How Do We Play If This Boss Isn't Nerfed?-Chapter 51 - 50: Good Friend

The sound of their conversation grew fainter and fainter.

The two figures in special hazmat suits quickly disappeared around the corner of another building.

It wasn’t until he was certain they were completely gone that Lin Ye slowly eased his taut nerves.

Yet, a chill climbed up his spine, making him shudder.

’There are other people in this abandoned city I’ve been using as my personal leveling ground!’

Lin Ye was incredibly thankful for his caution.

He was glad he had always made it a rule to lie low in the abandoned city, never revealing his presence. Even when grinding monsters for EXP, he was the hit-and-run type.

Perhaps that was the only reason he hadn’t run into this mysterious group head-on.

Lin Ye’s mind raced, deconstructing and analyzing the short conversation he had just overheard, extracting the most critical information.

Their conversation contained a few key phrases.

"Took the long way around," "contamination zone," "escaped."

’Why take the long way around?’

’This clearly shows they have some purpose, or perhaps a mission, to patrol or investigate this area.’

’Based on the rest of their conversation, I can confirm that their target, just like mine, is the mutated beasts in the abandoned city.’

The term "contamination zone" immediately made him think of the legends that the city was abandoned due to an explosion at a chemical plant.

’But what kind of chemical contamination could last for a hundred years and cause such drastic mutations in the local wildlife?’

’Or maybe the so-called "contamination" isn’t a chemical substance at all, but something far more mysterious and dangerous.’

The phrase "escaped" all but confirmed his previous suspicion.

’This group is likely trying to contain the mutated beasts’ range of activity. Or, to put it another way, deeper in the abandoned city, there’s a place where a large number of mutated beasts are being held captive!’

Finally, there was what they were wearing.

’Why wear heavy protective suits?’

’Is it because of the "contamination" they mentioned?’

Lin Ye could smell the scent of rust and another indescribable odor lingering in the air of the abandoned city.

But he had confirmed that the smell was only pungent.

It wasn’t harmful to his body.

Otherwise, there’s no way he could have been leveling up here for so long, perfectly fine.

In a matter of moments, Lin Ye had considered many possibilities.

The final question was the identity of these two people.

Were they official personnel from the Dongjiang City Government, or from some other mysterious organization?

Lin Ye couldn’t tell.

Either way, it wasn’t good news for him.

’If I’m exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable.’

Mutated beasts were already scarce in the abandoned city during the day. Now there was an added, unknown risk. This was no place to linger.

After confirming it was safe, Lin Ye left without a sound.

...

「Dongjiang First Middle School, Cafeteria.」

Lin Ye carried a tray piled high like a small mountain, found a corner seat, and began to wolf it down.

The daily task of consuming twenty thousand calories was something Lin Ye could currently only barely complete by freeloading off the school cafeteria.

Otherwise, with his family’s current financial situation, he’d probably eat them out of house and home.

"Ah Ye!"

A familiar voice called out.

Lin Ye looked up and saw Li Jun approaching with a tray of his own.

His tray was also piled high with a mountain of food.

But Lin Ye knew Li Jun’s appetite wasn’t nearly as big as his.

Li Jun had gotten it for him.

Li Jun plopped down across from Lin Ye with a carefree grin on his face, but his first action after sitting down made Lin Ye pause his chewing.

He furtively pulled a black bank card from his pocket and, making sure no one was watching, shoved it under Lin Ye’s tray.

"The PIN is 147258."

Li Jun said quickly, his voice low.

Lin Ye looked at him without a word.

Li Jun felt a little unnerved by his stare, scratched his head, and explained, "I... I heard from my dad. About Mr. Lin."

Lin Ye and Li Jun were childhood friends who grew up in the same alley.

Their families had once been neighbors, living across the hall from each other, and were very close.

Later, due to restructuring at his work unit, Li Jun’s father was promoted. Their family’s life got better and better, and they moved to a high-end residential complex in the city.

Even though they moved, the two of them never lost touch.

"I swiped one of my dad’s spare bank cards."

Li Jun’s voice dropped even lower, as if he were involved in some shady business.

"Mr. Lin’s surgery is definitely going to cost a lot of money. You take this and use it for now."

"Later... you can pay me back or not, whatever."

At the end, he probably felt that didn’t sound right and added, "Of course, it’d be best if you could pay me back. Otherwise, my old man will break my legs."

Seeing his friend’s mix of righteous loyalty and guilty conscience, Lin Ye felt a wave of warmth wash over him.

Lin Ye laughed and teased, "Does your dad know what a dutiful son he has?"

Li Jun gave a goofy grin, showing his white teeth. "What are old folks for if not to be farmed for gold coins!"

"Besides, this card isn’t even in his name. Who knows which person trying to ask him for a favor slipped it to him. Even if it goes missing, he might not even notice."

After laughing, however, the expression on Li Jun’s face gradually faded. He looked at Lin Ye, his eyes filled with a complicated emotion.

"Ah Ye."

"Lately... you’ve changed a lot."

"So much that you almost feel like a stranger to me."

His voice held a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of distance and probing.

"We’re... still best friends, right?"

Those words were like a needle, gently pricking Lin Ye’s heart.

He finally realized that in his recent frenzy to level up and become stronger, he had inadvertently neglected many things.

Like his friendship.

Lin Ye put down his chopsticks, swallowed the food in his mouth, and looked seriously into Li Jun’s eyes.

"I used to think that even though we live in an incredible era, we were born with average talent and humble beginnings. I thought it would be great to just get into a good college, find a decent job, and live out our lives in peace."

"But some things have happened recently that have shown me another side of this world."

"I’ve discovered that if you’re not strong enough, you don’t even have the right to protect your own family."

Lin Ye’s voice was calm, yet it carried an unprecedented firmness.

"But, Li Jun, remember this."

"No matter what I become, no matter where I end up."

"You will always be my best friend."

Li Jun stared blankly at Lin Ye.

In Lin Ye’s deep eyes, he saw exhaustion, pressure, and the towering waves hidden beneath the calm surface.

But more than that, he saw sincerity.

The sincerity between them that had never changed.

For some reason, the rims of Li Jun’s eyes turned red.

He sniffled hard, as if to hide something, and then reverted to his usual devil-may-care attitude, punching Lin Ye on the shoulder.

"Damn! Cut the sentimental crap!"

"You’re giving me goosebumps!"

He grumbled and cursed, but the corners of his mouth turned up uncontrollably.

Lin Ye laughed too and pushed the bank card under the tray back to him.

"The money... I can’t take it."

"Why not?" Li Jun grew anxious.

"Why are you being so polite with me? You don’t see me as a brother?"

"It’s precisely because I see you as a brother that I can’t take it."

Lin Ye’s gaze was calm and sharp.

"My dad was injured in the line of duty, so the military is covering all his medical expenses. We’re not short on money for now."

"If one day I’m really at the end of my rope and have no other choice..."

Lin Ye paused, then grinned, revealing his white teeth.

"My good son, Dad will come ask you for a loan then."

"Screw you!"

Li Jun laughed and cursed, throwing another punch.

As they joked and roughhoused, it felt as if they were back in the old days.