Wang Zhan was forcibly marched down the road.

Subsequently, the entire journey felt as if it had plunged into a world steeped in deep slumber, void of any sound. Even though everyone was vigilantly scanning their surroundings, trying to find any clues first, the direction from which the scream had come was unusually quiet.

Then, they moved forward in the direction Wang Zhan had pointed out. Notwithstanding Wang Zhan's struggles, he was transported to the dead man's house amidst this quietness, stripped of any freedom.

There was no need to take a more careful look. Fresh blood had already covered the ground, even paving this street with an alluringly beautiful and thick layer, unlike anything of the ordinary world.

"He's already dead! Who did this?"

The handsome man couldn't think of anyone in this world so vicious and cruel, daring enough to commit such a horrid act within the territories the Federation governed. Abruptly, he turned his head, staring sternly and carefully at the room, while casting a fierce glance at Wang Zhan.

"Do you know what happened inside?"

Wang Zhan's eyes fluttered, filled with terror. "Death... a dead man... inside lies a body completely drained of blood..."

In fact, everyone already knew this, so there was no need for Wang Zhan's clarification. The handsome man, receiving no more information from Wang Zhan, hesitated before momentarily giving up his suspicion. He immediately signaled to his aides.

"Go on, open the door and look!"

A dead man? Could that possibly frighten them? Even if they were the ones who killed him, every one of them had a clear conscience. They could always kill again if the need arose.

"Yes, sir!"

CREAK.

The tightly closed door opened once more.

Everyone who saw the scene inside the room felt their pupils constrict to pinpoints.

It was… flesh torn from bone! A true separation of flesh and bone! It was as if a complete person had been dissected and then meticulously arranged in specific proportions, like an artwork.

Such a cruel heart!

Even the mysterious murderer had given this 'artwork' a unique name, formed from the victim:

"Roll"!

Obviously, this 'name' had been formed from parts taken from inconspicuous places on the body. It didn't affect the overall aesthetic, nor did it look superfluous; rather, it seemed perfectly natural.

It was deathly silent.

As for Wang Zhan, he fared even worse. After just one glimpse of this 'artwork,' the whites of his eyes showed, and he fainted completely.

Who would have thought the murderer was this ruthless? Even Wang Zhan had to forcibly use his mental power to knock himself out.

Just before fainting, his fleeting thoughts were:

Damn, I didn't expect this madman to have some real skills... Let alone his masterful dissection technique, this madman's familiarity with the human body alone was enough to prove his extraordinary skill. Wang Zhan decided after just one look. He had to find a chance to learn some of these skills on the sly! Of course, becoming his apprentice wouldn't be a problem either. After all, the great sage Confucius from remote antiquity said, 'When three people walk together, one of them is surely able to be my teacher!'

In reality, Wang Zhan wasn't scared in the slightest. He could only suppress his burgeoning excitement and feign extreme weakness. After all, his established persona was that of an ordinary person. Faced with such a horrific scene, even Martial Artists would be terrified, let alone someone ordinary.

"This is outrageous..." one muttered.

"He's a madman..." another added.

"When did such a ruthless character emerge in the Underground City? We can't afford to offend him. Find a way to make Snakehead take the fall!"

Even the handsome yet domineering man felt a chill and became extremely cautious.

"Withdraw!" he ordered. Without needing to look around, he quickly made a wise decision.

Immediately, everyone left the house without delay. Some, following the man's orders, relayed this news to Snakehead.

Such an excellent opportunity, such a brutal character, Tian Qi thought. I, Tian Qi, have no interest in shouldering this mess for Snakehead!

Yes, he was the undisputed king of this region; even the Federal Internal Affairs Department had to show him some deference. This was due to his backing of over a hundred Martial Masters, dozens of Martial Generals, and his own formidable strength as a Grandmaster.

Instantly, they packed up, dragged Wang Zhan along, and after cautiously apologizing to the house's unknown, supposed owner, the group quickly fled. Leaving only a lookout behind, Tian Qi returned to his base.

"First, keep him contained; he can't be allowed to go anywhere. Let's see if we can squeeze some information out of him..." Tian Qi muttered to himself, still not giving up on getting the information directly from Wang Zhan.

Meanwhile, he wasted no time notifying his sworn brother, Boss Chen, and had him hurry to his base.

The middle-aged man, his hair still jet-black, was visibly restless and impatient when he first saw Tian Qi. This man, obscure for most of his life, had decided for the first time to risk his life and fortune, just to leave an inheritance for his descendants; he couldn't bear to miss such a golden opportunity.

"Qi, have you found the guy?" Boss Chen asked, his tone hurried and a little nervous.

Tian Qi gestured for him to be patient, then said in a deep voice, "Brother, don't worry. I want to try and see if I can get the information directly from him. As long as we have the source, even if you really decide to go through with it, you can absolutely make a profit a hundred times over. It's worth the risk!"

Hmm? Boss Chen's eyes flickered. Everyone has a desire for gain. But…

"He... that kid is very cunning. I'm afraid he won't give in so easily!"

Hearing Boss Chen's words, Tian Qi immediately understood and smiled freely. "Don't worry, Brother. You can trust me. Even if we can't get the information out of him, so what? This deal is destined to be yours alone. I doubt that kid has the guts. If he dares to ditch you, and it's because of me…"

Tian Qi's eyes flashed with a chilling light. Only someone like this could truly rise from the underground world to become a king.

「On the other side.」

A man known as Snakehead, as thin as a bamboo pole, slapped a young Martial Master aside and glared down menacingly.

"You! Say! What!"

For years, no one had dared to cross Snakehead. But now, one of his men had been tortured and killed in a mere civilian house? Who? Who dared to make him lose face? Didn't they know that offending Tian Qi might still leave a chance for survival, but offending him meant certain death?

"Take me there!" Snakehead roared. "I want to see with my own eyes who dares to challenge my authority!"

With Snakehead's furious shout, the long-suppressed atmosphere of the Underground City was finally shattered. Hundreds, even thousands, of Martial Artists, great and small, emerged from their dwellings to follow Snakehead. They formed a vast procession, like a great dragon, swaggering brazenly through the Underground City.

Even when confronted by a group of officers from the Internal Affairs Department, Snakehead's expression remained dark and unchanged. In fact, faced with the junior officer's gloomy expression and his question: "Snakehead, what are you trying to do? Mobilizing such a crowd, are you planning to lead an assault on the Federal Presidential Palace?"

It wasn't just this minor official who realized the gravity; others in the black market also grew tense.

"Shit, Snakehead's gone mad!" one exclaimed. "He might be enjoying this, but what if we get dragged into his mess?"

"Something feels wrong," another mused. "Snakehead has always been a coward. He looks fierce, but he's never dared to openly defy the Federation. What the hell is going on?"

"I agree. Look at his face… damn, he really has lost it! Is he trying to get us all killed?!"

All eyes were on the center of the scene when, SMACK! A muffled thud rang out. Snakehead slapped the officer—the 'roadblock'—directly. Then, as the man reeled in shock and rage, struggling, Snakehead, quick as lightning, stomped his foot onto the officer's face. Only then did he look down, surveying the surrounding crowd, and sneered at the officer beneath his foot—a loser who mistook a chicken feather for a command arrow—speaking in a cold voice, "Kid, if you don't want to die, stay right here! This is the Underground City. It's ours. We acknowledge the Federation's authority, but that doesn't give you the right to shit on my face!"

Luckily, Snakehead hadn't gone completely mad. Despite his extreme anger, his long-standing caution when dealing with Federation authorities prevented him from going too far, leaving himself some room to maneuver.

But after Snakehead finished, the insignificant Internal Affairs Department employee under his foot, neck stiff and face flushed red, glared furiously at him. "Alright, alright, alright! Snakehead, you just wait!"

Anyone with discerning eyes could tell that this employee was already plotting his revenge. The venomous hatred in his eyes was undisguised, but to avoid dying on the spot, he chose to swallow his rage for the moment.

Snakehead, however, didn't care. A morbid, wild laugh spread across his gaunt face. He kicked the man in the stomach, sending him crashing into a nearby wall with a painful grunt. Only then did he swagger away, leaving behind his trademark sinister smile and a parting shot, "Of course I'm doing great! If you have the guts, come find me later. Right now, I don't have time to waste on you. Get lost!"

No one knew the true origins of the Underground City. It was even more lawless than the black market on the surface, possessing a degree of independence and status. Though the Federation didn't publicize its existence, they generally avoided overly coercive actions against it. So, facing a mere employee, how could the enraged Snakehead possibly back down?

He was a boss, a big shot in his own right! Why should he be the only one to lose face? Why couldn't he even strike back at a minor Federation employee? HEH HEH HEH... utterly absurd...

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