[Sugared Apple: Basic material for Dark Magic Items. Can be combined with Spirit Bone, Evil Corpse, tendons and skin to craft magic items. Five sugared apples can create one basic magic item.]
Seeing the characters before him, Wayne furrowed his brow slightly and gave a faint nod.
He had indeed gained something.
He was gradually realizing that this Dungeon Adventurer System itself leaned toward the dark side, which was why it recognized such "magic items."
Fortunately, in his previous life handling cases, he had weathered many storms and witnessed numerous bloody and even gruesome scenes. Otherwise, if it were the original owner of this body, they would probably have fainted from fear by now.
The tattooed man, who had been hoping to see him panic and make a fool of himself, frowned and slapped the pickup truck bed, saying:
"Get out!"
Gold Tooth and Tank Top immediately escorted Wayne out of the vehicle and led him into the yard of the house before them.
In the yard stood a table, and beside it sat a burly middle-aged man wearing a long white fur robe.
His face was pockmarked with acne scars like the surface of the moon, and a knife scar ran from his eyebrow down to the bridge of his nose.
On his hands were Voodooism tattoos, adorned with strings of skull and human bone patterns.
On the table lay a silver Desert Eagle pistol, a sharp Nepalese kukri, and a bottle of tequila.
Behind him stood two burly bodyguards wearing sunglasses.
Scattered around the yard were over a dozen people, with several patrolling the perimeter carrying automatic rifles.
Three men with bound hands, gagged mouths, and bloodied faces knelt before the scar-faced man. The one in front was desperately pleading for something.
The moment Tattooed Man Dick and the other two entered the yard, they became much quieter, hardly daring to breathe, and stood obediently to the side, waiting.
[You have encountered a Two-headed Ogre lieutenant, who is interrogating traitors of the Two-Headed Ogre Tribe]
[Juan, Two-headed Ogre lieutenant, nickname "Big Daddy," from the Mexican Zeta Tribe, a proud and devout Voodoo believer who values honor above all. His beloved younger brother Emiliano died in a conflict with the Gulf Tribe. The scar on his face is in memory of his brother. Old John once performed a Spirit Communication Ritual for him.]
Wayne quickly assessed everything before him.
Throughout the United States, the most vicious gangs were the Latin American Enhancer Groups.
They could be described as utterly ruthless and inhuman.
However, these people had one advantage: everything was negotiable.
Moreover, they were often superstitious, given the highly uncertain nature of their lives.
If he wanted to leave safely in their presence, he needed to demonstrate sufficient value.
"Boss, please believe me, I never saw that batch of goods. I don't know where those damned DEA agents got their information. I swear on my mother's name!"
"That night I wasn't at the dock at all, I was drinking at a bar. I have no idea what happened..."
"Sir, I beg you, for the sake of my father who also works for you in Mexico..."
The three men kneeling on the ground wept bitterly, swearing oaths and making vows.
Big Daddy before them seemed not to hear at all. He pulled out a small salt shaker, poured a pinch of salt onto the back of his hand, licked it, then poured a glass of tequila and drank it in one gulp.
He then slowly said:
"Do you know why I chose to meet you at Alejandro's house? When he betrayed me, the three of you killed his entire family and hung them from the trees outside. You did a splendid job."
Hearing this, the three men trembled, recalling the miserable state of Alejandro's family before their deaths, and began pleading for mercy once more.
Big Daddy ignored them and instead turned to Tattooed Dick and the others, asking:
"Who is this?"
Tattooed Dick quickly stepped forward, hands clasped in front of him, and said with hesitant respect:
"BOSS, Old John... is already dead..."
Big Daddy's eyes widened suddenly:
"Dead? But last night you told me he escaped!"
Tattooed Dick shrank back, quickly pointing at Wayne and saying:
"This kid tricked us. He sold Old John's body, so Old John's debts should fall on him."
Big Daddy looked at Wayne and said:
"Test his blood. If it's clean, sell him tonight to pay off the debt. If not, make him a mule."
If the organs and blood were clean, it would be enough to cover the debt.
He had more important matters to attend to.
It was just a pity about Old John the Medium.
Seeing that they were about to take him away, Wayne quickly spoke up:
"Respected Mr. Juan... cough... Your love for Emiliano is truly moving. Please accept my respect."
Big Daddy Juan narrowed his eyes, looking at Wayne, and said in a hoarse voice:
"You know me?"
His real name had never been revealed to anyone, not even Old John knew it.
Let alone his beloved younger brother.
How did this white kid know?
Wayne shrugged:
"Old John once tried to use me to summon Bondye. He failed... cough... but since then, I seem to have become somewhat different."
[Minstrel Performance (Beginner 20%)] activated!
Bondye was the main deity of Voodooism, something Wayne had just figured out by combining what Old John said before his death—absolutely true.
Big Daddy Juan narrowed his eyes and said:
"You can communicate with spirits too? Interesting, my friend."
Then he casually pointed at the three men kneeling on the ground and said:
"Since you claim to be a Medium, help me find out who the real traitor is."
The other gang members present now grew interested, all turning their attention to Wayne.
After all, whether this white kid was really a Medium or not, whatever happened next would be entertaining.
Wayne raised his bound hands, and the others immediately signaled to untie him.
Rubbing his slightly reddened wrists, Wayne looked at the five Sugared Apples hanging from the trees in the yard and said:
"I need some props."
Soon, a pentagram was drawn on the grassy ground, with five still-dripping Sugared Apples placed at each point. The three suspected gang members knelt inside, nearly vomiting from the foul smell.
Wayne stood outside the circle, his expression serious, hands clasped together, pushing his performance skills to the limit. He began quickly walking around the circle, muttering softly as he moved.
"As the sun sets beyond the western hills, darkness falls; every household bolts its doors; the traveling gentleman hurries to the inn; birds return to the forest, tigers to the mountains..."
His words spilled out rapidly, low and coherent, in a low, fluid stream that sounded like mystical incantations to the surrounding gang members.
Even Big Daddy Juan's expression shifted from initial mockery and indifference to growing seriousness.
After all, if the other party were truly an imposter, they wouldn't be able to recite such incantations so smoothly.
The claim that Old John wanted to sacrifice him to Bondye made it all the more alarming.
Meanwhile, Wayne circled slowly while focusing on the three NPCs before him, mentally clicking on their avatars in the interface. Brief profiles instantly materialized:
[Mateo, Two-Headed Ogre Elite, from Mexico's Gulf Tribe. Once intercepted a batch of Enhancement Drugs and framed Alejandro, personally turning Alejandro's three children into Sugared Apples.]
[David, Two-Headed Ogre Grunt, from the Pampas grasslands. Murdered three people before fleeing to the underground city, now a tainted witness for the Dark Court's Enhancement Drug Tribunal.]
[Miguel, Two-Headed Ogre Grunt, from the Colombian highlands. Previously captured by the Dark Court for assaulting and killing a fallen Dark Elf, turned informant for the Dark Court's Enhancement Drug Tribunal. Leaked intel on the latest Enhancement Drug shipment, with molar implants containing trackers, in exchange for a new identity as Luis.]
Reading these lines, Wayne couldn't help but whistle softly.
Damn, the whole crew's rotten to the core.