly completed missions, he could steadily climb the ranks, with clear and distinct 10 grades to advance through.
...
A bustling commercial district.
At the entrance of the street stood two Association buildings, maintaining public order, letting everyone know this area was paid for.
The luxurious and decadent neon lights made people unconsciously indulge in them, as if the surrounding hustle and bustle could fill the inner void.
Putato felt surrounded by noisy crowds. Only when he entered the Association building in the center of the plaza did it become much quieter.
Fixers carrying various Workshop weapons moved back and forth in the waiting area and at the reception window, completely lacking the peculiar impetuousness and crudeness of The Backstreets.
After all, those AssociationFixers wearing black and white striped uniforms were scattered everywhere. Even if they did nothing, one could feel the dangerous aura about them.
"Vanda, 26 years old, Grade 9 Fixer, correct?"
"Yes."
To differentiate himself further, Putato had deliberately borrowed a leather jacket and leather trousers from a mental patient. Now, the lower half of his face, wrapped in white bandages, appeared somewhat grim.
The customer service staff impassively handed the document pouch from beneath the bulletproof glass window. Putato could tell she was very tired from a day's work.
[Congratulations on your promotion within Yun's Office]
[Acquired Work Item: Blood Sword]
[Description: When the killing intent leaves its sheath, there will be one wounded.]
[Effect: This sword can absorb blood to repair its blade.]
What kind of great sword to chop off heads?
Putato reached back and touched the heavy object, finding it cold as blood to the touch. He could feel an invisible suction force when his finger touched it.
This thing, with its blood-sucking capability, seemed to be a passive skill. A single stab into someone's body could literally drain them dry. It felt like a Bloodfiend's perspective.
Thump, thump.
The customer service staff impatiently tapped the glass, gesturing for Putato to move along. Putato finally reacted, picking up his brand new Grade 8 Fixer license.
On it was Putato's current photograph, showing him as a bandaged man. The slightly oversized leather jacket further obscured the details of his figure.
"Not bad."
Putato excitedly walked into the mission hall. Here, many small tables with electronic screens were set up, where numerous Fixers were browsing commissions from the Association.
Compared to commissions received directly by Offices, Association missions were clearly more difficult, but the rewards were naturally richer.
The latest commissions mostly concerned Void Fist and The Thumb. Putato, of course, headed straight for the series of commissions issued by K Corporation.
"Myn Church, a new religious cult that emerged in the last six months, is suspected of acquiring Green Journey's legacy. Its grand cathedral stands on the ruins of Green Journey."
"Currently conducting missionary activities in the southern part of The City. Suggests further investigation starting from their missionary points."
"The commission requires a clear investigation into the relationship between Myn Church and Green Journey, then retrieval of all legacies."
He hadn't expected to find direct clues for the matter that had been baffling him. Having a large organization as a backing was truly too easy. Just by looking at these commissions, he could grasp the general movements of The City.
Putato pondered how to enter an Association-affiliated Office.
Unlike Syndicates, where moving to another territory was tantamount to betrayal, a Fixer changing Offices was merely normal business behavior. Changing jobs frequently would, at most, make people think one was flighty.
Putato accepted the commission under Yun's Office's name without hesitation. However, this wasn't a solo or team commission; it was settled solely by the fastest to complete the objective.
At this moment, other Fixers were probably already in action. He absolutely had to set off immediately. However, he could first go to the Syndicate to inquire about Myn Church.
After all, the mission target looked like a Cult. Perhaps Stray Dogs knew more than the Association.
Suddenly, Putato stood up, walked to a corner, and pulled out his communicator.
[Katae: Hurry, hurry! I've heated up the soup. I heard you were fighting in the Syndicate yesterday. I think you must have made yourself even more delicious.]
This tone... it was Yixin!
[Putato: What did you do to Katae?!]
Putato immediately closed the screen and rushed back. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the Molar Office, which Finn had rented before. Its representative, Olga, took a sip from a small bottle of wine.
Perhaps the Myn Church incident could be a collaborative opportunity with them. After all, it was certified by an Association, but it had already caused Urban Nightmare-level casualties, approaching Star of the City.
This Cult had created countless tragedies just by performing awakening rituals, not to mention those critically ill fanatics.
Fortunately, the mission target's high rating was due to its numerous members, not its formidable combat power.
[Katae: She said she's your doctor. It's hard to believe such an ordinary guy could become your nutritionist. Fire her.]
[Putato: No one understands Life's Menu better than me. She's also an important secondary ingredient in it! I'm coming back right away.]
Without time to communicate with Molar Office, Putato ran out of the Association building with a burning heart, hailing an expensive taxi that stopped instantly.
The driver stopped, thinking that after passing two Association security checkpoints, he should temporarily raise the fare because the road ahead was more dangerous.
"How many times can your life be broken? Keep driving!"
"No money, no driving."
The driver slammed the brakes, looking at Putato behind the metal railing through the rearview mirror. He clearly had him cornered.
Dropping his communicator onto the seat beside him, Putato forcibly bent the hollow iron pipe with his bare hands, once again making the driver move.
"Dilly-dally any longer and I'll blast your eyes out!"
The taxi abruptly braked outside the building, its extreme speed even leaving tire marks on the ground.
Putato annoyedly threw the money onto the seat and quickly left.
Bang!
The heavy iron door was kicked open.
"Where is everyone?!"
Putato was afraid that the technical talent he had painstakingly found would turn into soup. He turned around and saw Yixin grasping Katae's face, squeezing out saliva. The clear glass bowl was filled with glistening, viscous liquid.
Could the perverts from Backstreet 23 just roll away?!
Looking at the transparent broth on the table, emitting a strong meaty aroma, Putato's stomach churned. He had no interest in asking about the ingredients or the refining method.
"Dessert, you're finally back."
Yixin hastily released Katae, whose face was flushed red, and full of vigor, leaped in front of Putato.
Her light blue hair gave her the aura of a girl next door. Her excessively pale skin, however, made Putato suspect she was an old fox pretending to be innocent.
After all, the Color FixerBlue Reverberation in the game, and even Grade 1 FixerRoland, were in their thirties. It was hard to imagine one of the Eight Chefs being young.
Without the butcher's apron to conceal her, her curvaceous body seemed even more elastic with collagen.
"Katae, are you alright?"
Putato tried to push away the pouncing Yixin, but her strong, powerful arms directly pushed him against the wall, jarring his chest with pain.
This was not a harmonious scene between a loving couple. If Yixin wanted to eat him now, she could instantly turn into Putato's deadly killer.
"I'm fine, Brother."
Wiping saliva from her lips, Katae huddled in the corner, fearful, his pale fingers on the Electric Baton, not daring to pull it out.
"Ah, I see. Are siblings also a set of ingredients?"
"You're indeed even more fragrant, and this kind of meat is truly exquisite. Not a single tattoo or Prosthetic."
Yixin, like a rabbit, bit and gnawed at Putato's right shoulder. Skin was torn by her sharp teeth, and her barbed tongue licked large areas until they were raw and bloody.
Faced with such minor injuries, Putato could still endure.
After all, seeing her famished expression, if he didn't give her some sweet treats, she probably wouldn't leave.
"Enough! You've eaten enough! What the hell am I supposed to cook?!"
Noticing the licking pain on his arms and below his ribs, Putato suddenly activated his Hematic Pump and forcefully pushed Yixin away.
Putato looked down. Besides his right shoulder, there were five or six more large, raw wounds from being licked. He immediately became vigilant.
Where did all those tongues come from?!
"Sorry, I didn't mean to. No one can resist your culinary art."
"To adjust the meat quality and original flavor to this extent in just a few days, you are the true Chef!"
Tears welling up in her eyes, Yixin wanted to embrace him again. This time, Putato couldn't indulge her. If she licked him for another while, she might just lick him to death.
Putato hastily injected himself in the chest with the pneumatic syringe. Only then did he feel much healthier.
This dignified member of the Eight Chefs was now clutching his leg, pleading for another taste. Putato confirmed that this guy truly had high expectations for the completion of Life's Menu.
"Can you stop bothering my cooking! If others see you here, will they still treat me as a normal person?!"
"How am I supposed to continue with Life's Menu now? Get out of my kitchen!"
Indeed, it took courage to yell at a Star of the City; after all, the other party was a super cannibal who killed without batting an eye!
However, Putato found this attitude seemed to be quite effective. Yixin immediately showed a regretful and self-reproachful expression.
"Please, if that day comes, you must invite me."
"I will definitely keep your great cooking a secret, but can I occasionally taste it?"
Keep it a secret from the other Chefs, but secretly eat it yourself? What kind of stealthy eating is that?
A conversation suddenly erupted outside the room. Putato immediately knew the three iron-men were back and frowned.
"We'll talk next time. You should leave."
"Remember to drink that soup. I went through a lot to make it."
Yixin sadly walked to the window, then leaned back against the windowsill and disappeared.
"Woo-hoo, Putato, look, I brought back your share."
"Couldn't you have brought us some too?"
Putato walked to the window to check, seeing no trace of her departure, only a snake tail briefly disappearing into the corner.
Close call, close call. Finally dealt with.
"Hey, we've been working so hard outside, what are you doing in here!"
Mo looked displeased at the disheveled Katae. After the other person weakly sat down, she approached suspiciously to examine him.
Putato didn't want these three idiots to know about Yixin. Otherwise, they would surely leak it to that Bloodfiend.
Although he had become friends with Elena, who knew what a Bloodfiend's mind was like? Perhaps Elena's method of staying with people forever was to eat them.
"Katae, keep today's matter a secret."
"Putato, you bastard! You actually like men! I really misjudged you!"
Mo's circular icon on her head continuously flashed. She looked at Putato with a mix of shock and fear. She then lifted the body bag in her hand and threw it at him.
The two iron-men behind her, however, were carrying body bags, watching with keen interest.
The communicator rang.
"Wait, I'll take this call."
"Bastards! Are you still drinking soup? Do you want to have a candlelight dinner at night too?!"
Putato immediately pulled out his communicator. Gyeong-mi's suppressed angry voice exploded in his ear.
"Assemble, right now!"
"What's wrong, Boss Gyeong-mi?"
"The Southern Thumb issued a notice to us."
"Is it a reward for us destroying Axe Gang?"
"Haha, it's a sweep warning, you idiots."
Damn it!
Is there something wrong with The Thumb's head? They accomplished something beyond expectations, and they still want to sweep?
This sweep wasn't a gentle tallying of crimes. It was sending people to directly annihilate the entire Syndicate, leaving no one behind!