Reborn One Week Before the Apocalypse

Chapter 106: Chapter 98: Preparing for the Journey

”Five Crystal Cores?” To be honest, the number was tempting to Uncle He.

Ten Crystal Cores were all they had left. They had no idea what the situation was back home, so it was naturally best to save where they could.

”But you look like you’re not short on cash. Why travel with people like us? We’re just a big group of ordinary folks. Wouldn’t it be faster for you to hire your own bodyguards?”

In the post-apocalyptic world, everyone had attribute points. However, due to limitations in Talent, age, and perspective, many people only had an attribute value in the dozens, and it grew at an extremely slow pace.

Most of the people in Uncle He’s group had attribute values in the dozens.

Such people couldn’t be considered superpower users. Only those with an attribute value of one hundred or more were officially recognized as superpower users.

An attribute value of a few dozen was nowhere near enough to defeat a Basic-level Mutant Beast. It was questionable if they could even protect themselves.

”Actually, all I have on me are ten Intermediate Crystal Cores. I really don’t have much money.”

Tang Mo said this with a wry smile. What she said was true.

Ten Intermediate Crystal Cores was a huge amount, but it didn’t match the image Uncle He had formed of Tang Mo in his mind.

”So rather than taking a risk, it’s better to travel slowly with everyone for our mutual benefit. As a lone girl, traveling with just bodyguards would scare me...”

This was pure nonsense. Forget five bodyguards; even ten of them combined probably couldn’t lay a scratch on Tang Mo.

”What you’re saying makes sense. In that case, you can travel with us. With so many of us, we won’t take advantage of you. Two Crystal Cores will be enough.”

Although Uncle He was tempted by the five Crystal Cores, he was a man of principle.

He would take what he was owed, and not a bit more.

”Okay!” Tang Mo readily agreed.

”But there’s one thing we need to make clear beforehand. We’ve hired bodyguards, but no one can guarantee their capabilities or what unexpected events we might encounter on the road. So, you have to give me these two Crystal Cores now.”

Tang Mo nodded. That was logical.

If she really died an unfortunate death along the way, the bodyguards would have still worked hard to protect her. She couldn’t just stiff them on the two Crystal Cores.

”Also, I won’t hide it from you, there are seventeen people in our group. Three of them are superpower users. When we run into danger, these three will prioritize protecting our own people. Of course, they will also try their best to protect you if possible.”

Tang Mo continued to nod. That was even more reasonable. She was only chipping in for the bodyguards; there was no reason their own people should be obligated to protect her.

By the same token, if they really ran into danger, Tang Mo had no obligation to save these people.

Whether she helped or not would depend on the situation and her mood at the time.

”One last thing. We’ll cover the food for the bodyguards along the way, but you’ll have to take care of your own food. I hope you can prepare for that.”

Every point Uncle He made was perfectly reasonable. Finalizing these details in advance would prevent a lot of trouble later on.

Tang Mo herself really appreciated this way of doing things.

After handing the two Crystal Cores to Uncle He, they agreed to hit the road once the bodyguards were assembled and to contact each other beforehand.

Just as Tang Mo was getting up to leave, Mao Tou’s mother returned from outside.

Mao Tou’s mother was very young, looking to be about the same age as Tang Mo.

After the shock of seeing how young Aunt Li’s daughter-in-law was back in Taoyuan Village, Tang Mo was already immune to the whole young mother thing.

Mao Tou’s mother had short hair just like Tang Mo, and she was very beautiful.

Though she couldn’t compare to Tang Mo’s delicate features and uniquely crisp, cool aura.

She was still exceptionally striking among ordinary people. Although her clothes were simple and plain, she had a graceful elegance that made people want to get closer to her.

Their height and hairstyle were very similar. No wonder Mao Tou was so clingy with Tang Mo.

”I’m so sorry for all the trouble.”

Mao Tou’s mother’s name was Lin Wan. She spoke in a crisp and decisive manner, and you could tell from her voice that she was a straightforward person.

Since Uncle He was getting older, Lin Wan was usually the one who helped manage things like posting tasks and checking their progress.

Tang Mo gave a polite smile and a greeting before heading back.

「On the other side, at the Qin residence.」

”Boss, I’ve seen sister-in-law at the mission center a lot these past few days. Today, I think I saw her accept a mission.”

One of the black-clothed guards beside Qin Ling said to him.

Qin Ling had a very special relationship with his twelve guards; it wasn’t a simple superior-subordinate dynamic.

Qin Ling wasn’t just the leader of S Base. He also had another identity that neither the Qin family nor Tang Mo knew about: he was the captain of the base’s number-one ranked Mist Team.

And these twelve black-clothed guards were all the members of the Mist Team, each with an attribute value of over 500.

People only ever saw that the Mist Team had completed one impossible mission after another that no one else dared to take, but no one ever knew who they were.

No one had even seen them turn in missions at the center. It was as if everything just silently happened.

Qin Ling and his twelve black-clothed guards were not only an absolute leader and his followers but also brothers who had been through life and death together.

”Sister-in-law is short on money recently. It’s normal for her to take a mission.”

Qin Ling rarely spoke much to anyone, unless the topic was Tang Mo.

”But I think sister-in-law’s mission is to go to B City...”

The young guard in black trailed off mid-sentence, because he saw his boss’s face visibly darken.

Even though he had seen it countless times, it was still terrifying.

The title ”Cold-faced Yama” really wasn’t just hype; it was well-deserved.

Silently shutting his mouth, the young man backed out of the room, not forgetting to close the door behind him.

”You’re going to B City?”

Qin Ling immediately made the call.

Tang Mo had just gotten home and hadn’t even warmed her seat yet.

”You already know? I was planning to tell you in person.”

Tang Mo knew that her not going public with Qin Ling during her return to S Base had already upset him a little. She really didn’t know how to break the news that she was leaving so suddenly.

She had figured it would be easier to say in person.

”How long will you be gone this time?” Qin Ling asked. He knew Tang Mo had to leave, but he hadn’t expected it to be so soon.

”A few months, probably,” Tang Mo estimated. ’Maybe I can come back to S Base after the trip to B City is over.’

A few months...

Qin Ling was silent for a moment.

”I can come visit you, right? Is that okay?”

This was the conclusion Qin Ling had reached after some thought. Since he couldn’t selfishly keep Tang Mo by his side, he could at least go see her.

”I won’t come often. Just occasionally. Is that okay?”

Fearing Tang Mo would immediately refuse, Qin Ling quickly added.

Looking at Qin Ling’s face on the other end of the line, Tang Mo couldn’t bring herself to refuse.

It really wasn’t a big deal to meet up. After all, a rich guy like Qin Ling had a plane, which was the most convenient form of transportation in the apocalypse.

”Okay,” Tang Mo replied.