Pretending To Be A Boss

By then, the Song Family's prestige will soar, and if my sister marries into their family at that time, the alliance between the two powerful families will be a beautiful tale.

In just a few months' time, who else would come asking for her hand in marriage with the crystal of a calamity-level boss creature?

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Tang Xian felt fortunate that Liu Lang from the blacksmith shop was still the same old guy, someone at the bottom like himself, with whom he could shoot the breeze.

After sharing his contact information with Liu Lang, they added each other as Weixin friends.

Liu Lang wasn't surprised that Tang Xian could use the internet in the lower levels, nor did Tang Xian ask how Liu Lang could use the internet there. They simply exchanged a knowing smile.

Interestingly, their IDs were very similar.

Tang Xian's was Tang Wuliao, while Liu Lang's was Liu Bugge.

After some idle chatter, Tang Xian left the blacksmith shop and returned to his residence.

He took out his notebook and began to record the day's observations.

"The mine area and this world's connection doesn't seem coincidental. The mine area has been around for a long time, but in human history, its emergence came after the Pyramid, with still no intelligence on the exterior of the Pyramid."

"Considering the social system, technology unlocking, and the spread of survival knowledge in the mine area, these aspects are not just human efforts. To create today's situation, there must be an unknown presence, advancing with a purpose using something akin to game rules."

"If there is a pinnacle to the Pyramid, what kind of existence could it be? Or is it like the Ark of God mentioned in the Bible? That its peak is devoid of life, merely a mechanical device, everything prearranged?"

These were still questions he could not figure out.

Tang Xian couldn't discern whether the entity at the top of the Pyramid, or even the Pyramid itself, had benevolent or malevolent intentions toward humanity.

However, he still had no fond feelings for the Pyramid itself.

Considering the questions he pondered, the Li family likely thought about them too. As pioneers, perhaps the Li family had also explored. He could potentially discuss with the members of the Li family when the opportunity arose.

This thought made him realize the importance of having some necessary speaking rights.

About the creatures in the mine area, much of the knowledge came from the intelligence unlocked by explorers, and much was discovered through human exploration.

All this knowledge gathered in Tang Xian's mind. He pondered carefully.

He realized that killing a calamity-level boss creature was indeed very difficult.

Tang Xiaojiu had strength near that of a calamity-level creature, but the gap when compared to a calamity-level boss was still significant.

As for humans he could rely on, they were even fewer.

"Troublesome."

For overly troublesome matters, like those questions without answers, Tang Xian usually set them aside for a while.

Regarding killing a calamity-level boss creature, he decided to set it aside as well.

Because if he ignored the tripe any longer, it was going to spoil. Naturally, the most important matter at hand was catching an Ice Scream Cat.

A calamity-level boss was now less important than this cat.

In the grand scheme of things, filling one's belly comes first.

If Li Xiaoyu, who held great confidence in Tang Xian, knew of this thought, she would probably stomp her foot in frustration.

After sketching out knives, forks, and all the necessary equipment, Tang Xian sent the design drawings to Ke, who then also exchanged Weixin IDs with Tang Xian.

Ke's ID was rather fitting for his profession, true to the name-giving style of Tang Xian from years ago—Ke Datie.

Then Tang Xian went to the mission department on the second level and exchanged two perfect-level creature crystals for points. Shangtang's ranking rose quite a bit, and he transferred these points to Shang Lu's account as the first sum of capital for their joint venture.

Tang Xian checked the time, which was not far from ten hours.

In the last ten minutes or so, he called Qiao Shanshan.

Tang Xian didn't know Qiao Shanshan's phone number, but she stubbornly hadn't disbanded the Scorched Blood Group.

So he called the group's administrative department.

After a few rings, someone answered.

"Hello, Scorched Blood Group administration."

"Is this how you honor your friends? The Scorched Blood Group is gone, other hunting parties are lining up to poach you, yet you still cling to this administrative department. Some things don't need such persistence; it affects efficiency."

"It's you!" Qiao Shanshan immediately recognized Tang Xian's annoying tone.

"How about visiting the forest? I recently killed a Yi Niu, you know. The tripe hotpot is especially authentic," Tang Xian invited her to hot pot, unfazed by Qiao Shanshan's displeased tone.

"I won't join your team. I'm sorry I lied to you last time to save my life."

"If lying can save a life, why not lie? But let's set that aside for now. I'm inviting you to hot pot, more delicious than last time's braised pig ears."

Qiao Shanshan was baffled. Was this man calling not to exact revenge?

A feeling that Tang Xian had let himself be deceived on purpose crept up on her.

And besides... the braised pig ears were really delicious.

"Though Tang Xiaojiu and Dong Ran can eat a lot, there's too much Yi Niu tripe. It will go bad before we finish it, and that would be such a waste. Since we're going to work together in the future, why not come up and give a hand? The cow suffered a painful death; we shouldn't let its sacrifice be in vain, right?"

Tang Xian was sincere in his tone. The Yi Niu had died a painful death, repeatedly stabbed. It would be disrespectful to not finish its meat. Don't cows deserve some dignity?

"What trick are you playing now?"