The next day, I went to work as usual.
Over the course of the morning, I repeatedly assembled and disassembled the internet café's spare routers over a hundred times, raking in massive amounts of Skill Experience. Along with the sounds of skills leveling up, I finally raised all my existing skills to lv10. At this point, my attributes were probably enough for me to swagger through Creek City.
Noon.
More and more people came in to use the computers, and quite a few ordered meals and milk tea. I started getting busy too, only finally catching a break close to twelve o'clock. I glanced at my phone.
Only to discover that Lu Xiaobei had posted a photo on Moments.
In the photo, she was still wearing that lovely knitted coat, paired with a coffee-colored long skirt. Her long, fluffy hair gave her an air of youth and freedom, like an elf wandering through the Old City District.
Behind her was a blue sign that read, "I'm waiting for you in Creek City," making her look even more like an idle tourist.
I was a little speechless. She had probably gone out to run a street stall for extra cash again.
So I casually gave the Moments post a like.
"Ding!"
Lu Xiaobei reacted ridiculously fast. Less than ten seconds after I liked it, she sent me a message. "Have you eaten?"
"Not yet. I was a little busy just now."
"Then wait for me. There's a garden under renovation in the Old City District, and they sell boxed lunches beside the construction site. I've had their boxed lunches before, and they're super delicious!! I'll buy two and bring them back so we can eat together."
"Sure~~~"
So I endured my growling stomach and waited for Lu Xiaobei to bring back food.
Not long afterward, Lu Xiaobei strode into the internet café in high spirits, carrying a bag full of little trinkets in one hand and boxed lunches in the other.
The boxed lunches really did taste good, with a simple, unadorned flavor.
After wolfing mine down, I picked up a computer fan and began repeatedly taking it apart and putting it back together. Lu Xiaobei didn't understand the principles behind repairs, so she left unhappily, probably to continue making money at her stall.
Until exactly two in the afternoon.
"Ding!"
A WeChat message came from Zhang Ruolin. "Convenient to voice chat?"
"Yes."
After connecting the voice call, she got straight to the point. "Ding Han, the player organizations recently launched the Dark Web to make communication between players easier. Do you know about it?"
"The Dark Web?"
I was surprised. I knew nothing about it.
"Mm."
Zhang Ruolin said, "The Dark Web's address changes every sixty seconds, but it's relatively secure. Players leave no traces after logging in, and outsiders can't trace IP addresses. If you're interested, you can take a look."
"Where can I find the Dark Web address?"
"Open Star Map, but don't enter it. The address is in the upper-right corner of Star Map and changes every sixty seconds. Once you enter, register an account immediately, then bind your character."
"Got it."
After hanging up, I immediately leaned back in the internet café manager's throne and narrowed my eyes as I opened Star Map. Sure enough, there was an inconspicuous website address in its upper-right corner. I quickly wrote it down and logged in on the manager's computer.
Sure enough, an incredibly antiquated webpage appeared before one's eyes. It looked like an old-school QQ Zone page, with a black starry background, blue text, and a ring of blinking stars around the edges.
I clicked to register an account. My ID was Shadow Chaser, while my password was the simple 123456, following the principle that simplicity was best.
"Click!"
The instant I clicked the mouse, I successfully entered the Dark Web.
It was essentially a massive forum filled with posts from all kinds of players. A quick glance showed that there were posts about everything.
"Looking to buy a Green Submachine Gun. Model doesn't matter—Roarer, Hellfire, Syndra, Antelope, any model is fine. I only need a firepower cap above 65. Anyone with one can call for me through Creek City Star Map."
"Team recruiting. Looking for a Firepower Specialist above level 18 with Strength-Agility stat allocation. Must possess the skills Aim Enhancement and Weapon Charging. Excellent benefits. Those who meet the requirements can contact us through Star Map!"
"Looking for a girlfriend. Fair skin, pretty face, long legs required!"
"Looking for someone to eat with. Living alone in a strange city is too damn lonely. I don't even have anyone to talk to!"
For now, there was very little useful information on the Dark Web, probably because it had only just opened.
Still, I made a post.
"Player Shadow Chaser is looking for 'Chasing Light.' Anyone with information about Chasing Light, please contact me. There will be a generous reward!"
Unfortunately, not long after I posted it, it was drowned beneath other posts. Too many people were looking for friends and family on the Dark Web. Posts like this were the easiest to overlook.
I closed the Dark Web and checked.
Sure enough, my browsing information had been automatically wiped. Whoever had created the Dark Web definitely had some skills.
Work was unbearably dull. Another day of being a corporate mule passed in the blink of an eye.
That night, at the apartment.
Milo was still working at the bar. He usually got off work around two in the morning, though he might be even later if customers invited him out for a late night snack.
I couldn't be bothered with him, so I spent the entire evening dismantling and reassembling my Blue Roarer countless times, gaining a huge amount of Experience Points. After that, I took a shower and went to bed.
Midnight.
Just after the clock struck zero, two Dings sounded in quick succession beside my ears!
[Headshot settings modification completed instantly! Details: When a player locks onto a target's head weak point, headshot damage will be increased to 3 times normal damage and can stack with critical hit effects!] [Regional Mission: The Undercurrent's Gaze is about to refresh! You have received the mission Undercurrent's Prying! Mission details: The Dark Tide organization has begun to stir. Their Vanguard has appeared in West Wind Forest, fifty li from Creek City. The mission will officially begin in 24 hours. During the following 24 hours, the more Dark Tide units you eliminate, the more Points you will earn. The top ten players in the final rankings will receive extremely generous rewards!]
I was slightly stunned. Was this a system patch update?
First, the change—or rather, enhancement—to the Headshot setting definitely counted as a system patch update. But for me, it was absolutely a good thing. After all, I currently possessed Advanced Shooting lv10, something no one else could have at this stage, and my shooting accuracy was exceptionally high.
Furthermore, not long ago, Nightingale, the Dark Tide's Psionic Officer, had traveled all this way to deliver a gun, giving me a Blue Roarer. With my marksmanship, my headshot chance at close range was extremely high. This settings change was definitely fantastic news.
Second, a Region Task had appeared around Creek City. Presumably, every player in Creek City had already received it.
The more Dark Tide units eliminated within twenty-four hours, the more generous the rewards. This mission had come at just the right time, but it also made me slightly worried. With the Dark Tide approaching Creek City, were they planning to make a move against it?
If that was the case, then Creek City alone, with Dulin's three-thousand-man Flame Wielder Regiment, definitely wouldn't be a match for a behemoth like the Dark Tide! If things went that way, Creek City's players might have to change cities before long.
"Ding!"
A WeChat message came from Ruolin. "Ding Han, did you see the Region Task? What do you think? Want to team up?"
I hesitated for a moment.
Bringing Ruolin and Xiao Bai along wouldn't be a problem, of course, but it would definitely slow down my leveling progress. Honestly, I still preferred going solo, and I especially liked the feeling of charging alone into dangerous territory.
"I won't team up this time."
I replied with a pitiful emoji. "Sister Ruolin, I want to grind alone and push my level. You know it too—after level 20, leveling gets ridiculously difficult. I want to see if I can make it to first place on the Creek City regional rankings!"
"Fine!"
Zhang Ruolin sent a dog-head emoji. "Then good luck taking first place! I'll talk it over with Xiao Bai and Axe. Maybe the three of us will team up to tackle this mission."
"Mm, good luck to you too. If you run into trouble, CALL me anytime. As long as I'm in West Wind Forest, I'll definitely lend a hand!"
"With those words from you, nothing else matters."
Zhang Ruolin sent a heart icon. "I'm going back to drinking."
"You beautiful bad woman, drowning in luxury!"
"Hahahahaha~~~"
Late that night, I checked my strategic reserves.
I had around eight hundred Wind Whisperer rounds left and more than nine hundred Roarer rounds. I had no grenades, and heavy weapons were even more of a blank slate. My reserves could only be described as utterly destitute.
I wanted to compete for first place in this Creek City Region Task. Over the long twenty-four hours, who knew how many people the Vanguard would send? It would be fine if I could snatch some bullets, but what if I couldn't?
Therefore, I had to ensure that I had enough ammunition for this trip.
Tomorrow, I'd borrow money from Lu Xiaobei!
The next day.
At eight o'clock sharp, I handed over my shift without leaving even a minute early.
Zhao Yihang's panda eyes had gotten worse. Rubbing his eyes, he said to me, "Ding Han, bro, I'm about done for. If I keep staying up like this, it feels like not only will my eyes give out, even my kidneys might be done for too..."
I said in heartfelt anguish, "If you don't work hard while you're young, do you want to wait until you're old?"
"Work hard?"
Zhao Yihang looked a little dazed. "Work hard for the boss's future Panamera?"
I tossed him a bun. "Hurry up and get the hell back to sleep."
"Got it!"
Zhao Yihang happily gnawed on the bun as he left.
It wasn't until noon that Lu Xiaobei finally showed up, carrying two boxed lunches.
She leaned in mysteriously. "Guess how much I made from my stall today?"
"Five thousand?"
"Not that much. Do you think those tourists are idiots? Guess lower!"
"Five hundred?"
"You..."
She stared at me in surprise. "You actually guessed right..."
"Ahem!"
I picked up my boxed lunch and said, "Lu Xiaobei, I need to take a day off tomorrow. Don't run your stall during the day shift tomorrow—cover for me instead."
"Do you have something to do?"
"Mm, personal business."
"Fine..."
Lu Xiaobei said unhappily, "But they'll still deduct a day's pay..."
"Well, well, well. That's the face of a heartless capitalist."
I shot her a glance and said, "There's one more thing I want to discuss with you. This one's a little more excessive."
"What is it? Tell me first."
"Lend me twenty thousand yuan."
"..."
Lu Xiaobei stared at me dumbfounded. She said nothing; the chopsticks in her hand simply fell to the floor.
Before you continue