"Mr. Lin, your wisdom is admirable. I suppose only someone so intelligent could Awaken a Superpower as rare as the Superpower Bullet."

Hu Fei’s sincere tone was laced with awe.

Even in a force as strong as the army, Awakeners were common. Nearly ten percent of the soldiers had already Awakened, but less than 10% of them developed a shooting talent. Among those lucky few, only a tiny 10% Awakened the rare Superpower known as the Superpower Bullet.

Anyone who could fire Superpower Bullets was a chosen one, one in a million. Both luck and innate talent were indispensable.

Because they could materialize Dark Energy, imbuing the bullets they fired with all sorts of incredible properties and power.

Lin Feng’s brows furrowed slightly. Having read the internal files, he knew these things even better than Hu Fei.

Sensing Mr. Lin’s slight displeasure, Hu Fei immediately switched to a more composed attitude.

’Since flattery isn’t working, I’ll just get straight to the point.’

Hu Fei took out an ID card, identical to the employment ID card Lin Feng had. He was also with the Administration Bureau.

"You see, we’re colleagues. However, I’m in the logistics department."

"Many of the materials from the Zergs’ bodies are very valuable."

"Not only is the government collecting them on a massive scale, but many companies and corporations in the rear are also very interested in them."

"For example, the Back Armor of a Red-Armored Beetle, or the Giant Mandibles of a Black Spine Zerg. The prices for these things can be exchanged for the most precious resources right now: food, medicine, gasoline, and even scarce weapons and ammunition."

Lin Feng shook his head, cutting off Hu Fei’s spiel:

"I don’t need any of that for now."

Hu Fei raised an eyebrow, a slight smile on his face:

"Of course, I didn’t come here to buy these Giant Mandibles that symbolize your strength..."

"I came here specifically for you, Mr. Lin."

As he spoke, he lowered his voice:

"The Superpower you’ve Awakened, Mr. Lin, is even stronger than those of many deeply Awakened individuals."

"I have a big job offer that Mr. Lin might be interested in. Once completed, it can get you anything you want."

Lin Feng pushed aside the business card on the table and said lightly:

"I don’t take rescue jobs. Hai City is beyond saving now. Even if the army came, it would be a suicide mission. Tell those big shots to give up on that idea."

Hearing what Lin Feng said, Hu Fei shook his head:

"No, rescue work should be left to the more professional types. We’re both the kind of people who cherish our lives."

"The business I’m bringing you, Mr. Lin, is more valuable and will be more to your satisfaction."

Hu Fei took a deep breath, his voice low:

"Mr. Lin, I’m in urgent need of a batch of Low-Tier Zergs, whether they’re Red-Armored Beetles or Black Spine Zergs."

Lin Feng instantly realized something, his pupils constricting sharply:

"You mean... live ones?"

Hu Fei nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth turning up:

"You can shoot off their legs, or even half their bodies. They’ve already run experiments—the Zerg Race’s Life Force is extremely tenacious. As long as you can deliver them to me alive, we can talk about any price."

"Whatever you need, as long as it’s within my power, I can provide it for you."

"I think along this entire Jianghai Expressway, you’re the only one with the strength and guts to take this job."

Lin Feng’s mind raced. He knew very well that the clients behind this kind of business were innumerable, and every one of them had a powerful background.

Hu Fei was truly a thoroughbred businessman.

His mind was sharp, and his guts were just as big.

It had only been two days since the alien Swarm’s attack, and he had already found a path ten thousand times more profitable than any business listed in the criminal code.

Right now, before the government had imposed strict controls, this gray-area business was a complete blue ocean. Countless upper-class and wealthy people would flock to it.

Because the ultimate result of individual enhancement would be the shattering of the existing rules, where status is measured by money.

Wealth no longer brought power, and votes couldn’t transfer the power of the masses. Only individual strength was about to become the important standard for measuring social status.

While the lower classes struggled for basic survival, and the former middle class was still lost and anxious over their bankrupted status...

...those in the upper echelons had already keenly smelled the quiet changes of the era, the arrival of a new, great trend.

They would spare no expense, trading their existing resources for new markers of status, constantly strengthening themselves to ensure they remained in control.

Lin Feng could only go with the flow. He couldn’t change it either—this great trend was rising, and beneath its rolling wheels, countless lives were fated to be mercilessly crushed.

Sister Yurou had mentioned this to him in bed. And what Lin Feng needed to do was use the benefits from this kind of business to seize resources and rise as quickly as possible.

"I need this."

Lin Feng waved his hand, having Chen Yanyan bring over her Long Saber. It was already a Lv. 2 Long Saber; the material after the Upgrade was naturally no longer the same as before, having become lighter and harder.

"This grade of Fine Steel... first, get me a ton of it. Make it into steel plates, ten millimeters thick or more."

"As for the rest—food, gasoline, and so on—just enough so my people don’t have to worry about eating or drinking is fine. For weapons, I need high-powered explosives."

Hu Fei took the Long Saber and observed it carefully for a moment:

"Done. All of Mr. Lin’s requests can be met, as long as there are enough Low-Tier Zergs."

"Especially this time, if you can bring back a live Black Spine Zerg, all the supplies you need can be delivered to you by tomorrow."

"We can also send professional technicians to help you continue modifying this RV, turning it into an armored vehicle."

Lin Feng shook his head, declining Hu Fei’s kind offer:

"Just prepare the supplies. I need to fill up on gas first."

Hu Fei slowly stood up:

"No problem at all. Consider this hundred or so liters of gasoline a welcome gift for our first partnership."

"The team participating in this mission is about to assemble and depart. I think, Mr. Lin, you should probably head out now."

Lin Feng nodded, put away the business card on the table, stood up, and shook hands with Hu Fei, sealing the deal.

"I’ll clear the way for you up ahead."

Leaving those words behind, Hu Fei returned to his car. He drove a large SUV with an all-steel frame. Aside from being a gas guzzler, it had no flaws.

Lin Feng put away the table and chairs and called to the two women:

"Let’s go. Time to report for duty."

Chen Yanyan took the pistol Lin Feng handed her and excitedly got into the driver’s seat.

Meanwhile, Liu Yueqi looked back at the apologetic Liu Ruojiao in the car behind them.

While Lin Feng was negotiating business, Zhang Xuan had gone to great lengths, using sweet talk and earnest persuasion to finally coax his fiancée, Liu Ruojiao, into changing her mind and agreeing to let Liu Yueqi temporarily join the Administration Bureau.

But the condition was that she had to stay by Lin Feng’s side.

Lin Feng’s power was undeniable. From the attitude of the recruitment office staff to the fact that a big shot from the Administration Bureau was now paying a deferential house call...

...it was all clear that Lin Feng was now the person with the highest status here.

Liu Yueqi hesitated for a moment before telling Lin Feng she wanted to bring her aunt over.

Lin Feng rolled down the window:

"What, you were planning to abandon her here and leave her to that Zhang Xuan fellow? No matter what, she’s still your family. She was just too sheltered before, too traditional and conservative, and can’t accept the world’s drastic changes in such a short time."

"Besides, she’s just worried about you. If you were my sister, there’s no way I’d let you go up against giant zergs in close combat with some flimsy blade."

"Go back. Your efforts aren’t just for yourself; they’re also to protect the people around you."

"Once you’ve earned your own food and gasoline, no one will have the right to criticize you."

Liu Yueqi nodded, her inner conflict resolved. She went back to the other car to accept her aunt’s apology, then got into the back seat.

Of course, she wouldn’t be the one apologizing.

’Because Lin Feng was right. She was right.’

’And what’s right is right.’

...

The RV and the car behind it slowly started up, following Hu Fei, who had been waiting for a long time on the emergency lane.

One behind the other, the two vehicles followed Hu Fei for more than twenty kilometers until they reached a service area.

There was a checkpoint every five kilometers on the road, leaving no way for anyone who wanted to cut in line.

After arriving at the brightly lit service area, Lin Feng saw hundreds of cars parked there. The previously closed-off rear area now had its fences torn down, with a new road connecting to the equally congested provincial and county roads.

The gas station next to the exit was tightly controlled by more than a dozen heavily armed soldiers.

’It’s probably the same in the urban districts.’

’As long as they control the gasoline and diesel, they can control the pace of the migrating refugees, making way for the transfer of important supplies.’

Pulling into the parking lot for smaller passenger vehicles, Lin Feng’s group followed Hu Fei into the service area’s mall. The supermarket was still operating normally, the restrooms next to it were usable, and there was hot water.

But this was limited to administrative personnel and their families. Ordinary people only had a daily ration of three or four liters.

The Administration Bureau’s temporary office was set up in the rest stop motel next door. By now, forty to fifty Enhanced People and Awakeners had already gathered outside the entrance.

They were all participants in this emergency mission.

They were mostly men, with few women, and the majority were brawny.

All of them had killed Zergs before, so they wouldn’t be lacking in courage or strength.

Seeing that Hu Fei had finally brought Mr. Lin, Han Yuxin, who was struggling to maintain order, secretly breathed a sigh of relief and announced:

"Alright, everyone. We’re all here now."

As she finished speaking, dozens of gazes turned toward the approaching Lin Feng and his group, focusing especially on the young man in the lead.

A question surfaced in their minds. This guy in shorts and a t-shirt they had been waiting for for so long...

...just what was his deal?