Liu Yuan returned to the back of the SUV, opened the trunk, and took out the two sets of cleaning supplies she used daily for her work: a bucket and a mop.
After getting her supplies ready, Liu Yuan gently sipped her milk tea.
Then, she looked up at Yun City's sky, her thoughts drifting far away.
Two years ago, also on a foggy morning like this, Lu Yuan had placed a cup of milk tea in front of her.
What Lu Yuan told her back then was basically the same thing he had just told the little girl.
Afterwards, more and more "special" people came to Yun City. Some settled down in Yun City, while others settled down in Lu Yuan's freezer.
Still others were disemboweled and stripped clean before being dumped on the wastelands outside Yun City.
The reason these "special" people received such different treatment was that in response to the choice Lu Yuan gave them, some chose correctly while others chose incorrectly.
Liu Yuan tilted her head slightly. From the corner of her eye, she could see the little girl's actions. She had a good idea of what was about to happen to the girl.
"Those who have lost their humanity belong in the boss's exhibit hall, poor little sister..."
At the dining table, as the little girl opened her mouth, Lu Yuan's gaze went past the girl across from him to the cart and the streets of Yun City beyond.
Suddenly, the little girl's soft voice rang out, "Th-thank you..."
Lu Yuan lowered his head. The severed head in the girl's hand had disappeared, replaced by a decapitated doll.
The little girl took the pack of milk bread rolls Lu Yuan had offered. She looked like she wanted to eat but was hesitant because her hands were dirty.
Lu Yuan handed over a pair of disposable gloves and asked with a smile, "Don't you want to try that anymore?"
The little girl took the gloves. Blinking her big eyes, she said very seriously, "If I eat it, the baby won't have any toys left..."
This time, Lu Yuan laughed from the heart.
He gently stroked the little girl's hair and said slowly, "People who have died once should cherish life even more..."
"Little sister, you must live well from now on!"
As the little girl wolfed down the milk bread rolls in her hands, she said in a soft, childish voice, "Thank you, big brother, for the food. My name is Zhang Baobao. I'm from Xiling City in Region 24. When I have money, Baobao will give you money."
Lu Yuan withdrew his hand without responding. At this moment, his eyes flashed with surprise.
This was because he had just copied a very special ability from the little girl - Sealing!
This was no ordinary ability!
According to the current classification of abilities in the entire X Region, they were generally divided into ordinary abilities, super abilities, apocalyptic abilities, and divine abilities!
Abilities like enhanced strength, flame control, and ice control that Lu Yuan had previously copied were all ordinary abilities.
On the other hand, this sealing ability that the little girl possessed was clearly rarer and more powerful than those ordinary abilities!
But Lu Yuan would need to observe further to determine if it was a super ability.
At this moment, Lu Yuan remained silent. The little girl also quietly ate the milk bread rolls in her hands. Before long, she had eaten half the pack.
She had originally wanted to keep the other half for herself, but a look of hesitation crossed her cute little face. In the end, she handed the remaining half pack back to Lu Yuan.
"Big brother, you haven't had breakfast either, right? Let's split this half and half..."
As she spoke, the little girl glanced over at Liu Yuan, then turned back to Lu Yuan and said earnestly, "That sister has milk tea to drink. We won't give her any. Big brother, you should eat up!"
Lu Yuan came back to his senses. He smiled and pushed the half pack of milk bread rolls back to the little girl, "I've eaten already. You keep these. If you want more in the future, come find me at the medical academy in the eastern suburb of this city. Just ask for me by name."
The little girl tilted her head and frowned. "Medical academy? Are there doctors there? Can they cure my mama's illness?"
Lu Yuan glanced at the cart covered with blankets and replied, "Of course."
In a flash, the little girl leapt down from her chair and put the cart's reins back over her petite frame.
She bowed deeply to Lu Yuan and said solemnly, "Big brother, thank you for the food and for telling Baobao where to find a doctor. Now Baobao is going to take mama to see the doctor. If we meet again in the future, Baobao will...uh..."
Here, the little girl named Zhang Baobao scrunched up her cute face, seemingly at a loss for words.
Her bright eyes rolled back and forth. Finally she plucked up the courage to say to Lu Yuan, "If we meet again in the future, Baobao will give herself to big brother!"
Having said that, Zhang Baobao hurried off on her little legs, pulling the cart behind her.
Watching Zhang Baobao's tiny retreating figure, Liu Yuan came to Lu Yuan's side and took a sip of milk tea. "Boss, I'll bet you a cup of milk tea that the little girl has no idea what 'give herself' means..."
Lu Yuan looked at the half pack of milk bread rolls left on the table and smiled. "Does it matter?"
Liu Yuan nodded. "No, I guess it doesn't. But boss, don't you think there's a bit too much sinister energy around us?"
Lu Yuan: "It's not like I can't suppress it."
Liu Yuan: "Mm, smells so good..."
"What?"
"Boss, I meant the milk tea smells good, fragrant~"
"Pack up. You're driving next."
"At least tell me where we're going first?"
Lu Yuan took one last look in the direction Zhang Baobao had gone. "Region 24. Xiling City."
Liu Yuan muttered, "What for? To investigate the new population's background?"
Lu Yuan walked forward a few steps, then turned back to Liu Yuan. "Do you believe there's a good chance... Xiling City no longer has any living souls left?"
...
Xiling City, the capital of Region 24, was bustling with activity.
Convoy after convoy streamed into the city, while other convoys streamed out.
Whether coming or going, all were large, heavy-duty trucks.
The trucks entering the city had empty cargo holds, while those leaving were loaded full of various supplies.
Mercenary troops fully armed stood guard at all the entrances and exits to Xiling City. Every convoy entering was charged a hefty entry fee.
At the eastern entrance to Xiling City, a contingent of fully armed special forces had gathered.
A woman in a dark blue combat uniform reported to the leader of the troops, "Captain, we haven't spotted a single living native in the city so far. It's certain that a Spirit Storm has hit Xiling City!"
"Strangely though, areas affected by Spirit Storms should have richer spirit energy, yet the spirit energy throughout Xiling City's main urban district is exceptionally thin right now."
The leader of these ability users was a burly man whose expression was extremely grave.
He gave the woman a look and spoke slowly in a deep voice, "This proves that some kind of super-powered being was born from Xiling City's Spirit Storm!"
"This super-powered being may be living or dead, or some kind of monster! It has absorbed all the spirit energy from Xiling City's Spirit Storm!"
"Absorbing a Spirit Storm that could kill hundreds of thousands in a regional capital means one thing—" The burly man spoke, and everyone in the squad held their breath, not even daring to breathe loudly.
"It means that super-powered being likely possesses a super ability ten, a hundred times stronger than ordinary abilities!"
"From now on, I don't care what means you use. I only have one requirement - find that super-powered being!"
Snap!
The ability users stood at attention and saluted the burly man, shouting in unison, "Sir, yes sir!"