You are reading the series:
Chapter 527 – Friends, huh?
Chapter 526 – Success
Chapter 525 – Angry Aria
Chapter 524 – Taking a Bit of Blood
Chapter 523 – Sharing a Life
Chapter 522 – Establishing Authority
Chapter 521 – The Yearly Meeting Starts
Chapter 520 – No Resistance
Chapter 519 – It’s Over!
Chapter 518 – Assassination
Chapter 517 – Desperation of the Upper Layer
516 Chapter 516 – Truth of the World Nick asked for a couple of names from Aria and cross-referenced them with the black book. Sure enough, none of t
Chapter 515 – Peaceful Protest
Chapter 514 – Classified Code
Chapter 513 – Trapdoor
Chapter 512 – A Surprise
Chapter 511 – Tyranny
Chapter 510 – Ten Times the Manufacturers
Chapter 509 – Tax Change
Chapter 508 – Fall of Corruption
Chapter 507 – Construction
Chapter 506 – Announcement
Chapter 505 – Ghosty’s Insight
Chapter 504 – Birth of Sky Dream
Chapter 503 – Dark Dream’s End
Chapter 502 – Simon Leaves
Chapter 501 – Markus
Chapter 500 – Do You Accept?
Chapter 499 – Goodbye, Julian
Chapter 498 – Look at This City
Chapter 497 – Difference
Chapter 496 – Liaison
Chapter 495 – Zephyx Manipulation
Chapter 494 – Night
Chapter 493 – Dusk
Chapter 492 – The Champion
Chapter 491 – Halls of Remembrance
Chapter 490 – Flying Over the Ocean
Chapter 489 – The Desolate Continent
Chapter 488 – Interrogation
Chapter 487 – The Risky Plan
Chapter 486 – Sniper Duel
Chapter 485 – Chaos
Chapter 484 484 – Unexpected Surprise
Chapter 483 483 – Ally
Chapter 482 482 – Not Everything
Chapter 481 481 – The Same Thing
Chapter 480 480 – Stressful Stealth
Chapter 479 – 479 – New Ability
Chapter 478 – 478 – The Big Negotiation
Chapter 477 – 477 – Surrounded by Danger
Chapter 476 – 476 – Sincerity
Chapter 475 – 475 – Meeting with Ghosty
Chapter 474 – 474 – Finalizing the Plan
Chapter 473 – 473 – Streak of Black
Chapter 472 – 472 – Expert
Chapter 471 – 471 – Vision
Chapter 470 – 470 – Endless White
Chapter 469 – 469 – Eternity
Chapter 468 – 468 – Deepest Darkness
Chapter 467 – 467 – The Fiend of Darkness
Chapter 466 – 466 – Taking a Risk
Chapter 465 – 465 – Rhombus
Chapter 464 – 464 – Getting the Elixir
Chapter 463 – 463 – The Death Pact
Chapter 462 – 462 – Elixir
Chapter 461 – 461 – Could you?
Chapter 460 – 460 – Control
Chapter 459 – 459 – Voted Suicide
Chapter 458 458 – Who Accepts?
Chapter 457 457 – Selling Specters
Chapter 456 456 – Dark Dream Becoming Powerful
Chapter 455 455 – Covered Up
Chapter 454 454 – Dark Future
Chapter 453 453 – Two Years
Chapter 452 452 – Plan for the Future
Chapter 451 451 – Ten out of Ten
Chapter 450 450 – Regretful Ability
Chapter 449 449 – What’s the Time?
Chapter 448 448 – Double Deal
Chapter 447 447 – Eye Contact
Chapter 446 446 – Another Blood Specter
Chapter 445 445 – The Red Tub
Chapter 444 444 – Eternal Abilities
Chapter 443 443 – The Dark Room
Chapter 442 442 – The Berry Bush
Chapter 441 441 – Working More Than 24 Hours in a Day
Chapter 440 440 – Old Acquaintance
Chapter 439 439 – Long Day at Work
Chapter 438 438 – Governor’s Crossroads
Chapter 437 437 – Surrender
Chapter 436 436 – Corals
Chapter 435 435 – Strings
Chapter 434 434 – High-level Battle
Chapter 433 433 – Manipulator
Chapter 432 432 – The Battle Begins
Chapter 431 431 – Bait
Chapter 430 430 – Two People
Chapter 429 429 – The Three
Chapter 428 428 – Most Likely
Chapter 427 427 – Mundus Stairwell
Chapter 426 426 – Useful Only on Paper
Chapter 425 425 – Ratio
Chapter 424 424 – The Gambler
Chapter 423 423 – Blood Cat
Chapter 422 422 – The Bitch
Chapter 421 421 – Difficult Work
Chapter 420 420 – The Blaze
Chapter 419 419 – Servant
Chapter 418 418 – Coral People
Chapter 417 417 – Mission
Chapter 416 416 – Welcome to Dark Dream!
Chapter 415 415 – Many Ways
Chapter 414 414 – Irwin
Chapter 413 413 – Irwin’s Fate
Chapter 412 412 – Shame
Chapter 411 411 – Disbelief
Chapter 410 410 – Unsavable Situation
Chapter 409 409 – Emotions Running High
Chapter 408 408 – Image
Chapter 407 407 – No Evidence
Chapter 406 406 – East
Chapter 405 405 – One Friend
Chapter 404 404 – Endless Blue
Chapter 403 403 – The Forbidden Zone
Chapter 402 402 – Jump
Chapter 401 401 – Deadweight
Chapter 400 400 – Roles
Chapter 399 399 – 18 Months
Chapter 398 398 – How Much Money in a Day?
Chapter 397 397 – Perception
Chapter 396 396 – The Talker
Chapter 395 395 – Funny Name
Chapter 394 394 – Final Specters
Chapter 393 393 – Moving Specters
Chapter 392 392 – The Floors
Chapter 391 391 – Start of the Move
Chapter 390 390 – The Yearly Meeting
Chapter 389 389 – Regular Topics
Chapter 388 388 – Significant Contribution
Chapter 387 387 – Solace’s Success
Chapter 386 386 – The Abductor
Chapter 385 385 – Talking with the New Specter
Chapter 384 384 – Hoard
Chapter 383 383 – Democratic Soldiers
Chapter 382 382 – Strong Leader
Chapter 381 381 – The Strongest Human
Chapter 380 380 – Champion of Light
Chapter 379 379 – Answers
Chapter 378 378 – The Envious Researcher
Chapter 377 377 – Private Meeting
Chapter 376 376 – Asking for a Meeting
Chapter 375 375 – The Old World
Chapter 374 374 – Payment Plan
Chapter 373 373 – Back at Dark Dream
Chapter 372 372 – Black Hair
Chapter 371 371 – Way Back
Chapter 370 370 – The Machine
Chapter 369 369 – The Ruin
Chapter 368 368 – Steel
Chapter 367 367 – Brave and Stupid
Chapter 366 366 – Silk
Chapter 365 365 – Dark Specter
Chapter 364 364 – The Mountain
Chapter 363 363 – The Desert
Chapter 362 362 – Small Slimes
Chapter 361 361 – Currently Busy
Chapter 360 360 – Not as I do
Chapter 359 359 – Could That Work?
Chapter 358 358 – Result of the Search
Chapter 357 357 – Searching
Chapter 356 356 – The Swallowing Swamp
Chapter 355 355 – The Corrosive Dust
Chapter 354 354 – The Infestation
Chapter 352 352 – Two Adversaries
Chapter 351 351 – The Outside
Chapter 350 350 – The Team
Chapter 349 349 – Adult Nick
Chapter 348 348 – Pressured to Leave
Chapter 347 347 – Manufacturer Problems
Chapter 346 346 – Hell Gates
Chapter 345 345 – Metal
Chapter 344 344 – They Are the Enemy
Chapter 343 343 – Argument
Chapter 342 342 – Discussion
Chapter 341 341 – Chatting with Albert
Chapter 340 340 – Albert’s House
Chapter 339 339 – The Upper Layer
Chapter 338 338 – Entrance
Chapter 337 337 – The Good of the City
Chapter 336 336 – A Visit
Chapter 335 335 – New CEO
Chapter 334 334 – Selling Dark Dream
Chapter 333 333 – Entering Anatomy
Chapter 332 332 – Congratulations
Chapter 331 331 – Exchange
Chapter 330 330 – Dispute
Chapter 329 329 – Contract
Chapter 328 328 – Goal
Chapter 327 327 – Death
Chapter 326 326 – The Situation
Chapter 325 325 – Want and Need
Chapter 324 324 – Wish
Chapter 323 323 – Hatred
Chapter 322 322 – Guilt
Chapter 321 321 – Friends
Chapter 320 320 – Investment
Chapter 319 319 – Apathy
Chapter 318 318 – Veteran
Chapter 317 317 – Preparing for Work
Chapter 316 316 – The Blinding Light
Chapter 315 315 – Young
Chapter 314 314 – Blood Wolf
Chapter 313 313 – Solace
Chapter 312 312 – Longevity
Chapter 311 311 – Zephosis
Chapter 310 310 – Wrapping Up
Chapter 309 309 – Back to Business
Chapter 308 308 – Retelling
Chapter 307 307 – Nick’s Fate
Chapter 306 306 – End of the Shift
Chapter 305 305 – Who?
Chapter 304 304 – Grips
Chapter 303 303 – End of the Ladder
Chapter 302 302 – Red World
Chapter 301 301 – Manual Labor
Chapter 300 300 – The Underside
Chapter 299 299 – Not As Valuable
Chapter 298 298 – Incident
Chapter 297 297 – Outsider
Chapter 296 296 – Busy
Chapter 295 295 – Status
Chapter 294 294 – Assessing
Chapter 293 293 – Red Wall
Chapter 292 292 – Crimson
Chapter 291 291 – Traitor!
Chapter 290 290 – The True City
Chapter 289 289 – Terror
Chapter 288 288 – The Red Mist
Chapter 287 287 – Suppression
Chapter 286 286 – The Big Barrier
Chapter 285 285 – The Red Sea
Chapter 284 284 – The Approaching Finale
Chapter 283 283 – The Screamer
Chapter 282 282 – Guards
Chapter 281 281 – Team Leaders
Chapter 280 280 – Office
Chapter 279 279 – Hole
Chapter 278 278 – Light Layer
Chapter 277 277 – Abnormality
Chapter 276 276 – Infiltration
Chapter 275 275 – Shadow Shroud
Chapter 274 274 – Assassinations
Chapter 273 273 – I Trust You
Chapter 272 272 – The Perpetrator
Chapter 271 271 – Frustrating
Chapter 270 270 – Scattering
Chapter 269 269 – Different Perspective
Chapter 268 268 – House
Chapter 267 267 – West to East
Chapter 266 266 – Specter Cage
Chapter 265 265 – Shots
Chapter 264 264 – New Home
Chapter 263 263 – The Can
Chapter 262 262 – Future Eternal
Chapter 261 261 – Mouths
Chapter 260 – The Prison
Chapter 259 259 – Caravan
Chapter 258 258 – Renegotiation
Chapter 257 257 – The Parasite’s Influence
Chapter 256 256 – Trade Offer
Chapter 255 255 – Honesty
Chapter 254 254 – Dreams
Chapter 253 253 – His City
Chapter 252 252 – Opening Up
Chapter 251 251 – Gloom
Chapter 250 250 – The End of the Incident
Chapter 249 249 – Shady Business
Chapter 248 248 – Unconscious
Chapter 247 247 – Troublemakers
Chapter 246 246 – Office Problems
Chapter 245 245 – Blood Horse and Blood Ancestor
Chapter 244 244 – Hyper Regeneration
Chapter 243 243 – Blood Hawk
Chapter 242 242 – Empath
Chapter 241 241 – New People
Chapter 240 240 – Special Containment Unit
Chapter 239 239 – The Money Sink
Chapter 238 238 – Monica
Chapter 237 237 – Can’t Tell
Chapter 236 236 – Reward
Chapter 235 235 – Secret Mission
Chapter 234 234 – Humanity and Cities
Chapter 233 233 – Conviction
Chapter 232 232 – Not the First
Chapter 231 231 – Simon Francium
Chapter 230 230 – Aegis
Chapter 229 229 – Conflict
Chapter 228 228 – Envy
Chapter 227 227 – The Captain
Chapter 226 226 – Arrested
Chapter 225 225 – Starving Child
Chapter 224 224 – Entering
Chapter 223 223 – Risk
Chapter 222 222 – Room
Chapter 221 221 – Where’s My Money?
Chapter 220 220 – Report
Chapter 219 219 – The Scary Outside
Chapter 218 218 – Shares
Chapter 217 217 – Power to Change
Chapter 216 216 – End of the Meeting
Chapter 215 215 – Taxes
Chapter 214 214 – Pressure
Chapter 213 213 – Governor
Chapter 212 212 – Last Person
Chapter 211 211 – Family
Chapter 210 210 – Nick Nick
Chapter 209 209 – Aria
Chapter 208 208 – Meeting Room
Chapter 207 207 – Seat
Chapter 206 206 – Chatting
Chapter 205 205 – Vernon
Chapter 204 204 – Specialist
Chapter 203 203 – Floors
Chapter 202 202 – Handshake
Chapter 201 201 – Many Layers
Chapter 200 200 – Capsule
Chapter 199 199 – Lower Layer
Chapter 198 198 – Horrifying World
Chapter 197 197 – The Layers
Chapter 196 196 – Abilities
Chapter 195 195 – Crushing the Puppy
Chapter 194 194 – Promotion
Chapter 193 193 – New Timetable
Chapter 192 192 – A Lot of Zephyx
Chapter 191 191 – Nothingness
Chapter 190 190 – Strengths and Weaknesses
Chapter 189 189 – New Ability
Chapter 188 188 – Captured
Chapter 187 187 – Elevated Status
Chapter 186 186 – Repelling Cell
Chapter 185 185 – Mutated Ability
Chapter 184 184 – John
Chapter 183 183 – Hatchlings
Chapter 182 182 – The Fog
Chapter 181 181 – 18
Chapter 180 180 – The Puppy
Chapter 179 179 – Six Months Later
Chapter 178 178 – The Dung Heap
Chapter 177 177 – First Day
Chapter 176 176 – Not a Problem
Chapter 175 175 – The Lover
Chapter 174 174 – Blood
Chapter 173 173 – The Bleeding Lady
Chapter 172 172 – Floors
Chapter 171 171 – New Home
Chapter 170 170 – Wrapping Things Up
Chapter 169 169 – Kill Me
Chapter 168 168 – Hospital
Chapter 167 167 – Splash
Chapter 166 166 – Floor
Chapter 165 165 – How?!
Chapter 164 164 – The Torturer
Chapter 163 163 – Protective Order
Chapter 162 162 – Offer
Chapter 161 161 – Tailing
Chapter 160 160 – Teaching
Chapter 159 159 – Useful Ability
Chapter 158 158 – Financial Situation
Chapter 157 157 – Going Back
Chapter 156 156 – The Truth
Chapter 155 155 – The Storage
Chapter 154 154 – Peddler Storage Token
Chapter 153 153 – Fear
Chapter 152 152 – Sneaking
Chapter 151 151 – Running
Chapter 150 150 – Sniper
Chapter 149 149 – Open
Chapter 148 148 – Plan?
Chapter 147 147 – Trickery
Chapter 146 146 – Nick’s Advice
Chapter 145 145 – Brothers Meet
Chapter 144 144 – Sarah’s Death
Chapter 143 143 – A Meeting
Chapter 142 142 – Green Powder
Chapter 141 141 – Investigation
Chapter 140 140 – Waiting
Chapter 139 139 – Three Months
Chapter 138 138 – A Job
Chapter 137 137 – First Week
Chapter 136 136 – Recovery
Chapter 135 135 – Playing
Chapter 134 134 – Men and Women
Chapter 133 133 – Two Methods
Chapter 132 132 – No Thinking
Chapter 131 131 – Whirlwind
Chapter 130 130 – Reynold
Chapter 129 129 – He’s a Great Guy
Chapter 128 128 – A Wager
Chapter 127 127 – Julian
Chapter 126 126 – Mask
Chapter 125 125 – Throws
Chapter 124 124 – Ghost Wire
Chapter 123 123 – Peak
Chapter 122 122 – Advantageous Disadvantage
Chapter 121 121 – Ability?
Chapter 120 120 – Collecting
Chapter 119 119 – Lesson
Chapter 118 118 – Manela
Chapter 117 117 – Special Law
Chapter 116 116 – Dung Heap
Chapter 115 115 – He Has Changed
Chapter 114 114 – Back to Work
Chapter 113 113 – Training
Chapter 112 112 – A Goal
Chapter 111 111 – Rotten
Chapter 110 110 – Therapy
Chapter 109 109 – Switched Places
Chapter 108 108 – Eternal Regret
Chapter 107 107 – The Corpse
Chapter 106 106 – It’s Over
Chapter 105 105 – Wake Up!
Chapter 104 104 – Taking a Risk
Chapter 103 103 – Difficult Choice
Chapter 102 102 – Spy
Chapter 101 101 – Perception
Chapter 100 100 – Distraction
Chapter 99 99 – Something to Do
Chapter 98 98 – A Long Morning
Chapter 97 97 – Effort
Chapter 96 96 – I’m Sorry
Chapter 95 95 – Burden
Chapter 94 94 – Favor
Chapter 93 93 – The Day
Chapter 92 92 – Drinks
Chapter 91 91 – Doing the Deed
Chapter 90 90 – What’s One More?
Chapter 89 89 – Pator
Chapter 88 88 – Ardum
Chapter 87 87 – Fist Weapon
Chapter 86 86 – Weapons
Chapter 85 85 – Barriers
Chapter 84 84 – Low Margins
Chapter 83 83 – Start-ups
Chapter 82 82 – The Manufacturers
Chapter 81 81 – Marketplace
Chapter 80 80 – Investing
Chapter 79 79 – Big Profits
Chapter 78 78 – Trevor
Chapter 77 77 – Watching the Coffin
Chapter 76 76 – The Second Specter
Chapter 75 75 – Screaming Coffin
Chapter 74 74 – One More
Chapter 353 353 – The Wall
Chapter 73 73 – Possession Specter
Chapter 72 72 – Trade Negotiations
Chapter 71 71 – Silent Work
Chapter 70 70 – Sustainable Help
Chapter 69 69 – Right Thing
Chapter 68 68 – Creating Corpses
Chapter 67 67 – Scary
Chapter 65 65 – So Difficult
Chapter 65 65 – So Difficult
Chapter 66 66 – Exchange
Chapter 65 65 – So Difficult
Chapter 64 64 – Profiting?
Chapter 63 63 – Sound
Chapter 62 62 – Competition
Chapter 61 61 – Ability Advancement
Chapter 60 60 – Adolescent
Chapter 59 59 – Levels
Chapter 58 – 58 – Growth
Chapter 57 – 57 – Ability
Chapter 56 – 56 – Successful Session
Chapter 55 – 55 – Jenny and the Dreamer
Chapter 54 – 54 – Dark Dream
Chapter 53 – 53 – Interview
Chapter 52 – 52 – Caregiver
Chapter 51 – 51 – Guilt
Chapter 50 – 50 – Diagnosis
Chapter 49 – 49 – Worry
Chapter 48 – 48 – Contemplation
Chapter 47 – 47 – Bad Guy
Chapter 46 – 46 – Responsibility
Chapter 45 – 45 – Liability
Chapter 44 – 44 – Horua and the Dreamer
Chapter 43 – 43 – I Want
Chapter 42 – 42 – Sightseeing
Chapter 41 – 41 – Quest for Food
Chapter 40 – 40 – Horua
Chapter 39 – 39 – Card
Chapter 38 – 38 – Murder
Chapter 37 – 37 – Finances
Chapter 36 – 36 – Bad Dream
Chapter 35 – 35 – Falling Asleep
Chapter 34 – 34 – Work
Chapter 33 – 33 – Charge
Chapter 32 – 32 – Stages
Chapter 31 – 31 – Old Lady
Chapter 30 – 30 – Negotiation
Chapter 29 – 29 – Acquaintance
Chapter 28 – 28 – Uniform
Chapter 27 – 27 – A Bath
Chapter 26 – 26 – Contained
Chapter 25 – 25 – Walking Back
Chapter 24 – 24 – Struggle
Chapter 23 – 23 – Run!
Chapter 22 – 22 – The Climb
Chapter 21 – 21 – Target
Chapter 20 – 20 – Too Much
Chapter 19 – 19 – The Second Swim
Chapter 18 – 18 – Nightmare
Chapter 17 – 17 – Rules of the Sewer
Chapter 16 – 16 – Ruins
Chapter 15 – 15 – Jumping In
Chapter 14 – 14 – The Dreamer
Chapter 13 – 13 – Job Offer
Chapter 12 – 12 – Morals
Chapter 11 – 11 – Where to Start?
Chapter 10 – 10 – Everything Prepared
Chapter 9 – 9 – Null
Chapter 8 – 8 – Kill The Sun
Chapter 7 – 7 – Specters
Chapter 6 – 6 – Wyntor Melfion
Chapter 5 – 5 – Young Man
Chapter 4 – 4 – Zephyx - Reading
Chapter 3 – 3 – Protecting Oneself
Chapter 2 – 2 – The Sign
Chapter 1 – 1 – Nick
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Chapter 4 – 4 – Zephyx Chapter 4: Chapter 4 – Zephyx
A bit later, three people walked out of the crowd.
All three of them were tall men with muscular bodies, and they were all wearing the same uniform.
It looked like a military uniform painted in black with grey sleeves.
This was the uniform of the Insurance Gang.
“Welcome,” the leader of the Insurance Gang said with a polite smile.
One of the five city agents just extended a hand like they were asking for something.
“Of course,” the leader said.
A moment later, he took out a suitcase, opened it, and handed it to the man.
Inside the suitcase were stacks upon stacks of credits in paper form.
The city agent counted the money, which took several minutes.
“474,” he spoke with a distorted voice.
When the leader of the Insurance Gang heard that, he became nervous, and his smile seemed more strained.
“Excuse me, but it should be 482,” he said. “Could you recount, please?”
“474,” the city agent repeated.
Silence.
The leader of the Insurance Gang looked at the person to the right of him and gestured with his head.
The guy quickly took out a couple more bills and handed them over.
The city agent counted them and nodded.
“482.”
The leader of the Insurance Gang also nodded.
A moment later, the three people walked to the side.
“One by one, come forward. You better not try to cheat us,” the leader of the Insurance Gang shouted.
A moment later, all the people with the black pins walked forward and passed by the three men from the Insurance Gang.
The Insurance Gang inspected all of them and collected the black pins from everyone that passed by.
By the end, 479 people had walked past them.
Then, the three people from the Insurance Gang followed them, making the total 482.
After that, four of the five city agents walked towards the less-crowded marketplace and commanded everyone to come forward one by one. The last of them waited in the back, making sure that no one was trying to sneak by them. 𝑟𝘢.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Next, all the people in the marketplace walked forward, handing over a stack of credits each.
Nick stood up and passed through the crowd.
A moment later, he stood in front of one of the people with the gasmasks.
Nick handed over a stack of bills and walked past them just like any other person in the marketplace.
After several minutes, only around 800 people were left in the marketplace.
When no one else stepped forward for several seconds, the fifth city agent stepped forward.
“Last call,” they shouted with a distorted voice. “Anyone not coming forward now will be considered as not able to pay.”
No one moved.
“Alright,” the man shouted. “As always, do not make any sudden movements, and don’t show any aggression. The mosquitos are all minions of the Blood Mosquito Specter, and they will not drink more than what you owe.”
The crowd of people became scared and nervous.
A moment later, the buzzing of the mosquitos intensified, and they flew forward.
The mosquitos scattered across the crowd and started to suck the blood of the people.
As time passed, mosquitos that had filled up flew away as new ones joined.
People were crying, hyperventilating, gritting their teeth, and praying.
Others had already grown used to it.
After around two minutes, all the mosquitos flew back to the five people in gasmasks.
The crowd of people had all become noticeably thinner and whiter.
Lastly, the mosquitos entered all the houses in the marketplace to make sure that no one was trying to hide.
And finally, the five people turned around and left the marketplace behind as they walked down another street.
It was over.
This happened every month on the last day.
Once a month, every citizen of Crimson Fungus City had to pay 100 credits to the city as tax.
One could only pay the tax in full or not at all. Partial payments were not permitted.
If one paid the tax, nothing would happen, but if one failed to pay the tax, they would need to pay with their blood.
A group of people accompanied by large swarms of sizable mosquitos walked through the Dregs once a month, and if a citizen wasn’t able to pay the tax, the swarm of mosquitos would fall onto the citizen.
The swarm of mosquitos would gather blood until a collective two liters had been gathered from adults.
Children below the age of 14 only needed to pay 50 credits or one liter of blood.
Children below the age of six didn’t need to pay taxes.
Naturally, losing two liters of blood wasn’t lethal, and the mosquitos were excellent at not inflicting injuries on the people while gathering blood.
However, recovering from something like that usually took six to eight weeks.
So, if a citizen didn’t manage to pay the tax next month as well, things would become dangerous.
Getting 100 credits in one month was nearly impossible for normal people living in the Dregs, but getting 100 credits over two months was manageable.
Because of that, around 50% of people paid blood one month, credits the next, and then blood again.
Of course, countless people had tried to fight their way out of paying taxes, but it always ended the same way.
With the person turning into a bloodless corpse.
In fact, the mosquitos weren’t accompanying the tax collectors, but the tax collectors were accompanying the mosquitos.
The tax collectors only came for two reasons.
They dealt with the money.
And they stopped people from panicking in front of the mosquitos.
If the mosquitos wanted, they could kill every living person in the Dregs in less than 10 minutes.
One had to know that there were over 2,000 people living in the Dregs.
It wasn’t that the mosquitos were very powerful but that there were literally millions of them, and every mosquito was bigger than a giant hornet.
Naturally, not all of the mosquitos accompanied the tax collectors. There were only around 100 following each tax collector, but if things became serious, millions of them would appear.
Even more, the mosquitos were the minions of a very powerful Specter, the Blood Mosquito.
The rat Nick had talked to two years ago was also a minion of a very powerful Specter called the Parasite.
Some Specters could control animals or create their own animals and control them. Their minions would share the perception of the Specter, and the Specter could also talk and act through the minions.
While nearly all Specters were the enemies of humanity, there were some Specters that cooperated and helped humanity.
The Blood Mosquito was one of them.
The Parasite was not.
The Blood Mosquito gained power by consuming human blood. Naturally, it could send some isolated mosquitos to gather blood from sleeping people, but if it overdid things, the truly powerful Zephyx Manufacturers would notice it and kill it.
So, the Blood Mosquito had decided to help humanity instead, and Crimson Fungus City was the perfect place.
Crimson Fungus City was named after the strongest Specter that was being confined inside the most prestigious Zephyx Manufacturer, the Crimson Fungus.
In contrast to nearly all powerful Specters, the Crimson Fungus was not intelligent.
As the name implied, the Crimson Fungus was just a huge fungus living inside a containment unit.
Just like the Blood Mosquito, the Crimson Fungus gained power by absorbing human blood.
But in return, the Crimson Fungus was creating electricity and, most importantly, Zephyx.
Zephyx could be used for basically everything.
It could be transformed into electricity, heat, movement, and so on, and it was extremely efficient at it.
Even more, Zephyx could also be used to increase the powers of Zephyx Extractors, and it could also be used to create powerful weapons that could deal with Specters.
The Crimson Fungus was the reason why the Blood Mosquito had chosen this city.
The Blood Mosquito would help the Zephyx Manufacturer in collecting the blood, and it would get to keep some of the blood in exchange.
The remaining blood would be sprinkled onto the Crimson Fungus, which would then produce Zephyx.
The Zephyx Extractors would collect the Zephyx, and they would be allowed to keep a bit of it as payment.
The Zephyx Manufacturer would then use the harvested Zephyx to increase the power of their company or sell it to other cities.
But if the Zephyx Manufacturer wanted to get bigger and earn even more money, they needed even stronger Specters.
And to get these even stronger Specters, they needed stronger Zephyx Extractors.
This was what Nick wanted to become.
Being a Zephyx Extractor meant being able to become powerful and having a better life.
Nick wanted to get out of the Dregs and finally live a better life.
Follow current novels on 𝑟𝘢.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Chapter 527 – Friends, huh?
Chapter 526 – Success
Chapter 525 – Angry Aria
Chapter 524 – Taking a Bit of Blood
Chapter 523 – Sharing a Life
Chapter 522 – Establishing Authority
Chapter 521 – The Yearly Meeting Starts
Chapter 520 – No Resistance
Chapter 519 – It’s Over!
Chapter 518 – Assassination
Chapter 517 – Desperation of the Upper Layer
516 Chapter 516 – Truth of the World Nick asked for a couple of names from Aria and cross-referenced them with the black book. Sure enough, none of t
Chapter 515 – Peaceful Protest
Chapter 514 – Classified Code
Chapter 513 – Trapdoor
Chapter 512 – A Surprise
Chapter 511 – Tyranny
Chapter 510 – Ten Times the Manufacturers
Chapter 509 – Tax Change
Chapter 508 – Fall of Corruption
Chapter 507 – Construction
Chapter 506 – Announcement
Chapter 505 – Ghosty’s Insight
Chapter 504 – Birth of Sky Dream
Chapter 503 – Dark Dream’s End
Chapter 502 – Simon Leaves
Chapter 501 – Markus
Chapter 500 – Do You Accept?
Chapter 499 – Goodbye, Julian
Chapter 498 – Look at This City
Chapter 497 – Difference
Chapter 496 – Liaison
Chapter 495 – Zephyx Manipulation
Chapter 494 – Night
Chapter 493 – Dusk
Chapter 492 – The Champion
Chapter 491 – Halls of Remembrance
Chapter 490 – Flying Over the Ocean
Chapter 489 – The Desolate Continent
Chapter 488 – Interrogation
Chapter 487 – The Risky Plan
Chapter 486 – Sniper Duel
Chapter 485 – Chaos
Chapter 484 484 – Unexpected Surprise
Chapter 483 483 – Ally
Chapter 482 482 – Not Everything
Chapter 481 481 – The Same Thing
Chapter 480 480 – Stressful Stealth
Chapter 479 – 479 – New Ability
Chapter 478 – 478 – The Big Negotiation
Chapter 477 – 477 – Surrounded by Danger
Chapter 476 – 476 – Sincerity
Chapter 475 – 475 – Meeting with Ghosty
Chapter 474 – 474 – Finalizing the Plan
Chapter 473 – 473 – Streak of Black
Chapter 472 – 472 – Expert
Chapter 471 – 471 – Vision
Chapter 470 – 470 – Endless White
Chapter 469 – 469 – Eternity
Chapter 468 – 468 – Deepest Darkness
Chapter 467 – 467 – The Fiend of Darkness
Chapter 466 – 466 – Taking a Risk
Chapter 465 – 465 – Rhombus
Chapter 464 – 464 – Getting the Elixir
Chapter 463 – 463 – The Death Pact
Chapter 462 – 462 – Elixir
Chapter 461 – 461 – Could you?
Chapter 460 – 460 – Control
Chapter 459 – 459 – Voted Suicide
Chapter 458 458 – Who Accepts?
Chapter 457 457 – Selling Specters
Chapter 456 456 – Dark Dream Becoming Powerful
Chapter 455 455 – Covered Up
Chapter 454 454 – Dark Future
Chapter 453 453 – Two Years
Chapter 452 452 – Plan for the Future
Chapter 451 451 – Ten out of Ten
Chapter 450 450 – Regretful Ability
Chapter 449 449 – What’s the Time?
Chapter 448 448 – Double Deal
Chapter 447 447 – Eye Contact
Chapter 446 446 – Another Blood Specter
Chapter 445 445 – The Red Tub
Chapter 444 444 – Eternal Abilities
Chapter 443 443 – The Dark Room
Chapter 442 442 – The Berry Bush
Chapter 441 441 – Working More Than 24 Hours in a Day
Chapter 440 440 – Old Acquaintance
Chapter 439 439 – Long Day at Work
Chapter 438 438 – Governor’s Crossroads
Chapter 437 437 – Surrender
Chapter 436 436 – Corals
Chapter 435 435 – Strings
Chapter 434 434 – High-level Battle
Chapter 433 433 – Manipulator
Chapter 432 432 – The Battle Begins
Chapter 431 431 – Bait
Chapter 430 430 – Two People
Chapter 429 429 – The Three
Chapter 428 428 – Most Likely
Chapter 427 427 – Mundus Stairwell
Chapter 426 426 – Useful Only on Paper
Chapter 425 425 – Ratio
Chapter 424 424 – The Gambler
Chapter 423 423 – Blood Cat
Chapter 422 422 – The Bitch
Chapter 421 421 – Difficult Work
Chapter 420 420 – The Blaze
Chapter 419 419 – Servant
Chapter 418 418 – Coral People
Chapter 417 417 – Mission
Chapter 416 416 – Welcome to Dark Dream!
Chapter 415 415 – Many Ways
Chapter 414 414 – Irwin
Chapter 413 413 – Irwin’s Fate
Chapter 412 412 – Shame
Chapter 411 411 – Disbelief
Chapter 410 410 – Unsavable Situation
Chapter 409 409 – Emotions Running High
Chapter 408 408 – Image
Chapter 407 407 – No Evidence
Chapter 406 406 – East
Chapter 405 405 – One Friend
Chapter 404 404 – Endless Blue
Chapter 403 403 – The Forbidden Zone
Chapter 402 402 – Jump
Chapter 401 401 – Deadweight
Chapter 400 400 – Roles
Chapter 399 399 – 18 Months
Chapter 398 398 – How Much Money in a Day?
Chapter 397 397 – Perception
Chapter 396 396 – The Talker
Chapter 395 395 – Funny Name
Chapter 394 394 – Final Specters
Chapter 393 393 – Moving Specters
Chapter 392 392 – The Floors
Chapter 391 391 – Start of the Move
Chapter 390 390 – The Yearly Meeting
Chapter 389 389 – Regular Topics
Chapter 388 388 – Significant Contribution
Chapter 387 387 – Solace’s Success
Chapter 386 386 – The Abductor
Chapter 385 385 – Talking with the New Specter
Chapter 384 384 – Hoard
Chapter 383 383 – Democratic Soldiers
Chapter 382 382 – Strong Leader
Chapter 381 381 – The Strongest Human
Chapter 380 380 – Champion of Light
Chapter 379 379 – Answers
Chapter 378 378 – The Envious Researcher
Chapter 377 377 – Private Meeting
Chapter 376 376 – Asking for a Meeting
Chapter 375 375 – The Old World
Chapter 374 374 – Payment Plan
Chapter 373 373 – Back at Dark Dream
Chapter 372 372 – Black Hair
Chapter 371 371 – Way Back
Chapter 370 370 – The Machine
Chapter 369 369 – The Ruin
Chapter 368 368 – Steel
Chapter 367 367 – Brave and Stupid
Chapter 366 366 – Silk
Chapter 365 365 – Dark Specter
Chapter 364 364 – The Mountain
Chapter 363 363 – The Desert
Chapter 362 362 – Small Slimes
Chapter 361 361 – Currently Busy
Chapter 360 360 – Not as I do
Chapter 359 359 – Could That Work?
Chapter 358 358 – Result of the Search
Chapter 357 357 – Searching
Chapter 356 356 – The Swallowing Swamp
Chapter 355 355 – The Corrosive Dust
Chapter 354 354 – The Infestation
Chapter 352 352 – Two Adversaries
Chapter 351 351 – The Outside
Chapter 350 350 – The Team
Chapter 349 349 – Adult Nick
Chapter 348 348 – Pressured to Leave
Chapter 347 347 – Manufacturer Problems
Chapter 346 346 – Hell Gates
Chapter 345 345 – Metal
Chapter 344 344 – They Are the Enemy
Chapter 343 343 – Argument
Chapter 342 342 – Discussion
Chapter 341 341 – Chatting with Albert
Chapter 340 340 – Albert’s House
Chapter 339 339 – The Upper Layer
Chapter 338 338 – Entrance
Chapter 337 337 – The Good of the City
Chapter 336 336 – A Visit
Chapter 335 335 – New CEO
Chapter 334 334 – Selling Dark Dream
Chapter 333 333 – Entering Anatomy
Chapter 332 332 – Congratulations
Chapter 331 331 – Exchange
Chapter 330 330 – Dispute
Chapter 329 329 – Contract
Chapter 328 328 – Goal
Chapter 327 327 – Death
Chapter 326 326 – The Situation
Chapter 325 325 – Want and Need
Chapter 324 324 – Wish
Chapter 323 323 – Hatred
Chapter 322 322 – Guilt
Chapter 321 321 – Friends
Chapter 320 320 – Investment
Chapter 319 319 – Apathy
Chapter 318 318 – Veteran
Chapter 317 317 – Preparing for Work
Chapter 316 316 – The Blinding Light
Chapter 315 315 – Young
Chapter 314 314 – Blood Wolf
Chapter 313 313 – Solace
Chapter 312 312 – Longevity
Chapter 311 311 – Zephosis
Chapter 310 310 – Wrapping Up
Chapter 309 309 – Back to Business
Chapter 308 308 – Retelling
Chapter 307 307 – Nick’s Fate
Chapter 306 306 – End of the Shift
Chapter 305 305 – Who?
Chapter 304 304 – Grips
Chapter 303 303 – End of the Ladder
Chapter 302 302 – Red World
Chapter 301 301 – Manual Labor
Chapter 300 300 – The Underside
Chapter 299 299 – Not As Valuable
Chapter 298 298 – Incident
Chapter 297 297 – Outsider
Chapter 296 296 – Busy
Chapter 295 295 – Status
Chapter 294 294 – Assessing
Chapter 293 293 – Red Wall
Chapter 292 292 – Crimson
Chapter 291 291 – Traitor!
Chapter 290 290 – The True City
Chapter 289 289 – Terror
Chapter 288 288 – The Red Mist
Chapter 287 287 – Suppression
Chapter 286 286 – The Big Barrier
Chapter 285 285 – The Red Sea
Chapter 284 284 – The Approaching Finale
Chapter 283 283 – The Screamer
Chapter 282 282 – Guards
Chapter 281 281 – Team Leaders
Chapter 280 280 – Office
Chapter 279 279 – Hole
Chapter 278 278 – Light Layer
Chapter 277 277 – Abnormality
Chapter 276 276 – Infiltration
Chapter 275 275 – Shadow Shroud
Chapter 274 274 – Assassinations
Chapter 273 273 – I Trust You
Chapter 272 272 – The Perpetrator
Chapter 271 271 – Frustrating
Chapter 270 270 – Scattering
Chapter 269 269 – Different Perspective
Chapter 268 268 – House
Chapter 267 267 – West to East
Chapter 266 266 – Specter Cage
Chapter 265 265 – Shots
Chapter 264 264 – New Home
Chapter 263 263 – The Can
Chapter 262 262 – Future Eternal
Chapter 261 261 – Mouths
Chapter 260 – The Prison
Chapter 259 259 – Caravan
Chapter 258 258 – Renegotiation
Chapter 257 257 – The Parasite’s Influence
Chapter 256 256 – Trade Offer
Chapter 255 255 – Honesty
Chapter 254 254 – Dreams
Chapter 253 253 – His City
Chapter 252 252 – Opening Up
Chapter 251 251 – Gloom
Chapter 250 250 – The End of the Incident
Chapter 249 249 – Shady Business
Chapter 248 248 – Unconscious
Chapter 247 247 – Troublemakers
Chapter 246 246 – Office Problems
Chapter 245 245 – Blood Horse and Blood Ancestor
Chapter 244 244 – Hyper Regeneration
Chapter 243 243 – Blood Hawk
Chapter 242 242 – Empath
Chapter 241 241 – New People
Chapter 240 240 – Special Containment Unit
Chapter 239 239 – The Money Sink
Chapter 238 238 – Monica
Chapter 237 237 – Can’t Tell
Chapter 236 236 – Reward
Chapter 235 235 – Secret Mission
Chapter 234 234 – Humanity and Cities
Chapter 233 233 – Conviction
Chapter 232 232 – Not the First
Chapter 231 231 – Simon Francium
Chapter 230 230 – Aegis
Chapter 229 229 – Conflict
Chapter 228 228 – Envy
Chapter 227 227 – The Captain
Chapter 226 226 – Arrested
Chapter 225 225 – Starving Child
Chapter 224 224 – Entering
Chapter 223 223 – Risk
Chapter 222 222 – Room
Chapter 221 221 – Where’s My Money?
Chapter 220 220 – Report
Chapter 219 219 – The Scary Outside
Chapter 218 218 – Shares
Chapter 217 217 – Power to Change
Chapter 216 216 – End of the Meeting
Chapter 215 215 – Taxes
Chapter 214 214 – Pressure
Chapter 213 213 – Governor
Chapter 212 212 – Last Person
Chapter 211 211 – Family
Chapter 210 210 – Nick Nick
Chapter 209 209 – Aria
Chapter 208 208 – Meeting Room
Chapter 207 207 – Seat
Chapter 206 206 – Chatting
Chapter 205 205 – Vernon
Chapter 204 204 – Specialist
Chapter 203 203 – Floors
Chapter 202 202 – Handshake
Chapter 201 201 – Many Layers
Chapter 200 200 – Capsule
Chapter 199 199 – Lower Layer
Chapter 198 198 – Horrifying World
Chapter 197 197 – The Layers
Chapter 196 196 – Abilities
Chapter 195 195 – Crushing the Puppy
Chapter 194 194 – Promotion
Chapter 193 193 – New Timetable
Chapter 192 192 – A Lot of Zephyx
Chapter 191 191 – Nothingness
Chapter 190 190 – Strengths and Weaknesses
Chapter 189 189 – New Ability
Chapter 188 188 – Captured
Chapter 187 187 – Elevated Status
Chapter 186 186 – Repelling Cell
Chapter 185 185 – Mutated Ability
Chapter 184 184 – John
Chapter 183 183 – Hatchlings
Chapter 182 182 – The Fog
Chapter 181 181 – 18
Chapter 180 180 – The Puppy
Chapter 179 179 – Six Months Later
Chapter 178 178 – The Dung Heap
Chapter 177 177 – First Day
Chapter 176 176 – Not a Problem
Chapter 175 175 – The Lover
Chapter 174 174 – Blood
Chapter 173 173 – The Bleeding Lady
Chapter 172 172 – Floors
Chapter 171 171 – New Home
Chapter 170 170 – Wrapping Things Up
Chapter 169 169 – Kill Me
Chapter 168 168 – Hospital
Chapter 167 167 – Splash
Chapter 166 166 – Floor
Chapter 165 165 – How?!
Chapter 164 164 – The Torturer
Chapter 163 163 – Protective Order
Chapter 162 162 – Offer
Chapter 161 161 – Tailing
Chapter 160 160 – Teaching
Chapter 159 159 – Useful Ability
Chapter 158 158 – Financial Situation
Chapter 157 157 – Going Back
Chapter 156 156 – The Truth
Chapter 155 155 – The Storage
Chapter 154 154 – Peddler Storage Token
Chapter 153 153 – Fear
Chapter 152 152 – Sneaking
Chapter 151 151 – Running
Chapter 150 150 – Sniper
Chapter 149 149 – Open
Chapter 148 148 – Plan?
Chapter 147 147 – Trickery
Chapter 146 146 – Nick’s Advice
Chapter 145 145 – Brothers Meet
Chapter 144 144 – Sarah’s Death
Chapter 143 143 – A Meeting
Chapter 142 142 – Green Powder
Chapter 141 141 – Investigation
Chapter 140 140 – Waiting
Chapter 139 139 – Three Months
Chapter 138 138 – A Job
Chapter 137 137 – First Week
Chapter 136 136 – Recovery
Chapter 135 135 – Playing
Chapter 134 134 – Men and Women
Chapter 133 133 – Two Methods
Chapter 132 132 – No Thinking
Chapter 131 131 – Whirlwind
Chapter 130 130 – Reynold
Chapter 129 129 – He’s a Great Guy
Chapter 128 128 – A Wager
Chapter 127 127 – Julian
Chapter 126 126 – Mask
Chapter 125 125 – Throws
Chapter 124 124 – Ghost Wire
Chapter 123 123 – Peak
Chapter 122 122 – Advantageous Disadvantage
Chapter 121 121 – Ability?
Chapter 120 120 – Collecting
Chapter 119 119 – Lesson
Chapter 118 118 – Manela
Chapter 117 117 – Special Law
Chapter 116 116 – Dung Heap
Chapter 115 115 – He Has Changed
Chapter 114 114 – Back to Work
Chapter 113 113 – Training
Chapter 112 112 – A Goal
Chapter 111 111 – Rotten
Chapter 110 110 – Therapy
Chapter 109 109 – Switched Places
Chapter 108 108 – Eternal Regret
Chapter 107 107 – The Corpse
Chapter 106 106 – It’s Over
Chapter 105 105 – Wake Up!
Chapter 104 104 – Taking a Risk
Chapter 103 103 – Difficult Choice
Chapter 102 102 – Spy
Chapter 101 101 – Perception
Chapter 100 100 – Distraction
Chapter 99 99 – Something to Do
Chapter 98 98 – A Long Morning
Chapter 97 97 – Effort
Chapter 96 96 – I’m Sorry
Chapter 95 95 – Burden
Chapter 94 94 – Favor
Chapter 93 93 – The Day
Chapter 92 92 – Drinks
Chapter 91 91 – Doing the Deed
Chapter 90 90 – What’s One More?
Chapter 89 89 – Pator
Chapter 88 88 – Ardum
Chapter 87 87 – Fist Weapon
Chapter 86 86 – Weapons
Chapter 85 85 – Barriers
Chapter 84 84 – Low Margins
Chapter 83 83 – Start-ups
Chapter 82 82 – The Manufacturers
Chapter 81 81 – Marketplace
Chapter 80 80 – Investing
Chapter 79 79 – Big Profits
Chapter 78 78 – Trevor
Chapter 77 77 – Watching the Coffin
Chapter 76 76 – The Second Specter
Chapter 75 75 – Screaming Coffin
Chapter 74 74 – One More
Chapter 353 353 – The Wall
Chapter 73 73 – Possession Specter
Chapter 72 72 – Trade Negotiations
Chapter 71 71 – Silent Work
Chapter 70 70 – Sustainable Help
Chapter 69 69 – Right Thing
Chapter 68 68 – Creating Corpses
Chapter 67 67 – Scary
Chapter 65 65 – So Difficult
Chapter 65 65 – So Difficult
Chapter 66 66 – Exchange
Chapter 65 65 – So Difficult
Chapter 64 64 – Profiting?
Chapter 63 63 – Sound
Chapter 62 62 – Competition
Chapter 61 61 – Ability Advancement
Chapter 60 60 – Adolescent
Chapter 59 59 – Levels
Chapter 58 – 58 – Growth
Chapter 57 – 57 – Ability
Chapter 56 – 56 – Successful Session
Chapter 55 – 55 – Jenny and the Dreamer
Chapter 54 – 54 – Dark Dream
Chapter 53 – 53 – Interview
Chapter 52 – 52 – Caregiver
Chapter 51 – 51 – Guilt
Chapter 50 – 50 – Diagnosis
Chapter 49 – 49 – Worry
Chapter 48 – 48 – Contemplation
Chapter 47 – 47 – Bad Guy
Chapter 46 – 46 – Responsibility
Chapter 45 – 45 – Liability
Chapter 44 – 44 – Horua and the Dreamer
Chapter 43 – 43 – I Want
Chapter 42 – 42 – Sightseeing
Chapter 41 – 41 – Quest for Food
Chapter 40 – 40 – Horua
Chapter 39 – 39 – Card
Chapter 38 – 38 – Murder
Chapter 37 – 37 – Finances
Chapter 36 – 36 – Bad Dream
Chapter 35 – 35 – Falling Asleep
Chapter 34 – 34 – Work
Chapter 33 – 33 – Charge
Chapter 32 – 32 – Stages
Chapter 31 – 31 – Old Lady
Chapter 30 – 30 – Negotiation
Chapter 29 – 29 – Acquaintance
Chapter 28 – 28 – Uniform
Chapter 27 – 27 – A Bath
Chapter 26 – 26 – Contained
Chapter 25 – 25 – Walking Back
Chapter 24 – 24 – Struggle
Chapter 23 – 23 – Run!
Chapter 22 – 22 – The Climb
Chapter 21 – 21 – Target
Chapter 20 – 20 – Too Much
Chapter 19 – 19 – The Second Swim
Chapter 18 – 18 – Nightmare
Chapter 17 – 17 – Rules of the Sewer
Chapter 16 – 16 – Ruins
Chapter 15 – 15 – Jumping In
Chapter 14 – 14 – The Dreamer
Chapter 13 – 13 – Job Offer
Chapter 12 – 12 – Morals
Chapter 11 – 11 – Where to Start?
Chapter 10 – 10 – Everything Prepared
Chapter 9 – 9 – Null
Chapter 8 – 8 – Kill The Sun
Chapter 7 – 7 – Specters
Chapter 6 – 6 – Wyntor Melfion
Chapter 5 – 5 – Young Man
Chapter 4 – 4 – Zephyx - Reading
Chapter 3 – 3 – Protecting Oneself
Chapter 2 – 2 – The Sign
Chapter 1 – 1 – Nick
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