Game: Civilization Paradise

Just then, the sound of an approaching vehicle came from the distance. Long Ming and his group started, quickly looking up.

A truck was driving toward them, carrying seven or eight players from the All Stars Guild.

"It’s players from the All Stars Guild."

Xiaoqi said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Long Ming immediately lowered his gun and took a few steps back.

But as the truck reached them, it came to a stop.

From the open-air truck bed, a muscular man in camo combat fatigues leaned out, looked at Long Ming’s group of five, and spoke with some surprise.

"Star Wish Guild?"

"Yes."

Xiaoqi nodded in reply.

"What are you guys doing here?"

"We’re looking for a vehicle to get to the Observatory Base City."

"Hop on. We’ve got room. We can give you a lift!"

the brawny man said heartily.

"That’s great, thank you."

Xiaoqi and the others thanked him happily.

Long Ming was taken aback. ’It’s that easy?’ The straightforwardness of it all felt a little strange.

His body, however, was quite honest. He immediately led Xiaoqi and the others over, then nimbly climbed into the truck bed.

"Drive."

The brawny man slapped the roof of the cab and yelled.

The truck started up and drove forward.

"What should we call you, sir?"

Xiaoqi asked enthusiastically.

"Captain Fan Shi, Second Legion of the All Stars Guild."

Fan Shi introduced himself readily.

"I’m Xiaoqi. We’re from the Star Wish Guild’s Fifth Rat Group."

"Oh, the Rat Group. Well, you’ve found the right people. Stick with us, and we’ll guarantee you get into the base city safely."

"Thank you, Captain Fan Shi!"

Xiaoqi and the others said, beaming with joy.

...

In a dense forest southeast of the Observatory Base City.

Groups of solo players stealthily made their way here. They exchanged glances before heading deeper into the forest.

Soon, they reached the depths of the forest.

They went forward and brushed away the dead leaves on the ground, revealing rows of wooden crates.

These seemingly ordinary solo players pried open the lids, exposing mortars, one after another.

"Quick, move them."

A man with a thick beard, who seemed to be the leader, raised his hand and waved it forward.

The solo players on site rushed forward and began carrying out the mortars.

...

「Meanwhile, on the winding mountain road.」

Long Ming rode in the truck all the way to the base city without facing a single attack.

"Up ahead is the large bridge just outside the Observatory Base City."

Fan Shi explained enthusiastically.

Xiaoqi gazed at the giant bridge looming ahead and asked curiously.

"Captain Fan Shi, are we just going to drive straight across?"

"That’s right!"

"Aren’t you worried about an ambush?"

"Don’t worry. The bridge up ahead is covered by our people!"

Fan Shi said with a smile.

Hearing Fan Shi’s words, Long Ming thought to himself, ’This time should be a bit easier. Whether I can make a profit will depend on if that secret base is still there.’

Sure enough, as the large truck drove onto the bridge, players from the All Stars Guild emerged from behind metal containers and waved at Fan Shi and the others.

"We’re heading in first."

Fan Shi shouted, then had the driver take the truck inside.

The truck soon entered the city and pulled over to the side of the road.

"This is as far as we go. We can’t drive vehicles inside the city."

Fan Shi said to Long Ming’s group.

"Alright, we’ll get going then."

Long Ming’s group said their goodbyes to Fan Shi, hopped out of the truck, and headed for a small alley by the street.

"Long Ming, I feel like this Observatory isn’t that hard to take!"

Xiaoqi chatted with Long Ming, chuckling.

"That’s because the All Stars Guild brought too many people in. They’re dominating their home turf."

Long Ming said with a yawn.

"So what’s next for us?"

"It’s still a long time until dark. Let’s go loot some spots together and see if we can find anything valuable."

"Alright!"

Xiaoqi and the others replied excitedly.

...

「At that moment, on top of a tall building.」

Qian Wei and Qian Lan gazed at the distant scenery while Gao Feng and the others stood respectfully behind them. Gusts of wind whipped at their clothes.

"The people from the Sin Abyss Guild and the Star God Guild have both given up on this instance. It looks like our victory is assured."

Qian Lan said, in high spirits.

"Don’t get careless. Even though we brought in over 4,000 people, the number of solo players who entered isn’t small either."

Qian Wei reminded Qian Lan cautiously.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of the solo players; he just couldn’t afford to lose again. Otherwise, he’d have no face left to show.

"They’re just a bunch of solo players. They can’t cause any real trouble. We just need to deal with them before we start the mountain ascent."

Qian Lan didn’t give the solo players a second thought.

After hearing Qian Lan’s words, Qian Wei didn’t argue, simply nodding in tacit agreement.

...

Meanwhile, Xiaoqi and the others were happily searching a building.

Long Ming stood at the entrance, leaning against a wall and waiting patiently.

"Got a purple!"

Tang Yue walked over happily, holding an old book, and reported to Long Ming.

"Nice. But you don’t have to report everything to me. We can just tally it all up when we get out."

Long Ming glanced at it. It was a book on astronomy, which should fetch a good price.

"Mm-hm."

Tang Yue replied happily.

"Whoa, the loot here is insane! No wonder everyone loves running this instance."

Johnny came down the stairs in a great mood.

"Just grab a few things. Aside from special items, don’t bother picking up anything below purple-grade. It’s not worth much money and just weighs you down."

Long Ming noticed Johnny’s backpack was already starting to bulge and said to him.

"Huh? Is that a good idea? What if you lose money because of it?"

Johnny was a little dumbfounded.

"It’s fine. I’m not going to dock your pay."

Long Ming said with a chuckle.

"That’s not what I meant! We’re not worried about that. Never mind, we’ll do as you say."

Johnny immediately opened his backpack and tossed out a pile of blue-quality items.

Just then, Xiaoqi and Cloud Fish also came down the stairs. They asked cheerfully.

"Where should we search next?"

"There’s a larger high-rise up ahead. Let’s go check it out."

Long Ming then led the four of them out of the building and down the street.

Suddenly, Long Ming noticed something unusual about a third-floor window in the building ahead. He raised his hand, signaling for Johnny and the others to stop.

BANG!

A gunshot rang out.

"AHH!"

As the scream echoed, a splash of fresh blood splattered against the window.

Long Ming immediately turned his head toward a small alley up ahead, where a woman with a neat, short haircut and an All Stars Guild armband was walking out.

She glanced at Long Ming’s group and said.

"Be careful when you’re searching. Don’t get ambushed."

"Thanks."

Long Ming replied politely.

After giving her warning, the female player quickly left to search for other solo players.

...

Outside the Observatory Base City, on a high mountain peak to the north.

The streamer Sun Zhou climbed to the top. Panting, he took out a pair of binoculars and aimed them at the Observatory Base City as he started his broadcast.

"Ladies and gentlemen, do you see that?! The All Stars Guild and its affiliated guilds are guarding the four entrances to the base city, and they’re constantly clearing out solo players. Even though a lot of solos got in, they’re no match at all! I’ve already been caught by All Stars players twice on my way here. If I hadn’t identified myself quickly, I’d have been eliminated by now."

In the livestream chat, numerous viewers started leaving comments.

"Boring. I thought we were going to see another intense battle, but it’s completely one-sided."

"Ugh, the Sin Abyss Guild and the Star God Guild are a couple of cowards."

"Get lost, you idiot. Who would be stupid enough to fight a losing battle?"

"Just say you’re scared."

"Screw you."

...

The whole livestream chat grew more and more lively.