Trust and Distrust

Returning to the Player Black Market, clearing out the clutter in my storage space, I got some money, and then replenished some ammunition and supplies. In the end, this Frostfire Ridge trip netted me 1.4 million!

Since the release of version 3.0, it seems that I can earn a lot every time I go out. This is probably the effect of snowballing. With my current top-notch equipment and the drop rate brought by 78 points of Charm Value, it seems only natural that I can get so much every time I go out.

In the evening, I went to Yue Ning Group and accompanied Lin Qingying to Shudao Mountain for dinner. Then we watched a movie and had some lamb skewers. It was as fulfilling and happy as ever.

As for improving my own strength, I'm a bit lost right now. There are just too many restrictions at level 60. Oh well, I'll just have to wait for version 4.0 to be released!

There is absolutely no information about version 4.0 in <Star Abyss>. I participated in the closed beta test in the real world before, and I already knew the content of the first three versions. However, the prophetic content from the closed beta test has been exhausted, making version 4.0 seem even more mysterious.

Never mind, let's just wait and see.

Anyway, once version 4.0 is released, I'll definitely be leveling up like crazy.

It was late at night, around 11 p. m.

Lin Qingying to bed, and so did I; we each went to our own beds.

"Drop!"

A message came from Gun Like a Dragon: "Ding Han, Dawn's Light said he's new here and wants to treat everyone to lunch tomorrow, specifically inviting the eight members of your Ding Han Squad. What do you say? Do you want to come?"

"Could this be a trap?" I asked.

"No, not at all."

"The Lightning Guild only has a handful of people, just 12 in total. Their Combat Power is mediocre at best. Have you ever seen Liu Bang set up a Hongmen Banquet for Xiang Yu?" Gun Like a Dragon.

"That's true..."

I thought for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, I'll take some men over there."

"OK, I'll send you the reservation information in a bit."

Shortly after, Gun Like a Dragon sent me a reservation message, which I then forwarded to Ding Han Squad's chat channel.

"We're having a lunch gathering tomorrow. The players from Dawn's Light who just joined the Crimson Dragon Country Kingdom are treating, so come on over."

"Boss."

Cai Cai said, "Don't you think it's a bit awkward that these 12 people from the Lightning Guild joined the Crimson Dragon Country's camp? There's an old saying, 'Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts...'"

"The development of this event had an objective element of chance, and there's no need to mention it again."

I smiled faintly, "Anyway, it's a good thing someone's treating us to dinner; it doesn't cost us a penny more. Let's go eat!"

"Okay!"

Everyone said they would definitely arrive on time.

I'm closing the group chat, going to sleep, too lazy to care about anything else.

As for the Lightning Guild, with Gun Like a Dragon and Zhou Jihuan keeping things under control, and those two aren't fools, I don't need to worry about many things.

The next day, at noon.

I leisurely drove my S680 to the hotel, which was still the Tianyu Hotel, the most upscale hotel in the South City District of Huaining City. It was probably a suggestion from Gun Like a Dragon, otherwise the Dawn's Light group would definitely not know about this kind of place.

We went upstairs and entered the private room.

This was a huge private room with five tables set up. One table was mostly occupied by Ding Han Squad, plus Xu Tian and three players from the Crimson Firmament Alliance. The other four tables were filled with acquaintances, mostly core players from the Huaining City's My Critical Hits Hurt Alliance.

"Ding Han is here!"

The Gun Like a Dragon, the Guide stood up simultaneously, very politely.

I am flattered. Is this the prestige of Huaining City's top combat force?

"Boss, sit here!"

Cai Cai pointed to the seat opposite her. "Sit between Ruolin and Kou Mei, so you can easily have them on either side!"

"Shut the hell up!"

I was speechless. "Anyone who didn't know better would think our Ding Han Squad had some kind of misconduct problem, damn it..."

Worldly Uncontested, Shen Jin, and the others laughed heartily, revealing knowing expressions.

However, to be fair, there are very few couples among players.

So far, it seems very rare to see male players dating female players. Why...? Probably because players in the Star Abyss World are all superhumans, and the chances of strong players clashing are very low, similar to the phenomenon of kings not meeting kings.

"Ding Han!"

At the table next to him, Dawn's Light rose and waved.

"Yes, dawn."

I nodded in greeting from a distance, then sat down.

Soon after, the dishes were served—a table full of delicious food.

The food at Tianyu Hotel was quite good, although I felt it couldn't compare to my own Stream City No. 1, but that's probably just a psychological effect of having a positive impression.

The other four tables were filled with the clinking of glasses and drinking, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Only our Ding Han Squad was engrossed in eating, showing absolutely no interest in the topics discussed at the tables.

After all, this was a social gathering, with the main characters being Dawn's Light and a group of people; all we had to do was watch their performance.

Sure enough, after a few rounds of drinks, Dawn's Light stood up, carrying a half-full jug of Wuliangye, and said, "Brothers, I'm a French player. From the moment I was born in <Star Abyss>, I've been controlled by the Dark Tide forces. First, I lay in the lab for a month, then I underwent various experiments and training, and then I was turned into a monster who only knows how to kill."

His eyes were slightly red as he said, "The Dark Tide has no human warmth or coldness, only icy laws. Perhaps you will find our Lightning Guild's betrayal suspicious, but please dispel that thought, because you cannot imagine what we have gone through in the Dark Tide. In short, this drink... I toast everyone, and I toast the Guide!"

As he spoke, he tilted his head back and downed the entire half-full jug of Wuliangye.

His drinking capacity is impressive; I envy him!

The Chaos Demon King said, "No... Dawn, what exactly did you experience in the Dark Tide? If you don't tell us, we won't know either."

"This is a thorn in Shuguang's side, something he's unwilling to mention. Let me explain."

Beside Dawn's Light, a handsome man with short blond hair stood up, frowned, and said, "My name is Wu Yan, the Vice Alliance Leader of the Lightning Guild. I joined Dark Tide with Dawn at the beginning of the game. At that time, it wasn't just the two of us; Dawn's younger brother, Dark Eternal Night, was also there. And back then... we all underwent the Pandora Solution injection experiment. That kid Night unexpectedly awakened an SSS-rank talent— Mind Control."

"Holy crap..."

Shen Jin raised an eyebrow and said, "This person has a very strong talent for Mind Control, right?"

"He's really strong. He can control monsters and even players to fight for him, which is quite useful on the battlefield. That's why Yongye was promoted early on to be the commander of an Undercurrent Elite squad. But we haven't seen him since then."

"What happened?"

Lazy Sleepyhead, he opened his eyes wide and asked, "What's wrong with him?"

Wu Yan gave a self-deprecating smile, "Later, we carried out a mission called 'Hive Impact Experimental Base,' and discovered that there were many experimental subjects soaking in experimental vessels in the base attacked by the Zerg swarm. One of them was Yongye!"

"Boom!"

Wu Yan to the side, the Lightning Guild player with the game ID "Lonely" lightly slammed his fist on the table, his eyes bloodshot, and said, "Eternal Night is dead just like that. Those beasts from Dark Tide didn't even treat us like human beings!"

"That kid, Yongye..."

Dawn's Light was already covering her face with her hands, trembling as she cried, "He just turned 17... Those beasts, they actually turned him into an experimental specimen just because he awakened SSS-rank talent, beasts... beasts..."

Tears streamed down his face from between his fingers.

"Dawn, please accept my deepest condolences..."

I felt a little sad too, after all, I was also a player who came from the Dark Tide, only my awakened talent was stronger, and I fought back immediately, otherwise my fate might have been the same as Dark Eternal Night.

"Ding Han..."

Dawn's Light wiped away her tears, her eyes red, and said, "You're number one on the Dark Tide's wanted list, 033. You must have gone through all that back then, so you can empathize with this kind of thing, right?"

"Um."

I nodded. "Dark Tide has never treated us players like human beings."

Dawn's Light poured another half jug of wine and said, "Therefore, I am very grateful to all the brothers in Huaining City, and even more grateful to the Guide for issuing the faction-switching quest to us. This may have been a small matter for you, but for the 12 brothers of the Lightning Guild, it is a rebirth. This cup of wine... I toast to everyone!"

"Shuguang, you drank too much and too fast..." Wu Yan attempt to dissuade him.

"Wu Yan, don't try to persuade me."

Dawn's Light said, "There's a Chinese saying, 'A man doesn't easily shed tears.' I've lost face and shed tears here today, but I entrust my life to everyone. From now on, the twelve brothers of the Lightning Guild are willing to go through fire and water for you!"

As he spoke, he tilted his head back and drank another half-full jug of Wuliangye.

His impressive alcohol tolerance remains enviable.

"Dawn, this is all in the past, don't be sad anymore."

Yaoyao pursed her red lips and said, "Keep this hatred in your heart, fight hard in Huaining City, and when we encounter members of the Dark Tide or their accomplices on the battlefield in the future, we will naturally make them pay for their blood debts!"

"Um!"

Dawn's Light nodded emphatically, remaining Wu Yan alongside Wu Yan, Jimo, and the others, though his eyes were even redder.

Players in Huaining City were all deeply moved, and most of their sentiments stemmed from my own experience of these things in Dark Tide.

"Boss, I've never heard you mention anything about the Dark Tide before."

Kou Mei said in the Team Channel, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"It's all such nonsense, I can't be bothered to talk about it..."

I smiled faintly, "But my situation in Dark Tide was much better than that of Dawn's group. I was given three injections of Pandora Solution, each injection having a stronger awakening effect than the last. After the third injection, I directly destroyed the base and escaped with Left Hand in two separate groups."

Hahaha~~~

Aji exclaimed, "This sounds just like something you would do, boss! That's awesome! Those guys from Dawn are still too soft after all."

I nodded, but remained silent about the plight of Dawn's Light and the others.

The drinking session lasted a long time, not ending until 2 p. m.

Dawn's Light, Wu Yan, Lonely, and others were all drunk and staggering, while Chaos Demon King created a small group and added everyone to it. Not long after, Dawn's Light sent me a friend request.

Pass, go downstairs.

Downstairs, by the fountain, Ruolin Kou Mei were waiting to use the restroom.

Beside him, Gun Like a Dragon watched the splashes in the pool, smiled faintly, and sent a private message to the players. "Ding Han, you still seem to have some distrust of the Dawn group, right?"