Yi Chen had never worn such elegant and refined clothing before. Though it was ready-made, it fit over 90% of his body perfectly, allowing full freedom of movement, and the fabric against his skin was remarkably comfortable.
However, the lady boss, whose face was veiled by thin gauze, seemed somewhat displeased.
“It's a pity you're not yet a member of the organization, and time is short. Otherwise, at least I could've prepared a more fitted and functional garment for you... For now, wear this temporary 'casual attire' and hope it doesn’t impact the organization’s impression of you.”
“I’m already very satisfied.”
“When you pass the organization's test, you’ll receive a free [Full Customization] opportunity. At that time, you may choose any tailor shop under the organization to create a bespoke piece for you. Then, you will truly understand the importance of attire.
“Remember, a perfect piece of clothing can ‘stimulate’ your spirit, crafting a style that is uniquely yours. Wrap your body in rare, ancient fabrics, deciding what version of yourself to present to the world—and, indeed, determining whether you can survive within it.
“Invest a lot of energy in perfecting your attire and pursuing excellence.”
Yi Chen pulled out a complimentary mechanical watch from his pocket and noticed it was almost noon, with only half an hour left until the carriage's departure. After a quick farewell to the lady boss, he rushed toward the town entrance.
With those words, the coachman outside spread a thick black cloth over the carriage, sealing it off.
Darkness fell, with only the kerosene lamp at Yi Chen’s waist illuminating the carriage.
"The only thing to watch out for is the other people in the carriage. If you notice anything unusual about them, act as quickly as possible."
"Got it," Yi Chen replied.
He was curious to see what the so-called [Gray Zone] looked like, but since the carriage was sealed, he could only focus on the inside.
As they traveled through the Gray Zone, apart from the bumps, the carriage was silent. The passengers sat like wooden statues, with some even adopting prayer or kneeling positions.
yet there was still no word from the coachman, and no one knew if they had crossed the Gray Zone.
Then, an elderly woman wrapped in deep red cloth began to show faint signs of twitching.
Because they had been in a bumpy state for so long, her odd behavior went unnoticed by the other passengers.
However, Yi Chen had already moved his right hand to the handle of the axe at his waist.
Seconds later, the elderly woman leaned forward, making a retching motion.
Hiss... Black smoke rose.
The mask and fabric on her face corroded entirely from her vomit, revealing a ghastly mouth with torn corners and no lips left, her tongue turning into a tube that leaked corrosive black liquid.
Yi Chen immediately swung his silver axe.
Just as the blade was about to cut into her neck, suddenly, a tiny bullet, the size of a grain of rice, shot from the front of the carriage, hitting the back of the elderly woman's neck with pinpoint accuracy, shattering the “Pathogenic Abscess” hidden within her throat.
Almost no blood spilled, and the elderly woman collapsed to the floor, motionless.
Then, an extremely stern shout came from the coachman at the front of the carriage:
"Do you want to cut her neck and let her arterial fluids spray, spreading remnants of the pathogen to infect everyone here?"
After Yi Chen apologized, the coachman’s voice returned to normal.
"However… your only weapon seems to be that axe.
"In terms of reaction speed, it's not bad.
"Now, do me a favor. See the burlap sack under the seat? Pack up this corpse and stash it in the compartment below the floor."
Perhaps due to his experience as a gravekeeper, Yichen was adept at handling corpses, quickly packing the body and stashing it into a hidden floor compartment.
The body slid out through a chute at the bottom of the carriage, left to dry up and disintegrate in the Gray Zone or to become food.