Chapter 9: Chapter 9

After bidding farewell to the energetic Little John, Loren walked out of the abandoned street.

Once he left the Gray Zone, Loren oriented himself and recalled the location of the Wild Dog Gang.

After remembering the Wild Dog Gang's address, Loren casually walked to the middle of the wet road and began waiting.

This place was quite far from the Wild Dog Gang's location, so he planned to hitch a ride.

Loren didn't have to wait long.

Just one minute later, he caught a ride heading near the Wild Dog Gang.

A clearly modified pickup truck equipped with heavy weapons pulled right up in front of Loren.

"Good morning, Mr. Loren. I'm making a delivery—need a lift?"

A burly man in a leather jacket greeted Loren from the driver's seat.

His scar-covered muscles, exaggerated tattoos, strange accessories all over his body, and the gray-green revolver at his waist.

And while driving the armored pickup, he was also holding a bottle of unidentified strong liquor.

After greeting Loren, he took another swig from the bottle.

Loren gave the man a slight nod.

"Is the Wild Dog Gang on your way?"

The man called Tyrone flashed his white teeth upon hearing Loren's words.

"I'm actually heading near the Wild Dog Gang. Want me to drop you right at their doorstep?"

"It seems my luck is good today." Loren stroked the raven on his shoulder, smiling meaningfully.

The raven on his shoulder shook its head, blinked its eyes, and gently rubbed against Loren's hand.

Loren got into the convenient armored pickup truck.

"Mr. Loren, want a sip of this strong liquor? Good stuff—Federation Level Three contraband."

Seeing Loren get in the vehicle, Tyrone enthusiastically shared his favorite indulgence.

"No, thank you. I have work later." Loren politely declined.

"Oh, that's a shame."

Somewhat disappointed, Tyrone quietly put down his liquor bottle and started the vehicle's engine.

The roar of the heavy pickup truck echoed along the highway, like the snarl of a ferocious beast, as they began heading toward the Wild Dog Gang's base.

"Mr. Loren, that revolver you gave me works great—way better than the junk you find on the black market."

After driving for a while, the bored Tyrone started making conversation.

Opportunities to spend quiet time with Mr. Loren were rare—he couldn't waste this one.

"That's good, I'm glad you like it." Loren remained leaning against the seat, watching the scenery outside indifferently.

"Mr. Loren, after you told me last time that it could evolve, I had it consume some Spirit Stones."

"Oh?" Loren finally showed interest in the conversation.

"It did evolve, but how should I put it... my enemies don't really deserve to face such a weapon."

"You know me—I just deliver some contraband, no big ambitions. I'm perfectly content living this simple life."

Hearing that the revolver he'd given had evolved, a genuine smile appeared on Loren's face.

"Tyrone, you know how it is—in these times, accidents can happen anywhere."

"Treasure that revolver. Perhaps someday in the future..."

"That gift might just save your life."

Tyrone, who was driving, fell into thought upon hearing Loren's words.

"Is this revolver a product of your psychic abilities?"

"Yes." Loren nodded calmly.

"Why give it to me? As you can see, I'm just an ordinary delivery guy."

"Psychic weapons must be pretty valuable, right?"

Tyrone voiced his confusion.

When he first received the gray-green revolver at his waist, Tyrone hadn't paid it much mind.

But as he used the revolver more and more frequently...

Tyrone realized he might have gotten something extraordinary.

Especially after he used Spirit Stones to make the revolver evolve—that's when he started feeling uneasy.

Why would such a precious weapon be given to him? He was just a contraband delivery guy...

"Tyrone, I think you're misunderstanding."

"You don't need to worry about anything—I have no ulterior motives toward you."

"Giving you the revolver was just a small matter."

"You can think of it as payment for all the rides you've given me."

Loren smiled as he explained his intention behind giving Tyrone the revolver.

"Is that so? Mr. Loren, you're really quite generous." Tyrone seemed to understand somewhat.

Mr. Loren's way of thinking is truly hard to fathom, Tyrone mused to himself.

"I'll take good care of that revolver, though I hope I never have to use it someday."

Tyrone still expressed his cautious attitude toward the gift.

"As you wish. Just remember to regularly feed it some Spirit Stones."

"After all, when danger comes, it'll be too late to start feeding it then." ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel{f}ire.net

After giving this warning, Loren closed his eyes to rest.

Truthfully, Loren didn't really care how the revolvers he gave away were used.

As long as the revolver holders kept feeding them Spirit Stones, that was enough.

The raven on Loren's shoulder was his power source, his psychic ability.

And all those revolvers Loren gave away were transformed from the raven's feathers.

So when revolver holders fed their weapons large amounts of Spirit Stones, they were essentially feeding Loren's psychic ability.

Although psychics were generally considered mysterious and powerful throughout the galaxy...

For a psychic to become truly powerful, the amount of Spirit Stones required was astronomical.

Loren's approach effectively reduced his own burden.

One person's efforts are limited.

Countless people's efforts are limitless.

Every revolver he gave out meant another worker for his psychic ability.

Most importantly, to some extent, the more people held revolvers transformed from feathers...

The more things Loren could accomplish...

The gifts of fate always come with hidden price tags.

Of course, holding such precious psychic weapons requires paying some price, doesn't it?

Thinking this, the closed-eyed Loren revealed a satisfied smile at the corner of his mouth.

Thanks to Tyrone's reckless driving skills, the armored pickup raced to the entrance of the Wild Dog Gang's base.

"We're here, Mr. Loren. Hope you have a productive work day." Tyrone stopped the vehicle and woke the resting Loren.

Loren opened his eyes, glanced outside, and sincerely complimented the driver.

"Your driving skills remain as impressive as ever."

Loren opened the door, got out of the vehicle, and looked toward the imposing building where the Wild Dog Gang was located.

"Interesting. It seems the Wild Dog Gang has developed quite rapidly."

Unexpectedly, in Loren's memory, the newly established Wild Dog Gang had been based in a cluster of abandoned buildings.

But now, those abandoned structures had completely vanished.

In their place stood a magnificent high-tech building that showcased the Wild Dog Gang's transformation over the years.