BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

298  The Red Lotus Lounge (5)

The VIP room of the Red Lotus Lounge was quiet, except for the faint hum of music coming from the main floor. Erik stood there, his sword in hand, his breath heavy with exertion. His eyes were fixed on Achim's lifeless body lying on the ground, blood staining the plush carpet beneath him.

"Finally, this matter has been settled." Erik sighed. "Now things should go back to norm-"

Just as Erik was about to turn and leave the room, the door creaked open, and a waitress entered with a tray of drinks. Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the scene before her. She uttered a piercing scream and dropped the tray, the drinks spilling onto the floor as she turned to run.

<Fuck…>

Erik's masked face revealed nothing as he watched the woman flee from the room in terror. He knew he had to leave quickly before the authorities arrived.

He had two choices: go to the main door or go back to the kitchen. It didn't take much for him to decide. If he did the first, he might be forced to fight the guards, but it was also the fastest way to get out of the club; if he did the latter, he would temporarily avoid the guards, but they would be alerted by the staff, and he could also find himself in a situation in which he had to fight the chefs and other people and then the guards too.

"TSK…"

Since that was the situation, he decided to go out of the main room. He quickly rushed toward the door but sheathed his Flyssa; he couldn't risk anyone recognizing the weapon. Then he opened the door and went outside the room.

Erik's heart pounded in his chest as he passed by the guards, his eyes scanning the crowded dancefloor. The guards outside were caught off guard, their eyes widening in surprise as they saw this unknown man rush out of the room.

For a brief moment, the guards hesitated, startled by Erik's sudden appearance. But then their eyes turned to the room, and they saw Achim's and his girlfriend's lifeless bodies sprawled on the floor. Shock and confusion flickered across their faces as they realized what had transpired.

"Stop him!" one of the guards yelled, pointing at Erik, and then talked to someone through his radio. They quickly recovered from their initial surprise and gave chase, pushing through the dancing throng of people. But Erik was already lost in the sea of bodies, his figure disappearing into the chaotic rhythm of the nightclub.

The dancefloor was a pulsing, writhing mass of bodies, moving in sync with the thumping beats of the music that reverberated through the air. The DJ's energetic mix pumped up the volume, creating an electrifying atmosphere that seemed to vibrate with power.

The multicolored lights cast a kaleidoscope of hues, illuminating the dancefloor and reflecting off the disco ball overhead. The air was filled with the scent of sweat, perfume, and alcohol as the crowd gyrated and grooved to the rhythm, lost in the euphoria of the moment.

It was a spectacle of hedonism, with men and women of various shapes, sizes, and ethnicities wearing revealing outfits that left little to the imagination. Some danced provocatively, their bodies moving sensuously to the music, while others jumped and bounced with wild abandon, their laughter and shouts mingling with the beats.

Bare skin glistened with sweat as bodies moved in close proximity, grinding against each other in a sea of ecstatic movement. Some dancers twirled and spun, their limbs flailing in choreographed chaos, while others engaged in sensual embraces, lost in the moment's passion.

Erik moved through the throng of dancers, his heart pounding with adrenaline as he weaved and dodged, blending into the chaotic rhythm of the dancefloor. He knew he had to leave the building, and this crowd played an essential role in making that happen, as the pulsing energy of the dancefloor and its people provided the perfect cover for the young man.

It was a surreal sight, the music and the dance captivating him for a moment, even in the midst of his mission. But he couldn't afford to stay for long, and with a determined gaze, he pushed on, disappearing from the guards' sight.

The guards pushed past party-goers, trying to catch up to Erik, but he moved with agility, dodging and weaving through the crowd. He used his knowledge of the club's layout to his advantage, always staying a step ahead of his pursuers.

"STOP HIM!" one of the guards shouted. At that moment, someone noticed the VIP room where Achim's lifeless body lay and saw the corpse.

A woman gasped and covered her mouth, her eyes widening in shock. A man let out a startled shout, and others in the group gasped and muttered in disbelief. Panic spread like wildfire, and the once boisterous atmosphere in the room turned into chaos in an instant.

People stumbled back, trying to put distance between themselves and the grim scene before them.

"CALL AN AMBULANCE!" someone shouted, alerting the people close to them. Immediately, rumors started circulating, and soon everyone noticed the body.

Some frantically checked their phones, dialing for emergency services, while others stumbled out of the room, seeking safety in the club's main area. There were even people who recorded the scene or took photos, sure that they would gain notoriety by sharing those pictures on social media.

Some patrons had tears in their eyes; others were trembling with fear, and many were in a state of disbelief. Whispers and murmurs spread throughout the club as people exchanged worried glances and tried to make sense of the situation.

Sensing the change in mood, the DJ lowered the music, and the once-thumping beats now seemed eerily muted. The dancefloor, which had been alive with energy just moments ago, now seemed subdued as people huddled together, sharing their concerns and anxieties.

As Erik made his way through the pulsing dance floor, he could hear the guards' shouts behind him, growing fainter with each step. He knew he had to get out of the club and disappear before they caught up to him. With his heart pounding in his ears, he pushed through the throng of people until he was finally at the entrance door. However, two guards were already there.

"Fuck!" Erik used both his metallization and the mana exoskeleton's powers to defend himself against the attacks he knew he couldn't avoid. He then channeled mana through the neural links and was almost done with this whole ordeal.

13:25

He finally slipped out into the night air. He glanced back briefly to see some of the guards still connected to Nathaniel's power and generated a surge of power at his feet that gave him a tremendous speed boost. He was fast, but the guards had good reflexes, and they struck at Erik, meeting the defenses he had just put up but cutting his clothes.  However, the guards were at least three levels higher than Erik, so he definitely felt the blow on his body.

"Shit…" he said due to the pain.

However, he was able to get out of the door; the night did not end yet, but he had achieved his goal and was almost done with this whole ordeal.

He finally slipped out into the night air. He glanced back briefly to see some of the guards still searching the club, their expressions filled with confusion and urgency. Unfortunately, the two bouncers were still chasing him, and they were fast.

Erik now only had just a little bit of mana, but he had to do with what he had. He channeled the ethereal substance again, creating energy beneath his feet.

He didn't reach Nathaniel's expertise yet, nor did he have the same amount of mana, so the improvement he was able to get wasn't the same, but even with the meager amount he had, the speed he gained increased several times, giving him the chance to escape. Thanks to that, he managed to lose the bouncers.

Despite having a few more ranks than him, they could not reach him. With a sigh of relief, Erik melted into the shadows, disappearing into the city's darkness, leaving behind the chaos he had caused.

Realizing that their target had slipped through their grasp, the guards turned back to the VIP room to assess the situation.

The music had stopped already; their eyes fell upon Achim's lifeless body, and shock and horror washed over them. What happened was terrible; someone died under their watch—a VIP, nonetheless, one that was linked to important members of their organization. Their heads were probably going to roll. They quickly called for backup and medical assistance, realizing that the situation had taken a grim turn.

The shock and panic lingered in the air as the reality of the situation sank in. It was a night that would be etched in the memories of those present, forever changing the atmosphere of the Red Lotus Lounge. The incident would leave an indelible mark, and the questions of what happened and why would linger long after the night had ended.

Meanwhile, Erik vanished into the night, knowing he had to head back to the Red Palace as soon as possible, at least for now. He had achieved his mission, but the consequences were far from over. He was unaware that the night's events had set off a chain reaction that would reverberate through the city.

Erik's attack had been too flashy, and many people had seen his mask. However, the system deleted all the footage of his stay at the nightclub, so at least finding him through some recordings wouldn't be simple.