Chapter 39: Let's Go to the Amusement Park Together

"...So Bison, what do you think the feasibility is?"

Zhou Jinru's gaze remained fixed on Bison. After a moment of thought, Bison answered earnestly, "I believe there is a certain degree of feasibility. Of course, similar endeavors have been attempted in the past, so I cannot say for certain how much success we can achieve."

That single sentence was enough.

Zhou Jinru knew that the venture was already halfway successful. He had secured the Rat King's support in the Outer Ring and Penguin Logistics' backing in the city center. The next step was promotion, which would pose no real challenge for Penguin Logistics, though formalization remained the most crucial requirement.

As an outsider, Rhodes Island obviously could not assume this role. Unlike those predecessors who had failed, he needed someone with official Lungmen credentials to provide endorsement. Bison's appearance happened to resolve this dilemma, marking the very first step in taking root. The sole reason that truly compelled Penguin Logistics to intervene was that Lungmen was entirely blank in this particular sector, harboring massive potential profits. Previously overlooked, they would undoubtedly seize it firmly now now that it had been brought to light.

Never underestimate a transport brigade; the reason they could command seventy percent of the market share was not because they lacked the strength for more, but because after taking their share of the meat, they intentionally left thirty percent for others to share the broth.

With the matter settled, Zhou Jinru had no further concerns. He gathered his drafts and handed them all over to Wei Hu.

"Leave these to Aak. How to utilize them is his affair."

For now, all he could do was wait. Zhou Jinru leaned back comfortably into the sofa, staring up at the ceiling. He reflected on how his journey had ostensibly been meant to resolve Contingency Contracts, yet he had somehow ended up spinning around Lungmen several times over, still without catching sight of Reserve Team A4, not to mention that Red had gone missing. Would Kal'tsit scold him upon his return?

Bison had already dispatched people to help search for Red, and he trusted that news would return shortly. He was not overly concerned about Red's safety; given the Lupo hunter's prowess, even if she couldn't win a fight, fleeing was always an option.

As the night deepened, the young women in the living room retired to their respective rooms, leaving only Zhou Jinru behind to watch video recordings. He viewed several films in succession, raising his level from 16 to 31. It was merely a numerical shift, as he felt no tangible trace of becoming stronger...

The increases in health, attack power, and defense that operators experienced upon leveling up did not manifest in him at all.

Bison kept him company past midnight before finally succumbing to exhaustion and retreating to rest. Zhou Jinru drifted off to sleep while watching, and when he woke up, it was already broad daylight the next morning. A blanket had been draped over him. Fortunately, the heating had been running strongly enough that he had slept through the entire night without suffering any discomfort.

Staring at the "LV.MAX" shining in his field of vision, Zhou Jinru was practically moved to tears. The marathon session of movie-watching throughout the night had paid off; his level was now maxed out, and he was merely waiting to accumulate enough shock and astonishment emotions to unlock the first tier of Elite Specialization.

"Doctor, go freshen up. We're getting ready to head to the amusement park. We need to have a great time today and not waste any time."

...

This was by far the most comfortable vacation Crownslayer had ever experienced, vastly superior to her previous trip to Siesta, which had felt like a disaster—no, it was unequivocally a disaster!

Back then, she had been sunbathing on the beach when, goodness knows why, storm clouds had suddenly rolled in and a volcano had inexplicably erupted. A catastrophe had struck, and all she could do was run for her life, expending nearly every ounce of her strength just to escape the disaster zone. She hadn't taken a single vacation for over a year after that, until her recent covert infiltration into Lungmen to enjoy a few days of leisurely peace.

"A-Shi, are you awake?"

A small figure swam into view. Crownslayer was startled out of her wits, curling her entire body into a tight ball as she reached out to grope for the dagger under her pillow, only to grab empty air. It was only then that she remembered precisely where she was.

Good grief.

Her gaze turned utterly blank for a moment. She must have truly lost her mind to spend the night at that brat's home, and even more foolishly, to have unguardedly cast all her gear aside.

How had things come to this? It was entirely the brat's fault for being so completely defenseless, so readily inviting a stranger into her home and sharing long-hoarded snacks as if they were genuine companions. She really was just a child.

No, wait. That brat *was* a child.

The fact that Rhodes Island had actually sent such a tiny child onto the battlefield proved they probably weren't good people either. Any organization that used high-sounding justifications to exploit its operators was absolute scum.

"It's fine, I just had a nightmare."

Crownslayer sprawled across the bed with her limbs splayed. Countless times, she had contemplated stabbing this brat with a dagger, but whenever she remembered that the other party was also a pitiable infected individual who had lost her memories, she simply couldn't bring herself to do it.

"I'm not a pervert like Mephisto, nor am I like W who loves stirring up trouble everywhere. Despite some unpleasantness in the past, this brat genuinely isn't my enemy anymore."

Crownslayer quickly sat up and dressed, gazing at her own reflection in the mirror as she gently stroked the Originium crystal fragment on her wrist. She asked, "Where are we going to play today? I only have today left for a holiday, and I have to leave by tonight."

"I don't know. Has A-Shi ever been to the Lungmen amusement park?"

An amusement park—somewhere only children went.

Crownslayer shook her head helplessly and sighed. "Very well then, we'll go to the amusement park today. But let me make it clear in advance: when we return tonight, you'll be on your own, and you are not to ask where I'm going."

"Oh."

...

"Old Chen! Old Chen!"

Xingxue hammered vigorously against Chen's bedroom door, expending considerable effort before finally managing to knock it open.

Chen pulled the door open with sleepy eyes, and Xingxue only narrowly managed to halt her fist, nearly punching her directly in the chest.

Dressed in light blue pajamas, Chen evidently hadn't noticed. Yawing, she muttered, "What do you want at this hour? Today is Sunday; we don't have to go back to work."

Xingxue leaned against the doorframe. "Didn't you say we were going to the amusement park today? Why are you still sleeping in? If we go too late, the lines will take forever. Weren't you wanting to ride the Ferris wheel? I saw you staring at it for a long time last time—let's ride it together today."

"Ah-Xing, what on earth do you pay attention to normally? You even noticed that. I'd almost forgotten when my last holiday even was."

Chen muttered to herself while pulling on her clothes, her pajamas tossed carelessly onto the bed. Within Xingxue's field of vision, a piece of undergarment was draped over a chair. The inspectors of the Lungmen Near Guard Bureau almost never saw their superintendent looking so slovenly at home, and those who had were probably sworn to secrecy.

"You're planning to go out looking like that?"

Chen pointed at Xingxue's ride—a motorcycle, specifically the standard step-through scooter ubiquitous in Lungmen, with two helmets hanging from the handlebars.

Xingxue flashed a preplanned, knowing smile. "Let's ride the motorcycle together. Put on your helmet and make sure not to get pulled over by traffic police, otherwise the news of the Guard Bureau Superintendent and her deputy getting ticketed will make tomorrow's headlines."

Very well, since she was already up.

Chen curled her lips, sitting sideways behind Xingxue. Perhaps the scenery from the back of a motorcycle wouldn't be so bad after all.