Chapter 79: Merit Points
While Lin Yao was contemplating tapping on new supply sources and reducing consumption, Squad Leader Zhang had already spoken.
“Of course you can. Merit points are more useful than you think. As long as you have sufficient merit points, you can even exchange them for king-level techniques, let alone energy crystals.”
During the conversation, another team that Lin Yao didn’t recognize entered the room. Besides the people that Lin Yao was familiar with—military personnel, night guards, armed policemen, and some members of the dojo—some civil servants were also present this time.
After they appeared, they immediately collected the coins everyone had received by dragging the freaks into the haunted house.
Yes, there were rewards for dragging the freaks into the haunted house. The haunted house owner would give them cursed coins, and these coins could either be used as entry tickets or to purchase items from the haunted house owner.
When he saw this, Lin Yao’s thoughts wandered a little.
‘If the government is not strong and powerful, this place will most likely be controlled by the powerhouses. Many foreign adventurers will come to this place for expeditions and harvest all kinds of equipment. This place will be used as an instance dungeon, as well as a paradise for the powerhouses.’
This might seem beneficial to Lin Yao, as he was a powerhouse and could thus obtain equipment from this place. However, this was actually not the case.
In the absence of any restrictions set by the country’s government, the morality of human beings would be disappointing. After encountering freaks, the powerhouses would not charge over at the enemy in front of the troops. They would let the weaker ones become a testing ground. As a result, Lin Yao, who had not grown up, might be sacrificed. In addition, the powerhouses would also choose some humans living in this city and use them as p.a.w.ns in this mysterious land.
This was not the most tragic part of the situation. What was most terrifying was that this equipment was not safe. Some of it could only be activated in exchange for one’s lifespan, eyeb.a.l.l.s, or head.
One could not count on the immoral powerhouses not utilizing this dangerous equipment. Furthermore, they would not pay the price for using it. Eventually, the ordinary people outside would suffer the most, and their eyeb.a.l.l.s, heads, hearts, blood, and so on would no longer belong to them.
‘Without a government, dozens and hundreds of powerhouses would live like kings in this place, and the rest of the people would be akin to ants.’
Without having any further thoughts, Lin Yao felt that the current situation was better.
Although he could not attain the cursed equipment, he didn’t need to worry about the powerhouses suddenly capturing his family or making his head explode.
Besides, the mysterious land could be destroyed by the suppression of the country’s armed forces, and the people could live on with peace of mind.
The civil servants who had come here to collect the cursed coins were also watching the battle records and calculating everyone’s merit points.
There were no hiccups during the recording process, and Lin Yao was not surprised.
If this had been a peaceful era, corruption would undoubtedly have existed.
However, things were different during wartime, especially when the country evolved and the population felt a sense of belonging. When facing a genocide, it was natural for mankind to unite in an unprecedented response.
A good example of this was the United States during World War II. The country had advocated freedom and become very capitalistic. Very few people had been willing to serve in the military, and this had been deemed selfish behavior by some of the other countries.
Nevertheless, when the population had been attacked at Pearl Harbor, the country had entered a wartime state. Countless people had enlisted in the army, and many others had donated money. The nation had entered an era of extreme unity in the face of the war.
Even they could go all out and defend their home and country in the face of a threat, let alone China, which was in a more dangerous situation than before. This was now a battle against the freaks, and everyone would perish if the humans were defeated. Plus, the mysterious land could absorb negative emotions and expand. This era might not be the best, but it was definitely the most honest one. Everyone was afraid of the precipitation of negative emotions and the growing number of horrible monsters.
‘It’s really ironic that external crises can promote internal unity.’
As Lin Yao exclaimed inwardly, the situation went on in an orderly manner.
The contributions were being recorded, and some doctors, healers, soldiers, and researchers in white lab coats were wandering in the haunted house. They were looking at and commenting on the displayed items, preparing to buy them.
The greatest use of this place was its research value, followed closely by its combat value.
The researchers were there to select the items. During the process, someone soon discovered the Ghost Gun, which had been displayed.
“It has the ability of one shot, one kill, but it can only be unlocked thrice a day. Where was this gun displayed?”
“It’s true. Ss… This kind of gun will usually appear only in the core area.”
“Which team is formidable enough to have acquired this gun?”
“Our Red Mountain Team, of course.”
“Li Shan, it’s you. Did you really get this?”
“Of course, we got this gun by capturing the Ghost Bullet… That’s right, the ghost that wanders in the gray fog. We got it. You guys can feel slightly more relaxed in the future.”
“Ghost Bullet. How many merit points will that translate to? Li Shan, you guys may enter the top 10 periphery teams this time and become the pacesetter team.”
“The top 10 is too difficult. Besides the three teams—Red Fox, Iron Fist, and Cannonball—which other teams would dare say for sure that they can secure the top 10 places?”
Feeling encouraged, Li Shan was bragging to his comrades and enjoying everyone’s envy. Of course, he wanted to drag Lin Yao along, but the latter refused.
‘Though I have a feeling I can’t keep a low profile anymore, I don’t want to be in the limelight either.’
From a dark area, Lin Yao was observing the people in the haunted house. At that moment, he gradually made a discovery—everyone belonged to a small sub-team and would act with their respective team when they were inside the mysterious land.
The composition of these teams was diverse. There were teams of people from different departments, as well as teams that only consisted of armed personnel. Besides the people from the military, armed police, and special departments, external people were also partic.i.p.ating in the battle of this mysterious land.
Of course, military personnel would act alongside these people, playing both an auxiliary and surveillance role.
The size of the teams was different as well. Nevertheless, they moved in at least groups of 10.
‘A team can have a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 20 people. There are seven teams here, excluding the numerous teams fighting outside that have not returned. There are already more than 200 people in this mysterious land, not counting the powerhouses in the core area… Ninghai City probably has more than one mysterious land to deal with. Alas, it is unsurprising that the military casualty rate is that high.’
While Lin Yao was observing the situation, Li Shan ran over happily.
“Old Zhang, we gained a lot this time. The evaluators confirmed that we’ve subdued the Ghost Bullet. This monster alone earned us 3,000 merit points. The owner of the haunted house also gave us 13,000 yuan, which can be exchanged for another 1,300 merit points. There’s also the information about the Whac-A-Mole monster and the reward for killing it. We’ve gotten 5,000 merit points for our trip this time.”
The country would collect and detain the money obtained by imprisoning the monsters. Nevertheless, one could not make a horse work without feeding it, especially during times of war.
Therefore, the country would reward them with merit points, which could be exchanged for resources, money, and even t.i.tle deeds. Therefore, everyone found this method agreeable.
“It’s not a loss to exchange the cursed items for training resources that can increase my strength.”
“5,000 merit points. This is the equivalent of our aggregate gains of three days under normal circ.u.mstances.”
“Exactly. It’s mainly because the Ghost Bullet is so arrogant. Although that Whac-A-Mole freak lifted a trace of restrictions, we were only given 700 merit points for killing it. If the restrictions had not been lifted, we would have counted ourselves lucky if we had been able to get 300 merit points.”
The merit value was obviously very effective. Everyone was elated upon hearing this, but Squad Leader Zhang soon thought of the dead heavy-duty soldier. He let out a sigh.
“It’s a pity. It would be great if we suffered no casualties.”
“Nothing is free. Who doesn’t risk their lives in this era?”