Reward

Tu Ran sat up straight, avoiding his gaze.

She was worried this guy might see through her.

"I don't need to tell you," she said.

Xie Xu pressed his lips together and stayed silent.

Feeling unsettled under his stare, Tu Ran added, "I'm just suspicious. It doesn't mean the mutant host is definitely hidden on her, but you could keep an eye on her. If it turns out to be true, it wouldn't hurt you."

Xie Xu withdrew his scrutinizing gaze. "Isn't this a deal? What do you want?"

Tu Ran was momentarily taken aback. She'd thought that once he guessed her suspect, he wouldn't honor the deal.

Unexpectedly, he kept his word.

"I haven't decided yet," Tu Ran said, feeling pleased. "You owe me one for now. I'll ask when I figure it out."

Xie Xu frowned at her, puzzled as to why she wanted to owe it. Didn't she have something she wanted right now?

The line ahead continued to crawl forward, a suffocating atmosphere lingering as everyone was still processing their narrow escape.

Ding Naiqing lifted the tent flap and walked over to Tu Ran with a smile. "Ran Jie, Doctor Xu from the Medical Department asked me to take you there directly. They're offering you a free nutrient pod."

The nutrient pod could not only speed up wound recovery but also replenish energy, relieve fatigue, and beautify the skin.

Tu Ran was pleasantly surprised. She wasn't injured, so she shouldn't normally qualify for a free nutrient pod.

"This is the Federation's reward for you," Xie Xu explained indifferently from the side.

That's all they're giving her?

Tu Ran's previous excitement vanished.

After all, she had contributed quite a bit to this operation—without her, who knows how many more people on the train would have been infected. And all she got was a nutrient pod?

So stingy?

Tu Ran thought of Xi Chunzhi's fried chicken.

Well, compared to that, her reward was actually pretty generous.

"Let's go," Tu Ran sighed and stood up.

She followed Ding Naiqing to a black hovering patrol car parked on the lawn of the square.

This was the vehicle used by the Executive Department for daily patrols.

It could fly.

Tu Ran was thrilled. "You borrowed an Executive Department patrol car?"

Ding Naiqing nodded. "Yeah, it's the only kind available here."

Tu Ran happily walked around the patrol car.

In all her time in this world, this was her first chance to ride in a flying car.

Ding Naiqing thoughtfully opened the door for her. "Ran Jie, get in."

Tu Ran bent down and slid inside.

The interior wasn't spacious, fitting only four people.

Ding Naiqing settled into the driver's seat, skillfully pressed buttons, and started the vehicle.

The patrol car rose steadily, avoided other patrol cars taking off, and flew forward.

"Not bad, Xiao Ding. You can drive a patrol car," Tu Ran praised.

Ding Naiqing smiled shyly, keeping his eyes on the road. "Ran Jie, you didn't know, but before I applied for the Pioneer Team, I planned to join the Executive Department, so I learned some basics of driving patrol cars."

"Why did you decide to join the Pioneer Team then? The Executive Department is much safer, and the pay isn't bad either."

Ding Naiqing smiled. By now, they had left the vast Mitner Square and entered the downtown area with towering buildings. Ding Naiqing occasionally adjusted their direction.

He said, "I like adventure. I don't want to stay in the Executive Department until I die, patrolling, handling gang disputes, and patrolling again every day. It's a life that's predictable to the end—how boring."

Tu Ran was taken aback by his words. From Ding Naiqing's appearance, he seemed like a totally obedient good boy.

"I don't look like someone who loves adventure, do I?" Ding Naiqing glanced at her, then turned back to the road. "Everyone says that."