The Situation

"Eat."

In the cafeteria, Chen Chong had a table full of food laid out before him, casually gesturing for the few people beside him to join in.

Pei Li looked at Chen Chong but didn't start eating, instead eyeing him up and down:

"The Black Earth Dragon couldn't kill you, and the Skull Gang couldn't finish you off either. Are you a cockroach or what?"

"What are you saying? Watch your mouth!"

Wang Li slammed the table and stood up, but after one glance from Pei Li, he slid back into his seat:

"Let's talk this out properly. Harmony brings wealth."

Peng Wei chuckled:

"His luck is indeed decent."

"Is it?"

Chen Chong remained noncommittal.

After Peng Wei and his companion returned to the parking spot, they had sensed something was wrong just as they were about to head over, so they had fled immediately. That was why they had escaped disaster with such good luck.

"It's good that you made it back successfully."

Liu Hetao laughed hoarsely.

Chen Chong polished off a meat bun in two bites, not bothering to respond.

It had been two days since he returned to the compound, and the first thing he had done upon arrival was get dragged to the infirmary.

The continuous battle against the Black Earth Dragon had still left Chen Chong with some injuries. The rest were fine, but the main issue was the acid corrosion from entering the beast's stomach twice, which had left his skin with severe chemical burns—something his Devour Form struggled to defend against.

However, as a temporary field operative not belonging to the Security Department, he had no medical allowance.

So, after learning the prices of the Grade A, B, and C treatment packages, he had decisively chosen to discharge himself.

He had spent one day applying basic burn ointment and consuming large amounts of Nutrient Paste, and by the time he met up with Wang Li and the others this morning, they couldn't tell how badly injured he had actually been.

"Have you guys heard?"

After chatting for a while, Wang Li suddenly lowered his voice:

"The day before yesterday, the General Manager led a convoy deep into the Hunting Grounds and suffered heavy, inexplicable losses. Some say he ran into the Skull Gang, others say he ran into something else..."

"It was definitely the Skull Gang. Yesterday morning, Long Zhibin went straight to the Town Committee to lodge a complaint against them."

Pei Li said.

Peng Wei frowned:

"But it's strange. A squad gets ambushed, so why would he personally lead so many people out the day before yesterday? And they assembled so quickly, too."

He rolled his eyes, looking at Chen Chong:

"Did he go specifically to rescue you?"

Chen Chong also furrowed his brows.

Although the news about the Black Earth Dragon and Xie Wushuang had lured Long Zhibin away, it was clear he hadn't known about the situation at first.

That meant he had been heading toward the site of the skirmish anyway.

Chen Chong couldn't help but think deeper.

"...At the Town Committee meeting, Long Zhibin listed out every single provocation the Skull Gang had made, both openly and covertly, especially the ambush from the day before yesterday, and demanded an explanation. It just so happened that Gu Jian didn't attend, or rather, couldn't attend, so there was absolutely no way to refute it."

"Why?"

"Word is that the two big bosses fought directly out in the Wasteland the day before yesterday. A brutal fight."

"So Long Zhibin won? Is this a showdown between the top dogs? Is Thunder Dragon going to war with the Skull Gang?"

Chen Chong listened to their gossip, nodding thoughtfully.

Perhaps Long Zhibin had been planning this for a long time.

Thinking about the unexpectedly poor configuration of Liu Xun's squad sent to the Hunting Grounds during such a critical period, and how the Skull Gang members had appeared at the exact right moment in such a vast area, Chen Chong understood a great deal in an instant.

It was just that the appearance of the Black Earth Dragon seemed to be an accident, and whether the clash between the two leaders was related to that, or if it was within Long Zhibin's calculations, remained to be seen.

That didn't matter; the final result should have been satisfactory to Long Zhibin.

Wang Li whispered:

"But rumors say the result at the Town Committee wasn't ideal. It seems the Town Mayor and the people from Magic Food were just trying to smooth things over."

"Obviously, they don't want Long Zhibin to seize too much of the Skull Gang's territory. That's not surprising."

"But what does this have to do with our thirty tubes of Nutrient Paste a month?"

Liu Hetao, who was completely lost, asked dully.

Wang Li rolled his eyes and smacked him on the head:

"Stupid! When the nest is overturned, no egg stays intact. If Thunder Dragon and the Skull Gang go into an all-out war, it's bound to affect us. Who knows, we might even get dragged in as cannon fodder, even as Warm-up Fighters!"

Liu Hetao froze for a moment:

"What does it mean that there are no good eggs under the ovary..."

"You don't even know this? It's, it's just like saying when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter!"

"I see."

"..."

Chen Chong wanted to say something but hesitated for a long time, eventually continuing to eat in silence.

One was a primary school dropout, the other a gang hoodlum; Chen Chong held no hope for their cultural level.

However, they weren't wrong. Based on recent events, Chen Chong speculated that the two factions would likely clash, which would inevitably affect them.

In the Wasteland, even a thriving major power could be wiped out overnight; in such turbulent times, many people often die.

But unlike the others' worries, Chen Chong was looking forward to it.

Only in chaos could there be opportunity.

If he had never seen hope, Chen Chong might have continued to lie low.

But after watching the chance to escape slip through his fingers, he felt he could no longer stand this cage.

"I cannot miss the next opportunity. But to seize it firmly, I must rely on my own strength."

"Although I have entered the realm, it is still not enough. If I had already reached the second or third realm, opportunities would be everywhere."

During this trip to the Hunting Grounds, although Chen Chong had successfully broken through and his strength had increased significantly, it was still far from enough after witnessing experts beyond his imagination.

However, having just broken through, if he wanted to improve again... Chen Chong thought of the vial of medicine he kept close to his body.

"Should I tell Yu Feng or Zhou Hu that I've broken through? After all, this can't be hidden forever. If I use the A-1 before seeing them, the progress might make them suspicious."

"Besides, once I sign the contract and my benefits improve, my progress will be easier and I'll have more freedom."

Chen Chong fell into deep thought.

He soon nodded slightly.

He would continue training for the next two days to stabilize his body after the breakthrough. Once he signed the contract with them, his realm would be stable enough to use the A-1 for further improvement. He was very much looking forward to the effects of this medicine.

He continued to eat.

With a plan in mind, Chen Chong listened to Wang Li and the others exchange information while he kept eating.

He felt his body was hungrier than ever before.

Deep within the Hunting Grounds, a long convoy was constantly shuttling back and forth.

At the forest of flesh and blood belonging to the Black Earth Dragon, a large group of Thunder Dragon Company members were processing and hauling the remains.

Several captains from the Security Department watched from the side, their eyes filled with shock.

"I heard one person did this? So many Earth Dragons? And they're black ones?"

"It's hard to imagine. What kind of realm must this be?"

"The General Manager even came to see it himself; I'm afraid this is a powerful outsider."

"No need to get too excited, the big brothers in the company could do it too."

"Can you do it then?"

"You talk too much."

"Who on earth is this person, causing such a massive stir in the Hunting Grounds?"

"I don't know, but the General Manager has gone to the deepest part, and I heard there's even more ahead."

They looked forward, and beyond the reach of their vision, Long Zhibin and Brother Leopard were silently staring ahead.

A mountain of black flesh and blood was piled there, enough that it would take days to move.

This would solve the Thunder Dragon Company's shortage of Earth Dragon Meat for quite some time, but Long Zhibin didn't seem happy at all.

"How could it have become this big?"

He asked in a deep voice.

Brother Leopard shook his head.

Long Zhibin scanned the scene before him, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a cold light, saying nothing.

Brother Leopard scratched his head and said:

"Big Brother, at least we drew Gu Jian out this time, which is a great thing. You really have long-term vision; if we had let the Town Committee handle the Hunting Grounds, they probably would have suppressed it, and we wouldn't have had this opportunity. It's just those bastards who keep wavering and tripping us up."

"It doesn't matter. As long as it has started, swallowing the Skull Gang is only a matter of time."

Long Zhibin shook his head:

"It's that woman from the company who appeared so suddenly; her strength is unfathomable. If I can't find her, I won't feel at ease. And..."

He looked at the mountain of flesh and blood and said slowly:

"In these Hunting Grounds, or perhaps within the company itself, there are things I am unaware of."

Brother Leopard felt a chill run down his spine at Long Zhibin's calm words, and he fell silent, terrified.

Long Zhibin was quiet for a moment, then said:

"That Chen Chong, you were the one who brought him in."

"Yes, Big Brother."

"He is the only one who survived."

Light reflected off Long Zhibin's glasses:

"When I return, I must meet him."