Blood trickled on the floor as these once proud and arrogant gangsters found themselves at my mercy.
They might have believed they were the predators of this world, never dreaming that someone like me saw them as nothing more than livestock for my growth. The irony was laughable, like a bigger evil devouring the small-time flies.
Now, each of them has bloodied faces, looking like they'd just been beaten by other gangster. It was perfect for me, considering that was the plan all along. I wanted the police to scratch their heads, thinking it was just your run-of-the-mill gang skirmish.
I imagined the scene at the police station: "Detective, we've got another one! Looks like a classic gang war!"
Meanwhile, I'd be somewhere sipping coffee like a cool mastermind.
As for the CCTV, well, I had already disabled them using my rats. Knowing the location of the CCTV monitor from my map, all I needed to do was create a little electrical issue, so I didn't need to worry about being caught on camera. I made sure those devices were blind to my little performance, leaving no digital traces behind.
"P-PLESH STUHP... I HAVV A FAM...LY" One of the thugs sobbed, his broken teeth and nose mixing blood with his snorts. He had no clue who was attacking them, but he still begged, hoping I would take pity on him.
Unfortunately, his pleas were as effective as trying to convince a deaf person to appreciate a song.
Why should I care if he has a family? At his age, most men already have families, but only a very small percentage choose the path of becoming a gangster. And not just any gangster, but someone dealing with drugs, weapons, and lives. This group has the holy trinity of being a scumbag, a one-way ticket to hell for sure.
"P-PLESH..."
'This guy is done for,' I shook my head in disappointment. No more EXP from him.
The death toll rose as I dealt with this group of criminals. Their faces showed the harsh impact of my brutality — broken bones, battered features, and the life drained out of their once lively expressions. Each hit left its mark, turning them from thugs to corpse.
[Level UP]
After hearing that sweet notification, a smile lit up my face. This farming method was way faster. At this rate, I could probably level up twice tonight. I held onto the hope that reaching level 20 would bring some clues about that mysterious key.
That door held something important to me, and I had a feeling that opening it might provide answers to some of my questions.
There were too many unknown variables in my life right now — my mother, the door, Alice, Rei Mei, the foundation, and even the origin of my system. I acted like I wasn't bothered by it all, but deep inside, I didn't like the feeling of being in the blind spots.
For now, my focus remains on this mission.
"Oh, this place," I paused after seeing multiple dots on the map. However, these were not the usual red dots but instead green. These were the dots I marked as "not to kill," because what was inside this room was something even, I found really sickening.
There were dozens of children and women inside. According to the old man, this gang was also involved in the loan business with massive interest rates. Those who couldn't pay would be sold as labor in other countries, while the women would be forced into prostitution.
Linking my mind to one of my rats, a vivid view unfolded before me.
Women with blank faces are sleeping on a makeshift bed on the floor. They looked like they have already lost hope in life, and I could even see some injection mark on their bodies. They must have been drugged so they could be used repeatedly without stop.
As for the kids, they look really thin, as if they haven't eaten anything for days. Their dry lips also show that they are dehydrated.
'I should probably call the police after I'm done here,' I mused to myself. They look pitiful but saving them directly would be a waste of time. Calling the police would be more efficient after I'm done with my killing spree.