This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 528: We’re in This Together!

Chapter 528: Chapter 528: We’re in This Together!

Falling Leaves Province was home to a variant known as Sand Worms. These creatures could stand as tall as buildings, and each could swallow a child whole, their combat power was astonishing.

In front of them, not to speak of Awakeners, even power armor could be destroyed.

At that time, a widespread opinion on the Forum was that the ferocious destructive power of Sand Worms would obliterate any infrastructure beyond the riverbanks. If the issue of the rampant Sand Worms was not resolved, any roads or railways the Alliance built in the Falling Leaves Province would be wasted effort.

For this reason, many players further speculated that to ensure the smooth progress of construction, the Alliance would launch large-scale missions to exterminate the Sand Worms in the form of limited time events, with some veteran players even devising a series of tactics specifically for these unique variants.

However, contrary to many people’s expectations, the limited-time event did not happen.

And the Sand Worms, which they had originally predicted would have a major impact on the direction of the War, did not even appear within sight of the front-line or logistical troops.

Of course, it wasn’t because the Sand Worms were scared of the Alliance; expecting animals to think so much would be too idealistic. The true reason was that the Alliance perfectly avoided all Sand Worm-active areas, from the encampments of the frontline troops to the transport routes of the logistics units.

Here comes the question: Sand Worm-active zones won’t mark themselves on a map, and even the most experienced Merchant wouldn’t dare say they knew the location of every Sand Worm nest in the desert. How, then, did the Alliance headquarters achieve this?

Well, that’s a long story.

At the time, to ensure that the roads and railways to the Lion Kingdom were successfully built, Chu Guang specially dispatched the Guards Corps to investigate nearby villages, inquiring of the traders who frequented the trade route through the Falling Leaves Province.

After investigation, it was discovered that although Sand Worms had formidable combat power, their reproductive capacity was in fact quite weak. They remained inactive in one place all year round and did not expand their group size.

Later, the Biological Institute of Shelter No.79 launched further in-depth investigations and discovered an astonishing coincidence—the Sand Worm nests highly coincided with the underground ocean current pipelines from the pre-war era!

After a thorough investigation of one of the Sand Worm nests, the Alliance biologists discovered that the nest was growing on a damaged section of the ocean current pipeline.

The rest of the problem was easy to solve.

They just needed to route the roads, railways, and the positions of the front-line fortifications to avoid the active areas of the underground ocean current pipelines, right?

It turned out to be that simple.

This was, in fact, the most efficient and economical approach, and it was precisely this approach that the Army had taken when planning their marching routes and deploying their positions.

After all, where there were Sand Worms, there were rich underground water resources. There, not only Sand Worms but also dangerous mutant arthropods like Radiation Scorpions often lurked, making these areas unsuitable as stable traffic routes. With enough people, it might still be fine, but with fewer, the Variants would start to stir.

This was one of the unseen struggles between the two sides. Although there was no smoke of gunpowder, it was no less exciting than places where there was.

After all, if the Alliance’s Manager had blindly believed one side’s opinion due to rumors on the Forum or a slight disturbance, fully mobilized players to initiate a massive campaign against the Sand Worms, the result would most likely have been recorded as a classical strategic error—an example of treating the symptoms but not the cause.

Considering the situation in the Wasteland, unless the damaged ocean current pipelines were completely repaired or their water source cut off, the mutant creatures of Falling Leaves Province would ultimately still converge toward the only source of water.

In the short term, the roads could be shorter by passing over the corpses of Sand Worms, and the one-time construction costs for roads and railways would be cheaper as a result, maybe the Alliance could even gain the title of "Conqueror of Sand Worms" for a +10 prestige.

However, in the following months, the Alliance’s logistical supply line and front-line troops would have to fight against the Army carrying the high attrition Debuff, which would decrease combat efficiency and increase non-combat casualties.

Even if the War were won in the end, the Alliance and its vassals would enjoy some time of peace and tranquility. Yet, due to the special circumstances of the Wasteland, those creatures that once topped the food chain would eventually return in another form.

For example, they could evolve into those "Earth Diggers" in the Great Desert that can migrate at will, or they could be replaced by other, less powerful but equally fatal, Variants.

And the consequences would mean that the Alliance would have to allocate hundreds, even thousands, of people to patrol the roads long-term, and the railways and roads would become a loss-making project due to the cumulative risk costs.

Perhaps, under unbearable conditions, the Alliance would resolve to build another route one day.

If the Alliance had enough and cheap labor, of course, they could disregard natural science and even go against it directly. Regrettably, Shelter No.117 didn’t grant Chu Guang additional closed-beta access.

Sometimes, Chu Guang couldn’t help but think conspiratorially—perhaps the First Generation Manager had predicted that he would resort to shortcuts, and that was exactly why they tightly controlled the release of "Gene Sequences."

After all, with too many players, it wasn’t just one major company that could dismiss players as non-entities.

The "Sand Worm Investigation Report" was just a small episode during the expedition.

Having heard reports from the logistics system, lifestyle profession players, and Alliance researchers, Chu Guang made a relatively reasonable judgment.

Since the matter itself was not significant, only a few players participated in the investigation, so he didn’t bother to go into detail in the update announcement.

After all, compared to the war with the Army, the scientific research team’s investigations and discussions, experiments, and analyses were merely trivial under the circumstances at that time.

Situations like this happened nearly every day.

Direct threats more severe than Nago were heard by Chu Guang by the hundreds daily, as Wasteland was rife with bizarre species and technological creations.

If one claimed that Waste Land Wanderers had seen everything, even talking Dead Claws wouldn’t surprise them, then he must be the master of all. The volume of oddities and anomalies he had heard and seen from Xiao Qi or other players surely accounted for at least half of the Alliance’s "information output."

Unless the Alliance built a massive wall like Giant Stone City, it was almost impossible to establish a three-dimensional defensive mechanism from top to bottom or bottom up, as nations do through the cooperation of billions of people in a stable environment, to completely block all threats.

Anomalies that might occur once in a hundred years on Earth were almost a daily occurrence during the Wasteland Era. Some players, after raising their regional prestige, took a position in the police force and outside of responding to emergencies, shared serial stories on forums about the odd incidents and criminals they encountered, drawing quite the audience of onlookers.

Therefore, when making concrete decisions, Chu Guang was more inclined to heed the advice of professionals rather than the wild speculations made by players based on common knowledge from the Real World.

In the end, Nago did not affect the Alliance’s Triumph celebration.

That fruit spreading contamination, like the countless troubles that accompanied prosperity, was quietly cleaned up by the police force and the Celebration Autonomy Committee...

Pressured by Chu Guang, Heya immediately stopped her current work and plunged into the research on Nago, calling him back before dusk.

"...Let’s start with the conclusion, first of all, we can rule out that this thing is a product of slime fungus, and secondly, based on my observations, it’s not just ordinary crops, even slime fungus can’t grow on soil that’s been infected with this special mycelium."

Heya paused at this point and continued.

"In addition, it indeed isn’t a fruit borne by ordinary plants but some sort of fungus that lives in symbiosis with the plants... Do you know wood ears?"

"Of course I know... wait, so you mean it doesn’t grow on trees? It needs to rely on other plants, and attach to them?"

"Yes."

"But isn’t soil infected by mycelium unable to grow crops?"

Watching the puzzled expression of Chu Guang in the holographic image, Heya nodded approvingly.

"Smart... but lacking flexibility."

Chu Guang coughed lightly.

"I’m busy... no beating around the bush, please."

Uncrossing her arms, Heya patiently explained.

"The uniqueness of Nago lies exactly here; normal plants, animals, and even microorganisms have difficulty surviving in its domain, but those it assimilates and infects will thrive instead... For instance, the Cam tree, which produces rubber and biomass oil, doesn’t wither after being parasitized by Nago’s mycelium; it turns into a nursery for Nago. Does that make sense to you?"

"In other words... the way to plant Nago isn’t through seeds but simply by—"

"Pouring the feces of animals or people who’ve eaten Nago at the base of a Cam tree will do," Heya interjected, speaking concisely, "Nago itself doesn’t have a seed core, only flesh that’s sweet and syrupy like honey brew, which is why many animals like it. Those fiber-like mycelia within the flesh are its ’seeds.’ So in essence, it’s a pure fungus, fundamentally different from the ’Mutated slime fungus.’ Do you understand?"

The "Mutated slime fungus" shows fungal characteristics only at certain stages of life, while at other times, it displays animal characteristics.

It’s a predator in the ecosystem, a consumer in the food chain!

Just like tigers and lions, or Monsters and Claws of death.

But the fungus named "Nago" is different; it represents an exceptionally unique existence, altering the rules of the food chain.

The organism’s own immune system no longer competes with viruses and microbes for living space, but under the binder named Nago, achieves a harmony and prosperity through coexistence. Antagonistic entities within the food chain also come to unite under the new natural laws.

The symbol of vitality, the verdant mycelium, permeates the soil. Seeds from the old era cannot sprout in soil baptized by Nago, only life that embraces "Nago" can flourish within its domain, propagating Nago even further afield.

Well, I’ll be!

What love of a tender father!

Chu Guang was suddenly startled.

This is Nago? It’s more like "dirt fruit"!

His Adam’s apple moved slightly as Chu Guang immediately asked,

"Is there any way to purify the land contaminated by it?"

"...A strong acidic disinfectant will do. It’s not an anaerobe, so it won’t penetrate deep into the soil, but I’d recommend using fire instead. Have you heard of flame weeding? It seems your little players are using it in place of herbicides."

After listening to Heya’s explanation, Chu Guang paused.

"...It’s that simple?"

Fire could kill it...

But then again, using fire to burn slimy molds was feasible. The earliest strategy he and his players used to combat the Tide involved deploying incendiary bombs on a large scale, using fire to clear hyphae and spores.

When dealing with non-evolutionary hyphae, barrels of oil were much more effective than high-explosive bombs and armor-piercing bullets.

Watching Chu Guang, who obviously overcomplicated the problem, Heya rolled her eyes.

"Don’t make biology seem too mystical. Mutated slime fungus is an exception; it was a nuisance left over from the Prosperity Epoch. This Nago, after all, was born in the Wasteland Era... Of course, I’m still researching Nago’s other characteristics. Some peculiarities are intriguing."

"What peculiarities?"

"Its repulsion to slime molds. Logically, slime molds can consume all organic matter, but they can’t ingest the mycelium formed by Nago. Eaters we’ve captured even exhibit a distinct aversion to this fruit, refusing to eat it. I’m considering the possibility... perhaps it’s a new problem created by some refuge or research facility trying to solve the slime mold issue."

Hearing this, Chu Guang had a moment of epiphany, suddenly understanding why the Academy had moved to the swamp.

The most dangerous thing on the Wasteland was neither radiation dust nor slime molds, but those knowledgeable madmen.

Every lair has its "self-limiting" nature, but Nago is virtually unrestricted in its expansion.

Once Nago is planted worldwide, slime molds might be wiped out, but Nago would become the new slime mold, completely altering the rules of the entire ecosystem.

In a verdant hell, mutants would become stronger, while humans might turn into... green-skinned goblins?

So far, the Alliance had not observed any symptoms in patients who had ingested Nago over a long term; the "cases" in Dusty Town were merely exhibiting withdrawal symptoms.

That young man who tasted the forbidden fruit was being tormented to death by the Nago bacteria that embraced him and his own immune system’s sudden awakening. The players there handed out some antibiotics to the patients, but the effects were unclear, and follow-up observations were ongoing.

"Anyway, there’s no need to panic excessively and scare ourselves. Immature research outcomes are best controlled... The immune system coexisting harmoniously with viruses is no joke. Small problems neglected become big problems. And if someone became a breeding ground for disease, even if others don’t eat that stuff, they could still be infected, right?"

"Uh-huh," Chu Guang nodded in agreement as he looked at Heya’s serious expression, "While you were researching, I had already initiated an emergency plan to remove this thing from the market."

Heya smiled slightly, about to say something, but then she sighed softly, speaking in a teasing tone.

"I was about to complain about you always dragging me away from what I’m doing for something else. The Alliance has other researchers than just me... But I suddenly felt a bit sorry for you."

"Sorry for me?" Chu Guang said with a laugh, "I must have heard you wrong."

"You were probably meeting with representatives from other survivor settlements, right?" Heya looked at him sympathetically, with a mixed expression of emotion murmuring, "If only those fools could grow a few more brain cells, at least understand that not everyone is as idle as they are..."

As she spoke, an unusual hint of resentment flashed through Heya’s pupils.

Chu Guang knew she wasn’t talking about the residents of the Alliance but was criticizing her own homeland—Shelter No. 117.

They had been living methodically within the shelter, but because some distrusted and even hated the Manager and the shelter’s plans, it ultimately led to the shelter’s doom.

The original "Torch" was born in Shelter No. 117 and turned into a faith over the next twenty years.

Chu Guang didn’t know how to comfort the girl who "time-traveled" from twenty years ago, but he still hoped she could be freed from those dark memories.

"I’m not from Shelter No. 404, nor am I from Shelter No. 117. Each shelter has its own mission. I wouldn’t rashly conclude that your manager knows nothing; perhaps he has his own thoughts and secrets we’re not aware of. But, putting ourselves in the residents’ shoes, it’s understandable that they feel panic and despair about the future. They could have returned to the surface like saviors, yet they are compelled by the manager’s orders to procreate in cramped underground bunkers."

"You actually understand them!"

Chu Guang replied patiently to Heya, who looked at him with incredulous, widened eyes.

"Understanding doesn’t mean agreeing. The greatest insight from your manager logs is, ’Never give up on communication because it’s difficult,’ not ’The ignorant majority isn’t worth understanding.’"

Heya huffed softly.

"Fine, at least we have one thing in common; we both think those guys are incredibly stupid... I’m off work now. This lady should go and enjoy the celebration. I really wasted my sympathy on you!"

Chu Guang smiled faintly.

"Go ahead, and I recommend spreading a bit of berry jam on the pig liver. The sour taste can neutralize the bitterness; that’s our latest unlocked recipe."

"Please! I just want to sprinkle cumin!"

Heya hung up the call.

Watching the dissipating specks of light on the holographic screen, Chu Guang couldn’t help but crack a smile.

He could feel that her mood had improved slightly, and she had reconciled somewhat with her past memories.

Although her personality was completely different from that of Yin Fang, both had grown up in similar environments and fundamentally were rational materialists.

She would surely understand what he was trying to express.

...

Just like the last celebration.

After nightfall, the sky above City of Dawn was lit up with magnificent fireworks.

Pedestrians on the street stopped one after another to look up and admire the beautiful pyrotechnics, and even people from Giant Stone City could catch a glimpse of bright light through the cracks of the concrete ruins.

"...Mr. Hauser was right again; they really are venting their impotence with gunpowder in a frenzy," Kent muttered, standing at the edge of the industrial area after finishing a day’s work.

A few months ago, he had led the workers from the canning factory to surround the city hall, demanding the eviction of Alliance commodities from Giant Stone City because the Alliance factories were taking away their jobs.

That was undoubtedly a highlight of his life.

Seeing high-and-mighty Duron sweating with anxiety, he got not only the job he wanted but also some bargaining chips from the security chief, Alec. He heard that the Alliance had plunged into crippling inflation due to his earth-shattering action, with daily wages skyrocketing from 1 Silver Coin to double digits. It was unbelievable how they got by on a regular basis.

But sometimes he envied the people in "North Suburb"; the city hall lackeys dared to kick their butts but wouldn’t dare to bully the poor in the Alliance, not even dare to touch their vassals.

After all, those people were so poor they only had their guns left, while they, wearing shoes, shouldn’t rashly provoke them.

Walking beside him, Spielberg glanced at his patched-up cowboy jeans and muttered.

"Hey, do you really believe what Mr. Hauser says?"

"You don’t?"

Seeing Kent raising his eyebrows as if he was about to punch him, Spielberg didn’t expect such a heated reaction and quickly backtracked.

"I do, of course I do... There’s no doubt we’re also on the winning side, but why don’t we celebrate victory?"

Kent’s eyes widened, and he turned red with anger.

"Have you gone mad? This is the Wasteland; there’s not much to celebrate with."

"Iodine deficiency leading to hyperthyroidism is a common nutritional disorder in the Wasteland," he said, "but it’s not a big deal."

Spielberg, certain that he wasn’t about to get hit, cautiously continued.

"But I heard that either yesterday or the day before, someone saw Melvin, the bank manager, making a grand exit from the city with his beloved daughter. I also heard that quite a few nobles from the Inner City had gone over to the Alliance to wait for the celebration to start days ago, and almost all the powerful mercenary groups have been booked up until next month..."

Kent said impatiently,

"They’re going there to wine and dine."

Spielberg looked at him blankly.

"To... wine and dine?"

"Yes, that’s right!"

Kent, as if he was trying to prove something, perhaps dissatisfied with his coworker’s puzzled expression or maybe just hyperthyroidism acting up, stared him down aggressively.

"What’s the matter? We are their creditors; what’s wrong with us eating their food? I hope they eat a lot tonight! They’d better come back stuffed!"

Spielberg quickly raised his hand.

"No... nothing’s wrong, I think you’re absolutely right. I hope they have a hearty appetite tonight and help us earn back what we’re owed."

If only they could throw up a bowl of soup.

Perhaps satisfied with his frightened expression, Kent’s mood softened, and his tone became more patient as he began to reason.

"List is the biggest factory owner in the Alliance, and he’s one of ours, that’s the best proof! Residents of the Alliance bring their money here to get their Black Cards, but the nobles of the Inner City would never become residents of their refuges. Doesn’t that explain a lot?"

Watching the rambling Kent, Spielberg felt a pang of sympathy, but he dared not show it on his face. If he did, he would have to explain why, and that was something he could never do.

He was a coward.

Only when reading the newspaper he could be a little braver.

He didn’t know why Kent insisted on speaking for those old masters with capital in hand, but at least at this moment, he didn’t want to be punched, nor could he bear to see him tormented by hyperthyroidism.

Looking at Kent, who was expecting some feedback, Spielberg cautiously nodded.

"Of course."

"I have no doubt that Mr. Hauser is right."

...

"Haha, congratulations to you all! Our friends! The best friends of Giant Stone City!"

In the Alliance’s banquet hall.

A well-dressed Sid excitedly raised his glass, looking at Chu Guang, who appeared in the banquet hall and was about to go over and clink glasses with him, but before he could get close, he noticed that Chu Guang had already moved elsewhere.

"...Tsk, showing off for what!"

A flash of annoyance in his eyes, Sid unenthusiastically thought to put his glass back on the long table, trying to hide his current embarrassment.

However, at that moment, a glass unexpectedly came his way and lightly clinked against his.

"Why are you drinking alone?"

Seeing List appear before him, Sid’s eyes brightened, and he laughed heartily, downing the wine in his glass, then grabbed List’s shoulder and said,

"You’re the one who’s considerate, my friend!"

List was a newcomer among the elite of the Inner City, and of course, he would recognize it; besides, he had helped obtain that black card in the end.

It was also in this banquet hall.

This kid had pulled him aside to discuss a deal, to be honest, Sid wasn’t too interested at first; after all, diving into the fray to make money in Giant Stone City wasn’t quite dignified.

But, lately, he had slowly come to appreciate the joy of skyrocketing wealth.

He didn’t need to understand how to balance the logistics surplus, how to adjust job functions, or even know what to produce to make money.

He just had to lift a finger, fling the chips like throwing darts, and there would naturally be people to do the meticulous work—and ensure his satisfaction.

"Of course," List said with a slight smile, tasting his wine before setting down the glass with all the politesse, "after all, we’re in this together."

"Ah! You’re still the best! To be honest, the yokels from ’North Suburb’ are really not suitable trading partners, crass and without manners. They invite us over but leave me to be entertained by Luka—I heard the old man used to be a serf. They must be insane, letting a bumpkin play the lord! But Melvin’s right, we shouldn’t quarrel with the chips; you must know that feeling, doing business with Looter." To not offend others, Sid lowered his voice so that only the two could hear.

List’s face wore an amiable smile as he nodded.

"Indeed, crap doesn’t taste good... Their chips are always greasy, reminding me too much of bones and scrappy meat floating in a sizzling frying pan."

"Too vivid! I’d really like a good chinwag with you about those legendary stories of yours. Not just anyone can do business with Looter!" Sid gave him a thumbs-up, exclaiming excitedly, "But I haven’t had anything to eat yet. Maybe we can chat while we eat... about something a bit lighter in taste?"

"Of course, I know of a fine deal, if you’re interested," List said with a smile.

At the mention of a money-making opportunity, Sid’s face immediately lit up with delight.

List was certainly trustworthy, not just because he owed him a number of favors, but more so because he was now one of us.

"I’m extremely interested! My friend, I knew you wouldn’t let me down! Always bringing us new excitement!"

List smiled slightly and said.

"The Alliance recently issued a kind of bonds."

"What’s that?"

"An alternative to debt," List tried to repackage the concept Chu Guang described, making the complicated aspects seem less so, "If you buy bonds for 100 chips, the Alliance will automatically give you 3 chips every year; after five years, you get the entire 100 back all at once."

Sid paused, smacking his lips, dissatisfied.

"Why so little?"

Just because he was rich didn’t mean he was foolish.

The loans Giant Stone City gave to the Alliance had a 5% interest!

Not only was this interest low, but it also didn’t sound like compound interest. Only fools would buy it!

List anticipated Sid’s reaction; his smile remained as he gently sipped the wine from his glass on the table.

"So... what if I have special channels that can get me bonds with a face value of 100 chips, at an issuance price of 90 chips?"

At that moment, Sid was taken aback, and then he began to breathe hurriedly.

"That would mean..."

"A 10% profit right off the bat," List said meaningfully, "Plus an annual interest of 3%. If you’re interested in bonds with a 10-year maturity, the interest is even one point higher, and the issuance price is 85."

"The Alliance acknowledges the bonds, not the person, and allows bond trading. Right now, everyone’s pockets are crammed with chips, but the Alliance can’t use chips to sign deals, they have to be exchanged for silver coins first, and the conversion isn’t exactly free... So you understand, right? Buying these bonds, you can indirectly share in their development dividends."

He wouldn’t tell Sid that as a primary distributor, he got even cheaper issuing prices.

As for how to repay the money in the future?

That’s too easy!

When the chips accumulate in the pockets of the Alliance, isn’t it up to the Alliance to decide how much the chips are worth?

If Chu Guang’s plan ultimately comes to fruition, then in the most extreme case, the excessively circulated chips might become nothing more than a pile of useless plastic pieces.

When money isn’t even valued anymore, what’s there to fear about being unable to repay it?

As to whether it’s possible to reach that step, it all depends on the level of skill that Manager has. Speaking of which, List was quite surprised; he didn’t expect such a seemingly straightforward man to hide so many schemes and to strike so ruthlessly when he made his move.

Sid hugged List’s shoulders tightly, his eyes filled with fervor, treating him as if he were a blood brother, fearful that List would feast alone.

"Good buddy! You’ve got to take me with you! I’ve made so many chips, and I just don’t know where to invest them!"

"That’s a must," List said with a smile, patting his shoulder and speaking in a gentle and soft tone, "My friend, have you forgotten?"

"We’re in this together."

...

Chu Guang had originally intended to miss tonight’s fireworks display, not even having time to enjoy it from the bridge of the Iron Heart.

After all, there were too many guests to entertain.

Whether they were representatives of companies or survivor settlement delegates, everyone wanted to exchange a few words with him on behalf of their settlements, to learn from him, and to see if they could also get a piece of the Alliance’s rapidly moving train, to bask in its reflected glory.

As the focus of the entire event, this was the first time Chu Guang ever felt what it was like to be so busy that he was off his feet.

The line of people waiting to meet him extended from the entrance of the grand hall to the kitchen.

And he needed to condense the vast amount of information into three sentences and try to remember every representative and settlement who had conversed with him.

Fortunately, Xiao Qi was there to help.

Yet, for some reason, just when he was about to meet with a host of nobles from Giant Stone City, Xiao Qi suddenly became capricious, saying that the fireworks it had designed were about to end and that he must go outside to watch them no matter what.

Otherwise, it would stop working next time!

No helping it.

Chu Guang originally wanted to exchange pleasantries with the nobles of Giant Stone City, but he couldn’t stand Xiao Qi nagging persistently in his ear, so he had to inconvenience Old Luka to deal with the Inner City nobles.

As for the bonds,

Chu Guang believed that even without his cooperation, List would manage to take care of everything perfectly.

That guy was clever.

He knew what to do...

...

Outside the grand hall.

Chu Guang found a quiet, deserted place and looked up at the fireworks blossoming in the night sky.

Turns out using the Iron Heart’s artillery to launch fireworks is so beautiful.

No wonder that night, so many were staring up at the sky motionless.

Their necks got tired.

Finally, when the last batch of fireworks was over, Chu Guang couldn’t help but express his admiration.

"Quite beautiful."

Sitting on his shoulder, swinging its legs, Xiao Qi revealed a pleased smile, proudly putting its hands on its waist.

"Heh heh, right?"

Chu Guang looked at the little fellow helplessly.

"But the fireworks are supposed to last a little longer, aren’t they? Why couldn’t you wait until I met with Giant Stone City’s delegates before coming out to watch."

Xiao Qi pouted.

"Xiao Qi doesn’t like them... It’s a waste of Master’s time to deal with them when he could be out here watching Xiao Qi’s performance!"

Xiao Qi arrogantly said,

"Nothing! If Master doesn’t like them, Xiao Qi doesn’t like them either!"

Chu Guang was slightly stunned, then chuckled and shook his head.

"You little rascal..."

There were too many things he didn’t like.

Strictly speaking, in the Wasteland, there are no absolutely good or bad people, pure evil and absolute kindness are both rare, and most common is the mindless chaos and barbarism.

If one can’t tolerate a grain of sand in one’s eye, yet disregards how one achieves one’s goals, the end result is to become something as extremely twisted as the Enlightenment Society.

Those guys firmly believe that compared to the great Prosperity Epoch, everything from the Post-War Reconstruction Committee to survivor settlements on the Wasteland are corrupt beyond salvation and therefore must be physically and decisively eliminated!

In their eyes, it is the Alliance, who muddies itself with the Waste Land Wanderers, that is the more ignorant.

And because of this, it’s even harder to reshape a firm believer of the Enlightenment Society than a Looter.

As for Xiao Qi...

Perhaps it was because it cared too much about his feelings and had absorbed a lot of mixed information that it was influenced to some extent.

Chu Guang could guess from its expression that it must be the Inner City nobles who had been plotting against him in private, and Xiao Qi might have "accidentally" overheard it. Yet, Chu Guang had restricted it from doing anything to them, so it had to use this manner to express its discontent.

During the incident at Falcon City Palace, he had already scolded it for being too clever with its permissions, and he believed it wouldn’t do such things again.

"...There are many people on this wasteland that we don’t like, people we don’t agree with, which you should know after following me for so long."

"Even the more you know them, the more you understand their inner thoughts, the more you realize they’re beyond redemption, and trying to help them is both thankless and exhausting."

Chu Guang gently rubbed Xiao Qi’s little head with his index finger, looked into those drowsy eyes, and continued in a gentle voice.

"But we let them live, give them enough time to change, give them opportunities, and even pull them forward when needed."

"That is the Alliance."

A place where survivors came together, united—

Huddling together on the ruins for warmth.