Chapter 58: Pay Me! (Revised)

When the Slum, cloaked in the shadow of the Floating City, is bathed in a dusk‑like "white day," the clamor inside the Dream Illusion Bar finally subsides.

The shrill electronic music had long been turned off by some noise‑hating fellow, leaving only the intermittent snores and dream‑talk in the shop.

Alcohol and sweat mingled in the air; the floor was a mess of broken bottles, overturned tables and chairs, and the various‑haired "bodies" sprawled haphazardly, forming a surreal scene after the revelry.

Ying Duo was the only "online" presence on this "battlefield."

He saw Cai Mao receive an urgent message in the early hours, his complexion flickering, then hurriedly brief a few confidants before rushing out of the bar.

Before leaving, he didn't forget his promise to "pick up the tab," loudly declaring that all expenses were on his account so everyone could enjoy themselves.

To a player, what's the difference between an NPC's invitation declaration and a gathering permit certificate?

Sitting restores HP and MP slower than lying in bed, but after sitting in the bar that long, he should be fully recovered.

So, after the other NPCs fell, Ying Duo sprang into action; adhering to the principle of "everything goes back to storage," he began a thorough cleaning inside the bar.

Whether it was the finely packaged bottled spirits on the bar, the cheap beer stacked in boxes in the storage, or those wildly colorful cocktails of unknown composition,

as long as it appeared to be a "item" that could be taken rather than a fixed scene decoration, he shoved it all into his backpack in one go.

It's not that he didn't want to take the land itself; on one hand, it already counts as one of his bases, and taking it would make his territory look shabby, and on the other hand, dismantling those things serves no purpose.

It's not like the underground of the Dream Illusion Bar, whose walls are made of alloy.

Still, there's one good news: these alcoholic drinks, when stored in the backpack, won't spoil after a few extra days.

For example, the fruit taken from the auction house had a time limit, so Ying Duo simply ate them now, restoring his satiety.

One should know that alcohol often appears as a gifting item or quest requirement in many games.

And he's broke to death now, so getting any free loot helps.

If he later meets a key NPC who likes this, he can pull it out in a pinch.

Yang Yixie controlled Ying Duo, expressionless, conducting this zero‑cost acquisition while his mental calculator clicked away.

After sweeping through most of the bar's stock, Ying Duo silently left the temporary "Entropy Light Sect" outpost still steeped in sleep and alcohol.

Stepping out of the bar, the so‑called white day brought little vitality to the city.

The massive Floating City "Tian Mian" loomed like an eternal Dome, casting a heavy, oppressive shadow over the Slum; only a faint, bleak skylight leaked at the city's edge, barely dispersing darkness in parts of the Slum.

A few dim‑eyed homeless NPCs rummaged through a trash heap; when they saw Ying Duo pass, they cast wary or hostile glances, but after noticing his overly bright hair color, they hesitated.

Ying Duo simply ignored them and strode past.

Following the system navigation, Ying Duo darted through the maze of alleys, heading back toward his target.

After a not‑short journey, the Dream Illusion Bar's door, still bearing a "Closed for Business" sign as usual, finally appeared before him.

Ying Duo pushed the door open; the bartender kept polishing cups that seemed endless, and merely lifted his eyelids at the door's sound.

His gaze lingered on Ying Duo for a moment, then, with a cloth‑wielding hand, pointed toward the private room at the back.

Yang Yixie immediately understood, maneuvering Ying Duo straight through the empty bar hall and pushing open the private room door.

Bai Mu Yun lounged lazily in a leather sofa, still wearing the soft off‑white turtleneck sweater and loose wide‑leg pants; his fluffy white curls fell carelessly, and his warm yet inhuman ram‑like horns were fully exposed.

He held a glass of pink liquid, his fingertips lightly tapping the cup wall; hearing the door, his golden horizontal pupils swept coldly over, tinged with impatient malice.

"Heh, how touching."

Bai Mu Yun looked at Ying Duo and spoke softly, his voice thick with sarcasm.

"Look, who is this? Our brave and fearless 'Stalker' finally deigned to return?"

"I thought you'd been swept by a spatial turbulence into some Aberrant Species' nest, becoming their food, or perhaps lost in a spatial rift."

He deliberately paused, emphasizing his tone.

"Know that we received solid intel: that lunatic Chi Jinan was already taken back by the Heresy Tribunal, unharmed."

He meant to remind Ying Duo that surviving that chaos and Chi Jinan's fury was pure luck, not something to brag about.

The hail of gunfire in Ying Duo's hands looked terrifying, but against such a powerhouse, it meant nothing.

One can only say Bai Mu Yun hasn't yet personally experienced Ying Duo's firepower.

Yang Yixie automatically ignored Bai Mu Yun's sarcastic tone; more concerned with practical gain, he now just wanted an answer to the question he'd been pondering all the way.

Ying Duo walked to the sofa opposite Bai Mu Yun, sat down, his hollow golden eyes locking onto the other, offering no small talk before speaking directly:

"We're on a mission; does the Dome pay us money?"

"......"

Bai Mu Yun clearly hadn't expected him to spring this baffling question; seeing his self‑righteous demand for pay, he was first stunned, then burst into a furious, mocking laugh.

"What about the mission objective? The Undead? The loot's not in hand, the mess is piled up, and you still have the nerve to ask me about money?"

Ying Duo and Chi Jinan's fight was scorching; they even knocked down the auction house, and the Undercurrent hadn't even demanded compensation.

Speaking of that, Bai Mu Yun's expression darkened; he had thought this kid's newly awakened Aberrant Arts were of little use, yet he managed to hold his own against that lunatic Chi Jinan.

Ying Duo's face remained unchanged, trying to appear even more justified.

"Mission failure is your fault; I fulfilled my duty, successfully drawing the enemy's main fire, how can you blame me?"

"Besides, our Dome is such a massive organization; doesn't it provide mission stipends? Making rank‑and‑file pay out of pocket undermines cohesion and sustainable development."

He tossed out that employee‑rights theory, nearly choking Bai Mu Yun.

Bai Mu Yun stared at him for several seconds, as if checking whether Ying Duo's brain had developed another issue.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to toss him out, and patiently explained.

"...... There is money, and for a long‑term infiltration mission like yours, the budget isn't low."

He then shifted tone, needing to tell Ying Duo this harsh reality.

"The crucial point is, your current identity is 'Ying Duo,' an orphan living off his parents' inheritance."

"If a large, mysterious sum suddenly appears in your personal account, how is that different from blaring a horn announcing 'I have a problem'?"

"Thus, mission‑related pay, bonuses, and special operation funds are currently managed centrally by the organization, stored in an encrypted account isolated from your identity."