004 It's Been a Long Time Since I've Tasted Meat

Meteor City's streets are densely populated, and with a high death rate, if bodies aren't properly handled, plagues could easily break out—a catastrophe in a place where so many people are packed so closely together.

At first, Ronnel would scavenge useful items from corpses before they were thrown into the garden for disposal. Thanks to his unique ability to see the white mist and light orbs that hovered over the dead, he could retrieve these without batting an eye, even when others wouldn't dare approach.

In the beginning, his actions didn't attract much attention. After all, searching for valuables among the dead wasn't much different from rummaging through the trash in Meteor City. But eventually, people noticed something strange: some corpses were completely devoid of resentment, and even their decay was significantly slowed, with no foul odor lingering in the air.

Curiosity led people to investigate, and soon enough, they realized Ronnel had something to do with it.

Meteor City is home to many powerful individuals, and naturally, even the strongest among them sometimes fall. Ronnel, having salvaged plenty of valuable items from these bodies, not only learned the common language of the Hunter world but also gained a certain level of self-protection. He was becoming strong in his own right.

While conflict is a regular occurrence in Meteor City, no one seeks unnecessary trouble, and survival takes precedence over everything. The elders overseeing Ronnel's area noticed his talent and, after careful thought, recruited him as a cleaner—responsible for corpse disposal.

Since then, Ronnel has firmly established himself on the streets of Meteor City.

His job requires him to dispose of corpses every two days, but in the case of large-scale conflicts, like weapon brawls, Ronnel would find himself working overtime. The corpses he handled were sent from nearby streets, piling up in the garden he managed.

In just two days, one hundred and seventy-two bodies had been delivered—testament to how deadly life in Meteor City could be.

But for Ronnel, each corpse was like a treasure chest waiting to be opened. The thrill of discovering something valuable made each task exciting. And with each find, his strength grew.

Besides tangible items, Ronnel sometimes obtained skills. The first time, he discovered a [Basic Palm Technique Intermediate] skill book from a blue-leather cover.

Skill books came in varying levels: basic, intermediate, advanced, and perfect, with white, blue, red, and purple leather covers respectively. Once you tapped the book to your forehead, the skill's knowledge flowed into you, just like leveling up in a game.

After gaining the [Basic Palm Technique Intermediate], Ronnel turned his attention to another body, reaching out to grasp it. Once more, a spectral hand formed, pulling another orb of light from the corpse. This time, it dissipated to reveal a worn-out pistol in his hand.

"A standard-issue security pistol, severely damaged. It can be used but has no bullets."

With the description flashing through his mind, Ronnel tossed the pistol aside without a second thought. The randomness of corpse-tapping meant you could sometimes hit gold, but other times, you'd end up with junk.

Among the 172 corpses, Ronnel hoped maybe ten would yield something worthwhile.

He touched the third body.

"A broken iron spatula, usable for fighting."

"Survival Guide: Beginner's Edition."

"Whistling Skill: Basic Level."

"Smoke Ring Skill: Basic Level."

"Basic Pharmacology Knowledge."

"A shattered dagger, barely usable."

"Street Fighting Technique Advanced Level."

"Pure Nen Energy."

...

Item after item, skill after skill, flowed from the corpses. In less than half an hour, Ronnel had finished touching all the bodies. Of all the discoveries, the pure Nen energy was the most valuable, strengthening him both physically and mentally.

The source of Ronnel's growing power came from absorbing Nen from these dead individuals. There were no side effects, allowing Ronnel to safely grow stronger from the energy of the deceased.

As for the more refined skills, such as the advanced Street Fighting, well… that's another story.

Looking at the now-peaceful corpses, Ronnel murmured a soft prayer under his breath before heading toward the garden gate. He pushed it open, revealing the street beyond.

"All done," he said to Luca, who approached as he exited.

Luca nodded. "All taken care of?"

Without waiting for an answer, Ronnel continued walking, his expression unchanged.

Inside, Luca observed the peaceful corpses, noting how the stench of decay had vanished and even the flies had disappeared.

"It's been so long… I haven't tasted meat in ages."