“It’s me!”
A voice, tinged with fear, echoed from the darkness.
Everyone’s gazes sharpened, fixing on the source.
From the shadows emerged a survivor, clad in roughspun clothes, his expression laced with apprehension.
He swallowed hard and slowly advanced. Upon seeing the dark purple flames igniting in the little demon’s hand, his entire body trembled uncontrollably. He raised his hands above his head.
“Big Boss Chen Yu, it’s me!”
“We’re on the same side.”
Trembling whispers emanated from the survivor. Chen Yu, however, narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him for a long moment. Whether it was the dim light of night or simply that he didn’t recognize the person before him, he couldn’t place him.
Those who addressed him as “Big Boss Chen Yu” were mostly veterans of Zone 0713.
With the subsequent integration of other zones, the faith others held in Chen Yu wasn’t as strong. Moreover, Chen Yu had been constantly busy with the city-state, rarely appearing in the public channels.
To the survivors from other integrated zones, Chen Yu was a figure in 0713.
Omniscient and omnipresent.
Controlling the flow of resources for the entire zone.
Beyond that, they weren’t privy to much and wouldn’t address him with such a title.
More importantly—
How did he manage to get into this camp?
Throughout the entire city-state, no place was more heavily guarded than the camp.
This was where Chen Yu’s journey in the underground began. He typically conducted official business and rested here, making it the most secure area.
The camp’s perimeter was patrolled every ten steps, with torchlight blazing.
To infiltrate Chen Yu’s camp courtyard under such stringent security was nearly impossible, let alone evading the soul perception of Sona and the little demon.
The survivor before him, according to his wristband, had a strength level of Black Iron.
Black Iron rank, yet he had managed to sneak here so silently.
“Who are you?”
After a prolonged silence, Chen Yu broke the heavy stillness.
“It’s me, Yin Teng.” The survivor grinned and waved, “Just a few days ago, you recommended me to the City Lord to host guests from the commercial district.”
“Oh?”
Chen Yu, still squinting, focused his gaze. As he finally saw the face of the newcomer clearly, understanding dawned.
“It’s you, Yin Teng! The one who sold me iron fishing rod blueprints when everyone else was boycotting me. I remember you. Why are you dressed like this? Have you integrated into the collective?”
“Kind of.”
The survivor grinned and scratched his head.
“It’s good to integrate into the collective. The native inhabitants of the underground aren’t bad, after all. They’re just unfortunate souls seeking a stable life. We survivors should get along well with them.” Chen Yu nodded with a slight smile and beckoned Yin Teng closer. “How did you get here?”
“I… I just made some inquiries, and when I found out you were here, I came.”
“Did no one question you along the way?”
Yin Teng shook his head like a rattle. “No one outside your camp checked me. I actually wished someone would stop me; I was afraid of wandering into forbidden areas and causing you trouble.”
Chen Yu frowned slightly. Glancing sideways, Sona slowly withdrew from the camp’s side courtyard.
“Alright.” Seeing Sona gone to investigate, Chen Yu relaxed and smiled. “So, why have you suddenly come to my camp? Is there something you want to tell me? Has anyone in the city-state bullied us survivors?”
“No, the native inhabitants of the city-state are getting along quite well with us survivors.”
“Then you…”
“I came because there are some things I need to tell you, Big Boss Chen Yu.” Yin Teng’s expression suddenly turned serious. “I sent you many messages these past few days, but you never replied. I also tried to find City Lord Kailin to help me contact you, but City Lord Kailin was too busy, and I was truly anxious, so…”
Chen Yu raised his wrist and opened the private message page.
His private messages were flooded daily by countless people. Without specifically searching by keywords or anticipating certain messages, he rarely browsed the private message page.
“Sigh!”
“You should understand, my private messages are swamped every day. Perhaps your message was pushed down by others. You seem very anxious, so tell me what it is. If I can help, I’ll do my best to mediate.”
Chen Yu instinctively assumed Yin Teng needed a favor.
He had just mentioned the commercial district. If Yin Teng wanted to open a shop there through a back channel, considering how others had boycotted him upon entering the underground, but Yin Teng had still been willing to trade, Chen Yu wouldn’t mind giving him a small shop to operate.
Unexpectedly, Yin Teng shook his head.
“No, it’s not for me, it’s for you, Big Boss.”
Hearing this, Chen Yu’s brows furrowed.
His expression turned a little more serious.
Anyone else in Chen Yu’s position might have dismissed such a boast as grandstanding. However, Chen Yu was not an arrogant man.
“Speak.”
“It’s like this, a few days ago, when we were hosting in the commercial district, we encountered a very strange guest.” Yin Teng whispered solemnly. “He repeatedly asked if your real name was Chen Yu or Chen Batian, and if you were an outsider explorer, and from which zone.”
Listening to Yin Teng’s account, Chen Yu’s heart tightened instantly, though he maintained a smile.
“And then?”
“I don’t know if I said the wrong thing.” Yin Teng pursed his lips. “Initially, I didn’t know they didn’t know your name, so I said you were Chen Yu. But later, I found his questions very strange. I felt he had ulterior motives, so I casually brushed him off.”
“Anything else?”
“He also gave me a lot of money.”
Yin Teng frowned, recalling. “After the ribbon-cutting ceremony in the commercial district, he specifically approached me and gave me a bag of gold coins emitting a golden glow, asking me to tell him if you were an outsider and from which zone. I replied that I wasn’t sure, but he still gave me the money.”
As he spoke, Yin Teng produced a bag from his embrace.
The bag contained gold coins.
Approximately 200 of them.
“Big Boss, please take this money.” Yin Teng carefully held out the bag with both hands. Chen Yu smiled and pushed it back. “Keep it for yourself.”
“Am I… did I bring you any trouble?”
“Minor matter.”
Chen Yu said with a relaxed smile.
“Those guests are just fussy. I know about this, and you came all the way here to tell me this, which shows your thoughtfulness. It’s getting late, you should go back and rest.”
“Okay~”
Watching Yin Teng’s retreating figure, and after he had completely left the camp, Chen Yu’s face turned grave. The little demon also clenched her fists.
“Chen Yu, it looks like…”
“Mmm…” Chen Yu nodded heavily, sighing. “It looks like trouble has found us!”