He Fang lay in the inn within Scorching Sun City, blinking his eyes as he looked at the excessively narrow and dark space. As expected, ensuring sufficient accommodations was a challenge even in Scorching Sun City. He felt as though he was sitting on a crowded green-skinned train.
Of the six beds in the room, only four were currently occupied. Sai Gu had yet to return. Utilizing the special features of the armor, He Fang located Sai Gu’s armor, only to discover it was still at the spot where they had initially entered. Was this location… in the vehicle?
He Fang felt quite puzzled. Why would someone leave a comfortable place to sleep in a vehicle?
However, he also had a vague sense that something wasn’t right. He opened the system map, and the enormous map of Scorching Sun City reappeared before him. The area of the mobile city was vast, spanning several levels. Shrinking the map to view the entire layout of Scorching Sun City, He Fang finally noticed a flickering location marker on the map.
With a start, He Fang abruptly sat up, only to bump his head on the bottom of the upper bunk, clutching his forehead in pain.
Immediately, he heard Qi Jingwei, who was next to him, get up and help rub his head.
Grimacing from the pain, He Fang thought that if this were real life, he’d likely have a bump on his head.
“What came to mind that made you so anxious?” Qi Jingwei took out some simple medicine for external injuries from their kit and applied it to He Fang. A cool sensation spread across his forehead, and He Fang finally sighed in relief.
“It’s been this long, and Sai Gu still hasn’t returned. Aren’t you worried?” He Fang asked Qi Jingwei while touching the bump on his head.
The two people on the upper bunk were apparently awakened by the commotion below and turned to look at He Fang.
“He has his own way of doing things. There’s no need to interfere forcefully,” Qi Jingwei, a longtime friend of Sai Gu, naturally had great trust in his abilities.
“But… but how did Sai Gu manage to get to the upper level of Scorching Sun City?” He Fang was utterly shocked.
After exploring the lower levels of Scorching Sun City, they knew how difficult it was to reach the upper levels. The journey was not only convoluted and complex, but every critical area was gated by restrictions. Advanced technology recorded information about everyone within the city, and any intrusion of unfamiliar data would immediately trigger alarms.
Yet, Sai Gu had silently overcome countless obstacles and managed to reach the upper levels of Scorching Sun City.
“Oh?” Upon hearing He Fang’s astonished tone, Qi Jingwei laughed. “Isn’t this great? At least the message we wanted to convey has probably been delivered effectively.”
“Sai Gu acted for this reason?” He Fang was slightly surprised. “Weren’t we supposed to discuss things slowly tomorrow?”
“That guy has always been rather unconventional.” Qi Jingwei extended a hand and patted He Fang on the shoulder. “The faster the problem is resolved, the safer we’ll be.”
“There’s no need to be in such a rush, though.” He Fang understood Sai Gu’s intention.
“Sai Gu has always looked forward to doing what he can for you,” Qi Jingwei said, a mix of amusement and helplessness flickering across his usually rugged, stoic face. “City Lord, please rest assured, Sai Gu has always been a measured person. He knows what he’s doing.”
He Fang looked at Qi Jingwei. This man genuinely didn’t seem to worry about Sai Gu’s situation. That complete trust stirred a sense of envy in He Fang—if he had a friend in real life, would it be like this?
As He Fang gazed at Qi Jingwei, the latter’s expression suddenly stiffened. His long, powerful arms pulled He Fang close, causing He Fang’s cheek to slam into Qi Jingwei’s chest. At the same time, the sound of their inn door being kicked open rang in his ears.
When the dark muzzle of a gun was pointed at them, Min Zhizhou had already leapt down from his bunk. Meanwhile, the first to shield He Fang was the member of the Ministry of Finance.
Pressed to Qi Jingwei’s chest, with his head held down, He Fang could only peer with one eye at the Ministry of Finance member standing at the forefront. That person, who was almost silent and had an almost negligible presence, had now…
…become the first to stand in front.
Qi Jingwei’s earlier words echoed in He Fang’s mind:
—Sai Gu has always looked forward to doing what he can for you.
Suddenly, He Fang felt that perhaps it wasn’t just Sai Gu. The high loyalty of his NPCs wasn’t something fabricated.
“Everyone, come out immediately.” The people standing at the door were clearly different in appearance and demeanor from the residents they had seen during the day. He Fang could tell that these people held higher status.
He Fang realized that Sai Gu must have done something.
At that moment, the four of them didn’t resist. Likewise, the newcomers didn’t give them any chance to put their armor back on or grab their weapons. Instead, with weapons threateningly pointed at their backs, they were made to walk in a specific direction.
They entered an extremely concealed elevator. If not for being a resident of Scorching Sun City, one wouldn’t even know that such an elevator leading to the upper levels existed.
He Fang quietly buried himself in Qi Jingwei’s arms, taking on the posture of a child frightened by everything. Qi Jingwei held his shoulder firmly, shielding him as much as possible.
“Keep your distance,” one of the armed individuals said, poking Qi Jingwei’s back with the muzzle of a gun, trying to separate He Fang and Qi Jingwei.
Qi Jingwei’s voice remained steady, with a hint of coldness: “This child is deeply introverted. If he’s not close to me, he’ll become fearful. It’s a psychological condition—beyond his control.”
He Fang’s body tensed. For a moment, he felt as though Qi Jingwei was genuinely referencing his social anxiety. He couldn’t help but wonder—did the NPCs in this game know too much? Could all his information have been scanned by the simulation pod?
He Fang was too small and thin, his body barely half the size of Qi Jingwei’s. Moreover, since entering Scorching Sun City, He Fang had consistently displayed a dependency on others, which led the others to let go of any further suspicions.
Their clothing was thin, while the armor in the room had already been taken and was being closely scrutinized by someone.
He Fang raised his eyes slightly and looked at Min Zhizhou, noticing the shock on his face.
It was then that He Fang realized the floor number displayed in front of Min Zhizhou was extraordinarily high. He Fang remembered that Min Zhizhou once said that in mobile cities, the higher the floors, the greater the power and authority. And now, they had arrived at a significantly high floor. Whoever they were about to meet must hold a very high status.
Yet, no matter how high the status, He Fang never imagined they would meet the Lord of Scorching Sun City. However, when he saw the completely empty conference room, so different from the crowded world outside, He Fang was stunned.
The room was surrounded by many people, and the figure seated in the central position had their back to the light. In the faint morning sunlight, an eerie silence filled the conference room.
He Fang opened everyone’s attribute panels, and when he saw the man sitting in the center, his panel plainly displayed the title “City Lord”. He Fang’s heart skipped a beat.
He twitched the corner of his mouth, wondering why Scorching Sun City didn’t follow conventional logic. What kind of game would introduce the final boss right at the start?
He Fang noticed someone sizing him up, so he buried his face once more in Qi Jingwei’s chest.
“Little ancestor, come here.” Before He Fang could complete his movement, Sai Gu’s voice suddenly rang out. He Fang was startled and turned to see Sai Gu—when had he taken a seat by the door? No… he must have been there from the start; it was just that He Fang’s angle didn’t let him notice.
He Fang felt a wave of relief when he saw Sai Gu, and a weight seemed to lift from his shoulders—at least Sai Gu was still seated on a stool.
At that moment, Qi Jingwei moved. Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, Qi Jingwei handed He Fang over to Sai Gu. Sai Gu wrapped his arms around He Fang and leaned his head on He Fang’s shoulder, his breath brushing gently against him.
“Finally, I get to see you, my little ancestor,” Sai Gu said, embracing He Fang like a parent shielding their child.
He Fang, in turn, buried himself into Sai Gu’s arms as much as he could, ensuring that the high-ranking members of Scorching Sun City wouldn’t focus their attention on him. At the same time, he could easily overhear the entire meeting from there.
It was likely that these people had summoned them to question the threats they’d negotiated about concerning Scorching Sun City. If the mercenaries’ reports turned out to be accurate, there was no way to proceed further.
Resting in Sai Gu’s arms, He Fang noticed that Sai Gu had been positioned by the door, away from the spotlight where Min Zhizhou and others now stood, drawing all the attention. Sai Gu’s placement, coupled with his protection of He Fang, seemed to create a deliberate scenario safeguarding He Fang’s safety.
Was this a coincidence, or had it all been part of Sai Gu’s plan?
The people seated in the room were high-ranking individuals, led by the City Lord. Their evident trust and serious consideration of a mercenary team’s claims hinted at their wariness—likely of the Nightmare Beast Forest, which was dangerously close to Hope City.
He Fang turned his attention to the City Lord of Scorching Sun City. The man, a middle-aged individual who, by the norms of this era, should have been fading into obsolescence, instead exuded an unusual vitality. His entire demeanor radiated an aura that distinguished him from others.
Among the countless seated individuals, He Fang examined their attribute values. After observing numerous wild NPCs, he had started to discern patterns, gradually noticing that these wild NPCs had slightly higher attribute values. It was clear that the people seated here each possessed some degree of capability.
Scorching Sun City—He Fang felt somewhat fortunate that the second city he encountered was this one. It was a city renowned for its formidable combat prowess. Since Scorching Sun City’s combat strength ranked among the higher tiers of all mobile cities, He Fang could use this as a benchmark to assess the combat capabilities of the mobile cities in the entire world. This was also part of the reason why He Fang decided to bring Qi Jingwei along.
When it came to combat power rankings, law enforcement personnel were undoubtedly among the top.
Still, He Fang couldn’t have imagined that Sai Gu would somehow connect them directly with the City Lord of Scorching Sun City. After all, as a mere mercenary, negotiating with a City Lord seemed impossible.
This Sai Gu…
What kind of method did he use? He Fang couldn’t wrap his head around it.
Now, in this vast office, there were two City Lords. One was the City Lord of Scorching Sun City, seated at the head of the table. The other was He Fang, huddled in the arms of his NPC. The stark contrast between the two was evident, and He Fang couldn’t help but feel a bit timid—his presence and aura paled in comparison.
“Mr. Min Zhizhou, hello, I am the City Lord of Scorching Sun City,” the City Lord suddenly spoke. His voice was loud and commanding, almost as if amplified by a built-in megaphone. “I believe you have a wealth of information you wish to trade with us.”
Min Zhizhou stepped forward. “Yes.”
He Fang and Min Zhizhou had been acquainted for a long time. He Fang could still remember how timid and cowering Min Zhizhou had been when he first entered He Fang’s city. Back then, he seemed paralyzed by an overwhelming fear. However, now, Min Zhizhou’s expression was calm, showing no signs of nervousness or hesitation.
Could it be that he had grown accustomed to interacting with individuals of high attributes? Perhaps that was why facing the City Lord of Scorching Sun City didn’t instill any fear in him.
If that were the case, then it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“Then, name your price,” the City Lord said bluntly, without the slightest hesitation. It was clear he intended to obtain the information they had for trade without delay.
“If it’s a matter of negotiation, then please discuss it with me.” A member of the Ministry of Finance stepped forward and spoke before Min Zhizhou could respond.
The City Lord of Scorching Sun City glanced at the Ministry of Finance member and suddenly let out a loud laugh, filled entirely with disdain.
He Fang narrowed his eyes. The gathering of so many people here was evidence enough that they took Sai Gu’s information seriously. Their intent seemed to be to verify whether there was exaggeration or falsehood in Sai Gu’s claims.
But hadn’t they considered the possibility of collusion beforehand?
He Fang thought that, as a City Lord, putting on such a grand display right from the beginning was unwise. Negotiations should proceed gradually, revealing one’s cards step by step. Yet, the fact that everyone was gathered here clearly signaled how much Scorching Sun City valued this information, effectively inviting any demand to be made and answered.
While He Fang was thinking this, he heard Sai Gu’s soft chuckle close to his ear. In a low, breathy voice, Sai Gu whispered, “Little City Lord, watch closely.”
He Fang was puzzled, not understanding Sai Gu’s intent. But at that moment, without even seeing the City Lord of Scorching Sun City make a move, a gunshot suddenly rang out. Simultaneously, the Ministry of Finance member fell backward, landing heavily on the ground. Blood pooled around him, and he was motionless.
The City Lord of Scorching Sun City re-aimed his gun, now pointing it at Qi Jingwei nearby. Turning to Min Zhizhou, the City Lord smiled and said, “Captain, the negotiation has begun. From now on, the information you provide will determine how many of your people I let you keep.”
He Fang’s mind felt like it had exploded. He stared at his NPC lying silently on the ground, his thoughts utterly blank. A profound sense of terror spread through his entire being, quickly replaced by a surge of intense anger.
In the game, the death of an escort NPC during a mission was often considered grounds for mission failure. It was as if the game were mocking the player. A drop in ratings was minor compared to the high likelihood of outright mission failure. Besides…
Besides, that quiet, reserved Ministry of Finance member had always been attentive and caring. The intelligent NPCs were practically indistinguishable from real people. Now, seeing this scene, He Fang’s heart felt as though it had stopped.
As He Fang prepared to rush forward to check on his NPC’s condition, Sai Gu forcefully held him back. With a large, firm hand, Sai Gu covered He Fang’s mouth tightly, preventing him from making even the slightest sound.
How could He Fang’s strength possibly compare to that of an NPC? Sai Gu tightly restrained him, leaving He Fang unable to struggle even slightly. Then, Sai Gu whispered in He Fang’s ear, “Not dead.”
The moment He Fang heard the words “not dead”, he snapped out of his panic and immediately checked the Ministry of Finance member’s attribute panel.
Unlike Chong Xiao, the type of man so strong he seemed impervious to weapons, the Ministry of Finance member’s toughness was far less certain. Besides, they had never truly encountered the weapons of this era and couldn’t be sure if even someone like Chong Xiao would come out unscathed.
Under this unknown level of firepower, the Ministry of Finance member had taken the hit head-on. He was now lying on the ground, but his life status was actually fine. His health bar had only decreased by a very slight amount, and though it continued to drop at a slow rate—probably due to bleeding—it wasn’t life-threatening.
He Fang had seen this kind of health drop before, and it reminded him of the minimal rate of health decline he’d noticed in girls during their menstrual cycles in the game.
Now, the Ministry of Finance member lay silently on the ground, motionless, not even appearing to breathe.
But his life status was in excellent shape.
In fact, the rate of health loss was even slowing down, as though his body was actively recovering.
He Fang: “!” This is… a hard bluff?
This completely shattered He Fang’s understanding. Not a single reaction?!
At that moment, Sai Gu smiled. Though he made no sound, He Fang could feel the tremor of restrained laughter. Then he heard Sai Gu quietly murmur, “How overconfident.”
He Fang suddenly realized that, at the moment he moved his hand, Sai Gu had restrained him just before the gunshot rang out. This meant that even the City Lord of Scorching Sun City’s motion to raise his gun had been anticipated by his NPCs. So, was the Ministry of Finance member deliberately hit?
Min Zhizhou glanced at the fallen Ministry of Finance member, momentarily shocked. However, upon noticing the extremely slow rate of blood loss, his gaze flickered with understanding, his expression stiffening.
Terrifying residents.
He was entirely certain that the Ministry of Finance member wasn’t dead—lying there was just an act. Yet, Min Zhizhou’s heart trembled in fear. He Fang’s residents couldn’t die, but Min Zhizhou was absolutely sure that he himself could. If he hadn’t been the captain and the shot had hit him instead, he might already be meeting his maker.
“I understand now.” Min Zhizhou broke into a cold sweat. At this moment, he was actually grateful for being valued by He Fang. Otherwise, he might not have survived.
Min Zhizhou then recounted everything they had rehearsed beforehand, including how he had discovered the “Land of Hope”.
“You’re saying that after helping the residents of Hope City, they directly led you to the ‘Land of Hope’?” The City Lord tapped his gun on the table rhythmically, as though amused by this statement. “Even if they gave you something in return, why would they take you directly to the Land of Hope?”
“I don’t know.” However, Min Zhizhou denied the implication matter-of-factly. “I was simply taken there. That’s all I know.”
He Fang recalled something Sai Gu had said when they were comparing information: “There’s no need to make everything overly logical. Anything that seems too perfectly logical might just be a smokescreen. After all, this reality itself lacks logic.”
Thus, although they aligned in the general direction, each of them filled in the details on their own. Even though the specifics varied, there were no major discrepancies in the overall narrative, which was sufficient.
The negotiation process went exceptionally smoothly. Even the few questions raised by the other party were asked calmly and without urgency—completely unlike the typical tone of a transaction.
The reason for such smooth progress must have been Sai Gu’s thorough preparations before they were summoned. They, as a group, were merely there for confirmation.
Sai Gu… truly a genius at playing this game.
Sai Gu seemed to notice He Fang’s thoughts. Leaning close, he whispered teasingly in He Fang’s ear, “I went all out just to impress you, Little City Lord.”
He Fang nodded, acknowledging his effort.
“And in the future, Little City Lord, in your heroic dreams—would you consider giving me a spot?” Sai Gu cheekily added another peculiar remark.
He Fang: “?”
The City Lord of Scorching Sun City fell silent after receiving all the information. He Fang understood that, given the current lack of solutions to Nightmare Beast Seeds, expecting a giant city to confront them head-on was pure fantasy. The so-called exploration teams only identified the threat and then had the mobile cities change direction and flee. Even Scorching Sun City was no exception.
He Fang and the others were imprisoned.
They were placed in a very narrow, dark room, with just the four of them.
The Ministry of Finance member, treated as a corpse, had been taken away. He Fang continuously monitored his name’s location on the map, ensuring the member’s safety.
“Little City Lord,” Sai Gu suddenly spoke to He Fang.
“Hmm?” He Fang leaned partially against the wall, surprisingly not feeling the cold despite the environment.
“What do you think of Scorching Sun City?” Sai Gu asked.
Hearing the question, He Fang thought for a moment. “Although I think some of their actions might be excessive, there’s no denying that it’s a vibrant and thriving city.”
“Is that all?” Sai Gu pressed further.
He Fang felt Sai Gu’s tone was a bit unusual. Turning to look at him, he could still make out Sai Gu’s silver hair even in the dim space. “Is there something wrong with my answer?” He asked, puzzled.
“No.” However, Sai Gu shrugged, appearing rather indifferent.
“Hmm?” At that moment, Qi Jingwei raised his head in confusion, glancing around.
“What’s wrong?” He Fang asked.
“Scorching Sun City has stopped moving.”
Qi Jingwei’s words prompted He Fang to immediately open the system map. After carefully inspecting it, he found that Scorching Sun City really had stopped.
However, it had only halted; its direction had not changed.
——
The City Lord of Scorching Sun City had dispatched an exploration team to investigate their path ahead. Each member of the exploration team was equipped with monitoring devices, allowing the City Lord to clearly track their movements on the screens before him.
The City Lord’s thick fingers rhythmically tapped the armrest of his chair, his brow tightly furrowed.
While they could launch attacks on any mobile city, it didn’t mean they could withstand the Nightmare Beasts.
Nightmare Beasts could be seen, touched, and eliminated, but Nightmare Beast Seeds were essentially invisible enemies. Even the most powerful firepower was powerless against them.
Indeed, he was deeply apprehensive.
After receiving information about the “Land of Hope”, he began advancing towards it. If such a place truly existed, his city would gain a substantial resource.
But why hadn’t other mobile cities obtained the “Land of Hope”? If he had to reason it out, he could. After all, the City Lord of Hope City sold information about the “Land of Hope” at a high price. Most mobile cities wouldn’t risk gambling on a possibility, so those passing through Hope City were likely unaware of the “Land of Hope”.
Scorching Sun City, however, had no need to purchase anything. Its information had been forcibly extracted from the mouths of those abandoned during escapes.
Yet, like all mobile cities, which feared that Hope City might fall to the Nightmare Beast Seeds, he harbored the same apprehensions. If, as the mercenaries claimed, it had already been overrun, then the “Land of Hope” would already be gone. Advancing further would only lead to certain death.
The exploration team he dispatched now was tasked with confirming whether the Nightmare Beast Forest had truly spread to Hope City.
At this moment, countless images flashed across the screens before him. So far, greenery was still visible everywhere. This already made him suspicious. Given the parasitic speed of the Nightmare Beast Seeds, the spread would have been swift. How could such a large expanse of greenery still exist?
Suddenly, one of the screens went dark. The City Lord of Scorching Sun City was startled and immediately replayed the blacked-out footage. He discovered it happened in an instant, and the exploration team’s gatekeeper had already gone silent. The heartbeat monitor in the armor indicated that the gatekeeper’s pulse had vanished.
Dead?
The City Lord of Scorching Sun City was filled with astonishment.
However, in the next moment, several surrounding surveillance feeds suddenly cut off. He watched in disbelief as the number of his gatekeepers rapidly diminished, not even having time to review the footage.
The map showed they were already nearing Hope City. Currently, Hope City was populated entirely by the elderly, sick, and disabled, making it impossible for them to fight back against people. But if they had turned into Nightmare Beasts, it would be a different story.
The sudden disappearance of information and the vanishing heartbeats of the gatekeepers sent chills down the City Lord’s spine.
Too fast—the speed was far too fast. It was as if they had stepped directly into a Revival Nightmare Plant zone, with countless Nightmare Beast Seeds rapidly engulfing them.
At that moment, he suddenly noticed a shadow on one of the surveillance feeds. The exploration team sent a direct report to him. When the feed was magnified, the City Lord of Scorching Sun City found himself staring into a pair of eyes.
Pure black pupils reflected no light—a lifeless, desolate black. In an instant, the City Lord realized it was a Nightmare Beast!
“Pull back!” The City Lord immediately issued the command, but it was already too late. In that single moment, all of his screens turned black, and the heart rate monitors of everyone he had sent out ceased to function.
A total wipeout.
The City Lord of Scorching Sun City rubbed his temples; even though this was merely a reconnaissance effort, the losses were already substantial. While the number of gatekeepers wasn’t insignificant, it also wasn’t large, and it was clear that this one trial alone had inflicted heavy casualties.
Ten thousand Nightmare Beasts—this number was terrifying. As someone living in a post-apocalyptic world, it was common knowledge that the dead should be incinerated to contribute as fuel for the city. Leaving corpses behind was absolutely unacceptable.
Was it fear of death?
The City Lord issued an order. He had seen the Nightmare Beasts with his own eyes, seen their pitch-black, lifeless eyes.
Nightmare Beasts had cognition, spreading through the thoughts and memories of the living. This meant that if Hope City’s residents were parasitized, those who knew about the “Land of Hope” would actively go there, spreading the parasites to the living vegetables, livestock, and poultry.
The thought that this trip might have been for nothing left the City Lord frustrated.
Yet, he had no other choice but to issue a command to change direction.
However, one thing had been puzzling him all along.
There was an untouched patch of vibrant green life—no signs of parasitic corruption whatsoever. Despite the appearance of Nightmare Beasts, how could life still persist there?
“City Lord.” At that moment, someone knocked and entered to report, “The armor has been fully studied. It’s exquisitely crafted and technologically advanced. It appears to have been produced by a major mobile city alliance. The design of the armor is flawless, and there are various features we haven’t fully analyzed yet.”
“Oh?” The City Lord of Scorching Sun City picked up the armor. It was thin, lightweight, and appeared absolutely flawless.
For mercenaries to possess such powerful armor, they must have unique qualities, the City Lord thought, narrowing his eyes.
These mercenaries indeed seemed quite capable. In such a harsh environment, they managed to display a level of deterrence stronger than any ordinary mercenary. That man named Sai Gu, in particular, had a knack for saying clever things to mislead information. If these individuals were willing, the City Lord wouldn’t mind having them stay in his city—after all, they were somewhat talented.
Scorching Sun City had suffered the loss of several gatekeepers and expended many resources, making it a string of unfortunate outcomes.
However, the City Lord had also noticed anomalies. Perhaps these mercenaries still knew something more.
With just a little intimidation.
Maybe he could extract even more valuable information.
Such as why plant life hadn’t been parasitized.
Arming himself, the City Lord headed to the room where the mercenaries were being held. Opening the door, he stood flanked by many subordinates, each equipped with weapons.
“Your information is very accurate,” the City Lord remarked.
“We don’t deceive our partners,” Min Zhizhou spoke up proactively. “As mercenaries, we strictly adhere to the spirit of our contracts.”
“I admire you all. My city could really use talents like yours,” said the City Lord of Scorching Sun City, who had already swapped to a high-lethality weapon, casually tapping it on his shoulder. His movements appeared relaxed, but they carried an undeniable air of danger. “I think you might enjoy staying here.”
This time, Min Zhizhou didn’t respond immediately. If a mercenary was skilled enough, staying in a city was a possibility—after all, talent was in demand everywhere.
Min Zhizhou glanced at Qi Jingwei beside him before replying, “If we stay, what could we do to assist you?”
The City Lord wasn’t surprised by the response. His city was a top-tier one, feared by many other mobile cities.
If they became part of his inner circle, these mercenaries would undoubtedly provide him with even more valuable information.
“Of course, if your skills are formidable enough, reaching the upper echelons isn’t out of the question. However, staying here comes with conditions.” At that moment, the City Lord’s gaze settled on an incongruous presence in their group—the boy trembling under the protection of adults, cowering in fear of everything. That timid figure was an eyesore to him, and his instincts stirred no affection or desire to accept the boy.
“What conditions?” Min Zhizhou asked. He knew there would be strings attached if they wanted to remain. This was Scorching Sun City, after all. In this world, brutality thrived while cowards languished. Min Zhizhou had already speculated whether the demand would involve their armor or the vehicle they arrived in.
However, the City Lord slowly spoke: “What I need is for you to kill that useless boy in front of me.”
Min Zhizhou’s eyes widened slowly in disbelief as he asked, “What did you just say?”
“I said, kill that boy,” the City Lord of Scorching Sun City repeated impatiently. “My city won’t support a useless freeloader. I admire you, but I have no fondness for that child.”
“Then I’m sorry, but we can’t do such a thing. We’ve provided you with sufficient information. Let us leave now, and we’ll depart on our own,” Min Zhizhou said, cold sweat running down his back. His head buzzed with anxiety as he worried whether Qi Jingwei and the others could fight their way out of a city with so many people. Still, he clung to the hope of leaving quietly and peacefully.
“I’m also sorry.” Finally, the City Lord smiled, as though he had been waiting for their refusal all along. Raising the weapon he had been casually resting on his shoulder, he aimed it at them. “I have no intention of letting you leave just like that.”
It was obvious he intended to eliminate them. The City Lord gave the mercenaries two options: either kill each other in a staged “battle of betrayal” or be executed directly by him.
Either way, he intended to force them to reveal the information he wanted.
However…
“You’d better take back those words,” Min Zhizhou said, sensing a strange and unsettling aura rising around him. His knees felt as if they were being crushed by heavy stones, forcing him to the ground. He could barely hold himself up—a result of years of enduring disdain and hostility in the cities he had passed through.
“When have I ever gone back on my word?” The City Lord raised an arrogant eyebrow, his expression filled with mockery and provocation toward the group.
“I’m sorry, but we cannot comply with your wishes,” Sai Gu, who had been holding He Fang from a distance, finally spoke, his tone calm yet firm. “Your entire city is not worth as much as the person in my arms.”
The City Lord of Scorching Sun City’s expression darkened. “Then you can all die together in this cramped room.”
The City Lord wasted no more words. He hadn’t come here to reason with them—either they submitted or they died.
However, just as he prepared to pull the trigger on his weapon, his vision blurred, and the weapon in his hand suddenly emitted a sharp sound. The City Lord’s eyes widened as he saw a towering man appear before him in an instant, standing so close that there was no room to react. The man casually grabbed the weapon, and it shattered into pieces.
The tall man standing before the City Lord now wore a deeply displeased expression. “We hadn’t planned to actually do anything to you, but you’ve clearly crossed a line.”
As the City Lord prepared to order everyone around him to attack, he didn’t even manage to utter a word. A fist struck his face directly.
The City Lord’s mind was filled with disbelief—”Ridiculous! Someone dares to punch me on my own turf? I’ll make them pay for this!”—but an unprecedented sensation overtook him. He felt as though his vision was moving along with the hand of the burly man. Why was his perspective so strange? It was almost as if…
It was almost as if his body and head had been separated, and his head was now being propelled forward by the man’s fist.
This was the City Lord’s final thought before his head slammed into the wall with a sickening crunch, utterly shattered.
However, his body remained standing perfectly still in front of the man, motionless.
“Damn it, you lot!” Everyone, stunned by the scene in front of them, immediately prepared to fire their weapons. Yet, they didn’t even get a chance to pull the trigger. Their vision blurred, and consciousness faded away entirely.
“Let’s go,” Qi Jingwei said, shaking his hand nonchalantly, not a speck of dirt on it.
He Fang had no idea what had happened—or rather, just before anything occurred, he had heard Sai Gu whisper in his ear, “What happens next isn’t suitable for children.”
Sai Gu held He Fang tightly, shielding him completely. The fabric of Sai Gu’s clothing blocked He Fang’s view, leaving him unable to see a thing. Sai Gu’s hand covered one of He Fang’s ears, while the other was muffled by the clothing, making all sounds faint and indistinct.
Sai Gu instructed him to hold on tightly. He Fang wrapped his arms around Sai Gu’s chest and clung to him with his legs, looking like a giant koala latched onto him.
He Fang knew something dangerous must be happening, but all he could perceive was Sai Gu supporting his legs as they ran. From his muffled surroundings, he could faintly hear chaotic explosions.
Inwardly, He Fang suspected that these explosions might have been orchestrated by Sai Gu or Qi Jingwei. Yet despite running, their pace remained steady and composed, and oddly, there didn’t seem to be anyone chasing them. It felt more like they were running simply because they didn’t want to stay there any longer.
He Fang eventually felt Sai Gu release his hold. He quickly regained his footing and steadied his vision. Only then did he realize they were now on the ground floor of Scorching Sun City. Standing before them was the very healthy-looking Ministry of Finance member, who had driven a vehicle over and vacated the driver’s seat.
Sai Gu suddenly reached out, just as he had the first time, picking He Fang up and placing him in the driver’s seat. In a deep, amused tone, he said, “Little City Lord, we’ve caused some trouble. Now it’s time to make our getaway. You’ve got your chance to shine.”
He Fang immediately understood, shutting the car door decisively. “Get in!”
Once everyone was safely in the car, He Fang immediately pressed down on the accelerator, speeding toward the entrance of Scorching Sun City where they had originally entered.
“Don’t worry, City Lord,” Qi Jingwei said as he leaned halfway out of the car window, holding a weapon he had retrieved from under the seat. “Just focus on driving.”
He Fang stepped on the accelerator without hesitation. At the same time, Qi Jingwei blew up the metal gate at the entrance. He Fang braced himself for the impact from the explosion, but it never came. Even the bright, intense light from the explosion was blocked by Sai Gu, who was seated in the passenger seat. All He Fang felt was his vehicle lifting into the air momentarily before crashing back onto the ground.
Their objectives in Scorching Sun City had been achieved. The city had adjusted its route, they had gathered enough combat information, and the Ministry of Finance member had successfully learned about the external economic system.
They had also gained a clear understanding of how terrible a leader the City Lord of Scorching Sun City truly was.
He Fang couldn’t help but think that he[mfn]He Fang[/mfn] was the perfect, ideal City Lord in the truest sense.
As the vehicle sped out of Scorching Sun City, Sai Gu glanced behind them, smiling. His deep voice carried a particular joy. “Wow, look at that—fireworks.”
He Fang, puzzled, turned to look back. What he saw left him stunned. In the distance, a part of Scorching Sun City had erupted in a massive explosion. Flames and thick smoke shot into the sky, illuminating a large section of the city and making its sheer size even more imposing. The bright flames and accompanying chaotic noises were so intense that even from afar, one could feel the unrest rippling through the city.
He Fang was dumbfounded…
“Why is it exploding?!”
His citizens refused to just let that slide 😭😭👌