Ryan, driven by a researcher's curiosity, immediately changed his mind and didn't immediately ask about the Honkai Beasts.
Sociology is also a scientific field, and who knows what discoveries could be made? Of course, this would expose that he came from outside. But he didn't mind.
Copper Rust smiled, clearly deducing Ryan identity, but became even more enthusiastic as he charged by the hour, explaining many of the rules of the abandoned zone.
These were basic questions, and earning money was, of course, the best.
Ryan quietly listened, occasionally asking a question here and there, forming a rough impression in his mind.
As expected, morality and laws were the first things to collapse. However, humans are complicated; some people are born with a desire for disorder, and as their desires grow, this situation becomes more widespread.
Monstrous beings gather in the abandoned zones, and different ideologies clash here. The attitude of the "Fire Moth" is also ambiguous, which Ryan can easily see.
After all, upon calculating, the "Fire Moth" benefits from this situation.
First, it's better to let people out than to block them. Throwing out those with conflicting opinions prevents internal strife in their own territory, like those left-wing "saints"; they should go experience it for themselves—absolutely soul-shattering.
Second, reducing the supply of resources means that it's legal to get rid of useless populations. The current punishments for crimes in the protected areas are severe. Just like when Ryan destroyed public property, the police chased him desperately.
Those caught are all sentenced to hard labor, while fleeing is easy. They can try their luck in the abandoned zone for wealth.
Third, it's possible to gather data or materials without casualties. After all, these people's records have been deleted; they were missing persons long ago, and conducting human experiments becomes very convenient.
It's like the world's sewers, draining the dirty and chaotic things here. No wonder the public security in major cities has improved.
Ryan gave a wry smile. After the Third Herrscher, the world had been turbulent for a while, but it settled down within a year. Truly, the higher-ups are a bunch of old foxes.
They've delineated areas where the law doesn't apply. Except for those who want to challenge the high difficulty, there's really no need to commit crimes in the protected areas. Just step outside, take a left, and you can kill anyone you want, do anything you want.
"Truly morally bankrupt, depraved, to come up with such underhanded tactics. But I have to admit, though dirty, it's quite effective."
Without an outlet for venting, society would have exploded. But it's also filled with filth.
"Are you saying I can bring people here and then take them back?"
"Sure, but the Fire Moth allows people to leave but not enter. Ordinary people who leave can't return, but those with special statuses can come and go freely, even with bodyguards." Copper Rust said with a sarcastic expression, lighting up another cigarette, pulling out a few photos, and tossing them onto the table.
"Some unique services in the abandoned zone, you can't enjoy them anywhere else. As long as the resources are sufficient, anything goes. We're a bit better here; I've heard that things are even more extravagant in Africa. Interested in learning about it?"
"Not interested." Ryan glanced at the photos. Even with his extensive experience, he still felt disgusted.
It wasn't the usual perversion; it seemed like the Fire Moth people were involved again.
Copper Rust seemed to have reached a conclusion and spoke even more enthusiastically. "I'll get you what you want soon. Scavengers know exactly where the restricted areas are. You've found the right person; if you run around aimlessly, you won't get anywhere."
"How so?"
"They've sent those humanoid monsters here. They searched for a long time and found nothing. There's a legend in Snow Prison Town." Copper Rust cleared his throat and began singing in a strange voice:
"A ghost wanders in the snowfield. It has countless eyes and ears. When you search for it, you find nothing. But when you worship it, it will appear before your eyes."
Ryan stood quietly, repeating his words in his mind. The humanoid monsters were surely referring to the Fused Warriors, and it was probably a Honkai Beast.
Mental-type? What's this worship about?
"Where did this song come from?"
Copper Rust didn't hide anything. He pointed to a spot, and Ryan casually looked over, noticing a figure in a robe whispering to a customer.
He might have angered someone, been punched to the ground, or spat on, but he didn't resist, silently getting up and moving on to the next person.
In this chaotic nightclub, the silence felt very mysterious.
"Who's that?"
Copper Rust's face showed a bit of disgust as he shook his head. "A madman. Madmen are everywhere here."
...
The night grew deep, and the lights in the room flickered due to unstable voltage. The room was cramped, with only a bed, a square table, and a stinky toilet.
This was the best inn in Snow Prison Town, costing thirty bullets or two cans of food per night. Ryan washed his face and sat at the square table, listening to the "oh-oh-oh" sounds of panting next door.
After a day, he had a rough understanding of what the abandoned zone was all about. It was a paradise for releasing desires and negative emotions, the world's sewer. But upon further thought, it was still better than the survivors in the Fallen Zone.
At least the Honkai disease hadn't spread out of control, and there was still a chance to survive.
Ryan wasn't a righteous companion. As a calm and rational person, he knew that being a saint was meaningless.
He couldn't produce enough food to feed all of humanity, nor could he create a better system. To be more precise, he couldn't even tell who the good people were and who the bad ones were.
The one who could make judgments was 'God,' and Ryan was just a person.
"Well, forget it. I'll think about my own matters. According to Copper Rust's information, this snowfield is not that simple. Even the strongest power needs to be used on the enemy to be effective."
Ryan estimated that there was a strange Honkai Beast here, like a radar, monitoring the Honkai energy in the area. When it detected a Fused Warrior, it would hide.
For a moment, he felt a bit of trouble and thought about hunting somewhere else, but quickly abandoned the idea.
"A Honkai Beast with unknown abilities. No, this whole area is filled with an unknown aura. It's really interesting."
This sparked his curiosity. After all, Ryan fate wasn't about mere slaughter or comparing strength. He preferred the subtle "flavor" of the Honkai.
Difficult to understand, always bringing surprises, and most importantly, it required humans to explore.
Those fanatics were not simple. In theory, they couldn't have any connection to the Honkai Beasts, but there's no absolute certainty in this world.
Ryan was thinking in this direction when suddenly he heard a knock on the door. He frowned, got up to open it, and thought for a moment before drawing his loaded gun.
The door opened a small crack, and he immediately saw a young girl standing outside. She appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen, with chestnut-colored hair, a delicate appearance, wearing a white dress and gray tights.
She seemed very cold, forcing her trembling body under control and squeezing out a smile. "Sir, would you like some service?"
A prostitute?
Ryan sized her up, shook his head, "No."
He was about to close the door when he saw a small black leather shoe blocking the crack. He was getting a bit impatient when he heard the girl's pleading voice.
"Please, if I don't get any business tonight, I'll be sold to the tavern."
"What difference does it make?"
"If I work out here, at least I still have a choice. But if I stay there, I'll have to serve any perverted customers."
This... was really harsh.
Ryan glanced at the girl outside the door again, this time more carefully, and slightly stepped aside.
"Come in."
The girl let out a relieved smile and hurried into the room. She seemed very familiar with the setup of such a room, quickly shedding her coat and revealing her fair skin.
Her movements were very practiced. As Ryan turned his head, he saw her strip down to her underwear, exposing her slim and pale back, which was covered in numerous scars.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
The girl turned around in confusion. She wasn't very busty, but her age made her look perky. Her stockings were also frayed in many places. She tilted her head and took a while to react.
"Do you like doing it with clothes on?"
"I don't have any intention of doing anything with you."
Then why did you ask me to come in? Just to chat?
The girl blinked, but Ryan couldn't be bothered to play her guessing game.
"Put your clothes back on, sit over here, and let's talk." Ryan opened a can of luncheon meat and added, "We'll talk while eating."
What kind of strange hobby was this? Why did this man seem a little perverted?
The girl was a bit cautious. He looked mysterious, but when she saw the can, she swallowed her saliva and hurriedly put her clothes back on.
The lights in the room continued to flicker. Ryan sat on the dilapidated chair, casually chatting with the girl.
Her name was Christina. She had graduated from high school during the third Honkai event. She used to live in the east, in Harvet, but when the Fire Moth retreated, her family fled to Gothenburg.
Unfortunately, none of them received residency rights, and her mother contracted the Honkai disease and was blocked outside the city, where they were tricked and lost all their savings.
Seeing that things weren't progressing, her father took the family and left, hoping to try their luck in the next city.
On the way, the cold, bandits, and Honkai Beasts took the lives of her family. She eventually wandered to Snow Prison Town, and after that, there wasn't much to say.
Her body was her only asset, and selling it was the only way to get food and shelter. Everything was just a matter of course.
Ryan fell silent. These events had happened within a year, enough to overthrow one's worldview and fate.
"Have you thought about what you'll do in the future?"
"Sir, I don't have a future. The only place I can remember my past life is in my dreams." The girl smiled in a numb and tragic way, pointing to the empty can, "My future is to eat enough and not get sick, and to meet kind customers like you."
Life was reduced to inertia.
Ryan nodded and asked, "So you went to that church seeking redemption? Don't you hate the Honkai?"
"I do, but there's nothing I can do. I'm not the only one going through this. Gothenburg or other cities are the same. I have to pray for them."
"Pray for what?"
"To be killed directly by the Honkai, instead of living like me—without the courage to die, just struggling in hell. Like the priest said, in this world, a quick and direct death is a blessing."
Christina eyes were vacant, numb, and avoided direct contact. From a psychological standpoint, undergoing such drastic changes in a short time will inevitably lead to some abnormal behaviors.
Ryan slightly shifted his gaze. He had no intention of refuting her. The reason he let her in was simple.
He could faintly sense the scent of Honkai from her.