Chapter 109: The Huge Gap
Treating a parasitic infection isn't difficult, but I didn't immediately agree to Matteo's request.
Seeing my calm expression and silence, Matteo said respectfully, "I beg you to save this child. I'm willing to dedicate my life to follow you."
I chuckled lightly, "Your life isn't worth anything."
"I only have this fairly strong body and a bit more strength than ordinary people. Apart from that, I have nothing." Matteo smiled awkwardly, speaking sheepishly.
I looked around unhurriedly, my gaze sweeping over the other Night Wolves members, then toward the Pack House behind me, assessing their value.
Matteo grew a bit nervous. "Night Wolves doesn't belong to me alone, and the Pack House isn't my private property either. The little bit of property I do have, I want to leave to this child."
Karen glared at him disapprovingly. "So basically you have nothing, yet you want Bella to save someone?"
Matteo looked embarrassed and somewhat ashamed.
Karen continued mockingly, "Besides, how much is this tiny Pack House worth anyway? A run-down place—we're not junk collectors!"
When she said "junk," she was looking at the Night Wolves members, clearly looking down on them.
Though Karen's words were harsh, they were true. These people had no real skills, and their combat ability and awareness were poor. This land had no development value at the moment—I really had no use for any of this.
Matteo knew this too. "You can name any condition or requirement, and I'll do it!"
The two young men squatting on the ground threw their guns down and stood up abruptly. The youth on the left with punk spikes glared at me angrily. "After all this talk, you just can't cure her—you don't want to!"
The other youth beside him looked resentful. "Since you upper-class people look down on us, get out of our territory!"
Lucas's face darkened, staring at them with displeasure. The two youths backed up a step, somewhat afraid.
Before I could say anything, Matteo quickly scolded them. "Don't talk nonsense! Only Ms. Sorelli can save Irene—apologize now!"
The two youths pressed their lips together unwillingly. Another person said to Matteo, "Matteo, let's take Irene to a hospital outside!"
"Yeah! We'll risk our lives and fight our way out—we can definitely leave the Chaotic Zone!"
Matteo cut them off sternly. "If you leave, what about your families? Just abandon them here?"
The Chaotic Zone had many forces of various sizes. The largest ones strictly controlled the exits and entrances—leaving required payment in money or supplies.
When Matteo first attended the trade fair, only a few people came. Later, to buy weapons, most members were mobilized. They'd emptied their coffers. Although their territory had expanded, their assets hadn't increased much. If it weren't for Karen providing them with a stable bullet supply, what they'd bought before wouldn't last long.
Even so, Night Wolves' bullet purchases were rapidly declining.
They were too poor, and Matteo couldn't bring himself to exploit the residents living in his territory without limits.
The Chaotic Zone was like a swamp, trapping everyone.
Seeing their silence, Matteo continued, "Even if we got to a hospital, do we have money? Do we have insurance? We don't even have proper citizen ID!"
He was talking about the biggest problem in the entire Chaotic Zone—everyone was undocumented!
Perhaps initially it was just some refugees, illegal immigrants, or criminals needing to hide who came to this land. But when the major forces here jointly controlled population management, turning people into a resource—whether as labor or directly selling them—it created an enormous gap, with the big forces becoming increasingly wealthy and powerful while ordinary people's survival became increasingly difficult.
Even Matteo, who was somebody in the Chaotic Zone, had no legal identification, let alone Irene at my feet.
They couldn't go to regular hospitals, couldn't enjoy basic medical benefits. The Chaotic Zone did have some clinics, but not only were the fees high, the treatment outcomes weren't guaranteed either.
Despite being part of the same city, the Northern District's prosperity made the Chaotic Zone look like hell in comparison.
Those two young men resented this disparity, but Matteo had kept his posture low from the start because he knew only people of equal status could have equal dialogue.
"What do you want?" Matteo asked me.
I shook my head. "What I want, you can't afford."
Matteo's expression grew dim. Just then, hearty laughter came from behind the crowd. "These poor folks have nothing. Ms. Sorelli, you might as well talk to me instead—the Saunders family has plenty of good things!"
Alfred walked over with an unfamiliar man, who was about thirty-five, not very tall, a bit fat, with thick body hair and light brown eyes hiding shrewdness.
His clothes had fresh bloodstains. Despite Alfred pointing a gun at his head, he showed no fear, greeting us respectfully and obsequiously. "Mr. Valeri, Ms. Sorelli, welcome to the Chaotic Zone. The Saunders family has prepared a feast for you!"
Lucas said nothing, standing leisurely beside me.
I asked, "What's your position in the Saunders family?"
"My name is Elliot. My eldest brother is the leader of the Saunders family. We have four biological brothers, and I'm the fourth." Elliot smiled, revealing a mouthful of tobacco-stained yellow teeth.
I noticed the Night Wolves members all showed expressions of wanting to kill Elliot when they saw him, but Elliot completely ignored them.
Matteo's expression grew even dimmer, but he didn't give up, looking at me persistently.
"When I want to see you, I'll come naturally. Right now I'm busy." I pointed at Elliot and instructed Cole, "Send him back—you know where the Saunders family's base is, right?"
"Of course." Cole answered seriously. "I went there before when delivering corpses. The Saunders family leader was very happy to receive the invitation you gave."
"But they threw the invitation away as soon as you left!" Karen laughed loudly, jumping in. "Later they spent big money buying invitations—truly foolish and rich."
Elliot's face turned somewhat ugly, not because of the mockery, but remembering that rainy night's siege operation. They'd suffered a crushing defeat, and their leader Jerald had already ceded the Black Talons to me.
The Saunders family's power was second only to the Black Talons, but after the Black Talons disappeared, they hadn't leapt to become the Chaotic Zone's overlord. They were wary of me, but also wanted to win me over.
Elliot quickly adjusted his expression, showing Lucas and me a bright, ingratiating smile. "Since you two are busy, I won't disturb you. The Saunders family awaits your arrival at any time."
Alfred looked at Lucas. Lucas nodded slightly, and Alfred handed Elliot over to Cole.
After they left, the Night Wolves members looked at us differently, especially at Lucas—their gazes burning hot, full of envy and longing.
"Is he really the Kingpin of the North?"
"Oh my god, no wonder his presence is so powerful! And he's handsome too!"
"That's not what you said just now—you said 'that bodyguard is so annoying.'"
For people living in the Chaotic Zone, their biggest dream was probably to live in the Northern District.
Seeing his members completely focused on Lucas and ignoring me entirely, Matteo couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
"These people are inexperienced, Ms. Sorelli. I hope you don't mind."
I waved my hand, signaling Matteo to pick up Irene. "Let's save her first. The medical fees can be owed—pay them back slowly later."