“Iron Dome.”
Hearing this name, the image of [Steel Bend] surfaced in Yang Liuqing’s mind.
Este raised three fingers, and matching that gesture was the towering spire.
“Here, there is only one thing you need to do.”
“Obey, obey, and obey.”
“As [Outsiders], defying orders is the greatest crime.”
“What kind of cabbage are you?”
The moment these words came out, the entire crowd erupted.
“Don’t think we won’t hit you just because you’re pretty!”
The anger suppressed in their hearts earlier seemed about to explode.
“Quiet!”
It was only when those nineteen silver-gray warriors drew their weapons and shouted that the crowd’s emotions were quickly suppressed again.
There was no helping it—most of them were ordinary people, and being a king of talking big couldn’t change the fact of a mortal body.
One sword slash, one spear shot—death or crippling.
Not to mention those Exoskeleton Equipment pieces, which looked formidable at a glance.
A single warrior holding a weapon could handle ninety to a hundred ordinary people without issue.
They weren’t stupid enough to resist with bare hands.
Yang Liuqing only thought this was a bunch of fools.
Others are the Local Boss—let her say whatever she likes, whether you listen is your own business.
If you show any sign of resistance, don’t expect to have an easy life.
A Mobile Fortress, plainly speaking, is just an isolated island.
When you don’t even know how long you’ll be staying, you can’t easily expose your inner self.
Even if you really want to.
Anyway, just don’t listen.
A person’s misfortune often stems from emotionality.
Chen Yanran simply let it go in one ear and out the other, wearing a look of “I don’t care what you say.”
People who can’t manage their own emotions are easily exploited.
Yang Liuqing understood this principle long ago.
Take the provocation tactic, for example—it’s the lowest-cost, most effective manipulation method.
People who can’t control their emotions will do foolish things when provoked, like a clown, performing many ridiculous and even dangerous actions based on others’ suggestions.
From beginning to end, Yang Liuqing merely listened quietly, trying to analyze something from it, rather than being led by emotion.
Others’ opinions are meaningless.
Living as the person others expect you to be is itself foolish.
This person, that person—what does any of it have to do with you?
“Next time, I’ll cut directly.”
Este placed her right hand on the sword hilt and spoke calmly.
She clearly showed no emotion, yet it was chilling.
She truly would cut down everyone who had been making noise just now.
She had the strength for it, and she had the authority.
Yang Liuqing watched Este without changing expression, her thoughts churning.
This radiant knight before her—valiant and heroic, beautiful and striking—was worth making a move on.
The Intelligence she wanted could most likely be obtained from her.
Este noticed the blatant gaze and only then looked properly at Yang Liuqing.
Then she let out a soft “oh” in her mind.
This was a good prospect—how had she overlooked him earlier?
Wait, the one next to her wasn’t bad either.
Her originally displeased mood actually improved somewhat at this moment.
Este looked at the crowd again, her expression noticeably less cold:
“First, you need to understand—you’re not here on vacation.
Since you’re here, work hard for me.
Your merits won’t be mistreated.
All the good things are on the [Star Tower]—if you’ve got the ability, go up and take them.
Whatever you want to obtain, exchange it with [Contribution Value].”
The crowd couldn’t help but look at the towering spire behind her.
Without a doubt, this place was the core area of the Mobile Fortress [Iron Dome].
“Right now, you’re just the lowest-ranked warriors whom nobody cares about, ranked beyond a hundred thousand—the waste of waste.
What you eat and use is the lowest grade.
But as long as you work hard and keep climbing, you can have a better life, a better future.
Of course, you can also just drift along here, lying in the mud, rotting away bit by bit.
That’s a personal choice.
Next, you’ll be divided into four groups and sent to the four major defense lines—east, south, west, and north—for training, to become true warriors.”
Este spoke very plainly.
Yang Liuqing instantly grasped the main storyline clue.
Climb up.
Become a core member.
Only then could he enter the main storyline, understand the real situation, and carry out the final strategy.
Being divided into four groups meant there was a certain chance of being separated from Yang Liuqing.
“Xiaoqing, we absolutely have to be in the same group.”
Chen Yanran panicked.
Her sweet-smelling pillow, her sweet-smelling sister—she couldn’t be separated from them.
“Don’t worry, sister. We’re standing so close together, we won’t be separated.”
Yang Liuqing replied in a low voice.
“You, to the southern defense line.”
Este looked over and pointed at Yang Liuqing.
“This is the line under the most pressure. Work hard.”
“Yes.”
Yang Liuqing stood up straight and gave her a military salute.
This was a good prospect with potential and drive.
Different from the others.
“Same group, same group, same group…”
Chen Yanran chanted in her mind.
If she were separated from Yang Liujing, she would very likely become a stinky treasure.
“You, to the northern defense line.”
Este pointed at Chen Yanran.
“It’s not easy there either. Work hard.”
“Yes.”
Chen Yanran imitated Liujing’s salute, her voice as mournful as if someone important had died.
To her, being separated from the fragrant Yang Liuqing meant anywhere was hell.
A stinky hell.
“Sister, do your best. We’ll meet at the summit.”
Yang Liuqing accepted the arrangement.
Hearing this, Chen Yanran wanted to cry but had no tears.
She knew the summit referred to the Star Tower.
Now one was in the north, one in the south—the chance of meeting wasn’t completely zero.
Just pitifully small.
Unless some major event occurred, or a joint mission happened to summon them together.
In truth, Yang Liuqing also felt reluctant in his heart.
Having just arrived in an unfamiliar environment, having a familiar person around felt much better.
But judging from Este’s expression, it seemed she genuinely wanted them to grind experience points.
High pressure on the defense line meant more combat, and Yang Liuqing urgently needed to level up and liberate those two little ones.
It was an arrangement that suited him perfectly.
The only regret was that Chen Yanran couldn’t come with him.
“I don’t want to become a stinky treasure…”
“Xiaoqing~”
Chen Yanran’s eyes held genuine tears.
“It’s fine, sister. Bear with it, and you’ll get used to it.”
Yang Liujing comforted with a smile.
She had experienced the initial stench baptism and knew that feeling was hard to bear.
Este only selected nine players; the rest were left for the silver-gray warriors to arrange.
Soon, the crowd was divided into four groups of two hundred each.
Perhaps because they had caught Este’s attention, the silver-gray warrior leading them looked at her with subtly changed eyes.
Without any unnecessary words, the players were led to four different battle lines.
The abandoned Plaza here was the southern side.
Yang Liuqing and the others passed through the tube-shaped apartment blocks, walking all the way, and before long entered the main road.
Both sides were veritable slums.
The closer they got to the Mobile Fortress’s [walls], the more local residents appeared—clothed in rags, eyes dull, thin to the bone.
They didn’t even bother to pay attention, like walking corpses.