221: Chapter 221 An Awkward Night

Anyway, after Li Ming spent some effort getting some eggs and white flour, he began preparing his dinner.

Some edible green vegetables, reasonably fresh; don't ask where they came from.

There was also meat.

Through Logic and The Governing Body, he had made a fairly good deal, exchanging wreckage that had already been converted into resources for nutritious food.

Although it was at a 30% premium, The Governing Body claimed it was just the cost of transmission. Li Ming didn't know if it was true or if she was scamming him, but he accepted the deal nonetheless.

Next came salt and cooking oil.

There were other supplies as well; The Governing Body had said this would be the only exchange in the short term, so it was best to be prepared. Consequently, Li Ming had traded away almost everything he didn't need.

"If you dare to sell scrap today, you'll dare to sell tanks tomorrow," Logic teased. "The Commander has the potential to be an arms dealer."

"Get lost, get lost, get lost."

To this, Li Ming felt that Logic was becoming increasingly improper, daring to say anything.

Then, he began the preparations for tonight's dinner.

"Where... where did you get this? I've never seen you with these things before," Kate approached, watching him slice a small strip of meat.

"My own reserves," Li Ming replied.

"I don't believe it," Kate said, hands on her hips. "This stuff couldn't possibly be stored for so long."

"Mhm," Li Ming responded softly.

"Did you... sell your ass to God or something?"

"???" The knife in Li Ming's hand almost cut his own hand.

Although in a sense it seemed to be true, the way she put it was really...

"Kate!"

Elsa, who was helping Kate check the engine of her abrams, shouted with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Pass me the wrench!"

"Oh, coming!" Kate hurriedly ran over.

Li Ming looked back; Elsa was watching him with a searching gaze.

Li Ming's single eye returned a look of gratitude.

Elsa didn't respond; she just lowered her head and continued her work.

...Was he being a bit over-sentimental?

Li Ming shook his head, got some fuel to start a fire, and began heating the pan.

This time, there weren't as many shells and explosives to worry about, so Li Ming could work freely.

She smelled the aroma.

Elsa wrinkled her nose, the same question as Kate's lingering in her mind.

—Where on earth did he get these... supplies?

This was very abnormal, even anomalous. She had to admit that the three of them did have personal reserves due to their special status to maintain reconnaissance and combat needs, but him...

Who exactly was he?

Thinking too much sometimes consumed too much energy.

Yes, smelling the aroma of the food—she was hungry. So hungry she couldn't concentrate on her work.

Relying on emergency rations and dry food for a long time was simply insufficient to meet the energy demands of high consumption.

Especially since she was still young; they were all still young.

This guy, who looked like a middle-aged man, was trying to provide them with a dinner sufficient to replenish a lot of energy; she seemed to have no grounds to investigate further.

Or rather, due to her physiological needs, she subconsciously suppressed those thoughts, instead rationalizing the source and his actions so she could eat. It was very "abnormal," but she needed to do it now.

Helplessly throwing down her tools, she really didn't have the heart to help overhaul the engine anymore, especially with Kate constantly getting in the way.

She gave Kate's forehead a sharp flick. When Kate let out a whimper and looked aggrieved, Elsa unusually ignored her and instead watched Li Ming's movements from the side.

"Why are you so..." Elsa hesitated, "so special toward us?"

Her tone was as flat as possible, as if she were just stating a fact.

Li Ming looked back. "Simply because I don't like seeing pretty girls suffer? Maybe."

"..."

A strange yet somehow reasonable excuse.

"Are you from the Huaxia Security Bureau? Or perhaps a PLA advance scout?"

"Neither," Li Ming replied. "I'm just an ordinary person, nothing more."

"Ordinary people don't bounce around in war zones and..."

Elsa glanced back at Kate, who was holding a handheld console and playing a game she had likely played countless times; she shouldn't be paying attention.

"...and even take an M200 bullet to the face."

"Would you believe me if I said it was just dumb luck?"

"Do you think I'd believe that?"

"Then don't. Maybe I'm a liar sent by the Donkey Party."

"That kind of joke isn't funny at all. Your name is Li Ming, right?"

"Yes, that's my name. My real name."

"Alright then, Li Ming," Elsa hesitated. "If you want to leave this city, we will do our best to find a way to get you to the border between the United States and Mexico. From there, you can return to Huaxia through the Huaxia Embassy."

"There's no need, Elsa."

Li Ming replied, "Since I said I'd help you, I will... I'm not exactly a man of my word, but at least for now, I don't plan on breaking my promise."

"...You really are a strange person."

"I've always been like this," Li Ming shrugged. "I'm not a good person; I'll keep emphasizing that."

"The world isn't black and white either," Elsa said, unusually talkative. "There is no absolute right or wrong, and some things aren't meant to be scrutinized to the bottom, just like your secrets."

"What? So curious about my secrets?"

Elsa hesitated. "It's closely related to our survival."

"Closely related..." Li Ming thought for a moment, then suddenly found it a bit funny. "Closely related to your stomach?"

Her gaze drifted. "Naturally, it's about letting the people of the whole city... survive a bit longer."

"Nice, that's a good way to put it."

Li Ming felt he had seen through her; she was indeed being a bit duplicitous.

"I'm almost done... calculating the time, she should be arriving soon too."

"She?"

"Hello! Did I come at the right time..." Maria slipped into the garage. She spotted Elsa at once, her expression stiffening for a moment before immediately returning to normal.

Elsa's expression became somewhat subtle, as if... she wanted to leave, yet couldn't bear to.

"Perfect, I'm just about done," Li Ming said, bringing out the last of the steamed egg custard. "Is there a table? It's time to eat."

"Yay... it smells so good!"

Kate dropped her console and ran over. "The table... the table is over here!"

Elsa and Maria glanced at each other, then both quickly looked away.

...

...