Hmm?

Ji You was overjoyed inside, but not a trace of excitement showed on her face. She obstinately kept walking, heading out of the base.

Li Yun and Bai Hui followed behind her. Even though they wanted to stop, since Ji You hadn’t spoken, the two of them couldn’t just go against her wishes, so they silently trailed after her without saying anything else.

"Wait."

Hearing that, Ji You’s whole body stiffened, but the step she took forward became even more firm and powerful.

The boy spoke again, "Ji You, please stay."

When Ji You heard him, she couldn’t help letting out a sigh. She turned around to look at the boy and the students behind him, a bit helpless as she said, "Classmate, I appreciate your kindness, but I don’t want to put you in a difficult position."

The boy couldn’t help but laugh. "Ji You, it’s not that it puts me in a difficult position. It’s just that we don’t have many of what you’re asking for in the armory, so I have to think it over before I can decide on my own to agree."

The main thing was that at the moment, the armory’s stock was relatively low, and without higher-up approval, the boy couldn’t arbitrarily make the decision on his own.

But the current situation was very special, and the higher-ups hadn’t shown up at all. The one with the highest authority in the entire military base was basically just him, so he had to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Exchange?

Or not?

That was the question.

Ji You had a very sincere heart, and the courage to fight hard. If she really managed to persuade everyone to work together, that would be a key point in helping the 6th battalion secure victory.

If someone like that had to be held back by limited weapons and always be stuck beneath others, unable to develop, then—

To her, that would be far too unfair.

Thinking it over, the boy glanced at the teammates behind him. Seeing that none of their expressions showed any opposition, he gritted his teeth and said, "I can swap you a ranged weapon."

Ji You’s eyes lit up sharply. In that instant, it was like countless stars leaped into her eyes, starlight glittering... That kind of happiness and joy was laid out so straightforwardly in front of the boy and the six teammates behind him...

—Ji You is really simple, huh.

—Happy and joyful, without the slightest attempt to hide it.

—She’s so pure, with such a childlike heart, it really moves people.

...

Ji You turned back around, as if she couldn’t quite believe her ears. She carefully took a step toward the boy but didn’t dare speak directly. Instead, she just stared wide-eyed, gazing straight at him.

The boy said, "I can decide on my own to swap you a weapon."

Ji You pressed a hand to her chest. "R-really... really?"

The boy nodded firmly. "Yes."

Ji You jumped up in delight. "Thank you! Thank you so much! With a new weapon, I’ll definitely be able to kill more enemies!"

Affected by that wave of happiness, the boy couldn’t help but smile as well. "Mm, you’ll definitely be able to take down more enemies."

The next second.

The boy asked, "Ji You, what kind of ranged weapon do you want to swap for?"

Ji You’s heart gave a little tremor, and she asked, "What do you have here?"

The boy didn’t notice what was going on in Ji You’s mind. Her expression and tone were just too normal; there was nothing at all to arouse suspicion. He only instinctively stuck to professional boundaries and didn’t just rattle off a list of weapons. "Tell me what your requirements are, and I’ll see if we have it."

Ji You felt a bit disappointed, but didn’t show it. "Do you have guns? Preferably a heavy Energy Gun with long range and high firepower."

The boy shook his head as soon as he heard that. "Sorry, we don’t have that type you’re looking for."

Ji You quickly asked, "Then it doesn’t have to be heavy. A light one is fine too."

The boy shook his head again. "We don’t have those either."

The regret in Ji You’s eyes was impossible to hide as she asked, "Does that mean there are no energy weapons anywhere in the whole arena? Only cold weapons to choose from?"

The boy thought for a moment. "We don’t have any here. As for other places, I don’t know—maybe they do, maybe they don’t. Ji You, if you like using heavy ranged weapons, I’d recommend you use a crossbow."

"Eh?" Ji You’s eyes lit up. "You have crossbows?"

The boy smiled. "Yes. Compared to a bow and arrow, a crossbow is more lethal. Do you want one?"

Ji You nodded without hesitation. "Yes, please swap me a crossbow."

The boy said, "Alright."

Outside the screen—

The crowd of onlookers, countless students, couldn’t help but all cover their faces one after another:

"Whose silly kid is this?"

"She’s about to let them feel out every last one of her bottom cards."

"Kid, I’m begging you, don’t be stupid, okay?"

"That person’s whole body, even the dandruff on her scalp, has ’ulterior motives’ written all over it ahhhh!!!"

"Wake up a little, will you? Stop talking to her. If you keep going, you’re going to get sold off completely."

...

However, the boy couldn’t hear the audience calling from outside the screen. As soon as he heard Ji You agree to swap for a crossbow, he immediately ordered one of the teammates behind him. That teammate quickly left the group and entered through the city gate.

She felt very regretful that she couldn’t get a look inside the base. For now, she could only confirm that the base’s armory reserves should be fairly plentiful, at least enough for several squads to use, and that all the weapons were genuine cold weapons, with no energy weapons at all.

Also, there didn’t seem to be many personnel stationed at the base. After covertly observing, Ji You estimated there were at most twenty or thirty people inside, and none of them had ever left the base. Their intel on the outside world was very limited...

After about two minutes, while Ji You continued casually chatting with the boy and subtly pumping him for information, the teammate who had left came rushing back with a crossbow in his arms and quickly rejoined the group.

The boy said, "Ji You, this is your crossbow."

The body was jet-black, giving off a faint, chilling sheen. It wasn’t the least bit inferior to the one she’d gotten off Cheng Haoyue. Ji You was very satisfied, and her smile instantly became brilliantly bright. "Thank you, thank you so much."

Then—

"The Horse-cutting Saber has accompanied me all the way, killing enemies up till now..." Ji You drew the Horse-cutting Saber and glanced at it, a hint of reluctance in her eyes. Then she still decisively handed it to the boy. "I’m entrusting it to you. I hope you’ll treat it well and find it a suitable Master."

The boy nodded. "I will."

He thought for a moment, hesitated for a bit, then suddenly said, "Ji You, take this as well." As he spoke, he handed over a small knife.

Ji You was stunned.

The boy said, "This is a folding knife. The blade can extend up to two meters. It’s incredibly sharp, no worse than the Horse-cutting Saber."

Ji You said in surprise, "Thank you!"

When Li Yun and Bai Hui saw the crossbow, they couldn’t help the flash of envy in their eyes. Then, seeing Ji You hand the Horse-cutting Saber to the boy, their gazes lingered on the saber and the folding knife.

But the two of them didn’t dare open their mouths to ask for anything. After all, a military base had to have rules.

After thanking them profusely, Ji You finally led her people away. Once they had completely left the military base, Ji You suddenly said, "Li Yun, Bai Hui, don’t worry. As long as you stick with me, I’ll definitely help you find suitable weapons."

The two of them froze, then were both moved and overjoyed.

—Ji You really is such a good person.