| WRIAWW | The Bigger the Fist, the More Powerful it is | 13
For many years since the survivors entered the Infinite Space, they have gained a thorough understanding of the main system.
It resembles an AI, but not a particularly intelligent one, with obvious logical codes in task assignments.
Every so often, five different tasks randomly appear on the survivors' task panels, with levels fluctuating within two levels above or below the survivor's own level.
Any sensible survivor wouldn't choose tasks much higher than their own level, as these tasks are more difficult, have a higher fatality rate, and require paying protection fees to major guilds, making the effort hardly worth it.
However, if the survivor's luck is bad and all five tasks are high-level, they have no choice but to proceed. The main system issues warnings to survivors who haven't undertaken tasks for a long time.
The first warning comes without penalty, the second warning randomly assigns a task higher than the survivor's current level, and the third warning results in immediate death. This is why occasionally, low-level survivors appear in B or A-level tasks.
Except for S-level survivors who can freely choose tasks, the choices for others are not as flexible as one might think.
The most popular tasks are undoubtedly the low-level ones.
There aren't many talented survivors who are smart enough to lead; most are just ordinary people trying to live cautiously, fearing for their lives, and only doing mandatory tasks to get by. Even many B and C-level survivors prefer to choose tasks one level below their own, as life is precious and it's always better to be safe than sorry.
Among these, D-level tasks are the most sought after and popular.
Since the ultimate dungeon has just opened, everyone is unclear about its situation. Recently, the forums have been filled with reports of B-level tasks encountering weird domains, causing widespread panic. Even the skilled leaders on the rankings don't undertake tasks alone but form groups with others of similar levels, let alone the rest.
D-level tasks, being the simplest, usually don't require eliminating the weird but only reducing its activity or scouting, preparing for subsequent higher-level tasks. They are easy and almost risk-free, naturally attracting a large number of survivors.
Take today's D-level task, for example.
As soon as it was released, it was fiercely grabbed by the survivors, and within less than half an hour, it was fully taken.
The survivors who secured the task were overjoyed, as if they had won a lottery.
"Delivering packages, hey, I'm familiar with that. It's simple, just place it at the door, make a call, and leave."
"Such an easy D-level task, I've struck gold, hehe!"
"I was the last one to join, and right after I entered, the task was locked and full. Awesome!"
Unlike other high-level tasks where you have to categorize and pay protection fees right from the start, the gathering place was filled with joy, with everyone wearing relaxed and happy smiles, and people were exceptionally friendly towards each other.
Zong Le felt this especially deeply.
Having gotten used to the simple ways of the citizens of Guiyi City, suddenly coming into contact with the survivor community was like a lonely traveler in the desert finding an organization, eagerly longing to integrate into this warm big family.
However, the scene from before the last mission, where he proactively greeted the survivors only to be ignored, was still fresh in his mind. For a moment, Zong Le was at a loss for words, unsure how to start a conversation to break the ice.
Perhaps his thoughts were heard by the heavens, as a female survivor who had just finished a lively chat happened to glance his way. Noticing his distinctive temporary courier cap and his eyes, she raised her hand to greet him.
"Hey, did you manage to snag this mission too?"
Although he hadn't exactly "snagged" it, Zong Le nodded eagerly like a pecking chicken, "Yeah, yeah!"
"Me too, super lucky."
Han Yueyue chuckled, "Once we finish this mission, I can stay safe for awhile longer. It feels great."
"Absolutely," a survivor in front of them naturally joined the conversation. "I heard the ultimate dungeon is super dangerous. There have already been two cases of B-level missions encountering weird domains on the forums. I wonder if our mission will be harder than the others."
"What? No way!" Han Yueyue was visibly shocked. "This is my first time doing a mission in the ultimate dungeon mission."
"Don't worry, judging by the mission description, it shouldn't be too hard. I've been scraping by on low-level missions for years. I've got plenty of experience."
"Yeah, you probably haven't done many missions, right? Don't be nervous. Even if there are weirds, D-level weirds are easy to deal with. We've all gone through at least one full-body enhancement. We can take them on bare-handed."
Those doing low-level missions were either newbies or seasoned veterans just coasting along. They easily mingled, sharing their experiences and feelings.
Zong Le stood by, feeling content, occasionally chiming in with a word or two.
Soon, the courier station's boss walked out with a cold expression, followed by a few employees who looked meek, clearly having just been scolded for theft issues.
"If this happens again, you're all fired!"
This scene resonated with many of the low-level survivors.
They huddled together, whispering.
"Who does he think he is? He's just a courier station boss, but he's acting like he's the CEO of some major corporation."
"Worst of all are the workers. It reminds me of us barely surviving under the three major guilds."
"Ugh, don't remind me. Every time we run into those guild members, they act like they're above everyone. By the way, have you guys seen the drama about Young Master Qin from the Watchtower Guild on the forums? It was so satisfying!"
After bowing and nodding to see the boss off, the station employees finally relaxed.
The lead supervisor turned to face the temporary couriers recruited. His previously submissive expression immediately shifted, revealing his exploitative nature.
"You're all temporary couriers, right? The packages are on that shelf over there. Each of you pick five to deliver. Don't damage them. If the customer satisfaction rating isn't perfect, your daily wage will be deducted."
He pointed to a shelf at the far end of the station, different from the others, stacked with large packages. Each was as big as a refrigerator, it was impossible to move without a forklift.
This angered many of the survivors.
"Back before I entered the infinite space, I worked as a courier too. Don't think I don't know that delivering large packages requires extra pay. Not only are we not getting paid extra, but he's also treating us like this."
"Probably because they see us as temporary couriers, they’re treating us like cattle."
"Ugh, the NPCs in this ultimate dungeon really aren’t worth sympathizing with."
Zong Le asked curiously, "Why do you say that? Aren’t NPCs also people?"
"Well, people are different. Look at the people in Guiyi City—aren’t they especially full of malice? None of them seem normal."
Han Yueyue, standing in front of him, waved her hand dismissively. "It’s a weird dungeon, after all. The NPCs inside definitely aren’t good people. And many of them seem normal at first glance, but the moment they’re provoked, they immediately turn into weirds."
The survivors hadn’t always been so hostile toward NPCs, or used them as stepping stones. It was only after going through many dungeons and being genuinely betrayed by NPCs that they stopped seeing them as human.
"Strictly speaking, all NPCs have the potential to become weirds."
Han Yueyue, who had a wealth of theoretical knowledge but had rarely been on missions herself, enthusiastically explained to Zong Le: "You’ve definitely been to the Temple dungeon, right? The only S-level dungeon that’s been conquered so far, the one that produces Soul Lanterns. The white-robed priests inside seem really friendly and kind, don’t they? Well, you’d never guess that when the Temple was being attacked, those priests were all ruthless, super-powerful weirds, nicknamed ‘Bloody Executioners.’ I watched a documentary about it and was almost scared to death."
"Yeah, anyway, NPCs are just people in the dungeon. You don’t need to feel too burdened—just curse them if you want."
Even so, the survivors present only complained verbally. None of them dared to actually stand up and oppose the NPCs. After all, no one wanted to gamble on whether an NPC might instantly transform into a weird.
In the past, there had been low-level missions in the Infinite Space where survivors pushed the NPCs too far, provoking them into becoming C-level weird, which led to a complete wipeout.
Since then, unless it was a life-or-death situation, not provoking NPCs had become an ironclad rule for low-level survivors, etched into their very souls.
The survivors assigned to the courier mission were all D-level, and they were well aware of their low-level status.
"Alright, alright, they're lucky to have picked a few soft persimmons like us."
"Haha, kicking me is like kicking cotton."
"So what if I’m a coward for once? Do you think I’ve always walked through missions with my head held high? I’m used to it. Let’s go, guys. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can clock out."
Seeing the forced smiles on everyone’s faces, Zong Le felt a pang of discomfort.
He hadn’t been on many missions, but the survivors he’d met on this one were by far the most friendly.
Even though they jokingly referred to themselves as "insignificant D-levels" or "cannon fodder members of the Infinite Space," the genuine desire to survive and the light in their eyes couldn’t be faked.
Zong Le liked this sense of vitality. Their exuberant life force reminded him of the decaying, power-corrupted souls he’d encountered in his last mission.
The stark contrast made Zong Le unconsciously smile.
So, even though a shelf of large goods was nothing to him, Zong Le decided to take the initiative.
Han Yueyue was still racking her brain over how to use the transport machine to move the large goods efficiently when she turned and saw the handsome black-haired guy next to her walking toward the courier station employees.
"Hello," Zong Le greeted politely, getting straight to the point. "Is there an issue with your express distribution?"
The team leader was taken aback, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.
"Well, you temporary workers dare to voice complaints now—"
Mid-sentence, he suddenly felt that the black-haired young man before him looked somewhat familiar. A bad possibility crossed his mind, and his words caught in his throat.
"Wait, are you the one from this morning..."
"Yes," Zong Le nodded.
Recalling the ruthless actions he had witnessed that morning, the team leader immediately fell silent.
He had indeed intended to take advantage and vent his frustrations by assigning the dirtiest and most exhausting tasks to these temporary couriers. But when faced with a stronger force, he knew better than to push his luck.
Zong Le didn’t notice his hesitation. "What a coincidence. Did you manage to get those teenagers to compensate you later?"
"Uh, no, not yet."
At this, the employees' faces turned as if they had swallowed a fly.
That morning, after Zong Le had finished his business, he simply waved and left, leaving behind a few unlucky souls he had knocked out.
The team leader and his colleagues had immediately called the police, but as usual, the Guiyi City police station handled the matter with indifference. The call was cut off after just a few words. Left with no other option, they decided to search the thieves' bodies to retrieve the stolen goods and demand compensation once they woke up.
Being locals of Guiyi City, even as victims, their inherent greed hadn’t diminished. Since they were already searching the thieves, why stop at just retrieving the stolen items?
Although the thugs didn’t carry cash, the gold-encrusted watch on one’s wrist and the several smartphones seemed quite valuable. Exchanging knowing glances, they silently pocketed these items, planning to pawn them off after work and split the earnings.
But no one expected that this very greed would backfire.
When the thugs woke up, instead of panicking, they were smug. One of them used a tracking device he carried to call for backup. When a butler in a tailcoat and several burly men arrived at the station to block the entrance, the employees realized that one of the thugs was actually the young master of the Tianmen Mansion, a prestigious villa on the hilltop.
His family was influential and well-known in Guiyi City, though the young master had a habit of petty theft. Given his prominent family background, his parents turned a blind eye to his misdeeds and even arranged for a top-notch legal team to protect him.
Originally, the video Zong Le had taken would have been solid evidence. Although Guiyi City was a place where money, power, or brute force could solve almost anything, the central court remained an exception—a place of absolute fairness. If there was just cause, even the mayor’s son would face punishment.
However, the employees were corrupt and they had taken more than they should have.
The young master, having been wronged, wasn’t about to let it slide. He immediately notified the Tianmen Mansion’s property management, who in turn informed the station’s owner. The owner was furious, firing several employees on the spot and deducting half a month’s wages from their pay.
This was why the team leader was taking out his frustrations on the temporary couriers.
The people of Guiyi City are known for their simple and honest ways. When problems arise, they never look for faults within themselves but always point fingers at others.
Therefore, the courier station employees didn’t think they were at fault. Instead, they blamed Zong Le for meddling in their affairs, believing that if it weren’t for him, this string of misfortunes wouldn’t have happened.
However, they didn’t dare to openly express their dissatisfaction with Zong Le either.
Because, after all, the strong are always right.
Zong Le didn’t understand why they stopped mid-sentence. For now, the more pressing issue was the delivery problem.
"If I’m not mistaken, the delivery fee for large items is different, right? But the job posting you issued specifies small item deliveries. Is there some kind of misunderstanding here?"
"Yes, yes, there’s a misunderstanding, a simple misunderstanding."
The team leader was so anxious that beads of sweat formed on his forehead. He quickly raised his voice, "I made a mistake in assigning your deliveries. It should be regular items, not all large ones. There’s only one large item that requires joint delivery. It’s a misunderstanding."
Han Yueyue didn’t catch most of their conversation.
But the team leader’s final words were heard loud and clear by everyone in the station.
The survivors, who had been frowning in worry, were stunned, unable to believe their ears.
"Wait, what’s going on? Why did they suddenly change their tune?"
But at a time like this, overthinking it clearly wasn’t important. A common trait among low-level survivors is their single-mindedness. Since the terms had changed, they happily accepted it. So, they cheerfully left the large item shelves and went to pick out smaller packages.
When Zong Le returned, Han Yueyue curiously asked him, "What did you just talk to them about?"
"Nothing much, I discussed the issue of theft in the store."
"Oh, okay."
Han Yueyue didn’t suspect a thing and casually handed him a list. "Here, these are the items that need to be delivered."
Zong Le took the delivery list.
"Wait! Everyone, don’t take the delivery list for Ankang Community!"
Suddenly, one of the survivors jumped up from his spot. "I saw that name on the forum yesterday while browsing. That’s where the Watchtower Guild’s Young Master Qin and his team did their mission!"
"What? That B-level mission with overlapping weird domains?"
Someone, skeptical, immediately opened their phone and searched. Sure enough, they found the name "Ankang Community" in a trending forum post.
"Holy crap, it’s true. We could have died!"
This incident sent a chill down the survivor’s spines.
Usually, missions restrict the environment and location, and survivors aren’t allowed to leave the designated area for other places. The D-level courier mission was somewhat special, allowing for a larger activity range. No one expected this.
"Good thing Brother Wang remembered, or the consequences would’ve been unthinkable!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"If we’re not going to Ankang Community, then we’ll have to go to Tianmen Mansion. That name sounds pretty fancy."
"Let’s just go to Tianmen Mansion. We might as well all choose deliveries there so we can look out for each other."
Zong Le had also heard about the villa area on the hilltop. Every time he went for a morning run, he had to detour around it. The security guards at the entrance were notoriously fierce, and even a lingering glance would prompt them to shoo you away.
"Here’s an idea. To prevent any issues, let’s create a discussion group."
"That’s a good idea. Come on, let’s all add each other as friends. Who knows, we might run into each other again in the future."
So, the group quickly set up a temporary chat group, agreeing to share any updates or issues there.
"Speaking of which, delivering packages shouldn’t involve sending them directly to some weird's house, right?"
"Definitely not. It’s just a D-level task. It shouldn't be that extreme."
While chatting, the survivors carried the packages out to their electric bikes. If a package was particularly heavy, they’d lend a hand, securing it to the back of the bike.
In this harmonious atmosphere, the bicycle convoy cheerfully set off, heading up the mountain.
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