The Gentleman at the End

Chapter 82: Chapter 81: Chance Encounter

When Qian Bosen saw the weapon transform in Yi Chen’s hands, the discomfort in his heart instantly dissipated.

A single word… worth it.

The old blacksmith Ben Gusi said:

“New Gentlemen are generally not recommended to use such weapons because they are too powerful and easily make the individual develop a dependence, and cause a misperception of their own strength.

However, since you are capable of killing Severe Patients, using such a weapon ahead of time isn’t a problem.

What I need to remind you is,

if you want to perfectly control this kind of transforming weapon, you must practice diligently, starting from the very basics of slashing and hacking anew.”

“Understood.”

Yi Chen pressed one hand on the mouse-shaped sculpture at the base and pulled back on the upper part of the axe handle.

Click!

After a series of metallic sliding and jamming sounds,

the axe returned to its plain, unadorned normal look, with a black handle and silver blade, simple and portable.

“It’s perfect! Thank you, Mr. Ben Gusi.”

“This old body of mine can only stay within the city forging iron, but I hope you can take this and eradicate more ‘disease’.”

Qian Bosen interjected at this moment:

“Why establish a shop here with such a level of forging skill? You could completely become a Forger directly affiliated with the Organization, where both the treatment and the materials involved would be far superior, wouldn’t they?”

“I stepped down twenty years ago but still find ‘freedom’ to hold more value.

Oh, and the suitcase as well, I’m giving it to you. Besides storing the weapon, it has an impact-resistant compartment inside, suitable for carrying various medicine syringes or temporary enchantment materials.”

Ben Gusi casually pointed to the forge mark imprinted on the surface of the suitcase, in case Yi Chen’s reputation grew later, it might serve as a bit of advertising.

“Alright.”

After putting the weapon away.

When the suit-clad Yi Chen picked up the handle on the side of the case, his whole demeanor changed.

In the city or while going to investigate suspected disease-affected areas, carrying a suitcase was better than carrying a weapon openly.

After leaving the shop, Qian Bosen gently patted Yi Chen’s shoulder:

“Your start is quite perfect. What do you plan to do next? Continue undertaking missions with your pals?”

“Not for now, I plan to spend a month mastering the weapon. Zede, my teacher, will be very willing to practice with me.

Edmund and the others haven’t fully recovered from their injuries, so we’ll wait a bit.”

“Well, just a slight reminder for you.

In the future, when you are on missions outside the city, keep an eye on the ‘Moon’ element.

I’ve never seen an Open Source Patient like ‘Moon Scar’ before.

He is an unconstrained ‘Patient Zero’, completely different in his thoughts from other patients, and he seems quite interested in you.

If while executing missions outside, you notice elements related to the moon, immediately head to nearby Organization-affiliated institutions like clinics, cemeteries, clothing stores, and seek refuge.

Just by briefly explaining your association with an Open Source Patient, they will provide all the help they can.”

“Understood.

By the way, Professor Qian Bosen, I still have quite a bit of ‘Gentleman’s Skin’ left, prepared for making a pair of spell-casting gloves.”

“Follow me.”

…

Another month passed.

Under four weekly physical clashes with his teacher Zede, Yi Chen had completely mastered his new weapon, able to use it effectively in various situations to eradicate disease and kill enemies.

After all, facing teacher Zede, he could treat him entirely as an enemy, slashing freely without holding back, and slicing through his flesh only seemed to excite him more.

During this time, he also took the opportunity to read quite a few books, @@novelbin@@

but as Little Grape speculated, even though his reading efficiency was extremely high, the wondrous feeling from that night never returned. It seemed he truly needed to consume a sufficient amount of Brain Marrow Fluid to expand his brain and enhance his intelligence.

Just thinking about the taste of root absorption made Yi Chen’s whole body tremble uncontrollably—it was a truly wonderful sensation.

Additionally,

the situation of his former teammates was not great.

Edmund’s left arm was still not quite adjusted, but his condition was excellent, and he was attempting a new type of skill training… he was undergoing a transformation he had never experienced before.

Juliana still needed to sit in a wheelchair,

visiting Hippocrates Hospital weekly for rehabilitative treatment. Aftereffects were inevitable, but perhaps she might overcome her physical defects once she pushed past human limits.

…

Although the academy granted three months of rest,

after a month of weapon proficiency training, Yi Chen couldn’t stay put anymore and was ready to try out some solo missions.

While earning money, he also aimed to acquire some “Gentleman’s Skin” to increase the skin content of his clothing.

On his way to Gentleman Hall,

Little Grape popped his small head out from the collar, twirling an eyeball in his mouth, and muttered softly,

“Hey~ human organizations usually don’t allow newcomers like you to undertake missions alone; it’s mostly team-based… Isn’t it too dangerous for you alone?”

“It’s just a suggestion to team up, not mandatory.

Plus, the organization arranges missions based on the number of people and their skills levels, so it’s not a big problem.

And aren’t you here with me, Little Grape? That makes us a team of two, right?”

“I’ve said so many times! I can only be considered ‘juvenille’ for now. Except for that crisis and special circumstance last time, I absolutely won’t provide any combat support.

You should still try to find someone to team up with. It’s quite problematic to go alone…”

“Let me go see what missions are available first.”

Yi Chen took the elevator to the lowest level of the street district, following his memory from the last time he went to Gentleman Hall, quickly navigating through the alleys.

Just as Yi Chen emerged from an alley and reached a certain intersection,

Boom!

A shop with no signboard next to him suddenly exploded violently.

A severed arm, mostly charred and even emitting a faint smell of burnt flesh, was blasted right in front of Yi Chen.

“Huh? Such things still happen in the city?”

The nearby gentlemen were also drawn by the noise, moving closer to the shop where the explosion occurred.

Yi Chen deliberately slowed his pace, following behind the crowd, wary of unforeseeable dangers.

Little Grape also widened his eyes from within the cuff, trying to peek into the specific situation in the exploded shop.

Thick smoke continuously billowed out from the damaged shop,

and before the crowd could get close,

a young man dressed flamboyantly, wearing a colorful mask, walked out of the smoke.

He was also holding a complete severed leg, waving it to greet the approaching gentlemen,

“Cough cough~ everyone, please don’t be nervous. I and the shop owner friend are testing a new batch of goods! It seems the quality of the goods is not bad.

Look at this long leg, look at the muscle content, look at this freshness~ would you like to buy some ‘imitation meat’ too?”

Strange people and events often occurred on the lower streets, and hearing the term imitation meat, the crowd didn’t delve further and started to leave.

Just then, the mysterious young man shaking the severed leg instantly locked eyes with someone in the crowd.

“Hey! Man! It really is you~ your body seems different from before!”

Before Yi Chen could react,

the young man’s hand slid onto his shoulder like a snake, accompanied by an intense sense of danger… a danger more acute than facing Mr. Li before.

He felt like his body could explode at any moment.

“Jin, long time no see.”