55: Ready to go

After quickly finishing the remaining food on the table, Fang Yun connected to the Buckle Family's public network through a temporary data link and gave the family cafeteria a five-star review.

Standing up from his seat, Fang Yun casually took a tissue from the paper dispenser on the table and wiped his mouth.

"It's time to go back."

Thinking this, Fang Yun walked towards the thunder.

Arriving at the side of the thunder, he opened the door, got in, and started the engine.

The thunder's engine emitted a series of low but powerful roars.

Most of the Buckle Family members had finished eating by now and, like Valentine and Vavinia, had returned to their tents to rest and recuperate.

Therefore, there were few cars or pedestrians visible on the roads in the camp.

Fang Yun stepped on the accelerator, and the thunder shot out like an arrow from a bowstring.

Fang Yun did not intrude into the Buckle Family's independent public network, but Valentine had given him a map of the camp's road layout after the combat meeting that evening.

So Fang Yun drove the thunder back to his tent smoothly, navigating the twists and turns.

Fang Yun parked the thunder to the left of his tent, then turned off the engine, got out, walked to the tent entrance, lifted the curtain, and entered the tent.

After pulling the curtain closed, Fang Yun turned and went down to the basement, returning to the base through the portal block.

Back at the base, Fang Yun eagerly walked to the edge of the reservoir and then plunged into the water.

After swimming underwater in the reservoir for a while, Fang Yun finally swam up to the surface.

Back on the surface, Fang Yun let out a satisfying breath:

"Hah—"

"Indeed, after soaking in the water for a while, the feeling of heat on my body completely disappeared."

"After staying in the hot sand for a long time, I have to come back and soak in the water for a bit."

"In this world, besides the wealthy, I am currently the only one who can do this."

"It's a pity that others cannot enjoy this feeling of ice and fire. ...Excluding the improper kind of ice and fire."

Fang Yun settled into a position, stopped paddling, and began to float quietly on the water's surface.

He glanced at the time displayed in his vision: 12:50.

"Karl's notification said that the family members should gather in the open space south of the camp at 2:45 PM."

"It's only 12:50 now, no need to rush back. I can float on the water for a while longer."

"..."

"The Black Hand settlement, strictly speaking, my first battle since coming to this world."

"I hope it can be a little exciting for me."

"..."

"First, use the remnant echo (kinetic/tech pistol) and the Disassembler (shotgun) for headshots, then use the Straight Sword Duanlang to decapitate them one by one."

"...Perhaps I won't even need the Straight Sword Duanlang. By the time the bullets run out, I estimate most of the Black Hand settlement members will be almost dead."

"There's no need to activate the defensive shield either. The firepower of a Nightwalker settlement is not enough to penetrate the defense of Fifth Order subdermal armor."

"Tsk, thinking about it this way, my fear of insufficient firepower seems to be turning into a fear of firepower."

"..."

"Tong Zi, remind me at 2:30 PM. I'll close my eyes and rest for a bit."

"Ding! Received."

Fang Yun closed his eyes, floating quietly on the water's surface.

At first, all sorts ofRandom Thoughts kept flooding into Fang Yun's mind.

However, as Fang Yun's heart gradually became calm, his complicated and chaotic thoughts also began to subside.

Finally, Fang Yun stopped thinking.jpg

...

Time: October 18, 2075, 2:30 PM. Location: Night City Badlands, Fang Yun's base.

The System's timely reminder sound pulled Fang Yun out of his empty meditation state.

Fang Yun suddenly opened his eyes, changing from a floating position to a swimming position.

Quickly swimming to the edge of the reservoir, Fang Yun pushed himself up with his hands and got out of the water.

The moment he left the water source block, Fang Yun's body and clothes changed from being soaking wet to dry.

Fang Yun quickly walked down the stairs that had been built in advance along the wall of the reservoir.

Fang Yun came to the center of the base and teleported back to the Buckle Family Camp through the portal block placed in the center of the base.

The time was now 2:35 PM.

Fang Yun returned from the basement to the inside of the tent on the ground floor, walking over to the table by the door.

Fang Yun first picked up the defensive shield, attaching it to his left forearm, and then mounted the Straight Sword Duanlang onto the back of his tactical vest.

The Straight Sword Duanlang and the Disassembler formed an "X" shape on Fang Yun's back.

Next, Fang Yun refilled all the magazines loaded on his tactical vest.

Excluding the items in his inventory, Fang Yun was now fully equipped and ready to go.

Including the items in his inventory, Fang Yun was now arguably "armed to the teeth", or even more so.

After taking the necessary items, Fang Yun pulled back the door curtain and walked out of the tent.

Outside the tent, numerous Buckle Family members were getting ready.

Some were sitting by their tent entrances, checking their equipment with their heads down, while others had already gotten into their vehicles, preparing to depart.

Valentine was also ready and was sitting in his thunder, spacing out.

Vavinia was sitting in the passenger seat, taking out her pistol and inspecting it with a serious expression.

Out of the corner of his eye, Valentine saw Fang Yun emerge from the tent, and then he immediately jolted, snapping out of his daze.

Valentine turned his head and confirmed it was Fang Yun, then greeted him with a loud voice:

"Fang Yun, you're finally here!"

"If you didn't come out of the tent soon, I would have thought you overslept."

Hearing the voice, Fang Yun turned his head and saw Valentine leaning out of the car window, waving towards him.

Seeing this, Fang Yun smiled and raised his hand to wave back at Valentine twice.

Fang Yun said while waving:

"Don't worry, it's impossible for me to miss the assembly time."

Vavinia sat in the passenger seat, continuing to inspect her pistol.

Because she was blocked by Valentine, Vavinia didn't turn her head to look at Fang Yun, but ever since she heard the name Fang Yun, she had perked up her ears, listening to the conversation between Valentine and Fang Yun.

Hearing them finish their pleasantries, Vavinia put her pistol back into the holster on her thigh and said to Valentine:

"Brother, it's time to go to the assembly point. Let's go first and remind Fang Yun to catch up quickly."

Valentine heard Vavinia's words and shouted to Fang Yun:

"Fang Yun, are you ready?"

"My Sister and I are going to the assembly point first. When you're ready, hurry and follow."

Fang Yun gave Valentine an OK gesture, then turned and walked towards the thunder.

Seeing Fang Yun turn to get into his vehicle, Valentine pulled his head back inside.

After settling in, Valentine said to Vavinia:

"Let's go. We'll go to the assembly point first and find Toke. Fang Yun should be right behind us."

With that, Valentine pulled up the handbrake, shifted gears, and then stepped on the accelerator, heading towards the assembly point south of the camp.