Chapter 116: Discipline, Self-Elemental Crystals

Midday, hotel restaurant.

The trackers, having removed their animal masks, either spoke in low voices or ate heartily, the atmosphere relatively harmonious.

Trackers serve the nobles as scavengers, assassins, and mercenaries.

Before the automaton uprising, trackers were an underground profession, hidden from the public eye. The practice of wearing animal masks to conceal identity began with one tracker and gradually became an unspoken rule within the industry.

Li Nanke sat at a table with Cunning Rabbit, Mad Rabbit, and Pinocchio.

Their plates held grilled lamb chops, crispy on the outside and juicy inside, accompanied by roasted vegetables and creamy mushroom sauce, the colors enticing and mouthwatering.

Compared to the canned food from the Black Rabbit Gang they usually ate, the hotel had ample supplies, offering much better living conditions.

Besides Philip, who wore the yellow dog mask, the hotel housed trackers with masks like Gray Donkey, Polar Bear, Leopard, Rooster, and Lion. Some had been dispatched by Sophia to gather intelligence, while those dining in the restaurant were mostly those unwilling to follow orders.

With the government completely collapsed and Crater City plunged into chaos, Sophia still managed to gather some trackers at the hotel’s secure base using outside enemies as leverage, but her control was minimal.

If not for Sophia’s command over the security facility—the Observatory—and a few loyal trackers guarding it, even with the looming automaton army crisis, this group of unrestrained trackers could easily do something foolish and impulsive.

Li Nanke glanced at the neighboring table where a tall, muscular man dined, his white bear mask hanging on the chair.

The tracker known as “Polar Bear” had been employed by a noble from Moonlight Town, where the cathedral was located on the outskirts of Crater City.

Li Nanke approached and exchanged a few words. Recognizing the Black Rabbit Gang’s leader, the man was forthcoming with information about the cathedral.

“Our people in Crater City worship technology and progress; few believe in gods, so the cathedral has very few followers. It’s natural you don’t know much about it,” said Polar Bear.

“The deity they worship is called ‘The Star.’ Legend says it’s a fallen star, depicted as a robed figure with a hood, bearing a single-winged pair of wings... Frankly, these believers lack imagination. If there really were gods, why would they look human?”

Polar Bear was clearly an atheist, dismissive when speaking of the church and its deity.

Hearing about the single-winged wings, Li Nanke’s interest was piqued—he suspected the cathedral area might be connected to the so-called “angels.”

“My former employer, a nobleman, was a devout believer. He thought ‘The Star’ held the power of immortality and believed worshiping it would extend his life.”

“Funny thing is... he recently died of petrification at thirty-seven.”

“Polar Bear, what else do you know about this ‘Star’ deity?”

Polar Bear scoffed, “Sounds fake to me. If there really was a god granting immortality, wouldn’t the followers at least live long? But look at the cathedral now—no living souls, just a bunch of mad living corpses.”

“Besides, I don’t believe in gods and don’t know much about it. What, Black Rabbit, you think it’s the end of the world and are seeking faith?”

Li Nanke smiled meaningfully.

“I don’t believe in gods either, but if people die and come back as living corpses, doesn’t that count as a kind of rebirth, longevity, or even immortality in some sense?”

Polar Bear was taken aback, about to retort, but Li Nanke had already stood and moved to other tables to speak with more trackers.

The Black Rabbit Gang’s strength wasn’t the highest among trackers, but Li Nanke himself was formidable. Hearing of his solo raid on the automaton factory and slaying the Flame King, trackers measured their own strength carefully, some offering him respect or friendship.

After questioning around, the trackers knew little about the remote cathedral area, only some basic facts.

Returning to his table, Li Nanke saw a familiar face—Factory Manager Vinini.

“Vinini, come sit here.”

Vinini had changed into a new suit, clearly reluctant to dine with trackers, intending to eat alone in a corner.

Hearing Li Nanke’s summons, he hesitated but eventually sat down.

“Manager, you don’t seem eager to interact with me. Is this how you treat your savior?”

Vinini awkwardly smiled and expressed gratitude.

He understood none of these trackers were trustworthy; less contact meant fewer problems.

Sure enough, Li Nanke’s next words brought trouble.

“I remember when you sent the telegram, you said you’d trade everything for rescue. Where’s the reward you promised?”

Vinini’s head throbbed; he forced a bitter smile.

“Mr. Black Rabbit, my money’s all in the bank, and I can’t withdraw it now. The only valuable gloves you took, and I’ve already shared all I know with Sophia and you—I honestly don’t know how else to pay you.”

Li Nanke ignored him and turned to the silent but uneasy Pinocchio.

“Kid, do you think I should keep demanding payment from Vinini?”

Pinocchio instinctively shook his head.

“Vinini really has nothing left to pay with. Boss, pushing him won’t help.”

Vinini nodded vigorously in agreement.

“I only have the factory left... Um, the automaton factory—you want it? If so, I can transfer the manager’s title to you now.”

Li Nanke continued, “Let me teach you something: never trust a merchant’s lies.”

Expressionless, he told Vinini, “I’ve fulfilled the contract. How you pay me is your problem. If you refuse, I can save you or throw you back.”

He summoned a bloodied war hammer, resting its handle against the table.

Faced with such a blatant threat, Vinini’s face was remarkable—he knew if he didn’t give something up, Li Nanke wouldn’t relent.

He bowed his head, muttering repeatedly, “I really have no reward left.”

After a long moment, he slapped his forehead.

“Oh! I suddenly remembered—there’s a bag of purified self-element crystals under the car seat.”

“Mr. Black Rabbit, wait a moment—I’ll get it for you.”

Pinocchio stared wide-eyed in disbelief, convinced Vinini had nothing left.

Vinini, cool and composed, rose to fetch the reward but was stopped by Li Nanke.

“Bring it here.”

Vinini blinked, “Sir, what exactly do you want?”

“Don’t waste time.”

Vinini’s face twisted, but under Li Nanke’s stare, he obediently handed over the car keys.

Li Nanke tossed the keys to Pinocchio to retrieve the crystals.

Soon, Pinocchio returned with several bulging leather bags, his expression complicated.

Opening the bags revealed shining blue purified self-element crystals.

Vinini forced a smile, twitching at the corner of his mouth.

“See my memory? I forgot there’s more than one bag under the seat.”

The crystals gleamed brilliantly under the light, drawing the trackers’ eyes—some envious, some covetous.

In the current chaos, cash was nearly worthless; these valuable crystals were hard currency.

Sophia used purified crystals to hire trackers for missions.

In the uprising’s early days, city officials organized human militias against the endless automaton armies, but their resistance was quickly crushed.

Officials and nobles fled Crater City on ocean-going ships, but now only a few small boats remained at the harbor.

Trackers lingered to resist because those boats couldn’t cross the ocean safely; escape was a gamble.

If Crater City fell completely, they’d have to flee by boat, and carrying worthless paper money was no match for possessing even a single purified crystal.

Li Nanke sneered and ignored the trackers, speaking to Pinocchio:

“Do you understand now?”

The youth took a deep breath and nodded.

“Got it. Don’t trust merchants’ lies... Vinini likely has other assets. If we keep pressing, he’ll have to hand over everything remaining.”

Li Nanke nodded, then shook his head, admonishing once more:

“When dealing with enemies, we must be ruthless, giving them no chance to struggle or recover.”

“But Vinini is just a cunning merchant, not an enemy. As the saying goes, leave some room for future meetings. Push him too hard, even a rabbit will bite.”

Pinocchio nodded, half understanding.

Vinini, having heard Pinocchio’s words and now Li Nanke’s, was pale with fear but finally breathed a sigh of relief.

---

[Pure Small Purified Self-Element Crystal *150]

[Type: Item / Consumable / Special Currency]

[Quality: Excellent]

[Rating: 50/100]

[Description: Purified by special techniques, these crystals serve as high-quality energy sources and can be used as currency in certain contexts. Items traded with this currency gain ownership rights. Upon returning to the Great Beyond, this item can be retained for full-price resale or exchanged as fees.]

[Note: I have never cared for money; it holds no interest for me.]

Li Nanke took the bags, surprised by the detailed description.

With a flick of his wrist, the crystals vanished without needing ownership rights, stored at will.

His face unchanged, he turned back to Pinocchio.

“Though Vinini isn’t our enemy, there’s a saying: an innocent man bearing treasure invites trouble.”

“He holds vast assets but lacks the means to protect his wealth—this is extremely dangerous.”

“Kid, look at those trackers’ eyes. Don’t they look like they want to devour Vinini?”

Pinocchio glanced over. Indeed, the trackers looked wolfish and ferocious. They dared not covet Li Nanke’s crystals due to his power, but Vinini was another matter.

If Vinini weren’t sitting at Li Nanke’s table, who knew what they might do.

“So, for Vinini’s safety, we must take control of all his assets to prevent the trackers from threatening his life.”

Pinocchio scratched his head, confused. No matter how the boss said it, it seemed reasonable.

Vinini looked at the trackers, pale and slumped in his chair, swallowing hard.

Did he have any choice left?

For his life, Vinini had to nod.

“Mr. Black Rabbit, I’m willing to hand over all my remaining crystals. Please protect me.”

Li Nanke smiled faintly and nodded.

“That’s the wise choice. Rest assured, I will keep you safe.”

Vinini’s heart ached, but he resigned himself. He bowed his head and ate silently, pain heavy in his chest.

Purified self-element crystals were not hard to mine but difficult to purify, making their supply scarce and their value high—more precious than gold of the same size.

Those bags represented half of his stock. He only hoped Li Nanke would keep his word and protect him; otherwise, the trackers would never spare him.

Pinocchio accompanied Vinini on another trip, completely emptying the manager’s assets, and Li Nanke gained several more bags of crystals, stirring envy among the trackers.

Li Nanke then stood, clapped his hands to attract attention, and declared loudly:

“Everyone, Vinini is under the protection of the Black Rabbit Gang from now on. If anyone objects, step forward now and let’s settle it.”

The trackers’ expressions varied. Most lowered their heads and continued eating, tacitly accepting Li Nanke’s arrogance, but a few cast hostile glances.

“I’ll warn you now—if you don’t speak up now but try anything later, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Li Nanke scanned their faces; they avoided his gaze, seemingly accepting the reality. After all, his feat of single-handedly storming the automaton factory and killing the Flame King was astonishing.

He smiled gently.

“Since everyone agrees, thank you all.”

Sitting back down, he said to Cunning Rabbit and Mad Rabbit:

“You two go check out the amusement park outside the hotel, see if you can find the ‘Parade Master.’ If you find him, bring him here.”

Cunning Rabbit asked, “What if we don’t find the Parade Master? The trackers have already swept the amusement park several times with no luck.”

Li Nanke sneered, “They may pretend to obey me, but they’re still restless inside. If we don’t find him, I’ll make an example of someone.”

He planned to clean up the unruly elements first to prevent trouble when they went out.

It was also a chance to consolidate the tracker forces—he might need them later.