Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Boxing Gym

When John woke up, it was already nearing midnight.

The metal grating let in the neon lights, and outside the window, Eden City was gradually boiling up. Compared to its lifeless daytime, the night seemed more inviting.

Vehicle engines roared, building equipment echoed, hovercars vibrated as they skimmed past skyscrapers…

John drew open the grating curtains, dressing while looking outside—the massive projected advertisements soared skywards, continually climbing along the sides of high-rises, while hovercars sped along the city’s circular tracks. In the shadows below were all sorts of insomniacs.

Midnight radio, glitz and glamour.

Though the city after dark was noisier than during the day, it inexplicably brought John a sense of peace.

The room’s temperature was comfortable, and the pillar-like projector was spinning, displaying various company product information. The song list had ended, the sound system jumped to late-night radio, and some third-rate small-time host was yelling into the microphone.

“Good night, or good morning, I’m Roy, dammit you scumbags (alcohol hiccup), in five minutes we’re going live…”

“Quickly think about where today’s clients are, are you turning a profit in this blood-licking business? Remember to check your gear and bring some shock to this beautiful city.”

“Look up, Eden City’s sky is always black, the lamps at the strip club might as well be lighting your ass, and you still haven’t crawled out of your drug den. Living by night, going crazy upgrade, falling with the gunfire… Yeah, baby, this is what living f*cking means.”

“If you ain’t got work, I’ve only got time for the cyber psychos in the midnight zone. Honestly, I expect nothing from this shitty life, let’s destroy it quick.”

“Time’s up, let’s see who’s the lucky one. Ready to flirt with sexy Roy?”

A frantic female voice came through the speakers.

“F*ck squid, Roy, you filthy b*tch. You really ought to suck my…”

“Alright, alright, alright.”

Host Roy calmly lowered the volume. “Eden City’s listeners are still so energetic. I hope you all die horrible deaths, next caller.”

…

The captain had already delivered the goods.

John swept away the loot collected by the Black Spider, slightly compensating for the deficit caused by today’s mad spending. The account balance felt a bit more secure.

He picked up a samurai sword named Gambler, deciding to visit the Bolago Club.

The largest mall in the West District.

Last time John went to the north parking lot, also a pathway to the VIP casino and high-end consumption areas—further inside requires a membership authorization card.

He walked through the fountain bar, along the infinity pool to the inner dance hall, where he saw various celebrities of Eden City crowded together, twisting and laughing.

Bodyguards and waiters were mingling.

The venue manager was dressed like a duck—white gloves and slicked-back hair, beautifully slender muscles, and the prosthetic body face most beloved by the rich women on the market.

Today there was no prosthetic body auction, no top-tier silver parties, nor any boss booking the venue for a birthday, just some ordinary monthly activities…

Nothing really interesting.

John took the elevator back to the front plaza, standing amidst the crowd, looking up at the layers of shopping districts and stores—rock bands, street racing events, gang members clustered together.

He breathed in the air mingled with e-cigarettes and industrial waste, seemingly rediscovering his true self.

Influenced by the Black Gold Gang…

Graffitied walls and gym equipment placed in the corners were common, and muscle bindings and alloy bones adorned the light signs.

John pulled up his hoodie, his agitation calming somewhat, surrounded by various-sized boxing gyms where one could faintly hear the sounds of workout and fights.

He carried the single-molecule samurai sword, ready to purchase some close combat modules and chips specialized for blades.

Originally, he was supposed to contact a cabinet or visit the weapons store previously, but the cabinet said this stuff is specialized, better to walk around club areas for good goods.

John was standing before an ad sign when he suddenly received a text from a stranger.

[New Contact Created—Macao Imwe]

[Hey John, I got your contact from Mr. Vito, we met at the office. Thank you for rescuing my sister…um, that’s Gino. I have a boxing gym near the Bolago Club perimeter, feel free to drop by.]

Seeing the attached coordinates, not far off, he headed through a bulb-faded corridor, going to take a look.

[Shop—Bandage Boxing Gym]

“Hey, John.”

Gino tossed a white towel over her shoulder, punching a metal dummy beside the boxing ring.

John smiled as he greeted her. “Hacker chick not soaking in the deep dive pool, switched to odd jobs?”

“Ha, you think I like wiping muscle guys’ stinky sweat here? Karma, John, Macao locked my equipment room.”

Gino swiped two bottles of drinks on the vending machine, tossing one to John. “Here you go, did you get the gift?”

“That EMP was f*cking awesome.”

John sincerely admired her. “Your modification skills are wicked, can someone really lock up your work room?”

“If you care enough, lock it they can.”

Gino shrugged, continuing to return misplaced equipment to its place, wiping sweat off the leather. “This boxing gym raised me.”

Macao was on the ring giving guidance; seeing John, he sent the boxers away.

“John, you came quick.”

“Just out for a stroll.”

“Hmm, is that a samurai sword? F*ck, is it a custom from Raqi Industry, you’re loaded, buddy.”

“Remains of an Owl Town traitor.”

John sat down with him on the side.

The inside of Bolago Club was interconnected; the boxing gym and other shops are semi-open, without actual partitions or doors, no need to lock up, as long as you know whose territory it is.

Macao could wave and get the bikini babes at the opposite bar to deliver beer and snacks; hearing John wanted combat chips and blade modules, he called his acquaintance.

John followed him drilling into the mall corners.

Macao said the stores and supermarkets exposed outside would offer numerous basic weapons, but things were similar to what fell out of vending machines.

They might satisfy street thugs, but absolutely couldn’t provide something worthy of rare blades, professional weapon shops only serve finer clientele.

Macao greeted a half-faced-burned black burly man with gang hand gestures, then started introducing.

“This is the man who saved Gino, John. If you follow Eden City news, you’d know about the high-profile Eisenberg Silver Rider he drives.”

[Street Credit Increased↑]

[Black Market Unlocked More Goods]

The shop owner smiled, pulling his metal arm out from under his armpit, shaking John’s hand fiercely.

“Got some good stuff for you, come.”

John followed through, passing the adult toy boutique, avoiding two security doors with scanners, entering a room filled with rock music.

An entire wall full of various melee weapons.

From tactical daggers to metal bats, some individual weapons were independently hung on pegboards for regular maintenance.

Rumored to be used by street celebrities, part of the weapon shop owner’s collection.

The black burly man brought out two long sealed boxes, inside were numerous chips and modules, all equipped in separate slots.

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