Zero-Dollar Shopping Event

Three days after escaping from the GENTEC research facility, Li Wei hid in the home of some kind-hearted people in Manhattan's Clinton District.

Unfortunately, those kind-hearted people had gone to meet their merciful God, leaving him no way to repay them for the shabby rental apartment they had provided.

Over those three days, relying on news reports from the television, information Li Wei had researched himself, and two days of on-site investigation, he came to a bold conclusion.

He had arrived in the world of the game Prototype!

He could not quite remember A-God's name, but Alex Mercer's hooded, leather-jacketed image on the wanted posters everywhere looked exactly like A-God from the game.

With that comparison, Li Wei noticed many similarities to the setting of Prototype, such as the infamous Blackwatch.

Following that line of thought, Li Wei had realized yesterday that the abilities he had gained were almost no different from A-God's...

He could glide hundreds of meters like a flying squirrel, run between skyscrapers, and fall from hundreds of meters in the air without suffering the slightest injury.

The abilities were secondary. After the initial excitement passed, Li Wei gradually felt how unfamiliar this world was. He wanted to return to his original world. Though that world also had plenty to criticize, and though he had no family and even fewer friends there, it was undoubtedly where he had lived most comfortably.

The key item for getting home was the translucent Key that had been floating in his field of vision.

Looking at the toy Key floating before him, Li Wei once again pictured the ugly face of the old locksmith who had made it for him that day...

"Are you worthy? How many keys are you worthy of? I'll make you a nicer-looking one. It isn't easy for young people like you!"

Fuck...

Whenever he thought about what that old bastard had said, Li Wei's teeth itched with the urge to curse him out.

But his only way home now also depended on the Key in his vision. A progress bar sat beside the transparent Key, already showing 3% energy.

He had already tested it. As long as he devoured living beings with his assimilation ability, he could speed up the increase in energy.

The Key's energy could also grow on its own. One method he had discovered was sunlight, but the odds of seeing sunshine in Manhattan were far too low. The sky was always gloomy, and the news occasionally reported that some base had been attacked again.

Ninety percent chance A-God had done it...

After wasting three days, Li Wei planned to start devouring infected creatures in the Infected Zone today to build up energy and leave this godforsaken world before the nuclear bomb arrived.

When he opened the door, the clothes on Li Wei's body vanished amid crimson streaks, replaced by an ordinary black suit.

The black suit was unbuttoned, the white shirt had no tie, and a cigarette hung from his lips. With both hands in his pockets, he strode out of the noisy cheap apartment, looking every bit like a thug.

As he walked down the long corridor, the young couple in apartment 418 were arguing again.

The door to 409 stood open. An elderly white woman with snow-white hair smiled kindly at Li Wei and wished him good morning.

Several junkies in 406 were snorting strange powder.

Light guitar music came from 401 again. Li Wei stood outside the door and listened for a while. It was not bad~!

He descended the narrow stairs and stepped outside. The sky remained gray and murky, with even faint traces of red appearing.

Manhattan's Infected Zone was still expanding, and demonstrations had begun in Washington. Countless people were demanding an explanation from the government.

The streets were no longer filled with passing vehicles, but procession after procession of protesters. They knew a bizarre virus was spreading, yet they still were not wearing masks!

"Reveal the truth!"

"Reveal the truth!"

Li Wei moved through the middle of the protest crowds, planning to blend in and head straight for the Infected Zone.

He had reached the Blackwatch-blockaded Infected Zone the same way yesterday. He did not need to leap across rooftops to evade helicopter inspections, and he could enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. How wonderful!

Reality was not a game. Anyone with eyes could tell that the American government had stirred up endless trouble in Manhattan. The protest groups had marched back and forth for more than ten days, yet those politicians were still muddying the waters.

Li Wei walked with a cigarette in his mouth, occasionally joining in the chants. The smile never left his face.

Wasn't it obvious now who the great scenic nation was!

Bang!

The sound of something being smashed came from ahead. Li Wei moved closer and took a look. Oh!

The Zero-Dollar Shopping Event had begun again!

Seeing another supermarket get rushed, countless citizens stuffed their phones back into their pockets and poured into the supermarket to join the event, with plenty of shoving and jostling along the way.

Li Wei was pushed around by the chaotic crowd. He greatly enjoyed this feeling of "freedom." It was truly ironic.

"Ah!"

A clear female scream rang out. Li Wei looked to his left and saw a young woman with a small backpack being shoved by the eager Zero-Dollar Shopping Event participants, about to fall.

In a crowded place like this, falling could sometimes mean getting hurt. Even more ridiculous, some protesters were riding bicycles. If someone fell and failed to react in time, it could easily trigger a chain reaction.

Li Wei reacted quickly, stepped forward twice, and reached out to brace the woman's back, pulling her to his side. "Are you okay?"

Vanessa had thought she would be shoved to the ground, but a strong arm behind her caught her and pulled her into an embrace filled with masculine scent.

The slightly low voice by her ear tugged at her heartstrings, flowing from her ear straight into her heart.

She turned around and looked at the person who had helped her.

She had expected a young gentleman, but instead found a young Asian man. She had seen many Asians, but every one of them had been skinny and frail-looking, as if a gust of wind could knock them over.

The smell of smoke entered her nose. She did not like it much, but when the smoke drifted away, she saw a face that made her heart race.

He was not impossibly handsome, but he was exactly her type.

Vanessa nodded blankly, her eyes fixed on Li Wei's face. A word came to mind for a man like him: bad man!

It fit perfectly!

Li Wei shrugged. "I'll get you out first. Did you come alone?"

With that, he led the woman, whose age he could not determine, away from the supermarket participating in the Zero-Dollar Shopping Event and toward the sidewalk.

Vanessa heard the "bad man's" question again and finally came to her senses. Her best friend was gone!

Wait...

"Yes, I came alone! My name is Vanessa. Thank you for helping me!" Vanessa instantly sold out her companion, grabbed Li Wei's arm, and followed his lead out of the protest crowd as she gave him her name.

"Li Wei. If you're okay, I'll be leaving first. You should be more careful when you're alone."

Now that he knew her name, Li Wei prepared to leave. After all, he had only given these naive people a small helping hand.

Seeing Li Wei about to leave immediately, Vanessa grew anxious and reached out to grab him. At the very least, she needed to get his contact information before he left, or this protest would have been completely pointless!

"Vanessa!"

Just as she grabbed Li Wei's hand, her best friend's voice called out from the other side.

A blonde woman wearing glasses pushed through the dense crowd and waved in their direction.

Li Wei also saw the approaching woman—and, at the same time, a drone flying closer...