In Jiangnan Base City, one of the six major base cities of the Huaxia nation, there stood an extremely prosperous skyscraper in the main urban district. The building had 88 floors, and on its exterior wall were the eye-catching letters “HR”.
Around the ground floor of the skyscraper was a beautiful plaza, along with the largest fountain in the entire Jiangnan Base City. Surrounding the plaza were over a thousand armed soldiers on patrol, strictly prohibiting any unauthorised entry.
Passers-by looked at the building with curiosity and admiration.
Most people in the entire Jiangnan City had never stepped inside even once in their lifetime.
“Beep!”
An electronic sound rang out.
The soldiers on guard immediately stepped aside. A military off-road vehicle bearing the “HR” logo drove in and stopped at the entrance of the skyscraper. The door opened, revealing three fully armed warriors, carrying either iron spears, battle sabres and shields, or two large metal boxes.
“Sir, please come in,” the doorman at the entrance said respectfully.
The three warriors walked straight into the building.
“Let’s go, Luo Feng. Let’s sit at the bar and wait for the captain and the others,” Chen Gu said with a smile.
“I have not met the captain yet. I wonder what he is like,” Luo Feng replied with a smile, while carefully observing the HR Alliance Mall.
This was the headquarters of a dark alliance formed by major super families and financial conglomerates across the world. As their Jiangnan Base City branch, the building was extremely luxurious.
The floor was so polished it reflected light like a mirror, and even the decorations were extraordinary.
The staff were all exceptionally attractive. The male staff were handsome, the female staff graceful, each wearing warm and welcoming smiles.
Luo Feng, Chen Gu, and another team member Zhang Ke sat down on a sofa.
“Gentlemen, what would you like to drink?” a waiter asked politely with a bow and a smile.
“Tieguanyin tea,” Chen Gu said immediately.
“Pu’er tea, with a hint of jasmine fragrance,” Zhang Ke added.
Chen Gu and Zhang Ke were both experienced warriors, and Luo Feng was slightly surprised. At the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, these two often drank alcohol.
Zhang Ke, whose arms looked as strong as an ape’s, smiled and said, “Luo Feng, once you enter the wilderness zone, you must not drink alcohol.”
Luo Feng suddenly understood. Right, in the wilderness zone one must never be careless. How could they drink there?
“Then I will also have Pu’er tea,” Luo Feng said with a smile.
Soft flute music echoed through the hall. He could not recognise the tune, but the melody alternated between gentle flow and light agility, soothing the mind.
“Luo Feng, the first floor is for reception and rest. From the second floor upwards is the shopping area,” Chen Gu explained with a smile. “This underground alliance mall has prices generally lower than the Extreme Home online store at full price, but higher than our half-price internal rates.”
Luo Feng nodded.
Half-price was an internal benefit for Extreme Martial Arts Hall members.
“The biggest advantage of this mall is that we can sell monster materials here at higher prices,” Chen Gu continued. “If we sell to the martial arts hall, the price is lower, but we gain contribution points. If we sell here, the price is higher, but there are no contribution points. It is up to us to choose.”
Luo Feng smiled. He had already read about this on warrior forums.
Sell to the martial arts hall, get money plus contribution points. Sell to the underground alliance, only money but higher price.
“Brother Wang, you worked through the night, go rest. I will take over here,” a clear, gentle voice sounded.
Luo Feng, who had been holding his tea, suddenly turned his head as if electrocuted.
Inside the bar counter, a young woman wearing a white shirt and black suit trousers was changing shifts with another manager.
There were twelve staff and one manager at the bar, operating 24 hours a day in three shifts.
“Xu Xin?” Luo Feng stared in disbelief.
The female manager inside the bar, dressed in professional attire, carried a natural sense of elegance. Someone qualified to be a manager in the HR Alliance reception hall was definitely no ordinary person. Even the staff here had to be university graduates with strict etiquette training.
“How has she…”
The plain high school girl from before had completely changed in temperament.
“Brother Chen, Brother Zhang, I will go over for a moment,” Luo Feng said.
He left his backpack, shield, and sabre on the sofa and walked toward the bar.
Inside the bar counter, Xu Xin was checking inventory when suddenly—
“Xu Xin.”
A familiar voice sounded.
She was startled. Very few people here called her by her real name.
She looked up.
Their eyes met.
At that moment, both felt a sudden tremor in their hearts.
“Luo Feng, why are you here?” Xu Xin quickly smiled.
“You can be here as a manager, so why can’t I be here?” Luo Feng replied with a smile. Seeing her, he could not help recalling his high school days, sitting at the back of the classroom, quietly watching her back.
He had liked her for a long time, but never said anything.
He thought they would never meet again, yet here she was, in the HR Alliance Mall, right before his first trip to the wilderness zone.
“You are a warrior?” Xu Xin asked in surprise, noticing his outfit.
“Yes. I am about to head to the wilderness zone,” Luo Feng said.
“The wilderness zone?” Her expression changed slightly.
Outside the base cities, all land was called the wilderness zone. For ordinary people, it was synonymous with death, filled with terrifying monsters.
Only warriors could venture there.
Xu Xin did not expect Luo Feng to have become a warrior, and to be heading there so soon.
“Brother Chen, the captain is here,” Chen Gu called.
“I will go over,” Luo Feng said.
“Mm,” Xu Xin nodded.
Luo Feng returned just as three more people arrived. Two of them looked very similar, clearly twins, each carrying a shield and curved blade. The third was extremely muscular, carrying two black hammers with faint silver patterns.
“These two are the famous ‘Twin Moon Curved Blades’, the Wei brothers, Wei Tie and Wei Qing,” Chen Gu introduced.
The brothers nodded and sat down after removing their equipment.
“Brother Tie, Brother Qing,” Luo Feng greeted.
“Luo Feng, these two are our captain ‘Twin Wind Hammer’ Gao Feng,” Chen Gu continued.
The captain was not tall, just over 1.8 metres, but his body was extremely muscular, like it was forged from steel.
Gao Feng grinned. His facial muscles looked like stone. “Luo Feng, you also use a sabre. Learn from Wei Tie and Wei Qing when we enter the wilderness zone. You have talent. I believe you will quickly become a proper member of the team.”
“Mm,” Luo Feng nodded.
His first goal was not to become a burden.
“Rest a bit. We will depart soon,” Gao Feng said.
“Yes, Captain,” everyone replied.
Twenty minutes later, they stood up again.
“Let’s go. Depart for the wilderness zone.”
Luo Feng immediately picked up his sabre, shield, and gear.
“Luo Feng,” a voice called.
He turned around.
Xu Xin’s chest rose slightly as she looked at him. For some reason, knowing he was about to enter such a dangerous place made her uneasy.
“I will start university soon, but on weekends I will still work here as manager during the day. You must come,” she said, slightly blushing as she spoke.
“Alright, I will definitely come,” Luo Feng smiled.
“Already got a girlfriend, impressive,” Chen Gu laughed and patted his shoulder.
“Young people have it easy, beauties come to them,” Gao Feng also laughed.
Luo Feng only smiled.
“Let’s go.”
“Get in the car.”
The Fire Hammer Squad of six boarded the HR Alliance vehicle and headed to the train station, leaving the base city by rail toward the wilderness zone.