Chapter 110: The Captain's Kindness to Me Is as Vast as a Mountain

That night, Ren Zhong did not return to the small residence of Zheng Tian’s squad, nor did he head to the centralized sleeping cabins.

He went to Ju Qingmeng’s villa instead.

Since he had already bid farewell to everyone, he would deliberately refrain from keeping track of their news. Although a small part of him worried that he might return from the new mining site only to find that everyone had died in various accidents, seeing the foundation he had worked so hard to build vanish into thin air, leaving him a lone commander once again—that would be quite painful.

Admittedly, this was not an impossibility.

But as he had told them, he was not, and could never be, anyone’s nanny for life. Even though the Ren Zhong in this timeline had only lived for 27 days, in total, he had spent a full 82 days on Source Star—nearly three months.

Three months is enough time to do many things and learn much. When he was in his second year of high school, he was suddenly notified to take the college entrance exam early; in truth, he had only spent three months cramming for it.

Throughout these 82 days of constant struggle, death, and renewed effort, he had continuously gained new insights and collected an ever-growing understanding of the world. Ren Zhong had gradually come to realize a truth: this place was, after all, different from Earth.

The professional system on Source Star elevated the importance of individual power to a significant degree. High-level professionals held an overwhelming advantage over those of lower levels. So far, the strongest professional he had encountered was only at the fourth level, yet that alone had already given him a suffocating, terrifying sense of pressure. To deal with Lin Wang, he had obsessed over every detail and exhausted every ounce of his wit. Even so, he had still failed miserably three times, dying a total of three times at the hands of Bei Lihui and Lin Wang.

They say that "three is the limit," but this was his fourth charge against the seemingly unbreakable Wall of Sighs. In the first half of his life, Ren Zhong had never suffered such setbacks. If a fourth-level professional was this daunting, what about the fifth, the sixth... or even the legendary ninth? He could not yet imagine.

But to liberate the Wastelanders, he was destined to face these eventually. Ren Zhong was not crushed or intimidated, nor had his will wavered or his ideals been abandoned. With his current deep understanding of Source Star society, if he wanted to, he could actually live a pampered and comfortable life as a Wastelander. Yet, at this moment, it was the promise of an era of liberation—a promise he had made to everyone he knew and did not know—that spurred him to persevere, even though no one else knew of it.

If a person is not broken by failure, they will inevitably draw experience and lessons from it. The most important piece of information Ren Zhong had summarized with his own wisdom was not about the stock market, nor the Star Source injection, nor the existence of the "Descent Demon Infant." It was that if he wished to rebel against the Source Star system and allow as many people as he saw to live the lives they deserved, he had to take a revolutionary path that suited the characteristics of Source Star.

In the past, the great leaders had adapted Marxism-Leninism to have Chinese characteristics. Born and raised in China, Ren Zhong kept the principle that "truth comes from practice" in mind. He would not dogmatically copy others; he would organically combine the experience he had absorbed from his motherland with the objective conditions of Source Star.

There were many problems and mysteries on Source Star—the existence of Ruin Beasts, the anomalies regarding age and sleep, the incomprehensible theories of human origin, and the theories of ancient human evolution and social development—all of which seemed absurd to Ren Zhong, a man from Earth. He had pondered the explanation for a long time. He once hypothesized a scenario: a human interstellar fleet had arrived at this planet, carrying cryo-pods, including himself. Then, some unknown circumstances occurred, leading to a gap in history and technology, which, after many years of evolution, resulted in the state of things today. This was an ambiguous speculation, with many details that did not hold up. Ren Zhong would not jump to conclusions, lest he mislead his own judgment.

In short, analyze specific problems and deal with them specifically.

Focus on the key point first: the professional system is the defining characteristic of Source Star's armed forces. Without the peak power capable of contending with top-tier professionals, everything else is just daydreaming. Otherwise, even if he managed to pull together a team of tens of thousands, a fifth-level professional or higher could swoop in with an unstoppable decapitation strike, crushing the remaining thousands like dry leaves. What would he do then?

Ren Zhong now knew that his talent was strong and that he possessed the ability to resurrect. He firmly believed that one day, he would surely stand at the pinnacle of individual power on Source Star. But he was fighting against an era, against the entire system of Source Star; he did not believe he had a chance of winning through individual might alone.

In his brief time in the New Source Era, Ren Zhong had not seen a single rebel. There were two possibilities: either all the strong individuals who gained power had been assimilated, or they had all been quietly suppressed. Therefore, he had to mobilize the masses and arm them. Everyone, including Zheng Tian, was part of his potential initial foundation.

These people had to summon the courage and growth potential worthy of his cause. Otherwise, even if they followed him, they were destined to die violently sooner or later, or be eliminated by active or passive self-selection. If that were the case, they might as well take the startup capital he gave them, live securely in Spark Town as a relatively kind professional squad, and pass their lives in peace.

...

"Thank you for your hard work. I actually only intended to make do for the night, but I really didn't expect you to have the complete modification blueprints here. That makes things convenient for me tonight. I can scan it into the virtual reality system and start adapting to the new equipment in advance." Ren Zhong offered a compliment.

Ju Qingmeng lifted her chin proudly. "Lin Wang was promoted to the fourth level two years ago. For the entire year prior, he was my VIP client. All his equipment back then was handled by me. If it weren't for me, Lin Wang’s rate of improvement couldn't have been that fast, and he wouldn't have been able to attain his current status in the town. Uh..."

Hearing this, Ren Zhong immediately seized upon the key factor.

Two years!

In the final battle, the severely wounded Lin Wang, with damaged equipment, had activated a maximum power output of 4,000 kilowatts. Thus, it could be determined that Lin Wang in his prime should have a load capacity of over 6,000 kilowatts. Two years totaled 730 days; starting from the peak of the third level at 1,000 kilowatts and reaching 6,000, Lin Wang's total increase was 5,000 kilowatts. That looked terrifying, but it averaged out to only 6.85 kilowatts per day.

"Weak. I’m only at the second level now, and my average daily increase is about 5.5 kilowatts. My talent is indeed formidable!"

Just then, Ju Qingmeng, who had been chatting enthusiastically, noticed Ren Zhong’s silence and stopped mid-sentence to peek at him, only to see his brows tightly locked. She quickly gave him a push, looking slightly nervous. "What are you daydreaming about? I only helped Lin Wang because of business; he paid much higher prices than the average scavenger. Many of the devices and stock materials in my private laboratory were provided by him, and now they've all been invested in you, haven't they? Besides, it’s precisely because I once handled his equipment that I can provide you with better intelligence."

Ren Zhong: "Uh."

It seemed she had misunderstood his train of thought entirely. He smiled and said, "No, I was just calculating his efficiency of improvement. He only increased by 6.85 kilowatts per day at the fourth level, while my current load capacity increases by 5.5 kilowatts per day."

He had expected Ju Qingmeng to be slightly amazed, which would have naturally smoothed over the small misunderstanding. To his surprise, she only shrugged. "Isn't that expected? Your brain-machine synchronization rate was 29.99% as soon as you hit the second level. His talent isn't even fit to carry your shoes. Forget Spark Town; even looking at Chongyi County, I've never seen anyone like you. Otherwise, why would I dare to place my hopes on you?"

"Hmm. Well... it’s getting late. Why don't you go get some sleep? I’ve often kept you up these past few days; you really should rest well."

"Wait, let me scan the blueprints into your watch first."

"Thank you for the trouble."

"It’s my duty."

...

Early the next morning, Ren Zhong rode in Ju Qingmeng’s Beetle hover-car to the arms mall, where he met Wang Zhaofu, who had arrived as promised.

Brother Wang was indeed full of ideas and reliable. The third-level exoskeleton Lin Wang had priced at 250,000 points had been on consignment at the Liaoyuan County arms mall for nearly two years without selling. However, the second-level exoskeleton and heavy arc blade that Ren Zhong had spent 43,000 points to heavily modify were bought on the spot by Fatty Wang for 120,000 points after tax.

One couldn't call it a blood-sucking profit; it was enough to incite the wrath of heaven and earth. But Ren Zhong hadn't cheated his Brother Wang. After all, the performance of this set of equipment surpassed ordinary third-level exoskeletons, with an output power of 1,100 kilowatts; it was only due to the limitations of the design structure that its modification potential was exhausted, affecting its value. Fatty Wang definitely didn't lose money by buying it for 120,000 after tax. As long as he found a good buyer, he could easily flip it for 140,000 or 150,000 after tax.

The most valuable part of this armor was never the added components or special materials, but Ju Qingmeng’s craftsmanship. If any other mechanic were to attempt it, they would never have been able to perfectly modify a second-level exoskeleton to 1,100 kilowatts while maintaining stable operation. Of course, it might take some time to sell, and Fatty Wang’s funds would be tied up for a while, so how much he would actually make remained to be seen, but Ren Zhong was his good buddy. Their friendship had long surpassed the stage of approaching each other with ulterior motives.

After Wang Zhaofu left the manager’s office in high spirits, Ju Qingmeng couldn't help but laugh. "If Lin Wang knew that your second-level exoskeleton could sell for this price and be snatched up immediately, he’d probably be so jealous he’d cough up blood. The friendship between you and Wang Zhaofu is really quite something."

Ren Zhong smiled and shook his head. "The biggest difference between Lin Wang and me is you—you never charged me a single cent for your labor. Alright, I’m heading to Lin Wang’s manor. He asked to meet me at seven."

The smile on Ju Qingmeng’s face gradually faded. "Be careful."

"I will."

Ju Qingmeng: "Actually, logically speaking, I still don't quite understand why you must kill him. There is a possibility for the two of you to coexist. But I unconditionally trust any decision you make; you must have your reasons."

Ren Zhong nodded. "Actually, you aren't questioning my decision to kill him. You’re just afraid I’ll lose."

"Yes."

"But I won't lose."

Ju Qingmeng turned her face away. "Mmhmm."

As soon as Ren Zhong stepped out, Ju Qingmeng immediately pulled up the blueprints for the third-level exoskeleton. Without Ren Zhong even needing to make a request, she had already begun to proactively research an advanced modification plan for the gear.

Resting her chin in her hand, she muttered to herself, "Definitely cannot change the exterior, and I must add camouflage features to the energy output stage. Oh my, the structure of a third-level exoskeleton is indeed so complex. It’s a real headache. Let me think... let me think more..."

...

At the manor.

Lin Wang said with a hint of arrogance, "Ren Zhong, you were stunned when you first arrived, right? What do you think of our manor? I can guarantee you that in all of Spark Town, even including the citizen villas within the white walls, my manor’s defensive capabilities, luxurious decor, and living comfort are absolutely top-tier."

Ren Zhong nodded, his face full of infatuation and admiration. "As expected of the Captain. Only after coming here did I realize what it means to be a cut above the rest."

"Haha! Don't just look at the novelties; you’ll get used to it eventually. After you see it enough, it’s just the same old thing. Let me show you your room."

Ren Zhong’s room was on the ground floor; the previous occupant was Xing Ming. The layout and furnishings were basically the same as Bei Lihui’s room on the third floor, and the sleeping cabin was of the same model. After entering, Lin Wang introduced the room with an air of casualness, but with a clear ulterior motive.

"This is the latest holographic projection screen, worth 10,000 points a set. The user experience is basically the same as the slumber space in your watch. Xing Ming also bought a pair of Gould speakers; the effect is quite good, and they are excellent for watching movies and TV."

"This is an automatic bathing machine, worth 3,000 points—even more expensive than your second-level exoskeleton."

"This is..."

Ren Zhong acted satisfied. He knew Lin Wang’s goal. The other party wanted to use these luxury goods to further ignite his desires while increasing his loyalty. Ren Zhong gave Lin Wang the feedback he wanted.

A few minutes later, an armored transport vehicle stopped outside the manor gate.

"Ren Zhong, your equipment has arrived."

"Thank you, Captain!"

Ren Zhong was moved to tears. He thought to himself: Captain, your kindness to me is like a mountain; I will surely repay you handsomely in the days to come.

Lin Wang: "Hahaha, we are all family, no need for thanks. However, including the money I lent you before, you now owe me a total of 270,000 points after tax. That’s not a small sum, you must pay it back well."

"That goes without saying!"

...

Fifteen minutes later, Lin Wang and the others rode their jet skis out to begin the day’s hunt. Ren Zhong, now wearing the deep blue exoskeleton, adjusted it to low-power mode under the watchful eyes of the courtyard’s surveillance, then began to move his body clumsily.

A long time later, he climbed onto the hover-jet ski with great difficulty and wobbled out the gate. This jet ski was also part of Xing Ming’s legacy.

Ren Zhong went to "Miraculous Hands" first. Brother Sun was pulling on his medical supplier, refusing to let him leave, waiting for Ren Zhong to come settle the bill and unload the goods. This actually saved Ren Zhong the tax. Originally, he had to repay Sun Miao 16,000 points, which would have required him to pay 17,777.78 before tax. Now, the goods Sun Miao needed to replenish were worth 16,050 points.

Ren Zhong paid directly with great generosity. Brother Sun earned 50 points more in medicine, and Ren Zhong saved 1,727.78 in taxes—a perfect win-win. Not only that, but Ren Zhong also enthusiastically helped Sun Miao unload the goods. Although Sun Miao looked rugged and unrefined, he was actually quite frail. Ren Zhong, clad in armor, finished a job that usually took Sun Miao half an hour in just five minutes, which delighted Sun Miao.

Before leaving, Ren Zhong reminded Sun Miao that if he still wanted to invest, he should act quickly; the faster the money came, the better. In seventeen days at most, he, the "God of Stocks," would be washing his hands of the business. Sun Miao hurriedly put back the sign that Ren Zhong had personally written days ago and promised him, hand over heart, that he would invest 30,000 points this time.

Ren Zhong looked at his own autograph, which Sun Miao had specially plastic-laminated and framed, and laughed. "Brother Sun, you really have self-awareness about your terrible handwriting. When you get rich later, you can hang this masterpiece of mine up."

Sun Miao was furious. "What do you know! As doctors, we value ugliness as beauty in our calligraphy!"

After finishing with Sun Miao, Ren Zhong legitimately headed to the mecha pilot training ground. He pretended to be there for training, but in reality, the grand opening of his equipment modification plan was about to begin today.