Chapter 1030: Selling the News

s"Drive! Drive faster! Hurry up and drive!"

On the frozen tundra plain, several scavengers still shaken from the fright sat in the truck bed, unable to help but shout lowly toward the cab.

While speaking, several people, as if fearing that some monster might chase them from behind, huddled together and looked back.

Under constant urging, the pickup truck, throttled to full power like a rampaging buffalo, belched black smoke and then madly fled toward the Safe Zone.

After a moment.

As the old pickup jolted, as if overloaded and forced to slow down, the few people in the truck finally swallowed their saliva and exchanged glances.

"That person doesn't seem to have chased after us..!?"

Still frightened.

Seeing the mine marker already vanished at the horizon, with nothing but a desolate road ahead, the several people finally exhaled a long breath as if relieved of a heavy burden.

But for some reason, although they felt they had escaped death, a miner-clad Awakened One suddenly gave a self-mocking laugh:

"Forget it, it's not that he didn't pursue."

"It's that mysterious person simply didn't regard us as worth noticing... If he really made a move, we'd probably already be dead."

As soon as the words were spoken, the few people on the truck who had thought they were fast enough froze, then after thinking, all fell silent.

That's right.

With that mysterious person's monstrous speed, he could probably catch up to them in just a few breaths.

Obviously, the other side merely regarded them as ants and let them go; if it weren't for Eagle Eye overusing his ability, he probably wouldn't have drawn the other's attention.

On the truck, a middle-aged Awakened One with a wry smile dragged a youth's head, his eyes full of worry:

"That person, I think he's no longer bothering with us.."

"How terrifying.."

"Eagle Eye just glanced at him, and look what happened.."

The man lowered his head, looking at the youth whose head he was holding, his words full of lingering fear.

Only see the youth with Eagle Eye talent, now like an idiot, staring blankly, unmoving.

If not for the rise and fall of his chest, he would look practically like a corpse.

The truck body swayed; the pickup driving on the rough road shook like a tractor, making people want to vomit.

"Ah, who to blame? In the face of such an existence, just surviving is already not bad."

Everyone looked at the dazed youth, only able to console themselves, offering encouragement.

But, in the midst of self-consolation, the burly man who had first recorded the video couldn't help but blurt out:

"First, don't worry about this kid,"

"The video—should we sell it or not!!"

"That person definitely didn't chase after us; maybe he doesn't even care."

"Selling this video on the chat channel would net at least one piece of equipment per person! Exchanged for food, it'd be enough to feed us for half a year!"

Speaking hurriedly, the burly man glanced regretfully at Eagle Eye's profile.

He wasn't regretting that the other seemed to have turned into a fool; he regretted that Eagle Eye's video was wasted. If Eagle Eye could still "come alive," the clearest video he held could fetch at least several times the price!

He had already watched his own recording.

Although he could vaguely see the battle scene, it was too blurry to make out the opponent's most important fighting style; needless to say, its value would surely be greatly reduced.

"Sell!!"

"You're crazy!!"

"Not chasing us now is just our luck. If you dare sell a recording of such a top-tier expert, aren't you afraid he'll come straight after us!? Don't end up losing your life before you even trade for food!"

Hearing the burly man's idea, the oldest Awakened One among them directly snapped at him with a look of panic.

He really was afraid. Though he was initially tempted, after Eagle Eye's mishap he didn't want to take any risk at all.

An Awakened One capable of instantly killing a third-rank high-level mutant... an existence of that terrifying level, finding him would be as easy as breathing.

To be honest, he still can't comprehend how someone in this world could kill a Sun Walker!

Although his strength isn't high, he who likes to hang out on the chat channel naturally knows that the highest rank among global Awakened Ones is only third-rank initial!

Logically, at this stage it's impossible for anyone to oppose a high-level mutant.

Thus, a strong sense of dread continually lingered in their hearts.

That figure—just what is it, human or something else!?

Hearing his companion's panicked rebuttal, the burly man's face darkened. Not sell!? Not sell and just go back to scavenging trash? As an Awakened One with little strength, he's only slightly better than an ordinary person. In his eyes, this is the sole chance to turn his fortunes!

"Not sell!? You're afraid of that person, but aren't you afraid of zombies either!?"

"If we keep going like this day after day, we'll surely run into mutants in the wilderness! If we sell and hide, I don't believe he could still find us!"

Speaking hurriedly, the burly man tried to convince his companions; he truly didn't want to give up this opportunity!

While speaking, a hint of something unusual flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He also feared being found by Lin An, but with more people selling, the chance of them locating him would be smaller... If he didn't drag everyone along, he also lacked the courage.

"You! If you want to die, go sell it yourself! Don't drag us down!"

"If that 'person' really is a person, have you considered what his identity might be!? I even suspect he's the super-powered expert hidden in our Soviet War Zone! He might even be a big shot in the military! Otherwise, where else could such a powerful existence be!"

Upon hearing that, the burly man paused, his heart also suddenly trembling after his companion's rebuttal.

Yeah, he almost forgot—such a powerful Awakened One, a super expert who theoretically shouldn't even exist, how could he possibly have no identity?

With a gloomy expression, after a while he squeezed out a hoarse sentence from his throat:

"Then let's not sell it on the trading channel!"

"We'll sell it to the leader of the Safe Zone! Just exchange for something! If we sell privately, even if there's trouble they won't find us, right!?"

Hearing the burly man's unwillingness to give up, the few people exchanged glances and sighed.

But his eyes also showed a hint of abnormality.

The burly man's suggestion was correct; not selling openly would reduce the problem considerably. Although we'd sell less, safety comes first.

Hesitating, the middle-aged man who was dragging Eagle Eye spoke uncertainly:

"Who would we sell it to? We..."

Before he could finish speaking, the burly man, as if fully confident, hurriedly said:

"Sell it to Lei Mao's people!"

"The Sun Walkers are already the biggest threat near the Safe Zone! If they found out the mine is no longer dangerous, don't you think this information would be hugely valuable?!"

"Don't forget, our Safe Zone's leader just went out a few days ago to deal with mutants. If we told him there's a super-powered expert nearby helping him solve the problem, wouldn't he be interested?!"

Having said that, he looked at everyone with fervent eyes, satisfied to see that they seemed convinced by him.

Moments later, several identical private messages were sent in succession.

"Top secret! A super-powered expert capable of instantly killing high-level mutants has reportedly appeared near..."

The convoy returning to the city.

Inside the armored vehicle, Ke Lei contemptuously looked at the few private messages he'd received, and couldn't help sharing them with Feng Lie, who had just boarded:

"Feng Lie, you say nowadays scammers are really stupid. They actually managed to scam me."

"They want to sell me a piece of information, claiming it's extremely important!"

"Huh?"

Indifferently turning his head, a tall, slim youth in a blue combat uniform, an Awakened One, calmly looked over:

"What news? Is anyone still daring to scam you?"

Chuckling lightly, Ke Lei replied mockingly:

"A few idiots claim they recorded a battle between an Awakened One and a third-rank advanced mutant, right near us!"

"Good heavens, what are these idiots thinking! A third-rank advanced mutant! A monster of that level could kill us with a single breath, yet they fantasize someone could stand against it! They're nothing but frogs in a well, probably don't even know what third-rank means!"

Hearing Ke Lei's words, the seemingly very steady Feng Lie couldn't help but burst out laughing for a moment:

"That's right."

"Third-rank advanced... one person can instantly kill it?"

"Not to mention us, who among Awakened Ones worldwide could stand against it? Even if Lin An encountered that monster, he'd probably be turned to scraps in a few seconds! Unless that kid directly Blinks away, facing an advanced mutant, anyone is just walking to their death!"

Having said that, Feng Lie, as if thinking of something, spoke with a smile:

"Let's not talk about this news, Ke Lei. Have you heard a rumor? In the Huaxia War Zone, someone allegedly caught sight of Lin An. It's said he might have risen to intermediate level! I don't know if it's true or not..."

His feelings were complex; although Feng Lie is a super-powered expert from the Soviet War Zone ranked as high as 103rd, having undergone trials, he constantly compares himself to Lin An. The reason is simple: Lin An initially imposed enormous psychological pressure on all Awakened Ones worldwide.

Seeing through Feng Lie's thoughts, Ke Lei indifferently shook his head and patted his shoulder:

"Feng Lie! The rumor is definitely false! You know how hard it is to reach intermediate level!"

"Lin An's strength lay in being strong before third rank! Now everyone is third rank, so the gap between us and him has definitely shrunk a lot!"

"Believe me, at your current pace, you won't be much slower than him!"

Having said that, the two exchanged a smile and began chatting casually.

But when Ke Lei saw that the sender's name bore the insignia of his own Safe Zone, a cold smirk rose in his heart.

"His own underling's dog dared to scam him? When he gets back, he'll drag that person out no matter what!"

As for the message, he simply chose to ignore it.

"If anyone could kill a third-rank advanced mutant, Ke Lei could eat his own armored vehicle!"

"Really, it's utterly ridiculous..."