Chapter 37: Boss, You're Generous! (Revised)

【Side Quest Trigger: Loot Armory (0/1)】

【Mission Reward: Experience +50%】

Whoa!

Boss, you're so generous!

Facing a whole room of "pick‑up" items, who wouldn't want to pack them all up and take them away?

And letting him loot freely is one thing, but giving experience rewards as well?

How is this any different from a buy‑one‑get‑one?

Give me more of these quests!

Although this kind of quest reward seems to undermine early‑game balance, maybe it's because this quest is tougher, and the supplies are provided to players ahead of time?

Ying Duo's originally hollow, soulless eyes instantly lit up upon hearing that.

He immediately took action, with astonishing efficiency.

Ying Duo walked to the first row of weapon racks; his hands were a blur, and any weapon he touched vanished instantly. Soon, an entire row of rifles disappeared.

Next, the submachine guns and their magazines on the adjacent rack vanished with another wave of his hand.

He didn't pause at all, as if he possessed an endless Dimensional Pocket; wherever he passed, the metal racks became empty at a visibly rapid pace.

Bai Mu Yun originally stood with arms crossed, watching, assuming Ying Duo would at least select some of the equipment.

But when he saw the third weapon rack become spotless in the blink of an eye, he finally caught on.

Bai Mu Yun slightly frowned, genuine surprise flashing in his golden eyes.

He knew Ying Duo's Aberrant Arts involved Space Law, with spatial storage abilities, but the capacity far exceeded his initial estimate.

This is no longer the concept of "carrying a few weapons"; it's essentially packing up an entire small armory!

He watched Ying Duo sweep through the basement like a passing locust, emptying all valuable weapons and gear, leaving only a few empty racks.

The whole process took less than three minutes.

"...... Enough."

When Ying Duo seemed to turn his gaze to the last rack holding several spare combat suits, Bai Mu Yun finally spoke to stop him, his voice carrying a complex, hard‑to‑define emotion.

"Are you planning to sweep away the wall panels here as well?"

Oh, that's not impossible......

After all, this place was built with high tech; perhaps the walls are made of some alloy?

Since Bai Mu Yun didn't mention it, Yang Yixie truly hadn't thought of that.

Ying Duo suddenly halted, as if the frantic looter moments ago wasn't him.

But those incredibly bright golden eyes stared straight at Bai Mu Yun, as if sincerely asking:

"May I do this?"

His Game Backpack was already packed with all kinds of firearms, ammunition, and items.

Although the backpack was getting cramped, he could now use materials to expand its capacity.

Bai Mu Yun rubbed his forehead and reconfirmed his earlier judgment.

This "Defective Product" is, in some respects, frustratingly "defective," yet on the other hand, it's "useful" beyond expectations.

Bai Mu Yun massaged both temples, trying to ignore the absurd scene before him.

It's not that he's stingy; this place, after all, is one of their outposts, and resupplying from elsewhere takes time—this outpost can't leave everything behind.

"Let's go." He ignored Ying Duo's yearning gaze, turned and headed for the exit.

"The auction is about to start; remember, don't casually reveal your Aberrant Arts, especially that damned Ying Guang Lu."

Yang Yixie could only sigh regretfully, wishing his actions had been quicker; he should have finished collecting the items, then expanded his backpack while beginning to use tools to strip the wall panels.

The two walked out of the basement one after another, the hidden door silently closing behind them.

Tianmian City's night had officially arrived, and countless neon signs lit up.

Beneath these bizarre lights, an undercurrent centered on "Old World Undead" was quietly surging.

The "Undercurrent" auction hall wasn't located in Tianmian City's flashy commercial core, but, as its name suggests, hidden in the city's lowest tier—the deep underground of Poor District No. 10.

The Slum itself is a den of mixed rogues where laws are weak, and the auction hall's exact location is even more secretive.

Bai Mu Yun didn't drive; instead, he walked with Ying Duo through several narrow alleys, finally stopping before a heavy iron door that seemed to be part of an abandoned underground pipe network.

The rust and grime on the door served as natural camouflage, with only an inconspicuous scanner on the side hinting at the place's peculiarity.

Bai Mu Yun extended a finger; a barely perceptible strand of black energy flickered from his fingertip, and the scanner emitted a brief green flash.

The heavy iron door slid inward with a dull "creak," revealing a dim staircase that descended, wide enough for the two to walk side by side.

Air tinged with mildew and rust assaulted them, starkly different from the purified air above; Bai Mu Yun disdainfully covered his mouth and nose.

"Stay close." He whispered, then stepped into the darkness ahead of them.

【You have discovered a hidden passage, marked on your mini‑map.】

The staircase was long, spiraling downward.

The walls were rough concrete, with only a dim, low‑power wall lamp spaced far apart, offering a faint yellowish glow for barely seeing.

It always felt that at the end of the stairs, or around some corner, a treasure chest would appear......

This place seemed like a world cut off from everything, completely isolating Tianmian City's splendor above.

After about five minutes of walking, the view opened up brightly.

At the staircase's end there was no chest, but a spacious underground area that had been meticulously renovated and furnished.

A towering Dome projected soft, simulated natural light; beneath their feet lay a plush, dark‑blue carpet, and the walls were lined with sound‑absorbing material, making the expansive space unusually quiet.

Only a low, subterranean‑like background hum lingered in the ears.

【Something seems to be below......】

There must be something down there, otherwise where would they go?

Ying Duo didn't even want to complain about that idiot System Prompt, and simply ignored it.

Although combining the System Prompt can make the game more immersive, sometimes it shows up at the wrong moment.

Appearing at this moment, isn't it a bit too much of a needless move?

Soon, they arrived at the main hall of the Undercurrent auction house.

In the center of the hall stood a circular auction platform bathed in focused light, and around it fan‑shaped tiers of seats, many equipped with One‑way Glass to ensure absolutely private VIP boxes.

By now many bidders had entered; they dressed modestly, behaved cautiously, rarely spoke to each other, their gazes full of wariness and scrutiny, the atmosphere oppressive and tense.

A male attendant in a well‑tailored black suit, with a communicator on his ear, saw the two and immediately approached, his eyes quickly scanning Bai Mu Yun and Ying Duo.

Bai Mu Yun, expressionless, grabbed the wandering Ying Duo near the doorway and pulled him back.

Then he took from his chest the invitation bearing Dark Gold Rune runes along its edge and handed it over.

The attendant took it, produced a palm‑sized precision device, and carefully scanned the invitation's energy signature and anti‑counterfeit code.

When the device's screen displayed "Verification passed, highest authority," the attendant's professional coldness melted away, replaced by genuine respect, even a hint of awe.

He bowed slightly and returned the invitation with both hands.

"Honored guests, welcome to Undercurrent."

The attendant's voice was kept low to avoid being heard by anyone else, "Your private box is ready; please follow me."

Guided by the attendant, they passed through a more secluded passage along the hall's edge, heading toward the elevated box area.

The walls on either side of the passage were matte dark‑gray alloy, reflecting a faint cold light.

Just as they passed an archway linking the main hall's scattered seating area, Ying Duo's peripheral vision caught a familiar‑looking NPC in the corner of the turn.

It was mainly that head of flame‑like red hair, conspicuously striking.

Almost as Ying Duo noticed it, Bai Mu Yun's gaze also swept that way.

His steps did not pause at all, but his golden eyes narrowed slightly, and the corners of his brows lifted a fraction.