Near the Lungmen slums, little Rope and Jeanne were currently sitting to one side resting. Incidentally, they were observing a mass brawl between gangs occurring on the road ahead.
This path was the closest way out of the area. When the two of them arrived, they found that both sides were already squaring off to fight. They decided to take a break and wait for the battle to end before passing through.
However, these two groups of people seemed intent on slaughtering one another. In no time, the front line became a battlefield of flying flesh and blood. Even little Rope, who had seen many brawls, was finding it difficult to adjust to the sight.
"What's wrong? Didn't you say you've seen this kind of thing many times before? Why do you look so uncomfortable now?"
Sitting beside her, Jeanne seemed completely unaffected by the bloody scene. She was still rapidly stuffing bread into her mouth, paying no mind to the gore across the way.
Little Rope could only offer an expression of pure admiration for this steady mindset. In this environment, this elder sister acted as if nothing were happening; from that composed expression alone, it was clear she was no ordinary person.
"They're fighting too recklessly, aren't they? The brawls I saw before usually ended with a broken arm or leg. How is it like this time, with limbs flying and blood everywhere?"
Generally speaking, such brawls were held at night or, at the very least, during dusk. That way, the L.G.D. wouldn't have the energy to manage them. Although the L.G.D.'s control over the slums wasn't as tight as in the Lungmen city center, it didn't mean they were dead during the day. They weren't an existence that could be ignored!
The L.G.D. operators weren't a bunch of derelict slackers. This situation was essentially a slap in their faces. If this were exploited by someone with an agenda, they could even write an article about the chaotic state of Lungmen's security.
"Besides, your reaction is way too calm! How long has it been since you last ate? You can actually swallow food while looking at such a bloody scene? If it were me, I would have thrown up long ago."
Little Rope knew she could never match Jeanne's reaction. If she dared to eat here, she'd probably vomit up everything she'd eaten since yesterday. Even just thinking about it made her feel sick. She was only a little thief, after all; this situation was quite a challenge for her.
However, this time, the scale of the struggle was truly too large. Had she known it would be like this, she never would have led Jeanne down this path.
"This kind of thing... you just have to get used to it, right? Like me—I used to hate this kind of situation, but now I can accept it."
As she spoke, Jeanne ignored the chaos ahead and tossed the last piece of bread into her mouth, then stood up and patted her hands. Her expression suggested she had seen scenes far more unacceptable than this and had survived them all; she was already used to sights like this.
And it was true. Whether it was the life of fighting enemies on the Ursus tundras or the desperate battles in her memories, Jeanne would not let her environment affect her.
"But you said the behavior of these people is abnormal? What exactly is wrong? Is there some kind of rule for gang fights around here?"
Jeanne saw that one side was gradually gaining the upper hand, while the other side began moving toward them, likely intending to retreat down the path behind them. Jeanne stood up and pulled little Rope back several steps into a small alley to prevent them from being caught in the crossfire.
"There were plenty of brawls before, but it never reached the point of killing people. I heard the old man say before that even the Lungmen slums have their own rules."
Little Rope felt as if she hadn't just been in jail for two weeks, but for two years—how had her familiar environment changed so much? In her memory, although the slums were messy, they weren't this chaotic. Right now, it looked like a person who had fallen into madness.
Back then, the slums had a set of invisible laws. Though they weren't written down like official statutes, those who violated them would be punished. But now, these guys were breaking the rules of the slums without any repercussions. Little Rope could only imagine what this place would eventually become.
"Aaaaaahhh!!!"
Suddenly, the two of them heard a cry of extreme agony. Turning to look, they found that the gang members who had been at a disadvantage were now chasing the other side like madmen.
Even from a distance, Jeanne could see them stuffing something into their mouths, after which they entered a state of berserk rage, attacking indiscriminately. At this moment, they were less like humans and more like a pack of wild beasts. Their sanity had vanished; they were even killing their own companions!
Little Rope saw a gang member who failed to dodge in time get hacked into a pulp by his own side, and then the mob even began to bite and tear at the helpless man.
This scene terrified little Rope. She hugged Jeanne tightly, shrinking behind her and not daring to look outside, her body trembling from the unknown horror.
Jeanne gently patted the little rabbit-girl's head, calmly observing the state of these people. Those uncontrollably flailing hands reminded her of Infected people having an outbreak.
The mob continued toward the remaining enemies. It seemed their primary targets were living beings, rather than just blood. Though it was unclear if they had spotted Jeanne and her companion, the "living" targets ahead were more attractive to these creatures that could hardly be called human anymore.
"I'm so sorry. I was the one supposed to lead you through the slums, and yet the moment something happens, I run behind you... I should have been the one standing in front of you..."
Having calmed down slightly, little Rope stepped out from behind Jeanne. She was full of guilt and apologized profusely for hiding. She had truly been frightened by such madness, and under the sense of security Jeanne provided, she had moved behind her without a second thought.
Jeanne merely waved her hand, not minding the details. Protecting others was a habit for her, and she didn't care about little Rope's instinctive reaction.
This time, the recovered little Rope walked in front of Jeanne. In her mind, since she had accepted this job from Jeanne, she had to protect her regardless of the danger.
From the look of things, it seemed these people weren't using this "ability" for the first time. But what kind of drug could turn people into such a state?
Jeanne glanced around. It was still eerily quiet. Whether the people living nearby were hiding in their homes was a question; if one were pessimistic, they might have already become victims. Otherwise, it was unrealistic for no one to peek out after so long. Jeanne didn't believe these creatures would spare ordinary people.
The sounds of battle outside changed again. The shrill screams began to fade, replaced by the thuds of bodies hitting the ground and hurried footsteps.
"Do you think the people on the other side have some secret weapon too? Otherwise, why would the fight end so quickly?"
Walking ahead, little Rope found it strange. Just who were these two groups, and how did the situation reverse so fast?
Little Rope wanted to risk a peek to see the current situation. Just as she was about to poke her head out, Jeanne grabbed her and pulled her back.
Immediately following that, several monsters—looking like zombies—appeared before them.