He'd been attacked.

  After Xia Li realized this, he didn't find it strange. If not for that tournament clearing the area, he would have encountered multiple ambushes on his way from the Tax-Free Zone.

  Such were Corporate Union's brutal rules.

  The best way to solve overpopulation was implementing a bloody elimination system, encouraging people to slaughter each other.

  Through this method, they continuously refined low-quality population into higher-quality population.

  Only the strong could survive.

  No need for words. The enemy used guns, so Xia Li used guns too!

  Drawing his Starlight Sniper Rifle, Xia Li quietly waited for the enemy to fire again. But the attacker was also cautious.

  After firing that first shot, they went completely silent—unclear whether they'd already left.

  But just as Xia Li's guard slightly dropped, another bullet came flying, barely dodged in time.

  Modern spirit-tech firearms combined with prosthetics could achieve beyond-visual-range strikes from tens of thousands of meters away. This was troublesome—Xia Li's detection methods couldn't reach that far.

  Using Heaven Chip to replay the trajectory, judging the enemy's position from the bullet's direction and angle was feasible, but the enemy wouldn't be stupid enough to stay put. They'd definitely change positions immediately, possibly even setting traps.

  "Annoying..."

  Xia Li frowned. Having such a venomous snake watching him was irritating, and who knew how many more hid nearby.

  Hunting demons in Corporate Union's danger zones really wasn't easy work—some people didn't kill a single demon, only killing humans to plunder their spoils.

  Xia Li activated his G-field shield and continued forward.

  Along the way, he barely encountered any demons, yet was ambushed by gunfire over thirty times. Though none were truly dangerous, they severely consumed his attention.

  "Yagyu Chihaya, how do you deal with those annoying flies in the danger zone?"

  Xia Li decided to seek advice, contacting Yagyu Chihaya. Others must encounter this problem too. Since corporations allowed such people to exist, there must be corresponding services to repel them.

  Xia Li was beginning to understand Corporate Union's operating style—anything that existed must have profit value.

  "You mean the attackers? Can't you just counter-kill them? Kill enough and the flies will naturally keep their distance."

  "The enemy is an extremely cautious sniper, always attacking from beyond visual range. I can't catch them!"

  "You've probably encountered Snake Eyes—a gang operating in the danger zones. They specialize in ambushes. If they can't kill you, they harass you relentlessly. Two solutions: pay them spirit stones to leave you alone."

  "Or hire guards. Snake Eyes basically only targets solo travelers."

  Yagyu Chihaya offered two solutions.

  "Are there any experts in Snake Eyes?"

  "About a dozen Nascent Souls, plus thirty-something Golden Core members."

  "Tch..."

  This was the annoying thing about Earth—Nascent Souls everywhere, Golden Cores worthless as dogs.

  Even if their realms were hollow, realm suppression still existed. One moment of carelessness could mean instant death.

  "How much is the protection fee usually?"

  "You're famous now. They might demand an outrageous amount. Why not just hire some guards?"

  "But with guards following me, how am I supposed to contact that demon parts smuggling organization you mentioned?"

  "The original plan was having you hunt large quantities of demons to contact them as a seller."

  "But now you could contact them as a buyer. Hiring guards to help slay high-level demons is basically signaling to them that you need high-level demon parts."

  Yagyu Chihaya kept implying he needed to spend spirit stones. This greatly annoyed Xia Li. An organization like Snake Eyes would be eliminated within three days under the Democratic Government.

  Corporate Union deliberately allowed them to exist just to profit from guard fees.

  Truly snakes and rats in the same nest—Snake Eyes was probably raised by some guard company themselves!

  "I still think being a seller is better—easier access to insider information."

  "But you're famous now! You were probably spotted by Snake Eyes' lookouts the moment you left the safe zone."

  "Before your fame, you could've paid just a few hundred spirit stones in protection fees. My side could even reimburse you. I told you we could switch channels, but you insisted on hunting demons yourself."

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  Yagyu Chihaya already knew Xia Li's personality. Many things couldn't be explained clearly—Xia Li had to hit a wall himself before knowing to turn back.

  So after advising once, she stopped. She'd just wait for Xia Li to contact her.

  But she hadn't expected Xia Li to encounter that unfortunate thing called Snake Eyes so quickly.

  Snake Eyes was universally despised in the danger zones. Their beyond-visual-range sniping might not be very damaging, but it was extremely insulting.

  "Chihaya... you know me. I really dislike Corporate Union's rules."

  "Whether hiring guards or paying protection fees—both make me very unhappy!"

  "If I must spend spirit stones, I'd rather spend them on killing those bastards. I'm guessing guards won't actually hunt down Snake Eyes?"

  His original purpose here was killing demons, but first there was that bullshit tournament, then these snakes and rats emerged.

  If he'd known it would be like this, he never would have agreed to cooperate. He had his own investigation channels—worst case, he'd skip Jin Xiutai and investigate in Zhiyuan City or Shushan Sword Sect instead.

  Sects might not match the Democratic Government, but had far fewer disgusting things.

  "You already tried defying the rules once. You saw how that turned out. If you still want to play, I won't stop you."

  "Then I really do want to try."

  Xia Li was already quite upset about three days ago. Now, just stepping out of the Tax-Free Zone, he was expected to pay protection fees.

  He was starting to wonder if Yagyu Chihaya really wanted to cooperate with him, or if she'd noticed his commercial value and dragged him here to farm spirit stones.

  "Why won't you just bow your head?"

  "Have you ever seen a legend who bows?"

  Xia Li was human too, with pursuits of fame and fortune. Though that so-called "legend" title was just Corporate Union inflating his commercial value.

  But Xia Li actually quite liked being called that.

  He was a sickly weakling from the old era, always a coward with fleeting enthusiasm. It was precisely his refusal to give up that night that accidentally made him a legend.

  All dreamers in Neo-Tokyo would see his name, Xia Li, on that Monument of Fame and Fortune.

  A legend who didn't kill in the arena.

  "Now that you mention it, you're right. I really haven't seen a legend who bows. Though I've seen plenty of beheaded legends."

  Yagyu Chihaya seemed to understand something then. Becoming a legend on that monument required more than luck—the real key seemed to be a certain persistence.

  She disconnected from Xia Li.

  Xia Li continued toward the danger zone. More than ten minutes later...

  Heaven Chip suddenly alerted him:

  【Yagyu D32 Satellite has sent you a connection request. Accept connection?】

  Yagyu Military Industries' satellite had suddenly sent him a signal connection request.

  Xia Li was briefly startled but quickly understood.

  It was Yagyu Chihaya. Seemed she'd found a way for him to spend spirit stones killing those venomous snakes.

  【Accept request】

  【Connecting...】

  【Connection complete. Remaining usage time: 23:59:58】

  In Xia Li's electronic eyes, numerous red dots with information tags appeared. Centered on himself, everyone within a hundred thousand meters was revealed.

  【Friendly reminder: Targets may request position concealment. You may pay equal spirit stones to interrupt their request.】

  【Enable auto-payment!】

  Losing their positions would be disastrous.

  Corporate Union was truly devious, never missing any opportunity to earn spirit stones.

  This battle was basically a lose-lose—they lost lives while he lost spirit stones.

  But he was willing!

  Hiring guards might mean guard fees included kickbacks to those snakes.

  He'd rather let Yagyu Military Industries profit than let the snakes win!

  Nascent Soul cultivators he'd avoid, but he'd specifically hunt their Golden Core and Foundation Establishment members. He was now top-tier in both prosthetics and cultivation for Foundation Establishment, with combat power rivaling late-stage Golden Core.

  He would become famous.

  In his own way.

  Protection fees would never end.

  But satellite usage fees were one-time. Worst case, he could spend spirit stones for Heavenly Dao Computer's blessing!

  Since spending spirit stones was inevitable either way, he might as well spend in a way that satisfied himself.