The Last Gentleman

I never expected that after more than half a year, we would meet again in such a unique way.

"Jin"

A gentleman who entered the city at the same time as Yi Chen,

Jin scored [92] in the evaluation—second only to Yi Chen—because he failed to uncover the mastermind behind Green Lake Town.

In terms of the number of patients and lower-tier infected he had eliminated, Jin alone outperformed all other participants combined.

Subsequently, due to choosing the Black Letter, Jin’s gentlemanly training took a completely different path. Instead of attending the Alfarostik Academy, he underwent a type of non-public special training, more akin to the grooming of an executioner.

Yi Chen had always been curious about what Jin's profession actually was. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

After eight months, Yi Chen’s physique had undergone a qualitative transformation, and his brain had matured significantly.

Even so, when Jin’s palm slid onto his shoulder, the sense of danger remained—and was even stronger than during their last encounter—prompting Yi Chen to instinctively shrug and move aside.

Hmm~ Though it was only brief contact, I can tell your body is completely different now. That’s more like it~ Back then, you didn’t look strong at all."

"What are you doing here?"

"Didn’t I mention? I placed a massive order at this shop. I was just inspecting the goods when an out-of-control explosion happened because the quality was unexpectedly high.

Interested in taking a look inside?"

"Sure."

Yi Chen had plenty of time now, and he was also curious about what exactly Jin was up to.

As he stepped into the shattered store, devastated by the explosion, his gaze was immediately drawn to the scattered body parts—or rather, "imitation meat."

Deeper inside the shop were two large crates, also filled with similar limb-like synthetic meat.

"Imitation Meat"

This term was one Yi Chen had come across in books at the library.

Some gentlemen with specialized professions—or their gentlemanly pets—might require human flesh during exorcisms or hunts. Since such behavior contradicts the gentleman’s code, a substitute product gradually emerged on the market: imitation meat.

It mimics the texture and taste of real human flesh so perfectly that even the pickiest creatures—those who could only consume human meat—accepted it wholeheartedly and even preferred it.

There are two theories about the origins of imitation meat:

1. It is mass-produced daily by a gentleman with a Purple Letter whose profession is related to [Meat].

2. It is derived from the bodies of patients. Severely damaged corpses that cannot yield crystallized remains through burning—or even the flesh of lower-tier infected—are sold at low prices, then processed and confirmed to be free of pathogenic properties before being distributed under the name "imitation meat" in the lower streets.

This imitation meat is not cheap.

A single hand or leg could cost dozens of silver coins. Someone like Jin, purchasing several large crates at once, was undoubtedly a major client.

A short-statured shopkeeper was busy picking up the scattered body parts from the ground. Despite the explosion and the damage to his shop, he didn’t utter a single word—not because he didn’t notice, but likely because he dared not speak.

Jin crouched slightly and tilted his head toward the shopkeeper. "Mr. Fabio, I sincerely apologize for blowing up your shop like this. I’ll pay for the damages."

Hearing Jin say this, the short shopkeeper trembled all over. "No, no, it’s my fault! There’s no need for you to pay anything! You’re one of my biggest clients. This is just minor damage, not worth mentioning.

Please wait a moment; I’ll have everything repacked for you right away."

"By the way, prepare three… no, make it four crates of this quality imitation meat for me in three months."

"Leave it to me!"

Three large boxes were packed up by the boss, all carried on Jin's single shoulder.

Jin’s build was similar to Yi Chen’s, perhaps even slimmer and shorter, yet he effortlessly bore the boxes that far exceeded her own weight.

"Need any help?" Yi Chen asked kindly.

"It's not that heavy. If you really want to help, why not come to my room and let me thoroughly inspect your brand-new body and whatever emblem you’re hiding?"

Yi Chen immediately made a "no" gesture.

"Such a boring man."

Switching gears to what he really wanted to know, Yi Chen asked, "Jin, what do you need so much imitation meat for?"

"Of course, to use it. What else?"

"How do you use it?"

"Any way I want..."

Jin gave a light shrug, and from the topmost box, a severed leg flew out, which he caught with one hand.

As his fingers gripped the leg, crimson threads spread between the imitation tissue, weaving strange red lotus patterns under the skin.

At that moment, Yi Chen sensed the same dangerous aura he felt when Jin had touched him earlier. His body’s plants began to writhe involuntarily, weaving an anti-explosive mesh structure beneath his skin.

The unmistakable feeling transmitted to Yi Chen was: "This leg is going to explode."

And then, Jin made a throwing motion, aiming to toss the leg... directly toward a busy street corner crowded with people.

"Hey! Jin!"

Instinctively, Yi Chen tried to stop him, but Jin flung it before he could react.

Yet, after the realistic throwing motion, the severed leg remained firmly in Jin's hand.

"Hahaha! Look at how tense you got. Did you really think I’d act like some reckless madman? If I randomly blew up a bunch of gentlemen, the higher-ups would execute me on the spot.

"They made such a fuss just because I broke some useless guy’s limbs. I’d rather not waste time on something so boring.

"Right now, I have no intention of dying. After all, the Organization is still pretty entertaining, and there are plenty of things more fun than death waiting for me."

With that, the red threads flowing through the leg retracted into Jin’s body. He casually tossed the leg back into the box with an upward flick.

"Is this one of your professional traits? No… it’s a 'pathogenic characteristic,' isn’t it?"

"Smart as ever~ That’s right!

"With the Organization’s help, I incinerated my father’s pathogenic body and obtained a very special red crystal, which I unceremoniously swallowed. It became part of me—Pathogenic Characteristic: Red Lotus."

The mention of "father" made Yi Chen’s expression darken.

Noticing this, Jin stepped closer and added:

"Don’t make that face. A beast like my father doesn’t deserve anyone’s pity."

"Mm." Yi Chen didn’t press further. He seemed to grasp some of the underlying story and quickly shifted the topic back. "By the way, if you’re using these body parts as ranged weapons, wouldn’t they be inconvenient to carry around?"

"Once I get them to my place and do some processing, they’ll be very portable.

"Do you want to come? I live alone now, you know!"

Curiosity from the depths of his heart prompted Yi Chen to nod. Even Little Grape raised both hands in approval—it was the first time Little Grape had shown such interest in an outsider.

"Fine, but let me make this clear: I’m only coming to see how you process the imitation meat. Anything else is unnecessary."