The relaxed mood greatly alleviated Su Mo's tension, and he became more energetic.
After resting, he regained some strength, and rubbing his grumbling stomach, he said, "I'm so hungry, can I have something to eat?"
Nuobai handed him a bottle of water and some compressed biscuits, helping Su Mo open them.
Su Mo took them and ate voraciously. As the food and water entered his stomach, his cells received the nutritional energy they needed, and the Crimson Rose Blood Code gradually started taking effect. He felt himself recovering quickly.
While eating, Su Mo asked, "By the way, where exactly is our hiding place?"
Nuobai typed:
[New Moon City]
"New Moon City..." Su Mo felt a warm flow through his heart.
Nuobai was truly loyal to him.
New Moon City wasn't located in the Land of No Master; it was a city within the World Government Territory, over a thousand kilometers away from the Life Sequence Exploration Center.
The journey was fraught with danger, and they had to find a way to bypass the territories of the major corporations.
Nuobai had stubbornly dragged along an unconscious, incapacitated burden and carried him back.
This made Su Mo deeply touched.
Su Mo asked with concern, "Is your gene-compiling protein okay? You didn't lose it, did you?"
Nuobai opened the refrigerator.
The vial of medication was standing upright in the freezer, perfectly intact.
Nuobai typed:
[I've already contacted the Blood Code Compiler, and I'll get treatment tomorrow]
Su Mo nodded.
Treatment for "Blood Code Dissociation Syndrome" is relatively complex. It's not just about injecting the gene-compiling protein into the body; there are many technical procedures involved.
"Blood Code Compilers" are those who understand blood code technology, most of whom are Hegemony Company employees, though a few are freelancers hidden among the populace taking private jobs.
With the connections Nuobai had accumulated over years in the mercenary world, finding a reliable Blood Code Compiler was not difficult, so Su Mo said no more.
After finishing the biscuits and drinking some water, Mo Mo asked, "Nuobai, what are your plans after you're cured?"
Without hesitation, Nuobai typed on her phone, as if the answer had long been decided in her heart.
Two words appeared on the screen:
[Retirement]
Su Mo smiled slightly, "Retiring from the mercenary world, reading books, drinking tea, and living a peaceful life every day?"
Nuobai nodded, then typed back with a question:
[What about you?]
Su Mo squinted, his mind filled with the intricate powers of the Dawn Realm, the grand and majestic stories, and countless legends and adventures.
He said with profound meaning, "I still have a long way to go."
Nuobai nodded, understanding that everyone has their own aspirations, and she said nothing more.
At this point, Su Mo pursed his lips and tentatively asked, "Have you ever thought, with your abilities, it's a real shame to retire. Have you considered continuing to strive?"
Nuobai was momentarily stunned and typed:
[You mean?]
Su Mo said with great anticipation, "Join me, let's adventure together, and reach the pinnacle of this world!"
Nuobai smiled, shook her head, and typed:
[Thank you for the invitation]
[But I'm tired of the slaughter and just want a peaceful life]
Su Mo felt a bit regretful.
If he could recruit a master of Nuobai's caliber, he wouldn't have to worry about establishing a strong foundation in the early stages, if not dominating the world.
After all, she was a "BOSS" who even in a weakened state could take down seven people. And she wasn't just fighting minions but elite like Razor, wreaking havoc with a single red-eyed fury.
Su Mo even believed that if Nuobai hadn't been drained by him before, in her full state, she could have single-handedly wiped out that Razor squad.
Such a strong and trustworthy comrade is truly a shame not to have as an ally.
Of course, everyone has their own pursuits.
In the past, when playing games, Su Mo regarded Nuobai as just a programming-controlled NPC.
But now, she was a living person.
Since she is human, her personal choices should be respected.
Su Mo got out of bed, stretched, and said, "Well, after a good sleep and meal, it's about time I get going."
Nuobai took hold of Su Mo and typed:
[You need a new identity]
Su Mo was thoughtful, "Hmm, I can't operate under the name 'Dr. Chen'..."
Nuobai took out a pre-prepared bank card and placed it in Su Mo's hand.
[There's 200,000 Moon Coins in it, the password is 940309]
[Use it to get a new identity and settle down]
"Moon Coin" is the universal currency within the World Government territory.
Since "Dawn" is a domestic game, the purchasing power of Moon Coins is basically the same as the RMB in its setting.
200,000 Moon Coins equates to 200,000 yuan.
It's the annual income of an ordinary family, and even for a mercenary, it's not a small sum.
The card was handed over as if Nuobai feared Su Mo would be reluctant to accept it, so she deliberately added a line:
[This is a loan, you have to pay it back later]
This little thoughtfulness warmed Su Mo's heart, and without being stubborn, he took the card, as he truly needed money now.
"Thank you, I will pay it back," he said sincerely.
After some trivial conversation, Su Mo bid farewell to Nuobai.
Nuobai escorted him to the surface level.
It was August, the height of summer.
During the evening, the setting sun cast a warm glow, its afterglow projecting patchy shadows among the lush roadside trees.
This was a truly human city, starkly different from the Windy Plains or the Land of No Master, with skyscrapers rising as far as the eye could see, the sunset's halo flowing between the ever-changing buildings.
The two walked side by side in the twilight alley, the wind gently blowing, the blue stone slabs beneath their feet making a clattering sound, the sunset like water softening the surroundings into a blur.
"That should be enough, I'll see you off here," Su Mo said upon reaching the crossroads, looking back at the girl standing in the wind.
Embarking on a new life, she stood in stark contrast to the tragic end in the game.
Su Mo smiled gently, "Nuobai, it's been a pleasure knowing you, and seeing you about to be free."
Nuobai returned his smile, waving, watching him go, reluctant to turn away.
"Oh, right." Suddenly, Su Mo chuckled, "You've always wanted to know which intermediary sold your information, haven't you?"
Su Mo leaned in and whispered a name into Nuobai's ear.
Nuobai's pupils dilated drastically but quickly returned to normal.
She nodded in thanks to Su Mo, picked up her phone, and typed out the words.
The screen displayed the words "Let's part ways here."
She intended to show these words to Su Mo but hesitated.
After a moment of thought, she deleted the words and typed a new line for Su Mo to see.
The screen read...
[Until we meet again]
Su Mo smiled, "Until we meet again."
Nuobai left, the golden glow shining on her snow-white hair, intertwining the two pure colors, creating a poetic scene of separation that left Su Mo momentarily dazed.
A summer breeze rustled through the trees, the swaying leaves obscuring Su Mo's view momentarily, and when he regained his senses, Nuobai's figure had disappeared into the sunset.
...
This parting is not the end; we will meet again.