The Decaying Dream of America: I Assemble Corpses and Confront Madness

The safe house was filled with a strong smell of medicine. Maria was treating Arthur's wounds, and Evelyn was treating Lin Zheng's wounds.

Arthur sat on the old sofa, shirtless, with a small patch of blood seeping through the bandage on his left shoulder.

Lin Zheng gritted his teeth, his brows furrowed, as Evelyn's cool fingertips gently and skillfully applied the ointment to his skin.

"hiss--"

"Does it hurt a lot?" Evelyn asked with concern.

"It doesn't hurt. In ancient times, there were beauties to add fragrance to one's life; now, there are beautiful women to apply medicine to one's body. How could it hurt? I was just hungry; I'm starving."

Evelyn chuckled twice and patted Lin Zheng on the shoulder.

Then came another long hiss, followed by a hiccup.

"Ugh, I've had too much to drink." Lin Zheng covered his mouth and shook his head.

Shadow reported to them through his earpiece in his characteristically cold voice.

"I've compiled a preliminary structural diagram of the consortium from the data from the factory." The shadowy voice had a low, distorted, electronically synthesized tone.

"In Emerald Dream City, Martinez is merely an outermost executor, a contractor reaping profits from the bottom up."

On the screen, a complex, spiderweb-like organizational chart gradually unfolds, with red lines connecting blurry company names with certain police station codes.

"I call them the 'Flesh and Blood Capital Union'," Shadow continued.

"From collection and processing to sales, a complete gray industry chain has been formed."

"Do you think Frank is credible?"

Arthur suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse.

"His warning this time was too coincidental."

"Then do you still believe him?" Lin Zheng asked Arthur.

"His path to where he is today wasn't entirely clean," Arthur sighed. "But he was also once my student."

"Martinez, his ruthlessness, his will, his execution... are all too similar to those who have come from the battlefield, reminding me of the 'Surgeon' from back then."

"That's the case where Arthur was fired, the code name of the killer in a series of disappearances," Evelyn explained, her voice a little hoarse.

"He not only processed human flesh, but was also skilled at peeling off human skin and turning it into collectibles."

Arthur's voice was low and filled with suppressed anger.

"I tracked him for three years, but the leads always went cold at crucial moments. Then, I was ordered by my superiors to close the case; any further investigation was..."

"So, Martinez was either shipping the goods for him, or his apprentice, or it was just a coincidence?" Lin Zheng guessed.

"Their methods are similar, but Martinez's cruelty is more direct and efficient, lacking the morbid sense of ritual of a 'surgeon'."

"He's more like an executor, a tool in human skin."

Lin Zheng understood what Arthur wanted to say.

This was not a baseless speculation, but rather an inadvertent capture of fleeting images from the deceased's memories when he used Sam's finger bone as evidence to pour out the remnants of his dream in the factory.

The warehouses were numbered, and a group of silent figures, carrying scalpels similar to those of Martinez, skillfully cutting through the "flesh and blood."

Meanwhile, on that high platform, behind the shadows, some people are enjoying a feast of flesh and blood.

That wasn't just Martinez's madness; it was an organized, ruthless slaughter chain.

"Behind him stands an even bigger shadow."

Arthur looked at Lin Zheng, his tone firm.

"Now, our target isn't just Martinez anymore, kid."

"We must find that shadow and completely overturn it!"

Lin Zheng clenched his fist.

"Frank's message says the 'Viper Gang' will be conducting a large-scale 'flesh trade' at the old docks tonight," Arthur said, pointing to an area marked with an X on the map.

"How credible is it?" Evelyn asked.

"The factory has just been turned upside down by us, so it's impossible for Martinez to resume large-scale supply to the people behind it so quickly."

"It seems more like he set a trap for us, trying to lure us out."

"So what should we do?" Evelyn asked, frowning.

"Let's play along." A cold glint flashed in Lin Zheng's eyes.

Shadow's voice came through the headset, tinged with excitement: "I can create some false information online to lure the enemy out."

"If Martinez really thinks we'll show up at the old docks, he'll definitely move most of his men there."

"Then our real goal is..." Evelyn's voice carried a hint of hesitation.

"Martinez's stronghold," Arthur and Lin Zheng said in unison.

Their eyes met in the air, reaching a silent consensus.

"This is a decapitation strike."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Arthur's mouth.

"We must get rid of this bastard once and for all."

Lin Zheng walked to his backpack, took out his scalpel, and felt a sense of security as he gripped the cold handle.

He carefully wiped the blade with a clean cloth until it reflected a chilling gleam in the dim light.

Evelyn checked the supplies in the first-aid kit, then took out a pistol and a magazine from a hidden cabinet and handed them to Lin Zheng.

"Glock 17, 19-round high-capacity magazine, just in case," she said, her eyes filled with worry.

Arthur walked to the window, opened it a crack, and the night outside was as dark as ink.

"Jack Morrison, the second-in-command of the 'Viper Gang'," Arthur said in a deep voice, "He will be Martinez's main man."

"Intelligence data shows that he was formerly a Navy SEAL and has a high level of tactical expertise."

The three then discussed the evacuation route, signal transmission methods, and contingency plans in case things got out of control.

He knew that this night's actions would completely change everything, bringing an end to life or death... or perhaps, opening a deeper nightmare.

Deep in the slums, the night poured down like thick ink, enveloping Martinez's heavily guarded residence.

Lin Zheng and Arthur moved like ghosts through the narrow alleys, avoiding the occasional barking of dogs and the figures of street patrollers.

The air was filled with the stench and dampness unique to slums, mixed with a faint smell of blood.

Evelyn reported in a low voice into her earpiece: "The sound of gunfire is coming from the direction of the old docks. The Shadow's false intelligence worked. Jack Morrison has led most of his men there."

"Well done," Arthur replied in a low voice, his knuckles white as he gripped his revolver.

His steps were somewhat stiff due to his shoulder injury, but he did not stop, his eyes fixed on the front.

Lin Zheng followed closely behind, his scalpel and pistol barely visible beneath his coat.

Finally, they arrived at the outskirts of Martinez's residence.

It was a two-story brick building with windows sealed with sheet metal, allowing only faint light to seep through the cracks in the door.

"There are two people at the entrance, standing very close together," Lin Zheng said in a low voice.

He used his ability to "deconstruct reality" to see the location of the sentry post.

"I'll go left, you go right." Arthur drew the dagger from his waist and silently lunged into the darkness.

Lin Zheng followed closely behind, cleanly and efficiently severing the target's neck with a scalpel, avoiding any accidents.

He has gradually learned to get used to killing.

Push open the heavy iron gate.

Under the dim lighting, the room, though luxuriously furnished, was filled with an atmosphere of violence and oppression.

Martinez sat in a worn-out armchair in the center of the room, toying with his hunting rifle in his hand, a strange smile on his face. He had long anticipated the arrival of the two men.

"I knew it, you rats would come. Great flesh and blood guided me." Martinez held his shotgun in front of him and slowly stood up.

"Do you want to beg for mercy now? If you beg me, I will give you a quick death before I sacrifice you."

His eyes held a mocking air of complete control.

Lin Zheng felt a chill run down his spine; Martinez's calmness made him even more uneasy.

Without a word, Arthur raised his revolver.

"Bang!"

The bullets whistled out, but Martinez dodged them nimbly.

His eyes instantly turned bloodthirsty.

He picked up the shotgun and pulled the trigger.

"boom!"

The gunfire was deafening. Lin Zheng and Arthur quickly dodged, and the bullets left a huge crater in the wall behind them.

Then Martinez chased after the two men and fired wildly.

This is a battle with no way out.

Lin Zheng activated [Real Deconstruction], and the entire room instantly transformed into countless interwoven structural lines in his eyes.

He saw every contraction and every exertion of Martinez's muscles, as well as the obvious distortion of the structural lines at the site of his old injury.

Martinez is indeed physically strong, but he has a deep, old wound on his left side that exposes the bone, which is his weakness.

"His left rib!"

Upon hearing this, Arthur immediately adjusted his attack strategy.

He used the terrain to his advantage, skillfully maneuvering Martinez and constantly looking for that fleeting opening.

Martinez roared and threw down his shotgun, throwing a punch at Arthur, who narrowly dodged it.

Arthur ducked to avoid it, and the dagger in his hand grazed Martinez's left rib.

The pain caused Martinez's body to stiffen for a moment.

It's now!

Lin Zheng rushed forward instantly, his scalpel drawing an arc in the air.

But Martinez, facing the sudden scalpel, gave a strange smile, seemingly oblivious to the attack.

He aimed at Martinez's exposed old wound and plunged the blade in without mercy.

The expected screams and cries of pain did not come out.

He gripped Lin Zheng's shoulders tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh, while his other hand produced a deformed, bloody piece of flesh.

Without hesitation, he swallowed it, and as soon as his throat moved, a strange thing happened!

Martinez's tumor had begun to swell and deform. Lin Zheng was about to pull out the scalpel stuck between his ribs when it was instantly swallowed up by the proliferating flesh and blood.

Lin Zheng struggled desperately, paying the price of a bloodied right arm, before finally breaking free from the mutated Martinez.

[Real Deconstruction] The structural lines from before gradually disappear from view, replaced by a single structural point on the skull.

"Arthur! Attack the head!" Lin Zheng shouted angrily as he quickly retreated.

Without hesitation, Arthur quickly pulled the trigger, firing his revolver in rapid succession, bringing American Iaijutsu to its fullest potential.

But when the bullet hit the other person's head, it produced a metallic sound, leaving only a few burn marks that quickly disappeared.

"You think you can kill me!"

Named Martinez, he was actually a hideous mass of flesh and blood with a metallic sheen, roaring wildly.

This inhuman posture evokes a sense of overwhelming despair and fear just by looking at it.

The opponent turned around, stomped on the floor, and crashed into Arthur like a cannonball.

Arthur tried his best to dodge, but even a mere glancing blow sent him flying backward, crashing into the furniture and wooden wall behind him amidst a huge noise and dust.

"Arthur!" Lin Zheng drew his pistol from his waist and aimed at the structure of Arthur's skull, trying to attract Martinez's attention.

Martinez, no, that monstrous mass of flesh and blood, turned around and charged at Lin Zheng again, shielding himself with his arm.

Lin Zheng's marksmanship was too poor due to his lack of professional training. Facing the obvious weaknesses of the skull structure, he fired nine rounds from the nineteen-round high-capacity magazine of the Glock 17, but only two of them hit the head.

"Arthur!"

Faced with the rushing lump of flesh, Lin Zheng had no choice but to leave the room and go downstairs.

The concrete stairs slightly hindered the flesh-and-blood monster's progress, but it immediately smashed the stairs to pieces and continued charging towards Lin Zheng.

The Glock 17's stopping power is for ordinary humans, not for facing a metallic, fleshy monster like this.

Lin Zheng fired the remaining ten shots, but it only caused the opponent to pause slightly.

The devastating sounds of destruction echoed through the slums.

If a winner cannot be determined quickly, death will come for Lin Zheng and Arthur.

Arthur Morgan groaned as he struggled to his feet, coughing up blood. Several of his ribs were broken, and grit rubbed between his fingers, drawing blood.

"Arthur!"

The shouts from downstairs brought Arthur back to his senses. He crouched down, dug through the rubble, and found the shotgun with three rounds still in the magazine.

Arthur stumbled down the ruined stairs and saw Lin Zheng had just finished firing his Glock 17 and was now out of commission.

"Lin! Catch the gun!"

Arthur abruptly threw the shotgun to Lin Zheng.

Facing the fleshy monster charging towards him, Lin Zheng advanced instead of retreating, leaping to the side to catch the gun, and aiming at the monster's skull structure points under the [Realistic Deconstruction] view.

Three shots in quick succession!

The monster's head was blasted to pieces, with bone fragments flying everywhere and blood splattering all over the place.

The air was filled with the smells of gunpowder, sweat, and blood.

If Lin Zheng hadn't possessed the ability of [True Deconstruction], the two of them would have been torn to shreds by this fleshy monster.

A surge of adrenaline coursed through Lin Zheng's body, and he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Lin Zheng got up and helped Arthur up; the two of them limped out the back door.

The slums were shrouded in the glow of firelight, which, combined with the shouts of battle, made the night seem even more eerie.

Martinez's men reacted quickly and were on their way.

Guided by the shadow, Lin Zheng and Arthur quickly retreated, avoiding a possible counterattack from Martinez's remaining men.

Scattered gunshots rang out from the slums, punctuated by distant cries.

They hid in a dark alley, and Evelyn's voice sounded anxious through the earpiece.

"Are you safe? It's chaos over there. Maria's clinic... it's burned down."

"After they found Martinez dead and couldn't find you, they burned down Maria's clinic first."

Evelyn's voice trembled with panic and tears.

"Then infighting broke out within the Viper Gang. Some said it was Jack Morrison who did it, while others said it was to avenge Martinez."

In the power vacuum, the Viper Gang descended into chaos.

All that remains are the ashes of ruins and the emptiness of loss.

However, Lin Zheng sensed a feeling that the "inhuman hunger" had generated a gratifying and twisted sense of satisfaction because of this killing.

In another dark corner, Jack Morrison stood before Martinez's body, his cap pulled low, obscuring his eyes.

Behind him, Martinez's remaining men were engulfed in chaotic arguments and cries.

Jack Morrison didn't speak; he simply stared silently at Martinez's body.

His eyes were filled with sadness, yet he possessed an appalling calmness.

"Quiet!"

He slowly raised his hand, signaling his chaotic subordinates to quiet down.

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, instantly quelling all the commotion.

All eyes were on him.

He slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of completely expressionless eyes.

His gaze swept over each of his subordinates, carrying an invisible sense of oppression.

"Find them, at all costs."

Jack Morrison whispered, word by word.

"Let them taste what true despair is."