The False Prosperity

It was Monday evening.

The mess hall was bustling.

As Luo Yan and Di Zheng walked in, the noisy mess hall immediately fell silent.

Luo Yan walked through the mess hall as if he saw nothing.

Di Zheng, on the other hand, was expressionless.

One of them was indifferent to the stares of the crowd, and the other was stern and unsmiling.

Only after the two of them sat down in a corner of the mess hall did the atmosphere begin to recover.

In another corner of the mess hall, a pair of eyes stared at Luo Yan.

It was Yang Lixie, who had tried to buy academic credit from Luo Yan at the Logistics Department last night.

"Brother Yang, isn't that Commander Di?"

Beside Yang Lixie, a young man whispered, "No wonder he dared to ignore you. So he and Commander Di are that close."

"I only heard about it before and didn't believe it. Why would Commander Di care about a surface savage?"

"I believe it now."

"Brother Yang, we should provoke that kid less."

A chubby guy with a face full of pimples across the table said, "Who is Commander Di? Your dad is the director of the Construction Bureau. Brother Yang, why should you be afraid of a surface savage?"

"Brother Yang, do you want to teach him a lesson? Just give the word, and I'll handle it for you immediately."

Yang Lixie said with disgust, "If you're going to die, go die somewhere else. Don't splash blood on me."

The chubby guy was taken aback.

Yang Lixie picked up a piece of soft braised beef with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth. "If you have nothing else to do, read more books."

"I've read at least eighty, if not a hundred, novels. In almost every one of them, the protagonist is someone from humble beginnings who defies the heavens and strikes back."

"Someone like me, with a father who's an official, who has money, and is also handsome, is definitely a 'level-up pack' or 'experience pack'."

"Sometimes, I'm even a 'resource pack' or 'equipment pack'."

"In short, I'm just there to give the protagonist money."

"Don't you guys think that kid is like he's carrying a protagonist's template?"

"He's only been in our academy for less than a month, and he's already killed Luo Beichen."

"I can't afford to provoke a ruthless person like that."

"Yesterday, I was just angry."

"Being angry is one thing, but my life is more important."

"Besides, I'm delicate and precious. I have food and drink, so why should I risk my life fighting a savage?"

"On the contrary, I need to observe him further."

The two followers whispered, "Observe what, Brother Yang?"

Yang Lixie smiled, "Observe his potential. I know my own aptitude, and I'm destined to just eat and wait for death."

"I won't be able to accomplish anything significant."

"But what if our classmate Luo has potential? I can invest in him. That way, when he becomes successful in the future, I'll have someone to rely on?"

"Isn't this a hundred times better than fighting him out of pride?"

When the two followers heard this, they immediately showered him with flattery, and Yang Lixie shamelessly accepted it.

On the other side of the mess hall.

Luo Yan spent 3 academic credits, feeling a little pained, to order a table full of dishes.

Di Zheng didn't stand on ceremony and buried his head in eating.

Seeing this, Luo Yan, not to be outdone, joined the feast.

The two of them didn't say a word, focusing entirely on eating.

After a while.

The table full of dishes was completely cleared by the two of them.

Di Zheng finally let out a sigh and said, "This is the taste. Ever since I stopped teaching at the academy, I haven't eaten so heartily."

He continued, "You killed Luo Beichen, and whether you wanted to or not, you've already been drawn into the struggle between the two major factions in the underground city."

"So there are some things I need to tell you."

"The underground city is divided into two factions based on their differing attitudes towards Giant Beasts."

"One is the Conservative Faction. Luo Tianyi is the leader of the Conservative Faction. Of course, this faction has more than one big figure; otherwise, I would have overthrown them long ago."

"The other is the radical faction, which I lead. Generally speaking, not many people support my ideology."

Luo Yan sat up straight. "What are the ideologies of the two factions?"

"The Conservative Faction is mainly composed of big businessmen like Luo Tianyi, entrepreneurs, and most of the older officials."

"They believe that since the underground city survived the three years of the 'Giant Beast Calamity,' it must be very safe here."

"They demand the disbandment of the Surface Exploration Legion and don't want us to continue exploring the surface or researching Giant Beasts, lest we attract their attention and bring disaster upon the underground city." Di Zheng explained simply.

"Their ideology also has the support of the underground city's residents."

Di Zheng said calmly, "I can understand everyone's thoughts."

"Just like in peacetime, who wants war? Everyone wants to live a stable life and protect their own families."

Luo Yan narrowed his eyes slightly. "But that's impossible."

"It's as foolish as an ostrich burying its head in the sand when it encounters danger."

Di Zheng sighed softly. "I think so too."

"Don't be fooled by the current prosperity and revelry in the underground city."

"It seems that as long as humanity hides underground, they can live in peace forever."

"But this prosperity, this peace, is only separated from the Giant Beasts by three hundred meters."

"Once a Giant Beast discovers the underground city, this city will immediately face utter destruction."

He said in a deep voice, "Therefore, I advocate for actively conducting surface exploration, regularly eliminating Giant Beasts, and recovering 'Netheredge' and Giant Beast materials for research and to enhance our combat power."

"My ultimate goal is to drive out the Giant Beasts, reclaim the surface, and take back our homeland."

"We should live under the sun, not cower in the depths like mice for a lifetime!"

Di Zheng's resonant words stirred Luo Yan's heart.

But he said nothing.

He showed no reaction.

After dinner, Di Zheng had to leave.

Luo Yan saw him off to the academy entrance and then said, "Commander Di, I'd like to inquire about something."

Di Zheng turned back. "Go ahead."

"Do you know the current situation in 'Baoding City'?" Luo Yan asked nervously.

Di Zheng glanced at him. "Do you have family there?"

Luo Yan nodded.

Di Zheng said, "I'll ask around and tell you next time."

With that, he left.

Luo Yan took a deep breath.

He then returned to his dormitory to shower and cultivate.

The next day.

During a break between classes, the school broadcast suddenly came on: "First-year student Luo Yan and student Zeng Shan, please come to the principal's office."

The broadcast repeated three times.

Luo Yan was a bit bewildered.

Zeng Shan was even more confused, not knowing why he was also being called.

After exchanging a look, the two of them left their seats and headed for the principal's office.

A moment later.

In the second-year classroom.

Yang Lixie was bothering a girl.

"Ruohan, what do you think of this latest model of privately customized Mecha?"

"I think it suits you perfectly in every aspect."

The girl was tall and slender. She stood by the window, looking bored. The sunlight made her appear even more graceful and elegant.

Without even looking at Yang Lixie, she said, "Do you know how expensive a privately customized Mecha is?"

"Even my dad's company has to hold meetings to discuss when purchasing Mechas."

"You say it so casually."

Yang Lixie said with a smile, "As long as Ruohan likes it, let alone one Mecha, I can even pluck the moon from the sky for you."

At this moment, footsteps approached, and Yang Lixie's two followers jogged over.

The fat one, covered in acne, shouted, "Boss, Brother Yang, come here for a second."