Chapter 174: The Fuse of Conflict

Lin Chen had just gotten up when the system popped up a prompt: 【Detected that today is the Starfire Mercenary Group's

"Outstanding Member Commendation Day." The high-level officials will hold a banquet at the headquarters and invite the host to participate.

It is recommended to bring an "Absolute Zero Ability Demonstration Video," which can improve the favor of high-level officials. Do you want to generate the video?】

Lin Chen said to the system: "Generate the video." Soon, a video of him fighting the mutant Licker before appeared on the communicator, the picture clear, and the power of the Ice Blade could be clearly seen.

He and Xia Nuan finished a simple breakfast, brought the video, and drove the off-road vehicle to the Starfire Mercenary Group headquarters.

Just arriving at the headquarters gate, he saw Zhao Feng waiting: "Lin Chen, Commander Zhang and the others are waiting inside.

This banquet is specially held for you and two other outstanding members. Perform well." Lin Chen nodded and followed Zhao Feng into the banquet hall.

Several round tables were placed in the banquet hall, and Commander Zhang and several other high-level officials were sitting at the main table.

Seeing Lin Chen come in, they waved for him to come over. "Lin Chen, sit here." Commander Zhang said with a smile,

"We all recognize your ability, especially the time you collected intelligence on the Iron Hand Group,

being both decisive and careful, which few young members can do." Another high-level official added: "We watched the ability video you submitted, and the application of Absolute Zero is very proficient. In the future, if the mercenary group has high-difficulty missions, they will be given to you first."

Lin Chen thanked them and sat beside the main table. Soon the other two outstanding members also arrived,

and the banquet officially began. The waiter served the first dish—braised pork, shiny and bright,

with a fragrant smell. "This is Master Wang's signature dish, try it." Commander Zhang said,

taking a piece first. Lin Chen tasted it; the meat was soft and rotten, and the taste was as delicious as what Auntie Wang made in the safe zone.

Next,

the waiter served eight dishes one after another—

steamed fish, sweet and sour pork ribs, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, stewed chicken soup, sauce beef, cold-mixed wood ear, fried meatballs, tofu soup, plus braised pork, exactly nine dishes.

Everyone ate while chatting about mission experiences. Lin Chen occasionally shared his experience of fighting zombies and enemies, and the high-level officials listened very carefully, nodding and praising from time to time.

"Lin Chen,

are you interested in joining the core decision-making layer of the mercenary group? Participate in the formulation of important plans for the mercenary group in the future."

Commander Zhang suddenly asked. Lin Chen was stunned for a moment, then said: "Thank you for Commander Zhang's appreciation.

I currently want to lead the team to execute missions first and protect my safe zone well.

After I have the ability in the future, I will consider joining the decision-making layer." Commander Zhang nodded: "Okay, we respect your choice. If you change your mind in the future, find me at any time."

After the banquet, Lin Chen and Xia Nuan returned to the safe zone. Just walking into the villa,

Tuan Tuan ran over and rubbed against his trouser legs, clearly hungry. Xia Nuan poured cat food for Tuan Tuan, and Lin Chen sat on the sofa, recalling the appreciation of the high-level officials at the banquet, feeling very stable in his heart.

Just at this time,

the voice of the blackened Lin Chen suddenly rang in his mind: "Idiot! High-level officials appreciate you,

and you actually didn't take the opportunity to join the decision-making layer, what a waste of opportunity! Do you think guarding that broken safe zone is useful?

It will be destroyed by the enemy sooner or later!"

Lin Chen frowned and ignored him.

The blackened Lin Chen's voice was even more excited: "I shouldn't have chosen you as the host in the first place! I didn't win when grabbing the body, and now watching you waste the opportunity, it's really infuriating!"

"I have my own ideas,

you don't need to worry about it."

Lin Chen finally spoke in response. The blackened Lin Chen sneered: "Your ideas?

That is guarding Xia Nuan and that cat, living a stable life? There is no stable life in the apocalypse.

When the Iron Hand Group comes, when the Children of the Universe come, you will know how naive you are!"

Lin Chen clenched his fists and still didn't refute—he knew that the blackened Lin Chen was just worried, but he had his own persistence. Protecting the safe zone and the people around him was more important than joining the decision-making layer.

Xia Nuan finished feeding Tuan Tuan and walked over to sit beside Lin Chen: "What's wrong? Is something uncomfortable?"

Lin Chen shook his head and held her hand: "It's nothing, just thinking about future missions.

By the way, Commander Zhang invited me to join the core decision-making layer, and I refused." Xia Nuan was stunned for a moment, then said with a smile: "I support you. No matter what decision you make, I will be with you."

The blackened Lin Chen's voice was still complaining in his mind, but Lin Chen directly blocked his consciousness,

looking at Xia Nuan intently: "With you here, it's really good." Tuan Tuan also came over, curled up between the two, and made a slight purring sound. The living room was very quiet, with only Tuan Tuan's purring sound and the wind outside the window. Lin Chen looked at the people and cat beside him, his heart full of warmth—no matter how the blackened Lin Chen scolded, no matter how many dangers there were in the future, he would stick to his choice and protect all of this well. ===== CHAPTER 175 =====