The warmth of the festivities gradually faded.

In the eyes of the ordinary people in the shelter, this year’s New Birth Festival didn’t seem much different from previous years, still as lively as ever.

Even with the massacre footage as a bloody interlude, the complaints from the public against the City Council were much quieter, mostly indulging in online ranting.

After all, the City Council presented reasons and evidence, proving that those killed were all from Can Society.

Dare to protest, risking death?

In public, this matter is considered settled.

However, privately, the City Council has clearly ramped up the efforts to eliminate Can Society, almost to the point of preferring to catch mistakes rather than letting anything slip.

The high-ranking officials are fully aware of the outrageous things Can Society pulled off this time.

Not to mention that during that period, Can Society successfully took over the Southeast Base, and the City Council simply couldn’t tolerate such a powerful armed force right under their noses.

If the attack on the Heavy Element Reactor had truly succeeded, whether Shelter Number 9 would still exist was a different story.

This wasn’t just inciting some civilian rioting, this was attempting to flip the table.

The City Council’s stance on this is very unified: zero tolerance, eradicate evil thoroughly.

As for Lv Bai, who stepped forward and dissolved this unprecedented disaster into invisibility, the City Council has praised him endlessly.

Although the truth of the whole incident isn’t convenient to disclose, every conceivable substantive reward was given.

There’s no need to elaborate on the economic rewards.

Upon learning that Lv Bai is still living with his younger brother and sister in Habitable City, the City Council directly issued a directive to allocate funds, having a professional construction team build a residence from scratch in the Central District according to Lv Bai’s requirements.

The only requirement, if it can be called a requirement... was to have Lv Bai join Cheng Wu Zhi, taking on the deputy captain position of a squad, ready to be promoted when a vacancy arises.

And considering that Lv Bai is currently employed at the Field Department of Zudian Campus, he was exceptionally allowed a concurrent appointment.

With this experience on record, later whether he wants to enter the City Council as a legislator or be appointed as the principal of Death Battle Campus, there are no issues, it just requires time.

It’s worth mentioning that regarding this point, the First Army of the shelter and the Security Defense Department both came to recruit Lv Bai with sincere offers and sufficient terms.

Lv Bai’s performance in Deathmatch encounters, if one desires to know, is no secret to those with authority.

Realizing there’s such an astonishing prodigy in their shelter, even without Lv Bai stepping forward during this incident, they would’ve been investing with financial incentives.

Money, honor, future, even spiritual needs, are all within easy reach for Lv Bai.

Of course, he’s not the only one to go through this entire process.

The City Council is already very experienced in this regard.

As long as they confirmed real talent, they will never be stingy in investment, and the respect they deserve will not be withheld.

Frankly, the management committee of the Underground City at Shelter Number 9 is far from being corrupt.

They clearly understand their foundational existence; with the presence of the Deathmatch System, upward mobility can’t be completely blocked, nor is it necessary to do so.

There’s no suppression or fear; to them, talents like Lv Bai are naturally considered their peers.

Lv Bai didn’t show any resistance to all of this, accepting it very naturally.

No matter what he plans to do in the future, he indeed should first delve deeply into this entire societal system.

Of course, the most critical thing is to first possess the power, the power to stand against everyone without fear.

And to achieve this, ultimately the matter returns to the Deathmatch encounters.

...

"I don’t understand, why are you so eager to enter the Death Arena again?"

Pu Xueli stood before Lv Bai, face full of powerless confusion: "What are you so anxious about? Everyone enters the Death Arena only once a year; are you really that confident in yourself? No unexpected incidents could occur?"

"Yes, indeed."

Lv Bai sat on the sofa in his room, waiting for the new round of Deathmatch to start. He seemed extraordinarily leisurely, with no awareness of the impending danger.

"Do you know it’s always the skilled swimmers who drown? You’re not lacking anything right now, why rush?"

Looking at his demeanor, Pu Xueli felt a strong impulse to walk away.

However, after taking two steps, he turned around, continuing to advise earnestly: "Even if you don’t consider yourself, should you consider your younger brother and sister?

They can now enjoy such abundant material life, free from worries, everyone holding them up, all thanks to you.

But what if something unexpected happens to you in the Deathmatch encounters? Ziyi and Qingyan are still so young; do you think the City Council is filled with benevolent people?"

Lv Bai still wore a harmless smile on his face, which from Pu Xueli’s angle was truly infuriating.

Yet he understood that Pu Xueli meant well; it’s just that Lv Bai’s situation indeed couldn’t be explained to him.

Lv Bai listened quietly, then shook his head gently, subsequently putting away his smile, speaking sincerely: "I am confident; I might tell you the reason, but not now."

Having spoken this far, Pu Xueli knew continuing to advise would be annoying.

After a long silence, he stormed off: "Fine, suit yourself, if you really die, I will still ensure your brother and sister have something to eat."

Watching Pu Xueli’s departing figure, Lv Bai exhaled deeply.

He’s truly not worried about his Deathmatch encounters.

After acquiring [Load], Death Fighters pose no threat to him; the dangers come from the Death Arena itself.

And having acquired [Restore], relying on the vast abilities in the "Recycling Station," as long it’s not a Death Arena with offensively high power levels, he can generally cope with it.

So, regarding Deathmatch encounters, he hardly sees any risk at all.

After the door automatically locked, the room felt exceptionally serene.

Lv Bai looked at the countdown on the system panel.

Estimating the time, he lay on the sofa, leisurely poured a glass of orange juice, and drank it all.

The next second, the familiar mechanical prompt of the Deathmatch System sounded in his mind.

[Ding!]

[The sixth round of Deathmatch begins.]

[Teleporting begins!]

...

[Death Arena Serial Number: 92****8743]

[Username: Clever Murphy]

[Main Title Equipped: Innocent Smile (Four Stars)]

[Deputy Titles Equipped: Mad Slaughter (Four Stars), Ultimate Killing Demon (Four Stars)]

[Talent: 137.2]

[Current Points: 0]

[Current Rank: 200/200]

[Abilities: ?, ?, Flash Time, All Ink, Spiritual Time House]

[Attention! The first round ability pool has been opened, selection is possible]