One Task, Three Rewards

One Task, Three Rewards

No matter how she howled, the White Fang Gang continued firing as they rapidly withdrew. After a scattered burst of gunfire and fighting, Nordly heard a set of hurried footsteps.

"Head Nurse Nordly, Nordly, are you alright?"

"An... na..."

"It's me. You're badly hurt—extensive trauma, severe blood loss. You need surgery! Those bastards have retreated. I'll take you for treatment right now—Is anyone else here? Any survivors, come help!"

"I... I'm fine." Nordly's voice was faint as a thread. Her eyelids drooped as she said in a low voice, "Professor... tell the Professor quickly. The enemy has an infected person. That child... I couldn't do it. Only the Professor can save her."

"Professor."

Anna Assistant Physician's hands paused in the middle of emergency treatment.

"Wha..."

"The Professor is dead." Anna's voice was filled with grief and despair. "Nordly, the Professor was killed by those bandits. They took a savage bite out of Nethermark, leaving an unhealable wound in our artery! Among us... the students... only we are left."

Nordly's pupils constricted, and darkness fell before her eyes. The enormous shock left her unable to think. She gasped for breath, her head tilted to one side, and she fainted.

"Nordly? Nordly!"

Anna called out several times. Only then did the surviving medical personnel emerge from the shelters and underground facilities, beginning to clear the battlefield and conduct field rescues.

"Remaining security personnel, seal the facility immediately. There's more than one gang of bandits in the Outland—weld every entrance shut. No one is allowed in."

"What about the Logistics Department? Check the reactor and circuitry at once. There will be a great many medical pod treatments and surgeries next, so the power must not go out."

"Check the water supply system. Watch out for poisoning."

"Patients, for your safety, you should not have been doing strenuous labor. But the situation is urgent, and we need your help now..."

Before the terrible news of the Professor's death could spread, Doctor Anna had already displayed the calmness and composure of a superior and leader.

She personally directed and took part in the rescue efforts. Based on the situation, she lifted most of the patients' restrictions on freedom, and even persuaded those with Aoneng to help rebuild Nethermark.

Everything was in full swing.

"Hey, are we just going to stand here like idiots?"

Li Aoz stood in the shadows, coldly observing it all. Nomi pursed her lips in displeasure and complained to him:

"We didn't get a single benefit, and you nearly got shot dead—well, look at things now. That bad woman is already seizing power. Your Excellency Li Aoz, you really screwed this one up, didn't you?"

"If you want to call me something, call me Your Highness. 'Your Excellency' sounds too unlucky."

Li Aoz was unconcerned. "As for screwing up—forgive me for not understanding. The game has only just begun. How could I have screwed it up already?"

He glanced at the data displayed on his retina. The progress of "Unremembered" had already reached 17%.

The first-stage mission had also been completed, granting an additional 5% story progress.

As long as he left Nethermark Humanity again, his accumulated progress would reach 30%, enough to issue the minimum reward.

Of course, that was not his only gain.

After repelling the bandits, Nethermark Humanity's faction contribution had surged by another 600 points. Without hesitation, Li Aoz exchanged them for an Esha Experiment Drug - Type VI.

The moment the exchange was complete, an unfamiliar physician passing by casually handed him a box. Li Aoz did not open it, but he already knew it contained the red-and-black Esha Experiment Drug - Type VI.

Just like the game. Whatever I exchange for is always obtained through some "coincidence."

Li Aoz put away the box. Then he looked at a thought-provoking entry: "Professor" Favorability—157 (Love). "The corpse loves me."

Li Aoz smiled meaningfully.

One task, three rewards.

Nethermark Humanity's Faction Favorability was tied to the individual "Professor," and Li Aoz's status within Nethermark Humanity rose accordingly. He could now view more information.

This way, he could raise the mission's progress even further.

"The game has only just begun."

He repeated himself.

"The game?"

Nomi shot him a glance. "Say whatever you want. Things are great now—this whole shelter is full of infected people, plus a whole bunch of people with superpowers. Heh, I'd like to see how you plan to get out now."

"Why would I need to plan?"

Li Aoz looked at Nomi. "How about we make a bet?"

Nomi raised her brow, as though she had heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Hah? You want to bet with me? Every dog in the Outland knows Nomi's insanely lucky! Go on, what's the wager?"

Li Aoz said, "The loser barks like a dog three times."

"Fine! So what do you want to bet on?"

"I bet that, in a little while, Anna Assistant Physician will beg us to leave."

"Oh my, aren't you just handing me a free win?"

Nomi smiled with amusement. With her arms folded, she circled Li Aoz as she sized him up. "Sure! Nomi isn't really into your kind of weird fetish, but—since someone wants to be Nomi's dog, I'll reluctantly accept."

She reached out and lifted Mr. Li Aoz's chin, teasing, "Pretty little thing~~ Want your mistress to put a collar on you? Do you like having a beautiful girl's pale toes pressed against your forehead while all you can do is lick the gaps between them, lower your head, and bark like a dog—"

"Mr. Li Aoz."

Doctor Anna found a moment amid her busy work and trotted over to stand before Mr. Li Aoz and Nomi. Lowering her head, she said heavily:

"Too many of Nethermark Humanity's medical facilities have been taken. We don't have the means to operate on severely injured patients..."

"Especially Head Nurse Nordly's injuries, right."

Mr. Li Aoz said gravely.

Doctor Anna's gaze flickered, but she still nodded. "We no longer have enough armed personnel to reclaim the medical equipment. However, there is a Wanderer settlement near the shelter. The White Fang Gang only just finished looting the supplies; it will take them some time to return to their lair. They'll definitely rest and regroup at the settlement."

"I understand."

Mr. Li Aoz nodded, his expression filled with righteous resolve. "I awakened Aoneng during the battle just now. If all I need to do is pursue them and recover the medical equipment, those bandits are no match for me."

"Uh..." Nomi looked utterly baffled. Before she could say anything, Mr. Li Aoz pounded his chest indignantly and declared, "The professor and Head Nurse Nordly have treated me well. Though I've only been in Nethermark for a few days, everyone's concern has deeply moved me!"

"Holy crap..." Nomi muttered under her breath. "He's not actually serious, is he?"

"More importantly!"

Mr. Li Aoz said excitedly:

"Nethermark is another home to me! As a righteous man, I can't just stand by and do nothing."

Doctor Anna nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Li Aoz—the vehicle is ready."

"Mm, we'll set out now. Please give me a list. I'll catch up to them right away!"