As Su Chen took out his pistol, the group grew increasingly nervous. However, their earlier greed and hostility towards him began to fade as they realized the gravity of the situation.
Suddenly, Su Chen declared that anyone found to be lying would be shot on the spot. Wu Guodong, the young soldier, was shocked by the statement and quickly tightened his grip on his own weapon, ready to act if necessary. The tension in the air was palpable, and everyone was on edge, unsure of what was going to happen next.
The young girl who had been speaking earlier was now silent, intimidated by Su Chen's pistol.
She realized that her boyfriend's abilities, which took 13 seconds to charge, would be of little use in this situation, where a single bullet could end everything in an instant.
As the tension in the air continued to mount, the middle-aged man who had initiated the conversation earlier spoke up once again. "What information do you seek?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Su Chen's words hung in the air, leaving the group stunned and confused.
"Where is the Cos outfit in Midtown?" his voice slow and deliberate.
The young girl spoke up, her surprise evident in her tone. "What are you talking about?" she asked, struggling to understand.
"Where in Midtown can I find full-body cosplay or model suits that can be worn preferably made of iron and with intricate detailing, such as Iron Man or Spartan? I'm looking for suits made of iron or other refined, hard materials."
The group remained bewildered by Su Chen's odd request, unsure of how to respond.
The survivors in the room exchanged glances, their expressions still marked by confusion and disbelief.
In a world ravaged by disaster, where monsters roamed freely and death lurked around every corner, Su Chen's request for a cosplay suit seemed bizarre and out of place. They couldn't fathom why someone would focus on such trivial matters when survival should be their top priority.
The group's bewilderment was palpable, and they couldn't help but wonder what kind of strange thought process led Su Chen to make such a request.
Wu Guodong scratched his head, his simple demeanor tinged with confusion. Qiao Zheng's boss, too, seemed unsure of what was going on. While he had briefly entertained the idea that Su Chen might be a gifted individual, that thought was quickly replaced with "he can't be this foolish".
Su Chen, meanwhile, continued to hold out the packets of biscuits as he made his request. "I will give you two packets of biscuits," he said, "for detailed and specific answers to my questions. Tell me exactly where I can find what I'm looking for, and how to acquire it. I need this information as soon as possible."
Su Chen's words cut through the tension in the room, bringing everyone back to reality. Despite their initial doubts about Su Chen's sanity, the sight of him brandishing a gun and holding out packets of biscuits was enough to deter anyone from attempting to take advantage of him. In a world where survival was the top priority, there was no point in risking one's life for a few snacks.
The allure of the biscuits was too great to resist, and the group began to rack their brains in an effort to come up with detailed and specific answers to Su Chen's questions. While they may have harbored negative thoughts towards Su Chen, their desire for the biscuits was sincere, and they were eager to provide him with the information he sought.
To Su Chen's surprise, the survivors proved to be quite knowledgeable and provided him with a wealth of useful information. Despite their initial reluctance, they confirmed each other's accounts and eventually relayed the location of a wearable Iron Man suit. According to their descriptions, the suit was located on the second publicity booth, at the back of the elevator on the east side of the third floor of the Cloud City Store. It appeared to be made of metal and hard plastic, which contributed to its impressive strength and durability. While it was primarily used for exhibition purposes, the mall's staff were known to wear it on occasion, although the suit's heavy weight limited their movements to stationary arm waving.
The survivors were unsure of what Su Chen intended to do with the heavy Iron Man suit, and they watched in confusion as he eagerly took note of its location.
Su Chen, however, paid no attention to their skepticism. To him, the seemingly useless piece of metal was a valuable treasure in the end times.
Surprisingly, Su Chen gave the packets of biscuits to Wu Guodong, the young soldier, instead of distributing them himself. "You can divide them among the group," he said.
Wu Guodong couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions as he divided the biscuits among the group. While he was grateful for the small amount of food, he couldn't help but feel disappointed that it wasn't more substantial. In an attempt to make up for his meager offering, he offered to exchange other information or possessions with Su Chen.
Su Chen gave Wu Guodong a silent once-over, but he knew that there was little the soldier could offer him. Wu Guodong's clothes were stained with blood, and his ammunition was likely running low. Su Chen knew that weapons and ammunition were in high demand, but he saw no reason to trade with someone who had so little to offer. Wu Guodong wouldn't dare leave the hideout for fear of exhausting the few bullets he has, his precarious situation only reinforced Su Chen's belief in the importance of his own survival and the need to accumulate resources.
Su Chen shook his head in response to Wu Guodong's offer, recognizing that the soldier's rifle was likely his only means of defense in such a dangerous world. Instead, Su Chen pulled out a few Dove chocolates from his stash and handed them to Wu Guodong, encouraging him to keep them for himself and use his strength to protect the group.
With that, Su Chen asked for directions to the back door of the clothing store and made his way out, declining Wu Guodong's invitation to stay.
Despite his general disdain for the other survivors, Su Chen had a deep respect for Wu Guodong, the young soldier who was younger than him. He recognized that soldiers like Wu Guodong were human beings too, and that their bravery and determination were critical in a world that had been turned upside down.
However, Su Chen knew that he could only do so much. While he had plenty of food in his backpack, he recognized the importance of saving it for the future. He couldn't afford to sacrifice himself or his resources at this time. Instead, he showed his appreciation for Wu Guodong's service by giving him two pieces of Dove chocolate.
To Su Chen, this small gesture was a way of expressing his respect and admiration for the young soldier and his sacrifices in a world where survival was uncertain.
As Su Chen left, the group of survivors watched him go, their eyes fixed on the packets of biscuits and chocolates he had left behind. Some of them exchanged confused glances, wondering if Su Chen had lost his mind to offer such a small reward for what seemed like useless information.
One survivor whispered to the others, suggesting that Su Chen might be either a lunatic or a fool. However, others in the group were more pragmatic, recognizing that the biscuits and chocolates were still a valuable commodity in a world where food was this scarce.
Isn't he closer to a business man?
As Qiao Zheng observed Wu Guodong holding the chocolates Su Chen had given him, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shame.
...
Su Chen left the clothing store and hurried towards the Yuncheng store, keeping a watchful eye out for any signs of danger. He was careful to avoid any large groups of elongated ghosts or black scale monsters, preferring to engage only when he had the upper hand.
When he encountered a scattered group of elongated ghosts, Su Chen employed a brutal and ruthless hunting method. He would quickly close the distance between himself and the ghosts, drawing their attention before throwing his warhammer at them. Once the ghost was stunned, he would rush in with his gun and finish the job. With each successful kill, Su Chen's technique became increasingly refined, allowing him to take down his targets more efficiently.
Su Chen's tactics for hunting the elongated ghosts were so effective that they were powerless to resist him.
He employed a combination of swift movement, precise aiming, and brutal force to take them down quickly and efficiently.
As he traveled towards the Yuanliao Radio and Television Tower, Su Chen encountered numerous monsters along the way. He learned to avoid them whenever possible, and he realized that the closer he got to the tower, the denser the monster population became. Despite the danger, he pressed on, determined to reach his destination.
At one point, Su Chen passed through an area where it seemed that the military and monsters had engaged in a fierce battle. He hoped to scavenge any usable weapons or equipment from the wreckage, but the monsters had already devoured everything. The area was filled with a putrid stench, and the guns that had fallen during the battle were almost unusable due to the elongated ghosts' potent and infectious bacteria-like power.
Despite the challenges he faced, Su Chen was able to make some gains during his journey. In the aftermath of a fierce battle between the military and monsters, he was able to uncover a useful fragmentation grenade, which he added to his arsenal.
As Su Chen made his way through the dangerous city, he encountered several groups of panicked survivors. One woman, in particular, witnessed his skilled hunting and killing of an elongated ghost. She was shocked and frightened by his abilities and approached him flirtatiously, deliberately revealing her cleavage and smiling seductively. Before the cataclysm, she had been a high-class woman who was pursued by many wealthy individuals. She sighed and said to Su Chen, "Hello...can you take me with you? I'll do anything for you if you do."
Su Chen couldn't help but be momentarily captivated by the woman's alluring figure and seductive smile.
However, he quickly regained his focus and reminded himself of his mission to survive and acquire resources.
He had already hunted down five elongated ghosts and acquired five energy units. He had no need for a woman who offered to do "anything" for him. In order to avoid any further entanglements, Su Chen responded coldly and simply, "You are beautiful, but I cannot take you with me. What you offer is not only useless to me, but it would also consume my energy."