Chapter 1016

Not afraid of not being able to get it; only afraid of not wanting it.

Just as he raised his glass to clink with Lin An, Toskovsky felt his arm freeze mid‑air.

He didn't care about being unreasonable; a flash of wild joy suddenly flashed in his eyes.

There's hope! It seems this big shot isn't indifferent to everything; his standards are just too high!

These hostesses and singers lingering in the tavern may be top‑notch in their eyes, but to Lord Rhein they're probably nothing more than low‑class tarts.

With that thought, the hook‑nosed man tipped back and drained the vodka in his glass; a sharp, burning sting shot up his nose, instantly making his eyes redden slightly.

With a hoarse voice, Toskovsky bowed to Lin An like a most loyal servant, then hurriedly summoned his lackeys and rushed out of the tavern.

Finally, a confident promise rang out behind him:

"My lord! Rest assured—this is absolutely the most wonderful night you'll spend in the Thunder Spear Safe Zone!"

Still, he remained motionless.

Leaning lazily on the sofa, Lin An's slender right‑hand fingers kept turning the transparent square‑rimmed cup, his eyes taking on an inexplicable meaning.

The lightbulb clenched in the jaws of the skull hanging above cast a shadow, illuminating his profile in alternating brightness and darkness.

He set down his glass; the spinning light, the expanding halo—everything felt surreal.

But the strong alcohol, enough to floor a bull, had no effect on him.

With his powerful physique, these bloody roses—mixed from various high‑proof liquors—vaporized and dissolved the instant they entered his body.

Alcohol could no longer get Lin An drunk.

On this brief night of rest, Lin An, unusually, stopped thinking about anything else, simply letting his mind go blank and feeling his heartbeat.

To the beat of the drums, his blood‑pumping heart seemed like droplets splashing from a blood‑pool, falling and sending out ripples.

The music was noisy; in the Soviet‑style war zone that loved heavy metal, even the tunes played while drinking were filled with a savage flavor.

Glancing casually, the drummer on the opposite side of the stage was smashing the drums, wildly pounding the beat.

And his companion, the guitarist whose fingers sparked, was screaming out a high‑pitched song.

Under his hoarse death‑growl, what was originally not so frantic a whisper turned into a distorted lament of the apocalypse.

Пpowлoexoчetcrвыpвatьn3hnx

In the past, they tried to snatch it from my hands....

Гopлoпoлhoe

Like a bone stuck in the throat..

Гopoдcoxhet

The desolate city..

rpaccka3aлamame

I said to my mother....

Чeptвo3ьmn!

Is this hell!?

Блeдho6eлыepo3ыtpohyta

Touch that faint white rose...

В6лeдho6eломцвetetohytгopoдa

The pallid flowers devoured the whole city...

ympn, ecлnmehrheлю6nwь

If you don't love me, go die!

rлomaюpykn, rлomaюгy6ы

I'll break your wings and bite through your lips!

rлomaюtвoeteлohackвo3ь

I'll completely destroy your body!!

Between the music, Lin An's gaze grew hazy, as if he were seeing one bloody scene after another.

Everything felt so depraved, like a decadent feast, and he was merely an observer of it.

"Lin... boss!"

After downing the thirtieth bottle of vodka, as the music made him sway, Xiong Hanzi suddenly seemed to realize something.

He held the bottle in his hand, first turned his head, glanced at Lin An who seemed cut off from the world, then shouted.

"Boss, you all right? Let's have a drink‑off!"

With a goofy grin, though he wasn't the most thoughtful, one could still see that Lin Dui, who'd suggested resting for the night, looked preoccupied, showing no interest in playing.

"Nothing."

He waved a hand, Lin An looked at the worried Xiong Hanzi, and, as usual, kept his smile with He Xi, replying lightly.

Seeing Xiong Hanzi still uneasy, Lin An simply raised a cup and drank with him.

He also pointed toward the direction Toskovsky had run off to, indicating his entertainment was still to come.

Seeing this, Zhang Tie no longer hesitated; after a heh‑heh laugh he happily plunged into the dance floor, twisting his body wildly, and at the peak of the atmosphere he couldn't help but howl twice. The already small dance floor, once Zhang Tie squeezed in, was like a shark darting into a fishbowl.

Watching the happy Zhang Tie, Lin An couldn't help but crack a smile.

Yes, he truly had no worries, no problems, and not even any feeling.

To him, the noisy bar was like an ice coffin; the deafening music and the crowd's cheers and jeers were just noise in his ears.

Whether it was a drunkard getting his head blown off in a roulette game or the snow‑white temptation on stage, nothing here could stir even a hint of his interest.

Sitting on the sofa, he was like an outsider looking in, devoid of feeling.

The problem lies right here.

In this environment, even the most rational person will have their heartstrings tugged, and to some extent they will be infected by the atmosphere.

Desire and recklessness always need an outlet; rationality belongs to rationality, and humans are not machines.

But with Lin An, he felt nothing at all...

Just like the most rational spectator, watching a silent film.

Safe Zone inner city, Thunder Spear Opera House.

After leaving the tavern, Lin An, under Tuofusiji's strong invitation, came to the only opera house in the entire Safe Zone.

Unlike the City Guard's hostility toward him, the waiters and manager here seem not to care about Lin An's previous actions.

Moreover, Lin An himself didn't expect that the Thunder Spear Safe Zone, which wasn't doing well in development, had actually built a luxurious opera house.

Under Lin An's slightly doubtful gaze, Yinggoubi kindly whispered an explanation:

"Lord Leien, this place was opened by Lord Tuoer. You know, sometimes even Awakened Ones within the same Safe Zone have disagreements."

"Lord Tuoer and Lord Kelei actually don't get along well."

"As for the opera house, you'll know once you go inside..."

The tone was subtle, as if this opera house would subvert Lin An's imagination.

While speaking, Yinggoubi carefully observed Lin An's expression, trying to spot any abnormality.

In one of his guesses, Lin An is very likely to be an aide that Lord Tuoer found from outside.

By day, the seemingly absurd farce and killing were actually a struggle within the Thunder Spear Safe Zone...

Furthermore, Third Rank Awakened One Clay probably thought the same way; otherwise, he wouldn't be so silent, and would definitely have the City Guard wait for his return.

Noticing Yinggoubi guessing his identity, Lin An gave a slight nod and then also couldn't be bothered with these.

In these people's eyes, it was a major power struggle, but to him it was merely two ants fighting each other.

With his increasing strength, many things no longer caught his attention.

"Sir, please come in."

"The performance is about to begin~"

After passing through a long corridor and arriving in front of the most luxurious private room, Yinggoubi stood silently on the red carpet, bowing and gesturing for Lin An to enter.

"Believe me, you will surely have a wonderful night..."

Lin An slightly raised his head and suddenly realized that the private box he was in was actually behind the stage.