Su Lun had arrived in Old Lington just today, uncertain of the exact concept of the "inner city."
He had thought it would be like the isolated rich districts of his past life, but it seemed the class disparities in this world were even greater.
Watching Captain Kai approach, he greeted him with due courtesy, "Captain."
"Hmm."
Kai nodded, then let out a soft sigh.
On the stage, "Red Demon" Goron gradually returned to human form, and only then did the overwhelming presence that made it difficult for everyone to breathe slowly dissipate.
Kai seemed deeply affected by the battle that had just transpired, staring at the burly Goron, he said again, "Those guys in the inner city have access to the best resources, cursed materials, a complete professional advancement system, endless alchemy knowledge... The professionals that grow up with those sorts of conditions are not something we from the outer city, who have to find our own way, can compare with. The old boss Smoke Ghost once told me, never underestimate those who have lived in the inner city from a young age. If you get the chance to really go see the inner city, your outlook would be completely different..."
"..."
Su Lun listened as if the words were directed at him, yet it felt as though Kai was speaking to himself.
Even though they hadn't known each other for long, Su Lun could tell that this new gang lieutenant seemed to have aspirations and ideals.
Unlike the vast majority of gang members who indulged in the pleasures of life, Kai seemed more interested in transcendental alchemy.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have become an official professional at such a young age.
It was known that while the "salary" of the gang was considerable, advancing to a professional was the real money pit. Not to mention that the materials for initiation could cost tens of thousands, or even a hundred thousand risso, the post-initiation alchemy amplification equipment was also not cheap.
The higher the level of the materials, the more expensive they were. To become stronger, it was not enough to just work hard, you had to spend money too.
In the gang, relying solely on salary, it would probably take many years of frugal living to possibly become a professional.
This would lead most gang members, who wanted to live a life of drunken revelry every day, to dismiss such a notion. After all, didn't they join the gang for the immediate pleasures of fine wine and women?
Su Lun had heard from the old-timers chatting before that when Kai was a regular gang member, he had voluntarily participated in many dangerous operations and hunting expeditions, and that was how he got to where he was today.
...
Kai looked at the stage once more, his face showing a hidden longing that soon faded, and then he spoke with an envious tone, "[B-002-Red Demon]... ha, truly an enviable talent. Those rich people in the inner city sure are willful, bringing such a great fighter to the gladiator arena."
Immense strength, high recovery, high resilience, petrified skin, bone hardening...
In summary, able to fight, able to withstand, and capable of self-healing...
That was why [B-002-Red Demon] was hailed as one of the strongest melee talents.
"Hmm, he is indeed very strong..."
Su Lun listened and slightly arched an eyebrow, noncommittally.
But then again, would such a cold and powerful bodyguard really be expelled over an affair?
Su Lun didn't dwell on it too much, knowing that for a very long time to come, he wouldn't have any dealings with the people of the inner city.
He guessed that the original owner of his body was very likely to be the offspring of some major family in the inner city, and it would be best for him to stay quietly "invisible" until he had investigated clearly.
The lower the profile, the longer one survives.
Kai didn't linger at the stage any longer and casually asked Su Lun, "How was your luck today?"
Su Lun shrugged and said, "Not bad, won two or three thousand."
"A little gambling is pleasant."
Though quite young himself, Kai adopted an overly serious tone and added, "If you want to become a professional, there will be many places where money will be needed in the future. Knowledge, materials, enhancements... they all cost a lot."
This was what his former captain, "Smoke Ghost," had told him.
"Got it, Captain."
Su Lun could see that Kai didn't seem quite comfortable with this "preaching tone," but probably due to his role as the new captain, he tried to adapt to it as best as he could.
With the competition over and nothing else to watch, Kai left, saying, "I'm off, remember to meet up on time tomorrow."
Su Lun waved and replied, "Okay, Captain."
....
The fighting contest was over, and the excitement of the "Crimson Fortress" was gradually drawing to a close.
The gamblers began to disperse, those who won were happy to go cash in their tickets, while those who lost cursed and planned to come back the next day.
The hall was a mess, the floor littered with shredded, discarded betting slips.
Su Lun was in no rush to leave because he still had to wait.
Even if they were battered, the bodies of professionals contained cursed materials, and even second-order professional materials were quite valuable.
On the stage, the staff began to collect the body of "Shadow Scorpion" Abel Turner.
Su Lun glanced at the "gray mist" above the corpse, praying that those guys would hurry up. The longer it took, the more scattered the memory fragments would become.
Perhaps the prayer had an effect, as those clearing the bodies began collecting the valuable cursed materials without showing much interest in the corpses themselves. They tidily gathered the severed limbs and body parts onto a piece of burlap and dragged it over.
As they passed by Su Lun, the "gray mist" was, as he had hoped, absorbed by him.
'Obtained 4 memory fragments from "Abel Turner"'
'You've gained some information: "Hmph, those fools from the 'Umbrella Organization' really think my treasure is hidden in just a few spots... Pity, if I had the "Sealed Object" with me from the Moonlight Inn, I wouldn't have been caught..."'
'You have acquired some "Advanced Alchemy Knowledge"'
'You have comprehended the firearm secret technique [Gunfighting Skills], firearms experience +19'
'Assassin series combat experience +26'
'Spiritual power +0.3'
As an onslaught of information poured into his mind, Su Lun felt as if digesting the soul shard of a second-order professional was like having a nightmare.
Once he had sorted out what he had obtained, his eyes lit up.
"As expected of a second-order professional, this haul is substantial..."
Su Lun murmured to himself, organizing the gains from Abel's memories.
Firstly, the guy had given him ten times the combat experience of a regular corpse, befitting a second-order professional.
This allowed Su Lun to understand assassin-series professional skills to a certain extent; tricky, ruthless, venomous... His mind filled with many malicious assassin killing techniques.
Moreover, this time he had extracted a complete skill!
"Secret Gun Technique [Gunfighting Skills]? So bullets in this world really can bend..."
As Su Lun examined the skill, he seemed incredulous.
In the memory, Abel raised his hand and flicked his gun, and the bullet followed a curved trajectory, turning to strike an enemy hiding behind cover.
Bullets bending their path, that's a divine technique indeed!
Just a second ago, Su Lun believed he was a man of science.
According to the law of inertia, force is the cause that changes the state of motion. Once a bullet is fired, regardless of its initial speed, it's only subject to gravity and air resistance, which means its trajectory should be a downward straight line.
Bending midway?
Where would such force come from?
Once he had completely digested the [Gunfighting Skills], he suddenly understood that this secret gun technique required extremely high firearm skills to support it.
Not just that, it also required a sturdy firearm capable of withstanding the initial trajectory deviation and mastery of Wind Alchemy to provide the "force" for the bullet to bend.
Moreover, he had only just comprehended the technique of this skill.
But to use it proficiently as in the memory fragments, hitting an enemy hidden behind cover with a single precise shot, there was a long way to go.
It required a complex analysis of ballistic data and understanding of shooting.
"No wonder my gunfighting skills are only 'Beginner Mastery'; turns out there's so much more to advanced firearm techniques..."
Su Lun had an epiphany.
On his attributes panel now, his Beginner Mastery experience had reached 239/300, but he felt that even if it increased to "Intermediate," he was still far from perfectly mastering [Gunfighting Skills].
Perhaps, only when he reached "Advanced Firearm Mastery" could he truly master this secret gun technique.
At this thought, Su Lun's hand instinctively touched the firearm at his waist, feeling a stirring in his heart.
Yet, he had a strange feeling that although he knew the technique, he couldn't draw the gun.
At least, the "flicking" motion required extraordinary strength and skill, actions his current body simply couldn't perform.
"The body is too weak..."
His brow furrowed, Su Lun understood the source of this discomfort.
His mind said: you've learned it.
His hand said: no, you haven't.
Having learned a skill didn't mean it could be used right away—it also required sufficient physical strength and that muscle memory from repetitive practice to use it effortlessly.
With this realization, a self-mocking smile appeared on the corner of Su Lun's mouth.
He knew that despite the Reaper's fast learning skills, he needed to strengthen his body with more real combat training in the future.