Guo Yun: Plays Ye Shunguang, teammate Ye Shiyuan

Following Lucy's footsteps through the dusty streets of Wildfire Town, the four members of the Dragon Kingdom team couldn't help but frequently look around.

The dirt road beneath our feet was worn smooth and uneven, and every step kicked up fine yellow sand that clung to our trouser legs and shoes, giving it the rough texture unique to the wilderness.

Lucy's steps were light and familiar, her golden side ponytail swaying slightly behind her. She seemed to know every corner and every house like the back of her hand, and could even precisely avoid potholes and obstacles on the road.

The streets were lined with the banners of the Sons of Calydon, black coarse cloth banners with a galloping wild boar on them, its tusks protruding and its eyes fierce. The edges were roughly patched with red thread, clearly indicating that it had weathered many storms.

"What are these flags...?" Zhou Liming asked Lucy tentatively, his gaze falling on the nearest flag, where dark red stains, like dried blood, remained on the fabric.

"That's our caravan's flag," Lucy explained softly, a hint of pride in her voice. "After Caesar took over, a lot of monsters suddenly appeared around us—the mutated animals you might have encountered."

Their activities have become increasingly frequent, and they have even launched several small-scale attacks, so the area is now on high alert.

Lucy rubbed her temples; recent events had been incredibly worrying for her. "These flags aren't just symbols; they're also a reassuring signal to the townspeople, telling them that the Son of Calydon is still here, still protecting this place."

"Caesar took over?" Ye Jianguo keenly grasped this phrase. His voice was steady, carrying the insight honed by years of military service. "Wasn't she the original overlord?"

Lucy paused slightly, her golden side ponytail swaying gently as she turned her head. A complex light flashed in her eyes, a mixture of admiration, regret, and an indescribable heaviness.

"It's a long story." She sighed and slowed her pace. "The original overlord was named Pompey, a... very remarkable person. To put it simply, he was betrayed by a villain and turned into a skeleton, which can be considered a sacrifice. After that, the town was in chaos for a while."

"Several small-time leaders wanted to seize the top position, each recruiting their own people and stockpiling supplies, and they almost came to blows."

"Caesar was rescued by us from the void where Pompey was sacrificed; heaven knows how he managed to fight Pompey, who had turned into a skeleton, all by himself..."

Perhaps it was fate, but when we saw her jump into the lake of fire from hundreds of meters away, we were all in despair... But suddenly an etheric rift appeared in the sky and brought Caesar back, though he was badly injured and almost didn't make it.

Despite her frail physique, she single-handedly took down the three most vocal leaders, then stood atop the tallest stone pillar in the square and addressed the entire town: "Now is not the time for infighting. Before he died, Pompey entrusted me with protecting the Burning Crystal Lake and everyone in Wildfire Town."

"The Burning Crystal Lake is like our lifeline. If we lose it, the lake will go out, and the ether crystals will expand wildly. Not only will our energy supply be cut off, but the entire town will be swallowed by the void."

"And then everyone believed it?" Chen Jianjun interjected, his tone carrying a professional inquiry. As a sniper, he was used to scrutinizing everything, and it was hard to imagine that an internal conflict could be quelled with just a word and a fight.

Lucy smiled. "I believe you. Because when she said that, her wounds were still bleeding."

"And...she really is capable."

Wow, this sounds like something out of a novel.

"This plot is full of twists and turns; I never imagined survival here would be so difficult..."

Ye Shunguang listened silently, a thoughtful look flashing in his crimson eyes.

Of course she knew Caesar's face and personality, having played the game before transmigrating, but now, listening to these things, she suddenly felt that this timeline seemed too dark, with no future in sight.

During the conversation, the group walked to the vicinity of the town's central square, where a large truck was parked, its body converted into a garage.

Several young men dressed in the uniforms of the Sons of Calydon were patrolling. Although their equipment was simple, their eyes were alert and their movements were efficient.

Upon seeing Lucy, they all stopped and nodded respectfully, saying, "Sister Lucy."

Lucy nodded and walked to the large truck. Surprisingly, in a small open space near the entrance, there was a well-maintained motorcycle parked there.

The motorcycle has a rugged and powerful design. Its shell is covered with scratches and wear of varying depths, indicating that it has been through countless battles and long journeys. However, the engine, tires and other key components are cleaned and shiny with maintenance oil, showing that the owner cherishes them very much.

The emblem of the Son of Calydon—a galloping wild boar—was painted in striking red on the vehicle, with a line of crooked small letters below: "Son of Calydon".

She raised her hand and knocked on the door. "Caesar, I'm coming in." Her voice was clear and crisp, with a hint of familiar casualness.

A flurry of noises immediately came from inside the door—first, a dull thud as something was knocked over, like a metal lunchbox falling to the ground, followed by hurried footsteps and suppressed gasps, as if someone was moving quickly while enduring pain.

Immediately afterwards, a slightly hoarse but not too weak voice came: "Lucy?! Wait for me..."

"?"

"Holy crap? The overlord is a woman?!"

The sounds of fabric rubbing and slight collisions continued to come from behind the door, occasionally interspersed with a low "tsk," a sound filled with obvious restraint, as if forcibly suppressing the pain from a wound.

Lucy's brows furrowed immediately. She crossed her arms, the tips of her high heels tapping rhythmically on the ground, revealing an undisguised anxiety.

But she didn't push the door open; she just stood there. Heaven knows if the rustling of fabric coming from inside was because Caesar wasn't dressed properly.

Ye Shunguang could see that she was trying hard to restrain the urge to barge in, and worry was almost overflowing in her beautiful eyes.

The four members of the Dragon Kingdom team exchanged glances. Judging from the commotion inside and Lucy's reaction, the "acting overlord's" situation was probably not good.

About two minutes later, the noise behind the door gradually subsided. Then, the sound of the latch being pulled open rang out, and the wooden door creaked open inward, releasing a faint smell of disinfectant and blood from inside the room.

The four members of the Dragon Kingdom team held their breath simultaneously.

She was tall, estimated to be over 1.75 meters, and almost touched the lintel when standing inside the doorway.

His short, silver-gray hair, with a few strands damp with sweat clinging to his forehead and ears, didn't diminish his coolness; instead, it added a touch of untamed arrogance.

Her face was sharply defined, like a meticulously carved piece of jade, with a high nose bridge and thin lips, but they were pale and almost bloodless, probably due to illness.

What is most striking about her are her eyes. They are a pair of grayish-yellow eyes, like the sand on the shore of the Burning Crystal Fire Lake. Her gaze is sharp as an eagle's, revealing a calm and firmness that comes with years of experience. However, at this moment, due to physical discomfort, there is a trace of imperceptible fatigue in her eyes.

She was wearing a short black leather jacket over a dark, tight-fitting vest. Even through the clothing, her well-proportioned and powerful figure, as well as her large breasts, were clearly visible.

What is noteworthy is that her left hand is a clearly mechanical prosthesis, made entirely of metal from the elbow down.

"Wow, so beautiful!"

"Holy crap, how come everyone in this apocalypse is so beautiful?"

"Why is my left hand a prosthesis? I suddenly feel a little sorry for it, what should I do?"

"I suddenly feel like these two are a really good ship ()"

"6"

"Caesar! Why are you out of bed again!" Lucy immediately noticed her condition and stepped forward to support her arm, her tone urgent and angry, like scolding a disobedient child, "Stop it! Go back to bed! The doctor said you need to rest for at least a week; you can't pull on the wound anymore!"

Caesar instinctively took a half step back, avoiding Lucy's support.

This simple movement seemed to aggravate her wounds. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her lips pressed into a straight line, as if she were forcibly enduring the pain. But she quickly relaxed, revealing a stubborn and serious expression on her face.

"I am the overlord, even if I am just acting overlord, I still have to fulfill my responsibilities." Her voice was a little more steady than it was behind the door, but it was still a little hoarse and weak from exhaustion. "The town is preparing for the Fire Hell Ride, but the candidates have not yet been decided. Also, the monitoring data of the Burning Crystal Fire Lake needs to be checked. I can't let you all take over all the official duties."

As she spoke, she stood ramrod straight, her chin slightly raised, her grayish-yellow eyes staring directly at Lucy with an unwavering and unquestionable gaze, showing no signs of illness whatsoever.

If it weren't for her overly pale face, the fine beads of sweat on her forehead, and her slightly rapid breathing when she spoke, others would probably really think she was just a little tired.

"You..." Lucy was speechless, raised her hand to press her temples, took a deep breath, and finally could only helplessly compromise, "Really... Caesar, look behind me."

Caesar then turned his attention to the four strangers behind Lucy.

Her gaze swept quickly and meticulously over everyone, with an assessment and scrutiny.

Her gaze first swept over Ye Jianguo. This middle-aged man was dressed in a black combat uniform. He was tall and straight, with a steady and calm posture. His hands hung naturally at his sides, and his eyes were calm yet sharp, exuding a seasoned and authoritative aura.

Caesar immediately judged that this was an experienced warrior and most likely the leader of the squad.

Then it was Chen Jianjun—her gaze lingered a moment longer on the sniper rifle behind him, a barely perceptible hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

It was an exceptionally well-maintained sniper rifle, its body gleaming with a cold, metallic sheen, and an anti-reflective coating on the scope—clearly a frequently used weapon. The fact that the weapon was maintained in such exquisite condition speaks volumes about the user's professionalism and meticulousness.

Next was Zhou Liming—she noticed the pistol at his waist and the small pieces of equipment on his body, a strange device on his wrist, a little bit of machine oil on his fingers, and his bright and focused eyes. She immediately judged that he was a technical or reconnaissance type of person who was good at handling various equipment and collecting intelligence.

Finally, her gaze fell on Ye Shunguang.

Her pupils contracted slightly, and her brows furrowed involuntarily.

She stared at Ye Shunguang's face, her gaze moving from her crimson eyes to her somewhat messy but uniquely colored brown hair, then to the white, close-fitting outfit she wore that seemed out of place in the wilderness and resembled the attire of a mountain sect, finally settling on her soft brown tail hanging down by her side. After a moment, her gaze returned to her face.

It seemed like ten seconds had passed, but in reality only two or three seconds.

Caesar's gaze shifted rapidly, from initial confusion to contemplation, and then to a kind of uncertain confirmation.

"Who are you?" she asked, her eyes still fixed on Ye Shunguang, her tone tinged with confusion and inquiry. "You look so familiar... I feel like I've seen you somewhere before." She paused, trying to dredge up fragments of memory. "What was that title again? Let me think..."

Lucy rolled her eyes and couldn't help but complain, "Come on, Caesar, can't you have a better memory?" She was about to answer when Caesar interrupted her with two words.

"Hypocrisy?" Caesar tilted his head, guessing earnestly, even nodding as if he thought the title was quite fitting. "Yes, that seems to be it, Lord Hypocrisy?"

"What is this? Hypocrisy???"

Ye Jianguo: "...?"

Chen Jianjun: "Uh..."

Zhou Liming: "...6..."

Ye Shunguang: "..."

"False Hunt! Caesar, you big idiot!" Lucy was so angry she almost jumped up, reaching out to tap Caesar's forehead with a crisp "thud." "You call yourself a ruler, and you can't even remember the highest honor in New Elito, 'False Hunt'! It's 'False Hunt'! The 'Hunter' of hunting! Not 'False'! Honestly, I think you should just let me be the ruler. Once I defeat you, I'll definitely be more reliable than you!"

Caesar winced and clutched her forehead, her feigned authority crumbling slightly, revealing a hint of the true nature of her age. She blinked, then clapped her hands as if suddenly realizing something: "Oh right! It's Xu Shou! I remember now! Look at my memory, I keep getting things mixed up lately."

She looked at Ye Shunguang again, the confusion in her eyes completely gone, replaced by confirmation and a hint of curiosity: "Were you on the support team sent by the city when we dealt with the West Outer Ring Road cavity disaster last time?"

Ye Shunguang: "..."

Her sense of bewilderment deepened at this moment.

How many places has Ye Shunguang been to in this world? How many things has she done? Why does it seem like everyone recognizes her wherever she goes? Wei Feidi, the Lemnian Hollow, the Northern Disaster of New Elidu, the Outer Ring West... Now even the acting overlord of a border town like Wildfire Town seems to have seen "her" before?

Even if they haven't been there... with the title of Lord Void Hunter, they should be basically known in the New Ellie City area. How could anyone know about a remote place like Wildfire Town?

What should I do? I have absolutely no memory of this!

She quickly calculated in her mind: if she admitted it, it would be troublesome if Caesar asked for specific details and she couldn't answer; if she denied it, it would seem strange, since the other party had already recognized her; pretending to have amnesia? That seemed too deliberate and would easily arouse suspicion.

No, we should act normal, pretend that this happened a long time ago and our memory is a bit hazy. That way, we won't be exposed, and it will also seem plausible.

[System notification: Role-playing value increased by 5%, current role-playing level is 25%.]

?

This can increase...? Could it be that my idea is correct?

Ye Shunguang composed himself, met Caesar's questioning gaze, nodded slightly, and spoke in a calm tone, neither confirming nor completely denying: "The mission west of the outer ring, as far as I can remember, was a long time ago. The situation was urgent at the time, and I can't recall the specific details. I didn't expect anyone to remember."

This answer was perfect—if Caesar's memory was hazy, he would naturally follow up on this line of conversation; if Caesar was truly certain he had seen her, this answer would not be exposed on the spot, but would only be understood as him having too many tasks and not being able to remember.

Caesar did not delve into the matter further; she nodded, clearly agreeing with the statement.

After all, the Void Disaster is frequent, and as the top combat force of New Elidu, the Void Hunter must have carried out countless missions. It is normal that he cannot remember the details of a certain mission.

She stepped aside, making an inviting gesture: "Since you're a Void Hunter, please come in. Sorry the room is a bit messy, please don't mind." As she spoke, her gaze swept over the three people behind Ye Shunguang, a hint of inquiry in her eyes, "And who are these people?"

"...The companions I met in the void." Ye Shunguang thought quickly and came up with an answer that was logically consistent with her previous reply. It neither revealed the true identity of the Dragon Kingdom team nor did it fit the current situation. "Ye Jianguo, Chen Jianjun, Zhou Liming." She introduced the three names in turn, her tone concise and clear.

Caesar nodded to the three of them as a greeting, her gaze lingering on Ye Jianguo for a moment longer. Clearly, she had sensed the extraordinary aura emanating from this middle-aged man—a composure and authority that could only be cultivated through long-term leadership and the trials of life. "Please come in. Lucy, come here too, and get me some water."

Lucy glared at Caesar again, but said nothing more. She simply strode into the house, clearly worried about Caesar's health. Ye Shunguang and the others followed closely behind.

The interior appeared more spacious than the exterior, but as Caesar had said, it was indeed "messy." However, this messiness wasn't dirty or chaotic; rather, it was an orderly disorder imbued with traces of life and work.

On one side of the room was a simple wooden bed covered with gray bedding, which was somewhat disheveled, indicating that the owner had just gotten up.

On the small table beside the bed was an open first-aid kit, inside which were scattered several rolls of bandages and some bottles and jars of medicine. The smell of disinfectant in the air was coming from there.

In the center of the room stood a rectangular wooden table, on which lay a huge map of Wildfire Town and the surrounding area, covered with dense markings in red and blue ink. Some places had arrows drawn, some had circles, and some had hastily written annotations.

Next to the map was a stack of documents and several notebooks, filled with handwriting, some neat records, others casual sketches.

On the other side of the room was a workbench, on which various repair tools, oil drums, parts, etc. were placed. In the corner of the workbench was an exquisite straw handicraft, a "sunlight".

"Sit wherever you like. If there aren't enough chairs, you can sit on the boxes too," Caesar said, walking over to the table and pulling up a chair to sit down.

When she sat down, her movements were noticeably stiff for a moment. Her left prosthetic arm quickly braced itself against the table, as if she were using it for leverage. Her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but she quickly returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Lucy stood slightly behind Caesar, arms crossed, her eyes fixed on him, clearly observing his condition and ready to step in if anything seemed amiss.

She walked briskly to the worktable, skillfully sifted through a pile of clutter to find a relatively clean aluminum kettle and several glasses. She went to the water bucket in the corner of the room, scooped out a few spoonfuls of water, poured them into the glasses, and then placed the glasses on the table. "That's all the water we have. The tea ran out last month, so we'll have to use it sparingly."

"That's enough, thank you." Ye Jianguo thanked them on behalf of the team, his voice calm and polite.

The four found places to sit down. Ye Jianguo and Chen Jianjun sat on chairs next to a wooden table, while Zhou Liming sat on a wooden box full of parts. Ye Shunguang sat on an old chair opposite Caesar, where he could clearly observe him.

"Well then," Caesar said, placing her hands on the table and leaning slightly forward, her eyes still sharp as an eagle's, exuding an undeniable authority, "the sudden arrival of the Void Hunter in our small place must be more than just a passing by, right?" Her gaze fell on Ye Shunguang's face, with a hint of inquiry, "and your companions... they don't seem to be part of New Elidu's regular forces."

Sure enough, Caesar's observation skills were very sharp, and he immediately noticed that the Dragon Kingdom team was different from others.

The regular troops of New Elidu are equipped with distinctive markings, and their demeanor is completely different from that of the Dragon Kingdom Squad, a highly trained special forces unit.

"We do have something to do," Ye Shunguang replied directly. "We came here from a very far place due to some...unexpected events. Wildfire Town is the nearest human settlement. We need to assess the surrounding area, rest, replenish our supplies, and then decide where to go next."

She paused, looked at Caesar, and her tone became much more sincere: "As for my companions, they come from another... organization. We are currently cooperating because we were unexpectedly trapped here. We share the same goal: to survive first and then find our way back."

Caesar listened quietly, her fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table, making a crisp "tap-tap" sound. Her gaze was fixed on Ye Shunguang's face, as if judging the truthfulness of his words and the information hidden behind them.

As the acting leader, she gradually developed a habit of always being vigilant after three months of training, and did not easily trust any strangers, especially at this critical juncture of internal and external troubles.

Lucy stood beside Caesar, arms crossed, also carefully observing the four members of the Dragon Kingdom team.

Her gaze lingered more on Ye Jianguo and his two companions, especially their equipment—uniform in style, well-maintained, and each piece exuding a professional air, quite unlike the patchwork equipment commonly found in the wilderness.

Moreover, their posture, eyes, and movements all exude a rigorous discipline that ordinary vagrants or mercenaries would never possess.

After about half a minute, Caesar nodded, seemingly having made a judgment.

"These Wildfire Towns can provide. Or rather, they can provide within our capabilities." Her tone was sincere, without any pretense. "However, Lord Voidhunter, you are aware of the current situation."

The Hollow Out Disaster in northern New Elidu is out of control; it's said that half the city has fallen. Large numbers of refugees are pouring south, and we've already received some, but supplies are limited, and we simply cannot accept any more.

She pointed to the map spread out on the table, which marked several areas with red dotted lines: "Look here, the activity of the skeletons in the west and north is becoming more and more frequent. Last month, they even formed a fairly large beast tide that attacked the outer defense line of Wildfire Town. Although we eventually repelled them, we paid a considerable price. Many people were injured, and we also lost a lot of supplies."

"Our current supplies are only enough to sustain the town's existing population for about three weeks, and that's under the strictest rationing system." Caesar's tone was heavy, clearly troubled by the current predicament. "Medicines are even scarcer, especially the effective treatment for etheric erosion, which is basically out of stock. If you need a large supply, I'm afraid... it will be difficult for me to provide it."

"We don't need a lot of supplies," Ye Jianguo said, his voice steady and powerful, carrying a convincing authority. "We just need basic food and water, and a safe place to rest. We won't cause you any trouble. In return..." He glanced at Ye Shunguang, who nodded slightly, and continued, "We can offer some assistance. For example, we can help you clear out the surrounding skeleton threats, repair damaged equipment, or share some... intelligence from the south."

Intelligence from the south was undoubtedly very attractive to Wildfire Town. After all, with the fall of northern New Elidu and the southward migration of refugees, all their manpower was concentrated near Wildfire Town to receive them. Moreover, the mutation of animals had hindered transportation, causing the southern part of the outer ring to lose contact.

Therefore, they urgently need to understand the situation in the south and determine whether a larger crisis is approaching.

Caesar and Lucy exchanged a glance, both seeing interest in each other's eyes.

Although the sons of Caludon are not weak in combat, they have recently encountered a series of beast tides and internal turmoil, resulting in a severe shortage of manpower. These are all problems that urgently need to be solved.

The strength of the Void Hunter, coupled with these three seemingly professional companions, will undoubtedly provide them with great assistance.

"Of course." Caesar raised an eyebrow, a glint of light flashing in his gray-yellow eyes, clearly intrigued by the matter. "But what kind of help exactly? I've heard of the Void Hunter's strength, so I trust him. But the problems Wildfire Town faces right now are probably not as simple as just solving one or two voids."

"Tell me," Ye Shunguang asked, his interest piqued, his tone still calm. "What specific problems are you facing, besides the shortage of supplies?"

Caesar remained silent for a few seconds, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. She looked into Ye Shunguang's calm eyes, then at Ye Jianguo's composed expression, and finally decided to be honest—these people in front of her might be the only lifeline Wildfire Town could grasp at the moment.

She took a deep breath and spoke slowly, her tone tinged with weariness yet revealing an unwavering determination: "It's not that many, the main problem is still the Fire Hell Ride. You've probably heard of it, right? The Fire Hell Ride was originally an annual ceremony held in Wildfire Town, and it's fundamental to our survival."

It was originally designed to prevent the Burning Crystal Lake from being sealed off by the Ether Crystals. Every year at this time, the Overlord leads the best motorcyclists through the outer cavities to reach the lake, where they drop ignition stones to clear the Ether Crystals accumulated on the surface.

"But this year..." Caesar's voice lowered, with a hint of regret and helplessness, "Pompey was ambushed, and the best motorcyclists were killed or injured in the previous beast tide. We simply can't spare any manpower now."

If the Fire Riding event cannot be held on time, the crystals in the Burning Crystal Lake will continue to accumulate, and before long, they will completely seal off the lake's ignition point. At that point, the lake will extinguish, and the entire Wildfire Town will be corroded by the aether, and no one will survive.

She paused, then continued, "And there's an even more troublesome problem—the skeletons inside the void seem to have been inexplicably enhanced as well."

The team members who were recently sent out to investigate reported that the concentration of ether in the cavity is much higher than before. Some old protective suits are no longer able to withstand it at all, and symptoms of ether corrosion will appear if you get even slightly close.

Oh, by the way, we're really short-staffed here. So all the team members going in and out of the cave rely on a professional rope maker from 6th Street.

"Wait..." Ye Shunguang was suddenly stunned when he heard this, and a rare fluctuation flashed in his crimson eyes.

He then quickly pressed on, a hint of urgency in his voice, "Excuse me, what's his name?"

Although the profession of rope maker is common in this world, coming from 6th Street... a name flashed through Ye Shunguang's mind instantly—Zhe.

Caesar was startled by Ye Shunguang's sudden urgency. She paused for a moment before subconsciously replying, "Ah? His name is Zhe. He's a young man who looks quite young. I don't know much about him, except that his sister seems to have disappeared in the void."

He's a refugee who fled New Elidu and arrived in Wildfire Town last month. He's in that house diagonally across the street right now, using Bomb to remotely help us enter and exit the void and monitor the ether concentration.

As she spoke, she pointed to a house diagonally opposite the window. "What's wrong? Do you know him?"

"...Excuse me, I'd like to go see that rope craftsman first!" Ye Shunguang suddenly stood up, explained the reason, and then pushed open the door and left.

"...Uh?" Caesar hadn't reacted yet, and looked at Lucy for help.

Lucy: "What are you looking at me for? How would I know?"