Chapter 225 | The Apocalypse Landlady

Iron Bone’s eyes were fixed on the set of dark grey full-body battle armor.

He could feel that the material and design of that armor were almost tailor-made for him.

“Cold Wind,” Su Wan spoke, pushing the Ice-type Strengthening Potion and Frost Armor toward him. “These are for you.”

Cold Wind took a deep breath, stood up, and accepted the two items with both hands, bowing his head. “Thank you, Master.”

“Find a safe place to consume the potion. The system will assist you in absorbing it. Reaching the Level 3 Late Stage shouldn't be a problem,” Su Wan paused.

“Wear the Frost Armor regularly; it can save your life at a critical moment.”

“Yes.” Cold Wind put the items away and sat back down.

Su Wan turned to Iron Bone, pushing the Strength Strengthening Potion and Alloy Battle Armor toward him. “These are for you.”

Iron Bone grinned and took the potion and armor. His thick fingers gently brushed the surface of the armor, feeling the cold, metallic texture.

“After consuming the potion, combined with your metalization ability, you should also be able to break through to the Level 3 Late Stage,” Su Wan instructed.

“Once you put on the armor and use it in conjunction with your metalization ability, your defense will at least double.”

“Understood!” Iron Bone nodded heavily.

Su Wan leaned back in her chair, her gaze sweeping across their faces as she spoke slowly. “Next, I have new missions for you.”

Cold Wind and Iron Bone both straightened their backs.

“Cold Wind, you will take Zhao Laoliu and his squad of five to leave Panshi City and scout ahead in the nearby cities.”

Cold Wind’s brow twitched slightly. “To the nearby cities?”

“Yes.” Su Wan nodded. “The Terminal Station needs more people. Relying solely on the vagrants in the Panshi City Ruin Zone and the commoners in the Outer City is far from enough.”

“I need you to spread the reputation of the Terminal Station. Let more people know that in the Panshi City Ruin Zone, there is a place where they can survive.”

She paused and continued, “Zhao Laoliu and the other four are all experienced hunters. They are familiar with the environments of the Ruin Zone and the Non-Safe Zones; they can be of help to you.”

“You set out first to scout the way to the nearest city and get a feel for the situation there. Once you have established a foothold, I will send more people.”

Cold Wind was silent for a moment, then nodded. “I understand, Master.”

“Be careful on the road,” Su Wan warned. “The world outside is much more complex than Panshi City. Do not reveal your identity easily, and do not trust anyone easily.”

“Yes.” Cold Wind stood up. “When do I depart?”

“Now.”

Cold Wind nodded, turned, and left Room 102.

Only Su Wan and Iron Bone remained in the room.

Su Wan looked at Iron Bone, and Iron Bone looked back at her, a hint of confusion on his rugged face.

“Master, what about me?”

A faint smile played on the corners of Su Wan’s lips. “You stay. I have a more important mission for you.”

Iron Bone straightened his back even more.

“I want you to change your appearance and enter the Outer City as a commoner to join the Night Owl team.”

Iron Bone was slightly taken aback.

“The Night Owl team is currently helping us develop the commoner population in the Outer City, but they lack both manpower and strength,” Su Wan said slowly. “Once you go there, you can act as their muscle.”

“The Night Owl team doesn't have the best reputation, and the commoners in the Outer City don't trust them much. If you join as a commoner, it will be easier to gain the trust of others.”

Iron Bone nodded thoughtfully.

“Furthermore, Lei Lie and Scarface are in the Inner City. By staying in the Outer City, you can serve as their contact,” Su Wan continued. “If Lei Lie needs anything, you can support him at any time.”

“Although the Inner City and Outer City are separated by a wall, with your strength and knowledge of the City Defense Force, coming and going shouldn't be a problem.”

Iron Bone grinned. “Don't worry, Master. I understand.”

Su Wan took the Alloy Battle Armor and Strength Strengthening Potion from the system space and handed them to Iron Bone. “Put on the armor and consume the potion tonight. Strive to break through to the Level 3 Late Stage before you depart.”

Iron Bone took the armor and potion, nodding heavily.

Su Wan then took several more items from the system space.

The first was a dagger.

It was the Shadow Dagger she had recovered from Butcher. The blade was pitch black, and its edge was so sharp it seemed as if it could slice through light itself.

“Take this dagger with you; it will come in handy at a critical moment.” Su Wan handed the dagger to Iron Bone.

Iron Bone took the dagger and weighed it in his hand, a flash of pleasant surprise in his eyes.

Although he wasn't skilled with daggers, a weapon of this quality was excellent even as a backup.

The second item was a ring.

It was silver-grey with no decoration on the surface, looking completely ordinary.

It was the Shadow Ring.

“This ring has a one-cubic-meter storage space, but it requires Shadow-type energy to activate,” Su Wan paused. “You aren't a Shadow-type, so you can't use it.”

Iron Bone was stunned for a moment. “Then why are you giving it to me, Master...?”

“Keep it and give it to Lei Lie,” Su Wan said. “He is a Level 3 hunter. Although he isn't a Shadow-type, his ability is quite unique; perhaps he can find a way to activate it.”

Iron Bone took the ring and carefully tucked it away.

The third item was a dark red crystal.

A High-Purity Energy Crystal, Fire-type.

“Take this crystal with you. Once you reach the Outer City, if Night Owl needs operational funds, sell it,” Su Wan said.

The system's recycling valuation for this item was sixty thousand Points. On the Outer City's black market, it could likely be sold for an even higher price.

Iron Bone took the crystal, his eyes lighting up slightly.

Iron Bone was well aware of how precious crystals were. A conservative estimate for this high-purity crystal would be at least two hundred thousand Star Coins!

In the Outer City, this was no small sum.

With this money, the Night Owl team's development in the Outer City would be much smoother.

Su Wan then took out some basic supplies from the system space.

Compressed biscuits, canned food, medicine, bandages, hemostatic medicine, anti-inflammatory medicine... as well as some warm clothing and simple tools.

These had been purchased on Blue Star. While they weren't considered particularly valuable in the apocalypse, for the commoners of the Outer City, every item was hard currency.

“Take these supplies as well. Once you reach Night Owl, give it to them for unified distribution,” Su Wan said. “Tell them that the Terminal Station does not lack supplies, and they should go all out.”