Lin Zinuo was taken aback by Qian Chengxue’s invitation and felt momentarily at a loss.

Even though Qian Chengxue had invited her once before, she always felt it wasn’t quite appropriate.

Beside her, Su Mo also paused briefly, then realized that today’s events weren’t coincidental; Qian Chengxue had intentionally invited Lin Zinuo.

"This doesn’t seem right."

Lin Zinuo hesitated for a moment, lowered her head, and replied.

"Why wouldn’t it be right? Su Mo, you also hope Lin Zinuo will come and help, right?"

Qian Chengxue turned her head towards Su Mo, smiling as she asked.

Su Mo gulped, feeling at a loss for how to respond.

Although agreeing is simple, if things go on for too long and jealousy arises, he would definitely be the one suffering.

The saying goes that three women can create quite a drama, and if they perform every day, it would be quite spectacular!

He picked up the cup from the table, took a sip, then another.

Even so, he still felt parched, and finally decided to just go for it.

"Yes, why not just come over and join us."

Lin Zinuo saw Su Mo say this, remained silent for a few seconds, then raised her head with a brilliant smile.

"Sounds great!"

"It’s settled then. Let’s hurry and have our meal, and later we can go shopping together."

Qian Chengxue finalized the plan.

"Okay, great, it’s been a while since I’ve gone shopping with Sister Xue."

Lin Zinuo replied joyfully.

...

An hour and a half later, Su Mo carried many bags in his hands.

Qian Chengxue and the others were chatting and laughing as they continued shopping.

Su Mo’s lips twitched incessantly, feeling he couldn’t voice his complaints; today was purely about laboring for them. Even though they said they wouldn’t buy anything, they ended up buying more than ever.

"Sister Xue, there are several stores ahead selling jewelry; we can go take a look."

"Sounds good."

...

At this moment, a terrified scream sounded from ahead, causing chaos among the crowd.

Lots of people were panic-stricken and began running out.

Qian Chengxue and the others watched this scene, puzzled.

"What’s happening?"

"Not sure, seems like something’s up, let’s go check it out."

Su Mo frowned and replied. At a time when the whole city is celebrating, who is daring enough to cause trouble? Isn’t this a slap in the face of Icaroya City Lord?

At that moment, over a hundred patrolling soldiers wearing III generation Mechanical Armor rushed in from all directions. Such efficiency was unparalleled.

In the center of the chaos, a brawny man in IV generation Mechanical Armor had positioned an Alloy Blade against a man dressed in Star Ring City military uniform, greasy-haired and thick-eared, a face full of redness, with a weight of at least a hundred and eighty pounds.

Beside him, two young men and a woman, all in III generation Mechanical Armor, held Beam Guns, providing cover and alerting him.

"Azari, don’t act impulsively, let’s talk it through."

"Azari, put down your weapon immediately. If you harm Chief Jia Wei, you’re done for."

Several NCOs in Star Ring City uniforms, reeking of alcohol, spoke in alarm and anger.

"If you come closer, I’ll kill him."

Azari warned, his eyes red with fury.

"No, no, don’t act impulsively."

...

At this point, Su Mo and Qian Chengxue pushed through the crowd, their brows furrowing as they took in the scene.

At this moment, Azari, with tears streaming down his face, spoke to the hostage, Chief Jia Wei, in a breakdown.

"Chief, you pushed me to this! I begged you countless times, and yet you refused to give me a little more time. Just a bit more time, and I could have collected enough money for the medicine to save Wei An."

"Azari, listen to me; I truly gave you time, but you couldn’t get the medicine within the given period, and beyond that, Wei An cannot be saved, I really have nothing to do with it."

Jia Wei defended desperately, his legs shaking.

"No salvation beyond the time limit? Can’t you think of a way to delay the contamination, giving her some hope?"

Azari questioned angrily.

"Listen to me; her contamination is too severe."

"Severe contamination doesn’t mean you can neglect it! Without your tasking us in the beginning, we wouldn’t be like this. You tasked us, you bear responsibility."

"It’s really unfair, I didn’t assign the task, I was merely relaying it. We even treated her, but it couldn’t be cured."

Jia Wei quickly defended.

Then Azari’s companions hurriedly said.

"Captain, don’t stall any longer, the guards are coming."

Upon hearing this, Azari clenched his teeth and addressed Jia Wei.

"Fine, even if it’s not your fault, return Wei An to me, then I’ll spare you."

"No, how could I return her? She’s already at the contamination containment center; aren’t you making it hard for me?"

"I don’t care; she was handed over to you initially, naturally, I’m asking you."

Azari roared angrily.

At this point, many defense soldiers rushed in, surrounding Azari tightly, and the lead captain reprimanded.

"Drop your weapon immediately!"

"Stay away from me!"

Azari glared at the numerous soldiers.

"No, don’t act rashly; I’ll talk to him properly."

Jia Wei also hurriedly tried to persuade.

The defense soldiers exchanged glances, finding it tricky, stepped back a bit to avoid provoking Azari.

At this moment, Jia Wei tried to reason with Azari earnestly: "How about this? I’ll help release her, would that work for you?"

"Are you serious?"

Azari’s bloodshot eyes fixed on Jia Wei.

"Absolutely, I’m not deceiving you."

Azari continued.

A Lieutenant in IV generation Mechanical Armor, drinking with Jia Wei, moved surreptitiously closer.

Taking advantage of Jia Wei’s distraction during his conversation with Azari, he launched a surprise attack, grabbing Azari’s wrist holding the blade, executing a shoulder throw to slam him down, simultaneously crushing his chest with a foot to subdue him.

Meanwhile, surrounding defense soldiers rushed in to apprehend the rest of Azari’s team.

Watching this scene, Su Mo couldn’t help but mentally praise the Star Ring City officers, living up to their reputation for decisiveness in handling crises.

Though the ensuing scene caught Su Mo slightly off guard.

The newly rescued Jia Wei, transformed from his previous frightened expression, wore a twisted countenance, started trampling Azari’s face.

"Screw you! Did you think you could hijack me?"

Azari struggled with all his might, yet in vain, firmly pinned down.

"Do you still want to resist? I spit on you!"

Jia Wei spat out disgusting saliva onto Azari’s face.

"Bastard!"

Azari yelled in fury.

"I’m a bastard? What about you, you pathetic wretch, do you really think you’re something special? You believed you could scrape together the cash and buy the medicine? Let me inform you, that medicine is astronomically priced, way beyond your reach, just baiting you. The time I pretended giving you was fake, claiming sending her to a refuge? Ha! Let’s face it; you left, and she was immediately destroyed."

"Jia Wei! I’m going to kill you!"

Azari, now like a deranged beast, roared in anger.

"Ha-ha, as if, you worthless fool!"

Jia Wei stomped hard on his head.