Father's Call

Old Ma's expression gradually changed from shock to joy. "I heard you had an accident in the Stream City Campaign a while ago, and I was quite worried that something might have happened to you. Now that I see you back alive and kicking, I'm relieved!"

"Um!"

I nodded emphatically, pointed to the fat guy behind me, and said, "This is my brother, Fatty. Please take care of me when I come to the Player Black Market to buy supplies in the future!"

"I can tell."

Old Ma glanced at the fat man's ID and chuckled, "Shadow Chaser, Chasing Light, these are clearly brotherly IDs."

"Ruolin and Cai Cai will be here soon, they'll talk to you then."

"Okay, sure!"

A few minutes later, a graceful figure walked into the black market; it was Zhang Ruolin.

She darted forward, scooped me up in her arms, and laughed, "Quick, let me check if any parts are missing..."

"Damn, your strength has improved quite a bit lately..."

I was slightly surprised, then glanced at the health bar above her head, which displayed the words "lv29".

Indeed, I spent a month lying around in Jiangning City with almost no way to gain Experience Points, but other players didn't slack off. For example, Ruolin must have gone out to improve in Huaining City, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to reach such a high level as level 29.

"Put it down quickly, put it down quickly, mind your image."

I broke free from Zhang Ruolin's clutches, grabbed Fatty, and introduced him, "Ruolin, this is my brother, Fatty, ID: Chasing Light, level 19 Firepower Specialist."

"Is this the one you've been searching for?"

Zhang Ruolin sized the fat man up and down, then laughed, "Looks like a total noob..."

"Cough cough!"

The fat guy, quick to take advantage of any situation, said, "So please, master, guide me a bit..."

"Please don't."

Zhang Ruolin smiled and said, "There's only one expert in our group, your good brother Ding Han. Just tell him about asking for a ride."

I replied modestly, "Not at all, I'm just slightly better."

Not long after, Cai Cai and Kou Mei arrived one after the other.

"Boss!"

Kou Mei smiled broadly and said, "Long time no see!"

"Yes, it's been a long time!"

I nodded and smiled, then introduced Fatty again, saying, "Fatty is our newest member, but he was a coward before and didn't dare to go out to level up, so he's only level 19. He's my best brother, so I can't leave him out. That's why I'll be bringing Fatty along on this trip as an experience booster. He's the Firepower Specialist, so once his level, equipment, and skills improve, he definitely won't slack off. Don't worry."

"It's alright, since we're brothers, let's not stand on ceremony."

Cai Cai said, "Fatty Bro has no output, but Cai Cai Bro does!"

The fat boy grinned and said, "Brother Cai Cai, I'm counting on you from now on..."

"Polite!"

"Alright, stop wasting your life."

I waved my hand. "Let's go, let's go to Old Ma's place to buy ammunition."

"OK!"

The group entered the exchange and held a private meeting with Old Ma in a corner of the hall.

"What should we say about this trip?"

Cai Cai asked, "What aspects do we mainly need to replenish?"

"Look at your main weapon."

I frowned. "If the mid-range weapon is Submachine Gun, we need at least 10,000 rounds of ammunition. If it's Explosive Gun, we need at least 5,000 rounds. As for sniper rifle ammunition, we need at least 2,000 rounds. Each person should be equipped with at least three Explosive Grenade. In addition, we need to replenish First Aid Kit, adrenaline, and other medical supplies as needed, otherwise we'll be left to fend for ourselves in the wilderness."

"OK."

Everyone was resupplyed with ammunition.

I glanced at my inventory. Cai Cai had already restocked most of it when I was in Jiangning City last time, so I bought five smoke grenades, each costing 500 Star Coins, for a total of 2500. After that, I checked my reserves of First Aid Kit and other medicines, which were fairly sufficient. It's just a pity that I'm too poor to restock important supplies like Medical Box.

Medical Box are too expensive, costing over 30,000 each, which is unaffordable for the average player.

"Um?"

At that moment, I looked up and saw that the fat man looked embarrassed.

He definitely doesn't have enough money. He only goes to work and doesn't go out to "hunt," so he can't possibly have much extra income. Let alone supplies like First Aid Kit and grenades, he probably can't even afford bullets.

"Fatty, do you not have enough money?"

"Um."

The fat man truthfully replied, "This ammunition is too expensive. My monthly salary is only this much, and since coming to Star Abyss, I've only received two months' salary in total. I simply can't buy much ammunition..."

What is your primary weapon?

"A green SMC Submachine Gun..."

"Alright."

I pulled out 6,000 Star Coins and said, "I'll give you 2,000 SMC bullets. Do any of you have any spare cash? Take some, and I'll pay you back when I have the money."

"Brother Han, what did you say?"

Cai Cai immediately pulled out 9000 and said, "I'll support Fatty with 3000 rounds of SMC ammunition."

Ruolin smiled and said, "I'll provide three Explosive Grenade and two First Aid Kit."

It must be said that these two were indeed very generous to the fat man.

Kou Mei pursed her lips. "I'm pretty poor, even buying bullets is a bit of a struggle for me. Fatty, I won't help you. It's not that I'm stingy, I just really don't have any money..."

I nodded and smiled, "Kou Mei, it's okay, everyone just did their best."

The fat man was deeply moved. "Brothers and sisters, don't worry, once I reach a higher level and sell the equipment I get, I will definitely repay you double for your timely help."

At this moment, I only had 1500+ Star Coins left in my Dimensional Storage Space. I couldn't help but smile bitterly. I had inadvertently returned to a state of utter poverty. For some reason, I felt a sense of peace.

Some people can't hold onto their wealth, and that probably describes me perfectly!

Soon after, Old Ma sent someone to deliver a large amount of supplies, which everyone carefully kept.

"Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."

I glanced at everyone. "Everyone, don't be late. We'll meet here at nine o'clock sharp, then we'll set off. Ruolin, which map do you want to go to?"

"Cloudy Coast, perhaps."

Zhang Ruolin said, "Currently, there aren't many wilderness maps corresponding to this Phase Teleportation Array in Huaining City. The monsters on Cloudy Coast are mostly level 30, so it's relatively safe. What do you think?"

"Can."

I nodded. "Fatty's level is low, so killing monsters that are too high a level above him won't give him much experience. Let's do this then. Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, Cloudy Coast, everyone be on time!"

"Good!"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Oh, right."

I reminded them again, "We don't know how long we'll be stuck in the wilderness this time, maybe more than 24 hours, so everyone should bring enough supplies in their storage space. A certain amount of bottled water, bread, or instant noodles will always be needed. If possible, you can also bring some roast duck or roast chicken, anything goes."

"Haha, I got it!"

Everyone smiled and nodded.

Immediately afterward, we left the Player Black Market one after the other. Fatty and I hailed a taxi and returned to the neighborhood. Then we headed to two different residential buildings, one on the left and one on the right.

The next day, early morning.

I got up at seven o'clock and finished washing up by seven-thirty. I went downstairs to the breakfast shop, bought two breakfasts, and went upstairs to find Lin Qingying already washing up. We then ate breakfast together.

Have you been working too hard lately?

I glanced at her. "Your dark circles are almost showing?"

"Yeah?"

She hurriedly put down the food, took out a mirror, looked at herself, and said helplessly, "Looks like I'll have to do a heavier eye makeup today..."

"Remember to get plenty of rest."

I reminded her, "Work is important, but your health is just as important."

"Um."

She nodded slightly.

Just then, my phone rang. It was an unknown number, and the IP address was marked as: Jiangning Province, Tengshan City!

Tengshan City?

I don't seem to know anyone in Tengshan City. Could it be a harassing call?

After the call connected, he asked suspiciously, "Hello, who are you looking for?"

"Ding Han, is that you?"

On the other end of the phone was a slightly aged voice, and the voice sounded vaguely familiar.

"It's me, and who are you?"

"You've been gone for six months, why haven't you contacted your family?"

The voice on the other end of the phone sounded distraught, "You said you were going to intern at some Gene Institution with your classmates, and you've been gone for half a year! I couldn't even get through to you on the phone. If I hadn't just found out about this SIM card you registered with your ID, I still wouldn't have been able to contact you. Do you know how worried I, as your father, am?!"

In that instant, I felt as if I had been struck by lightning.

I suddenly realized why that voice sounded so familiar, but... the last time I heard that voice was when I was fifteen... He's still alive?

And why is he also in Star Abyss?

"Dad..."

My hand holding the phone trembled uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."

Beside me, Lin Qingying at me with her beautiful eyes wide open, but didn't say anything.

Where are you now?

Old Ding's voice trembled on the phone.

"I'm in Huaining City, and I just found a job here."

"Good."

Old Ding finally calmed down and said, "Send me your address, and I'll send you some winter clothes."

"Good..."

I nodded.

After that, Old Ding didn't say anything, let out a sigh of relief, and hung up the phone.

"Ding Han, are you alright?"

Lin Qingying asked in a low voice from the side.

"Fine."

I shook my head and said, "It's my dad on the phone. I guess I miss him because I haven't seen him in so long."

"How long?"

"About six months."

But in reality, it was ten years. After the car accident that year, he left my mother and me forever.

"Are you going to work today?" I asked.

"Yes, I have a very important meeting to attend today."

After finishing her breakfast, Lin Qingying picked up her bag and car keys.

When we got downstairs, she said, "Where are you going? I'll take you."

"No need, I'll go find Fatty, you go to work first."

"Good."

After watching Lin Qingying leave, I turned around and went to Building Fourteen.

"What's wrong? Your eyes are so red. Didn't you sleep well last night?" the fat man asked.

"Um."

I nodded. "Let's go, it's almost time, let's take a taxi."

"OK."

So the two hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Player Black Market.

"Fatty."

I lay weakly in the back seat and whispered, "Do you think this world and our world have a causal relationship?"

"I don't know, it's such a philosophical thing."

"Have you seen your parents here?" I asked.

"I've seen it."

The fat man said, "They're all in Tengshan City. It feels strange, like a different world, but they're still themselves."

My heart skipped a beat. Sure enough, our identities were presented in another way in this world; the two worlds seemed to be parallel to each other.

"Ding Han, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm fine. I'll focus on strategizing today!"

"Um!"