Safety First

"How could this happen?"

Lu Xiaobei watched the blood on my clothes, tears streaming down her face in fright.

"I'm fine."

I frowned, maintaining my composure. "I ran into some muggers in the alley just now. They stabbed me twice, but thankfully, none of the wounds were fatal. I guess we can't have those skewers tonight. Could you help me get to the hospital? I just need to get these superficial wounds bandaged up."

"Okay!"

Lu Xiaobei didn't seem to mind the bloodstains on her clothes at all. She slung one of my arms over her shoulder and, with considerable effort, helped me towards the hospital.

The hospital wasn't far, only a few hundred meters.

It truly was a minor injury. The surgeon in the emergency room took one look and said, "These are lacerations, but thankfully, they aren't deep... Young man, how did you get hurt?"

"I ran into some thug muggers and got slashed a few times with a knife after I resisted."

"It's nothing serious, just needs to be disinfected and bandaged."

"Alright, thank you, Doctor."

After that, I sat there quietly, letting the nurse disinfect, apply medication, and bandage the several wounds on my chest and arms. Lu Xiaobei stayed by my side, her eyes still teary.

It was past one in the morning by the time we were done.

She insisted on escorting me back to my place before taking a taxi home.

Milo hadn't gotten off work yet. I lay down on the bed and checked my character status.

[Minor Injury]: Status duration countdown 11h 33m 24s

After treatment, the minor injury would last for 12 hours. Fortunately, my body was durable in combat form. Otherwise, after Nightingale's psionic energy attack, my body would probably be riddled with holes, and the doctors at the hospital likely wouldn't have diagnosed it as superficial wounds.

However, for the next 12 hours, it would be best not to even step outside. This period was the danger zone.

Just then, I finally remembered the BOSS Ability Crystal that Nightingale had dropped. I took it out and opened it.

"Crackle!"

The process of opening the ability crystal was spectacular, with golden lightning flashing. In an instant, the crystal cracked and exploded, and the loot box opened successfully. Staring at the dazzling text, my heart was in my throat. The item I risked my life for shouldn't be bad, right?

[Congratulations! You have successfully opened your〖BOSS Ability Crystal〗and obtained:〖Roarer MP25 Submachine Gun〗(Quality: Blue)!]

Blue?

A submachine gun?!

In that instant, my head buzzed, and I was completely immersed in ecstatic joy. That female agent from the Undercurrent was truly loyal, delivering a blue gun from afar!

With a "clack," the blue submachine gun dropped into my Dimensional Storage Space. I quickly took it out. The entire gun glowed with a blue light. My gaze lingered on the barrel for a few seconds, and immediately, streams of text and data floated out, making my heart pound uncontrollably!

[Roarer MP25 Submachine Gun] (Quality: Blue)

Tier: Tier 2

Base Stats: Firepower 180-200, Rate of Fire 800 rounds/minute, Magazine Capacity 50 rounds, Attack Range 120 meters

Strength: +20

Weight: 3.3KG

Blessing: Continuous Fire, attack damage +20% during continuous fire.

I was invincible!

This gun wasn't just blue; it was a Tier 2 weapon!

The attributes of a Tier 2 weapon were far superior to a Tier 1 weapon.

Previously, the Tier 1 green Roarer I used had a pitiful firepower of only 55-70. Five consecutive shots would only deal a maximum of 350 damage. This new weapon's firepower was a staggering 180-200. A single burst of five shots could deal up to a thousand damage!

This meant that with my Lv10 Advanced Shooting skill and this gun, I could empty the 50-round magazine in a few seconds, theoretically dealing a maximum of 10,000 damage. Combined with the 20% continuous fire bonus, that would be around 12,000 output!

Terrifying! If it were a low-armor BOSS, a sustained barrage from emptying the magazine would likely be too much for it to handle!

More importantly, with increased firepower, each bullet would deal more damage. The money I spent on ammunition would be more valuable, and my leveling efficiency would change dramatically!

In short, with this Roarer in hand, my overall combat power had undergone a complete transformation!

"Click!"

I equipped it, replacing the previous green Roarer.

When I looked at the green Roarer again, my eyes held a hint of disdain.

Lying on the bed, I began to rest.

I picked up my phone and sent Zhang Ruolin a "1."

"I'm here."

She replied instantly and sent a picture. The image showed the atmosphere of a music bar, with her embracing a woman – it was Ling Baiwei.

"Holy crap, so suave..."

I sent a dog emoji: "Sister Ruolin, your life is my dream!"

"Get outta here!"

Zhang Ruolin said, "You wouldn't message me this late at night unless you needed something. If you didn't, you wouldn't have messaged me first."

"I do need something."

I replied, "Not too long ago, I completed a mission and got a blue submachine gun. So, the previous Green Roarer submachine gun is now obsolete. This new gun's firepower is 55-70, and it adds 5 Strength. I wanted to ask if you're interested. If you want it, I'll sell it to you first and won't go to the Black Market."

"Interested, of course, I'm interested!"

Zhang Ruolin said, "I'm still using a plain submachine gun. Keep this one for me."

"Alright, what kind of price can you offer?"

"For the Green Roarer, the current market price is around 15,000 Star Coins. But our relationship is different, and I'm a bit tight on cash lately, so I can offer about 10,000. Can you accept that?"

"Why wouldn't I accept? Deal."

"Great!"

Zhang Ruolin said with a smile, "Then we'll trade on another day... no, not another day. I want it right now, to avoid any further complications. Send me your address. After I finish drinking and see Xiao Bai off, I'll come find you. We'll do cash on delivery."

"Okay."

I sent her my detailed address.

After that, I slept until around three in the morning and woke up hungry.

"Crash~~"

As I stepped out of my room, the living room door opened. Milo walked in, looking exhausted. He glanced at me: "Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Woke up hungry."

"Should I cook you some noodles?"

"Never mind, I'll eat tomorrow morning."

"Alright."

He looked weary: "I sang all night, I'm exhausted. I'm going to sleep now."

"Okay, go ahead."

I nodded.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. When I opened it, I saw Ruolin dressed to the nines. She wore a hip-hugging skirt underneath and a coat on the outside, exuding a very feminine aura.

"Trade in my room."

"OK!"

She was a bit drunk, her cheeks flushed. She gave me an OK gesture.

Once inside the room, I switched to my combat form and handed her the Green Roarer submachine gun.

"Hahahaha, Sister, I finally have a green primary weapon!"

She looked smug: "Not bad, not bad~"

As she spoke, she took out a stack of money from her Dimensional Storage Space and gave it to me: "Ten thousand, not a penny less. But thank you. Otherwise, with this money, it would be almost impossible to get a submachine gun of this quality on the player market."

"Mm, I'm glad you like it."

I took the money and was already thinking about when I should go to the Black Market to buy ammunition next.

"Huh?"

Zhang Ruolin noticed the bandage on my arm and the lightly injured icon above my head. She couldn't help but ask, "What happened? Are you badly hurt?"

"I accidentally lost control of my HP while doing a mission and triggered the lightly injured status."

I said nonchalantly, "It's fine, it's in the past. Don't worry."

"You must be careful."

Her delicate eyebrows furrowed: "Ding Han, you're a sort of spiritual pillar for me and Xiao Bai in this world. You absolutely cannot get into trouble, understand?"

"Don't worry, I'll be careful from now on!"

"Mmm~~"

Just then, Milo knocked on the room door: "Ding Han, come out for a word."

"Mm."

I opened the door a crack. Milo looked at me with a cheeky grin and said, "You've finally opened up and started bringing girls back. But don't ruin them. Take this. Remember that line from 'The Wandering Earth': 'There are thousands of roads, safety is the first one. Irregular driving, tears of loved ones.'!"

As he spoke, he shoved something into my hand.

"Damn it..."

I glanced down and saw it was a small Durex condom.

"Get lost, get lost!"

I shoved the item back into his hand. "She's a normal female friend, not what you're thinking. Go to bed already and stop meddling!"

"Don't listen to your elders, and you'll see."

Milo picked his nose. "I'll just wait for the kid to call me Uncle Milo."

"Scram!"

"Look how impatient you are!"

He burst out laughing and returned to his room. I closed my door as well.

"Who was that?"

Zhang Ruolin asked with a smile.

"My roommate."

I smiled. "Alright, the trade was successful. Be careful on your way back."

"Don't worry, I'm an 18th-level Super Weapon Master after all. Most people can't do anything to me."

She left with a pleased expression.

After closing the door, I lay down again and drifted into a heavy sleep. Being Lightly Injured really wasn't good.

The next day, early morning.

Just as I finished washing up, I received a message from Lu Xiaobei: "I'm downstairs. I'll pick you up for breakfast. Hurry down once you're ready."

"Huh?"

I was slightly taken aback. "The boss herself is picking me up for work? What kind of treatment is this... Are you driving a Mercedes?"

"A Mercedes, my foot."

She was speechless. "Just go up to the balcony and you'll see."

I walked onto the balcony and saw Lu Xiaobei, dressed impeccably and looking impossibly beautiful, sitting on an electric scooter that didn't quite match her appearance.

"Haven't you eaten yet?" I asked.

"No!"

Lu Xiaobei nodded with a smile. "Hurry down, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

"Coming right up."

"Okay~~"

Downstairs, the two of us rode the electric scooter, driven by the 23-year-old beautiful boss, and ambled along the edge of the Old City towards Feiyang Internet Cafe. We then stopped at a breakfast stall opposite the internet cafe, ordered two breakfast sets, and began to enjoy the warm morning sun.

"Is your wound feeling better? Does it still hurt?"

She cupped a bun in her hands and looked at me with a beaming smile.

In the morning light, I felt a moment of daze. At this moment, Lu Xiaobei seemed to be glowing.