"By the way, with your rank, you should have access to Eden by now, right?"
After dinner one day, Nan Yue and the others went for a walk in the park. Zhu Xi Ning insisted on playing on the swings, so now Nan Yue and Zhu Xi Ning were sitting on them while the two men pushed from behind with cold expressions.
Nan Yue watched the simulated sunset slowly descending through the greenery and suddenly thought of this question.
"Yes."
Jiang Siyan was like a robot, the force he used each time was precise down to the millimeter.
"How is it?"
Jiang Siyan thought for a moment. "Very luxurious, and very complex."
As the ultimate life goal for all scavengers, Eden was undoubtedly the best in terms of facilities and services.
However, it was a place where elites gathered and various factions converged; the hearts of people there were complicated.
In the Green City State, they could play happily, but if they went to Eden, their every move would be watched.
Although Nan Yue's current ranking was not particularly high, she shouldn't be someone who could attract the attention of various forces in Eden yet.
After all, the Top Rankings updated very quickly. As a scavenger, one could squeeze into the Top Rankings but could also die in the next mission.
Only by maintaining a position for a long time could one truly attract the attention of others.
However, Nan Yue was a special case. She had cleared stages with many high-level players in previous missions, so she had been noticed by Sharp Blade much earlier.
"What do you think of Sharp Blade?"
Jiang Siyan found it interesting. Nan Yue should have realized through her cooperation with Sharp Blade that his relationship with the organization was not so simple.
Yet she asked directly, seemingly without any indirect considerations or schemes.
Was this what Gu Xiang Kai meant by being trusted with one's whole heart?
Jiang Siyan experienced this novel feeling and did not deny that it was indeed quite comfortable.
So, he abandoned his usual style and gave a simple, blunt answer.
"In the past, Sharp Blade did indeed implement Shen Nian's ideas, leading scavengers to pursue freedom and fighting for more survival space for them."
"But since Shen Nian's death and Fu Xi Ming took over, her control over Sharp Blade has not been as strong as before."
Nan Yue stopped her swing, and Zhu Xi Ning also looked at Jiang Siyan expectantly. "She's already top 2, is that not strong enough?"
Seeing that everyone was interested, Jiang Siyan planned to find a place to sit down and talk in detail.
Then, Gu Xiang Kai led them to that same barbecue stall from before.
Jiang Siyan hesitated for a long time before asking, "...Did you guys not get full at dinner?"
It hadn't even been two hours since the bowl of noodles they had for dinner.
Zhu Xi Ning was busy marking items on the menu. "It's fine, it's just barbecue. It's just for fun; it doesn't really fill you up."
Jiang Siyan: ...Are you two reincarnated gluttons?
Zhu Xi Ning craned her neck to ask Nan Yue, "How much beer?"
Nan Yue rubbed her chin in thought. "I can drink a whole crate."
Jiang Siyan: ...You'll be lucky if you can handle two bottles.
He looked at Gu Xiang Kai, who was silently and vigorously fanning the charcoal in the stove, likely expressing thoughts he didn't dare to say through this method.
In the end, beer was lined up on the ground. Gu Xiang Kai worked hard grilling the meat and said naturally, "Old Jiang, come and help. The boss likes it spicy, so add more chili."
Jiang Siyan looked silently at his expensive coat, then at the chicken wing Nan Yue was handing him.
"This one needs to be grilled a bit longer, or the inside won't be cooked."
In the end, Jiang Siyan didn't say anything.
"Continuing from what I said earlier, Fu Xi Ming is indeed top 2, but like Zhu Xi Ning, she is a foresight-type and lacks direct attack abilities."
"Her power only stems from the early perception of danger, relying on avoiding death, but this ability is not as powerful as direct military deterrence."
Even though Jiang Siyan still maintained his refined, noble air, with a grilled chicken wing in his hand and surrounded by the smoke of a barbecue stall, he looked like nothing more than a handsome, gentle-tempered... barbecue shop owner.
"Has Sharp Blade split?"
Although Nan Yue didn't understand these factions and organizations, she understood human nature.
There must be someone in Sharp Blade with power roughly equal to Fu Xi Ming's who was contending with her.
"Yes. The former top 2, now top 3, He Jiu Chen."
"He Jiu Chen joined Sharp Blade late, at a time when Shen Nian was already preparing to go outside the wall."
"Shen Nian thought highly of He Jiu Chen. When she left, she handed Sharp Blade over to both Fu Xi Ming and He Jiu Chen."
"However, after she left, their ideas changed. Fu Xi Ming is a firm adherent to Shen Nian's philosophy, but He Jiu Chen changed his mind after Shen Nian's accident."
"He believes that continued exploration is meaningless, as are the pursuit of freedom and resistance. He believes that only the strong should receive more resources."
Nan Yue understood. So He Jiu Chen would not agree with opening training schools or establishing the Cuckoo information exchange mechanism—those thankless tasks that required effort without immediate reward.
For him, it was enough for Sharp Blade to become the strongest organization and ensure their people absorbed the most resources and stopped having accidents.
Nan Yue didn't know how to judge them; neither of their ideas could be called wrong, especially after seeing the end of the person they admired.
It was just...
"So if the news of me joining the team gets out, combined with your reputation, He Jiu Chen will soon come knocking on our door."
Nan Yue hadn't expected that in just a few short months, she would be so close to the world's center of power.
Nan Yue actually didn't have much desire for power. She just wanted to go to the peak and see the view, nothing more.
It was like... visiting a tourist spot and taking a souvenir photo.
But it seemed the peak was the same everywhere—it was all about the hearts of people.
"So actually, we could go to Eden right now."
According to the scavenger rules, as long as one person in a team has unlocked the identity recognition for a higher city state, the entire team can enter.
It was a rule where everyone shared in the glory.
"No, let's take it step by step."
Going in now would only attract unwanted attention. It was better to stretch the timeline a bit longer.
"Can you tell me about your previous contacts with Sharp Blade?"
Nan Yue told Jiang Siyan about Lan Jing Shui and the series of events.
Jiang Siyan thought for a moment. "Lan Jing Shui's ability is good. He's more than his current rank; he's hiding his true strength."
"He is a firm member of the Fu Xi Ming faction, and along with another top 10 member, Xie Mi, he is responsible for Fu Xi Ming's security."
Jiang Siyan spoke tactfully, but Nan Yue understood. Fu Xi Ming's ability was not an attack-type, so she needed armed protection.
Lan Jing Shui and Xie Mi were her bodyguards.
Nan Yue tapped her forehead. Speaking of Lan Jing Shui, she just remembered she had hurriedly sent the general situation of the last mission to him.
【I Love Pretty Ladies】: Received~ Little Yue-yue did a great job this time too.
【Strongest A-Nan in History】: ...Thanks.
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