Indeed, just as Qi Jingwei mentioned, it takes a long time to reach that mobile city from here, even when traveling at full speed without stopping.
Although mobile cities do not travel quickly, they are not considered slow. Initially, the journey was planned to take a week, but He Fang felt that this timeline needed to be extended.
While traveling, He Fang deliberately had Sai Gu steer toward the surrounding areas. As they passed through, the system map would update. So far, they hadn’t seen the Nightmare Beast Forest, and they even encountered some animals.
According to Min Zhizhou, these animals roaming freely without any restraint are very dangerous. They are the most susceptible to being infected by Nightmare Beast Seeds. If the mobile city encounters unknown wild beasts during its advance, they never ascertain whether it’s a Nightmare Beast or an ordinary beast—they eliminate them all indiscriminately.
Once eliminated, they could identify whether the beast was a Nightmare Beast or just a regular animal. If it were an ordinary animal, the mobile city would recover its carcass, and its meat would be turned into a delicious wild game dish delivered to the city.
Although there were visible trees and grasslands surrounding He Fang, they didn’t appear to be eroded.
It was enough to prove that the efforts left behind by Hope City before their evacuation had not gone to waste.
“Someone,” Sai Gu suddenly said.
Min Zhizhou frowned and immediately looked in the direction the vehicle was heading. Why didn’t he see anyone?
He Fang opened the system map and noticed some very tiny dots appearing along the edge of the small house, forming a circular pattern around it. Seeing this, He Fang was 100% certain that the small house was the mobile city, and those tiny dots must be the exploration team near the mobile city.
They were gradually approaching the exploration team when Min Zhizhou said, “Stop.”
Sai Gu stopped the vehicle. They were still a very long distance away from the exploration team, barely able to make out a faint, tiny silhouette.
“Can’t we get a little closer?” This was a vast plain. Even though He Fang squinted hard, he could still only make out a shadow. The exploration team was also quite far from the mobile city. Walking there on foot would waste a lot of time.
“No, we can’t,” Min Zhizhou replied as he opened the car door and looked around. “Once the exploration team confirms that we’re safe, we can return here and drive the vehicle in.”
“This entirely manual method is really difficult,” He Fang commented with a sigh as he got out of the car after Qi Jingwei.
“If Nightmare Beast Seeds don’t actively expose themselves, machines cannot detect them,” Min Zhizhou said, gazing at the small black dot. “After all, people parasitized by Nightmare Beast Seeds still retain the characteristics of living humans.”
“Stop!” Suddenly, a sharp voice called out. He Fang’s expression immediately tensed as he lifted his gaze. Not far from them, he saw a vehicle that didn’t look comfortable at all, with five people aboard.
“There are a lot of people—three reconnaissance and two gatekeepers. It seems to be a medium-to-large city with a certain level of strength.” Min Zhizhou took the initiative to walk to the front. “Follow behind me. If there are any questions, I’ll answer them.”
He Fang stared at Min Zhizhou, finding him increasingly reliable. In his area of expertise, he was composed and reserved and exuded an overwhelming sense of security.
Just as He Fang was filled with admiration for Min Zhizhou, a low voice with a hint of laughter suddenly sounded in his ear: “You like him a lot?”
He Fang jolted and immediately turned his head: “Like what?”
Underneath the black helmet, He Fang couldn’t see Sai Gu’s expression, but his voice sounded cheerful: “He’s a man who can be considered reliable, but unfortunately, he’s too ordinary and a bit old.”
He Fang: “?”
“There are many responsible people and many who can shoulder responsibilities.” As He Fang was puzzled, Sai Gu placed a hand on his head, turning it to face straight ahead. “But someone close by—no matter what, that’s who matters.”
He Fang was utterly confused. What on earth was Sai Gu talking about?
He Fang gradually drew closer to the group ahead. Even though they were still far away, thanks to the special design of the research institute’s armor, he could clearly see the surveying team.
According to Min Zhizhou, all the exploration teams were essentially composed of individuals with little to no capability, people on the verge of being discarded, utilizing their last bit of value. However, these exploration teams were not the lowest class, so the members He Fang saw—the “human detectors”—appeared to be in better condition than the remaining residents of Hope City.
He Fang had once secretly asked Min Zhizhou what would happen to the lowest-level individuals in the city when they could no longer work. At that time, Min Zhizhou had remained silent for a long while, and in the end, He Fang did not receive an answer.
The gatekeepers of Hope City were merely the relatively better ones among the frail elderly, the sick, and the disabled. After becoming gatekeepers, the city provided them with food, and they could forage for edible grass outside the city.
But they were nothing more than a symbol—a representation that life still lingered in Hope City.
The real gatekeeper He Fang had encountered, Zhao Wei, was a man completely beyond cure, ravaged by illness. He bore none of the vigor of a gatekeeper at their peak and, under the oppression of Chong Xiao, showed not even the slightest resistance.
And now…
He Fang truly saw the gatekeepers.
The gatekeepers were easy to recognize because they all wore specially-made metal armor. While it didn’t compare to the equipment they were adorned with, it showcased a remarkable level of technological craftsmanship. This armor was entirely different from what Min Zhizhou had once worn—it was exquisitely crafted.
“This doesn’t look very good,” Qi Jingwei remarked, pulling He Fang, who was walking in front, behind him. At the same time, Sai Gu placed an arm over He Fang’s shoulder, like a father protecting his child.
He Fang suddenly noticed that in this gathered team, his own physique appeared more petite than ever before.
“It’s clear that this is a very well-developed city.” Min Zhizhou lowered his voice, but due to the special properties of the armor, they could easily converse with each other. “A city of this scale is very likely part of a mobile city alliance.”
He Fang was startled. From the icon, he could only see a small house and had assumed it was a single city. But since Min Zhizhou said this, perhaps his initial assumption was wrong—it wasn’t a medium city but a large one.
“Mercenaries.” At this moment, the gatekeeper had already aimed his gun at the three of them. It was a completely unfamiliar weapon that He Fang had never seen before. Because it had never been tested, He Fang was extremely wary of such a weapon.
“Let me see your faces.” The gatekeeper was tall and imposing. He Fang could even feel the coldness in his tone. At this time, members of the exploration team, dressed in relatively clean clothes, stepped off the vehicle. However, their pupils were filled with a resigned look of death.
Min Zhizhou took off his helmet. He Fang immediately followed suit, widening his eyes as much as he could to help the gatekeeper identify his identity more clearly.
The gatekeeper’s gun never wavered. After carefully observing their eyes, the ordinary members of the exploration team began approaching them.
The pace of these ordinary individuals was slow, but the closer they got, the more evident the gap between them became. These ordinary people were very short in stature, a world of difference compared to the gatekeeper.
Two of them stopped at a distance while the leading individual slowly walked towards them.
“Apologies, may I touch you?” The leading ordinary person extended a hand to touch Min Zhizhou’s armor. Afterward, he moved on to the next person. The other two remained at a distance, waiting for the leader’s response.
The person touched Min Zhizhou, then Qi Jingwei, and finally grasped He Fang’s wrist.
This individual appeared to be a middle-aged woman. Her eyes weren’t bright, but when she looked at He Fang’s face, she paused for a moment and offered a kind smile: “Hello, child. You look very healthy.”
He Fang froze for a moment. Did he really look like a child?
“Thank you,” He Fang expressed his gratitude.
“Was your journey tiring?” the woman asked again.
“Not at all,” He Fang replied, though he didn’t understand why this elderly woman was making small talk. He simply treated it as part of the data collection process for entering the city.
“Close your eyes, child,” the woman said gently after a pause.
“Why?” He Fang was puzzled.
“Be a good child and close your eyes,” the woman repeated, this time with a slight impatience. Her face bore distinct wrinkles. She wasn’t actually very old but appeared frail due to her weakened physique, which had rendered her unable to work anymore.
He Fang didn’t want to close his eyes, but suddenly Sai Gu covered them for him.
“Be good, little city lord.” Sai Gu’s voice was unusually tender, different from usual. While He Fang was still confused, his helmet was placed back onto his head. He then felt Sai Gu seem to input a forced silence command into his armor.
He Fang was puzzled and curious. Due to the armor, he couldn’t see or hear anything. He only knew that Sai Gu was holding his hand, guiding him so that he wouldn’t lose his way while blind to his surroundings.
What had happened?
He Fang wanted to know, but instead of asking, he simply deactivated the restrictions on his armor. When he lifted his gaze, he saw Sai Gu standing in front of him.
“Little city lord, why are you so disobedient?” Sai Gu’s tone was filled with helplessness and sighs.
“I am the city lord. I have the right to see and hear everything.” He Fang pushed Sai Gu aside, and Sai Gu didn’t resist. The tall man stepped back, yielding to He Fang’s strength.
In an instant, He Fang was greeted by the sight of the kind woman lying motionless in a pool of blood.
“Don’t be too sad; it was a quick death. She didn’t feel any pain.” This time, Sai Gu didn’t affectionately embrace He Fang but instead spoke softly at his side.
He Fang stared at the fallen woman. In the distance, the two ordinary people stood silently, lowering their gazes with cold expressions. They fully understood that this would be their own fate someday.
He Fang looked up at Min Zhizhou, wanting an explanation.
“Nightmare beast seeds do not have consciousness,” Min Zhizhou began softly, responding to He Fang’s gaze. “When a person dies and their consciousness fades, the nightmare beast seed parasitizing their body will channel all the body’s energy to parasitize someone else. There are no exceptions.”
He Fang’s gaze returned to the fallen woman. He understood what everyone was waiting for—for the nightmare beast seed to realize that the woman could no longer move and then take control of her body.
“Why did they kill her? If it were me, I would have killed one of the mercenaries rather than let my own citizens die.” He Fang’s mind momentarily stalled, and he asked a very simple question.
“Because this woman no longer had sufficient value. Dead is dead,” Min Zhizhou sighed.
He Fang recalled that Min Zhizhou had mentioned mercenaries were an unknown boon for mobile cities. Mercenaries would risk their lives to venture into dangerous areas, often bringing back essential supplies and sometimes even extremely rare resources.
Mercenaries were important.
“What about her body?” He Fang still saw the image of the elderly woman kindly speaking to him, her gaze calm and unafraid. However, she seemed to have resigned herself to her fate, her expression weary.
“Someone will handle it. The detector needs to be removed—it can be reused.” Min Zhizhou turned his head slightly as he spoke, and just like before, he didn’t go into more detail with He Fang.
But faintly, He Fang recalled information he had previously learned from Min Zhizhou: the exploration team members had detonators implanted in their bodies. Once it was confirmed that they had turned into a nightmare beast, the detonator would be triggered immediately. So this detector wasn’t exclusively tied to a single person?
A human body…
It had completely turned into a resource.
Under his armor, He Fang wore a somewhat dazed expression. As a game, “Ruins Without Restart” could not avoid scenes of violence and bloodshed. In many single-player games, scenes of blood splattering were inevitable. These hardships and tragedies often served as the groundwork for the protagonist to reshape the world.
Yet He Fang was not in high spirits. He asked, “Does every mercenary who wants to enter the city need the life of an exploration team member as the price of admission?”
Min Zhizhou’s beast-like mask concealed his embarrassed expression. “Before any exploratory interactions occur, mercenaries present the resources they’ve brought. If the resources are adequate for trade, they can enter the city. Not all cities use human lives for detection…”
But there were cities that did, just like the one before their eyes now.
“Does that mean this city isn’t short of people?” Qi Jingwei asked.
“Not necessarily. It’s more likely out of caution. The proximity to the Nightmare Beast Forest here means they need to be even more vigilant than usual,” Min Zhizhou replied.
He Fang looked at the lifeless woman on the ground. Her death was disturbingly vivid. In other games, even in scenes of mountains of corpses, various techniques would soften the horror to make it less overwhelming. Yet this woman’s death was portrayed so realistically that it made him feel sick.
“Little city lord.” Just as He Fang’s eyes began to feel muddled by the sight of the crimson blood, Sai Gu’s voice suddenly came from beside him. “Look up—someone’s coming.”
He Fang looked up and saw that another ordinary member of the exploration team, who had been standing there earlier, was now approaching. He walked over slowly.
He Fang instinctively took a few steps back, resisting the approach of the exploration team member.
“It’s okay.” Sai Gu stood behind He Fang, blocking his retreat. With his arm forming a loose, protective gesture, Sai Gu half-hugged He Fang, giving him a sense of security without restricting his movements. “There won’t be any more deaths.”
Just as Sai Gu had said, the approaching individual only confirmed the woman’s death before turning back and waving to the vigilant gatekeepers in the distance. The weapons that had been aimed at them were all lowered.
Min Zhizhou turned around and said, “City lord, we can go back to the vehicle now.”
“Okay.” He Fang turned around, though his gaze kept drifting toward the rigid corpse of the deceased woman. Sai Gu, however, skillfully shielded his vision with his hand, blocking that dizzying splash of color from view.
This time, they easily drove past the gatekeepers’ defenses. As they passed, He Fang glanced sideways at the exploration team they brushed past. Neither the gatekeepers nor the ordinary people paid them any extra attention. It was a scene they had clearly grown far too accustomed to.
“I’m sorry, little city lord,” Sai Gu whispered in his ear as they sat together in the vehicle.
“What’s wrong?” He Fang asked in confusion. Sai Gu’s hair fell beside his ear, bringing a small, cool sensation. Unconsciously, He Fang tilted his head slightly. Such a small motion managed to pull He Fang out of the inexplicable emotions he’d been caught in before.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have covered your eyes earlier,” Sai Gu said in his usual low tone, making every word seem sincere.
As for Sai Gu’s apology, He Fang didn’t know whether to take it seriously or not. Still, He Fang replied, “It’s fine.”
It didn’t matter—as long as the deceased weren’t from his city, that was enough.
In “Ruins Without Restart”, so many players had wiped out countless cities. Although He Fang found it unfortunate that cities meticulously built with effort ultimately fell to ruin, that hardship belonged to someone else.
He only needed to care about his own city’s NPCs. To He Fang, that death was merely a transitional plot point.
Sai Gu rubbed He Fang’s hair. Within the entire city, no one else dared to act this way in front of Sai Gu. His hands were rough, likely due to his habit of crafting and modifying various things, leaving small scars on them. When he ruffled He Fang’s hair, it felt slightly prickly. Strangely, however, He Fang didn’t seem to mind this display of affection.
“I find it surprising they showed no interest in our armor,” Qi Jingwei remarked as he swapped places with Sai Gu to take the wheel. Before getting in, Sai Gu deliberately chose to sit with He Fang in the back seat. Just as Sai Gu joked about his high body temperature, He Fang could distinctly feel the constant sense of presence radiating from Sai Gu beside him.
He Fang pondered for a moment. “Could it be that they’ve seen armor even more advanced than what we’re wearing? And besides, they let us through without verifying our resources—this is strange in itself.”
“If that’s truly the case, we really need to thoroughly assess the combat strength of this mobile city.” Qi Jingwei’s expression grew solemn. “It could be something far beyond what we imagined.”
The thought weighed heavily on He Fang. A completely unknown city—this was likely the first time He Fang had encountered a fully functional mobile city, not the crumbling remnants of one where its original form could no longer be recognized.
As they moved closer and closer to the mobile city, evening began to fall. In the crimson twilight, He Fang laid eyes on the enormous, seemingly endless mobile city!
After seeing Hope City firsthand, He Fang now understood what a mobile city truly was—it was indeed a city, one so vast that it defied the narrow scope of human vision yet was propelled forward ceaselessly by current technology. The scene before He Fang was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
A massive, moving steel world stretched before him like something out of a science fiction film. The boundless expanse of metal walls shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight. Despite it being late evening, the sunlight reflecting off the city’s metallic exterior created a breathtakingly beautiful and magnificent sight.
“So bright.” Qi Jingwei, still driving, offered this simple evaluation. “I need to slow down—this glare is practically pollution, impairing my visibility.”
He Fang, overwhelmed and rendered speechless by the beauty: “…”
“The outer walls of the mobile city are made of materials that reflect light to ward off Nightmare Beast seeds. If nighttime defenses are activated, the entire mobile city becomes a massive glowing sphere,” Min Zhizhou explained briefly, though he added, “Of course, I’ve never actually seen this myself. Such situations are rare, as using the exploration team’s lives for detection remains the most accurate method.”
“Airborne attacks aren’t possible?” Sai Gu, lounging lazily against his seatback with his eyes half-closed, asked casually, as though disinterested.
“Insects, being small creatures, disappear immediately once parasitized. Birds don’t last long either, so successful attacks from the air are rare,” Min Zhizhou replied with a frown. “Even if the wind carries Nightmare Beast seeds, the distance they can travel is limited—provided it’s far from the edge of the Nightmare Beast Forest.”
“So, they know this place is close to the Nightmare Beast Forest but still head straight for Hope City without hesitation?” He Fang mused. Hope City no longer held much to scavenge. According to Min Zhizhou, this mobile city didn’t appear impoverished, making it unlikely they were targeting Hope City. Instead, the chances they were aiming for the ‘Land of Hope’ had dramatically increased.
“From what we can tell, this is a medium-sized mobile city, likely housing around tens of thousands of people. However, given its level of development, it wouldn’t be a stretch to estimate a population nearing two hundred thousand,” Min Zhizhou provided a rough analysis.
He Fang was somewhat taken aback. A city this large was classified as merely medium-sized?
“Little city lord.” He Fang felt Sai Gu slightly nudging his shoulder. Turning his head, he sensed Sai Gu’s lips close to his ear as he whispered, “Once we’re inside, speak only to me.”
“Huh?” He Fang was momentarily stunned.
“We can’t let it be known that the city lord is our core,” Qi Jingwei, who had clearly overheard Sai Gu, affirmed. “City lord, stay by Sai Gu’s side. Min Zhizhou, you’ll act as the team leader. During the trade, let that young man from the finance department handle the negotiations.”
He Fang was already feeling nervous. A mobile city! Within the game “Ruins Without Restart”, this was the first time he had seen the massive cities generated in the game!
He Fang was filled with anticipation, secretly wondering if every part of this city could be explored or if only specific mission areas were accessible. Since the game utilized such a large dataset with the sensory simulation pod, was it possible that everything in the city could feel fully real?
Their vehicle continued heading toward the enormous mobile city. The closer they got, the more they could feel the sheer size of this place. Ahead of them, a small platform was lowered, allowing their vehicle to drive up.
He Fang watched as Qi Jingwei drove the vehicle onto the platform. At the top, an arched welcoming phrase came into view: Welcome to Scorching Sun City.
“Scorching Sun…” Min Zhizhou, seated in the passenger seat, visibly tensed.
“What about Scorching Sun?” Qi Jingwei asked.
“Scorching Sun City is an extremely aggressive city. Its city lord is a highly combative individual who has always preferred conquest over trade. Mobile cities that encounter Scorching Sun City usually face a fierce battle,” Min Zhizhou explained grimly. “Just like this darkly humorous slogan—they really are welcoming us. Entering means that if they’re in a good mood, we might receive some compensation. But if they’re not…”
“Complete loss,” Min Zhizhou muttered, clearly displeased. He had always disliked aggressive cities, as such places were perpetually filled with the stench of smoke and war.
“If that’s the nature of this city, shouldn’t it be classified as something larger than a medium-sized city?” He Fang couldn’t help but ask.
“Scorching Sun City deliberately maintains its medium-sized classification to ensure faster mobility. It’s a general consensus that smaller cities are easier to move,” Min Zhizhou explained. “The people of Scorching Sun City live better lives than those in other cities, but their elimination rate is also significantly higher. I understand now… why those members of the exploration team, who clearly seemed capable of continuing their work, were discarded so early. And why they could afford to use such an extravagant death-detection system.”
Min Zhizhou was evidently irritated by the idea of entering such a dreadful city. If he were still a mercenary, he could have gathered intelligence about Scorching Sun City beforehand and simply avoided it entirely.
But then Min Zhizhou paused for a moment, realizing something. He was no longer sitting with teammates helpless against Scorching Sun City—things were different now.
“These people seem to be in decent physical condition,” Qi Jingwei commented as he spotted several individuals ahead. He slowly brought the vehicle to a stop before they could approach. “But that’s about it.”
He Fang stepped out of the vehicle with the others. From the moment Sai Gu got out, he had unhesitatingly held He Fang’s hand. This sudden gesture made He Fang feel like a child again, being led around by his parents, just as they used to hold his hand when he was little.
“You’re a team of six? So why are there only five of you?” At that moment, several adult men surrounded Min Zhizhou. As the designated “team leader”, he naturally drew more attention.
At this moment, He Fang saw Min Zhizhou take out something he had never seen before—it appeared to be proof of his identity as a mercenary. The card-like item, when scanned by the machine, displayed Min Zhizhou’s information.
“Lost,” Min Zhizhou said. “I can’t confirm where the other member went. Not far in your direction is a stretch of the Nightmare Beast Forest. We lost them while exploring there. When the sixth team member failed to return within the agreed-upon time and exceeded three hours, it’s reasonable to suspect they’ve turned into a Nightmare Beast.”
“Tsk.” The people of Scorching Sun City clearly didn’t take kindly to hearing about the Nightmare Beasts. “So it’s confirmed that side is the Nightmare Beast Forest. Going through like this is bound to lead to accidents.”
“Don’t talk nonsense—whether you like it or not, you have to go. Do you dare defy the city lord’s orders?” someone nearby snapped harshly.
Listening to the discussion around him, He Fang instinctively acted out his role—a socially anxious child. At this moment, he leaned against Sai Gu, his small frame almost buried in Sai Gu’s shadow. His wary, fearful gaze swept over the crowd, filled with timidity and dread.
“Your equipment looks impressive, and your team is quite interesting,” commented one of the individuals inspecting them. These were clearly not ordinary residents but a higher rank, with more authority to speak. “Especially your armor—it’s very nice. Why don’t you take it off and let me try it on?”
The intricately designed armor immediately caught their attention. The newcomers’ faces were filled with malicious and brazen smiles as they surrounded the group, resembling nothing less than a gang of robbers.
“We’ve brought many items suitable for trade,” Min Zhizhou responded, knowing there was no choice but to bow under the eaves. His gaze swept over the crowd as he instinctively shielded He Fang, who was hiding behind him. “Perhaps you’ll find our trade goods more interesting.”
“Then hurry up and open it.” Suddenly, someone kicked the tightly shut rear door of their vehicle, clearly attempting to break the lock. Unfortunately, even after several kicks, the door didn’t budge at all. The kicker stopped, letting out a puzzled “Huh?”
“Hahaha, is your strength too weak? Can’t even kick open a door? Let me try.” Someone nearby eagerly stepped forward to take over. However, after delivering a powerful kick, the vehicle merely shook slightly, and the door remained completely intact—it didn’t even dent or deform.
At this point, expressions among those present began to shift subtly. Someone grabbed Min Zhizhou by the shoulder, laughing, “Your team seems pretty unusual, huh?”
“As mercenaries, naturally, we must have our own skills.” Qi Jingwei, who had been quietly watching this unruly behavior, stood with his arms crossed. Even though he was clad in armor, his outward presence alone clearly demonstrated the immense strength he possessed. His tone was calm, but his gaze carried an unmistakable disdain as he scanned those present.
As a battle-hardened warrior, Qi Jingwei’s instincts were razor-sharp—just like how Min Zhizhou, upon entering the city, could immediately feel the oppressive disconnect between himself and its inhabitants. Now, everyone standing there could sense the overwhelming and undeniable aura of the mercenary in their midst, silencing the earlier mockery and arrogance.
“Let’s not let the tension rise too much. We’re just ordinary mercenaries seeking trade and self-preservation.” Sai Gu’s low, playful tone broke the silence. Tilting his head slightly, he added, “As a hardworking mercenary team, we’ve already shared some information about the ‘Nightmare Beasts’ with you. Naturally, we’ve also brought plenty of goods for trade. I think that’s enough to show our sincerity. So, why don’t we sit down and have a proper discussion? At the very least, considering how hard we’ve worked, perhaps you could offer us a hearty meal?”
At this moment, the group exchanged glances before the lively atmosphere resumed. Once again, someone kicked the rear door of the vehicle. This time, the kick wasn’t as forceful, and they shouted loudly, “Open the door.”
He Fang quietly huddled under Sai Gu’s arm, starting to understand Qi Jingwei’s reasoning for choosing Sai Gu. Qi Jingwei played the “bad cop”, while Sai Gu, as an old friend, seamlessly picked up on his intent and played the “good cop”. Their coordinated performance subtly steered the atmosphere in their favor.
Min Zhizhou took out a key and opened the trunk, revealing a space filled to the brim with resources. Unfortunately, everything was packed in cardboard boxes, concealing their contents.
Just as someone was about to make a move, Qi Jingwei suddenly seated himself in the back of the vehicle. Using his towering physique, he singlehandedly blocked access to the boxes. Leaning back with a cold smirk, he exuded an imposing air. Meanwhile, the ever-quiet finance department member adjusted their glasses with a composed movement, and their cool, clear voice—though soft—carried surprising authority that everyone could hear clearly.
“May I ask if this is the designated location for the trade, or should we move the items deeper into the area? Of course, we’ll fully comply with your instructions and won’t resist.”
He Fang looked on in awe at the commanding presence of his city’s NPCs. A sudden sense of pride welled up within him—after all, these NPCs were carefully nurtured by his own city.
However, the seemingly uncooperative stance reignited the simmering tempers of the onlookers. Yet again, Sai Gu stepped forward, pulling He Fang along by the hand and guiding him toward the back seat of the vehicle.
Sai Gu then reached over Qi Jingwei’s head and pulled out a large box. The immense force of his action tore a small opening in the box, releasing a faint, sweet aroma into the air.
Sai Gu patted He Fang on the head, and for some reason, He Fang chose to release his grip. Sai Gu used one hand to nudge Qi Jingwei aside and pulled the box out from the vehicle.
“To all of you, this might not be anything special—just some fruit. But for us, it was obtained through considerable effort and hardship. We originally hoped to trade it for a fair price, but…” Sai Gu grasped He Fang’s hand again and casually kicked the box. It slid smoothly across the flat ground into the group surrounding them. “Think of it as a gesture of friendship, a small gift to all of you. We’d appreciate it if you could make things a little easier for us.”
Fruit…
Fresh fruit, including varieties many of them had never even seen before—these were clearly luxurious items!
In an era where even getting enough to eat was a struggle, ordinary fruit was extremely expensive, and premium fruit was reserved for only the most elite classes.
Mercenaries often ventured to unexpected places to obtain fruit, making it a highly sought-after commodity for trade.
The onlookers’ expressions returned to calm. The fruit, obtained through such arduous effort, was so readily offered to them—what else could it signify but fear?
Just look at the mercenary perched on the vehicle’s rear bumper. He must be terrified that they’d rob him, deliberately putting on a fierce facade to bluff them. Deep down, he must be trembling with nerves; otherwise, why would he give up such valuable trade goods so easily?
All the tension dissolved into laughter, and those who received the fruit were overjoyed.
Sai Gu’s low voice continuously guided and coaxed the others. He Fang looked up, his gaze landing on Sai Gu’s messy, cascading silver hair. Night had already fallen. Sai Gu’s lips curled into a subtle smile, while strands of his hair deliberately or inadvertently obscured part of his face. The dull silver, illuminated under the lights, shimmered faintly with a ghostly blue glow.
Is Sai Gu the ML, or is it Zhu Yan, or Golden Guy? 🫤 They all seem like good choices!!
It’s hard to choose!!! (T.T)