Invitation

As soon as Elder Song's foot landed, the air within a hundred meters, which had been dry and dusty, suddenly became thick and moist.

The Blackwater in the crater on the ground rippled with fine waves, rising even without wind, swirling and flowing down his trouser leg.

That immense water-attribute pressure was several times stronger than Huo Qing's.

Chixin endured the excruciating pain and knelt on the ground. The gunmen who had been so menacing just moments before all retreated, bowing their heads and not daring to look him in the eye.

Elder Song raised his eyelids, two deep blue glints flowing in his cloudy pupils, scrutinizing Chen Fan on the second floor.

He could smell the burnt metal from the molten core of the Yaksha Mecha around the small building, and he also saw the remaining traces of explosions in the ruins of the street.

"The younger generation is truly formidable."

Elder Song spoke slowly, his voice aged and hoarse:

"To be able to crush Old Freak Chu's Divine Child Number Four substitute with pure physical strength, your Genes sequence is indeed a rare gem, one in a hundred years in the outer city."

The sapphire ring on Elder Song's fingertip lost its luster, and the black water that had been swirling in the craters of the ruins fell back into the mud, shattering into specks of mud.

Huo Qing's eyes flickered with an eerie green light. He lowered his body and stepped aside, waving his hand to signal the dozens of armed guards to lower their guns.

He understood the look in Elder Song's eyes.

That wasn't a signal to start a war, but rather the patience a hunter possesses when he spots his priceless prey.

"I am Song Zhe, a steward of the Far East Chamber of Commerce in the outer city."

The old man raised his head, his gaze piercing through the morning light, settling on the face of the young man by the second-floor window. "Doctor Chu has been tinkering with those substandard biochemical products underground for years. The 'Divine Son Project' has captured thousands of Superpower mutants from the outer city, yet they still haven't been able to create a living being capable of catching Thirty Thousand Jin of kinetic energy with their bare hands. You are very special."

Chen Fan's hand, resting on the window frame, did not move an inch; his gaze was as cold and deep as a pool.

"Do you want to collect his body, or arrest the people for him?"

"Ha ha..."

Elder Song chuckled in a low voice, his withered chest emitting a bellows-like wheezing sound.

"Collecting corpses? Old Freak Chu is a mad dog of Prometheus Life Technology in the inner city. Relying on the tacit approval of a few council members, he runs rampant in the outer city. The Far East Chamber of Commerce deals in real money, not a charity that cleans up the messes of mad dogs."

Elder Song took a half step forward, crushing a piece of rusty iron bar under his foot.

"Chixin is short-sighted. He tried to humiliate you with a few useless medicines and a mere edict to dismiss a beggar. Losing his arm is the lesson he deserves."

Lying beside the dent in the truck, Chixin trembled, clutching his broken right arm and burying his head in his knees, not daring to utter a scream.

"I've come in person, solely for a legitimate business deal."

Elder Song took out a silver-white metal Cigar tube from inside his coat, bit off one end, lit it, and exhaled a puff of smoke with a slightly sweet aroma.

"The Chamber of Commerce's outer city battle hall lacks a truly capable steward. Join our Chamber of Commerce, and everything promised by Chixin will be five times the original. Ten military-grade Tier Third Tier pure potions per month, a three-bedroom apartment in the eastern district of the inner city, and two immediate family members will enjoy permanent second-class upper-class privileges, exempt from all Genes quarantine."

The sound wasn't loud, but it stirred up an invisible undercurrent in the otherwise silent, desolate ruins of the Black Street.

Huo Qing, who was huddled next to the SUV, twitched violently at the corner of his eye.

Ten doses of pure potion every month!

It was a high-purity extract that contained no radioactive impurities. Even as the leader of the Viper Gang, he could only receive six-tenths of the quota from the Chamber of Commerce each year.

Elder Song was practically sacrificing his own flesh for this kid who hadn't even grown up yet.

Standing by the window on the second floor, Chen Fan remained completely expressionless.

A hint of boredom even appeared on that handsome, cold face.

"Lock them up and make them your chamber of commerce's watchdogs?"

Chen Fan's tone was as indifferent as if he were commenting on a piece of trash, "Not interested. Get lost, before I decide to kill someone."

Upon hearing this, the temperature on the street suddenly dropped.

Unable to contain himself, Huo Qing stepped forward, the bluish-black scales on half of his cheek standing on end, and a chilling green mist spewing from between his fingers:

"You little bastard, don't push your luck! The conditions Elder Song gave you are something that even the most prestigious families in the inner city would fight tooth and nail for. Who do you think you are..."

"Step back."

Elder Song didn't even lift his eyelids, uttering just two words.

Huo Qing felt a tightness in his throat, forcing the dispersing green mist back into his stomach. His face turned a purplish-red, and he could only retreat angrily.

Elder Song stubbed out his Cigar, rubbing it between his fingertips until it turned to ash.

Far from being angry, a more intense admiration flashed across his murky, deep blue eyes.

If a young man who can sweep away powerful enemies in the mud can be recruited with just a few bones, then it proves that his potential has reached its limit.

Such arrogance and domineering conceit can only be possessed by a truly unparalleled madman.

"It's a good thing that young people have pride."

Elder Song slowly raised his right hand and made a light press in mid-air.

"If you don't want to wear chains, then don't wear them."

"In my capacity as the Grand Steward of the Far East Chamber of Commerce in the outer city, I offer you a third option—a Special-Rank Honorary Guest."

The old man's voice carried an undeniable weight:

"First, you will not be formally employed, will not sign a Divine Soul Blood Contract, and will not be recorded in the Chamber of Commerce's files. You are not a subordinate of the Chamber of Commerce; you are simply Chen Fan."

"Secondly, you have complete freedom of action. The Chamber of Commerce has no authority to issue any coercive orders to you. If the Chamber of Commerce has any thorny problems, it will draft a request and send it to you. Whether you accept it or not is entirely up to you."

"Third, if you accept a commission, the settlement will not use head credits; instead, it will be directly converted into Fourth Tier Anomalous Beast cores or high-dimensional energy radiation crystals per instance. All spoils you hunt in the ruins will be bought back by the Merchant Guild at the maximum black market price, regardless of their origin, and without any handling fees."

After finishing speaking in one breath, Elder Song stopped and quietly gazed at the tall figure in front of the window.

This plan has only been used by two reclusive Fourth Tier monsters in the inner city in the thirty years since the Far East Chamber of Commerce was established.

There were no constraints; it was a pure alliance of interests.

Any lone wolf in the Wasteland would be overjoyed at this moment.

However, Chen Fan remained standing in the morning light, his gaze calm.

Even the faint, deathly stillness emanating from him remained completely undisturbed.

"The terms sound good."

Chen Fan slightly bent his right hand, his knuckles resting on the hilt of the rusty, Broken Saber. "But why should I help you solve your problems? I can get the crystal core myself, and I can navigate the ruins myself. Save your tricks for fooling idiots."

After speaking, he released a slight burst of internal energy from his palm, causing the wooden window in front of him to tremble slightly, as if he were about to close it to shut out the guests.

Huo Qing's eyelids twitched violently, and he cursed inwardly that this was a truly ungrateful madman.

At this moment Elder Song's eyes finally darkened completely.

Money, status, privilege, and freedom were all treated like worthless paper.

This monster who crawled out of the Lower City was frighteningly mature, without a trace of youthful impetuosity. He was like an ancient stone sculpture that had lived for thousands of years, completely impervious to reason.