Chapter 549: Everyone Has Their Own Plan

"They really are so leisurely......"

The Butterfly Speaker crouched on the corridor railing; from there they could just see a corner of the lower hall, where two half‑grown youths were standing by an arcade machine.

Logically, this airship was bound for the border, loaded only with essential supplies that might be needed, so any unnecessary heavy items should have been offloaded to reduce weight.

Yet they inexplicably left those irrelevant arcade machines aboard.

Even though they're about to go to their deaths, it's a shame someone can still sit there leisurely playing an arcade.

Besides the people Ying Duo was required to name, Fang Zhiyan also brought along some nonessential staff to do odd jobs, perhaps knowing that this trip was likely a one‑way ticket; the lower hall was dead silent, only the arcade buttons clacking continuously.

Tsk. Opposite the Butterfly Speaker, Sha Yu Feng's expression was not pleasant, or rather he couldn't imagine how that guy could possibly be smiling.

Regardless of who added the two of them to the list, it's basically sending them to their deaths.

"Why are you hitting the wings? Aim for the head."

Luo Jinyou is the most blunt when playing games with Ying Duo.

Yang Yixie suspects he might already be ready to curse someone, but he runs out of words and doesn't know what to say.

"Don't you think when killing this kind of boss, you should always tear the wings first?"

This time Ying Duo was controlling a dual‑blade swordsman who focuses on high attack and low defense, while Luo Jinyou unusually tried his hand at a mage.

Because they didn't know how long they could play, each round they rushed to finish the battle in the shortest time possible.

This time the random encounter was a boss designed after a butterfly; normally, unless a boss has special design, the head is the spot most likely to yield a critical hit.

But Ying Duo kept slashing at the boss's wings, even though Luo Jinyou landed a critical hit on the head and still wouldn't change his ways.

The game's design is rather thin and crude; those aspects are indeed poorly done, but Ying Duo was almost killed by the boss!

They were already two glass‑cans, and that boss had a full‑map AOE skill, so they had to hurry to finish it.

"Tear the wings or clear the stage, which do you choose?"

Luo Jinyou hammered the nearby dash button with his right hand, and the mage in the game successfully evaded the attack.

"... clear the stage." Ying Duo replied slowly; his left hand nudged the joystick slightly to the side, and the next second the attack landed precisely on the boss's head, causing a critical hit!

"You two are still playing games?"

Xie Jingyan adjusted the tactical glove on his right hand while walking over; the two had said they'd go play games when they left, and ended up playing right up to now.

"Are we arriving?" Ying Duo didn't look up, focusing on the controls.

"Okay, in a bit we'll have lunch first, meet the Church people for afternoon negotiations, and after dinner we'll set out into the Abyss."

Xie Jingyan nodded, and saw Ying Duo and Luo Jinyou simultaneously straighten up, with Luo Jinyou leaning back even further.

The arcade screen suddenly displayed a huge "S+"; even though Ying Duo had deliberately trapped Luo Jinyou for a moment, he still earned the highest game rating.

"Then the time should be about right......"

Ying Duo nodded, swiped his right hand down, and opened the Party List.

He posted several messages in the Team Channel; after Hua Jian Lei replied, he kicked himself and Lao Bao out of Party Status.

He had also discussed the squad slot issue with the two "game designers", but the maximum slots only expanded to ten, still because of the fragments absorbed from Lu Mu.

Now the only ones in the party are him and Luo Jinyou.

By the time they get there, the Church people will probably have already arrived.

After all, the Church uses a Teleportation Array, always lavishly funded; although the Dome's airship looks ultra‑high‑tech, it still falls short in spectacle.

Ying Duo hit the 【Invite】 button, pulling Xie Jingyan into the squad; he and Meng Kexin had already taken a map, agreed on a rendezvous point, and would board the airship shortly to find her.

"You go have lunch, you don't need to worry about me."

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"Classmate Kexin not joining?"

Shen Zexi, upon hearing that Meng Kexin said she and Chen Mo Zhi were only coming to pick up something the Dome had sent, felt a slight relief, but it still wasn't much better.

At least Qi Hengyu couldn't be persuaded; Qi Junyi had quarreled with him before entering the Teleportation Array, but since Qi Hengyu was participating using a Supervision Bureau slot, Qi Junyi couldn't stop him.

Thus, all they can do is hope the journey goes smoothly.

Shen Zexi tried to stay optimistic, not be so gloomy, and not think about possible tragedies.

"No, because the way to get the item is rather special, I have to go there myself."

Meng Kexin shook her head, declined everyone's escort, and walked out alone, clutching a pink teddy bear.

This city lies on the border where the Dome meets Tianmian City, and is the city closest to the Eternal Silent Abyss.

Due to a recent Aberrant Species uprising, this place became a heavily damaged zone; ordinary residents were sent to higher‑security cities for protection, and those remaining are frontline soldiers fighting the Aberrant Species.

Contrary to her expectation, the Dome and Church personnel stationed here aren't that antagonistic; although their nominal affiliations differ, they are genuine comrades fighting together to protect the city.

Indeed, the common folk just want to live peacefully; scheming is a matter for the higher‑ups.

"You actually let her go alone?" Qi Hengyu elbowed Chen Mo Zhi; it was lunch break, a rare chance for them to gather.

Qi Hengyu clearly remembered that when they were sent on missions before, Chen Mo Zhi gave Meng Kexin endless reminders, fearing she'd get into trouble.

Now, in such an unfamiliar place, Chen Mo Zhi actually dared to let Meng Kexin go out alone so casually?

"... I have no right to stop her from going anywhere."

Chen Mo Zhi merely shook his head; as he had said before, he never interferes with Meng Kexin's freedom, even though their relationship is far beyond a simple transaction.

Whether you call them close friends who are both teacher and companion, or merely verbal trade partners, they are independent individuals; no one is obligated to...

Not to mention......

Although it's unknown what method Meng Kexin used, the fact remains she obtained the crucial herb that can cure her sister.

Chen Mo Zhi watched Meng Kexin's departing figure, especially the pink teddy she clutched, closed his eyes, and said, "Let's continue discussing what we were talking about earlier."

"Fine," Qi Hengyu nodded without further questions, "I think we should first check all the trash cans around here; that kid used to love crawling into those spots."