Others Fighting, I'm Shopping

Chapter 20: While Others Fight, I Shop

[Notification: Task "Unremembered" is active]

[First Stage]: Pale Tooth Mark [Synopsis]: "Life in the laboratory has gradually become peaceful, and you seem to have grown accustomed to being treated like a white rat, disposed of at will. At this very moment, a group of bandits has attacked the Nethermark Humanity's sanctuary, and the defenses are showing signs of loosening—not only that, but your heart also feels restless."

"Will you choose to embrace freedom, even if it means aiding the wicked, to escape the confinement of being manipulated?"

"Or will you protect the weak, step forward, and do something for this rare 'new home'?"

"Now, the initiative is in your hands."

[Task Requirements]: A. "Civilization Retreats" (High Risk) — Follow the White Fang Gang's invasion of Nethermark Humanity, completely annihilate Head Nurse Nordly Crowe, Assistant Physician Anna, and Nethermark Professor, and destroy the Nethermark organization.

Special Note: Choosing this option will settle the "Unremembered" task at the minimum standard. Previously accumulated exploration points will be converted into experience at a 1:10 ratio.

B. "Humanity Continues Forward" (Normal Risk) — Assist Nethermark Humanity in eliminating/repelling the invaders. The favorability of all survivors within the Nethermark Humanity faction, including Head Nurse Nordly Crowe and Assistant Physician Anna, will increase.

C. "Difficult Decision" (No Danger) — This place is too dangerous, not a battle you should be involved in. Escape the sanctuary and stay away from this dangerous area.

Special Note: Choosing this option will lower the "Professor's" personal favorability to "Hostile." — "They're finally fighting."

The moment the Head Nurse ran out to meet the attack, Li Aoz received the system prompt. He shook his head; everyone was busy resisting the invasion or seeking refuge, and no one had time to pay attention to him.

"Unremembered" was a long-term main quest, and this was only the first stage, just the beginning. Li Aoz had no intention of giving up.

But he also knew that if he acted according to the task's requirements, he would be the one to suffer in the end.

The White Fang Gang and Nethermark Humanity were not comparable to the low-level agents of Law Enforcement Division Four. Li Aoz was low-level and weak, but with strategy and cunning, he could still take down a few female agents from Law Enforcement Division Four.

In "Star Abyss," levels were often misleading. Some people, due to having up to 100 sub-professions, could artificially create the title of a level 100 big shot to show off and intimidate newcomers. Others specialized in life professions, such as [Politician], [Engineer], [Merchant], etc. They had high levels but very ordinary personal combat abilities.

What was truly used to evaluate actual combat power was called "Challenge Level," which was [Stratum] in the attributes.

From Alpha (α) to Omega (Ω), 24 strata, this was the classification of superhumans.

Alpha was already the lowest entry-level stratum, but even so, it was a devastating slaughter against ordinary people.

According to Li Aoz's estimation, he would need 200,000 experience points to upgrade to lv20 [Mutant], but if he wanted to advance to Alpha class, he would need at least 1 million points.

"There's no need and no reason to get involved in direct combat."

Li Aoz was unhurried. The surrounding patients hadn't even been transferred or settled yet. Facing the sudden incident, they were somewhat bewildered, some showing fear, while others clenched their fists, gritted their teeth, and resolved to rush out of the safe zone to confront the bandits head-on.

"Now's the time... I can push the main quest forward."

He couldn't do it alone; he needed to find a temporary teammate first.

Li Aoz walked to the door of ZX-102. He raised his palm, placed it above the door latch, and the next moment, a golden halo lit up in his gray eyes.

Gravity Aura activated.

An invisible gravitational field enveloped the door lock. He had studied it a few days ago; the ZX series of hospital rooms used gravity-type automatic locks. Relying on the gravity of the counterweight itself, the lock hook would automatically engage, achieving a lock without the need for springs to apply external force, making it highly reliable and secure.

This was designed to prevent isolated patients from escaping during the intervals when medical staff were checking on them, delivering meals, or water. If it were a bank or an arsenal, complex mechanical combination locks would be used. Both had their merits, but for Li Aoz, who controlled gravity, the structure of a gravity-type automatic lock was as good as unlocked.

He adjusted the direction of the gravitational field in his palm, and the heavy counterweight, which was supposed to be pressing down, floated upwards in the opposite direction, making a clanging sound as it disengaged.

Li Aoz reached out to push the door of ZX-102, about to open it, when a clear female voice suddenly sounded beside him:

"Are... are you here to let us out?"

Li Aoz's eyes flickered, and a stunned expression naturally appeared on his face. He feigned confusion and looked towards the source of the voice—the ZX-101 hospital room, adjacent to ZX-102.

Unlike the isolation room Li Aoz was in, the ZX series hospital rooms did not have iron bars that allowed one to peer inside. The entire viewing opening was a sealed bulletproof glass, only about 120 centimeters high.

To visit someone inside, one had to kneel on one knee and peek in.

Li Aoz hesitated for a moment, then knelt on one knee and looked into the viewing opening of the bulletproof glass.

He saw a girl around sixteen years old, so thin she looked like a skeleton. Her face was tightly wrapped with gauze, and she wore a mask, revealing only her pale purple right eye.

A head of white-blond long hair was scattered on the floor. Li Aoz faintly saw dried brown bloodstains in the dim light, along with some fragmented human bone fragments.

The girl, whose face was obscured, noticed his gaze. Her light purple eyes showed anticipation and surprise.

The man reflected in her eyes was more handsome and beautiful than she had imagined. His messy black hair fell to his shoulders, adding a touch of ethereal grace.

For a man, Li Aoz's features were exquisite and angular, perfectly balanced. His gray eyes were filled with a world-weary, otherworldly aura.

Even the orange-red restraint suit he wore earlier couldn't hide his sturdy physique.

"Did you just call me?"

Li Aoz asked. He noticed the system prompt indicating that ZX-101's favorability towards him had increased by 10, reaching the "Like" level.

He wasn't surprised; his good looks were a fact, but more importantly, it was the result of his [Charm] and [Eternal Love Hunter] abilities.

The isolated girl raised her finger, trying to touch his face. Her outstretched fingertip stopped at the glass, and she let out a pained "Ouch!" She retracted her hand, pushed herself up with her arms, and her single eye stared at Li Aoz, unwilling to look away.

"You opened the room... can you save me?"

The girl asked softly. She looked frail and powerless, and her single eye exuded a pitiful gaze.

However, the mottled bloodstains on her thin white hospital gown, and the special label "Esha Infection Level: Four" pasted on the door of ZX-101, sent a chill down one's spine.

"Who are you?"

Even though he had already made up his mind, Li Aoz still asked. Moreover, his questions came one after another, without pause:

"Why are you locked up here? How do you eat? Why is the next ward empty? Why won't Head Nurse Nordly let me talk about ZX-102? If I mix spaghetti with concrete #42, will it make the gamma ray bombardment of the Trisolarians, which caused Pinocchio to participate in the World Cup and help the KPL win the championship, even worse—"

Bang! The single, pale purple eye burned with fury and distortion. The girl impatiently punched the bulletproof glass, her previous delicate and pitiable demeanor gone. Like an out-of-control monster, she growled in a low, earth-shattering voice:

"Damn it! You (Frostplate Civilization), you (Quality Nethermark), are you ever going to stop? You've been babbling for ages, can you even speak like a human?! Once I, Janelia, get out, I'll stuff your head into your stomach!"

"So, your name is Janelia?"

"Huh—Who's calling that name? Ptooey, ptooey, that sounds awful, I'm not called that thing!!!"

The girl, caught by Li Aoz's bait, became enraged. She immediately pulled down her mask, revealing a mouth full of sharp, shark-like teeth, and roared furiously, "Listen up, you handsome little thing, I am your great Grandpa Nomi Anderson Guersett! Dare to call that name again, and I'll bite your spine to pieces!"

"Nomi, right? Okay, Nelia."

Li Aoz calmly stated, "Then it's settled."

"Say that again!"

"The entire old world will be burned to ashes by the newborn Blaze."

Li Aoz said unhurriedly.

The girl froze.

Immediately after, her gaze grew serious, and she said in a deep voice, "And the Rose Society will bloom upon the ruins of the Four Nations."

Li Aoz nodded, reached out, and pressed his hand against the glass. A sunny smile, exuding a sense of security, naturally appeared on his handsome face. "Comrade, the organization sent me to pick you up."