But now he knows that for the lower class wastelanders trying to survive in Starfire Town, everyone has their own reasons for doing what they have to do.
Human values are all built on the objective facts created by the social background.
Although Zheng Tian is extremely utilitarian, her character hasn’t broken to an irredeemable degree, so Ren Zhong quietly forgave her and gave her one more chance.
However, if she acts like yesterday again, where a small mishap has Wen Lei staying behind while she takes everyone else on the vehicle,
and the vehicle has already driven off quite a distance before suddenly recalling Wen Lei’s "added value" and hurriedly turning back to take the risk of rescuing him,
should situations like this happen once more, Zheng Tian would be mercilessly abandoned by Ren Zhong first and foremost.
This is his final warning.
Zheng Tian lowered her head, "Okay, Mr. Ren, I understand. I... I’m sorry."
Ren Zhong shook his head, "Saying sorry to me means nothing."
Wen Lei, standing beside them, listened throughout, the shadow and disappointment in his eyes flashed briefly, but soon he scratched his head sheepishly, "Well, I’m alive and well, aren’t I? How can hunting not have any surprises? It’s alright!"
Ren Zhong rolled his eyes.
Hopeless case.
At a quarter past six in the morning, the group arrived at the mall.
It wasn’t yet working hours, with the mall doors tightly shut.
Ren Zhong didn’t say anything, just waited outside with everyone else.
Ou Youning squatted on the steps, gnawing on a chunk of synthetic spiced meat, grumbling miserably, "Sigh, we have to wait till seven... uh, I reckon."
Ou Youning hadn’t finished speaking when a beetle-shaped red hover car rounded the corner of the street, swerved magnificently, and swiftly stopped beside the group.
The car window rolled down, and Ju Qingmeng, with her hair still wet and wearing casual clothes, stuck her head out, "Ren Zhong, give me a minute. Let me park the car first. I’ll be right over."
Ren Zhong gave an OK gesture, "Yeah, make it quick."
Ju Qingmeng: "Got it!"
The piece of meat in Ou Youning’s hand fell to the ground with a thud.
People’s highs and lows in emotions are entirely different, damn it!
There’s still over forty minutes until working hours, damn it!
Those two are even calling each other by name, damn it!
Ju Manager, you are the noble mall manager, at least a Second Level Citizen, how can you urge the wastelanders and then say ’Got it’!
You weren’t like this with me before.
You’ve changed.
...
Over thirty minutes later, the group briskly walked out of the mall doors.
By this time, Wen Lei’s armor had been fully repaired, with even the parts that couldn’t be perfectly fixed already replaced.
The barrel and firing pin of Zheng Tian’s big gun had been entirely replaced and recalibrated for shooting.
Ou Youning, upon Ren Zhong’s specific request, purchased two Thermal Absorption Bombs, each costing 10 points, with public funds.
The Thermal Absorption Bomb can create a super low temperature within a five-meter diameter body of water and complete a five-meter freeze in an extremely short time as a special hand grenade.
The one with the most equipment changes was Ren Zhong.
Ju Qingmeng took him to her personal small laboratory, where she modified Ren Zhong’s basic armor with four transformations at true cost price without artisanal fees.
Two special devices, including an amplifier, were added.
The amplifier was still a "scrap part," actually eighty percent new, forcibly scrapped, only counted for 10 points.
The other three devices improved investigative ability with an advanced scanner, enhanced torso stability with a Flexible Metal Transmission Chain, and a double-shouldered, short-range small cannon capable of firing a total of eight Thumb Grenades.
The charge for these three items was 120 points.
On the surface, Ren Zhong’s exoskeleton appeared no different from a regular Balanced First Level Exoskeleton, but its overall combat performance had significantly elevated.
If not for not wanting to cause Ju Qingmeng trouble and only having 17.78 points left in his pocket, Ren Zhong truly wanted to get the Second Level weapon, a heavy Arc Light Saber, valued at 200 points.
"Let’s go! Move out!"
Zheng Tian: "Where are we going?"
"To the dense forest where you found me. I have a few old friends over there."
Zheng Tian: "Uh... huh? As far as I know, although there are a few First Level Ruined Beasts around that forest, like the Crystal Winged Dragonfly you killed barehanded. But actually, it’s mostly Second Level Ruined Beasts around there, with very peculiar abilities that are hard to deal with."
Ren Zhong turned back with a smile, "Indeed hard to deal with, but that was only for the old me."
When venturing out, one often misses home.
When Ren Zhong first started, he often received "care" from various Ruined Beasts near the dense forest.
Those fierce guys enthusiastically gave him warm greetings, allowing him to quickly grasp the local customs and practices of this world.
Now Ren Zhong had achieved some success outside, it was time to return with fansfare, gloriously revisiting those fellow townsmen who loved him 136 times over.