"Why?" Allen asked indignantly. "Didn't you see how magical that thing was?"
The boss replied, "Yes, I saw it. It made my cup disappear. But so what? Can these things be used as food? Or as energy? Can they solve water pollution? Or will the wealthy in the rich district buy them?"
The boss patted Allen's shoulder as he spoke.
"Old friend, I know you want to make a discovery and earn a fortune. I also know you have six children at home and the pressure of life is too great," the boss said helplessly. "But this thing is useless. I can't acquire it because I have no idea who to sell it to."
Allen retorted, "No, I'm not begging. I just need some people. Those crystals must hold secrets."
"Alright," the boss pointed behind him. "See the notice board? You posted your message five months ago, but did anyone respond? Not a single person!"
Allen's gaze immediately dimmed.
The boss continued, "Since this world was destroyed, strange and bizarre things have become common. Besides living beings, it's normal for other things to appear. Those so-called crystals might just be the excrement of some creature."
Allen angrily slammed his fist on the table, "No way!"
The boss shrugged, "Okay, if you say no, then no. But the problem is, nobody cares."
"Food, water, and how to get energy from the wealthy in the rich district – these are what everyone cares about. People are even more willing to go to the garbage dumps at the border to find robots that can be repaired, or plasma hunting rifles that are still usable."
"No one cares what those crystals are. They can't be eaten or drunk, or if they could be made into energy blocks, people would be interested."
Allen argued, "But perhaps it's related to biological mutation. If we find the secret of the crystals, we can find the reason for biological mutation, and perhaps we can completely eradicate mutated creatures..."
"Allen, you are the father of six children. You are not a hero," the boss interrupted. "A great task like ending the apocalypse is not something you should be considering."
Allen sneered, "Then who should be relied upon? Those scoundrels in the rich district?"
The boss shrugged, "Whether you want to admit it or not, that's how it is. No one cares about those crystals. In fact, your heroic talk is met with scorn by everyone."
"Nowadays, mutated creatures can still become food for people. If, as you say, mutated creatures were eradicated, what would people eat? Wouldn't they all starve?"
At this moment, a kitchen helper brought a plate of grilled meat rice and placed it in front of Allen.
The boss said, "Eat up. Stop thinking about useless things. Think about reality. You are an excellent hunter. As long as you hunt mutated creatures with peace of mind, you can feed yourself and your children."
"Hmph!" Allen sneered, picked up his spoon defiantly, and said, "Sooner or later, I will prove to you all that I am right."
The boss smiled and replied, "Alright, alright, you are right."
Bai Ye overheard their conversation and watched Allen talk with the boss until they finished.
Isn't this the moment for him to make his appearance?
Bai Ye shifted his position and sat next to Allen, saying, "I am very interested in those crystals you mentioned."
Clatter!
Allen's spoon hit the side of the plate. After a moment of surprise, he asked, "What did you say?"
Bai Ye continued, "I apologize. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but you weren't speaking quietly. So, what I mean is, after hearing your conversation, I am very interested in the crystals you spoke of."
Allen's eyes lit up, "Are you sure?"
The boss, however, looked at Bai Ye with a scrutinizing gaze. "I haven't seen you before."
Bai Ye replied, "It's normal that you haven't seen me, because I just arrived at the border today."
"Oh?" the boss asked, "Where are you from?"
Bai Ye explained, "If you go northeast, through the forest and swamp, you will find Highway 211. Follow the road all the way, and you'll reach the Ruined City. Or by its former name, you might be more familiar with it? Its former name was Danis Cowboy Town."
These questions were not difficult for Bai Ye. He could answer them fluently.
After all, this was not something he was making up. Bai Ye genuinely knew how to get to Cowboy Town. Although, even if he went again, not everything might be the same as in his previous life.
But it was impossible for a city he had seen in his previous life to suddenly not exist in this life just because he came again.
Bai Ye continued, "Do you know about milk blocks?"
Allen replied, "I know. It's something from the rich district, made from milk. It turns into milk when you add hot water, but I've never eaten it."
Bai Ye asked, "The milk blocks at the border come from Cowboy Town. You must have heard of that, right?"
The boss nodded, "We have indeed heard of it."
This was not common knowledge. In fact, very few people knew about milk blocks these days.
Currently, food and water were scarce. The main food was the meat of mutated creatures, but this was actually considered a relatively low-grade ingredient. At most, ingredients were categorized based on the danger level of the mutated creatures.
What were the truly high-grade ingredients?
They were vegetables and fruits!
A child who grew up in the slums might never see what vegetables and fruits looked like in their entire life.
Milk blocks also belonged to the category of little-known high-grade ingredients.
Therefore, Bai Ye could prove that he came from Cowboy Town.
The boss asked, "So, what are you doing at the border?"
Bai Ye confessed, "To be honest, I came here looking for those crystal blocks."
Allen exclaimed in surprise, "Have you seen those crystal blocks?"
Bai Ye replied, "Those crystal blocks are very magical, like a door connecting to another world. Through those crystal blocks, one can enter another world."
Allen inquired, "Is it related to mutated creatures?"
"I'm not sure about that," Bai Ye explained. "But in that other world, there are also mutated creatures, and even some very dangerous mutated humans."
Allen's eyes widened, "Mutated humans?"
Bai Ye nodded, "Yes, their bodies are crystallized, and they lose their human consciousness. Like beasts, they will attack any target that approaches them."
Allen asked, "Have you been there?"
"Yes, I have been there, and that is also the reason I am looking for the crystals," Bai Ye thought for a moment, then began to fabricate. "I am also a hunter. I had some companions, but during a hunt, we accidentally came into contact with those crystals and were taken to another world."
Allen's eyes lit up. "And then?"