"No… impossible."
"What do you want her… for?"
"…Get lost."
The middle-aged man slammed the door shut, then turned back into the room.
"Annie, we have to move again."
The girl wore something thin—clothes far too large, hanging down to her knees.
She tilted her head and nodded obediently.
…
A new home.
There were plenty of empty houses in Alley Twenty-Three. Furniture—and even ingredients—could often be found ready-made.
Obviously, the former owners had either died violently… or fled the Backstreets in haste and moved into a Nest—though the second possibility was almost nonexistent.
The newcomer clearly didn't understand that. But a full stomach and a place to sleep were enough to make him lower his guard.
They hadn't eaten in a long time.
Escaping a Wing's pursuit had a success rate of zero.
Rather than fleeing aimlessly, it was better to restore their strength first.
Of course, if the man's head hadn't contained a Wing's secrets, he would've died a hundred times over already.
Even so, for this "rich kid" born and raised in the Nest, everything about the Backstreets was lethal.
At their last meal, he lost his son.
The cat-and-mouse game had only just begun.
…
Viridian Miasma was excellent at tracking prey.
He was a valuable asset in the Wing's hands—an EGO/Taboo Hunter.
Strike—success. Strike—success.
Never once had he failed.
This time would be no different.
Of course, back then he wasn't called Viridian Miasma—he wasn't even called Lovi.
He was simply a taboo hunter, as he had been since birth.
He wasn't in a hurry to dispose of his prey.
For a hunter, a dying counterattack was often the most dangerous.
And besides—he had another mission.
…
The man knelt on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
Before she died, the girl had clearly suffered torment beyond anything human.
Bruises covered her body. Her eyes had been gouged out.
She was shattered.
The young taboo hunter crouched down and tossed a document envelope onto the floor.
"I'll… I'll kill you!"
The man charged at the hunter without any technique, fists flailing wildly.
Smack.
He landed a hit.
The hunter didn't dodge—he simply let the man vent.
Smack.
Smack.
Smack.
The man panted harshly, bending over with his hands braced on his knees.
He shook his head, then picked up the document envelope.
"T Corp? Cooperating with W Corp?"
"What kind of joke is this?!"
He turned, furious, and hurled the envelope away.
啪嗒.
It hit the ground.
The hunter was gone.
The man reached out helplessly, then trembled as he clutched his head and curled into himself.
Thud.
Something struck him.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Heads—human heads—still smeared with blood.
These were the people who had mutilated the young girl.
From far away, the hunter watched the man… then vanished beyond the edge of sight.
…
A few days later, Xin Xu Yuan opened for business.
On the very spot where the girl had died.
And so, at last, the family could be together—happily—forever!
The Head Chef patted his stomach and grinned.
He knew that one day, this green-clad taboo hunter would knock again… and once again take away the thing he treasured most.
But what did it matter?
As long as he followed the Wing's instructions and obediently carried out these so-called "experiments," he could live comfortably in the Backstreets.
Why not?
More importantly—
He could stay with his children forever. Forever and ever.
"Mm. It's about time."
"Huh…?"
The boy tilted his head blankly.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you to cook."
"Huh? Okay, Chef!"
From that day on, the Head Chef of Xin Xu Yuan—and his children—lived happily ever after.
Volume One: End.
The story officially begins.
....
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