HR Alliance Mall (End of Volume 2)

Jiangnan Base City, one of the six major Base Cities in Huaxia Nation, was incredibly prosperous. In its main district stood an 88-story skyscraper, emblazoned with the dazzling English letters 'HR' on its facade. Surrounding the skyscraper's ground floor was a beautiful plaza featuring Jiangnan Base City's largest fountain. Over a thousand heavily armed soldiers patrolled the plaza, forbidding any unauthorized entry. Passersby often gazed at the skyscraper with a mix of curiosity and envy. Most residents of Jiangnan City would never step foot inside it in their entire lives. “Beep!” An electronic chime echoed. Instantly, the stationed and patrolling soldiers cleared the way. An HR-emblazoned military off-road vehicle drove in, stopping at the skyscraper's lobby entrance. With a 'whoosh,' the doors opened, revealing three fully armed Warriors. One carried an iron spear, another a battle blade and shield, and the third, two large iron cases. “Sirs, please enter,” the doorman at the skyscraper's lobby respectfully greeted. The three Warriors stepped directly into the skyscraper. “Come on, Luo Feng, let’s grab a seat at the bar and wait for the captain and the others,” Chen Gu chuckled. “I haven’t met the captain yet, I wonder what he’s like,” Luo Feng smiled, his gaze sweeping over the HR Alliance Mall. This was the headquarters in Jiangnan Base City for the underground alliance formed by the world’s most powerful families and syndicates. The entire building was a testament to extreme luxury. The lobby floor gleamed, reflecting like a mirror, and even the simplest decorations were extraordinary. The servers in the lobby, handsome men and graceful, captivating women, each wore a smile that felt like a spring breeze. Luo Feng, Chen Gu, and another team member, Zhang Ke, settled onto a sofa. “Gentlemen, what can I get for you?” a server asked with a slight bow and a smile. “Tieguanyin!” “Pu-erh tea, with a hint of jasmine!” The seasoned Warriors, 'Cannon' Chen Gu and Zhang Ke, spoke up immediately. Luo Feng was a little surprised; back at the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo, these two were often drinking alcohol. Zhang Ke, whose arms were lean and powerful like a gibbon’s, chuckled, “Luo Feng, you can’t be careless in the Wilderness Zone; no drinking allowed.” Luo Feng suddenly understood. Right, in the Wilderness Zone, one couldn't afford to be careless for a moment. How could they drink now? “I’ll have a Pu-erh too,” Luo Feng said with a smile. Quiet music echoed through the lobby, a melody played on a flute. Luo Feng, with his taste, couldn't identify the tune, but the flute’s sound, at times lingering and gentle, at others swift and light, brought a refreshing clarity to his mind. “Luo Feng, the first floor is for reception and rest. From the second floor up, it’s where the mall sells items,” Chen Gu explained with a slight smile. “The prices here at the underground alliance mall are generally a bit lower than the full price of items on the ‘Extreme Home’ online mall. Of course, they’re still higher than our half-price discount.” Luo Feng nodded. The half-price discount was exclusively for internal members of the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo. “The biggest advantage of the underground alliance mall is… we can sell the materials from the monsters we hunt to them at a higher price,” Chen Gu elaborated. “If we sell monster materials to the Martial Arts Hall, the price is lower, but the Martial Arts Hall gives us contribution points. Selling to this underground alliance mall offers a higher price but no contribution points. The choice, of course, is up to us.” Luo Feng smiled. He had already learned about this from some posts on the Warrior forum. Selling to the Martial Arts Hall offered both contribution points and money. Selling to the underground alliance only offered money, but at a higher price. “Brother Wang, you’ve been up half the night, get some rest. I’ll take over here,” a clear, gentle voice rang out. Luo Feng, who was just raising his teacup, felt a jolt as if struck by lightning and abruptly turned his head. Inside the bar, a young woman in a white shirt and black suit trousers was exchanging shifts with another manager. The bar had a total of twelve servers and one manager, operating 24 hours a day with eight-hour shifts, rotating in three teams. “Xu Xin?” Luo Feng stared in disbelief at the female manager behind the bar. She exuded the aura of a professional woman, with an innate elegance in her demeanor. To be a manager in the reception bar of the underground alliance was a position no ordinary person could qualify for. This was a place specifically for Warriors! Even a regular server here would likely be a graduate of a prestigious university, having undergone extensive training in etiquette and more, let alone a bar manager. “Xu Xin… she…” How could the simple high school girl he once knew have such a completely different aura now? “Brother Chen, Brother Zhang, I’ll be right back,” Luo Feng said with a smile, leaving his backpack, shield, battle blade, and other gear on the sofa as he rose and walked towards the bar. Inside the bar, Xu Xin was checking the liquor and other supplies when suddenly— “Xu Xin.” A familiar voice called out. “Hm?” Xu Xin was startled. In this lobby, those who knew her by name usually called her ‘Manager Xu,’ and most Warriors wouldn’t know her name. How could someone call her ‘Xu Xin,’ and with such a familiar voice? Xu Xin looked up— At that moment, Luo Feng was looking down into the bar from outside, and Xu Xin, who had been half-crouching to check the drinks, happened to look up. Their eyes met. In that instant, both Luo Feng and Xu Xin felt a sudden jolt, a flicker of emotion in their hearts. “Luo Feng, what are you doing here?” Xu Xin reacted, standing up with a smile. “If even you, Xu Xin, can be a manager here, why can’t I be here?” Luo Feng chuckled, looking at the young woman before him. He couldn’t help but recall his high school days, sitting at the back of the classroom, silently watching Xu Xin’s back countless times… He had secretly admired her for so long, but never had the chance to confess. He had thought it would be difficult to see Xu Xin again, yet here she was, at the HR Alliance Mall, right before his first venture into the Wilderness Zone. “Ah, Luo Feng, are you a Warrior now?” Xu Xin exclaimed in surprise, noticing Luo Feng’s attire. “Yes, I’m heading to the Wilderness Zone soon,” Luo Feng replied with a smile. “The Wilderness Zone?” Xu Xin’s expression subtly changed. All land areas outside the Base Cities were collectively known as the Wilderness Zone. To humans living within the Base Cities, the Wilderness Zone was synonymous with a death trap, teeming with all sorts of monsters. There were cunning and bizarre ones, powerful and savage ones, and even many nearly invincible beings. Only the strongest among humans, the Warriors, could venture into such a place and battle the monsters. Xu Xin hadn’t expected… Luo Feng to become a Warrior, and to be heading into the Wilderness Zone so soon. To be honest, Xu Xin knew Luo Feng had a crush on her… It was impossible to hide, really. Luo Feng often secretly watched her back during class, and when Xu Xin occasionally turned around, she naturally saw him staring. So, she understood his feelings. They just never acknowledged it openly. “Luo Feng, the captain’s here, come over,” Chen Gu called out. “I’m going now,” Luo Feng told Xu Xin. “Okay,” Xu Xin nodded. Luo Feng walked back to his original spot. Three more people had arrived. Two of them looked very similar, clearly twins, both carrying shields and curved blades. The third person was incredibly burly, with two black war hammers, glinting with silver, strapped to his back. “Luo Feng, these are the renowned ‘Twin Crescent Blades’ Wei brothers, Wei Tie and Wei Qing,” Chen Gu chuckled. The Wei brothers nodded at Luo Feng, then unstrapped their shields and curved blades and sat down. “Brother Tie, Brother Qing,” Luo Feng greeted with a smile. The other members of the Fire Hammer Squad were all considerably older than Luo Feng, at least ten years his senior. Compared to the other five, Luo Feng was indeed the youngest. “And this is our Fire Hammer Squad’s captain, ‘Twin Wind Hammers’ Gao Feng,” Chen Gu announced. Luo Feng couldn’t help but scrutinize Captain Gao Feng. Gao Feng wasn’t particularly tall, just over 1.8 meters, but what stood out most was his incredibly robust physique, as if he were forged from steel. Gao Feng grinned, his facial muscles shifting like rock. “Luo Feng, you also use a blade. Once we enter the Wilderness Zone, learn from Wei Tie and Wei Qing. Your talent is good; I believe you’ll quickly become a full member of our squad.” “Understood,” Luo Feng nodded. Regardless, his primary goal now was not to be a burden to this elite Warlord-tier squad. “Take a short break, then we’re off,” Gao Feng stated. “Yes, Captain,” the five, including Luo Feng, nodded. Just twenty minutes later, Gao Feng and the others, having finished their tea, stood up. “Alright, let’s go, to the Wilderness Zone!” Luo Feng immediately strapped on his Blood Shadow Battle Blade, shield, and other gear. “Luo Feng.” A voice called out. Luo Feng turned to look. Xu Xin’s chest was rising and falling slightly. For some reason, the thought of Luo Feng immediately entering the perilous Wilderness Zone made her heart flutter. Perhaps she, too, harbored a special feeling for the boy who had secretly admired her throughout high school. “Hm?” Luo Feng looked at Xu Xin. “I’ll be starting university in a few days, but during my studies, I’ll be working as a manager here on Saturday and Sunday afternoons,” Xu Xin called out. “You must come visit then.” Her face flushed slightly as she spoke. “Okay, I’ll definitely come,” Luo Feng replied with a smile. “Hooked her already? Impressive!” Chen Gu clapped Luo Feng on the shoulder, laughing heartily. “That’s the advantage of youth, even beauties throw themselves at you,” Gao Feng also chuckled. Since they had decided to let Luo Feng join the Fire Hammer Squad, they naturally treated him like a brother. Luo Feng just smiled. “Let’s go!” “Get in!” The six members of the Fire Hammer Squad boarded the HR Alliance special vehicle and headed directly to the train station, taking a train out of the Base City towards the Wilderness Zone.