Chen Chong thought for a moment, then asked:
"Is Thunder Dragon in a bad spot? The bar seems to be doing pretty well."
"Not exactly bad, but not good either. Otherwise, there wouldn't be trouble at the Hunting Grounds all the time. That was supposed to be Long Zhibin's own private turf."
Pei Li explained:
"It's just that the town strictly forbids large-scale fighting, and everything has to be discussed at the Town Committee, so you can't tell what's going on from the bar. But outside town..." Magic Food and the Skull Gang have always been unhappy with Long Zhibin. Those two have been around this town for much longer."
Magic Food, the Skull Gang... Chen Chong knew about those two factions. Anyone who had spent time in No. 97 Settlement knew them.
The tasteless Nutrient Paste in the cafeteria was made by Magic Food. The company had practically monopolized the town's food production and processing industries, so it was no exaggeration to call it the biggest power in town. When Thunder Dragon ran into their people, they usually had no choice but to steer clear.
The Skull Gang, meanwhile, was a huge gang made up of the town's most unruly people. They controlled several bars, casinos, and bathhouses. The Blood Skull bar was right next to Thunder Dragon's, and it also made its money from no-holds-barred fighting.
Besides the conflict over bar business, the Skull Gang had always coveted the businesses at Thunder Dragon Park. The two were sworn enemies, so Long Zhibin never gave the Skull Gang an inch.
There were several other major powers in town, and together they made up the Town Committee, which was headed by the mayor, Zhou Hao.
No one knew where the mysterious mayor had come 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 people under him, but they were in key positions. The town's medical center and bank were both his businesses.
At first, some people had their eyes on his position. But after one person after another was strung up outside the medical center, and rumors began circulating that people from Central City came and went inside it, no one dared openly defy Zhou Hao's orders.
Zhou Hao had also brought order to the place. The medical center had far better facilities and more nutritional supplements than the Wasteland average, while his bank seemed to have connections with the banks in the city. Many of the town's big shots secretly deposited money there, preparing for the day they might fall from power and have to flee. During the years he had overseen No. 97 Settlement, more and more Wastelanders had flocked there. The rundown-looking town even claimed to have a permanent population of over a hundred thousand. That was no small number in the Wasteland.
"So things are a little chaotic out there now. If we join the team, the danger will be pretty high?"
Chen Chong picked up where Pei Li had left off.
Pei Li said:
"Depends on your luck. The first time I went, all the fighters survived. But the second time, only two of the six came back: me and another fighter. He was badly injured, and he died not long after we returned. They were all fighters with a chance of advancing. This time, judging by how big a mess things have become, I doubt it'll end peacefully."
Chen Chong asked again:
"Are the odds of being selected high? There are so many fighters, after all."
"Even if they're cannon fodder, they don't want deadweight. You'd need to be at least as strong as Zhang Yao. People like you and me probably won't get out of it."
Pei Li sized Chen Chong up and said:
"If you don't want to go, I can tell them I beat you after we get out. I'll say you're weak as hell. Maybe you'll get out of it. But it's not like we'd be working for nothing. If we manage to get Earth Dragon Meat, those who put in the work get first dibs on buying it."
"Don't we get it for free?"
"Keep dreaming. Long Zhibin uses it to keep the whole Park under his thumb. There's never enough to go around. Getting priority to buy it is already pretty good."
Pei Li sneered.
Then she added:
"But if we really manage to get Earth Dragon Meat, it'll greatly increase our chances of entering the realm. That stuff stinks, but they say it works. Getting into the realm would make life a little better here."
Chen Chong slowly nodded.
"So, what do you say? Want me to go out there and 'ruin' your reputation?"
"No need."
Chen Chong shook his head.
If he could go, he would.
Earth Dragon Meat sounded like it had plenty of benefits, but that wasn't the main point. The main point was that he could get outside—
Maybe he'd have a chance to escape?
Fighters who had spent some time at the Park were deeply addicted to Earth Dragon Soup, so the Park's guards would let their guard down a little. After all, in Thunder Dragon's history, no one had ever resisted the addictive effects of Earth Dragon Soup.
But Chen Chong was different. He was already immune. If he went out this time and ran into a clash between factions, he'd have a good chance of escaping amid the chaos!
Of course, the situation would surely be extremely dangerous. Fights outside town weren't settled with a punch here and a kick there. The Wasteland had no planes or artillery, but people had guns.
Not everyone in the Security Department had entered the realm, but all of them had received firearms training. In reality, they were Thunder Dragon's private army. The other factions had similar armed forces too; otherwise, they couldn't have held their ground in the Wasteland.
Ordinary fighters still couldn't stand up to firearms. To someone with a gun, fists and kicks were primitive weapons. The Security Department's people always called the bar fighters monkeys performing onstage. Naturally, a private army had higher status than fighters who could die at any moment—unless they were Contracted Fighters. People who had entered the realm were still valued.
And entering the realm also offered some resistance to bullets. They said that those in the higher realms could even ignore firearms.
But Chen Chong was still far from that level. If he went out this time—especially if he wanted to accomplish his goal—he'd need to prepare as much as possible.
Chen Chong wasn't sure whether he could break through without Earth Dragon Meat. He could sense some kind of bottleneck ahead, but had no idea how long it would take.
But he knew there was something that had no bottleneck and could also greatly increase his strength.
Seeing that there was nothing more to say, Pei Li prepared to leave. Before she went, though, she looked Chen Chong over and said slowly:
"The winner gets to make a request. Are you sure you don't want to do something to me?"
She gave him a sultry look. It seemed that learning Chen Chong was a virgin had piqued her interest considerably.
Fighters were full of energy, and their desires were just as strong. None of them liked being forced, but they did enjoy forcing others.
Chen Chong took in Pei Li's tall figure, her curvy body, and her incredible long legs that could make anyone's head spin. Her sweatpants had been torn to shreds during their fierce fight, leaving nearly all of her dazzlingly white, impossibly long legs exposed.
He paused, and his thoughts began to wander.
"Since you put it that way..."
A moment later, in the corridor.
With a bang, Pei Li slammed the door behind her and walked out of the room, her face dark.
Peng Wei, leaning against the corridor wall, raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't lose too, did you?"
"Do you ever shut up?"
Pei Li said coldly.
Peng Wei's face instantly twisted with shock and confusion.
"You really lost?! Then you two..."
Pei Li's expression darkened even further. She walked right past Peng Wei without even looking at him, leaving him with a curt order:
"Why do you talk so much? Get four thousand and take it to that idiot. You're paying."
Before you continue