NOVEL FROG 030. One Task, Three Rewards
- One Task, Three Rewards
No matter how much she screamed, the White Fang gang kept firing and quickly retreated. Amidst the sporadic gunfire and crossfire, Nordli heard urgent footsteps.
"Nurse Nordli, Nordli, are you okay?"
"An...na..."
"It's me. You're badly injured, with extensive wounds and severe blood loss. You need surgery! Those bastards have retreated, I'll take you for treatment right away—anyone still alive? Come help me!"
"I... I'm fine." Nordli whispered, her eyelids drooping, "Tell the professor quickly, the enemy has an infected one, that child... I couldn't bring myself to do it. Only the professor can save her."
"Professor."
Assistant Physician Anna's hands paused in their urgent work.
"Wha..."
"The professor is dead." Anna's tone was filled with sorrow and despair: "Nordli, the professor was killed by the gang. They took a heavy toll on the Abyss, leaving unhealable wounds on our lifeline! Among the students, only we remain."
Nordli's pupils shrank, her vision darkened, and the shock was so great she couldn't think. She panted heavily, her head tilting to the side as she fainted.
"Nordli? Nordli!"
Anna called out several times, and the surviving medical staff, hearing the calls, emerged from the shelters and underground facilities, beginning to clean up the battlefield and conduct rescue operations.
"Remaining security personnel, quickly seal the facilities. The external world has more than one gang; weld all entrances shut. No one is allowed in."
"Logistics team, check the reactor and circuit status. There will be many medical operations and surgeries; power cuts are unacceptable."
"Inspect the water supply system, be wary of poison."
"Patients, for your safety, you shouldn't engage in intense labor. Due to the urgency, we need your help now..."
The news of the professor's death hadn't spread, but Anna quickly showed the calm and composure of a leader.
She took charge personally, directing and participating in the rescue, lifting many of the restrictions on patients and persuading those with powers to help rebuild the Abyss.
Everything was bustling.
"Hey, are we just going to stand here?"
Li Aoz stood in the shadows, coldly watching everything. Nomi pouted discontentedly, complaining to him:
"We didn't get any benefits, you almost got shot—look now, that evil woman is taking control. Li Aoz, you've screwed up this time."
"If you want to call me something, call me His Majesty. 'Your Excellency' sounds too unlucky."
Li Aoz didn't mind:
"As for screwing up? Forgive me for not understanding, the game just started, how did I screw up?"
He glanced at the data displayed on his retina, the progress of "Unremembered" had reached 17%.
The first task was completed, with an additional 5% progress reward.
If he left the Abyss, he would accumulate 30% progress, enough to receive the minimum reward.
But his benefits didn't end there.
Repelling the gang made his contribution to the Abyss rise by 600 points, and Li Aoz unhesitatingly exchanged them for a "Calamity Experimental Potion-VI."
Just after redeeming it, an unknown physician passing by handed him a box. Without opening it, Li Aoz knew it contained the red-black "Calamity Experimental Potion-VI."
"Just like in the game, whatever I want to exchange is obtained through 'coincidences,'" he thought.
Li Aoz put the box away, then looked at an intriguing column:
"Professor" Favorability—157 (Adoration)
"A corpse adores me."
Li Aoz smirked.
Truly, one task, three rewards.
The Abyss's faction favorability was bound to the "Professor," raising his status within the Abyss. He could now access more information.
This would further advance his task progress.
"The game has just begun."
He repeated.
"Game?"
Nomi glanced at him:
"Call it whatever you want—now look, the entire shelter is full of infected people and a bunch of superpowered individuals. I'm curious how you'll find a way out."
"Do I need to find a way?"
Li Aoz looked at Nomi:
"How about a bet?"
Nomi raised an eyebrow, as if hearing a joke:
"Ha? Betting with me? Everyone in the external world knows Nomi's luck is explosive! So, what's the stake?"
Li Aoz said, "Loser barks like a dog, three times."
"Deal! What are we betting on?"
"Bet that in a moment, Assistant Physician Anna will beg us to leave."
"Oh, you're giving it away?"
Nomi smirked, crossing her arms and circling Li Aoz:
"Alright! Although Nomi doesn't like your fetish, well—since someone wants to be my dog, I'll reluctantly accept."
She teased, lifting Li Aoz's chin:
"Pretty boy~~ want the mistress to put a collar on you? Enjoy having a beautiful girl's toes on your forehead, licking between them, bowing and barking—"
"Mr. Li Aoz."
Anna, finding a moment of respite, hurried over to Li Aoz and Nomi, lowering her head and saying gravely:
"The Abyss's medical facilities have lost too much, we can't perform surgery on the critically injured..."
"Especially Nurse Nordli's injuries, right?"
Li Aoz said seriously.
Anna's eyes flickered, but she nodded:
"We don't have enough armed forces to retrieve the medical equipment, but there is a wanderer settlement near the shelter. The gang will rest there before returning to their base."
"Understood."
Li Aoz nodded, looking determined:
"I've awakened my power in the recent battle. If it's just to pursue and retrieve the medical equipment, those thugs are no match for me."
"Uh..." Nomi was confused, but before she could speak, Li Aoz pounded his chest passionately and said:
"The professor and Nurse Nordli have been kind to me. Although I've only been in the Abyss for a few days, everyone's care has deeply moved me!"
"Damn..." Nomi muttered: "He's serious?"
"Furthermore!"
Li Aoz said excitedly:
"The Abyss is another home for me! Just and righteous, I cannot sit idly by."
Anna nodded:
"Thank you, Mr. Li Aoz—the vehicle is ready."
"Hmm, we'll depart now. Please give me a list. I'll catch up with them right away!"