I am a hero of the former civilization.

It's common sense; of course, making money is the best option.

Ryan listened quietly, occasionally asking a question, and formed a general impression in his mind.

Indeed, morality and law are the first things to collapse. However, human beings are complex, and some people are born with a craving for disorder. As desires grow, this situation becomes more and more rampant.

A motley crew of all sorts of people gathered in the wasteland, their different ideologies clashing there. The attitude of the Moths was also ambiguous, which did not escape Ryan's notice.

Because, according to calculations, it would be entirely beneficial for the moths that chase the flame.

First, it's better to guide than to block. Let those who disagree out of the way to avoid infighting on your own turf. For example, let those who are overly liberal and self-righteous experience firsthand; it will definitely touch their souls.

Secondly, the supply of materials has been reduced, and the useless population has been disposed of in a reasonable and legal manner. Now, crimes committed in protected areas are punished very severely, just like Ryan was chased by the police for his life for damaging public property that day.

Anyone caught will be sentenced to prison, all for heavy physical labor. Escape is fine; feel free to try your luck in the abandoned areas.

Third, it is possible to obtain some data or materials without casualties, since these people's files have been deleted and they have long been missing persons, making it convenient to conduct human experiments.

It's just like the sewers of a normal human society, dumping all the dirty and chaotic things into them. No wonder the public security in major cities has improved.

Ryan gave a wry smile. After the Third Herrscher, the world was in turmoil for a while, but it has stabilized in just one year. Those above really are a bunch of old foxes.

The lawless zone has been designated. Except for a few people who want to challenge themselves with something difficult, there's absolutely no need to commit crimes in the protected area. Just turn left and you can kill whoever you want, do whatever you want.

'This is utterly morally corrupt and inhumane; they actually came up with such a despicable trick. But I have to admit, as despicable as it may be, it's quite effective.'

Without outlets for venting, society would have exploded long ago; it's just that it's also full of filth.

"You mean, you can bring people here and then take them back?"

"Sure, but the Moths of Fire are only allowed to leave, not return. Ordinary people who come out can't go back. Of course, some people with special status can come and go as they please, and they can even bring bodyguards." Copper Rust said with a sneer, lit another cigarette, and took out a few photos and threw them on the table.

"There are some unique services in the abandoned area that you can't enjoy here. They provide enough supplies and you can do anything. It's a bit better here. I heard that it's much more expensive to travel in Africa. Are you interested in learning more?"

“Not interested.” Ryan glanced at the photo and, despite his extensive knowledge, felt a little nauseous.

It's not one of those perverts looking for information about Honkai Beasts; it seems to be someone from the Moth Chaser.

Having roughly arrived at the result, Copper Rust became even more enthusiastic and said, "I'll get the things you wanted quickly. Scavengers know best where the inaccessible areas are. Besides, you've come to the right person. Running around on your own won't get you anywhere."

"How to say?"

"The Fire-Chasing Moths sent those humanoid monsters here, but after searching for a long time, they found nothing. There's a legend in Snow Prison Town." He cleared his throat and sang in a strange voice:

“A ghost roams the snowfield. It has countless eyes and ears. When you search for it, you find nothing. When you worship it, it appears before you again.”

Ryan stood quietly, repeating his words in his mind: the humanoid monster must refer to the Fusion Warrior, which was most likely a Honkai Beast.

Is it related to spirituality? And what about worship?

Where did this song originate?

Copper Rust didn't hide it, raising his hand to point to a certain spot. Ryan looked over and saw a figure in a long robe whispering to a customer.

He might anger someone, get punched to the ground, or have someone spit in his face, but he doesn't fight back; he just silently gets up and walks to the next person.

The silence within this frenzied nightclub felt eerily mysterious.

"That is?"

A hint of disgust appeared on Copper Rust's face as he shook his head and said, "A madman. Madmen are everywhere here."

......

It was late at night, and the lights in the room were flickering, a sign of unstable voltage. The room was cramped, containing only a bed, a square table, and a smelly toilet.

This is the best hotel in Snow Prison Town. It costs thirty bullets or two cans of food for a night. Ryan washed his face, sat down at the square table, and listened to the panting sounds from next door.

After a day there, he had a general idea of ​​what the abandoned zone was like. It was a paradise for venting desires and negative emotions, the sewers of the world. But when he thought about it carefully, it was better than the survivors in the occupied zone.

At least the Honkai disease hasn't spread yet, so there's still a chance to survive.

Ryan is hardly a champion of justice; as a calm and rational person, he knows that playing the saint is pointless.

He cannot conjure up enough food to feed all of humanity, nor can he create a better system. To be more precise, he cannot even distinguish who is good and who is bad.

The one who can make judgments is 'God,' while he, Ryan, is just a human being.

"Forget it, I should think about my own affairs. According to the information from Copper Rust, this snowfield is not so simple. No matter how powerful the force is, it will only be effective if it hits the enemy."

Ryan guessed that there was a strange Honkai Beast, like an early warning radar, monitoring the Honkai energy reaction in the area, and hiding when it detected the appearance of a Fusion Warrior.

For a moment, he felt it was a bit troublesome and had the idea of ​​hunting in a different place, but he quickly abandoned the idea.

"Honkai Beasts with unknown abilities... no, this area is filled with an unknown aura. It's really interesting."

This, on the contrary, fueled his desire to explore. After all, Ryan's destiny was not simply about killing and competing to see who could contribute more. He preferred the subtle 'counter-effect' of Honkai.

It is difficult to understand, yet it constantly brings surprises, and it is all the more necessary for humanity to explore it.

Those fanatical believers are not so simple. Theoretically speaking, they cannot possibly have any connection with Honkai Beasts, but nothing is absolute.

Ryan was thinking about this when he suddenly heard a knock on the door. He frowned, got up to open the door, and after thinking for a moment, even drew his loaded pistol.

The door opened a crack, and he immediately saw a girl standing in the doorway, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with chestnut hair, delicate features, and wearing a white dress and gray tights.

She seemed very cold, forcibly controlling her trembling body, and forced a smile: "Sir, would you like some service?"

Chicken Girl?

Ryan glanced at her and shook his head: "No."

As he was saying this, he closed the door, only to see a small black leather shoe blocking the crack. Just as he was getting impatient, he heard the girl's pleading voice.

"Please have mercy, if I don't get any business tonight, I'll be sold to a tavern."

"Does it make any difference?"

“When you go out to work, at least you have the right to choose. If you stay there, you have to take on even the most outrageous customers.”

This... is really realistic.

Ryan glanced at the girl outside the door again, this time more carefully, and turned slightly to the side.

"come in."

The girl smiled with relief and hurriedly squeezed into the room. She was obviously very familiar with the layout of the room, and immediately found the bed, took off her coat, and revealed her fair skin.

Her movements were practiced. As soon as Ryan turned his head, he saw that the girl had taken off all but her underwear, revealing her thin and pale back, which was covered with many scars.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

The girl turned around blankly. Her breasts weren't large, but they were perky because of her age. Her stockings had many frayed seams. She tilted her head and it took her a while to react.

"Do you prefer to do this while dressed?"

"I have no intention of doing anything with you."

Why did you invite me in? To chat?

The girl blinked, and Ryan was too lazy to play guessing games with her anymore.

"Put your clothes on, sit down here, and have a chat with me." Ryan opened a can of luncheon meat and added, "We can eat and talk."

What kind of strange fetish is this? This man seems a bit perverted.

The girl was a little wary; the man seemed mysterious. But when she saw the canned food, she swallowed hard and hurriedly put on her clothes.

The room lights were still flickering. Ryan sat on a tattered chair, chatting casually with the girl.

Her name is Christie. She had just graduated from high school when the Third Honkai Impact occurred. She used to live in Harvet in the east, and then her whole family fled to Gothenburg when the Firemoths retreated.

Unfortunately, none of her family members obtained residency rights. In addition, her mother contracted Honkai disease and was kept outside the city. They were also swindled out of all their savings by scammers.

Seeing that things were not progressing, her father took his family away again, intending to try his luck in the next city.

Then, on the road, the cold, bandits, and Honkai Beasts took the lives of her entire family. She wandered to Snow Prison Town, and there's not much to say after that.

Her body was her only asset; only by selling her body could she obtain food and shelter, and everything was perfectly logical.

Ryan fell silent. All of these things happened within a year, enough to overturn a person's values ​​and destiny.

"Haven't you thought about what to do in the future?"

“Sir, I have no future. I can only recall my past life in my dreams.” The girl’s smile was somewhat numb and miserable. She pointed to the empty can. “My future is to eat as much as possible, not get sick, and meet a kind customer like you.”

Life has become nothing but inertia.

Ryan nodded and asked, "So that's why you went to that church seeking salvation? Don't you hate the Honkai?"

“I hate it, but there’s nothing I can do. I’m not the only one who’s experienced this. Gothenburg or other cities will be the same. I have to pray for them.”

"Pray for what?"

"They were killed directly by the Honkai, unlike me, who didn't have the courage to die and could only struggle in hell. As the priest said, in this kind of world, a direct and decisive death is a blessing."

Christina's eyes were vacant, numb, and unsettling to look at. From a psychological perspective, anyone who experiences a dramatic change in a short period of time will more or less become abnormal.

Ryan shifted his gaze slightly. He had no intention of arguing. He hadn't let the girl in with the intention of playing the saint, and the reason was quite simple.

He sensed a faint sense of decay emanating from the other person.

Chapter 162 My Pioneering Path

Ryan wasn't a busybody; in other words, he was very self-aware.

He could certainly use his authority to send the girl back to her previous life, but he couldn't heal her psychological trauma, much less save all those who had similar experiences.

He couldn't do it, the Thirteen Heroes couldn't do it, and even the Moth Chasing the Flame couldn't do it.

So Ryan didn't think much of it, nor did he refute the other party by saying something like, "You shouldn't turn hatred into love."

The future is like an abyss, so he only focuses on the present, such as the abnormal Honkai energy on the girl.

How many times a week do you go to church?

"Twice. I could sleep there. It was too noisy to go back to the shop. Sometimes I would be woken up to help me while I was sleeping."

"Just sleeping?"

"Ah."

Ryan stared into her pale blue eyes, making sure she wasn't lying, but he couldn't help but wonder to himself.

That's strange. Could it be an error in the instrument?

He secretly measured it with a detector and found that the girl's Honkai energy was a few percentage points higher than that in the air. She wasn't a Honkai disease patient, and generally speaking, this kind of energy shouldn't appear in an ordinary person.