"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hide it. It’s just that I’ve met too many people who despise me once they find out I’m from the Beastkin race. That’s why I wear this hat..."
She released the hat, letting it spin through the air before it drifted down to the ground.
Chen Peng, still reeling from the revetion, stared at Ye Lan in silence. It was too shocking a fact to process, but Ye Lan didn't bme him for it.
"Priestess, please get in the car" one of the men in bck said, his tone filled with deference as he held open the door to the luxurious vehicle.
Ye Lan hesitated, gncing back at Chen Peng. For a brief moment, doubt flickered in her eyes, but she gathered her courage and spoke.
"Are we still friends?" She asked after taking a deep breath.
She braced herself for silence, expecting Chen Peng to struggle with an answer.
"Of course we are! From the moment you helped me on the street, we were already friends" Yet, to her surprise, his response came swiftly, almost instinctively.
Ye Lan lowered her gaze, a soft smile forming on her lips. Since becoming a Beastkin, it was the first time someone had called her a friend. Truly, there were still normal people in this world.
Meanwhile, the men in bck, overhearing the conversation, fixed their gaze on Chen Peng. They thought that someone who could be a friend of the priestess must be an incredibly strong person.
But after using their level detector and confirming that Chen Peng was only level 18, their expressions instantly changed. Far too low. Among their ranks, every member was level 25 or higher, occupying elite government positions. To them, a mere level 18 was almost indistinguishable from a nobody.
A system window suddenly materialized in front of Chen Peng, its bright red frame glowing ominously.
Red? What could it mean? Nobody truly knew, but judging by the established hierarchy of equipment colors, white, green, blue, purple, red, orange, and gold, red signified something extraordinary, perhaps the pinnacle. This notification was undoubtedly far from ordinary.
[Congratutions, pyer Chen Peng, for being the first in the human zone to establish a friendship with a member of the beastkin race. You have obtained a special skill: Friendship.]
[Friendship: While the skill is active, you receive a 10% boost in all statistics from any of your friends.]
[You have received special achievement experience. Level increased.]
[Level 18 → Level 28]
Chen Peng stared at the system window, his mouth agape in disbelief. He had just jumped ten levels in an instant!
The men in bck around him exchanged incredulous gnces, their professional composure momentarily cracking. A few twitched their lips in barely concealed shock. This man, who had been dismissed moments ago as an insignificant level 18, now stood at, or even above their own level.
Chen Peng, still reeling from the sudden surge of power, instinctively swiped his hand through the air to bring up his personal stats window.
Name: Chen Peng
Sex: Male
Race: Human
Level: 28
Skills: Adaptability MAX, Friendship
Equipment: Basic Set (White)
Attack: 300 + 90 = 390
Defense: 250 + 80 = 330
Agility: 400 + 75 = 475
Magic: 50
The stat increase was astonishing. Even though the [Friendship] skill provided only a 10% boost, Chen Peng couldn’t help but wonder what kind of power could be achieved if those boosts were multiplied tenfold... What a terrifying thought! He couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
The men in bck, although unable to see Chen Peng’s attribute screen, didn’t need to. His sudden leap to level 28 and the acquisition of a rare skill were more than enough to elevate his status in their eyes. Moments ago, they had dismissed him as irrelevant, but now, he was clearly someone of great potential.
Their demeanor shifted dramatically. With cordial smiles, they approached Chen Peng, each pulling a sleek business card from their pockets and presenting it to him.
"This is our card. Someone with your talents should join us. We’ll offer you a first-css career, and the sary is negotiable"
Faced with the sudden shift in attitude from the men in bck, Chen Peng couldn’t help but feel startled. With slightly trembling hands, he accepted the business card, fully aware that this simple gesture had practically secured his professional future.
He lifted his gaze and saw Ye Lan already seated inside the luxurious car. The sleek bck door closed with a soft but decisive click, and the car’s engine hummed to life.
"See you next time, Chen Peng!" she called out with a bright smile as the vehicle sped off, vanishing into the distance.
Chen Peng looked down at the card in his hand, then back in the direction the car had gone. A faint smile appeared on his face as he murmured, "See you next time, my friend"
Back at the luxurious hotel, Ye Lan colpsed onto the soft bed, hugging a pillow tightly as she drifted off into a deep sleep almost instantly.
The next morning, as sunlight streamed through the curtains, Ye Lan woke up feeling refreshed. She stretched her body zily, letting out two consecutive yawns.
"I was so excited yesterday that I completely forgot to inspect the room. Let’s check it out now… Hm, not bad. No new cameras this time. Looks like they’ve finally realized that little tricks like that can’t escape my notice" Ye Lan nodded in satisfaction.
She then approached the room door and pressed her ear against it. In an instant, the faint sound of several light footsteps reached her sharp ears.
"Ten? No, twenty? This is getting ridiculous, isn’t it? But what’s the point of adding so many if they’re just going to leave the window open?" Ye Lan couldn’t understand.
As long as the window was there, no matter how many guards were stationed at the door, it wouldn’t make any difference.
In reality, they had considered the possibility of Ye Lan escaping through the window. However, when someone pointed out the height, 20 stories, nearly 100 meters, they dismissed the idea as absurd. At that height, even if the ground were water instead of concrete, the impact would make it as hard as steel.
But they had gravely underestimated the capabilities of the beastkin race. With their exceptional physical prowess, a level 20 beastkin warrior could use explosive strength to leap through the air twice consecutively.
And Ye Lan? She wasn’t just any beastkin. As a priestess, with top-tier talent and one of the ten supreme beastkin innate abilities, [Blood Armor], a fall from 100 meters was no more challenging than taking a deep breath.
"Goodbye!"
This time, having learned from her previous escape, she carefully avoided nding directly on the main road. That should dey anyone from tracking her too quickly.
Adjusting her hat and crossing her arms, Ye Lan looked up in thought. Now where should I go? Maybe find Chen Peng to hang out? Though I don’t even know where that guy is...
That’s it! Why not head straight to the UN headquarters? Last time, thanks to a certain someone, my pns were ruined. But this time, I’ll have my fun… and maybe do a little snooping while I’m at it.
Ye Lan, ever true to her bold style, snapped her fingers with resolve. She gnced toward the direction of the UN and, with a speed rivaling that of a high-performance sports car, set off without hesitation.
Near the UN Headquarters
The area was heavily fortified, with security tighter than even during the highly publicized visit of the elves.
Arriving nearby, Ye Lan casually leaned against a wall, her sharp gaze darting toward the imposing building.
"Those folks at the UN are definitely up to something sketchy. Let me help them investigate a bit, alright?"
Her lips curled into a sly, mischievous grin. It was the kind of expression that would send chills down the spine of anyone who had ever crossed paths with her.
If the President of the United States were to see her now, he would undoubtedly have just one reaction
U.S President: "Stay away! Stay away!"
Suvn
