Chapter 48: Let's Enhance First

Qian Gu's approach was not entirely wrong, but neither was it entirely right.

After all, Reincarnators were human, and where there were humans, the possibility of exchanging interests always existed.

In fact, had the China Team in the original work not been in a "new team" state with an average moral standard slightly on the high side, they could have completely adopted a cooperative model with the India Team. They could have swapped unwanted newcomers, gained respective rewards, ensured score equilibrium, and avoided any point deductions altogether.

Yet, Qian Gu had no such intention.

"The winner-takes-all principle," Qian Gu said indifferently. "We cannot gamble on the specific human nature of another team, so we must be prepared to fight to the death at any moment."

"Mm."

Zhan Lan nodded, acknowledging the soundness of this reasoning.

"Indeed, we cannot gamble on it."

Zheng Zha wanted to speak, but hesitated. Thinking of Lori back in his room, he took a deep breath, and his gaze turned resolute.

Yes, he could not gamble!

He was no longer alone; he had Lori and his teammates. He could no longer afford to act on mere whims.

However...

"If the other party has no intention of starting a fight and we can coexist peacefully, I still think peace is better," Zheng Zha voiced his thoughts. "To kill a team that doesn't want to kill us, purely for the sake of material gain—I just can't bring myself to do it."

At this moment, Zheng Zha was still not ruthless enough, his heart remaining anchored in kindness.

Though Qian Gu couldn't fathom how this standard cannon-fodder-tier skirt-chaser and pill-popper from before entering the Main God's space could still be so kind.

"Of course," Qian Gu nodded.

Accommodating the emotional state of everyone in the team was a fundamental duty, to say nothing of granting such a minor request.

"Next, let's get down to business."

Business!

Everyone's expressions grew solemn as they sat around the table.

What was the business?

Need you ask? It was unquestionably about enhancements.

"Last night, I had a brief communication with Chu Xuan, and he has already completed his enhancement," Qian Gu prefaced. "A mutant troll bloodline possessing extremely high cellular vitality. Even if his heart and brain are shattered, as long as half of his body remains intact, he can regenerate."

Zheng Zha scratched his head: "An undying cockroach?"

***

"That is the situation. The troll bloodline ensures my survivability, as I am not personally a combat-oriented individual."

Chu Xuan adjusted his glasses, his tone devoid of any distinct emotion.

"As a recommendation for newcomers, I always choose dragon blood," Qian Gu said with a faint smile. "This can also be considered a perk I discovered previously. For just 100 reward points, one can reap a return valued at 4,000."

Dragon blood enhancement had already been designated by Qian Gu as a team benefit.

Moreover, it was a perk that required no extra expenditure from the team's funds; the true key was simply possessing the knowledge of "dragon blood enhancement."

"Next, Bawang."

Qian Gu looked toward the Russian giant, words teetering on the edge of his lips before he swallowed them, only to repeat the cycle, until he finally asked, "Do you have any preferred direction for your enhancement?"

"Werewolf!"

Bawang answered without hesitation: "Cool!"

As expected.

Bawang's choice had not changed, though it wasn't a mistaken choice either; the prospects of a werewolf were quite decent.

Only...

"Your positioning is that of a firepower specialist. You believe that to be the case, correct?"

"Mm."

"As a firepower specialist, sufficiently powerful firepower is the foundation. The werewolf enhancement can be regarded as a trump card, allowing you to step onto the frontline to battle enemies in critical moments," Qian Gu paused. "Of course, there is also the possibility of battlefield fragmentation due to unexpected circumstances, so a certain degree of versatility is something everyone must achieve.

"However..."

With this shift in tone, anyone could hear the subtext behind Qian Gu's words.

Bawang asked, "What?"

"What are your current side quests and reward points?"

"One Grade-C horror side quest and 4,000 reward points."

Arguably, the lion's share had been taken by Qian Gu, so aside from Chu Xuan—who had blown up Auriga before leaving—the incomes of the China Team members were not particularly high, though they were certainly not low either. At the very least, everyone had a Grade-C horror side quest as a baseline.

"Then my suggestion is to redeem equipment first. Wait until you have accumulated sufficient side quests before undertaking enhancements."

Technological weapons were the ultimate divine artifact for newcomers to survive their second horror film.

Cheap, rugged, and exceptionally useful.

Bawang understood the implication and didn't find any fault with it. Instead, he continued to consult: "Then what would be suitable to redeem?"

"A tubular pulse projectile gun with infinite ammunition."

***

Qian Gu directly brought up this heavy-hitter, presenting it to Bawang, who was best suited for it.

With a firing rate of 70,000 rounds per second, normally requiring a magazine change every three seconds, its terrifying lethality was derived from this rapid reload speed. It was powerful enough to penetrate ten-meter-thick alloy walls and blast apart aircraft carriers and transport ships.

In terms of damage output, it could be said to be wildly overpowered.

Best of all, the price wasn't exorbitant: a Grade-C horror side quest plus 2,000 reward points could purchase the infinite-ammunition version. The greatest drawback—the need to reload—was thus resolved, elevating its destructive power to an entirely new tier.

"Let me take a look."

Bawang connected to the Main God to inspect the tubular pulse projectile gun.

"God!"

Bawang exclaimed with excitement: "This truly is a magnificent weapon!"

Qian Gu nodded: "Arm yourself first. Low-tier enhancements are nowhere near as impactful as the shock and awe a weapon brings."

Bawang said no more, immediately exchanging for a tubular pulse projectile gun, fondling it as if it were a rare treasure he couldn't bear to put down.

Naturally, the dragon blood enhancement was not forgotten either.

Once enhanced, the recoil of this projectile gun—already partially dampened—became virtually negligible, and handling it felt effortless. His role as the team's firepower specialist could now be considered initially established.

"Ling Dian, what about you?"

"A sniper rifle, along with enhancements to my eyesight."

Ling Dian intended to cultivate the field he was most familiar with.

Naturally, his choice was not wrong. As the most reliable man in the China Team, the extremity of his enhancement essentially molded him into a sniper bullet waiting to be fired.

Once fired, its sole purpose was to snipe the enemy to death.

"Then don't waste your points on unnecessary purchases." Qian Gu tapped his fingers lightly against the table. "Later, gather the materials according to the list I give you and come to my room. I will permanently cast Druid's Eagle Eye on you."

In the original work, Ling Dian had purchased the permanent fixation of Druid's Eagle Eye.

However!

Qian Gu didn't want to waste those points; a Grade-C horror side quest plus 1,000 reward points was a bit of a net loss.

Because he knew this spell, and he also knew the Permanent Magic Spell.

"Aside from that, you need to redeem a life-saving skill," Qian Gu paused. "My recommendation is Shadow Walker."

[Shadow Walker: Utilizes spiritual energy as fuel to merge oneself into shadows, and can also store objects of a certain size (including biological and non-biological) within the shadows. The larger the target and the more violently it struggles, the greater the consumption. Requires one Grade-C horror side quest and 1,500 reward points.]