"Captain Roger, the harder the mission, the more I should go. As a member of the Sky Splitting Mercenary Group, how could I retreat now?" Lin Xinghai said firmly.
With such a righteous answer, he didn't believe Roger could refuse.
Roger gave him a helpless look. "I'm not the head of the regiment—you don't need to put on an act of loyalty in front of me."
After a pause, his tone grew heavier. "But I wasn't joking earlier. This mission will take us deep into the urban area. The danger level is at least double what we usually face."
"Even if I assign you to logistics, once things go south, your chances of escape are slim. Talent or not, you're still just an ordinary man right now."
Lin Xinghai finally realized Roger wasn't testing his loyalty, but genuinely worried for him. After a moment of thought, he decided it was better to come clean.
"Captain Roger, there's something I need to report. I'm not as weak as you think. Earlier, when the shelter assigned accommodations, five Axe Gang thugs came to extort me for protection money. I dealt with them—by myself."
He knew his sudden strength couldn't stay hidden for long, especially during missions. Better to say something now than be forced to explain later.
Roger frowned. "Didn't you just show your mercenary badge? Why fight the Axe Gang? If I recall, the Wolf Mercenary Group backs them!"
He stopped mid-sentence, eyes widening.
"Wait… what did you just say? You took down five Axe Gang members? Alone? How is that even possible?"
Lin Xinghai smiled lightly. "I didn't tell you before, but I was a provincial Sanda champion before the apocalypse. My combat skills aren't weak."
Roger's expression froze. He shook his head. "That still doesn't make sense. You haven't taken genetic medicine, and those thugs aren't ordinary. Their physical strength alone—one against five shouldn't be possible."
Lin Xinghai leaned in slightly. "That's the second thing. For some reason, I absorb genetic medicine incredibly fast. In just half a day, I've already absorbed two bottles. That's why I could handle them."
He knew the explanation sounded shaky, but there was no way he could mention his system. This was the best lie he could manage.
Roger's eyes widened further. "What! Two bottles in half a day?" He stood abruptly, staring hard at Lin Xinghai. "Are you telling the truth?"
Lin Xinghai nodded earnestly. "It's true. But I don't know why."
Roger stared at him for a long moment, silent, before muttering, "Could it be… a special physique?"
Lin Xinghai's ears perked. "Special physique? What do you mean?"
"Just what it sounds like," Roger explained. "Among millions of people, a few are born with unique constitutions. Their bodies function differently—faster absorption, stronger resistance. Those with special physiques often awaken extraordinary abilities later on."
"Then I must have one," Lin Xinghai said quickly, seizing the excuse.
Roger blinked. "And why do you think that?"
"There's no other explanation," Lin Xinghai replied smoothly. "Why else would I absorb medicine this fast?"
Roger fell silent again. Only after a long fifteen minutes did he finally let out a heavy sigh.
"Fine. But listen carefully—you must not let anyone else know you have a special physique. Not a word. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Lin Xinghai said solemnly. Then, eyes bright with determination, he added, "So… can I join this mission?"
Roger still hesitated, so Lin Xinghai pressed further. "If you think I'm not strong enough, then let me prove it. Give me ten, twenty bottles of genetic medicine—I'll become a genetic optimizer before we even set off."
Roger's expression darkened. "You…" He stopped himself, exhaled, then reluctantly pulled two vials of genetic medicine from his pocket.
"Take these. See how much you can strengthen before departure. But once we're out there, you stay close to me. No heroics."
Lin Xinghai hadn't expected Roger to actually hand him medicine—out of his own pocket, no less. He accepted without hesitation. He needed power more than pride. The debt, he swore, would be repaid in the future.
Roger leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Now let me tell you about the mission. Two hundred kilometers southeast of the Star Shield Refuge lies Tianshan City. On our last operation, we accidentally detected an abnormal energy response in the city center. Judging by the readings, it could be a massive cluster of energy spars."
"How much are we talking?" Lin Xinghai asked, curious.
"The initial estimate is at least one ton," Roger said gravely.
Lin Xinghai's eyes widened. "One ton—!" He caught himself, quickly covering his mouth and glancing around.
Now he understood why Roger had paid extra for a private room and triple-checked the area for surveillance.
He'd already learned a little about energy spars during his afternoon of inquiries. Their value was staggering.
A ton of energy spar, in this era of scarcity, could fetch at least 100,000 to 150,000 points inside the shelter. Enough to make any mercenary group lose its sanity.
Roger's eyes glinted with ambition. "If we succeed, the Sky Splitting Mercenary Group can finally afford new equipment and apply for second-level status."
He smiled faintly. "And with your talent, once we reach that stage, weekly allocations of a dozen bottles of genetic medicine might not be impossible."