"Oh, Jonas. I'm glad you're finally awake. I've got a big surprise for everyone," he beckoned them. "Follow me," they turned to look at each other and got up to follow him. Phillip led them outside the house and onto the massive driveway, where they were shocked to find ten brand-new vehicles, all black and shimmering under Hell's red sky. "I finally got everyone's Cerberus Shadow ready, one for each of you."

"Me too?" Jonas asked.

"Of course, you too. Without you, I wouldn't have the opportunities you've offered me. The things I'm giving you are a drop in the bucket compared to what I'll make in the next ten years. This one's yours," Phillip pointed at a car. "Everyone can help themselves."

"I don't have a driver's license," Jonas was grinning while admiring the car that Phillip had pointed out. He opened the driver-side door, and a new car smell wafted into his nostrils. The interior was slick, decorated with black fabrics, and brand new.

"You don't need a license to drive in Hell. Just be rich, or be a Sinner. If the car breaks down, call a tow truck. You do know how to drive, right?" Jonas nodded. He had gotten his beginner license before he died, and Drake had been the one to teach him how. "Open the trunk," Jonas reached over and clicked the button which released the hatch to the back of the car. He got out and noticed a large black suitcase inside the trunk.

"What's all this?" Jonas unzipped the case and found it was full of clothing and toiletries.

"Just some clothes and stuff for when you're on the road. It's nothing. Mr. Ken helped pick it out."

"You're the best. Did you know that?" Jonas couldn't contain his excitement, and he hugged Phillip Glatorius, who chuckled and patted him on the back.

"I never thought I'd have a car," Jonas closed the trunk and thought of his brother's black mustang. He'd always hoped he'd inherit it.

"Well, you'll need something reliable to get you to wherever the Sineville of the Seas is," said Phillip. "You can connect it to your hell phone too. You don't need keys to turn it over.

"I'll mess around with it before I go. What if someone tries to steal it?"

"You'll get a phone notification, then you can shut the vehicle down remotely and track its location," Philip turned the vehicle off with his phone and began clicking buttons. Then, Jonas got a notification.

'Phillip Glatorius is trying to transfer you ownership of a 2020 Cerberus Shadow. Click to accept this vehicle. You can access information about this vehicle under Ownership and Assets. If you decline ownership, you can mute Phillip Glatorius if you think this number is spam,' Jonas clicked the accept button.

"These phones are handy devices," said Phillip. "There's still a lot for you to discover about them, but I suppose your master will inform you. Congratulations, the car is now in your name, and you should be able to control it under the Ownership and Assets application," Phillip stepped back and raised his voice. "I'll transfer ownership of these vehicles to you after Jonas leaves, and you'll all have new apartments within a few days."

"No rush," Johnson came over while wearing a big smile. "I can wait a few more days. It's not easy getting a bunch of apartments and vehicles prepared in only a few days."

"The building you'll all be staying in is close by, but the apartment rooms needed renovation because no one has stayed in them for some time. Yuki, the building we discussed will still need a few more weeks," Yuki nodded as if this wasn't out of her expectations.

"I trust you, Phillip," Jonas nodded toward the house. "Let's head inside for a couple of drinks and maybe some dinner."

They managed to peel themselves away from the excitement of the new vehicles and followed Jonas back into the house. People were still full from lunch, but staying in the Glatorius household meant the guests would spend most of their time in the dining room eating massive quantities of food or upstairs sleeping it off. Staying at their mansion was a blessing filled with food, safety, and endless opportunities, and Jonas walked away from them twice.

The day passed just as it usually did, with Mr. Ken bringing them drinks, smokes, and anything else they wished for while the rest of the staff prepared a grand feast. Jonas wasn't trying to get too drunk because he needed a clear mind for his later business. He checked his phone and noticed the hour was closer to five. When they finished dessert, the hour was close to six. After a few games of pool in the game room, the hour was close to seven.

"Almost time," Jonas felt a bit of anxiety. "I'll pack up the rest of my clothes and stuff and put them in the car," this sentiment didn't last long because nearly everything he owned was already in his new black suitcase. He closed the trunk of his car, pulled out his hell phone, and found Old Louie's contact. "Heading out soon. Where are we meeting?"

Jonas ashed his cigarette and looked back toward the mansion. He could see his friends through the window of the game room. They were laughing, drinking, and having a great time, and he felt it might be okay to leave them as they were. He looked over at his car and contemplated leaving without saying goodbye. No, he needed to face the music and deal with it pridefully. Jonas was proud of his friendships and everything they had been through together. It would be a disgrace to his Sin if he'd just left like a coward. His phone dinged, and he read a text message from Old Louie.

"The auction is at four-two-five Tress Crossing. Meet me across the street, where all the rigs are parked. See you soon, stupid disciple."

Jonas shook his head and slid his phone back into his pocket. He flicked his cigarette and headed back inside; he knew it was time for goodbyes.

"I'm leaving," when Jonas entered the game room, he spoke, and the sounds of life and laughter died out immediately. The smiles on the faces of his friend froze, and some turned to frowns.

"Already?" Asked Simon. "You still have some more time," Jonas shook his head.

"I told Old Louie I'd meet him at eight. It's nearly a thirty-minute drive. I don't have long to say my goodbyes and hit the road," Jonas first approached the couch where Phillip and Amberlee were sitting. "You two are my greatest benefactors, and it's the luck of a lifetime that I got to meet you in my afterlife. Thank you so much for everything you've done for me, and I appreciate you coming to help us in our time of need, providing for us, and offering everyone the means to survive," Jonas stretched his hand out, and Phillip took it.

"It was my pleasure, Jonas. Your friends will be safe here and always have a place to stay should they need it. I wish you luck in your journey to find your brother. Here," he pulled out something from his pocket and put it into Jonas' hand. "This is for you."

"What's this?" Jonas pulled his hand away and examined the object. It was a round scarlet medallion engraved with the letter G and a boar's head.

"That's the Glatorius family emblem. All the primary members carry one. I can't guarantee it will be of any use, but it could help when you've reached the Inlands. I thought it would be better in your hands than mine."

"Thank you, Phillip. Are you sure I can have this?"

"Amberlee has one for you too. We don't need them anymore," Amberlee nodded, pulled out a similar-looking medallion, and passed it to Jonas. It was blue, engraved with the letter T, and a large cruise ship.

"Our families are feared by many, so if you flash the emblem, you might be able to save yourself. I wouldn't abuse that power, though. If the family finds out someone is impersonating them, they won't be happy," Amberlee gave Jonas a solemn look. "Please be careful."

"I'll try," Jonas chuckled. He knew it would be impossible to stay safe when he was trying to become a True Sinner. He stuck out his hand and felt Amberlee's delicate hand covered by his. "Goodbye, Amberlee. Thank you for everything," he pocketed his two medallions and made for the billiard table, where Ralph, Pete, and Bannji were watching him intently. "Bannji. It sucks we didn't get to hang out more, but I appreciate you switching to our side, and I hope you find your family. Good luck with everything," Jonas held out his hand, and Bannji shook it.

"No problem, boss. It was my pleasure. I wish you luck in your mission to become a True Sinner and to find your big brother."

"Petey," said Jonas.

"Cracker Jack," Pete gave a toothy smile. "Save the big goodbye. You're my dawg, and I appreciate everything you've done for me. If you need anything, call me, and I'll find a way to help you," the two of them pounded knuckles.

"It's the same for me," Ralph looked down at Jonas. "I'll help you in any way I can. Thank you for everything you've done for me. Good luck, Jo," he held out a massive fist, and Jonas pounded it.

"Take care of each other. I'm happy I got to know you, Ralph," Jonas exhaled and saw the table where Theo and Yuki were seated.

"Our turn?" Theo smiled as he watched Jonas approach. "I don't need a big goodbye speech either. Thank you for teaching me and helping me survive the Hurts gang. I hope you find the Sin Assessment and you reunite with your brother."

"Me too," said Jonas. "Thanks for being courageous," he looked at Yuki and smiled. She was grinning at him, looking as beautiful as ever, and Jonas couldn't help but recall the wonderful moments they had shared. "Good luck with Sunrise Sanctuary. I can't wait to come back and see it. Thanks for coming up with the escape plan."

"It was all you," Yuki shook her head. "I'd still be down there if it wasn't for you. I'll see you when you return. Okay?" She got up from her spot and gave Jonas a quick hug and kiss. "Goodbye."

"Bye-bye," Jonas whispered and let go. "Who's next?" He saw Johnson, Simon, and Felicia sitting on a couch nearby. "Felicia, I'm sorry we didn't get to spend more time together. I hope you take care of Simon, and I promise that if I find Annie, I'll personally send her right to you when she turns eighteen."

"You're such a sweet kid," Felicia smiled and shook his hand. "Thank you for saving my husband and reuniting us. Our family owes you a debt that we can never repay."

"So, never repay it then," Jonas smiled and turned to Johnson. "Erik, you bastard. Hug me, and we'll call it even," Johnson smirked, got up from the couch, and embraced his dear brother. A second later and they felt Simon join them for a group hug.

"I love you, boys," Jonas felt his heart tighten with sadness. "I'd die for both of you."

"Live for me," Simon pulled away and patted Jonas on the shoulder. "Become a Sinner, find Drake, and then live a good long eternity. Come and visit me whenever you can. You'll always be my little brother."

"Fuck up as many of those little asshole Hellites as you can," Johnson pulled away too, and his eyes reddened. "Show them that Commoners aren't their playthings."

"Will do," Jonas dried his watering eyes and cleared his throat. "Alright. That's all the goodbyes I've got in me. You've got my number, so feel free to text or call me anytime. I'm leaving now."

"Drive safe, buddy," said Simon. "Let us know when you've hit the road."

"When you get to the auction house, I hope your decision is one you can stand by," Johnson gave Jonas a knowing look. "Make a choice that Jonas Ariel would be proud of."

"Sounds good to me," Jonas turned on the spot and began walking back toward the exit. "Take care of each other. Don't bother walking me to my car," he heard them shuffle and stop. The game room door closed before any of them could say anything else, and they watched him disappear from view, only to reappear moments later from the game room window that overlooked the parking lot.

Jonas felt quite sad as he tried to contain his emotions. He took the driver seat in his vehicle, closed the door, and took a few steadying breaths. There was a spot on the dashboard for his hell phone to be mounted. After a few minutes, Jonas figured out how to activate his GPS, which he programmed to lead him to the auction house. It had been a long time since he'd driven a vehicle, but the Cerberus Shadow was such a nice drive that it made him feel like he'd been doing it for years. His foot pushed down the brake, and his hand switched the gear into drive. Then he slowly creeped out of the massive parking lot, turned down the driveway, and vanished out of sight.

The roads were virtually empty, and his car caught attention everywhere he went. Jonas drove for nearly twenty minutes before he got some understanding of how the streets worked. There weren't many signs or streetlights, so he had to be careful of pedestrians crossing the road, but whenever he thought someone might try crossing in front of him, he noticed the panic in their expressions as they would quickly back off. It seemed in Hell that vehicles had the right-of-way. Jonas noticed a lack of a gas gauge, which meant the car had some renewable energy source—technology companies on Earth would kill to have.

By the time he was five minutes away, Jonas had seen four rigs pulling cargo, a limo, and one other sports vehicle. It felt strange for the roads to be so dead during daylight, but he had yet to drive on the highways or main roads, so he assumed they would be much busier.

Jonas actively ignored the sad thoughts about his friends, and he focused on staying alert at the wheel because he was nervous about crashing his brand-new car. Thankfully, he managed to reach his destination. He hadn't noticed it before, but the Dark Fly auction house was inconspicuous from the outside and appeared like a big industrial warehouse. A metal fence surrounded most of the property, and security guards in black suits guarded the entrances and exits.

Across the street from the auction, Jonas pulled into a big parking lot filled with empty rigs and a couple of storage units. Very slowly, he drove his car between two rigs, and they obscured him from the road. Jonas parked the car, rolled down his window, and lit a cigarette. His phone went off, and he saw a notification reminding him of his appointment with Old Louie, and two minutes later, he received another message from his bank. Phillip Glatorius had transferred him seven thousand Sin Stones, one thousand for each Sinner Jonas had brought him. The transfer only had one message.

"Good luck, Jonas. I knew you'd decline money, so I waited til you left," Jonas smiled and shook his head. If he ever had the means to repay Phillip or Amberlee, he'd do whatever it took. Hell was blessed to have those two.

"Nice ride," a raspy voice shocked Jonas and made his heart leap because he hadn't heard or noticed anyone approaching him. He turned his head and saw the familiar dirty face of Old Louie, who stood outside the driver's window while wearing a toothy grin.

"Old bastard," Jonas shook his head and blew smoke into Old Louie's face. "We need to talk."

"We do," the old man chuckled and made his way to the passenger door, opened it up, and took a seat. He smelled like Little Wrath City, and the scent of swamp and body odor assailed Jonas' nostrils and stained the car seats. The two stared at each other for a moment, both interested in the other's appearance. Old Louie wasn't as old as Jonas remembered, and the sunlight reflected the details of his face that the dim lights of Little Wrath City hadn't illuminated. Jonas had mistaken the wrinkles and found they were just stress lines filled with dirt and oils. He'd once thought Old Louie had long gray hair, but it was filthy ash-blonde hair. Jonas had once considered the old sewer rat ugly and disfigured but found traces of handsomeness behind his dirty, unkempt features: a strong jaw, high cheekbones, and a straight nose.

"You're different from what I remember," Jonas watched as Old Louie grabbed a cigarette from the pack on the dash and lit it using his thumb.

"How so?" Old Louie exhaled smoke and smiled broadly, revealing his yellowing mossy teeth. "Do you think I'm pretty?"

"Pretty is not a word I'd use to describe you. I always wondered why you looked so old because people aren't supposed to age that much in Hell. Now that I got a better look, I noticed you're only middle-aged."

"Thank you," Old Louie gave an expression of flattery. "You're not too bad yourself either, John."

"So. Let me get this straight. You sold me to the Hurts gang as part of my training, and I agreed to it, which means I can't be mad at you for all the bad stuff that happened to me?"

"Great!" Old Louie chuckled and ashed his cigarette out the window. "I figured if you could survive a few years of bullshit and make your way back to me, that would mean our karmic ties were real, and I should take your training seriously as my first disciple."

"I want to believe you; however, there's one thing that doesn't make sense to me."

"The light may be nice and bright," Old Louie glared at the dashboard. "That doesn't mean we should stare directly at it. We might just get burned," and his tone was serious. Jonas didn't need to decipher the cryptic words to know that Old Louie was telling him not to talk about the Man of Light.

"Fine. What can you tell me?"

"We're all just pawns in someone else's chess game. But that doesn't matter because it's your choice how to live in your afterlife," but Jonas' temper was steadily rising. It wasn't necessarily Old Louie who was irritating him, but the secrecy around the Man of Light was driving Jonas to insanity.

"Old Louie!" Jonas raised his voice. "Who is the Man of Light?" For a moment, both stared at each other while waiting for something terrible to happen. Nothing did, but there was an eerie feeling inside the car as if someone or something was watching them.

"Some things are better left unsaid, Jonas," Old Louie wasn't laughing, smirking, or being himself. Instead, his voice was tense and testy. "I'll tell you about Sinners or the Sin Assessment, but leave that subject alone, please."

"Who is the Man of Light?" Jonas ignored Old Louie's pleading.

"A powerful being capable of roasting both of us like two chickens in a black oven. Do you want to know more about the Man of Light? I can't tell you because he doesn't want me to. Do you understand?" Old Louie sounded angry and was grinding his teeth. "So stop asking."

"He won't hurt me," Jonas chuckled. "He needs me for something. Pride and I figured out as much. We only had two questions: what does he need me for, and how do you know him?"

"I don't know the answer to the first question. Truly," Old Louie turned to face Jonas, and his expression was full of fear and stress. "I'll answer the second question, but after I do, promise me you won't ask anything else about him."

"Fine. I promise."

"The Man of Light is someone I knew in the past. He's tremendously mysterious and powerful and knows about events; past, present, and future."

"So, he's God?"

"Not at all. In a time long past, the Man of Light was a great King, and I was his loyal pupil. It's ancient history; I don't want to dredge it up because it doesn't matter anymore. The modern world doesn't care about the old days, and I'm a different person than I was back then. His kingdom is gone, and now he roams Hell like a ghost, unknown by nearly everyone. There are only a handful of us left who remember him and realize he's still alive. What does my old King want with you or me? He wants me to train you as a Sinner, and that's all I know," Old Louie tossed his cigarette and lit a new one. There was a finality in his tone that told Jonas he'd pushed the old quack to his breaking point until he wouldn't share anything else.

"An old King?" Jonas scrunched his eyebrows because something didn't add up. "Why would some old king need you to train me to be a Sinner? That doesn't make sense."

"Does it matter?" Old Louie shook his head. "Either way, I took you as a disciple out of respect for him. I'm curious about your origins too. No more questions about the Man of Light, as you call him, and from now on, I'll only answer Sinner-related questions. Got it?" Jonas sighed and nodded his head. "Good. Ask your questions, and then I'll tell you how I see things playing out."

"Are you a True Sinner?" Jonas wasn't going to throw away the opportunity to further his knowledge of Sin.

"Obviously. Dummy," Old Louie rolled his eyes.

"You've been to the other floors of Hell?" Asked Jonas.

"All of them, at some point," Old Louie waved off the question as if it was a waste of time."I didn't complete the Hell Challenge. When I was younger, they hadn't invented the Hell Challenge yet, and you could just travel between floors if you had the right connections."

"What are the other floors like?" Jonas narrowed his eyes, already skeptical of whatever Old Louie was about to say.

"I'm not going to describe them in detail because there's no point. However, each floor has its Hell Challenge and its Sin Assessment. Once a person on a different floor passes the Sin Assessment, the Government permits them to come to the Overworld. However, they're not allowed to hang out and fuck with the people here. They can visit and take the Hell Challenge, but that's it. Once they pass the test, they'll move on to the second floor. If your brother becomes a Sinner, he'll complete the Sin Assessment in the Underworld—the sixth floor. Then he'll have permission to come here and take the Hell Challenge. Do you understand?"

"I do," said Jonas. "So, the Sin Assessment for the Overworld, it's on the Sineville of the Seas, right?"

"Glatorius told you that, right? He most likely revealed more about his past now that you've got your Sin Scars. Yes, the big test takes place on an even bigger boat."

"I need a ticket, right?"

"A ticket and a location. Little bastard, have you been watching the news lately?" Old Louie scratched his beard and picked out a chunk of dirt. "Celebrities are dying, big shots in the Outlands are going missing. It happens every year in the months leading up to the Sin Assessment. Why? Because they were the first people to get tickets," he chuckled and shook his head. "Those fake Sinners. They get their Scars, train up a bit, and use their powers to become big shots in Commoner society. They think they're ready for the big test, but they're just food for the real Sinners."

"So, how did those fake Sinners get their hands on the tickets first?" Jonas found it strange. "Why not the real Sinners?"

"That's the game, isn't it?" Old Louie wiggled a provoking eyebrow. "The Sin Assessment begins as soon as the tickets are released. They give them to high-profile Sinners who suck ass, knowing that the best young Sinners in the Outlands will find, kill, and steal the tickets from those influential morons. Do you understand, Jonas? You have to hunt for your meal. If you want on that ship, you need to find someone with a ticket and kill them for it. Then you need to protect it until the cruise is ready for boarding. By my calculations, the ship is still sailing here from the Inlands."

"Fuck," Jonas was in shock. He exhaled and stared at Old Louie. "That's twisted. Okay," he was trying to find the right words. "Tell me a bit more about how to get a ticket and how the Sin Assessment works."

"I have a few ideas where we can find one. All of them are dangerous and involve you committing murder. You're okay with that, right?" Old Louie gave a toothy grin. "You can kill people, right?"

"Of course, I can," Jonas held his breath. "I don't want to kill innocent people. I don't mind doing it to people who fuck with me."

"Not good enough, Jonas," Old Louie shook his head. "It's not always going to be about innocence or guilt. You can't wait for someone to hurt you before you kill them in revenge. You need to be proactive about the whole thing. You need to seek other Sinners out and kill them without hesitation. I don't think you have it in you."

"I do have it in me," Jonas snarled. "I killed Wolf. I killed the Maldread."

"You killed Wolf because he was seconds away from killing you. Killing that foul beast didn't take much moral integrity because it was so fucking disgusting. You killed out of need. I want you to kill for no other reason than because your victims were in the way of you accomplishing your goals."

"That's fucked up," Jonas knew the conversation was taking a turn for the worse. "I don't want victims."

"Then I won't train you. You won't find a ticket for the ship. You'll never pass the Sin Assessment, and you'll never find your brother," Old Louie had a blunt way of putting it.

"You already agreed to be my master, and you already agreed to give me part two of my training," Jonas angrily tossed his cigarette out the window and lit another one. The conversation stressed the two so much they would probably smoke half the pack before it was over.

"If you choose to kill only based on good or evil, or if they've slighted you, you'll never amount to anything as a Sinner. However, you don't have to be cruel to pass the Sin Assessment. You only need to be willing to do what's necessary without crying like a little bitch about it. I'm going to point, and you're going to kill. If you do that, you'll pass my test, and I'll help you get a ticket. Got it? Part two of your training is to get used to killing. I need you to stop being so fucking edgy about it. Kill these mother fuckers and make them reincarnate into decent nobodies."

"Fine," Jonas agreed because he could see Old Louie wasn't lying or joking about not training him if he didn't agree to his condition. He was open to getting his hands dirty to accomplish his goals, but he didn't like indiscriminately killing people because Old Louie wanted him to. However, he didn't have a choice.

"Okay," Old Louie nodded but gave Jonas a skeptical glance. "Let me tell you a little about how the Sin Assessment works, and then we'll get to business. The test changes based on social norms and technology and whatnot. Years ago, when I partook, it was much different. Today, it takes place on a giant cruise ship called the Sineville of the Seas. Now, the ship is owned and operated by the governing forces of Sin City and the more influential families. On the Inland side, the most talented Hellite youths are chosen and given tickets by their clan leaders, and they will board the ship in Sin City. Once the ship departs for the Outlands, those little assholes will hang out and fuck around the entire time."

"The Hellites don't kill each other?" Jonas found that confusing. "Why?"

"Why do you think, dum-dum?" Old Louie looked at Jonas like he was a piece of moldy bread. "They want to wait til all you weak ass Outland pussies join them. They'll play card games, drink fine wines, and discuss all the different methods they're going to fuck with and torment you when you get on the ship."

"Fuck," Jonas felt a bit nervous. "They gang up on us? How am I supposed to survive?"

"Now, now. Don't worry so much. Let's talk about the Outland side of things. So, they give tickets to influential families in Sin City to bestow upon their younger generation. However, in the Outlands, it's a bit different. The government hands out tickets to popular dipshits, who'll inevitably bring the real Sinners out of hiding. Once the best Sinners among the Commoners get their pass, they'll head to the docking point in the capital city of the Outlands, Liberty City."

"Liberty City?" Jonas rolled his eyes. "Was it founded by Americans?"

"Yes. Ironically enough, that cesspool is full of slavery."

"Surprise, surprise," said Jonas. "So, what happens next?

"The Sinners in Liberty City will kill each other for a bit, at least until it's time to board. Once you step on the ship, the killing stops, and you play by their rules," Old Louie smirked. "If part one is earning a golden ticket—the Hellites skip part one, then part two is getting to the Sineville of the Seas alive, the Hellites also skip this part. Part three is where the Sin Assessment begins. The Examiners run the entire thing. They're people who work for the Prince of Hell. They create games and events to make you all kill each other. However, it's not the Examiners you have to worry about, although they're assholes too. It's all the Hellites who played nice the entire trip. You see, they wait for you Commoners to board the ship, then they have their fun by killing you all. Once the common rabble and pretend Sinners are out of the way, the Hellites play for real."

"Those fuckers. So, they don't kill each other on the way here, and when the ship picks us common Sinners up, they gang up on us?" Jonas looked disgusted. "Assholes."

"Well, to be fair, they aren't allowed to fight each other due to the rules. The Hellite families want their kids to come back alive, so they influence the Examiners to make things easier for their children's survival. The Sin Assessment doesn't start until the ship has left the Outlands, which means the Hellites won't have partaken in any games or activities that could cause death. Got it?"

"It's stacked in their favor. They have talent and resources, and their parents influence the rules. They didn't make it fair for Outlanders."

"That's why I need you to kill people and change your views of good and evil. It's for your survival."

"I understand now. If the Examiners are creating games and tests to make you kill people, and the Hellites are ganging up on you, it's only a matter of time before you have to get your hands dirty," things began clicking for Jonas, and he saw the point Old Louie was trying to make.

"Good boy. Now we're up to speed," he clapped his hand against his leg and puffed his cigarette. "The entire Sin Assessment tests your talent, creativity, resourcefulness, and willpower. The tests will stretch your morals and make you question your sanity but reward you with power and privileges beyond your wildest dreams. When you're on the ship, the deck and residential area will be Safe Zones where no one is allowed to fight, kill, or maim. However, once a game begins, you need to follow the rules and have your wits about you. The point of the test is to find the best of the best Sinners, give them a license, and reward them for their bad behavior."

"It's like the plot of some fucked up movie," Jonas shook his head with disapproval. "So, you get a license to Sin as a reward? How does that work?"

"It does a few things," Old Louie reached into his pocket and pulled out a golden card, no bigger than a credit card, trimmed with scarlet, and it shimmered in the sunlight. He flipped it over and showed it to Jonas.

"Louie Darnell, licensed by the Government of Hell. Cardinal Sin: Sloth, Original Sin: Healing, Code Name: The Hermit," there were some other words, but Jonas couldn't read them because the card was so dirty.

"They don't give cards away anymore. Now it's just all on your phone. I took the Sin Assessment back in the eighties, but I'm older than tit dirt, so I could have done it thousands of years ago when they handed you a carved stone with your name on it," Old Louie chuckled. "So, once you get one of these licenses, you're permitted to live in the Inlands, stay in Sin City, access new privileges, and take the Hell Challenge. Now, normally, you have to beat the first challenge before they let you leave your assigned floor, but it's different for the people who were sentenced or born on different levels of Hell. They only need to pass their Sin Assessment, and they can come to the first floor to start the Hell Challenge."

"Everything is starting to make a lot of sense now. I guess my only question left is how to get a ticket?"

"Were you not listening, little asshole?" Old Louie grumbled impatiently. "You've got to kill someone with a ticket and take it from their body. It's a hunt, so expect many Hunters scouring the streets of Liberty City while looking for their victims. Once we conclude our business here, we'll head to the big city and find some idiot with a ticket for you to take. Then you've got to protect it for a few weeks until the ship arrives. Listen, Jonas. I'm not going to kill anyone for you, nor will I help you protect your ticket. I won't be on the ship to protect you, so I need to be sure you're prepared and ready to face whatever's waiting for you."

"I know," said Jonas. "It's on me. You're still going to train me, right?"

"Obviously," said Old Louie. "Part two of your training begins today and ends as soon as you board the Sineville of the Seas. Now, let's head out. We've got an auction to attend."