Arriving at the main street of Jarilo-VI's Administrative District.
Zeig wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he always felt that the streets of the Underworld were livelier and carried more of a lived-in atmosphere than those of the Overworld.
On the road, several middle-aged people were strolling with their hands behind their backs, chatting and laughing.
A group of children ran ahead, filled with cheerful voices and laughter.
There was no accumulated snow here, and it wasn't as cold.
"Little guy, have you seen a guy with a deadpan face?" Zeig found a child, bent down, and asked.
"Little guy? Are you looking down on me?!" The child Zeig stopped immediately got upset.
"?"
Zeig began sizing up this little one's appearance.
Dressed in thick, bulky clothes, wearing a cotton hat, with long hair tied into two strands hanging down her back.
Zeig exclaimed in surprise: "Could it be that you're also a staff member from the Department of Material Forms?"
"What are you even talking about? Since you look unfamiliar, I'll emphasize it again—you have to call me Pitch-Dark Hook the Great, got it!" the child shouted.
"So that's how it is. Pitch-Dark Hook the Great, right? Please forgive my rudeness." Unexpectedly, Zeig lowered his head.
"It's our first meeting, and I didn't bring any gifts. If Hook the Great doesn't mind, how about taking a look at this?"
As he spoke, Zeig opened his coat right in front of Hook.
He slowly pulled out an AK from his chest!
Hook: "?!"
Hook: "!!!"
The little girl stumbled backward, nearly falling over. Her small hand pointed at Zeig in shock as she cried out:
"Y-You... what are you doing? Hook doesn't like eating peanuts. D-Don't be rash!"
As Hook spoke, she hurriedly backed away, her eyes fixed tightly on the AK in Zeig's chest.
"Hm?" Zeig looked down, then immediately apologized:
"Sorry, I'm too practiced at it—I pulled out the wrong one."
Hook: "..."
Then, Zeig took out a red lollipop from his chest. In the very center, there was even a pig nose drawn with syrup.
"Hook the Great, this was the favorite food of my childhood idol. Now, I'm offering it to you as my certificate of surrender."
Hook stared blankly at this strange man, suspiciously saying:
"You're really suspicious. The old witch said that people who dress like you are usually either secret agents or spies. Hook should stay far away."
"Oh ho~ You figured it out... Ahem, Hook the Great, you don't know this, but earlier on the road, I got robbed by a pink-haired girl. I had no clothes to wear, so I could only randomly pick up one from the roadside. I'm a law-abiding citizen!"
Zeig raised both hands high, looking innocent.
He had already forgotten how many people he'd told that he was a law-abiding citizen.
"Really?"
"Truer than real gold!"
As he said that, Zeig pulled out a handful of Winter City Shields from his chest, clutching them in his palm.
"Sigh, I got separated from my good brother. Now, all I have left are these few Winter City Shields. If someone can help the two of us reunite, all these Winter City Shields will be hers. But alas..."
Hearing this.
Hook immediately ran up to Zeig, excitedly saying:
"Ahem, it's just finding a person, right? There's nothing in all of Jarilo-VI's Underworld that the Mole Party can't handle. Hand over the lollipop and the Winter City Shields to Hook the Great, and you'll be an honorary member. Hook the Great will definitely have your back!"
"Really? Hook the Great, thank you so much for your generosity."
Zeig quickly handed over the items, sadly saying: "My brother has a deadpan face. I don't know how he's doing now."
Hook's eyes sparkled as she looked at the lollipop in her hand, quietly pocketing those Winter City Shields. Happily, she said:
"Since you're so sincere, Hook the Great will grant your wish and let you reunite with your brother!"
"Oh? So Hook the Great knows where my deadpan brother is?"
"Of course! A deadpan stranger's face is pretty noticeable. Since I've accepted your offerings, Hook the Great naturally keeps her word. Honorary member, follow me!"
Hook raised the lollipop high and ran toward the distance.
Zeig followed her to a remote spot.
Though the location was out of the way, as soon as they got close, they could hear enthusiastic cheers coming from inside.
There were also many people outside, gathered in groups discussing something.
"Look, this is the Fight Club." Hook said excitedly. "Your deadpan brother—I saw him go in with the blue-haired uncle."
Hearing this, Zeig became even more certain. "Blue-haired uncle—does Hook the Great know Sampo?"
Hook nodded. "Yeah, I know him! The blue-haired uncle is really good to the Mole Party. He often plays with Hook!"
"Alright, I have to go compete now. You go in first!" Saying that, Hook was about to say goodbye to Zeig and run toward a corner.
At a glance, there were several other children in the open space in the corner.
"What the—Hook the Great, wait a second." Zeig quickly grabbed the little girl. "You? Competing? In fighting?"
Hook nodded matter-of-factly. "Yeah, don't let my looks fool you—I'm a fighter too. Fighting has a lot of technique: fist styles, palm styles, finger styles—none can be missing!"
"Oh, just that, huh." Zeig immediately lost interest.
Fist styles, palm styles, finger styles—wasn't that just rock-paper-scissors?
And that counts as fighting?
"Hey, what's with that expression!" Hook yelled.
"Hehe, nothing. Hook the Great, you saw wrong." Zeig waved his hand and was about to step into the Fight Club.
But this time, it was Hook who grabbed him.
"Are you looking down on my strength? Let's have a match!"
"Hook the Great, my body's delicate—I'm no match for you at all. Hurry and go compete. I'll come find you to play when I have time."
"Wait!"
Hook hugged Zeig's leg, desperately trying to stop him:
"Hmph, I can tell you don't understand at all! One sentence: do you dare to have a thrilling free fight with us Mole Party members?"
"No." Zeig refused.
"If you win against us, I'll introduce you to the Underworld's strongest fighter—the old witch. How about it?" Hook tempted.
"Ah?" Zeig slightly lowered his head. "Why would you introduce me to someone else?"
Seeing Zeig take interest, Hook put her hands on her hips, proudly saying:
"The old witch said that someone like you—who's this old and still wandering around—must be single. Haha, Hook guessed right, didn't she!"
"Wipe."
Though what she said was spot-on, it was really demoralizing.
"How about it? If you beat me, I'll introduce you to the old witch. She's really pretty. Once you take her, Hook the Great will suffer a little less too." Hook proposed.
Zeig said suspiciously:
"She wouldn't happen to be your guardian or your school teacher, would she?"
Hook: "..."
"You're trying to use me so she'll slack off on supervising you, right?"
Hook: "Hmph, was it that obvious!"
Zeig bent down, saying very smugly: "You're willing to set up a date for an honorary member—that makes the honorary member very happy. But Hook the Great's attitude? The honorary member doesn't like it. The jianghu is vast; we'll meet again if fate allows!"
Taking advantage of Hook's stunned moment, Zeig quickly fled into the Fight Club.
The atmosphere inside was lively and noisy.
On the large ring, a deadpan-faced man stood with his arms crossed on the right side, calmly staring at his opponents.
Two automaton soldiers shaped like iron fists.
"Look, Cold Dragon Young is so handsome—a huge dark horse!"
"The opponents aren't weak either. It's hard to say who'll win this round. Besides, I've heard the handsomer the guy, the smaller it is down there."
"Why is your focus so peculiar?"
"I think Cold Dragon Young will win. No reason—just confidence. If I lose, I'll willingly let Dr. Dig pound me!"
…