"Why?" Allen asked, dissatisfied. "Didn't you see how magical that thing is?"
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 the problem of water pollution? Or will the rich folks in the affluent areas buy them?"
As he spoke, the boss patted Allen's shoulder.
"Old friend, I know you want to make a big discovery and earn a lot of money. 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 don't know who to sell it to."
Allen retorted, "No, I'm not begging for food. I just need some people. Those crystals must hold secrets."
"Alright," the boss pointed behind him. "See the bulletin board? You posted your notice five months ago, but did anyone respond? Not a soul!"
Allen's gaze immediately dimmed.
The boss continued, "Since this world was destroyed, there have been many strange and peculiar things. Besides the creatures, 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. "Absolutely not!"
The boss spread his hands. "Okay, if you say it's not, then it's not. But the problem is, no one cares."
"Food, water, and how to get energy from the rich folks – these are what everyone cares about. People are even more willing to go to the junkyards 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. If they could be made into energy bars, then people would be interested."
Allen argued, "But maybe it's related to biological mutations. If we find the secret of the crystals, we can find the reason for biological mutations. Perhaps we can find a way to completely eradicate the mutated creatures..."
"Allen, you are the father of six children, you are not a hero," the boss interrupted. "A great undertaking like ending the apocalypse is not something you should be considering."
Allen scoffed, "Then who should we rely on? Those scoundrels in the affluent areas?"
The boss shrugged. "Whether you want to admit it or not, that's how things are. No one cares about those crystals. In fact, your heroic pronouncements are met with derision by everyone."
"Nowadays, those mutated creatures can serve as food for everyone. If, as you say, the mutated creatures are all eradicated, what will people eat? Won't they all starve?"
At that moment, a kitchen hand brought over a plate of roast meat rice and placed it in front of Allen.
The boss said, "Eat up quickly, and stop thinking about useless things. Consider something practical. You are an excellent hunter. As long as you focus on hunting those mutated creatures, you can support yourself and your children."
"Hmph!" Allen sneered, picked up his spoon defiantly, and said, "Sooner or later, I'll prove to you that I'm right."
The boss smiled. "Alright, alright, you are right."
Bai Ye overheard their conversation and watched Allen talk with the boss until they finished.
Isn't it time for his entrance now?
Bai Ye shifted his position and sat down next to Allen. "I'm very interested in the crystals you mentioned."
Clang!
The spoon in Allen's hand hit the rim of the plate. After a moment of surprise, he asked, "What did you say?"
Bai Ye replied, "Sorry, I didn't intend to eavesdrop, but you weren't speaking quietly, so what I mean is, after listening to your conversation, I'm very interested in the crystals you were talking about."
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 explained, "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 answered, "If you go northeast, through the forest and swamps, you'll see Highway 211. Follow the highway all the way, and you'll reach the City of Ruin, or by its former name, which you might be more familiar with? Its former name was Danis Cowboy City."
These questions didn't trouble Bai Ye; he could answer them fluently.
After all, this wasn't fabricated; Bai Ye genuinely knew how to get to Cowboy City. Although, going there again might not mean everything would be the same as in his past life.
But it was impossible that because he was reborn, a city he had seen in his previous life would suddenly cease to exist in this one.
Bai Ye continued, "Do you know about milk cubes?"
Allen responded, "I know. It's a product from the affluent areas, made from milk. You just add hot water and it turns into milk. But I've never eaten it."
Bai Ye asked, "The milk cubes at the border all come from Cowboy City, you must have heard of that, right?"
The boss nodded. "Indeed, we've heard of it."
This was not something just anyone could know. In fact, very few people knew about milk cubes these days.
Currently, food and water were scarce. The primary food source was the meat of mutated creatures, but this was considered a relatively low-grade ingredient. At best, ingredients were classified based on the danger level of the mutated creature.
What constituted truly high-grade ingredients?
It was vegetables and fruits!
A child who grew up in the slums might never see what vegetables and fruits looked like in their entire life.
And milk cubes were also one of the little-known high-grade ingredients.
Therefore, Bai Ye had proven his origin from Cowboy City.
The boss asked, "So, what are you doing at the border?"
Bai Ye replied, "To be honest, I came to find those crystal fragments."
Allen exclaimed, "Have you seen those crystal fragments?"
Bai Ye said, "Those crystal fragments are very magical. They are like a door connecting to another world. Through those crystals, one can enter another world."
Allen queried, "Is it related to the 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 gasped, "Mutated humans?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Yes, their bodies become crystallized, and they lose their human consciousness. Like beasts, they attack any target that approaches them."
Allen asked, "Have you been there?"
"Yes, I have been there, and that's why I'm looking for the crystals," Bai Ye thought for a moment and then began to fabricate. "I'm also a hunter. I had some companions, but during a hunt, we accidentally came into contact with those crystals and were transported to another world."
Allen's eyes brightened. "And then?"