The Road to Hometown

[A region where Aberrant Creature congregate— the Rotten Kingdom]

[Danger Level: Class B]

[Cleanup Execution Time: 8 PM]

[Executors: Yang Jia, Ruan Ruan, Little Four, Xiao Xiao]

[Data: As the wounds spread, the area has evolved from an Aberrant Creature born by chance into a rotten kingdom filled with mutations and distortions. The city can hear their ceaseless cries and struggles day and night. The Fallen, the Twisted, the Tyrant, and the Nightmare Creatures have gathered there, greedily waiting for the opportunity to corrupt the city.]

[Task Reward: 6000 points]

[Note: Black Gate City has been waiting for someone who can solve this problem, just as the Old Chairman has been waiting for his successor.]

May you have plenty of luck.

[...]

About half an hour after Xiao Xiao returned to the bar, he received this message in his email.

At this moment, he was sitting silently in the boss's chair, experiencing the violent sensation brought to him by the intermediate-level Violence Factor preparation.

After returning to the bar, Xiao Xiao chased away the big boss who insisted on staying there until dawn. Then, he went back to his office alone and, while the iron was hot, immediately operated on the office computer to purchase the intermediate-level Violence Factor preparation used to enhance his strength, as planned, and successfully obtained it... which was actually brought to him on a tray by the waiter.

Ever since I witnessed that bizarre and absurd truth on the edge of the city, the city seems to be getting less and less pretentious.

They directly mistook the unsuspecting waiter for a messenger in front of them.

Xiao Xiao did not hesitate and used the medicine directly.

This intermediate-level Enhancement Element of Violence Factor still resembles the gene enhancement potion produced by the Black Forest Biological Laboratory in appearance, but it has changed from low-level to intermediate-level. After use, the feeling it brings to the body is similar to that of the primary potion.

However, the effect was even more obvious.

Xiao Xiao carefully felt the Enhancement Element transforming his body. He vaguely felt that a violent power had been added to his body. It was as if he could continuously accumulate his strength as long as he clenched his fist. His arms were becoming thicker and stronger, with twisted blood vessels like earthworms and bulging muscles that seemed capable of destroying everything.

But at the same time, the violent power brings with it a hidden urge to pick a fight with someone.

Xiao Xiao almost took the elevator down to the first floor to beat up the customer.

However, he held back. "We're here to keep order; we have to have the professional ethics of a bouncer. We can't just beat up customers..."

Just when his feeling of having too much energy to vent reached its peak, he received that email.

It was still a task notification sent by "Mister Ye," and it looked quite ordinary.

The execution plan for this mission was also attached at the end, and it was so detailed that even someone like me who didn't go to college could understand it.

"Are we finally going to start solving this problem?"

After reading the email many times, Xiao Xiao felt a strange sensation.

This is not just the first Class B aberration event I'm about to face. The most crucial thing is that this event has too many factors involved: Yang Jia's desire to return to Black Gate City and rebuild the Strangers organization, the Old Chairman's contract that is waiting for someone to inherit it, the safe that can only be found by inheriting this contract, and the legendary forbidden item inside the safe.

Even the Hell Organization that once massacred the outsiders of Black Gate City because of this item...

There are far too many.

There were so many that it felt like the Old Chairman had left behind not a safe, but a Pandora's box.

But do I need to struggle with this?

Xiao Xiao quickly put these pointless emotions behind him.

Perhaps resolving the current Rotten Kingdom incident is the key to officially entering this world?

And I am ready.

It was also because of this complex emotion that Xiao Xiao, who had never replied to Mister Ye's emails before, suddenly felt a slight stirring in his heart and typed out a few words in reply:

"Roger that! I'm all set!"

"..."

Holding his phone, he held his breath for a few seconds before suddenly seeing a new email arrive:

[Ye: I believe in you, just as I've always believed in the existence of our homeland.]

Xiao Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and he replied again, "Do you really believe you can go back?"

[Ye: As long as we are willing to believe, our hometown will always be there.]

[...]

"That sounds a bit odd."

Xiao Xiao looked at his reply and pondered it silently for a while.

Is this considered an answer or not?

However, after thinking for a moment, I felt it was not a good time to ask. Even Yang Jia seemed a little guilty when she talked about this issue. She kept emphasizing that she believed, but that just showed that she didn't have any evidence. Otherwise, wouldn't it have been better to just hand over the evidence to me, like taking me to the edge of the city to see those twisted flesh and blood?

Perhaps this Mister Ye is just like her...

After all, they were all senior figures among the outsiders, and they cared about saving face, so they gave vague answers when faced with difficult questions...

Those who know, know!

He didn't dwell on the question any further; he simply threw the used gene serum into the trash can and then shut down the computer.

It's time to make some preparations.

If the cleanup starts at 8 PM tomorrow, there are only 20 hours left.

It wasn't quite time to leave work yet, but Xiao Xiao didn't linger there. Instead, he went downstairs, took a taxi, and returned to his empty home. He forced himself to forget the pressure of facing Class B dangerous incident the next day, slept soundly, and then got up early the next morning. As usual, he went to buy groceries, cooked a meal, delivered it to his mother who was in the hospital, and chatted with her for a while.

Then he went home again, bought a few extra-thick, meaty hams, and went to his neighbor's yard.

The three Pain Hound, who had just gnawed on big bones at noon, immediately jumped up and climbed over the railing as soon as they saw Xiao Xiao coming over.

Saliva uncontrollably dripped down the corners of my mouth.

However, there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes; she didn't know if Xiao Xiao intended to give it to her or if he wanted her to eat it herself.

"For you guys..."

Xiao Xiao stood in front of the railing, sighed softly, tore open the sausage casing, and gave one to each of them.

Even Erha have them!!

The black ghost and the yellow count became excited upon seeing this, wagging their tails like fans and happily biting into them.

The way she looked at Xiao Xiao was incredibly gentle.

If I had to sum it up in two words, I could only say:

Happiness.

Erha glanced at the intestines in front of him, then tilted his head to look at Xiao Xiao, who was standing in front of the railing with his hands tucked in his pockets.

His eyes were suspicious, and he didn't rush to eat, as if he were pondering: [What's wrong? Has this kid changed his ways today?]

Those wary and wise eyes almost made Xiao Xiao take the intestines back.

But thinking about the big job we had to do that night, he suppressed his temper, took a deep breath, patted each of the three dogs' heads, and said softly, "Eat up, this is a heads-up. We have some big work to do tonight, which may be dangerous, but it's something we can't avoid anyway... And don't worry, after we finish this job, I'll buy you sausages."

The ghost and the count immediately raised their heads high, their fighting spirit soaring, and even their eyes seemed to be turning dark red.

Their loyalty and fighting spirit were truly moving.

The Erha tilted its head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly picked up the sausage with a clear conscience and ran off to enjoy it.

Xiao Xiao's emotions were almost interrupted, "Speaking of which, can we return this dog or not?"

He simply waved his hand, ignoring them, and turned to look at the window on the second floor opposite, where white curtains were hanging.

Just as his gaze fell upon it, a gust of wind lifted the white curtains. Xiao Xiao vaguely saw what appeared to be a slender shadow flashing behind the curtains. At the same time, soft and gentle music drifted down from the second floor, like a gentle hand.

"You..."

Xiao Xiao wanted to say something, but suddenly realized he didn't know how to say it.

"You can actually talk, right? I heard it yesterday..."

"..."

Silence, only the soft, melodious tune, scattered throughout the quiet alley.

"I really heard you, I clearly heard what you said to me yesterday, so stop pretending now..."

Xiao Xiao was not giving up and asked again.

But there was no answer, only the gentle melody.

This left Xiao Xiao somewhat helpless.

Yesterday, we successfully upgraded this Old Gramophone, and we can clearly feel the improvement in its capabilities.

But right now, isn't the most important thing to analyze her abilities?

However, she Mingming remembered that the record player spoke to her when it was successfully enhanced, but no matter how she asked afterward, it wouldn't say anything. Moreover, unlike the three dogs, she could at least get the Erha to bite her while she slowly analyzed the situation.

But I could always hear the melody on the record player, yet I felt nothing.

Communication fails, analysis fails...

So, at this rally, Xiao Xiao hesitated for a long time before finally saying:

"Anyway, you definitely learned more than just how to tell dirty jokes, right?"

"..."

The music from the Enchanting Record Player suddenly became somewhat chaotic, and it seemed to faintly include a soft "humph!"

Why are you acting all high and mighty?

And I think I did hear her speak again just now?

Xiao Xiao felt quite helpless at the moment, and could only whisper his instructions:

"No matter what, don't forget that I'm the one who used my points to help you improve..."

"..."

That's about it. Anyway, all I can rely on now is my Insight ability and my Intermediate Violence Factor ability.

Two and a half Pain Hound, and a haughty, Enchanting Record Player...

...Bar?

On the street ignored by Xiao Xiao, inside the butcher shop, the Butcher had chosen to take a break today had inexplicably become restless.

A deep longing stirred within him, and several times he reached out to pick up the dusty chainsaw that had been tossed among the clutter. But each time he reached out, he withdrew his hand, unsure of where to go, and could only pace anxiously in circles around the room.

I had a vague feeling that there was something I needed to do.

But they never received that call or hint that seemed destined to appear.

Urgent, really urgent...