Chapter 529: I Want to Go Too

Lin An paused at the sound, then felt somewhat helpless.

Take Mo Ling with me...

Actually, it's not very suitable.

This time, his trip to the Secret Realm isn't to complete a mission but to avoid system penalties, and incidentally break through his limit.

More people just cause trouble.

The situation in the Secret Realm is hard to predict; often it's just random events.

Bringing Zhang Tie alone should be enough.

Moreover, Mo Ling's ability is too important for the Safe Zone.

Whether it's Ghost Infant Teleport or summoning zombies, her staying at Long'an Base is the optimal solution.

If I bring Mo Ling, Anxia will probably insist on coming along too.

For the two of them, he really can't rest easy.

In his absence, the base's safety must be supported by sufficient combat strength.

Seeing Lin An's hesitation, Mo Ling's spirits instantly sank.

"I won't drag you down!"

"Those two flesh-and-blood puppets—I've raised them to be strong!"

Head held high, she stubbornly wanted to prove she could help.

Mo Ling summoned the two puppets inside, wanting to show them to him.

These days, I haven't slacked off even a single day.

Lin An saw this and quickly spoke up to stop it, inwardly sighing:

"Be good, stay at the base."

"Staying here is the greatest help you can give me."

"Everyone needs you."

As soon as the words fell, Mo Ling's eye sockets instantly reddened.

Wronged, sad.

Clearly, before, I would always bring her wherever I went.

But since Anxia returned, the bits of time Lin An could squeeze out of his busy schedule have mostly been spent accompanying Anxia.

Before, no matter where I went, I brought her along, and whenever we encountered zombies, I needed her to act.

But now, I feel like I have no presence at all, and Lin An hardly seeks me out anymore.

My heart feels empty, as if I've been abandoned.

She doesn't understand what this is; she only knows she feels terribly wronged.

I just want to follow you, I just want to be with you—what's wrong with that?

After the apocalypse, aside from her sister, she has no family left.

Naturally solitary, Mo Ling usually doesn't communicate much with others.

It can be said that Lin An is one of the people she's closest to after the apocalypse.

Even, to some extent, she feels she's a monster, and only Lin An is her "kindred spirit."

Seeing Lin An's serious, unquestionable gaze, Mo Ling, feeling wronged, lowered her head and suddenly rushed out of the meeting room:

"Stinky Lin An! I hate you!"

"I never want to see you again!"

She said it in anger; Lin An watched Mo Ling rush out of the meeting room and couldn't help but wryly smile.

Meanwhile, unnoticed, Wen Ya stood beside him, mouth open as if wanting to say something.

But seeing his vexation, she could only silently close her mouth again.

Actually...

She also wanted to say, why not let her come along with Lin An too?

To be honest, since the Suturer battle, the two of them have hardly ever acted together.

Lin An was busy completing missions and clearing forces, while she managed the myriad trivial affairs of the Safe Zone.

Their last private conversation might trace back to the night Lin An took her to "appreciate" the Soul-Calming Sword Sheath.

They've grown increasingly... distant.

It's like they're superior and subordinate.

She can't be like little Mo Ling, venting her emotions whenever they arise.

Is she sad? But she feels she doesn't even have the right to be sad.

For no reason, she suddenly felt she was merely a tool, and between her and Lin An...

... nothing would happen.

Lin An needs her ability, and she was saved by Lin An once.

That's all.

So-called feelings—are they merely her one-sided wish?

The atmosphere was heavy and gloomy.

The news that Lin An was leaving made everyone fall silent involuntarily.

Seeing this, Lin An sighed, looked at his companions with a complex gaze, and reluctantly offered comfort:

"What's the matter—can't you live without me?"

"Besides, I won't be gone long. The flow of time in the Secret Realm differs from that in the real world."

Maybe I'll go in for a few days and the mission will be done.

In your view, it's probably just go in and come out right away.

Squeezing out a smile, Lin An tried to get everyone to relax a bit.

He knew this is the aftereffect of the Amoeba Worm dungeon.

Those who had entered the dungeon still felt lingering fear.

Those who hadn't gone in anxiously awaited his return.

"Lin Dui, without you we can't survive..."

Xiong Hanzi's expression was gloomy; he suddenly blurted out a sentence, making Lin An almost unable to resist beating him.

With Zhang Tie's interruption, the originally heavy atmosphere eased considerably, and Gao Tian and Jing Tian also perked up, no longer dwelling on this.

In Lin An's absence, they were the backbone of Long'an Base.

But no one present noticed; beneath Wen Ya's downcast face, she felt sour, her slender fingers tightly gripping the hem of her shirt.

No way.

Everyone present was a straight-as-steel guy; no one noticed her thoughts.

Gao Tian has never dated, let alone Xiong Hanzi.

Jing Tian is a dull oil bottle, while Chu An is like a robot.

If there were a normal person, they'd probably be able to see her thoughts.

East Ying War Zone.

Kyushu Safe Zone, the core of spiritual ability.

In the dim lighting, inside a room with metal construction on all sides, several First Level peak Awakened Ones knelt respectfully behind a man.

"Minister, the Daehan War Zone is selling Epic Tier weapons; according to intel, that weapon is a prop they retired."

"I sent the equipment stats to the team leader; he takes this seriously, so I specially came to report to you."

"The equipment stats are very helpful to our plan."

Before the glass case glowing with a faint light, the man standing before the crowd heard this news, and a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

He looked away, incredulous.

"Epic Tier equipment? For sale?"

"Are they crazy? How could equipment of this tier possibly be sold?"

"Can't it be used?"

Seeing the superior find it unbelievable, the subordinate reporting the situation quickly explained.

After a moment, Hei Ze Chu An's eyes flashed; excited, he sprang to his feet.

"Pass my order, call an emergency meeting."

"If this is true, we definitely need to seize this equipment!"

"Last time's operation, the losses were too great..."

"We sacrificed so many people, yet in the end we only got this result..."

Just thinking about the nuclear power plant incident, Hei Ze Chu An couldn't help clenching his fists.

To be honest, since his subordinate brought back that 'reward prop' after collapsing, he almost cut down the squad leader on the spot.

How dare you come back?

You asked me for two thousand Awakened Ones, deployed three armored divisions, and on top of that used two dirty bombs domestically.

And the final result turned out to be this?

If not for multiple proofs, and the Awakened Ones who went with him confirming this, he would have thought his subordinates had betrayed him.

He loosened his fists and let out a long breath.

The good news that the Daehan War Zone was willing to sell them Epic Tier equipment swept away his gloom of these days.

"Maybe... this is Amaterasu's compensation for us..."

He muttered to himself.

Before preparing to attend the meeting, Hei Ze Chu An couldn't help but glance at the 'reward prop' enshrined in the bulletproof glass.

But every time he saw it, he felt his inner self twitch.

Like a bulletproof glass case holding top-tier artwork.

A bottle of Coca-Cola was placed on it.

An hour ago, he clutched his last hope and resentment, trembling as he took a sip.

Hmm, it's indeed Coca-Cola.

And it's leaking, damn it.