The Biggest Joke

Is the "Outsider" community really that complicated?

Xiao Xiao wasn't unaware of the smugness those people displayed when talking to Yang Jia... or rather, perhaps they were trying to hide it, but an observer could see the gloating beneath their politeness. He was indeed somewhat angry that Yang Jia was being bullied, but the thought of arm wrestling with them made him feel that the joke had gone too far.

Firstly, although he solved the core problem of the Rotten Kingdom himself, he was not yet a mid-level contract holder.

To obtain an intermediate contract, at least two conditions must be met:

First, he led the resolution of a Class B incident; second, he completed the third phase of enhancement.

It was only by chance that I met the first condition, and the second condition was even further away.

Besides, even if I did achieve that, how would I compete with these people?

Those guys are all big shots from Black Gate City...

According to the custom among strangers to assess each other's abilities, those scoring below 100 points can only be considered beginners or novices.

Those scoring between 100 and 1000 are veterans.

Those who score between 1,000 and 10,000 are at their level, recognized as strong individuals, influential figures who can hold sway over a region.

And now, it seems I'm doing quite well in Black Gate City; people even offer me their seats in public...

... But Xiao Xiao knew it was fake.

The only truly reliable thing is one's own enhancement points, which, at most, amount to only around a thousand points, at the veteran level.

While there are indeed a few special items that can be helpful and give you an advantage when dealing with others.

But compared to those big names?

That was somewhat of a joke.

We have special items, so why don't others have them?

They actually obtain special items directly from the city using high-value points, which are much more powerful, okay?

Moreover, the fact that they were able to obtain intermediate Knight Pact with the city means that they were all individuals who had previously led the resolution of Class B crisis incidents, and that they mostly relied on their own strength to solve problems of the same level as the Rotten Kingdom...

What did I rely on?

That handsome face and that warm embrace?

It's a bit weak.

Xiao Xiao was not unaware that the other strangers in the city seemed to have a certain kind of awe towards him.

Sometimes I do enjoy that kind of attention, but can I really take it seriously?

Without exaggeration, I can only be considered a big slacker. Do I really have to compete with these ruthless people who have climbed up step by step?

Looking at Xiao Xiao's incredulous expression, Yang Jia said softly, "I know you're under a lot of pressure, but we have no other choice right now. The Hell Organization has too much influence on Black Gate City. If we let them get the intermediate contract, I'm not sure what Black Gate City will become... The so-called inheritance of the Old Chairman's will and the reorganization of the Black Gate City Strangers Organization are just empty words."

"At that time, the most likely outcome will be that I will be expelled from Black Gate City, while you, Ruan Ruan, and Little Four..."

"And we will have no choice but to follow them..."

"..."

As she spoke, her face already showing worry, she said in a low voice, "If it were you who were to inherit the Old Chairman's contract..."

He paused slightly at this point.

It seems she was also asking herself: Is this old classmate someone I know well and am sure I can trust?

Xiao Xiao didn't let her finish speaking, but shook his head and said:

"I understand what you mean, and it's not that I want to refuse, but I'm afraid... even if I agree, I'm no match for them."

"..."

He said it quite frankly.

To be honest, everyone likes to show off, especially in front of a pretty girl like Yang Jia.

As a man, Xiao Xiao felt an urge to agree without hesitation.

Fortunately, he has the ability to Mind Burst, which prevents him from paying the price for his impulsiveness.

One should have a sense of propriety...

Although I was also interested in the thing in the Old Chairman's safe that was said to point to the mysterious end.

I also want to understand the truth of this world.

But shouldn't all of this be predicated on being alive?

Upon hearing this, Yang Jia was slightly taken aback and looked at Xiao Xiao's composed face with some surprise.

Admitting your weakness isn't always shameful, especially in front of someone like Yang Jia.

She didn't say anything more, but simply nodded slightly and said:

How many points do you have now?

Xiao Xiao paused for a moment, then said, "It's less than four thousand, and only one thousand was actually used for myself."

"One thousand..."

Yang Jia looked over and asked, "Including everything, how much exactly?"

Xiao Xiao: "... Three thousand nine."

... At this moment, I was a little worried, afraid that Yang Jia would suggest lending me the points I didn't have.

To be honest, even if Yang Jia were willing to lend him the money, Xiao Xiao didn't think he would have the confidence to challenge those people.

"More than three thousand nine hundred points..."

Yang Jia also seemed somewhat surprised by this number.

But then she thought about it again, and realized that she actually knew the origin of these points; Xiao Xiao had always been very honest about it.

She seemed to be pondering something as well, and after a while, she looked up at Xiao Xiao and said:

"Then you are only about two thousand points away from the third stage of enhancement, which is not much."

"Logically, I can lend it to you, and Ruan Ruan and Little Four should even have extra points to lend to you to help you complete the enhancement."

"..."

Xiao Xiao pursed his lips, making it clear that he was not willing to be a kept man.

But to his surprise, Yang Jia suddenly changed the subject and said, "But this is not a good thing."

Xiao Xiao was slightly taken aback. "Hmm?"

"You've grown too fast, and you've earned points too easily."

Yang Jia pondered for a moment, then looked up at Xiao Xiao with a serious expression and said:

"I don't know if you have any other secrets, but at least on the surface, your growth has been almost leapfrog. Other outsiders, and even myself, all started by strengthening ourselves step by step, from struggling for those few dozen points of Enhancement Element at the beginning, to gradually accumulating enough for the second stage of strengthening, and then the third stage of strengthening..."

"Every step was difficult, requiring us to deal with countless Aberrant Creature and other competing outsiders."

"But now, the distorted system and environment of Black Gate City have rapidly shaped your growth."

"But at least in my opinion, this is not a good thing."

"..."

She paused at this point, seemingly having thought of many things on her mind.

But soon, she put those thoughts aside. Even though Xiao Xiao had been behaving strangely in some ways, Yang Jia wasn't sure what use her words would be. But at least he was acting like a newcomer in front of her, so she could only fulfill the responsibility of a guide, treating him as a newcomer and passing on her experience to him.

Having understood all this, she continued to speak to Xiao Xiao, "Among the foreigners living in various cities, as well as the Dante Organization and even the Hell Organization, there are many powerful individuals. They possess terrifying strength and awe-inspiring reputations..."

"However, none of these people became powerful purely through accumulating points."

"Especially for the Insightful Path, which is most prone to madness..."

"..."

"This..."

Xiao Xiao didn't expect Yang Jia to say these things, but he could feel her sincerity from her expression.

She felt a little strange. "Doesn't what she said just confirm that my worries were correct?"

I am not lacking in courage to take on the challenge, but courage is not recklessness. I am not like a reckless person like Yang Jia. If I rashly agree to something without any certainty and end up failing, the result will be even harder to accept.

"So..."

Yang Jia was also thinking silently when she suddenly said, "I think it's necessary to give you some intensive training."

"?"

This sudden reversal startled Xiao Xiao: "Training?"

"Right."

Yang Jia said softly, "Just like they did to me when I first joined Dante Organization."

"..."

"..."

Why did Yang Jia agree so easily?

When Yang Jia left the Red Eyes Club with Xiao Xiao, Ruan Ruan, and Little Four, the others did not disperse. Instead, their faces turned serious as they frowned and discussed the matter. They were worried that Yang Jia's presence might anger her and cause unnecessary conflict. They hoped everything would go smoothly, but since Yang Jia had agreed, they felt uncertain.

"Lord Pact can only be born from Knight Pact. This is a principle set by the City Will. What other way can she do?"

"We can't just accept our fate, can we?"

"..."

Amidst a chorus of whispered speculation, Red Eyes Ling Ping suddenly spoke up, "I think we'd better not be so arrogant. Yang Jia is not a girl we can underestimate. She has indeed found herself in a passive position this time, but that has nothing to do with us. In fact, since she returned to Black Gate City, we've been forced to hide in a corner and play dead, haven't we? As for this sudden opportunity..."

"No one will underestimate her..."

In the silence, the elder of the Serpent Sisters chuckled softly, "But as it turns out, aside from her terrifying strength, she's just a simple little girl, isn't she? Most importantly, Mister Ye isn't going to help her anymore..."

Ling Ping said in a deep voice, "They might not even help us."

His nervousness affected the others, making them somewhat irritable.

Old Zhou Under the Bridge suddenly said, "She really can't get the intermediate Knight Pact, but there are still others, aren't there?"

"Once the matter of the Rotten Kingdom is resolved, an opportunity to upgrade the contract will inevitably arise..."

"..."

This unexpected remark caused the atmosphere in the room to quiet down slightly.

Naturally, the image of the man holding the little girl amidst the pile of messy, broken corpses also flashed through everyone's minds.

Then...

... The younger sister in the Serpent Sisters suddenly chuckled.

Then, Red Eyes Ling Ping, Sister Big Snake, and even Old Zhou Under the Bridge showed a self-deprecating smile.

I was definitely too nervous.

"The assistant that Yang Jia secretly trained is indeed quite capable."

"At least when we dealt with the problem of the Rotten Kingdom last time, we didn't see through his true abilities."

"However, even after completing that Class B mission and adding a Class A collectible to the city, he didn't immediately advance to the intermediate Knight Pact. This can only mean that he hasn't even completed the third-tier enhancement."

"..."

Red Eyes Ling Ping, spoke slowly, letting out a soft sigh as he recalled seeing him at the Red Eyes Club.

"That was definitely a crazy guy."

"Unfortunately, no matter how crazy a guy is, if his strength can't keep up, that's his biggest weakness."

"He does have a certain intimidating presence in the eyes of his subordinates, but it would be a joke for us to be afraid of him."

"And if Yang Jia, in a moment of panic, tries to get him to compete for the Old Chairman's contract..."

"... that would be an even bigger joke."