"Spirituality."
Su Wu gazed at the real-time online player count of 15 million in Changming City.
He felt a sense of fulfillment and achievement.
This number of players accounted for half of Changming City's total population.
And this was after excluding those who were working or resting and had no time to log in.
If we include those,
Basically, for every three residents of Changming City, two had registered as players.
Every day, he could at least gain 200 Spirituality from them.
And the actual harvest could be a bit more.
Reaching between 220 to 230 points.
This extra Spirituality income came from the exceptionally talented players among them.
With the same online game time, they often contributed over 20% more Spirituality than ordinary players.
One of the most outstanding among them.
Even reached an astonishing 3.2 times.
Ranking first among the entire player base in the East Continent, which had expanded to a total of 100 million players.
The second place only managed 1.8 times, just a little over half of the first.
Moving his gaze.
Su Wu lingered for a moment on the player information of a player named Qianqian.
"Perhaps, it's time to consider meeting him."
The second-ranked player in terms of talent was Wei Manman. She possessed an almost unreasonable lucky talent in the field of research materials.
The sisters Chen Xin and Chen Yue also displayed high player talents.
However, apart from these two examples, Su Wu had not discovered any other noteworthy special abilities among the other high-talent players he had observed closely in the farmhouse courtyard.
But just the first two examples.
Were enough for Su Wu to have reason to further investigate the top player.
At this moment.
The player information interface on the screen flickered slightly.
Some new information was updated.
Su Wu focused and found that a new wish had been added to that player's wish list.
"I hope my brother's shop will no longer be harassed by the Golden Tiger Gang."
The so-called wish list.
Was actually a special custom service.
Players could request help from Su Wu, including rescue, revenge, medical assistance, etc., by paying enough game currency.
Of course, this service was bound to be expensive.
Players could fill in their wishes freely.
But they needed to pay an amount equivalent to three Workday currency earnings to successfully upload it. This would then be subject to review and cost assessment by Artificial Intelligence.
And even for the smallest wish.
To be realized.
The final total cost would not be less than 100 Workday currency.
"It is currently in the reviewed and completed stage, but has not yet begun execution."
"It will require an additional payment of 1200 Workday currency to officially realize it."
Su Wu glanced over.
This situation was quite normal.
His network had only been established in Changming City for a few days.
For most people, being able to pay the initial assessment fee was already commendable.
It was unlikely they would have extra money to pay the remaining balance.
"After all, he is the top player."
"Let's make an exception."
After thinking for a moment.
Su Wu entered a command on the console.
He instructed Artificial Intelligence to send someone to bring that player and his family back to the farmhouse courtyard.
While doing this, he did not check the background of that player.
For Su Wu now.
Even standing at the pinnacle of power in Changming City, as a city councilor.
As long as he wished, he could bring them all back.
Moreover, judging from the wish itself.
A family that could be harassed by a street gang to the point of coming to make a wish.
Was at most from the ordinary class.
And for those ordinary people, Su Wu's power was almost like that of an omnipotent deity.
There was no room for defiance.
Two hours later.
Changming City.
A massive Twin-Winged Helicopter, swirling with a few flying snowflakes.
Slowly descended onto the underground helipad with the skylight open.
Then, a team of ten soldiers clad in Exoskeleton Armor, fully armed, walked down from the helicopter cabin.
"Welcome, friends from Jianghe City."
A senior official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Changming City stepped forward quickly.
Although this time only a team of ordinary soldiers had come.
They were, after all, sent on the direct orders of the highest authority in Jianghe City, and had arrived on a strategic Twin-Winged Helicopter that even city councilors in Changming City found difficult to board.
Changming City naturally could not afford to be negligent.
"I am the team leader, Wen Xingwen."
"The purpose of this operation should have been sent to your side in advance."
"Please find someone to take us there."
The foremost Exoskeleton soldier lifted his helmet.
Revealing a young and resolute face.
He shook hands with the welcoming official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then directly got to the point.
"No problem."
"This is the captain of the security bureau's garrison in Zone 7, Ma Yu."
"If you have any needs, you can find him. Of course, you can also come to me."
The attitude of the Ministry of Internal Affairs official remained warm and welcoming.
Seeing that the Jianghe City team had only one task in mind.
He did not delay.
He kindly introduced the guide he had prepared in advance to them.
"The person you are looking for, Miss Qianqian."
"Is currently at Jinshui Port in Zone 7, please follow me."
Behind the official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
A tall, fierce-looking middle-aged man stepped forward.
Wearing a friendly smile on his face.
He slightly turned to indicate for the armed team from Jianghe City to follow him.
As for the regulations.
All external forces must surrender their weapons upon entering the Changming City shelter.
Here, it was naturally ignored.
After all, they were a team sent by a figure of equal status to the highest speaker of Changming City.
They were of envoy-level importance.
Ma Yu wouldn't dare to cause trouble for them even if he lost his mind.
Under Ma Yu's guidance.
The group took the subway and traveled several kilometers.
Then took an official large elevator straight down to the seventh underground level.
They arrived at the large residential area marked as Zone 7.
Unlike the structure of the farmhouse courtyard's underground shelter.
The underground shelters in Changming City had a height of nearly 30 meters on each floor.
Inside, the residential area looked like a real underground city.
There were high-rise buildings, uniquely shaped shopping malls, and even parks and sports fields.
At the same time, the streets were bustling with pedestrians.
Filled with a rare sense of prosperity in the apocalypse.
Watching Ma Yu lead a fully armed team into the residential area.
The pedestrians on the street instinctively made way.
Do not be fooled by Ma Yu's amiable demeanor when facing the Jianghe City team.
In reality, as the captain of the local security forces, Ma Yu's status in Zone 7 was akin to that of an underground emperor.
All gang leaders operating in this area had to pay him a considerable tribute every month.
"Captain Ma, what brings you here?"
"Is there any instruction?"
Stopping in front of a noodle shop.
Before Ma Yu could speak.
The owner inside, a rather handsome young man, rushed out with a smile.
Offering Ma Yu a pack of cigarettes.
"Not me."
Ma Yu instinctively took it.
Then suddenly realized he was in front of foreign guests.
He quickly returned the cigarettes as if they were hot potatoes.
With a serious expression, he said.
"There are a few friends here looking to discuss something with your sister."
"Sister."
The young man's expression changed slightly, just as he was about to say something.
A brazen voice came from a nearby alley.
"Liu Mingshu, if you don't pay the protection fee today."
"Don't blame us for smashing your shop—"
The voice stopped abruptly.
A group of burly men wielding clubs stood at the alley's exit.
Looking at the fully armed Exoskeleton Armor team at the shop entrance.
Their expressions shifted from confusion, to bewilderment, then to shock and tension.
For a moment, they were at a loss, unsure whether to advance or retreat.
But they stood there.
The temporary team leader from Jianghe City, Wen Xingwen, took the initiative to cast his gaze over.
In a calm voice, he asked.
"Are you from the Golden Tiger Gang?"
Then.
There was no need for the other side to answer.
A prompt confirming their identity sounded in the Bluetooth headset he wore.
He immediately raised the muzzle of his Electromagnetic Rifle.
And swept it towards them.
With faint gunfire and flickering blue arcs.
The group of thugs from the Golden Tiger Gang was instantly overwhelmed, unable to resist.
Some died, some were injured.
In the end, only one thug managed to escape into the alley.
"Chase."
Five Exoskeleton soldiers, under the command of Artificial Intelligence.
Broke away from the team and rushed into the alley.
They would follow that thug to find the Golden Tiger Gang's base.
To execute one of their missions for this trip.
To eradicate the Golden Tiger Gang.
"You guys—"
As the shop owner, Liu Mingshu watched this decisive and violent scene.
He nervously swallowed.
Faintly sensing.
The origins of these people seemed to be quite extraordinary.
Daring to appear in the bustling residential area in military Exoskeleton Armor, and even recklessly open fire without regard for the consequences.
And there was even the local highest security officer accompanying them.
What kind of level of existence would have the qualifications to do all this?
"Don't worry."
"We are here at the request of your sister to help you solve your troubles."
Noticing the young man's unease.
Wen Xingwen put away his gun, trying to show a smile to reassure him.
"Now, please let your sister come out for a moment."
"This—"
"Alright."
Seeing that Wen Xingwen seemed unwilling to engage in further conversation, targeting his sister directly.
Liu Mingshu realized.
Things had already exceeded what he could manage.
Other than cooperating obediently, he could do nothing else.
Leading a few people into the shop, Liu Mingshu called out to his sister, who was in the back bedroom.
"Miss Qianqian."
"Your wish submitted in the game mall has been accepted."
"I am the person in charge of this operation."
Wen Xingwen looked at the girl who came out shyly, clutching a teddy bear.
After confirming the identity of the other party with Artificial Intelligence.
His voice softened a few degrees, as if afraid of scaring her.
"Are you from Jianghe City?"
The girl asked cautiously.
Her voice was crisp, yet carried a hint of innocent naivety.
To run a noodle shop in an underground city during the apocalypse.
Strictly speaking, her family should belong to the wealthy class.
Only such families could allow the girl to remain as a sheltered flower until now.
However, if Su Wu had not intervened.
This pure innocence.
Would ultimately be shattered in the not-so-distant future under increasing external pressures.
"Yes."
"Please allow me to bring our leader's greetings."
"He wishes to invite Miss Qianqian and your family to live in Jianghe City together."
Wen Xingwen said softly.
His words, though framed as hope and invitation.
In reality, involved the will of powerful figures.
It was no different from a coercive order.
Whether they were willing or not.
The girl and her brother had no second choice.
In the East Continent, in a small civilian shelter in the southwest region.
Darkness and bloodshed were the themes here.
Tan Xiang sat silently on the straw-covered ground, focused on playing a game on his phone.
Nearby.
There were a dozen or so disheveled individuals, resembling prisoners, doing the same thing.
The damp air, the cold light, and the rudimentary environment reminiscent of ancient prisons.
Combined with the top-notch modern industrial product, the phone.
Gave this place a rather bizarre atmosphere.
After a long while.
Sounds came from outside the room.
Several armed men walked in.
"Eight hours are up."
"Transfer all the game currency to the boss."
The leading man said while lining up Tan Xiang and his cellmates.
Watching them transfer the game currency they had earned during this time.
"I heard some talented people."
"Can earn more income in the game."
"You all keep just meeting the standard line."
"Don't let me find anyone hoarding."
"Otherwise, I will show them what cruelty means."
The man routinely threatened.
Tan Xiang silently lowered his head, not saying a word.
He simply transferred all the game currency in his account under the man's watchful gaze.
After doing all this.
The man began distributing lunch.
A meal made from worms, insects, and other unknown materials.
It was hard to eat and wouldn't fill anyone up.
At most, it could barely sustain life, preventing starvation.
But for this treatment.
Everyone present was actually quite satisfied.
You see, just a few days ago.
They not only did the heaviest and most dangerous work, but they could also be treated as playthings for amusement.
Dismembered with knives, cooked over fire.
Now, they only needed to play games for 20 hours a day and hand over the required game currency to live steadily.
Even if they still couldn't fill their stomachs, it was enough to be grateful—
Grateful to those who provided the game.
After finishing the meal.
Sitting in the now quiet cell.
Tan Xiang continued to enter the game.
However, on his screen.
As he traced a complex pattern with his finger.
A line of hidden text quietly appeared before his eyes.
"Game currency balance: 227."
His talent was slightly higher than that of ordinary players, so over these days, he could produce a bit more game currency.
And this extra game currency.
According to the game's settings, could be hidden away in a separate account.
"One day, I will escape from here."
Tan Xiang silently encouraged himself.
And all his hopes were pinned on that hidden account.
And the wish list in the game mall—
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