Game: Civilization Paradise

"Mhm, there’s no need to call them out on it," Long Ming said to Gu Yi and Tao Sisi. "Besides, didn’t you notice those guards were clearly on their side? It wouldn’t do you any good to start a fight."

"Alright."

Since Long Ming had said as much, Gu Yi and Tao Sisi could only let it go.

Just then, Gu Zhong and the others hurried over, anxiously asking the pair.

"Son, Sisi, are you two okay?!"

"We’re fine, Father. It was Brother Long Ming who saved us!"

Gu Yi and Sisi quickly told Gu Zhong.

"Long Ming?"

Gu Zhong and the others were stunned, and they all turned to look at Long Ming.

"Hello," Long Ming greeted with a smile.

"You... you’re Long Ming!"

Gu Zhong and the others were all dumbfounded.

"Yes. This isn’t a good place to talk. Let’s go somewhere else," Long Ming replied with a small smile.

"Good idea. Come to our place!" Gu Zhong said, instantly snapping out of his daze.

"Alright!"

Long Ming nodded.

...

----------------------------------

「City of Stars.」

Inside a luxurious room.

Baidi lay on the bed watching TV, his arm around a naked girl.

BZZZ~

Suddenly, his wristband vibrated.

Baidi glanced at the wristband’s screen and accepted the call.

"Bosse, what is it?"

"Sir, they failed. They’ve been taken to the Defense Bureau."

"Hmph, just as I thought! A normal person wouldn’t have the guts to bet that much. There had to be someone backing them."

"So, what do we do now?" Bosse asked quickly.

"Do they know we were behind it?"

"No. I used a proxy—had the guys from the Iron Curtain Guild do it. And I’ve already greased the palms of the Defense Bureau. The victims didn’t see their faces."

"Then just treat them like common robbers. Tell those guys to keep their mouths shut and quietly do a few months in a cell," Baidi ordered Bosse.

"Understood!"

...

「Late at night.」

In the cramped living room of their rented apartment.

Gu Zhong had personally cooked a table laden with food and even brought out a bottle of his treasured fine wine. He beamed as he spoke to Long Ming.

"Long Ming, it’s not much to offer, but I hope you don’t mind."

"Not at all. This is a wonderful feast," Long Ming replied graciously.

"Here, let me raise a glass to you. If it weren’t for you today, my son and daughter-in-law would have lost their lives," Gu Zhong said with immense gratitude, raising his glass.

"Alright."

Long Ming clinked glasses with Gu Zhong and drained his in one gulp.

"I truly never imagined that this unremarkable son of mine would actually know the hero of our Mountain City Mountain," Gu Zhong said, full of emotion.

"Dad, I told you before, but you wouldn’t believe me," Gu Yi grumbled to Gu Zhong.

"That’s not important. But I do have a question. When did you offend the Iron Curtain Guild?" Long Ming asked with a smile, looking at Gu Zhong, Gu Yi, and the others.

"The Iron Curtain Guild? We’ve never even heard of them, let alone offended them."

Gu Zhong and the others exchanged a look.

"Then why did they kidnap you?"

Long Ming’s curiosity grew.

"Oh, it must have been for money," Gu Yi quickly explained to Long Ming.

"For money? How much money could you possibly have?" Long Ming replied, glancing around their rented apartment with a quizzical expression.

"It’s like this, Brother. A little while ago, I went with my father to deliver food to the Destiny Casino. I saw they had a betting pool open and spotted Red Ghost’s name. On a whim, I bet 10,000 Star Coins on him, and I actually won! It was a massive windfall!" Gu Yi explained to Long Ming.

"So you were the one who got lucky. How much did you win?" Long Ming looked at Gu Yi in disbelief.

"Hehe, over fifty-six million Star Coins," Gu Yi said to Long Ming with a grin.

"No wonder you were kidnapped."

Long Ming was stunned when he heard the amount. He couldn’t believe Gu Yi had won that much money.

"I told you that kind of windfall is a curse, not a blessing! See? You nearly got yourself killed," Tao Sisi chided Gu Yi.

"Sisi’s right. If it wasn’t for Brother, I’d be a dead man."

"Don’t say that."

"Brother, there’s something I want to talk to you about."

"Go ahead."

"I have over fifty-six million Star Coins now. I want to give fifty million of it to you," Gu Yi said to Long Ming.

"No. Why would you give it to me? I didn’t save you for the money. I saved you because we’re brothers," Long Ming refused without a second thought.

"Brother, hear me out. That ten thousand Star Coins I bet with... I earned that from the money you gave me in the past. So you have a right to a share of the winnings, the biggest share! Besides, I can’t hold on to this much money. What if I get kidnapped again? It would just be a free gift for those bastards. And the remaining six million-plus is more than enough for us to live a good life," Gu Yi explained to Long Ming.

"Brother Long Ming, please just take it," Tao Sisi added, trying to persuade him.

Just then, Gu Zhong also spoke up in agreement.

"Long Ming, you absolutely must accept this money."

They had already discussed this and agreed on it while cooking dinner.

"Alright. Since you all insist, I’ll accept the money."

Seeing how insistent Gu Yi and his family were, Long Ming stopped refusing. Besides, he really did need the money.

Even though there was no way to purchase a V4 Mechanical God yet, he had to have enough money ready as soon as possible. That way, he could seize the opportunity the moment it appeared.

"That’s great."

Tao Sisi immediately transferred the money to Long Ming.

"Brother, let’s have a drink!" Gu Yi said happily, raising his glass to Long Ming.

"Cheers!" Long Ming responded with a smile.

Over two hours later, Gu Yi and Tao Sisi walked Long Ming out of the apartment.

Long Ming said to the pair,

"This is far enough. If you run into any more trouble, don’t start a fight. Call me first thing!"

"Got it!"

"I’m off, then."

"Take care, Brother!"

Gu Yi waved goodbye to Long Ming.

....

------------------------------

「In the early hours of the morning.」

The lights were still on at Star Wish Cafe.

At a table, Xiaoqi, Cloud Fish, Johnny, and the others were gathered, having a late meal.

On the table sat a single pot of stew.

Xiaoqi and the others were eating steamed buns to go with the stew.

"Sister Qi, after paying the protection fee, we’re over budget for the month. There’s not enough money left to make our other payments," Cloud Fish told Xiaoqi, her face creased with worry.

"I know."

Xiaoqi let out a long sigh.

"I heard things aren’t looking good for the City Lord, either. They’re saying he might not even be able to pay out the citizens’ subsidies next month," Tang Ye added.

"We’ll have to think of something. See if we can earn a bit more."

Xiaoqi didn’t have any good ideas at the moment, either.

Just then, Long Ming walked over, smiling as he spoke.

"Having a late-night snack?"

Xiaoqi and the others jumped in surprise. They quickly stood up, trying to block the table from view, and spoke awkwardly to Long Ming.

"It’s nothing."

"Come on, that’s not right. You’re all eating this stuff while I’m eating so well?" Long Ming glanced at the table and said to Xiaoqi and the others, his face hardening.

Xiaoqi and the others quickly explained to Long Ming.

"No, it’s not like that! Luoxue said you’re not in good health, so you have to eat well."