"Why?" Allen complained. "Didn't you see how magical that thing is?"
The boss said, "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 the problem of water pollution? Or will the rich folk in the affluent districts 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 buy it because I have no idea who to sell it to."
Allen said, "No, I'm not begging for food. I just need some help. Those crystals must hold a secret."
"Alright," the boss pointed behind them. "See the bulletin board? You posted your message five months ago, but did anyone reply? Not a single person!"
Allen's gaze instantly dimmed.
The boss said, "Since this world was destroyed, strange things have appeared everywhere. Besides creatures, it's normal for other things to show up. Those so-called crystals might just be the feces of some creature."
Allen angrily slammed the table, "They are not!"
The boss spread his hands, "Okay, if you say they are not, they are not. But the problem is, no one cares."
"Food, water, and how to get energy from the rich folk, these are what people care about. They'd even rather go to the garbage dumps at the border to look for 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, they can't be drunk, or if they could be made into energy blocks, people would be interested."
Allen said, "But maybe it's related to creature mutation. If we find the secret of the crystals, we can find the reason for creature mutation, maybe we can completely eradicate the mutated creatures..."
"Allen, you're the father of six children. You're not a hero," the boss interrupted. "Such a grand task as ending the apocalypse is not something you should be concerned with."
Allen scoffed, "Then who should we rely on? The bastards in the affluent districts?"
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 rhetoric is met with ridicule by everyone."
"Nowadays, those mutated creatures can still serve as food for people. If, as you say, the mutated creatures were all wiped out, what would people eat? Wouldn't they all starve?"
At this moment, a waiter from the kitchen brought a plate of roasted meat and rice and placed it in front of Allen.
The boss said, "Eat up. Stop thinking about useless things and consider something practical. You're an excellent hunter. As long as you focus on hunting those mutated creatures, you can feed yourself and your children."
"Hmph!" Allen sneered, and picked up his spoon with defiance. "One day, I'll prove to you all that I'm right."
The boss smiled and said, "Okay, okay. You're right."
Bai Ye heard their conversation. He had been watching Allen and the boss talk until they stopped.
Isn't this the moment he should make his appearance?
Bai Ye shifted his position and sat next to Allen. "I'm very interested in those crystals you mentioned."
Clang!
Allen's spoon hit the edge of the plate. After a moment of surprise, he said, "What did you say?"
Bai Ye said, "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but you weren't speaking quietly. So, what I mean is, after hearing your conversation, I'm very interested in the crystals you mentioned."
Allen's eyes lit up. "Are you sure?"
The boss, on the other hand, looked at Bai Ye with a scrutinizing gaze. "I've never seen you before."
Bai Ye said, "It's normal that you haven't seen me, because I just arrived at the border today."
"Oh?" the boss said. "Where are you from?"
Bai Ye said, "If you go north-east, through the forest and swamps, you'll see Highway 211. Follow the highway all the way, and you'll reach the Ruined City, or perhaps you'll be more familiar with its former name? Its former name was Danis Cowboy Town."
These questions weren't difficult for Bai Ye. He could answer them fluently.
After all, this wasn't something he was making up. Bai Ye genuinely knew how to get to Cowboy Town. Although, even if he went again, it wasn't guaranteed that everything would be the same as in his previous life.
But it was impossible for a town he had seen in his previous life to suddenly disappear in this one just because he had come back.
Bai Ye continued, "Do you know about milk cubes?"
Allen said, "I know. They're from the affluent districts, made from milk. Just add hot water and they turn into milk. But I've never eaten them."
Bai Ye said, "The milk cubes at the border all come from Cowboy Town. You must have heard of it, right?"
The boss nodded. "Indeed, I've heard of it."
This wasn't something just anyone could know. In fact, very few people knew about milk cubes nowadays.
Currently, food and water were scarce. The main food source was the meat of mutated creatures, but this was actually considered low-grade. At best, the ingredient grade was determined by the danger level of the mutated creatures.
What was truly high-grade food?
It was vegetables and fruits!
A child who grew up in the slums might never have seen what vegetables and fruits looked like in their entire life.
And milk cubes were also considered one of the lesser-known high-grade ingredients.
Therefore, Bai Ye could prove that he was from Cowboy Town.
The boss said, "So, what brings you to the border?"
Bai Ye said, "To be honest, I came here looking for those crystal blocks."
Allen exclaimed, "Have you seen those crystal blocks?"
Bai Ye said, "Those crystal blocks are very magical. They are like a door connecting to another world. Through those crystal blocks, you can enter another world."
Allen asked, "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 said, "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."
Allen asked, "Have you been there?"
"Yes, I have been there, and that's also why I'm looking for the crystals," Bai Ye thought for a moment, then began to fabricate a story. "I'm 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?"