Chapter 86 - 83: Outside You’re an Expert, Here You’re Just a Safe Zone Newbie

Chapter 86: Chapter 83: Outside You’re an Expert, Here You’re Just a Safe Zone Newbie

This battle had been truly arduous.

After acquiring the "guidance trifecta" and improving their own strength, which Member Level expert from the Safe Zone didn’t have the ability to clear a Nightmare on their own?

And the process wouldn’t even be that difficult.

But this battle had dragged on for over ten minutes, a fight so intense it felt like the Great Dao itself was being ground into dust.

When the reinforcements from the Countermeasures Bureau—Elites from the Guidance Squad—finally arrived, they were greeted by a scene of severed limbs and mangled flesh.

The ground was littered with monstrous limbs!

"Are we too late?"

"No, you’re right on time. Come and help clean up the battlefield."

Cleaning up the chunks of monster flesh, gathering all the valuable spoils of war.

Could they really ask the heroes who had just risked their lives fighting these monsters to do such menial tasks?

"But Old Song, how on earth did you hold on? I heard you were being besieged by four of those things!"

The Elite from the Countermeasures Bureau trailed off, realizing something wasn’t right.

Did Old Song and his people just "hold on"? It was clear they had slaughtered all the monsters!

’The logistics team is this strong?’

"Of course, we weren’t the ones who did it."

Even now, Song Jianshen hadn’t fully recovered from the shock of the battle.

On behalf of the Countermeasures Bureau, he stepped forward to thank the powerful experts who had come to their aid—Profound Sword, Xi Xue, and the Hair Ghost.

It was then that Song Jianshen noticed that many of the Dream Descenders who had come as reinforcements had already vanished without a trace, and the few who remained also looked like they were about to leave.

"Why is that?"

’Was our hospitality from the Countermeasures Bureau lacking? No, the battle just ended. I haven’t even had a chance to be hospitable yet.’

But Xi Xue stated matter-of-factly, "The monsters are all dead. What’s the point of sticking around?"

In terms of personal gain, everyone came because they had accepted a mission.

In terms of the greater good, the rescue was complete. The matter was truly over.

If the two of them didn’t represent the Wizard’s House, and if the Wizard’s House and the Countermeasures Bureau weren’t close partners, they would want to leave too.

Peaches said, "Everyone’s time in the Fallen Dream is precious. They’re either going to continue clearing Nightmares, or they’re going to develop their Curse Objects and hone their Curse Art skills. It’s all perfectly normal, Group Leader Song. No need to find it strange."

She wanted to as well.

But then she remembered she was wearing a Dream-Dropping Treasure Pearl, which granted her longer time in the Fallen Dream than others, and she felt at ease. ’Wasting a little time is fine, I guess.’

She too had a matter-of-fact expression.

Group Leader Song, along with the veteran Countermeasures Bureau operative beside him, felt giant question marks appearing over their heads.

They recognized all the individual words, but when strung together, they couldn’t understand the meaning at all.

’What does she mean, "time in the Fallen Dream is precious"?’

’Isn’t it better to spend as little time in a Nightmare as possible?!’

’What’s this about "continue clearing Nightmares, or develop their Curse Objects and hone their skills"?’

’What kind of Dream Descender can just recklessly expend their power in the Nightmare World?!’

Song Jianshen opened his mouth, but couldn’t bring himself to ask.

With things as they were, he invited Xi Xue and the others to rest at their logistics camp, to at least show some basic hospitality.

During their conversation, he gradually confirmed their identities.

Profound Sword was indeed the youngest disciple of the Extreme Intent Martial Arts Hall’s Hall Master.

Xi Xue and Peaches were also the rising stars that the Wizard’s House had been heavily promoting recently.

’Wait, you call them "rising stars"?’

’If they’re rising stars, what does that make me?’

...

This Countermeasures Bureau camp served as a logistics base.

Its defensive arrangements were far less robust than a true frontline camp, which was how the monsters had managed to slip through.

But as a logistics camp, it was well-stocked with supplies.

The Countermeasures Bureau itself intended to operate this camp for the long term. After all, since it was already built, they had to maximize its value.

Therefore, even in the Nightmare World, the logistics camp was never short of food or drink.

This time, to entertain his guests, Song Jianshen brought out many of his prized reserves—a far cry from the compressed biscuits that could only sate one’s hunger.

However, why did the group seem so uninterested in the food?

After such a major battle, these experts should have been resting and recovering their strength and stamina. But why did they all look like they couldn’t wait to leave?

This was a camp! A camp where they could take shelter from danger!

Only inside a camp could Dream Descenders sit down, rest, and chat like this. Outside, weren’t they all as skittish as startled birds?

"But what’s so great about this camp?"

Xi Xue muttered under her breath, only to get a foot stomped on by Peaches.

Peaches shot her a look. ’Even if this place really sucks, we can’t just say it out loud.’

They simply said their goodbyes soon after.

They did indeed need to rest, but this "drafty" Countermeasures Bureau camp was nothing like the Safe Zone. Only by returning there could they get that feeling of being home and truly, properly rest and recover.

...

After the group left, Old Yao, his body wrapped in numerous bandages, also returned to the Countermeasures Bureau camp.

Old Yao explained in detail how he had posted the commission, and also mentioned the reward he had promised.

Song Jianshen said, "You did the right thing. It’s just some resources for a reward; the Countermeasures Bureau can afford it. People’s lives are what’s most important. This time, Old Yao, you’ve performed a great service."

After he finished handling the various follow-up matters—transmitting a report to Headquarters, alerting the assault teams, and so on—he thought for a moment and said:

"Old Cai, Old Chen, you two stay here and hold down the fort. Inform me immediately if anything comes up."

He looked at Old Yao. "Old Yao, which direction is the Safe Zone camp? I need to pay a visit to that Manager."

Old Yao was, after all, heavily injured and wrapped in bandages.

He had originally intended for Old Yao to just point him in the right direction, but Old Yao said, "I’ll lead the way."

Old Yao added, "My injuries are fine. And if there really is a problem, I’m more likely to get help in the Safe Zone anyway."

Group Leader Song: "..."

He had heard many times about how miraculous the Safe Zone was, but, ’You really don’t have to be so blunt about it.’

Still, having Old Yao lead the way was a good thing. After all, Old Yao knew the Manager and could make an introduction for him.

He looked at Old Cai and Old Chen. "I’m leaving the camp to you. Be careful. Although this Nightmare has now been cleared and the disaster has subsided, there was something clearly off about the monsters this time. You absolutely cannot let your guard down."

The two men indicated they understood.

Old Cai looked like he wanted to say something but held his tongue. He wanted to say that he wanted to go to the Safe Zone, too.

He desperately wanted to see for himself just what had changed about the Safe Zone.

But, Old Song was his superior, and Old Yao was the one who knew the exact location of the Safe Zone this time.

In the end, Old Cai didn’t say a word, remaining behind to miserably guard the crude Countermeasures Bureau camp.

...

The Safe Zone and the Countermeasures Bureau camp were, after all, in the same Nightmare Area.

Even though the two of them weren’t walking fast, they arrived at their destination in just a few short minutes.

Before a brightly lit shop.

Song Jianshen straightened his clothes, trying to make himself look as neat as possible.

He imagined the scene inside the Safe Zone camp.

He had been to some rather well-built camps before.

However, when he pushed open the shop door and a wave of clamor washed over him, he was still utterly astonished.

"Come and see, come and see! Freshly-made Dream Curse Objects, take one home for just 998 Dream Dust!"

"I hear the Countermeasures Bureau is clearing a large-scale Nightmare. Any bros wanna group up and get in on the action?"

"Bro, get me two more of those ice-cold gamer sodas~!"

The camp was as noisy and bustling as a street market.

Some people were setting up stalls to trade, others were recruiting teammates, and most incredibly, some were even drinking and playing Fight the Landlord.

’Is this right?’

’Is this still the Nightmare World?’

For a dazed moment, Group Leader Song thought he had escaped the Nightmare and returned to reality. But before entering the Fallen Dream, he had been in his office at Headquarters; he shouldn’t have ended up in a place like a tavern.

He silently walked back out the door.

A glance outside confirmed the world was still gray, cold, and silent.

He stepped back into the shop, and the lively clamor rushed over him again.

Separated by a single door, it was as if they were two different worlds.

Among the Dream Descenders trading goods and playing cards, he saw many familiar faces. They were the very same people who had left without lingering after providing support just a short while ago.

Song Jianshen was beginning to understand why those people hadn’t stuck around.

Wasn’t staying here far more comfortable than their crude Countermeasures Bureau camp?

Not far away, a Dream Descender was lamenting, "Ah, you guys finished the fight too quickly. My buddy and I didn’t even get a sip of the soup."

"No need to regret it, man. There’ll definitely be more opportunities like this in the future. The key is to get a membership. As long as we’re members, we’ll get the news right away and be able to rush to the battlefield. Even when it comes to earning Contribution Points, we can start to snowball."

"Yeah! Let’s set a small goal: become a Member Realm expert within a month!"

Song Jianshen realized he couldn’t even follow the conversations these Dream Descenders were having.

There was just too much specialized jargon.

Someone noticed his bewildered expression. "Newbie?"

’Newbie? How long has it been since anyone called me a newbie?’

’I’m a squad leader in the Countermeasures Bureau’s Second Division, the current commander of a logistics camp, an active instructor at the Countermeasures Bureau training camp, and a Great Perfection master of the Control Stage! And I’m being treated like a newbie?!’

"Yeah, I’m new."

’Thanks for asking. Total noob here.’

There were so many new things here, his head was spinning.