"No."
Their answers were surprisingly unanimous.
Ren Zhong: "Among the seven people here, except for me, each of you was born as a wastelander. Born into suffering and slavery, your lives are precarious, and every day is torment and pain. Thatâs the fate you canât choose. But what did you do wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Then why is it like this?"
This time, their answers became inconsistent.
Zheng Tian said, "Bad luck."
Chen Hanyu remained silent.
Ou Youning said, "I donât know."
Bai Feng said, "Never thought about it."
Wen Lei thought for a long time, "Actually, I think just being alive isnât bad, thereâs no real pain."
Yujin said, "Mr. Ren, please tell me."
Ren Zhong gave a sweeping glance, "You did nothing wrong. You never made a choice, and before you were born, others made the choices for you. In Starfire Town, across this wasteland, many, many people share the same fate as you."
"Before birth, you had no choice. After birth, you still have no choice. Do you think knowing me means you can live worry-free in the future? Wrong, thatâs so wrong itâs absurd!"
"Zheng Tian, let me tell you something secretly. If it werenât for me, Lin Wang would have killed all of you long ago. Think about it, why is that?"
Zheng Tian thought for a long time and cautiously asked, "Because our hunting harvests were too meager those days?"
Ren Zhong sneered coldly, "Wrong! Because youâre advancing, youâre improving! You want to become stronger, to have a better life, and thatâs your original sin! You even already possess the ability to become Second Level Professionals! But the three professional teams in Starfire Town wonât allow a fourth team to emerge, not even the slightest possibility! Lin Wang is the most selfish among all the team captains! Also, because youâre smart, Zheng Tian, and Lin Wang dislikes your intelligence. He doesnât need a reason to kill you. Just two words!"
Zheng Tian: "What two words?"
"He wants. Because in his eyes, youâre not even considered human, no different from the chickens, ducks, pigs, and dogs in a slaughterhouse!"
"Then guess, what will happen between me and Lin Wang in the future? If he canât tolerate your threat, what about mine?"
Zheng Tian: "Although heâs inviting you, Brother Ren, to join his team now, if you grow too fast, he will... he will never trust you unconditionally."
Ren Zhong: "Exactly. And if I die, will you, my direct line, remain unscathed? Do you understand what Iâm trying to convey now?"
Yujin suddenly stepped forward, "I understand! Sir!"
"Speak."
"We couldnât choose our birth. Whether we live or die, we have no choice either. The only thing we can choose is how we live!"
Ren Zhong nodded emphatically, "And what is that way?"
"To fight alongside Mr. Ren! Then become stronger through battle! Strong enough that no one can easily take away our right to live!"
Ren Zhong smiled contentedly.
"Now I am a member of Lin Wangâs team. Starting tomorrow, I will no longer hunt with you. Meanwhile, out of respect for me, Lin Wang wonât suppress you in the short term."
"Zheng Tian, todayâs hunting harvest is worth a total of 9840 points, all of which I leave to you. Additionally, I am giving each of you 8000 points as startup capital. Hereâs a car key. In the number 7 enclosed garage at the parking lot, thereâs an armed Qingfeng Heavy Truck for you to use."
"As for Yujin, I am transferring 2000 points to you now. Over at the marketplace, Iâve already bought a Fang Heavy Sniper and a Third Level Combat Suit for you. Go get them. This Thunderbolt Car is yours."
"Iâve paved all the roads for you. My only expectation of you is to fully unleash all your talents in the next month. Show me how strong you can become."
"Zheng Tian, before I appeared, you were the best semi-professional team leader in the mire of Starfire Town."
"Now you must showcase your true abilities and show me, without any suppression and with adequate financial support, what the best team leader should be like."
"Yujin, youâre a lone wolf, a fierce lone wolf. Youâre someone who can create miracles, and now I want to see what kind of miracle you can create for me within a month!"
"Whether you can continue fighting with me in the future depends on the heights you can reach in the coming month."
"If your performance doesnât satisfy me, then today is the last help I offer you."
"My true enemies are beyond your imagination, and my demands for comrades will be extremely harsh."
"Only true powerhouses are qualified to stand by my side."
"To fight by my side, you must have true resolve!"
"I hope for your growth, but I wonât be your nanny, nor do I have the time."
"Otherwise, I wouldnât be helping you, but dragging you into eternal pain and nightmares."
...
"Always remember, when youâre with me, weâre the best team in the world! Our motley crew composed of Second and First Level professionals can now eliminate Fourth Level professionals! We can kill two!"
"Iâve said my piece. Thatâs it. Disband!"
Ren Zhong didnât even bid a proper farewell to everyone and, after speaking, activated the Exoskeleton Armor and quickly dashed into the town.
Watching his silhouette, everyone had different thoughts in their minds.
But one thing was undeniable.
Mr. Renâs farewell was by no means a final goodbye.
He spent nearly a month transforming and helping us.
Now heâs moving to the next level.
But heâll still be waiting for us somewhere ahead.
Through Ren Zhongâs words, which were not unfeeling, everyone could hear his earnest expectations for each of them.
They also sensed Ren Zhongâs loneliness.
As strong and exceptionally talented as he is.
Yet so lonely.
He yearns to lead us and seize the throat of destiny.
No one knows who his true enemies are.
But everyone wants to follow and see.
Just like every day this past month.
As long as theyâre standing behind him, even if facing a Level Four Ruined Beast, they feel grounded and secure, a true sense of living.
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