Chaos and Opportunity

Chen Chong pondered for a moment and asked, "Is the situation at Thunder Dragon Park not good? The bar business seems quite decent to me."

"It's not exactly bad, but it's not good either, otherwise the hunting grounds wouldn't keep having incidents. That was originally Long Zhibin's private territory."

Pei Li explained, "It's just that the town strictly forbids large-scale conflicts; everything must be discussed at the Town Committee, so you can't see much from the bar's side. But once you get outside the town... Magic Food and the Skull Gang have always been dissatisfied with Long Zhibin. Their history in this town goes back much further."

Magic Food, the Skull Gang... Chen Chong knew these two factions; anyone who had spent time in Settlement 97 knew them.

The bland Nutrient Paste in the cafeteria was produced by Magic Food. This company practically monopolized the town's food production and processing industry; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call them the largest power in town. When people from Thunder Dragon ran into them, they usually had to give way.

The Skull Gang was a large organization composed of the most restless people in town, controlling several bars, casinos, and bathhouses. The "Blood Skull" bar was right next to Thunder Dragon, also featuring no-holds-barred fighting as its main attraction.

Beyond the conflict over bar business, the Skull Gang had always coveted the operations of Thunder Dragon Park. The two were bitter rivals, which was why Long Zhibin never gave an inch to the Skull Gang.

There were several other major powers in town that jointly formed the Town Committee, which was presided over by the mayor, Zhou Hao.

No one knew where this mysterious mayor came from, but ever since he arrived a few years ago and killed the previous mayor, he had been the one calling the shots.

He didn't have many men under him, but they were crucial; the town's medical center and bank were both his properties.

At first, some people had designs on his position, but after those people were hung at the entrance of the medical center one by one—especially after rumors spread that people from Central City were frequenting the medical center—no one dared to openly defy Zhou Hao's orders.

Zhou Hao had actually brought order to the place. The medical center had medical conditions and sufficient medical supplies far exceeding the average level of the Wasteland, and his bank seemed to be able to exchange resources with banks in the city. Many big shots in town secretly deposited money in the bank to prepare for the day they might fall and have to run. In the few years he had managed Settlement 97, it had attracted more and more Wasteland residents; the seemingly dilapidated town even claimed its permanent population had exceeded one hundred thousand. That was not a small number for the entire Wasteland.

"So, it's a bit chaotic outside now, and if I join the team, the danger level will be very high?" Chen Chong asked, following up on Pei Li's words.

Pei Li said, "It depends on your luck. The first time I went, several fighters survived. But the second time, only I and one other person returned, and the other was severely injured and died shortly after coming back. They were all fighters with the potential to advance. I don't think this matter will end easily this time."

Chen Chong asked again, "Is the probability of being selected high? After all, there are so many fighters."

"Although they are cannon fodder, they don't want dead weight either. At the very least, you need to have the strength of Zhang Yao. People like you and me probably can't escape it."

Pei Li looked Chen Chong up and down and said, "If you don't want to go, I'll say I won when we get out, and that you're too weak. Maybe you can get away with it. However, it's not like you're working for nothing. If we successfully obtain Earth Dragon Meat, those who contributed can buy it first."

"It's not free?"

"What are you thinking? Long Zhibin relies on this to control the entire park. There's never enough to go around; being able to apply for priority purchase is already good enough." Pei Li sneered.

She then added, "But if you can really get your hands on Earth Dragon Meat, the probability of entering a new realm will increase significantly. This damn thing might be stinky, but its effects are the real deal. Once you truly enter a realm, life here is at least a bit better."

Chen Chong nodded slowly.

"So, do you want me to go out and 'ruin' your reputation?"

"No need." Chen Chong shook his head.

If he could go, he naturally would.

Earth Dragon Meat sounded like it had many benefits, but that wasn't the key. The key was being able to get out—perhaps, there would be a chance to escape?

Fighters who stayed in the park for a period of time were deeply addicted to Earth Dragon Soup, and the park's guards would be lax, as no one in Thunder Dragon's history had ever been able to resist the addictive nature of the soup.

But Chen Chong was different; he had long been immune. If he went out this time and encountered a clash between factions, he would have a great chance to escape in the chaos!

It was just that such a situation would undoubtedly be extremely dangerous. Fights outside the town didn't end with a punch or a kick; the Wasteland didn't have planes or cannons, but they had guns.

Not everyone in the Security Department had entered a realm, but they had all been trained with firearms; they were effectively Thunder Dragon's private army. Other factions had similar armed forces, otherwise, they couldn't have established themselves in the Wasteland.

Ordinary fighters still couldn't contend with firearms. In the eyes of those holding guns, physical strength was too primitive. The Security Department often called the bar fighters "monkeys performing on stage." The status of the private army was naturally higher than that of fighters who could die at any moment—unless they were signed fighters; those with a realm would still be valued.

And having a realm provided a certain degree of defense against bullets. It was said that those at a high realm could even ignore firearms.

But Chen Chong was still too far from that stage. If he went out this time—especially if he wanted to achieve his goal—he had to be as prepared as possible.

Chen Chong wasn't sure if he could break through without Earth Dragon Meat. He could feel a bottleneck ahead, but he didn't know how long it would take.

However, he knew there was something that had no bottleneck and could significantly increase his strength.

Pei Li saw there was nothing left to say and prepared to leave. But before she left, she looked at Chen Chong and said slowly, "The winner has the right to make demands. Are you sure you don't want to do something to me?"

She cast an ambiguous look, as if Chen Chong's exposure as a novice had piqued her great interest.

Fighters, being high-energy individuals, also had high desires. It was just that no one liked being forced, yet they loved forcing others.

Chen Chong looked at Pei Li's tall stature, her curvaceous figure, and her captivating, top-tier long legs—her sweatpants had long since been torn to shreds in the intense struggle, and a pair of dazzlingly white, astonishingly long, beautiful legs were almost entirely exposed.

He paused, his thoughts slowly becoming active.

"Since you put it that way..."

A moment later, in the hallway.

With a loud bang, Pei Li slammed the door shut and stormed out of the room with a dark expression.

Leaning against the hallway wall, Peng Wei raised an eyebrow:

"Don't tell me you lost too?"

"You talk too much."

Pei Li said coldly.

Peng Wei's expression instantly shifted into a mix of shock and conflict:

"You really lost?! Then you guys..."

Pei Li's face darkened further. She walked straight past Peng Wei without even glancing at him, leaving behind only a cold command:

"Why do you talk so much? Take four thousand and send it to that idiot. You're paying."