novelraw Chapter 83 : 2826
Chapter 83 : 2826
Chapter 83: 2826
Looking at the Drone-head in front of him, Zhang Wenda couldn't help but feel surprised.
He wasn't surprised that the other party had kept their word—he was surprised at how fast they had come.
By his estimation, it should have taken at least two or three days before they came looking for him.
"It's only been a day, and you're already fine?" Zhang Wenda asked in surprise.
"Spare me the pleasantries. I specifically took leave from Thought Stream No. 1. Just tell me what you want me to do—I'm busy," 2826 replied.
Seeing how directly the other party got to the point, Zhang Wenda didn’t bother with small talk either. "Go to the Dark Web."
Once he gathered Oil Tyrant from the Dark Web—just three drops—he could exchange it for a Blue Core and finally be rid of the torment on his body.
However, upon hearing this, 2826 appeared especially shocked. "Are you joking? Do you even know what kind of place that is? It's extremely dangerous!"
"Yeah, I know." Zhang Wenda nodded repeatedly. "I know it's extremely dangerous—that's exactly why I’m asking a professional like you for help."
"No way. That place is too dangerous. Pick something else."
Upon hearing that, Zhang Wenda immediately changed tack. "Alright, then. Lend me 600 yuan. I swear I’ll pay you back once I have the money."
2826 went completely silent for several seconds before speaking again: "Let’s make a plan. What are you going to do on the Dark Web? How long will you be there?"
"To find Oil Tyrant. Three drops."
After listening to the entire plan, 2826 sighed. "If I had known this was the kind of help you needed, I’d rather you hadn’t saved me."
"Hehe, it’s too late for that now. Shall we go?" Zhang Wenda pulled over Song Jianguo, who had been sitting to the side, holding her stomach and watching the show.
"You're just going like this? Do you even know what to prepare for a place like the Dark Web?" 2826 asked.
"I don’t. But that’s why you’re here, isn’t it?"
"Do you even know how to get to the Dark Web?"
"I don’t. But that’s why you’re here, isn’t it?"
Even though 2826 had no face, Zhang Wenda could still see the anger in his eyes—the kind of anger that looked ready to punch someone.
Zhang Wenda gave him a wide grin. This guy might be stubborn, but he was easy to handle.
Faced with Zhang Wenda's shamelessness, 2826 finally gave in. He turned and headed down a side alley to the left. "Follow me."
"It’s already late. Let’s go tomorrow—I’m tired from the whole day," Song Jianguo’s protest went ignored as Zhang Wenda dragged her along.
"Where are we going? This doesn’t look like the route for dial-up internet access," Zhang Wenda asked, looking around.
The more he walked, the more familiar the area felt—Fatty's house was nearby.
"We’re going somewhere to resupply. The Dark Web requires some prep."
Zhang Wenda thought they were headed to some mysterious location, but after circling around, they arrived at Xinhua Bookstore.
The staff there were as leisurely as ever, with no interest in attracting business.
2826 walked past them and up to the second floor. After signing a white slip with a hyper-energetic staffer, he began loading row after row of bullets into a magazine.
His pistol seemed to have no limits—it took in row after row of bullets and still wasn’t full.
"You—wait, this is Third Front Unit territory?!" Seeing the familiar hyper-energetic staffer nodding at him, Zhang Wenda was stunned.
But thinking about it, it made sense. Without strong backing, how could they be selling Special Abilities?
2826 glanced at him but neither confirmed nor denied it. He only said, "Classified."
Zhang Wenda had heard "classified" so many times that he didn’t mind anymore. He knew that’s just how 2826 was.
"The intel on the Dark Web isn’t classified, right? Can you tell me what it’s like there?"
When Zhang Wenda asked, 2826’s hands froze. "You don’t even know the basic intel and still dare to head to the Dark Web? Are you insane?"
"But I’ve got you, haven’t I?" Zhang Wenda’s words left 2826 speechless. His voice carried a trace of frustration as he replied, "The Network World you all talk about is Thought Stream No. 7. Although it’s a newly emerged stream, it’s grown rapidly because of its ability to link with most other streams, occupying the space of many others."
"Where there are people, there’s darkness. The Dark Web is the darkest, most dangerous part of Thought Stream No. 7. There are no rules, no reason—just pure survival of the fittest."
Zhang Wenda listened silently. This was critical information—a single missed detail could mean death.
"We absolutely can’t go in unprepared. We need a way to conceal ourselves. Otherwise, going there would be like sheep among wolves—anyone could target us."
With that, 2826 walked into a room on the second floor. When he returned, he was holding two bottles of colored mosaic.
Zhang Wenda thought he was seeing things. But after rubbing his eyes, he confirmed—they were indeed bottles of colored mosaic. When shaken, the mosaic sloshed like liquid.
"Drink this—you too, cat. Within 24 hours, it lowers your chances of being noticed. As long as you stay still and hold your breath, others won’t detect you. This will greatly increase our survival chances."
Zhang Wenda accepted it, looking at the mosaic with appreciation. He felt that he had made the right choice in finding 2826—he had thought of everything. Much better than charging in blindly. This deal wasn’t a loss.
Sure enough, when going somewhere unfamiliar, you needed a local guide.
Unscrewing the bottle, Zhang Wenda took a big swig. His face immediately scrunched up. The taste was indescribable—sweet, salty, and bitter all at once, and it lingered all the way from the tip of his tongue to the root. Along the way, the sharp edges of the mosaic even scratched his throat.
"Ugh, that’s nasty." Zhang Wenda passed the rest of the mosaic to Song Jianguo’s cat.
After everyone drank it, their faces didn’t look good. But Zhang Wenda looked at Song Jianguo—she was still moving, but something had changed.
It wasn’t like she was invisible—more like something your mind naturally ignored even when it was right there.
"This stuff’s good. How much per bottle?" Zhang Wenda asked in surprise.
"It’s for internal use only. You can’t buy it outside. Let’s go—you lead the way."
Zhang Wenda looked at him innocently. "Lead the way? Lead where? I don’t even know how to get to the Dark Web."
"You don’t even know how to get in? Then why did you think you could find Oil Tyrant on the Dark Web?"
"But I’ve got you, haven’t I?"