"Why?" Alan 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 the problem of water pollution? Or would the rich folks in the affluent districts buy them?"
The boss patted Alan's shoulder as he spoke.
"Old friend, I know you're eager to make a discovery and earn a fortune. I also know you have six children at home, and the financial pressure is immense." The boss sighed, "But this thing is useless. I can't acquire it because I have no idea who to sell it to."
Alan insisted, "No, I'm not begging for scraps. I just need some manpower. Those crystals must hold a secret."
"Alright," the boss pointed behind him. "See that bulletin board? You posted your notice five months ago, but did anyone respond? Not a soul!"
Alan's gaze immediately dimmed.
The boss continued, "Ever since this world was destroyed, strange and peculiar things have appeared. Besides living organisms, it's normal for other things to show up. Those so-called crystals could very well be the droppings of some creature."
Alan angrily slammed his fist on the table. "They are not!"
The boss spread his hands. "Fine, if you say they aren't, then they aren't. But the problem is, nobody cares."
"Food, water, and how to get energy from the rich folks – that's what everyone cares about. People are even more willing to go to the border junkyards to look for repairable robots or functional plasma hunting rifles."
"Nobody 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."
Alan countered, "But perhaps it's related to biological mutations. If we find the secret of the crystals, we might find the reason for the mutations. Perhaps we can find a way to completely eradicate the mutated creatures..."
"Alan, you're the father of six children. You are not a hero." The boss interrupted. "Ending the apocalypse, such a grand undertaking, is not your concern."
Alan scoffed, "Then who should we rely on? Those bastards in the affluent districts?"
The boss shrugged. "Whether you want to admit it or not, that's how it is. Nobody cares about those crystals. In fact, your heroic pronouncements are met with derision."
"Nowadays, those mutated creatures can still serve as food for everyone. If, as you say, the mutated creatures are eradicated, what will people eat? Won't they all starve?"
At this moment, a kitchen helper brought out a plate of roasted meat and rice and placed it in front of Alan.
The boss said, "Eat up. Stop thinking about useless things. Consider something practical. You are an excellent hunter. As long as you hunt those mutated creatures diligently, you can support yourself and your children."
"Hmph!" Alan sneered, picking up his spoon petulantly. "Sooner or later, I'll prove to you all that I'm right."
The boss smiled. "Yes, yes, you're right."
Bai Ye overheard their conversation, watching Alan and the boss until they finished talking.
Isn't it time for my entrance now?
Bai Ye shifted his position, sitting down next to Alan. "I'm very interested in the crystals you were talking about."
Clatter!
The spoon in Alan's hand hit the edge of the plate. After a moment of surprise, he asked, "What did you say?"
Bai Ye replied, "Apologies, 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 type of crystals you mentioned."
Alan's eyes lit up. "Are you sure?"
The boss, however, eyed Bai Ye with scrutiny. "I haven't seen you before."
Bai Ye explained, "It's normal that you haven't seen me, as I've just arrived at the border today."
"Oh?" the boss inquired. "Where are you from?"
Bai Ye answered, "If you head northeast, through the forests and swamps, you'll find Highway 211. Follow the highway all the way, and you'll reach the Ruined City. Or, you might be more familiar with its former name? Its former name was Dennis Cowboy City."
Such questions didn't stump Bai Ye; he could answer them fluently.
After all, this wasn't something he'd made up. Bai Ye genuinely knew how to get to Cowboy City. Although, doing it again, it wasn't guaranteed that everything would be the same as in his previous life.
But it's not like he'd seen a city in his previous life and it would suddenly disappear in this one just because he'd come back.
Bai Ye continued, "Do you know about milk cubes?"
Alan replied, "I know. They're from the affluent districts, made from milk. You just add hot water and they turn into milk. But I've never tasted one."
Bai Ye stated, "The milk cubes at the border all come from Cowboy City. You must have heard of it, right?"
The boss nodded. "We have heard of it."
This wasn't common knowledge. In fact, very few people knew about milk cubes nowadays.
Currently, food and water were scarce. The primary food source was the meat of mutated creatures, but this was considered relatively low-grade sustenance. At best, the ingredients were categorized based on 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.
Milk cubes were also considered one of those little-known, high-grade ingredients.
Therefore, Bai Ye could prove that he was from Cowboy City.
The boss asked, "So, what brings you to the border?"
Bai Ye confessed, "To be honest, I came looking for those crystal blocks."
Alan exclaimed in surprise, "Have you seen those crystal blocks?"
Bai Ye explained, "Those crystal blocks are magical, like a door connecting to another world. Through those crystal blocks, one can enter another world."
Alan asked, "Is it related to mutated creatures?"
"I'm not sure about that," Bai Ye clarified. "But in that other world, there are also mutated creatures, and even some very dangerous mutated humans."
Alan's eyes widened. "Mutated humans?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Yes. Their bodies crystallize, and they lose their human consciousness, becoming like beasts, attacking any target that approaches."
Alan pressed, "Have you been there?"
"Yes, I have. And that's also the reason I'm looking for the crystals," Bai Ye said. After a moment of thought, he 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 transported to another world."
Alan's eyes brightened. "And then?"