novelraw Chapter 287: The Path Through
Chapter 287: The Path Through
When Liang Yuying finally turned and left, it was Old John's turn at last. He came in with a cheerful smile and activated a Two-Star Conspiracy Card — not out of poverty, but as a statement of attitude: anyone was welcome to eavesdrop, because his purpose was different from Li Feng's or Liang Yuying's. He had no competition with either the Logistics Department or the Resource Department.
His approach was to offend no one.
"Little brother — it's been a while! When we parted back then, I never imagined the next time I'd see you, you'd be the famous Flame Baron, known throughout the lower five departments. Impressive, truly impressive!"
Old John said it with a grin.
Li Wei nodded and got straight to the point: "Zhao Guozhu just relayed the Chief Internal Affairs Officer's words. I understand. I can agree to cooperate with you — as long as you don't cause me trouble, I'll make things as convenient as I can for you and help you grind for a Rare Scout Card. Anything else?"
"Ha — little brother, you're refreshingly direct. My thanks."
Old John didn't say much more. This was entirely normal — grinding for title missions, rare Profession Cards, and equipment on the Chaotic Killing Battlefield was the preferred choice for higher-level players. Otherwise, why would anyone bother queuing up? It was just that this particular Pioneering Mission had been exceptionally dramatic, complex, and fiercely competitive.
After Old John left, Li Wei lay down fully clothed, closed his eyes to rest, and began integrating all the information he had just received. After a long while, he had made his decision.
No retreat. No cooperation. Fight for what was his.
Half a month ago, in his last secret meeting with Li Yue, she had given him a subtle warning: a poorly managed territory would go bankrupt.And territory planning didn't begin after three years — just like the rise of a nation, the framework and foundational policy couldn't wait until after the land was won. It had to be established during the fight itself. Otherwise, with all the constraints that came later, there would be little room to build anything meaningful.
To say nothing of everything else — once the magical shield came down, without magical particles, the land would grow barren year by year.
He had never seen another territory, but he knew what Weir City was like. Why were prices for irradiated black soil so high? Why had that great Six-Star Lord established an anti-smuggling department?
Why was Li Guishan willing to gamble everything and accept punishment?
What was the difference between that and a man trapped in a dying industry with no way out?
Don't think that winning a territory means ruling forever. Qin Shi Huang was the most powerful man in history — and his dynasty lasted only two generations.
What made him think his little territory could break the cycle?
Development and management mattered. The initial framework mattered.
Wait ten years? In ten years, how many opportunities would he have missed?
But this time, neither Liang Yuzhi nor Li Yue could help him. Last month Liang Yuzhi had said they needed to keep their distance; Li Yue had said something similar. It was clear they knew — they had already touched the core interests of certain powerful factions.
So this month he could let them help guard the camp, but counting on them to fight for him was no longer viable.
Then — where was the path through?
Li Wei's gaze gradually hardened. The path through had always been this simple.
One word: fight his way out.
Outside, the wind was howling louder. Thunder and torrential rain poured down — but this wasn't yet the main event of the Radiation Storm. It wouldn't fully erupt until after midnight.
That was the exact window Li Guishan had exploited. After midnight, leaving would be impossible. The only question was whether the special boss would lock onto him — after all, the negative buff was "everyone dies."
If it did, Scar Glenn would probably thank his ancestors for eight generations.
But people who operated at this level probably wouldn't leave such an obvious gap.
Li Wei fell asleep without trouble. He needed to conserve his energy. With Li Yue and Liang Yuzhi holding the fort, and the other players present, he didn't need to push himself for now.
Weren't the rumors calling him some kind of charming general? Fine — let him play that role for once.
He slept soundly through the night. Outside, the camp saw over a dozen skirmishes as scattered mutant creatures surged in with the Radiation Storm — nothing significant for the moment.
When he woke, a warning notification greeted him.
[Affected by the Radiation Storm, the radiation level in your body is elevated. Please seek underground shelter immediately or take a Blood Resistance Potion.]
Ha.
Li Wei felt no concern whatsoever. He simply switched to the Rat Slayer title, and everything stabilized immediately — the radiation level stopped rising and would drop back to 50 within twelve hours.
That was the Radiation Storm's greatest threat.
"Good morning, my lord!"
Head Chef Ellen, wearing a heavy lead-alloy protective suit, delivered breakfast and hurried back underground.
Staying in the building exposed you to radiation toxin that could easily cause Level 2 Blood Plague infection.
On the first underground level, the toxin could only cause Level 1 infection.
Only on the third underground level, behind airtight blast doors, was the environment safe for ordinary people.
So Nelson, Linus, Ellen, and other support personnel stayed on the first underground level. Rotating freeman soldiers and players did the same — staying there whenever they weren't on combat duty. One dose of One-Star Blood Resistance Potion could last three to five days, sometimes longer.
Even during combat, as long as you didn't step outside the building, brief exposure through firing slits was manageable. Less than half an hour, and a dose of One-Star potion would bring the radiation level back down.
Unless absolutely necessary, avoid using Two-Star Blood Resistance Potions — there were only 200 doses total.
So off-duty players were also expected to stay on the first underground level. Of course, if you were carrying enough Two-Star potions, that was your business.
Also — Liang Yuzhi apparently needed no protective equipment at all and could stand freely in the open, appreciating the aesthetic beauty of the Radiation Storm.
She had essentially held the outside alone through the previous night. Everyone else came out only when necessary.
After breakfast, Li Wei put on his protective suit for appearances and went outside for a brief walk.
The world outside was pitch black. Terrifying irradiated rain poured without end. Standing water on the plains outside had already reached a meter deep.
No mutant creatures were visible for now — but the feeling was one of prickling skin and immediate danger.
"Get back inside!"
Liang Yuzhi shooed him back in, but as they passed each other, she slipped something into his hand.
Back on the first underground level, Li Wei examined it and blinked.
[One-Star Quality Magic Scroll — can be used to recharge an enchanted item.]
[Note: This is crude magical energy drawn by a First-Order Caster during the Radiation Storm, approximately 100 units. It can recharge an enchanted item once, or restore 10 points of enchantment durability.]
[Warning: Due to the crude nature of the magical energy, using it on the same item more than five times may cause serious damage to that item.]
Second Aunt was thoughtful.
Li Wei felt a warmth in his chest. Strange and sharp-tongued as she was, Second Aunt had real character.
He used the Magic Scroll without hesitation, applying it to recharge the Magic Crest on his Noble Crest Armor — but it could only be charged once.
He'd need Second Aunt to keep working at it.
Speaking of which — he hadn't seen Adai in days. Where had it gone?
Li Wei reached out with his awareness and immediately found Adai — not inside the building, but standing alone on the rooftop, letting the irradiated rain pour down on it. Strange. It wasn't afraid of the Radiation Storm?
Wait — what did that old widow do to you?
He sprinted up to the fifth floor, pushed open the sealed door, and stepped onto the roof. Adai's eyes instantly went blood-red at the sight of Li Wei, blazing with hostility — but the next second it seemed to lose control of itself, spread its wings to flee, and was immediately recalled by force.
Back on the fifth floor, Li Wei released Adai again. It thrashed wildly, cawing frantically, behaving like a zombie crow.
And its strength had become extraordinary.
Li Wei was alarmed. He knew Liang Yuzhi wouldn't deliberately harm him — but the problem was that this old widow was wildly unpredictable.
Watching Adai resort to self-harm to break free, Li Wei had no choice but to let it go. The moment it was free, it shot straight toward the canteen — apparently ravenous.
Li Wei had an idea. He pulled out a leaf from a mutated cabbage — valuable magical material. That should work, or else he'd just have to throw Adai back into the irradiated rain.
"Caw!"
Adai let out a strange cry and shot over, its sharp talons pinning the leaf down as it began pecking furiously.
Li Wei had thought to help, but quickly realized he was overthinking it. Despite appearing somewhat out of control, Adai was still sharp — within moments it had found the correct way to eat it.
And somehow, its appetite was terrifying. In under ten minutes, the mutated cabbage leaf — at least two kilograms, roughly a square meter in size — was devoured completely.
Only then did Adai finally seem satisfied. It fluttered up onto Li Wei's shoulder, gave two affectionate caws, then hopped into the Tactical Backpack and went to sleep.
Hm?
Had Adai just leveled up?
Li Wei focused, and the Hunter Card surfaced at his brow, bringing Adai's information with it. Sure enough — there were changes.
[Name: Adai]
[Level: Four-Star (requires five days to stabilize and adapt to development; during this period it is not recommended to store it in the Pet Card; it is also recommended to upgrade the Pet Card — a One-Star Pet Card will make it irritable, a Two-Star Pet Card may make it unhappy, a Three-Star Pet Card will leave it mildly satisfied, a Four-Star Pet Card will make it very happy)]
[Type: Crow-type Hunting Pet — can be taken out of this world]
[Other: Currently developing; all information pending]
—
A Four-Star Pet Card?!
He was broke. Where was he supposed to get the money for that?
Li Wei grumbled inwardly, but still pulled the sleeping Adai out and placed it in the bird's nest in his room.
Combat could break out outside at any moment — he couldn't bring it along.
Li Wei then headed down to the first underground level. Take good advice and eat well.
But that very evening, the moment the irradiated rain outside finally stopped, an urgent bell rang out.
The legendary first wave of the monster assault had finally, belatedly, arrived.