Chapter 2820: Ten Billion Return
Speak of the devil, and he appears. A group of staff members surrounded a young woman protected by players as she walked over.
Sixteen A-class players served as bodyguards, while three small mechanical instruments constantly circled within a ten-meter radius around her. Though it was unclear exactly what type of instruments they were, judging by their metallic material, they far surpassed the A-class instruments used for daily maintenance in Flowing Gold City.
Although her appearance had changed somewhat, Xu Huo still recognized her.
"Pu Yu." His voice wasn't loud, but it was enough to catch their attention.
Several A-class players cast oppressive glances his way. As Pu Yu paused, a few more turned around.
Xu Huo's face was disguised, but he raised his right hand slightly, subtly lifting his index finger.
Pu Yu had seen the appearance of his right hand after being affected by hyperdimensional power in the Ultra-High Energy Zone. Seeing his gesture, she immediately recognized him and broke into a smile as she walked over. "Long time no see."
"Not that long." Xu Huo glanced at the people around her. "Looks like you're doing well."
"Pretty well," Pu Yu said. "I have you to thank for that."
"I didn't expect to run into you again so soon in Flowing Gold City. Are you here to watch the hunting show? Why not bring your friend and ride in my aircraft?"
Since Pu Yu hadn't pretended not to know him, Xu Huo naturally didn't refuse. He called over the excited Tang Xu and followed her group.
The aircraft quickly left Flowing Gold City through a tunnel, heading deep into the desert. The hunting show still had some preparations to make, so the aircraft wasn't moving very fast.
Pu Yu had successfully inherited her inheritance, and the share was larger than she had originally imagined. So now she was riding high. Coming to Flowing Gold City wasn't just to handle some minor business matters—her main purpose was to see the city her elder had built.
Running into Xu Huo here was a pleasant surprise. "I've just taken over part of the family business, and things haven't been fully settled yet. I was planning to invite you to my home as a guest once everything was wrapped up. I didn't expect fate to bring us together like this."
Xu Huo smiled. "An unexpected meeting is better than an arranged one. I just arrived in Flowing Gold City when Tang Xu told me the partner company had a new boss. I never thought it would be you. It seems you weren't joking back then—your family's business really is huge."
Not just decades, but even a hundred years, it was hard to imagine a family's business spanning over a hundred districts across eight wormhole points.
Pu Yu didn't dwell on the subject. She simply said, "I told you when we parted last time that I would repay you. Given your strength, ordinary props and instruments probably don't interest you. I've already had people gather a batch of top-tier props and instruments. The list is only half-drafted."
She handed over a miniature communicator, and a screen projected above the table. "Here are fifty props and instruments. Twenty-two of the props are premium A-class items. Twenty A-class instruments are primarily offensive and defensive, capable of covering large cities. Seven are passive defense instruments, mainly to guard against sudden high-energy impacts when props fail. The last one is a super prop."
Tang Xu's wine glass fell onto the carpet. He scrambled to wipe the spilled wine off his clothes, but his movements gradually slowed as his eyes locked onto the floating list.
Pu Yu didn't mind. She simply smiled at Xu Huo. "All fifty were personally selected by me. Additionally, there are another fifty items—mainly interference and anti-interference instruments, along with some energy weapons and ores. I figured you'd find them useful when you return to your own district."
"Isn't this gift too generous?" Xu Huo wasn't stunned by the super prop or the sheer number of A-class props and instruments. Pu Yu had inherited a massive fortune, so she was very wealthy, but he didn't think his help was worth such an elaborate repayment.
The value of premium A-class props went without saying. Ultra-large instruments and energy weapons were even more expensive, not to mention a super prop that money alone couldn't easily buy. A ten-billion return—no matter how he looked at it, it seemed excessive.
A gift given with such weight often came with a request.
Of course, it wasn't just Tang Xu. Even the A-class players accompanying Pu Yu couldn't hide their shock. They had known she was collecting these things, but who would have thought they were all prepared for one person? A super prop plus over forty A-class props and instruments—what player could be so wealthy?
Xu Huo was only a B-class player.
"I think my life is worth that much." Pu Yu smiled brightly.
"Worth it... absolutely worth it..." A murmured voice came from behind Xu Huo. Ignoring Tang Xu, who was still reeling from the shock, Xu Huo said, "You helped me back then too. You really don't have to do this."
"How is that the same?" Pu Yu said. "I just gave you a hand, but you saved my life and helped me recover my aunt's belongings."
When the Painting Woman approached her on the train, she never imagined that a random player she met would completely change her fate.
"Besides, aren't we friends who've shared life and death?" She dropped her serious tone and teased lightly, "Or are you saying that once you accept my gift, we'll never see each other again?"
Xu Huo laughed. "Of course not."
"But I can't use all these things you're giving me. Since we're friends, I'd like to trouble you to exchange them for other items."
"As long as I can get my hands on it, just say the word." Pu Yu said generously.
The two raised their glasses, smoothly sealing their friendship.
The things Xu Huo needed were quite varied, and he couldn't finish writing the list in a short time. But the most important item was the Non-Game Area Simulator—he needed both small-scale and large-scale versions.
Non-Game Area Simulators were no longer rare instruments at A-class wormhole points, but their purchase channels were restricted. Now that Pu Yu had inherited the family fortune, with her family's commercial influence across districts, swapping for some Non-Game Area Simulators wouldn't be difficult—it would just take some time to negotiate.
Pu Yu thought for a moment and nodded. "I'll leave the matter to my think tank. Once they come up with a plan, we'll be able to purchase the instruments quickly."
"Thank you." Xu Huo raised his glass again.
"You're welcome." Pu Yu raised hers as well.
A special whistle sounded outside—the hunting show was about to begin. Following the cue, Xu Huo looked to the right. Thousands of meters away, quicksand surged like rolling waves, flipping and churning. The sand shimmered like flowing gold under the sunlight, breathtakingly beautiful.
In an instant, the golden waves closed in. As some aircraft fired stimulating agents at the ground, a group of large mutant animals that had been active beneath the sand were forced to leap out. Then, the massive undulating wave that had been following them finally revealed its true form—a colossal swarm of countless finger-sized sand whales, forming a shape like a real whale, leaping into the air before biting down onto the sand surface. In moments, it devoured the large mutant animals, leaving only skeletons behind before quickly sinking back into the sea of sand!