Monster Dismantling Company

Chapter 60 Zhuang Zhou Mengdie

"Li Lin, what do you think? Do you know where the water tank is?"

"What would you think if I told you that this train doesn't even have a water tank?"

That's the truth; there really isn't a water tank in this carriage. The water dispenser isn't connected to a water tank, but rather to a generator. The water is generated in real-time using the power core's energy, and even the snacks Silver Dragon served Li Lin came from the same source.

"No water?!" Luo Yinchang was stunned for a moment. "Then we're doomed?"

"So, from a consultant's perspective, I'd like to suggest that you inform everyone that there's no water, and then start thinking of ways to solve the problem."

"I understand..." Luo Yinchang closed the door and walked out of the lounge.

In the lounge, only he and Lin Zhiqing remained.

"Hey, Li Lin, is the situation not good?"

Li Lin shook his head and told the truth: "Although we are in a mountain of meat, we don't actually need it. This meat is inedible."

"So you didn't tell them?"

"I'm an advisor, not a decision-maker," Li Lin replied. "Besides, you should trust their abilities. Because now, they are the best option."

Even if they knew the truth, they couldn't make the best choice—without food or water, they had no choice but to eat the clam meat to avoid starvation. Luo Yinchang's attempt to eat a bite at least postponed the problem until tomorrow.

"So, tomorrow? Tomorrow I'll face a choice."

"Not tomorrow, but tonight," Li Lin said in a deep voice. "If I'm not mistaken, things will be clear tonight."

"ah?"

Li Lin looked at her: "To be honest with you... tonight is very dangerous. Because the place we are in, both in appearance and in reality, is even more dangerous than Lei Ze. So no matter what happens tonight, don't leave this room. Leave everything to me, you understand?"

Lin Zhiqing nodded: "I understand... I won't go out. Don't worry."

"No, I'm not comfortable with that," Li Lin said, taking a round bead out of his pocket.

Within the deep blue sphere, a captivating flame flickered, making the entire bead look like a demonic eye.

"Keep this safe. It's useless to me; I don't need her benefits. But if anything unexpected happens, she should be able to protect you."

That's the truth. This bead is Aren's true form.

Li Lin didn't absorb the Dragon Ball in the first place. He didn't need it; he had his own power to use. Lin Zhiqing, on the other hand, needed additional power for protection.

"This bead, can it protect me?"

Li Lin didn't say anything, he just put the bead into her hand.

"Keep it safe. Remember, no matter what happens tonight, don't let this bead out of your sight."

"Oh..." Lin Zhiqing nodded, not refusing Li Lin's request.

However, as soon as she got her hands on the beads, her face suddenly flushed. When she looked at Li Lin again, her gaze abruptly shifted away—

"Ah, sorry." Li Lin scratched his head. "I didn't mean to. But this bead does have this side effect."

[Tsk, my true nature, is it a side effect?] Since he was still nearby and hadn't gone far, Aren could still continue talking to him.

"Anyway, please bear with it for now."

"Oh... okay, go ahead." Lin Zhiqing nodded. "I'll wait for you to come back! When you come back, there's something I want to tell you."

"Okay, wait for me to come back."

Stepping out of the lounge, Li Lin leaned against the door and took a breath.

I glanced down at the time—it was already afternoon. Night was approaching, and dinnertime was almost here.

Dinner was a difficult dinner.

The army's food supplies were clearly insufficient. Those who had brought their own individual rations could take them out for a meal, at least ensuring they had something to eat. However, according to the committee's arrangement, it was best to share one portion of the two main rations from each ration with others, so that everyone could have something to eat.

Each ration pack contains two portions, enough for at least two people to share. However, water is limited, and they can no longer use the self-heating packs to heat the food, as that would waste precious water. Therefore, they have no choice but to eat it dry.

Li Lin also received a packet. He didn't refuse the food, even though he didn't actually need it, but he wouldn't refuse his share of the meal. It was actually quite a novel experience for him.

Specifically, it consists of a shelf-stable flatbread, a chicken and mushroom rice dish, and a small piece of chocolate. This is what you get after splitting a single individual self-heating ration in two.

The soldiers around them started eating, each one looking uncomfortable. The uncooked rice tasted somewhat like undercooked rice dumplings.

It was sticky and somewhat hard. Because it wasn't heated sufficiently, the sauce was cold and salty.

The only edible thing was the shelf-stable baked flatbread. It tasted like mooncakes; not bad, but not particularly delicious either.

Besides, there's chocolate, which at least tastes like a normal food.

— He doesn't get to eat things like that very often.

A few people did line up to heat up their food with the heater, but because there were too many people, it was impossible to heat everyone's food, and most people had to eat their cold meals.

However, soldiers aren't that sentimental. Knowing what the plans are for tomorrow, everyone is still hopeful. Even if tomorrow brings a "to eat or not to eat" decision, at least they can deal with it tomorrow.

Only Li Lin knew that the decision wouldn't be made tomorrow, but tonight.

As night fell, the surrounding environment remained unchanged, as it was always dark and gloomy here.

The soldiers returned to their seats in the carriages, clutching their backpacks and making do with a nap. Only a few men on night watch remained outside, gazing into the endless darkness.

Li Lin didn't sleep either. He stood at the car door, with the soldiers on night watch not far away. Because everyone was thirsty, they didn't waste their breath talking.

Suddenly, Luo Yinchang appeared behind him.

"Li Lin, you're still awake?"

"Yeah, I'm not asleep yet."

"Li Lin... have you ever heard of a dragon? I've heard that dragons can be huge..."

Luo Yinchang brought up a topic he wouldn't normally consider.

"I know it can be big or small." Li Lin reached out and pushed it back. "It's late, go to sleep."

Although he claimed to be sober, Li Lin had already noticed his strange behavior: he spoke with his eyes completely closed! He walked over with his eyes closed, and then spoke to Li Lin with his eyes closed.

"Li Lin, I see light ahead. The Dragon Palace is just ahead."

He still tried to push Luo Yinchang back: "I know, the road sign is right there. You go back first, leave the rest to me."

Luo Yinchang, his eyes still closed, stared ahead: "No... now I know. That place now is the real Dragon Palace. As long as we go to the Dragon Palace, we can all be saved, right?"

"I told you you're sleepy, go to sleep. Don't worry about the Dragon Palace. It's all just a dream."

"No... Li Lin, I'm more lucid than ever before. Dreams are illusions... Is the power of the dragon also an illusion? Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly—did Zhuangzi dream he was a butterfly, or did the butterfly dream he was Zhuangzi?" These murmurs in his sleep led Luo Yinchang into a deeper dream.

"..." Li Lin stopped speaking. He knew that the person he was talking to was no longer the one from earlier that day.

Suddenly lowering his head, Luo Yinchang looked directly into Li Lin's eyes: "Li Lin... or rather, Your Majesty the Ghoul Emperor, I see your desire. You want my Dragon Palace, don't you? Then come to my side." Like the glowing bait of a lanternfish, Luo Yinchang, still asleep, spoke words that did not belong to him.