After leaving the Trading Market, Xiao Jun did not go to the Recruitment Market again. Without thinking, he knew that those people working on his territory came from there.
The streets were still as chaotic as usual, and there were even beggars. Xiao Jun ignored them all.
Ahead, a group of people who had just returned from outside Future City walked by laughing and joking around. One look and you could tell they had a good harvest.
"Brother Jun?"
A pleasantly surprised voice came from the crowd, then a boy ran out. It was Guo Yu, who had lived on the first floor of the hotel with Xiao Jun.
"Captain Guo, bumped into an acquaintance, huh? We'll go ahead first then."
Guo Yu seemed to be doing well in Future City. He laughed and exchanged a few words with the people before looking at Xiao Jun again.
"Brother Jun, you came to Future City too, great! My mom often mentions you."
"Brother Jun, I've joined Future City now, and even became a team captain with dozens of people under me. I'm a second-order mutant now."
He seemed eager to show off to Xiao Jun like a child to his elders.
"Not bad."
Xiao Jun smiled and nodded. He had not misjudged this person. Guo Yu's intimacy towards him was evident.
But something about his attitude seemed off. The Guo Yu in the previous life was Future City's top general, ruthless and taciturn. Now with this trend, I hope he doesn't go astray.
Getting Xiao Jun's approval made Guo Yu even happier. He pulled Xiao Jun along, wanting to take him home. His mother often spoke fondly of Xiao Jun, saying that without him, the mother and son would have died long ago.
Xiao Jun did not decline either. He had nothing to do now and was happy to run into Guo Yu in Future City.
On the way, Guo Yu recounted his experiences in detail to Xiao Jun.
After listening to Xiao Jun's advice, he had become a first-order mutant. Then he brought his mother to the Survivor Team, overcoming many dangers along the way. Fortunately, Guo Yu was powerful enough to safely bring his mother to the Survivor Team.
After joining the team, Guo Yu started as an ordinary team member and gradually displayed his strength, garnering attention. He was arranged to become a small team captain, leading seven to eight people.
Later, he encountered a top-tier airdrop box.
But at that time, his team was not strong enough to deal with a second-order zombie.
At the critical moment, Guo Yu took the opportunity when the zombies were chasing and killing his scattered team members to secretly consume the mutated crystals that should have been turned in. He succeeded in leveling up to a second-order mutant. (Note: Guo Yu had already obtained many first-order mutated crystals from previous missions)
That battle was extremely dangerous. Fortunately, Guo Yu's skills prevailed in the end, and he triumphed over the second-order zombie.
Unexpectedly, that airdrop box turned out to be top-tier.
With all his men dead, there was no supervision.
Guo Yu kept his wits and did not report this matter, secretly embezzling the contents instead.
"Brother Jun, I'll let you in on a secret. There was a mutation compound in that airdrop box. After consuming it, my strength increased by about two times."
Guo Yu looked around furtively, then whispered when he saw no one around.
Xiao Jun found it amusing. This kid was quite naive deep down. He remembered well anyone who was nice to him.
Perhaps because his mother did not die in this life, he did not turn evil and still retained some innocence.
"Then you have to work hard. I'm a third-order mutant now."
Guo Yu nodded seriously, then reverted to childishness in the next second.
"Brother Jun, I heard others say a group with only pretty girls came to Future City. They are quite powerful and are called Xiao Jun's Harem Group. Is that your group?"
Xiao Jun's smile instantly turned awkward. This was too socially embarrassing, Guo Yu was still a minor!
"The name was randomly made up, don't listen to their nonsense."
"What a pity. Brother Jun's group only accepts pretty girls, otherwise I would have joined you."
Xiao Jun was exasperated. Did he really look like a playboy? He had only been with one of the 500 girls, far from comparing with those bigger team leaders.
"You stay obediently in Future City for now. When you become powerful later, I'll take you out to play."
【Brother Jun must feel I'm too weak now, a burden if I join his group and share his resources.】
【I see others checking houses of people living secretly without permission during night patrols, taking their mutated crystals then turning a blind eye.】
【Looks like I should do the same in the future, get more mutated crystals and level up faster to aid Brother Jun sooner.】
Xiao Jun's expression grew darker. How could this cold and ruthless war god have turned into a greedy little puppy? Where did things go wrong?
...
Guo Yu now lived in the west side of Future City, an area exclusively for Future City's direct members. As a small team captain, he naturally got an allocated residence too.
Due to his mother, he chose a lower floor.
Unlike pre-apocalypse times, higher floor apartments were more expensive, except for the penthouse.
In a world without electricity, high floors were unbearable.
Now, Guo Yu was a big team captain of one of Future City's teams, with over a hundred people under him. Otherwise, he couldn't have gotten a second floor unit.
As soon as the door opened, a woman's voice rang out.
"Xiao Yu is back."
Seeing a stranger with her son, Guo Yu's mother became slightly wary. Although her son was capable, he was still young after all. What if someone deceived him...
"Mom, I met Brother Jun today and brought him back. You're always talking about him."
Guo Yu excitedly ran to his mother and happily recounted.
The tension on Guo Yu's mother's face instantly disappeared, immediately replaced by a heartfelt smile.
"Come in quick."
From Guo Yu's mother's heart, all Xiao Jun heard was gratitude towards the person who had saved their lives. She had no other thoughts about him.
"Xiao Yu, go take out the food. What are you standing there for?"
Seeing Guo Yu still standing aside, Guo Yu's mother urged him.
There wasn't much, some chips, jerky, and two bottles of milk.
Despite joining Future City and being a junior leader, Guo Yu didn't get a lot of allocations.
Future City's direct members already exceeded ten thousand. At least half of the harvested resources would be kept as reserves.
The remainder trickled down through layers of distribution. By the time it reached Guo Yu's hands, there wasn't much left.
But it was still better than the vast majority. At least he and his mother had no worries about food, clothing and shelter. He could also steadily enhance his strength.
They seemed quite content with this lifestyle.
But Guo Yu's mother's occasional worried looks did not escape Xiao Jun's notice.
This lifestyle was hard-earned by her son risking his life.