The slip of paper Li Xinghe received was, of course, from Lin Qun.
The misunderstanding had already taken root, and Lin Qun decided to roll with it.
With the situation still uncertain, Lin Qun had no intention of stepping into the limelight. He was willing to cooperate with the military if necessary, but getting too involved wasn't part of his plan. In an apocalyptic world rife with chaos and distrust, standing out was risky—it could easily make him a target.
Letting Li Xinghe act as the scapegoat to draw attention and hostility while Lin Qun operated in the shadows was the safest approach.
He would stick to his stealthy strategy to the bitter end.
Lin Qun wasn't interested in the respect or resources that Li Xinghe gained from playing the role of the "big shot."
If Li Xinghe enjoyed the admiration of others and the tributes of supplies from Fan Wenchuan, then it was only fair he also bear the burden of being the "lightning rod."
After all, it was Li Xinghe's own exaggerations about his strength that had landed him this role in the first place. If he hadn't bragged to Fan Wenchuan and sold himself as a bodyguard, none of this would have happened.
Despite his frustration, Li Xinghe understood the situation.
Standing up now felt like a weight had been lifted from his chest. He knew he wasn't the one who had slain dozens of Bacatan. Whether the mysterious expert appreciated his "stand-in" act or not, Li Xinghe knew one thing: pretending to be someone he wasn't was like stealing credit for kills. If the real powerhouse took offense, Li Xinghe's meager skills wouldn't save him.
But now, the expert had asked him to take credit. That meant he still had value to the expert.
This thought gave Li Xinghe a surprising sense of relief.
As long as the expert needed him to play the decoy, his life would likely be spared.
With renewed determination, Li Xinghe stepped forward toward Jiang Bin.
Jiang Bin observed him with a sharp gaze, his pupils narrowing slightly.
Wang Desheng whispered, "That's the expert? He looks so young…"
Jiang Bin didn't have time for pleasantries. He quickly gave Li Xinghe a few words of acknowledgment before assigning Wang Desheng to bring him aside for further discussion.
At that moment, Fan Wenchuan sidled up, offering half a pack of cigarettes.
"Vice Squad Leader Wang, we've been waiting for you! I'm the building leader of Number Five, and I'm here with Mr. Li. I've organized quite a few people here. What's the plan for evacuation? I've got some influence among the residents, and I'm happy to help however I can."
Fan Wenchuan was quick to latch onto the military, eager to establish a connection.
Wang Desheng gave him a brief glance before replying, "We'll need your help. We don't have enough manpower to evacuate everyone. For now, we plan to fortify the Dragon City compound. I'll need you to help organize volunteers who can fight or assist in defensive tasks. We'll concentrate the remaining survivors into one or two buildings for easier protection."
He turned to Li Xinghe and extended a hand. "It's an honor to meet you. You're incredible—I've never seen anyone chase down a Bacatan airboat before. What's your ability? Oh, no need to share if it's sensitive, but we could really use your strength. We'll compensate you fairly and ensure you're not put in undue danger. If you have family or friends, we'll prioritize their safety as well."
Fan Wenchuan's expression turned peculiar as he glanced at Li Xinghe.
When had Li Xinghe left the compound? How had he just happened to encounter the military?
Li Xinghe's heart raced. His mind spun as he tried to reconcile the terrifying reality:
Who was this mysterious expert?
Not only had they slaughtered dozens of Bacatan, but they had also single-handedly chased down an airboat?
Li Xinghe's B-rank awakened ability seemed laughable in comparison. While he cowered in his room, this expert had gone on a killing spree. The gap between them was insurmountable.
What kind of monstrous strength was this?
Despite his inner turmoil, Li Xinghe forced a polite smile, nodding occasionally but saying as little as possible.
The conversation was brief due to the urgency of the situation. Wang Desheng quickly returned to Jiang Bin to assist with organizing defenses.
Jiang Bin, meanwhile, was overseeing the construction of defensive lines using Buildings 3, 5, and 7 as key strongholds. Survivors were being relocated into these buildings for better protection.
Jiang Bin asked, "That 'Pigsy'… it's really him?"
Wang Desheng nodded firmly. "Yes. He's young but composed, and he doesn't talk much. Definitely not an ordinary person."
Jiang Bin nodded. "Good. We'll need him to help organize a civilian militia. Without their help, we don't have the manpower to protect everyone."
As Jiang Bin and his soldiers worked on fortifications and communicated with nearby units, the survivors grew hopeful. The news of additional reinforcements made them more cooperative.
Fan Wenchuan eagerly took charge, rallying survivors to join the militia and helping the military relocate people into the designated buildings. In this new reality, concepts like private property had lost all meaning. Survivors crammed into available rooms without hesitation.
Others lingered in the compound's open areas, hoping to gather information from the soldiers. With the outside world cut off, even scraps of news were precious.
Lin Qun was among those who stayed downstairs.
Having partially recovered his stamina, he was still on the hunt for stray Bacatan. With the leaderboard update approaching at midnight, Lin Qun was determined to secure his third-place ranking.
The bonus for third place was non-negotiable.
Sticking to the compound's outskirts, Lin Qun moved stealthily, avoiding venturing too far while remaining in a position where he could retreat if needed.
His patience paid off.
He spotted a lone Bacatan skulking near the compound, seemingly scouting its defenses.
Too bad it wasn't familiar with the terrain—or as stealthy as its hunter.
The Bacatan crouched in the shadows, convinced it was well-hidden. It never saw Lin Qun coming.
One precise strike.
A headless corpse slumped to the ground, blood spraying from its neck.
Lin Qun, a master of survival tactics, had once again demonstrated his lethal precision.
+1 Contribution Point.
+50 Experience Points.
His third-place ranking was now even more secure.