This time I chose Paladin.

Chapter 11 The best choice
How could there be a world boss before the blood moon... No, what is the name of that boss?

Nie Weiyang stared at the name back and forth several times.

This isn't right, there must be something wrong! Does New World have a second "Administrator Number Two" besides him? I never heard of that in my previous life!

Nie Weiyang's career as an assassin had left him with an almost impeccable ability to manage his facial expressions. Even Xiang Feng, who was standing right beside him, failed to notice his changing emotions. Shocked, he asked, "That 'Nie Weiyang'..."

Nie Weiyang smiled and agreed. No one could tell that he had just been distracted.

"how do you……"

"I'm better at this job." Nie Weiyang spread his hands.

He wasn't lying at all, he was indeed good at this job.

"…What kind of job?"

"The goal has been achieved." Nie Weiyang said.

Xiang Feng originally thought that this person would say something else, such as "battle", "victory" or something like that... He never expected to hear such pragmatic four words, so much so that he was stunned for a moment and didn't even have time to check the so-called "reward".

"'Achieve a goal'?" Xiang Feng repeated the phrase. "So, you're helping us, for what purpose?"

Nie Weiyang smiled and shook his head.

Xiang Feng changed his mind and recalled the strange experience he had just had - it was a peculiar feeling, and within just a dozen breaths, it had quickly faded away, and he himself had even completely forgotten what had triggered it.

But the nightmarish palpitations remained in his consciousness.

Xiang Feng understood in his heart: "Can't tell?"

Nie Weiyang still didn't answer. He simply changed the subject and asked, "How are you going to arrange these 50,000 people?"

After all, these were people from his hometown. Among them were his neighbors, his friends, his former teachers and classmates, his childhood playmates, the shop owners he had eaten at, the drivers he had ridden in, and everyone he had passed by over the past decade or so.

Although he is alone in his twenties, he is not completely disconnected from society. Human society is a huge collective, and countless relationships connect everyone in it - friends on the Internet are also friends, and strangers are also compatriots.

Xiang Feng readily changed the subject and began to tell Nie Weiyang about some arrangements in the town.

He knew that Nie Weiyang was a local, but the gentle and withdrawn college student in the records seemed a bit like a fake identity compared to the man in front of him.

Technically, Nie Weiyang and Xiang Feng were about the same age, but due to the hormones of his youth and years of concise and efficient behavior, he was not very fond of beating around the bush. Facing Xiang Feng, he easily saw the suspicion in his heart, but did not point it out. Instead, he walked side by side with him, taking a leisurely tour of the town.

In fact, Nie Weiyang can answer the question of "Why did you come here?"

But he wasn't going to answer.

Since he can't answer all questions, it's better to make people feel that "he knows a lot and will only say what he can say" instead of "he knows a lot, I should ask, maybe I can gain something?"

That night, the town remained sleepless. Before sunrise, Xiang Feng cautiously asked Nie Weiyang a question: "Excuse me... can you contact..."

"I can't go to the city for you, nor can I pass on messages for you. Even under normal circumstances, I can't fight alongside you." Nie Weiyang shook his head slightly. "You must establish connections between people on your own."

With the 'intertwined fate' hanging there, who can guarantee that the choice he makes is not 'attracted to conflict'?
Until he figured out the standards and limits of this talent's effects, he was prepared to sleep in the no-man's-land from now on! Anyway, he'd be wandering around the area for the next three months, occasionally returning to trade. If something really serious happened to these people, he'd probably be 'drawn back by the conflict'...

Xiang Feng looked like he wanted to say something, but ultimately held it back. He'd already known from their previous conversation that Nie Weiyang wouldn't stay in town. He took a large package from the guard next to him and handed it to Nie Weiyang: "Here's a portable tent, a sleeping bag, some rations, food, and water..."

"Oh, speaking of this," Nie Weiyang opened the backpack interface, selected some items as 'displayable', and showed them to Xiang Feng: "Do you have a place to put these things?"

Looking at the dazzling array of clothing, folding beds, tents, basic tools, and small machines, Xiang Feng asked, "?"

He silently took back the package in his hand: "Yes."

"So fast?" Nie Weiyang was stunned: "When did you clean it out?"

Xiang Feng chuckled: "Ten minutes later."

……

More than two hours later, Nie Weiyang got back on the motorcycle.

This ruined and dilapidated town got a new name: 'Langcheng', which has the same name as the county town on Earth.

Nie Weiyang left quite a few gifts for the town, and, unable to refuse, took away a whole pot of braised pork and two pots of bone broth. Honestly, he had no idea why it was braised pork, let alone a whole pot, but he accepted them with a smile. Stuffing these into his backpack would significantly extend their freshness, preventing them from spoiling before the countdown ended, so bringing them along wouldn't be a problem.

In the early days of the apocalypse, with supplies transferred from Earth as a foundation, resources were not very scarce. People could often find fresh food in bushes, rivers, empty rooms, and even on supermarket shelves that had obviously not been touched in twenty years. So much so that some people on the other side of the ocean even firmly believed that food was grown in supermarkets.

Although the early period was in a state of polar night, the real dark age actually began after the "Blood Moon Rising" event.

After that, the frequency, desire, and intensity of the New World monsters' appearances increased significantly. The supplies brought from Earth were almost completely consumed, but there were still over six billion survivors worldwide...

A chaotic, dark, dangerous world plagued by internal and external troubles, lacking means of communication, where almost everyone possesses superpowers, with both 'decreasing disposable resources' and 'an extremely large number of survivors' – that is when human civilization truly begins to descend into hell on earth...

Nie Weiyang brushed away the dark memories in his mind and let out a breath.

Before leaving Langcheng, he spoke to Xiang Feng in private.
-
"One day, everyone here will understand that the only thing to consider when destroying the enemy is efficiency," Nie Weiyang said, his expression gentle and calm. "That day is not far away."

“…” Xiang Feng’s face looked very ugly. He was silent for a moment and closed his eyes.

"I know. But I always hope..."

"No hope," Nie Weiyang said. This was the only time that night he interrupted someone. "No hope," he said firmly. "There's only 'us.'"

He paused, then continued, "If the information I've gathered is correct, the World Boss won't be entering the human settlement anytime soon. Until then, let's develop this place."
-
The engine roared, the wind biting cold. Nie Weiyang gripped the motorcycle's handlebars with both hands. He withdrew his attention from the emblem of his leadership unit and looked down at the rearview mirror. The outstanding creations of human light industry reflected the bonfires in the town, and the faint warm light reflected in his eyes, so warm and pleasant.

If he wanted, he could always turn around and return to the crowd. Humans are social animals, and in the dark jungle, returning to the crowd is always the best option. If everywhere is not home, then where there are social connections is home... Among people, he can find peace and stability. He doesn't have to worry about many problems, and he can even save time cooking for himself... He will continue to enjoy attribute bonuses during the initial polar night. He can stay here, help each other, fight for more development resources for Langcheng, and lay a foundation for himself. The Paladin is a very balanced class, capable of fighting, carrying, healing, supporting, and adding buffs to the team. If he stays, he can become a local lord in the future. This seems to be his best choice now.

the best choice.

He withdrew his gaze, turned the handle, and disappeared into the distance.

(End of this chapter)