[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-how-do-we-play-if-this-boss-isn-t-nerfed":3,"chapter-how-do-we-play-if-this-boss-isn-t-nerfed-how-do-we-play-if-this-boss-isn-t-nerfed-chapter-51":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","How Do We Play If This Boss Isn't Nerfed?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1618176,2083,"Chapter 51 - 50: Good Friend","how-do-we-play-if-this-boss-isn-t-nerfed-chapter-51",51,"\u003Cp>The sound of their conversation grew fainter and fainter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two figures in special hazmat suits quickly disappeared around the corner of another building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t until he was certain they were completely gone that Lin Ye slowly eased his taut nerves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, a chill climbed up his spine, making him shudder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’There are other people in this abandoned city I’ve been using as my personal leveling ground!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye was incredibly thankful for his caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was glad he had always made it a rule to lie low in the abandoned city, never revealing his presence. Even when grinding monsters for EXP, he was the hit-and-run type.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that was the only reason he hadn’t run into this mysterious group head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye’s mind raced, deconstructing and analyzing the short conversation he had just overheard, extracting the most critical information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their conversation contained a few key phrases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Took the long way around,\" \"contamination zone,\" \"escaped.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Why take the long way around?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’This clearly shows they have some purpose, or perhaps a mission, to patrol or investigate this area.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Based on the rest of their conversation, I can confirm that their target, just like mine, is the mutated beasts in the abandoned city.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The term \"contamination zone\" immediately made him think of the legends that the city was abandoned due to an explosion at a chemical plant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’But what kind of chemical contamination could last for a hundred years and cause such drastic mutations in the local wildlife?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Or maybe the so-called \"contamination\" isn’t a chemical substance at all, but something far more mysterious and dangerous.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phrase \"escaped\" all but confirmed his previous suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’This group is likely trying to contain the mutated beasts’ range of activity. Or, to put it another way, deeper in the abandoned city, there’s a place where a large number of mutated beasts are being held captive!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, there was what they were wearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Why wear heavy protective suits?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’Is it because of the \"contamination\" they mentioned?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye could smell the scent of rust and another indescribable odor lingering in the air of the abandoned city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had confirmed that the smell was only pungent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t harmful to his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, there’s no way he could have been leveling up here for so long, perfectly fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a matter of moments, Lin Ye had considered many possibilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final question was the identity of these two people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were they official personnel from the Dongjiang City Government, or from some other mysterious organization?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye couldn’t tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either way, it wasn’t good news for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>’If I’m exposed, the consequences will be unimaginable.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mutated beasts were already scarce in the abandoned city during the day. Now there was an added, unknown risk. This was no place to linger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After confirming it was safe, Lin Ye left without a sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Dongjiang First Middle School, Cafeteria.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye carried a tray piled high like a small mountain, found a corner seat, and began to wolf it down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The daily task of consuming twenty thousand calories was something Lin Ye could currently only barely complete by freeloading off the school cafeteria.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, with his family’s current financial situation, he’d probably eat them out of house and home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah Ye!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar voice called out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye looked up and saw Li Jun approaching with a tray of his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tray was also piled high with a mountain of food.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Ye knew Li Jun’s appetite wasn’t nearly as big as his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jun had gotten it for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jun plopped down across from Lin Ye with a carefree grin on his face, but his first action after sitting down made Lin Ye pause his chewing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He furtively pulled a black bank card from his pocket and, making sure no one was watching, shoved it under Lin Ye’s tray.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The PIN is 147258.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jun said quickly, his voice low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye looked at him without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jun felt a little unnerved by his stare, scratched his head, and explained, \"I... I heard from my dad. About Mr. Lin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye and Li Jun were childhood friends who grew up in the same alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their families had once been neighbors, living across the hall from each other, and were very close.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Later, due to restructuring at his work unit, Li Jun’s father was promoted. Their family’s life got better and better, and they moved to a high-end residential complex in the city.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though they moved, the two of them never lost touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I swiped one of my dad’s spare bank cards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jun’s voice dropped even lower, as if he were involved in some shady business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Lin’s surgery is definitely going to cost a lot of money. You take this and use it for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Later... you can pay me back or not, whatever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the end, he probably felt that didn’t sound right and added, \"Of course, it’d be best if you could pay me back. Otherwise, my old man will break my legs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his friend’s mix of righteous loyalty and guilty conscience, Lin Ye felt a wave of warmth wash over him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye laughed and teased, \"Does your dad know what a dutiful son he has?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jun gave a goofy grin, showing his white teeth. \"What are old folks for if not to be farmed for gold coins!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Besides, this card isn’t even in his name. Who knows which person trying to ask him for a favor slipped it to him. Even if it goes missing, he might not even notice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After laughing, however, the expression on Li Jun’s face gradually faded. He looked at Lin Ye, his eyes filled with a complicated emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah Ye.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Lately... you’ve changed a lot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So much that you almost feel like a stranger to me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice held a subtle, almost imperceptible hint of distance and probing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We’re... still best friends, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those words were like a needle, gently pricking Lin Ye’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally realized that in his recent frenzy to level up and become stronger, he had inadvertently neglected many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like his friendship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye put down his chopsticks, swallowed the food in his mouth, and looked seriously into Li Jun’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I used to think that even though we live in an incredible era, we were born with average talent and humble beginnings. I thought it would be great to just get into a good college, find a decent job, and live out our lives in peace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But some things have happened recently that have shown me another side of this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ve discovered that if you’re not strong enough, you don’t even have the right to protect your own family.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye’s voice was calm, yet it carried an unprecedented firmness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, Li Jun, remember this.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter what I become, no matter where I end up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You will always be my best friend.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jun stared blankly at Lin Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Lin Ye’s deep eyes, he saw exhaustion, pressure, and the towering waves hidden beneath the calm surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But more than that, he saw sincerity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sincerity between them that had never changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, the rims of Li Jun’s eyes turned red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sniffled hard, as if to hide something, and then reverted to his usual devil-may-care attitude, punching Lin Ye on the shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn! Cut the sentimental crap!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re giving me goosebumps!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He grumbled and cursed, but the corners of his mouth turned up uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye laughed too and pushed the bank card under the tray back to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The money... I can’t take it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why not?\" Li Jun grew anxious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why are you being so polite with me? You don’t see me as a brother?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s precisely because I see you as a brother that I can’t take it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye’s gaze was calm and sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My dad was injured in the line of duty, so the military is covering all his medical expenses. We’re not short on money for now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If one day I’m really at the end of my rope and have no other choice...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Ye paused, then grinned, revealing his white teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My good son, Dad will come ask you for a loan then.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Screw you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Jun laughed and cursed, throwing another punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they joked and roughhoused, it felt as if they were back in the old days.\u003C\u002Fp>",1409,"2026-06-06T10:31:47.882Z",1,"novelbin.me","019be7272251aadab9eedd6f92a6b84bf63d9fdbe46263929a1d83387010a3ec","how-do-we-play-if-this-boss-isn-t-nerfed-chapter-52","how-do-we-play-if-this-boss-isn-t-nerfed-chapter-150",250,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-do-we-play-if-this-boss-isn-t-nerfed-cover.jpg"]