Standing nearby, Huang Mao laughed and cursed.
"Fuck. Using my name to scare people? You've got some nerve!"
He wasn't stupid. Naturally, he could tell Lin Yu was deliberately borrowing his authority.
But he didn't mind.
For one thing, Lin Yu had shown him respect. He couldn't go embarrassing the kid for no reason.
For another, he enjoyed the feeling!
Being feared and looked up to by everyone felt fucking incredible!
It was something he could never have experienced before the apocalypse!
Chen Sui's gaze lingered on Lin Yu for several seconds before he shook his head slightly.
A pity...
If Lin Yu were a Beyonder, he might have been willing to make him a trusted aide.
Lin Yu's methods and temperament surpassed those of nearly ninety-nine percent of the convoy.
But...
he wasn't a Beyonder.
That fact alone meant he could never enter the group's inner circle.
Being a Beyonder was the price of admission.
Chen Sui approached the nineteen handless survivors. His eyes behind his glasses were utterly composed as he spoke evenly.
"Under squad rules, one-third of the vehicles you received belongs to the squad. You have the right to operate them, but not ownership. If the squad needs to requisition your vehicle, you must comply unconditionally. Any objections?"
The nineteen survivors' faces turned ugly.
They had sacrificed a hand for these vehicles, and now they didn't even own them?
Wasn't this outright robbery?
But...
did they have any choice?
They didn't.
All nineteen could only grit their teeth and nod.
"Yes, Captain Chen."
Chen Sui looked at them and continued,
"Of course, that lack of ownership is only nominal. In practice, the vehicles remain your private property. You'll drive them yourselves and can use them as you please. I'm only doing this..."
"...for the squad's sake. It will make the group easier to manage when emergencies arise."
"I hope you understand."
"Your one unit of food is ready. Once the vehicles have been distributed, go collect it yourselves."
His voice was calm, his explanation clear.
The nineteen disgruntled survivors immediately settled down.
So the vehicles weren't theirs in name, but they were still the actual owners!
That was all right, then!
Once again, Chen Sui had used his classic stick-and-carrot routine.
And there was no denying...
it worked quite well.
The nineteen were happy again, looking at him with gratitude.
Lin Yu, meanwhile, was watching the screen in the air.
Soon...
they would receive their vehicles!
The screen was counting down.
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The instant it ended, twenty-one vehicles appeared out of thin air in the clearing. A transparent screen floated above each one, displaying its recipient's name.
Everyone's attention snapped toward them!
They were intensely curious!
So many vehicles, all at once!
A spectacle like this was rare!
The survivors who hadn't participated watched enviously. Who wouldn't want a vehicle of their own?
The handless group, meanwhile, lifted their heads proudly. For a moment, they almost felt like heroes, basking in everyone's attention.
Those hands...
hadn't been lost for nothing!
Lin Yu, however, frowned slightly, his expression odd.
A "vehicle" had appeared beside him too.
But this vehicle... how should he put it...?
Did it really count as a vehicle?
Beside him lay a spotless white skateboard. Its lines were sleek and elegant, and a cute little rabbit was painted on its surface. That rabbit...
looked a lot like the Arcane Rabbit!
No!
Rather...
it was the Arcane Rabbit!
Lin Yu pressed his lips together and fell silent.
Was this the Arcane Rabbit's curse on him?
He had finally gotten a vehicle, and it was a skateboard?
What bullshit!
Ah...
He sighed softly.
At the same time, the [Choice] screen transmitted the skateboard's information into his mind.
[Arcane Rabbit Skateboard]
Beyonder Vehicle. The Arcane Rabbit's innate wind power is sealed within. Step onto the deck to activate it. It automatically generates a protective wind barrier that blocks the impact of airflow.
The skateboard has three speed settings. Higher settings provide greater speed and consume more Spiritual Energy.
Low speed: 5–30 mph.
Medium speed: 30–80 mph.
High speed: 80–120 mph.
It can independently absorb free-floating Spiritual Energy from the air. Items containing Spiritual Energy can also be used to recharge it quickly.
The moment Lin Yu finished reading, his eyes brightened.
Every trace of dissatisfaction and complaint vanished!
Wasn't this his precious little Arcane Rabbit?
How had he failed to recognize it?
Who would have thought this skateboard was a Beyonder Vehicle?
Even the Beyonders in their squad didn't each have one!
In fact, the entire squad had only a single Beyonder Vehicle.
It was Huang Mao's silver-white bicycle. It looked incredibly cool, and when he pedaled, it practically flew. Even cars couldn't keep up with it.
And now...
there was a second one.
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He picked it up without betraying anything, keeping an irritated, helpless expression on his face. He even put on a convincing show of swearing.
"Shit!"
"What rotten luck!"
"Oh well... Better than walking."
Unless someone examined a Beyonder Vehicle up close or saw it use its supernatural abilities, they couldn't tell it apart from an ordinary one.
So...
Lin Yu intended to put on an act for now.
He would pretend it was an ordinary electric skateboard. At least for the moment, no one could be allowed to discover it was a Beyonder Vehicle.
Otherwise, even those Beyonders would covet it.
And he...
needed to find a way to become a Beyonder as soon as possible!
Only then would he truly have a say in the squad, and only then might he be able to keep the Arcane Rabbit Skateboard.
As for how to become one...
he still had no idea. He could only pin his hopes on [Choices].
Broadly speaking, there were three kinds of Beyonders in the world.
The first were the inexplicable kind. After the apocalypse descended, they simply became Beyonders for no apparent reason. Even they didn't know why. These were also called the chosen ones.
The second were those who awakened later. Some lucky people suddenly awakened as Beyonders after intense stimulation, a devastating blow, or a brush with death.
The third gained their powers through [Choices]. Sometimes a [Choice] offered an opportunity to become a Beyonder, but such challenges were usually among the hardest, even utterly unsurvivable.
So...
how could becoming a Beyonder possibly be easy?
If it were, the squad wouldn't have only five of them.
"Fuck! It looks so cool, I thought it was a fucking Beyonder Vehicle!"
Zhai Guang's angry voice came from nearby. A black heavy motorcycle had appeared in front of him. It was large and sleek, like a black wolf!
Unfortunately...
it was an ordinary motorcycle, not a Beyonder Vehicle.
Zhai Guang looked gloomy, unsure whether to be happy or disappointed.
Happy? There was no need to get excited over an ordinary vehicle.
Disappointed? This heavy motorcycle was still far better than his old wreck!
Huang Mao sidled over with a smug grin.
"Brother Zhai, don't get worked up. Beyonder Vehicles aren't that easy to come by. My bicycle, for instance... Ah, I practically gave up half my life in a [Choice] to get it."
Without looking up, Zhai Guang said darkly,
"Get lost."
Huang Mao curled his lip.
"Tch!"
But for all his showing off, he had the sense to walk away.
Otherwise, Zhai Guang really would hit him.
The man was completely unhinged.
Violent and cruel.
No one wanted to offend him.
Not long ago...
he had torn a survivor who offended him in half with his bare hands.
No one could forget that terrifying, brutal scene.