Qi Xu hesitated slightly as he pulled out his [Scrap Collector] license.
S1 Ball chuckled lightly: "Just name your price in Survival Coins. Like I said, my resources are far beyond what that trashy C-grade Ball in your district can offer."
Upon hearing this, Qi Xu instantly brightened up. Without batting an eye, he coolly stated: "Twenty thousand Survival Coins."
What? You’re practically asking me to fleece you? Why should I hold back? Don’t forget I’ve earned the title [Freeloader Extraordinaire]—only someone truly shameless could claim that!
S1 Ball fell silent for a long moment, genuinely stunned that a top-tier player from the national server could have such audacity. A level-6 vehicle was worth 7,000 Survival Coins at most, yet he demanded twenty thousand.
After a prolonged hesitation, S1 Ball finally relented.
"Fine. Consider this my goodwill. Just remember—what I can offer you goes far beyond this. Our collaboration would maximize mutual benefits."
Qi Xu didn’t respond, afraid that if he opened his mouth, his inner "Money Tyrant" persona would take over and unleash a verbal onslaught.
Just then, the Black Serpent sent a message: "I’ve lost track of the 'Demon Island Lord.' Did you kill him?"
Qi Xu replied immediately: "Yeah. Good work, Serpent. Keep the payment—no refund needed. If you hadn’t driven him to the station, I wouldn’t have been able to finish him off. You’ve worked hard all this time. Go rest now!"
"That’s too generous..."
"Not just for you. Keep some and use the rest as funding to rebuild the Assassin’s Guild. Upgrade everything—let’s make it the most dominant faction across all stations!"
In high spirits after eliminating a major threat and scoring a windfall (though money was never an issue), Qi Xu casually joked. After all, freeloading and scamming shady Balls was always a mood booster.
But the Black Serpent froze. Why… did those words feel so familiar? As if someone had said something similar to him before? But how? He had no friends...
"Black Serpent, how can you live without friends? Doesn’t it get lonely?"
"From now on, I’ll be your friend!"
"Hey Serpent, look how rundown our Assassin’s Guild is. Now that I’ve got money, I’ll invest—you handle the upgrades. Let’s make it the strongest faction out there!"
Fragments of cheerful voices flashed through the Black Serpent’s mind, but… he couldn’t recall who had spoken them. What was going on? Damn it, his already tiny brain was overheating!
Baffled, he considered asking Qi Xu—a clever mind—for help, but exhaustion overwhelmed him. His eyelids grew heavy, and within seconds, he was snoring loudly. By the time he woke up, the confusion had vanished entirely.
Meanwhile, Qi Xu was intently watching the chat lobby. Finally, someone spoke! Players had noticed the "Demon Island Lord’s" avatar turning gray.
One and Only: "Huh? The Black Devil’s dead? Guess we’ll never see him again. Worth celebrating."
Cat Holding Gardenias: "He sank into the soil, cloaked in filth, while the world’s sun and moon remain bright and pure."
Fortune’s Favorite: "Good riddance. This is the earliest he’s ever died, right?"
Wicked Leek: "Down to his last life, and he still acted recklessly. Thought he’d lay low this time."
White & Black: "One less trash human. Saved me the trouble of killing him myself."
Lychee Fury: "Ugh, so bored. This highway makes me sick. Another dozen quit this month. Maybe I’ll bail too—I’m getting angrier by the second!"
Sticky Rice & Rice: "People who really wanna leave just go. They don’t linger in chats to announce it, Lychee darling~"
Side-by-Side Sunflower: "Celebration flowers! The air in our district just got fresher."
Abyss-like Sword Qi Master: "True. @White & Black, let’s party—booze, meat, the works."
White & Black: "Sure. Come."
[Player White & Black has invited you to the Black Ridge White Zone Service Area. Accept?]
Qi Xu was startled. A service area? I only have one fragment, and you already have a full zone?
Scrolling back through the chat, something felt off.
What did they mean by "last life"? Of course you wouldn’t see him again if he’s dead, but why phrase it like that? And "earliest he’s ever died"...
The vibe was strange too—like old friends who’d known each other for years, bantering the way Qi Xu and his squad did in their golden group chat.
This level of familiarity was impossible in a public lobby.
And why did District 01-01 only have 900 players? With numbers this low, why hadn’t they merged?
As Qi Xu pondered, he and Dongfang Yuan both received a message.
Divine Calculator: "Hey, newcomers, dropping by without a word? Which district are you from? Signed the pact yet? Did you two off the Black Devil?"
Dongfang Yuan glanced at Qi Xu, unsure how to respond.
After a pause, Qi Xu replied: "Yeah. We came for revenge—Chen Ronghua was the only target."
Divine Calculator: "Damn, y’all carried grudges from pre-Survival Highway days? Respect. Since we’re chatting, join the feast. Don’t leave without experiencing District 01-01’s hospitality. Hehe, it’s been ages since we had newbies to talk to—kinda hype!"
Qi Xu hesitated but decided to go. His inventory was stacked; escaping wouldn’t be hard. Worst case, he could hide in an advanced spatial stone or his secret realm before teleporting back.
Plus, District 01-01’s mysteries were too intriguing to ignore.
"Yuan, head back first. I’ll check it out. Too many unanswered questions—I won’t rest easy otherwise."
What kind of district goes half a month without a single lobby message? He’d assumed they were all cutthroat rivals, but they seemed… friendly?
Dongfang Yuan, still weakened from the potential-enhancing serum, could barely stand. If things turned violent, she’d be a liability. Among experts, battles were decided in seconds.
"Are you sure?" she asked. "Should I send Wolf Warrior and the others?"
Qi Xu shook his head. "No need. They don’t seem hostile. If things go south, I’ve got escape plans. Rest well—Chen Ronghua’s gone. The past is behind you now. Whatever comes next, I’m with you."
"Okay. I’ll always listen to you."
Dongfang Yuan couldn't help but soften his gaze. Ever since he made the decision to follow Qi Xu, he had resolved to obey and trust her unconditionally, no matter what she said.
..........
