The Creatures that We Are

“Really?” Gao Yang felt like laughing. “What’s your dream?”

“Do I even have to spell it out?” Wu Dahai’s excitement bubbled over. “My dream is to become the richest man in Moon City! And you, my friend, are going to become my savings!”

“Richest man?” Gao Yang thought back. “The richest man may not be happy.”

“Impossible!” Wu Dahai’s fixation showed. “Nothing's beyond buying in Moon City. If it is, you just haven't paid enough! Just wait. I'll build the tallest building, get the hottest and most difficult girl, drink the most expensive alcohol, and use the best S Chip!”

“Then what are you waiting for? Just do it.” Gao Yang closed his eyes, suddenly weary.

“Whoa, you really aren’t afraid of dying, are you?” Wu Dahai felt a sudden admiration for him.

“It’s how Jupiter Maddogs operate,” Gao Yang said faintly.

“Hahaha.” Wu Dahai was amused. “Then I won’t use anesthesia on you. If I can save one credit, that’s one more in my account.”

“Be my guest.”

Hum. The shadowless light turned up to the maximum brightness, making Gao Yang close his eyes involuntarily. Mechanical tweezers pried them open as automatic locks secured his head and neck, preventing movement.

Clack, clack, clack—

The cybernetic arm descended inch by inch, manipulating a coldly gleaming scalpel.

“Start with the eyeballs,” Wu Dahai narrated. “Eyeballs are easy to extract. The bleeding will be minimal, and the wounds, too. The whole process should take half an hour. Tell me if you can’t take it any longer. I have to try my best to keep you alive till the end…”

The scalpel touched the muscles around Gao Yang's eye.

Hiss. A piercing noise cut through the air, followed by an intangible pressure that filled the room. The cybernetic arm froze. Wu Dahai's confusion quickly transformed into terror.

He yanked off his mask and clutched the S Chip port on his neck, finding no relief. He shouted at the darkness around them, “Who is it? Please have mercy on the little me… You may take anything you want from here.”

“Including your life?” A woman's voice cut through the darkness, cold and cynical.

“You can easily take my life, ma’am, but if you spare me, I’ll generate much more value for you…”

The woman snorted. “By cutting up Jupiter Travelers?”

“Those I pick up are all dying anyway. I only give them a quick end so that they will suffer less.”

“Vermin getting proud of themselves after feeding on food remains?”

Wu Dahai dropped to his knees. “Please spare me, ma’am. I, I swear that I’ll wash my hands. I’ll never do this again!”

“I won’t kill you. That’ll only dirty my hands.”

“Thank you, thank you, ma’am!” Wu Dahai hurriedly kowtowed.

“I’ll give you three seconds to get out of my sight.”

“Yes, yes!”

Wu Dahai got up and bolted without looking back.

The basement fell quiet. The dim light around the surgical bed brightened as the restraints released Gao Yang.

Still lightheaded, he remained on the bed, lazily letting blood trickle from the corner of his eye.

Footsteps approached from the shadows. Gao Yang shifted his gaze to study his rescuer—first the black short boots, then the slim, well-shaped calves. Finally, she stepped fully into the light.

She appeared to be around twenty-five, beautiful with brown curls and light, airy fringe. Her right eye shone bright and cunning, while her left—clearly prosthetic—remained black and lifeless. Her pale face held delicate features, with both eye and mouth corners tilted slightly downward in perpetual cynicism.

A long white coat covered her cropped top and shorts. A red centipede tattoo crawled from her left ankle up her thigh, along her fair waist, across fine collarbones and neck, ending beneath her left ear.

She approached the bed and gave a slight nod.

Gao Yang’s eyes brimmed with tears. He gave her a tired but genuine smile. “It’s been a long time, Xia Li.”

“We don’t know each other that well. Call me Vermilion Bird.” She smiled faintly at him. She didn’t seem surprised that the young man would know her. As Lightning Mouse had said, it must be the man’s superpower. There was never a shortage of geniuses, madmen, prophets, and false mediums among Jupiter Travelers.

There was a short moment of silence.

Vermilion Bird turned gracefully and perched on the surgical bed. From her coat's large pocket, she retrieved a pack of cigarettes, shaking one loose. She lit it with a swipe against the red tattoo on her waist.

Taking a slow drag, she tipped her head back to exhale a perfect ring.

“Smoking is bad for your lungs,” Gao Yang said.

Vermilion Bird raised an eyebrow. “Thanks for the concern. I get my artificial lungs cleaned every month.”

“It’s still bad for your health.” Gao Yang sounded like a stubborn old lady. “Smoking is bad. You should quit it…”

“Shut up. I don’t need a brat like you to nag at me.” Irritated, she shoved the cigarette between his lips. Leaning in, she slid her fingers through his hair, thoroughly examining the back of his head and neck.

She straightened, reclaimed her cigarette, and took another drag.

“No wonder you’re not scared of me. You haven’t gotten an S Chip.”

“You can hack one’s brain through the S Chip to kill them,” Gao Yang guessed.

“More or less.” Vermilion Bird chuckled. “Consider the human brain a computer. The S Chip is the access port, and I, the hacker. I can’t hack everyone, though, certainly not those without an S Chip. The ones with high-grade firewalls would be difficult, too. Then it’ll be a battle of skills. But I rarely lose. I have a buff in this.”

“So you’re a Jupiter Traveler, too.”

“It’s easy to talk to a bright one.” Vermilion Bird patted Gao Yang’s face teasingly. “Then guess. Why did I seek you out?”

Houseau3's Thoughts

Ah, yes. We're gonna meet those we've lost one after another, aren't we? (I know we haven't actually lost Vermilion Bird)

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