BIOLOGICAL SUPERCOMPUTER SYSTEM

"I will ask you this one more time. Who sold you this?" Erik asked, slightly cutting the woman's skin with his blade.

The woman's eyes widened with fear, her voice breaking as she panicked. "You don't understand. If I talk, they'll kill me. You don't know what they're capable of."

Erik's face was unyielding; his sword still pointed at her throat. "If you don't talk, I'll kill you right here," he said, looking at the woman with cold eyes. "So make your choice."

Rebecca's eyes flickered to Erik, a slightly disturbed expression on her face at his ruthless determination, but she said nothing, her attention fixed on the terrified woman.

The woman's body was wracked with sobs, her eyes filled with despair. After a moment, she seemed to decide; her face hardening with resolve. "Alright, I'll talk," she said, her voice trembling. "Last month, a new group arrived in the city. I don't know who they are, but they differ from the usual gangs. They sell top stuff, and they're taking over everything. They're ruthless, and no one dares to cross them."

Erik's eyes narrowed, his mind working quickly as he processed the information. "Where can we find them?" he asked, his voice sharp.

The woman's eyes darted around nervously, her body still shaking with fear. "There's a place," she said, her voice barely audible. "It's an old warehouse hidden among the maze of alleys in the heart of the slums. The address is 57 Bakersfield Lane, here in the city. That's where they usually sell me stuff."

Erik's face was grim as he listened, his mind already trying to come up with a plan to sneak inside the building, but with Rebecca, things were going to be complicated. The address was a crucial lead, a chance to get closer to the heart of the Crystal Cross Gang's operations in the city.

He finally lowered his sword, his eyes still fixed on the woman. "Go," he said, his voice hard. "Do not talk about our encounter with anyone. If you do, you know what will happen."

The woman nodded, tears streaming down her face as she stumbled away, disappearing into the darkened maze of the slums.

The alleyway was silent for a moment after the woman's hurried departure, and then Rebecca turned to Erik, her face flushed with anger. "Was that really necessary?" she asked, her eyes blazing. "Did you have to threaten to kill her like that? She was terrified!"

Erik's face was impassive behind his mask as he met her gaze. "It was necessary," he said. "We needed information, and she would not give it. Sometimes, Rebecca, you must do what needs to be done."

Rebecca's anger didn't abate, and she stared at Erik, disbelief and confusion warring in her eyes. "I've never seen you act like this before," she said, her voice shaking. "How can you be so cold, so ruthless?"

Erik's eyes flickered, and for a moment, something like pain crossed his face. Then it was gone, replaced by that same steely determination. "This is not a game, Rebecca," he stated after a long sigh. "We are dealing with dangerous people, and we cannot afford to be soft. If you want to survive in this world, you must do what's necessary."

Rebecca's anger subsided. She knew that Erik's words were true, but she still had some trouble accepting them; no, it was more like she had trouble accepting reality. She looked at him, her eyes filled with understanding, but a touch of fear was also present. At that moment, Rebecca swore never to become Erik's enemy, as she was sure that, in that case, he would not be lenient with her too.

Erik's eyes softened, and he reached out to touch her arm. "Let's go," he said, his voice gentle. "We have a job to do, and we can't afford to waste time."

Rebecca nodded, and the two of them started walking, heading toward the address the woman had given them. As they moved through the twisted streets of the slums, Rebecca's mind was still reeling, grappling with the new side of Erik she had just witnessed.

She knew he was right, that the world they were navigating was brutal and unforgiving. But she also knew that she had just seen a glimpse of something in Erik that she hadn't seen before, something that both frightened and intrigued her.

She wondered what had shaped him into the man he was, what had hardened him to the point where he could threaten a terrified woman without flinching. And as they walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was still so much about Erik that she didn't know, so much that lay hidden beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered.

***

Erik's and Rebecca's steps became more measured as they approached the address the woman had given them. The closer they came, the more they noticed individuals leaning against walls, observing from windows or seated on benches or on the ground, watching the street with guarded expressions. Their eyes were sharp, assessing each passerby, and there was something about their stance that spoke of danger.

"These are probably people under the Crystal Cross Gang's pay," Erik growled to Rebecca, his eyes narrowing as he took in their appearance. "But they don't have pins, so they're not members themselves. Just hired hands, most likely."

Rebecca's gaze swept over the men, her instincts on high alert. And then, something caught her eye, a glint of metal on one man's sleeve. "Erik," she said, her voice tense. "I think I found one. A Crystal Cross Gang member."

Erik's head turned in the direction she showed, his eyes zeroing in on the pin. Even though it was small, there was no mistaking it; the insignia of the Crystal Cross Gang was visible on the man's sleeve.

"You're right," Erik said, his voice low and tight. "That's one of them. Stay close, Rebecca, and be ready for anything. We're venturing into dangerous territory."

Rebecca nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. They continued to walk, but now their steps were laden with a new sense of purpose and urgency. Every glance and every movement was scrutinized as they made their way deeper into the heart of the slums.

The man with the pin seemed to take no notice of them, his eyes never leaving them. But Erik knew he wasn't the only one monitoring them. He could feel the weight of many unseen eyes on them, the sense that they were being watched, evaluated.

Erik's hand strayed to the hilt of his sword, his grip firm and reassuring. He knew that the time for action was drawing near, and he was ready. Whatever lay ahead, he was determined to face it head-on, with all the resolve and determination that had brought him this far.