Updated: 2012-08-02

It was close to eleven o'clock in the evening, and Zero was walking on the streets of Reef City. At this time, most of the citizens had already gone to bed, and only the direction of the tavern was still brightly lit. In turbulent times, energy is scarce, and although the city has its own wind power facility, it is not so extravagant as to waste that energy on the city's lighting, even if the streets are lined with street lamps.

In the dark of the city, only the light of a few searchlights from the direction of the Ron Corporation headquarters occasionally tore through the night. More than that, it was the dim light cast by the dark red radiation clouds of the sky.

Zero still had the instructions on the slip of paper and walked in the direction of Dr. Victor's residence. Angry Reef City is a rare surface city, and the ubiquitous radiation affects the city's residents, and the skin has been tingling with the radiation, which is a reaction to the radiation. It's just that for Zero, the amount of radiation on the surface is within the range of what his body can withstand, which Zero has been aware of and confirmed since he first woke up two years ago.

However, for other people, long-term exposure to radiation, even if the current people's ability to resist radiation is greatly improved, it is inevitable that tissue mutation diseases will occur. Especially in surface cities like Reef City, the incidence rate is much higher than that of residents in other cities. As a result, doctors with deep research on genes and cell variation will be in high demand.

However, the area west of the city where Victor is located is already located on the edge of Reef City. No matter how you look at it, this is not a place where a popular doctor should stay. In this doubt, Zero arrives at its destination.

Dr. Victor lives in a three-storey apartment building, and the ground floor of the apartment serves as a clinic, with zero visible medical equipment from the doors and windows. Zero stood downstairs and saw that the windows on the second floor were still on, and Zero pressed the doorbell.

After the electronic doorbell emitted a cheerful call that simulated a bird, a rude voice came from above: "The guy who disturbed Lao Tzu's rest, are you ready to be blown up by me?"

With a jumble of footsteps, the door opened, and a double-barreled shotgun poked out of the darkness in the door, pointing at Zero's forehead.

Zero is motionless.

After a moment of silence, the shotgun was retracted. A scruffy man walked out, he was older than Zero and a little younger than Mast. He was in his thirties, his hair had not been washed for many days and was sticky to his forehead, and the beard on his chin had obviously not been trimmed for a long time, and it was a mess. The man smelled of alcohol, and in fact he was carrying a bottle of whiskey in his hand.

Looking at Zero with bloodshot eyes, he spewed out a mouthful of wine and said, "Get out, you still want to eat Lao Tzu's bullet." ”

With that, he was going to close the door.

"Mr. Victor, I was introduced by Master. Zero said lightly.

Victor's movement froze, then he turned around and said coldly, "Come in, but you only have 5 minutes." ”

Walking into the clinic on the first floor, the dim light does not blur the vision. He could clearly see that both the equipment and the tables and chairs were covered with a thick layer of dust, and he could see that the clinic had not been operating for a long time. Victor went directly to the second floor with Zero, the second floor is a living room, and the entire hall can only be described as messy.

Scattered wine bottles and leftover meals are randomly piled on the table, and then attract the cockroaches that have mutated and appeared fat. The furniture had been thrown somewhere, the old floor was covered with thin sheets, and it seemed that Dr. Victor's life was not much better than that of a homeless man.

"Dr. Victor, I've heard that you have a lot of research in the treatment of diseases in genes and cells. ”

Victor threw himself into a broken couch in the corner of the hall, poured whiskey into his mouth like water, and said, "You have four minutes." ”

Zero frowned and continued, "My wife, her cells are showing some kind of mutation. Dr. Victor, I would like to ask you to help me. ”

Victor's eyebrows jumped when he heard the word "wife". Then he drank again, and after four or five sips in a row, he raised his hand.

Zero saw his fingers trembling slightly, a sign of a long period of alcohol. Victor said self-deprecatingly, "See, I'm no longer worthy to be a doctor." Then again, why do you want me to help? Just Mast? I admit that this bastard saved me once, but I've cured him, and I'm clear with him. ”

"Of course not. Zero revealed Zuihou's hole cards: "I'm going to make a fair deal with you." ”

"What deal?" said Victor, looking nonchalant.

Zero said lightly: "I will help you rescue your wife who was captured by wolf thieves, and you must promise to heal my woman, which is fair, isn't it?"

Victor, who was originally stuck on the sofa, suddenly jumped up. He looked at Zero, looked at it for a moment, and then smiled, "It's up to you?"

"It's up to me!" Zero took out his mercenary license and said, "First of all, I'm a mercenary, and I'm also a stranger. Secondly, I know your situation very well. A company like Ron wouldn't send an army out to smash a den of thieves for you, a civilian, and a Shili like Masters, who has a private army, you can't make a bid. As for the mercenaries, probably no one wants to take on such a risky job. ”

Zero took a step forward: "So you don't have a choice, Dr. Victor. As long as you nod your head, at least there's one more chance. Or do you not love your wife at all?"

"Fart, no one loves Kailin more than me!" Victor gasped, and after walking back and forth a few steps, he poured another sip of wine and threw the bottle out: "It's zuihou." Well, damn it, I promise you this...... Trade. But can you really get Kaylin back for me?"

"As long as she's not dead, I'll bring her back no matter what!" Zero looked directly into the doctor's eyes, his eyes turning soft, "Trust me, doctor." I love my wife the same, and that's not much less than you. ”

"I believe in you. Victor nodded: "Tomorrow, bring your wife over, I can give her a preliminary examination first." As for you, get back to me now, I'm going to rest. ”

The doctor ordered the eviction, and Zero knew it was to have enough physical strength to heal the patient. He left the clinic, and his sensitive ears allowed Zero to hear Victor crying and laughing from upstairs. Zero is grateful to Matthes from the bottom of his heart, it was he who gave all the details of Victor, otherwise Zero would not have known what Victor wanted most now, and would not have the bargaining chips to trade.

And the price of getting this is that Zero owes Master a request. But that's fair, no matter what the era, there's no such thing as a free lunch!

(Today is the first time that Kotomi has a recommendation on the cover, and he is all kinds of excited.) I would like to thank Totoro-sama for your arrangement and all of you for your support. Don't talk nonsense, today's four more broke out, begging for harvest and pushing to see Hongwo!)