The blue electric arc subtly adjusted its trajectory in the air, gradually covering the sniper's increasingly twisted face.

Pop, pop pop!

John continued to rapidly pull the trigger.

The Hercules in smart mode could automatically aim, triggering bullet effects that stack within the target's body and detonate toxic implants upon elimination.

No targets were found within the field of vision.

Maya held her rifle, crouched low and approached,

John opened the scorching metal chamber to change the magazine, ensured there were no immediate enemies, and eagerly removed his bulletproof helmet.

Sweat dripped from the tips of his stiff hair, his entire head steaming under the lights.

He took deep breaths, ripping off the Velcro of his bulletproof vest forcefully, pulling off the wretched thing from his neck.

Its high-fiber mesh and alloy plates were severely damaged, the impact absorption material embedded with bullets, falling on the gravel road and raising dust.

The ground was littered with corpses.

The air was filled with a sour stench mixed with rust.

[Mission Objective Updated]

[Find Du Remon. (Not Achieved)]

"Damn, what is this?"

John seemed to have found the source of the strange smell.

The concrete barricades marked with red and yellow caution tape were shattered during the conflict, revealing a bound corpse inside.

"Old Du used this method to punish traitors, or more precisely, those unlucky ones who couldn't keep up with the Rift Party's crazy pace."

Maya and John chatted as they walked deeper into the tunnel, passing through a fork made of metal supports, seeing tire tracks everywhere, with both sides filled with coiled cables and mobile lights.

Jeeps and motorcycles were parked against the walls.

The Rift Party members guarding the area had already been killed, and from the vehicles on site, the enemy's scale could be estimated. Besides the temporary followers old Du gathered, there were still about twenty core members inside.

[Time: 18:06]

"We need to hurry, or we'll have to face the majority of the Rift Party in Eden City head-on, even the ECPD wouldn't..."

Maya rambled and suddenly stopped, frowning as she lifted her foot, slowly raising her gaze along the tire tracks beneath her.

"Holy shit, judging by these tire marks and diameter, it's likely an armored vehicle with a thick anti-explosion alloy layer. We need to move swiftly and decisively."

Maya led John further ahead.

She kept frowning, seemingly rethinking the plan, as they hadn't brought heavy firepower targeting the vehicle.

The dome gradually widened until a sinkhole appeared, the terrain smoothed by heavy machinery, embedded with various metal braces and power lines running throughout.

Through an opening, John saw the gray night sky of Eden City.

The tunnel suddenly became cool.

The gravel road was wide and uneven, with spotlights of various specifications scattered or slanted at intervals, and remaining large areas covered with fluorescent graffiti of varying sizes.

"...Wait, do you smell something?"

John inhaled a pungent odor originating from some sort of chemical material in the air, which lightly burned the mucous membranes of his nasal cavity, causing uncontrollable itching and starting to run his nose after just a few more whiffs.

Maya frowned but wasn't surprised, displaying a natural expression as she quickly extracted two vials from her tactical belt.

"Hallucinogens."

She guided John on where to correctly inject it, explaining at the same time.

Each gang in Eden City dealt with illicit drug trades, having certain specialties to distinguish from competitors.

John suddenly recalled when Mr. Vito exchanged raw drug materials intercepted from the Owl Town gang for Gino's life.

He wasn't sure what came to his mind but asked casually.

"Are the raw materials universal?"

"Some parts are, but the specific formula, ratio, are usually controlled by the gang leaders."

Maya collected the empty shells of the vials and then instructed John.

Du Remon wanted to emulate the big gangs to produce distinctive drugs to help the Rift Party establish a stronghold and promote within Eden City, but this fool and his unreliable accomplices only pursued the most intense effects.

The drugs Maya prepared could only protect John's mind, prolonged inhalation would still lead to varying degrees of hallucinations.

"Ignore any crazy visions you see, kill everything that moves as it's the correct action, quick and decisive; I'll rescue hostages and steal equipment with transaction information."

Before leaving, she put a metal wristband on John.

This device contained a remote receiver and injector, which would rejuvenate John when it was time to retreat.

"Then we run, understand?"

After confirming with him, Maya climbed onto the metal structure, disappearing down the walkway paved with iron mesh into the roaring sound of generator equipment.

Inside the abandoned mining tunnel.

Purple-red smoke gradually spread over the gravel and black cables, until a pair of boots stomped it out to create a vacuum space.

John wore the dust scarf gifted by Nando, holding Hercules alertly while scanning the surroundings, cautiously controlling his steps to avoid stomping on skull-emblazoned metal canisters releasing the smoke.

The rock music was deafening.

John first noticed a few sober Rift Party members shuttling and calling out in the smoke and laser beams—they were the sentries and vehicle parking area's guards, rushing to report but finding few addressing them were still conscious.

"Huh, huh~"

John pressed close to the shadows, reaching out to brace against the wall, feeling both his head and lower body heat and swell uncontrollably.

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