Cthulhu America, I can see the kill line.

At night, Kong Jiu glanced back at the Prophet's Church shrouded in the night sky.

He wondered why the Prophet Church remained neutral and stood firm in the face of the situation in the lower city.

As he had guessed, Hills needed a positive image to be planted in the lower city and become the mouthpiece for the upper city gentry.

Outside the church district, no matter how many corpses littered the ground and how much blood flowed, it was all just minor trouble.

However, whether it's bewitching people or dealing in enhancers, stepping even half a step onto Church Street is considered a desecration of the gentlemen's "kind heart."

This isn't just about "harming civilians in neutral areas," it's about "slapping the faces of the upper echelons."

The title of "protector of the weak" is merely an attribute attached to the Church of the Prophet. Its true nature is that of "the embodiment of the upper city."

Kong Jiu's eyes dimmed slightly, and a ripple of emotion stirred within him.

He blamed neither Sophie nor the church.

In order to save people, even just a few, one would probably be willing to sell one's soul or make a deal with the devil.

Slowly withdrawing his gaze from the church, Kong Jiu raised his head and looked upwards.

An invisible barrier, like a dome, enveloped the entire lower city.

After putting on the jade pendant, I noticed that barrier. What exactly is it?

A manifestation of constraint? A shackle formed by some kind of psionic energy? The thick barrier that distinguishes the Lower City from the rest of Hills?

If you look closely, there's a milky-white stripe of light at the very top.

It does bear some resemblance to the health bars above everyone's head.

Wait, could that be a health bar?

A guess flashed through Kong Jiu's mind.

If that's a health bar, then it means that this indescribable thing can be broken and killed.

"What exactly is that?"

Kong Jiu muttered to himself.

Just as he embarked on his journey home, preparing to spend another day that nothing could change, two thin, tall figures silently blocked his way.

Kong Jiu's heart skipped a beat.

Two figures appeared out of thin air at the far end of the field of vision, without even being detected by the intelligence agencies.

"A master!"

Gangsters or the Purple Light Cult?

Did they track down their actions and send out assassins of level 30 or higher?

However, Kong Jiu was still standing on the ground in the church area.

The two people before us, whose origins are unknown, should not be acted upon rashly, whether they are followers of the evil Purple Light Cult or gang addicts addicted to enhancement drugs.

Kong Jiu feigned nonchalance: "What brings you two here?"

The two raised their heads, and in the darkness, the pale streetlights illuminated their long, slanted jawlines.

Rat Man.

However, they did not have the flashy offerings worn by the Purple Light Cultists, nor did their muscles appear bloated as if they had been injected with enhancement drugs.

Original rat people.

"Wow, I thought... I thought you'd all been recruited into a gang or the Purple Light Cult..."

Kong Jiu was somewhat surprised.

The rat-man didn't reply, but simply looked up and glanced at him with the intelligent eyes unique to rodents.

"Kong Jiu, Mr. Kong, King Squich...please come in..."

As he spoke, the rat-man slightly turned to the side, revealing the dark sewer entrance beneath his feet.

Is King Squich requesting your presence?

Kong Jiu looked at the pitch-black entrance that seemed capable of swallowing everything, and his expression changed slightly.

What is that?

Do the rat people, like gangs or cults, have a leader?

But if such a thing existed, how could they allow two major criminal gangs to abduct their members?

escape?

The thought flashed through my mind.

Kong Jiu glanced at the two rat-men's heads; there were no health bars, so they couldn't be detected.

His heart sank; he dared not gamble on whether he could escape from these two eerie rat-men.

Helpless, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and be pushed and shoved by the two rat-men into the cold, damp sewer.

"Squeak squeak squeak~"

As I used both hands and feet to enter the sewer, a rustling sound of gnawing teeth reached my ears.

The dimly lit underground tunnel came into view, its ceiling covered with filthy grease and moss; rats clung to the support structure formed by the pipes, their eyes reflecting the dim light like sparks, all aimed at the visitor.

The two rat-men didn't climb the ladder; instead, they leaped down directly.

"Let's go, King Kong... the king is waiting for us..."

One of the rat-men shoved Kong Jiu, and the three of them then headed deeper into the tunnel.

The moss and grime on the walls, the gel formed from degreased skeletal tissue, and the keen gaze of rodents—these things multiplied as they ventured deeper, becoming almost ubiquitous.

In comparison, the dizziness caused by the pungent smell was negligible after Kong Jiu wore a mask all year round.

The concept of time becomes increasingly blurred and fragile in this dark tunnel, where only a few sparse fluorescent fungi serve as the light source.

How long did Kong Jiu walk through this seemingly endless tunnel?

Until, specks of green light began to appear beside the tunnel.

It was a slightly mysterious glow emanating from some kind of dark green crystal.

Kong Jiu was certain that these green crystal stones did not exist in his previous life.

The green light clearly delineated a boundary, and all kinds of oil stains and gels left after degreasing animal carcasses were clearly scattered outside by the green disc player.

The green light drew a dividing line, dispelling the filth and darkness beyond the boundary.

We've arrived at the ratmen's territory.

Upon entering this relatively 'clean' territory, Kong Jiu saw the figures of other ratmen.

Some of them spread out a tattered cloth on the ground, on which were placed strange and oddly shaped odds and ends of unknown purpose; others set up simple stoves and used the fireflies emitted by green crystals to roast unknown food; there were even rat-people who looked like children, frolicking and playing on both sides of the sewers.

The scene before me resembled a simple yet vibrant medieval market set up along a stream.

The difference is that this "stream" is sewer water purified by green light.

The inhabitants here all have long, sloping jawlines and the sharp glint in their eyes, like rodents.

Many rat-people noticed Kong Jiu's arrival and stopped what they were doing, casting strange glances at him with curiosity, inquiry, and even wariness.

Kong Jiu met his gaze.

They looked into the eyes of these "people" who lived in the very areas that Hills knew best.

The rat-man is so similar to a human.

But it's also obvious that "this is not human".

Kong Jiu felt a sudden pang of unease for no apparent reason.

He knew this was called the uncanny valley effect.

However, on the ground, the ratmen didn't give people this feeling before.

Until he saw the lives of the rat people.

Trade, cooking, and even reproduction all thrive in this deeply familiar land.

These rat-men, whose behavior was no different from that of humans, brought Kong Jiu an inexplicable sense of absurdity, and... shame?

Perhaps on ordinary days, I walk over the heads of these people.

Perhaps in the past, they were just like ordinary people, experiencing love, hate, and passion on the ground?

Only then could Kong Jiu realize that they were human beings, the most thoroughly alienated humans.

Hills, turning good people into evil people, and the weak into ratmen.

However, with the two ratmen pushing and shoving, Kong Jiu didn't have time to take a few more glances at the small settlement before being led deeper into the area.

The green crystal glowed ever brighter, filling the entire sewer and reaching into other dimensions.

Arrived.

Kong Jiu was led to the entrance of a huge tunnel. The deep curtain blocked most of the green light from seeping in, but a darker gray-green light seeped out from behind the curtain.

"You two step back."

A deep voice came from behind the curtain.

It was an old man's voice, steady and calm, quite different from the rat-man's hoarse tone.

The two rat-men supporting Kong Jiu bowed their heads respectfully and took a few steps back.

Suddenly, a faint gray wisp was drawn from the two rat-men and floated into the curtain.

Meanwhile, the Kongjiu reconnaissance system identified new information.

The two ratmen escorting him were only level 10.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kong,"

A voice, tinged with apology, came from behind the curtain, "Nios said your system has a detection function. I was afraid you wouldn't come, so I used a little trick. Please come in."

Kong Jiu's expression turned serious.

Methods to evade detection?

Does the person behind the door know Neos?

His thoughts raced, and after a moment's deliberation, he finally took a deep breath, pulled back the curtain, and went inside.

Behind the curtain, the pale green fluorescent light was replaced by a softer, more fluorescent gray-green glow.

The cave was remarkably clean and tidy, with dry walls, a stark contrast to the damp and filthy sewer environment outside, as if they were two different worlds.

Kong Jiu hadn't taken more than a few steps when his eyes narrowed.

A creature came into view.

One, a huge rat?

No, that's not right. Looking at its round body and short limbs, it's more like... a hamster?

It lay languidly on a rather comfortable-looking velvet sofa, with a pair of large, curved ram horns on its head, and a small crown hanging from the horns that looked rather comical compared to its size.

Two small, beady eyes were staring intently at him, their gaze filled with scrutiny and curiosity.

"Uh, what is your name, Your Majesty, King Squich?"

Looking at this creature that could be described as "cute," Kong Jiu restrained his urge to pet it, demonstrating basic manners.

"Just an empty reputation."

The big hamster opened its mouth and waved its short paws, its dark eyes conveying disdain.

"I am also from that other world, but unfortunately, I was reborn as a giant rat. With a little bit of wit, I became the leader of the rat people, which is why they gave me the title of King Squich."

As it spoke, it jumped off the sofa, walked on two legs, and walked up to Kong Jiu, stretching out its paw... its front paw.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Arthur Chou Ke'er, King Squich, the embodiment of survival and chaos."

Kong Jiu hesitated slightly, but still reached out and grasped the furry paw.

"Kong Jiu, the Agent of Chaos,"

The giant hamster retracted its paws, its black bean eyes staring directly at Kong Jiu. "Neos conveyed to me your will to destroy the lower city."

Kong Jiu's face showed a look of astonishment: "Destroy the lower city? When did I...?"

The big hamster made a gesture to shut up.

"Don't rush, Kong,"

Its tone was calm. "You deny that you want to bring destruction. But you want to save people, you want the most people to live, right?"

Kong Jiu remained silent for a moment, then nodded, his eyes resolute.

"very good!"

The giant hamster exclaimed cheerfully, "Neos is right! We share the same goal: to bring chaos to the lower city and destroy that iron curtain in the sky!"