Gao Wu: If this BOSS isn't nerfed, is it even playable?

Chapter 50 Friends

Chapter 50 Friends
The sounds of their conversation gradually faded into the distance.

The two figures in special protective suits quickly disappeared around the corner of another building.

Only after confirming that they had completely left did Lin Ye slowly relax his tense nerves.

A chill ran up his spine, making him shudder.

This abandoned city, which he used as a training ground, actually has other people active inside!
Lin Ye was extremely grateful for his caution.

Fortunately, he always adhered to the principle of "survival" in the abandoned city, never easily exposing himself. Even when killing monsters to level up, he was the type to shoot and run away.

Perhaps it was precisely this style that prevented him from directly clashing with this group of mysterious people.

Lin Ye's mind raced as he dissected and analyzed the brief conversation he had just overheard, extracting the most crucial information.

There are several key words in their conversation.

"went on a long detour", "contaminated area", "escaped".

Why go through such a long detour?

This clearly indicates that they are patrolling or exploring this area with some purpose or mission.

Based on subsequent conversations, it can be confirmed that their target, like Lin Ye's, is the mutated beast in the abandoned city.

The term "contaminated area" immediately reminded him of the legend that abandoned cities were destroyed by chemical plant explosions.

But what kind of chemical pollution could persist for a century and cause such drastic mutations in the organisms here?
Or rather, the so-called pollution doesn't refer to chemical substances, but rather to something more mysterious and dangerous.

The word "escape" almost confirmed his previous guess.

This group is likely restricting the activity range of the mutated beasts, or perhaps there is a place deeper in the ruined city where a large number of mutated beasts are imprisoned!

Finally, there's their clothing.

Why wear heavy protective suits?

Is it because of the pollution they mentioned?

Lin Ye could smell the rusty smell permeating the air of the abandoned city, as well as a smell he couldn't quite describe.

But he confirmed that the smell was merely pungent.

However, it will not harm your health.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to level up in this abandoned city for so long.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Ye thought about many things.

The final question is the identities of these two people.

Are they officials from the Dongjiang Municipal Government, or some other mysterious organization?
Lin Ye couldn't make a judgment.

Neither of these scenarios is good news for him.

If I were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

In the daytime, the abandoned city is already sparsely populated with mutated beasts, and now there is an additional unknown risk. It is not advisable to stay here for long.

After confirming that it was safe, Lin Ye left quietly.

……

Dongjiang No.1 Middle School, cafeteria.

Lin Ye, carrying a plate piled high like a small mountain, found a corner to sit down and began to devour the food.

Lin Ye is currently only able to barely complete his daily task of consuming 20,000 calories by taking advantage of the school cafeteria's subsidies.

Otherwise, given his family's current financial situation, he might really eat them out of house and home.

"Aye!"

A familiar voice sounded.

Lin Ye looked up and saw Li Jun carrying a plate and coming over as well.

His plate was also piled high with food.

But Lin Ye knew that Li Jun's appetite wasn't as big as his.

This was given to him by Li Jun.

Li Jun plopped down opposite Lin Ye with a carefree smile on his face, but his first action after sitting down made Lin Ye pause in his chewing.

He furtively pulled a black bank card from his pocket and, when no one was looking, slipped it under Lin Ye's plate.

"Password 147258".

Li Jun lowered his voice and spoke quickly.

Lin Ye looked at him without saying a word.

Li Jun felt a little uneasy under his gaze, scratched his head, and explained, "I... I heard from my dad about Uncle Lin."

Lin Ye and Li Jun were childhood friends who grew up in the same alley.

The two families used to be neighbors across the street and had a very good relationship.

Later, due to the restructuring of his workplace, Li Jun's father was promoted, and the family's life got better and better, so they moved to an upscale residential area in the city.

Although they moved, the two never lost contact. "I stole one of my dad's unused bank cards."

Li Jun's voice lowered even further, as if he were doing something shady.

"Uncle Lin's surgery will definitely cost a lot of money, so you can take this first."

"You can pay me back later or not, it's up to you."

In the end, he probably realized that what he said was inappropriate, so he added, "Of course, it would be best if you could return it to me, otherwise my dad will break my legs."

Looking at his righteous yet guilty expression, Lin Ye felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

Lin Ye laughed and scolded, "Does your father know how filial you are?"

Li Jun chuckled, revealing a set of white teeth: "Isn't the old man just someone who uses it to farm gold coins?"

"Besides, this card doesn't even belong to him. Who knows which person who asked him for a favor slipped it to him? Even if it's lost, he might not even notice it."

However, after laughing, Li Jun's expression gradually subsided, and he looked at Lin Ye with a somewhat complicated look in his eyes.

"Aye."

"You've changed a lot lately."

"It's so big that it feels a bit unfamiliar to me."

His voice carried a subtle hint of detachment and probing.

"We...we're still good friends, right?"

These words, like a needle, gently pierced Lin Ye's heart.

He then realized that he had been so engrossed in leveling up and becoming stronger that he seemed to have unknowingly neglected many things.

For example, friendship.

Lin Ye put down his chopsticks, swallowed what was in his mouth, and looked intently into Li Jun's eyes.

“In the past, I always felt that although we were born in a great era, we were of average talent and born into humble circumstances. If we could get into a good university, find a good job, and live a peaceful life, that would be good enough.”

"But some recent events have shown me another side of this world."

"I've discovered that if you're not strong enough, you don't even have the right to protect your own family."

Lin Ye's voice was calm, yet it conveyed an unprecedented firmness.

“But, Li Jun, remember this.”

"No matter what I become, no matter where I go in the future."

"You will always be my best friend."

Li Jun stared blankly at Lin Ye.

He saw weariness, pressure, and a raging storm hidden beneath the calm in Lin Ye's deep eyes.

But what he saw even more was sincerity.

That unwavering sincerity between them.

Li Jun's eyes reddened for no apparent reason.

He sniffed sharply, as if to cover something up, then resumed his nonchalant demeanor and punched Lin Ye on the shoulder.