–Of course, we can’t return the artifacts,– said the man named Yu Fei. –But we’ve lost countless Chronos along the way. So, how do you reckon this account should be settled?–
–You’ve reaped all the benefits, yet we’re the ones taking the blows—it’s hardly reasonable, is it?–
The people in the car were seething with indignation.
A clamor of murmurs filled the air.
Yang Zicang understood now. It was he who had done the killing, but the Xiong Ying Group had been taking it out on them—no wonder they were so furious.
Yao Chiming let out a cold sneer:
–Headquarters will be sending someone over with this month’s Interspersed Frequency Crystals shortly. If you have no other business, please take your leave. Today is the start of the second half of the month—everyone is busy, so we have no time to bicker with you.–
–Well said,– a few of them called out. –You didn’t have to set up your base on Right Street; it was your own choice to confront those bastards head-on.–
–Oh? Good, remember that you said that. We were originally going to talk things over with you, but looks like it’s no longer necessary.–
Yao Chiming’s brows furrowed, yet he couldn’t figure out what they had that they could threaten him with.
–Since you mentioned that headquarters is sending this month’s frequency crystals over, we’ll take that A-rank frequency crystal as compensation.– Yu Fei said with a smile.
These words instantly silenced the few people on this side.
–What did you say? This has been your real goal all along!– Yao Chiming exclaimed in shock and anger.
Yu Fei remained composed: –The conditions for everyone to use that Crimson-Moon-level Cross-Frequency Crystal have long been met, haven’t they?–
–What is that thing?– Mu Xiaoyu, who had just stepped out the door, quietly asked the round-faced girl.
–It’s equivalent to a key to enter the Crosspace. Other Crosspace entrances can be found by chance, but a Crimson-Moon-level Crosspace can only be opened with the Frequency Crystal that is born every month after the QuadMoxel owner resonates with the statue.–
Another person whispered in explanation: –Moreover, the Cross-Frequency Crystal can stabilize the chaotic regions within the Cross-land. Without them, once you enter the Cross-land, you might never be able to step out again.–
Yu Fei, who was at the front, didn’t even glance at Yao Chiming’s expression as she continued:
–Besides that crystal, lease Zhang Fei’s armor to us for half a year, and the Disciples of the Divine Maiden Brotherhood will take this matter off your hands.–
–You’re dreaming.–
Yu Fei, unfazed, responded: –Your Zhao Anlong is already gone. Without any strength to enter an A-grade Cross-land, hoarding such good items without using them is nothing but a waste.–
Yao Chiming twisted his brow in fury.
–Are you bullying us for having no one?– the people around shouted in anger.
Yang Zicang stepped out and spoke coldly: –Excuse me, the armor is my spoils of war. You say you’re renting it for half a year—just like that?–
–I’ve already reported the armor matter to HQ, and they’ve agreed to let us rent it.–
Yang Zicang made a stop gesture with both hands.
–HQ agreed?–
–Ha. Classic newbie, still has no clue what’s going on.–
Yu Fei chucked.
–Where do you think you’re staying now? Where’s the food and stuff you’re using all from? It’s all produced by the production staff.–
–High-level spoils are turned in, HQ distributes them as they see fit, and rents them out to those who’ve earned it. Otherwise, someone like you, whose abilities aren’t suited for direct combat, would never get your hands on top-tier equipment.–
Yang Zicang glared at him coldly: –Whoa, hearing you say that, did Zhang Fei commit suicide or something?–
–Argue all you want, it’s useless.– Yu Fei shook his head: –If Zhang Fei had cared even a little about you and synchronized with the armor deeper sooner, the one who died would definitely have been you. You need to admit that.–
Yang Zicang let out a helpless, angry laugh.
Several people in the car laughed and said: –Kid, Zhang Fei just died from arrogance. As for you, even if you’ve got that extra Chronos boost, to the team, it’s something we can make up for with collective Investment. Still don’t get it?–
Yao Chiming grabbed his hand and pulled him back. Zhao Xuemei walked over and whispered softly,
–Forget it, ZiCang. Wait until you’ve grown stronger. These people have been entrenched over there for so long that they’re no longer on the same path as us.–
Shortly after, people from headquarters arrived, bringing this month’s Interleaving Frequency Crystals.
Yu Fei stepped forward, demanding that the Crimson-Moon-grade Interleaving Frequency Crystal be handed over to her team. She provided the application materials and Mana Crystals as a deposit.
The two staff members exchanged a glance, and one of them looked at Yao Chiming:
–Captain Yao, your team hasn’t submitted any feedback on new A-level Interleaving Sites for half a year. According to regulations, if no feedback is submitted within three months, we have the right to hand over the frequency crystals nurtured through resonance by Mr. Zhao Anlong to any other team that applies. Do you have any objections?–
–We…– Yao Chiming’s face darkened.
The headquarters had already approved the request. This meant that the organization’s strength had been confirmed by HQ, at least meeting the minimum stability requirements.
–What objections could there be? Captain Zhao Anlong is no longer with us.– Those around them sighed.
Yu Fei triumphantly took the dazzling blood-red crystal, holding it up to the sky and eyeing the faint, crimson circular pattern suspended within it.
–Everyone, just wait for our good news.–
–Haha.–
Yao Chiming opened his mouth as if to speak, then looked at Yang Zicang,
–Zi Cang, don‘t be discouraged. That armor can’t be used immediately—it requires special treatment. Just purging the remnant evil nightmare consciousness inside it will take quite some time, at least one or two months.–
Yang Zicang nodded, a stifled resolve burning within him—he needed to grow stronger, and fast.
……
Liang Xi lay sprawled on the ground, the iron rod in his hand now slippery and caked in blood.
–Two hundred and thirty years in total… I haven’t betrayed his trust…–
He glanced down at his own body, which was covered in ghastly wounds.
The palm of the half-grown boy rested upon the monstrous rat, with the blunt, angular fold lines on his chest flickering down to his hand, conjuring a small, translucent light in the shape of an eggshell in his palm.
It slowly flipped from the inside out, over and over, like an illusory physics-based voxel.
[Treatment Room of the Slaughterhouse…]
[Chronos reduced by 1Y.]
The rat monster, which had already stopped breathing, began to tremble all over.
Beneath its skin, muscles writhed, bulged, and collapsed; streaks of dim, murky energy flowed from the monster’s body through the force field of his palm into his own body, quickly forcing those horrifying wounds to wriggle and scab over.
His scars had already grown so dense they seemed like scales covering his entire body.
–Burp~–
Liang Xi let out a soft burp, feeling slight discomfort in his stomach, then suppressed nausea and smeared himself with fresh blood from the rat monster before cautiously moving forward along the pipes.
This godforsaken place wasn’t short of the scent of blood; what it lacked was the smell of humans. Compared to the danger of blood, human scent was a powerful lure for the monsters.
A few minutes later, he painfully climbed into a dark crevice at the top of a narrow passageway.
He planned to rest there for a while.
Just as he closed his eyes to sleep, a beam of refracted light landed on his chest, illuminating his small Moxel ring.
A glimmer of delight appeared in Liang Xi’s eyes—it was the person who had helped him.
[How are you?]
Yang Zicang silently asked in his heart.
{Brother ZiCang, I’m fine for now. I’ve already accumulated over two hundred years of Chronos power, uh, bro, wasn’t your phone seized?}
In the image, Yang Zicang sat by a wooden bed against the wall, scrolling through his phone’s photo album, reminiscing about Earth.
[Seized?]
Yang Zicang stared at the void before him, puzzled.
Earlier, Chu Chiang indeed gave him a box, emphasizing its use for storing items.
–Maybe the facilities at your place are more advanced. Over here, we’re not allowed to use any of these man-made items—especially game consoles, DV cameras, TVs, and so on. Mobile phones are the most strictly banned among them. All such items would be dismantled and burned to ashes.–
[That serious?]
Yang Zicang was taken aback—no one had mentioned this to him.
–Yeah, because these things can give birth to Nightmares. Even certain shoes, clothes, plastics, or tempered glass cups—basically, any man-made object brought over here could potentially spawn a Nightmare. I thought you, big brother, simply weren’t afraid of these things.–
Yang Zicang glanced at his own attire and touched the blue earring on his left ear, immediately grasping the severity of the situation.
Was it because he wasn’t yet –one of their own– that Chu Chiang and Yao Chiming hadn’t shared much information about this world with him?
Yang Zicang looked at the wooden box under the bed—it appeared ordinary enough. But when he opened it, he discovered intricate patterns woven with fine golden threads inside, seemingly decorative.
Yet who would carve decorative patterns inside an ordinary wooden box?
Letting his imagination run wild, Yang Zicang could easily think of terms like –magic circle– and –seal.–
–{_But big brother, don’t be afraid—now that we’ve assimilated the Moxel, even if we touch them again, it’ll be at least half a year, maybe even a year, before they start spawning nightmares. Plus, your camp is probably built from materials exchanged at headquarters, which offers even stronger resistance to nightmares.}_-
–[Anyway, thanks. Without you telling me, I’d have stayed in the dark.]–
Thank goodness he had a little brother to share such critical news with him for free.
Glancing at his phone screen, which showed no signal, he continued silently in his mind.
–[About what you said yesterday—that lead on the legendary weapon—how likely do you think it is?]–
After a long night of pressing him yesterday, the kid—moved by Liang Xi’s persistence and terrified he might die inside—finally revealed the secret about that place.
–{_I swear it’s true! Deep inside that monster nest—there’s definitely a Cent-Arms. I heard them say that last year someone from headquarters found a Cent-Arms in a dimensional space that hits with a hundred and five years of Chronos per strike! The whole city’s hunters went wild.}_-
Liang Xi’s eyes gleamed with sharp light. Had he not been in mortal danger, he’d have screamed out loud.
Only at moments like this could you still see the childish nature left in him.
Yang Zicang sighed.
No wonder Captain Luo Xin couldn’t stand guys like this—too damn naive.
–I suggest you’d better go back. If you stay there and run into a crowd of monsters, you’ll die a gruesome death.–
Liang Xi’s eyes flickered with hesitation, but then they hardened with resolve as he said to Yang Zicang inwardly:
{No, I have to survive. I must earn enough here for three hundred years… There’s no one left to protect me.}
Yang Zicang clearly sensed some deeper implication in the boy’s words.
A thought suddenly struck him.
–Earn enough for three hundred years? Is it something you’ll need at some point?–
{At the end of the month. Big Brother ZiCang, did you come to this world on the fifteenth of last month?}
–I came yesterday.–
{What?!}
Liang Xi wore an expression of utter disbelief.
Thinking back to the vision he had seen after Investing 10 years for him the previous afternoon, a faint tremor ran through the youth’s body, followed by a profound dejection.
At that moment, Yang Zicang also felt a chill running down his spine.
No one had told him that three hundred Chronos would be deducted at the end of the month.
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