Cthulhu America, I can see the kill line.

Kong Jiu could hardly remember what the professor had taught in class during the day.

All he remembered was Neos's earnest advice in the lecture hall not to go to the lower city.

After the course ended, Professor Ofawi also privately called Kongjiu aside.

"You live in the same apartment building as that kid Impa, so you must have heard that something bad is about to happen in the lower city."

Ofawi's tone lost its usual amiability and became unusually serious.

"International students are not allowed to carry guns. In the downtown area, a neatly dressed young man with yellow skin like you will be recognized at a glance, and your personal safety is not guaranteed at all."

"I'll talk to the clinic and the school and tell them to use the materials sparingly. You can do whatever you want during this time; treat it as a vacation and you don't need to keep going down to the city center."

Faced with the professor's kind offer, Kong Jiu naturally nodded in agreement.

At night, Kong Jiu was alone in his bedroom, staring at a small pebble in his hand, looking somewhat dazed.

After he said, "I will go to the disaster relief," Neos stopped trying to persuade him and simply took out the pebble.

"I know someone who's just like you, with a terrible temper and a stubborn streak, like a rock. Maybe this thing... will be of some use to you."

Neos handed over the pebble and sighed softly.

"Good luck, Easterner from another world. Our destinies will intersect again at the top of the world in the distant future, provided you live to see it."

Kong Jiu examined the pebble carefully, but couldn't see anything special about it.

Neos said that this pebble also had another name: "Awake".

"'Sober'? Ha... Is he advising me not to be so kind and to live a more sensible life?"

Kong Jiu weighed the pebble in his hand, a self-deprecating smile playing on his lips.

He also felt that he had been meddling in other people's business.

Even if there's a riot in Chinatown, if you go to provide relief, you can still be considered somewhat involved.

But why should I, an international student who has absolutely no connection to the gang wars in the downtown area, get involved in saving people?

"Does saving someone really need a reason?"

Looking at "Clarity", Kong Jiu gave a bitter smile.

dong dong dong...

Just then, a knocking sound came from outside the apartment door.

Did Impa forget her keys?

No, Impa was chatting happily with that hot Mexican girl during the day, so he probably won't be back tonight.

Kong Jiu casually stuffed the pebbles into his pocket, got up and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, old Chad stood outside carrying a few cans of beer, a familiar, slightly tired smile on his face.

"Want some drinks?"

Kong Jiu smiled slightly and turned to beckon old Chad into the house.

An old man and a young man ate cured meat and peanuts, reminiscing about their past while drinking. As they talked, bottle after bottle of frothy, wheat-colored liquid was emptied.

"Hey, if I told you that the Amerigo Vespucci of the past wasn't like this now, would you believe me?"

Old Chad's neck was already red, and his eyes were unfocused, clearly indicating that he was somewhat drunk.

"You've said that so many times, old Chad. Before the Iron Curtain was reinforced, Amerigo Vespucci was a beacon of humanity, going to Central Asia and Africa to save refugees from dire straits... I've heard your military stories so many times I'm sick of them." Kong Jiu smiled faintly and casually agreed.

"Yes! Yes! To save the refugees from their suffering!"

Old Chad was so excited he danced around.

"Oh, Amerigo, the beacon of humanity, burning with freedom and dreams! The direction my heart leads..."

He hummed a tuneless little tune, as if he had returned to the glorious days of his youth.

As he sang, his voice gradually lowered, and his tone became listless.

"How...did it turn out like this...?"

The smile on Kong Jiu's face slowly faded.

Old Chad took another big gulp of wine, but his eyes were unusually clearer.

"Perhaps they were right... Amerigo abandoned us veterans. We have reason and right to repay this land in our own way."

Kong Jiu nodded silently.

Old Chad had confided in him many times about his past: when he was young, he joined the army full of enthusiasm and shouted slogans to maintain world peace.

They undergo modification surgery to gain superhuman physiques, but have to pay for maintenance out of their own pockets after retirement.

Medical expenses for war injuries and illnesses are not reimbursed at all, and the exorbitant bills are suffocating.

Burdened by debt, countless veterans were forced to abandon their ideals of "Free Amerigo" and, dragging their wounded bodies, become war gangs that ravaged the lower city.

Only old Chad, clinging to his responsibility to his family and his almost obsessive ideal of "freedom," works as a small security captain in Midtown, living like a wounded beast separated from its pack.

Old Chad is very strong. The system detection shows that his strength and agility are both as high as 8 points, and he even has 1 point of intelligence.

Overall rating: Level 17, War Machine.

But he never revealed his true strength. If it weren't for the system's detection, Kong Jiu would never have imagined that this burly but already aged man possessed such terrifying skills.

"Hey, I have a few old buddies who run a veterans' gang in the downtown area. You've probably heard of them..."

Old Chad put down his bottle, his drunkenness seemingly fading a little, and his tone became serious.

"They told me that the lower city is going to crack down on a cult soon. Those higher-ups, in order to boost the veterans' 'functions,' have even somehow managed to get some military-grade enhancement agents—real enhancement agents!"

As he said this, a burning fire ignited in his eyes.

"That's not one of those 'high-energy' stuff sold on the street; it's a real, potent product that genuinely improves your health and has no side effects!"

"The downtown area is really going to change, Jiu Jiu, you absolutely mustn't go there lately!"

really.

Kong Jiu smiled gently.

He had already guessed that old Chad was coming tonight to talk about this.

Rumors of impending unrest in the lower city had reached the ears of everyone with even a little bit of influence.

Roommate, mentor, close friend despite age difference, and then there's that enigmatic psychic woman...

Everyone advised him to stay away from that place of trouble.

Maybe I really should "wake up"?

But for some inexplicable reason, Kong Jiu still shook his head.

"Old Chad, you know what kind of person I am."

Old Richard certainly knew about Conjur's distribution of relief in the Lower City.

He also knew Kong Jiu's character well.

The person who made him willing to have his grandson acknowledge him as his godfather.

Old Chad remained silent for a moment, offering no further advice, but instead tilted his head back and took another swig of wine.

The expected dissuasion did not come, and Kong Jiu picked up the wine bottle and silently took a sip.

The two remained silent, taking one bite after another, until there was hardly any food or wine left on the table.

Old Chad let out a long breath, as if he was preparing something.

"Go ahead and try to persuade me, don't hold it in. I won't listen anyway."

Kong Jiu forced a smile and spoke first.

Old Chad scratched his head, his face and neck flushed red like an embarrassed gorilla.

His hand reached to his waist and pulled out something that Kong Jiu never expected.

The object gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster, its black sleeve covered with fine lines, and the base was carved with a fierce bald eagle pattern.

It was a gun, a handgun of extremely fine craftsmanship.

Old Chad gently placed it on the table and pushed it toward Kongjiu.

"Beretta, 15 rounds per magazine, one pre-loaded, use it sparingly. If you run into those veterans, show them the engravings on the handle, they probably won't bother you."

Kong Jiu did not refuse and silently accepted it.

"Save others, but save yourself too. Good luck, Jiu Jiu."

This was the last thing old Chad said tonight.