84: This is a cruel world after all
Lin Ye naturally couldn't be bothered to deal with such a mad dog.
However, since Kim Geun-seok was acting so provocatively, Winter is Coming could certainly give this guy some serious consideration.
Turning off the TV, Lin Ye prepared to go buy some things.
He had already stocked enough food and drinks; what he needed now were things to help him relax in his life on Azure Star.
Under the Sky Curtain’s high-intensity control, this world was indeed a bit too boring.
Just as he was about to leave, his phone suddenly rang.
Lin Ye picked up his phone and saw that it was an unfamiliar number.
“Hmm?”
This made him slightly surprised.
Because his previous phone, which he had used to avoid the lobbyists and reporters from other Settlements, he had directly left in his rental apartment.
His current phone was new, and only Jianyu knew his number.
Had his phone number been leaked?
Although Lin Ye didn’t want to interact with those irrelevant people, he wasn’t to the point of hiding.
Now, Lin Ye, a top 50 Designer, could be said to have no one to fear on Azure Star; if they were indeed lobbyists from other Settlements, he would simply tell them to leave.
So, Lin Ye still answered the call.
“Hello, Mr. Lin, I am Dayan Hao, Dean Ding’s assistant…”
“Dean Ding asked me to contact you, hoping to meet with you privately.”
So, Dr. Ding had sent someone to contact him; this wasn't strange.
Ever since he cleared the Battle of the Imperial Sea, Dr. Ding had been quite attentive to him.
As for meeting privately, Lin Ye wasn't particularly opposed.
After all, he was a transmigrator; although he had soared to success and leveled up quickly with the help of the Five Great Powers, his understanding of many things in this world was still vague.
Dr. Ding was considered the most prestigious professor in the Great Xia Settlement, with extensive experience, and talking to him should be beneficial.
But Lin Ye had some questions… Wasn’t it Jianyu who had been in contact with him before? Why was it now this Dayan Hao, whom he didn’t even know?
Dr. Ding was so cautious; he shouldn't be changing the contact person at this time.
“Hello? The previous Ms. Zhao…”
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then the calm voice continued:
“I regret to inform you, Mr. Lin, that Ms. Zhao Jianyu was eliminated by the Sky Curtain yesterday. I will be your contact person from now on.”
“…”
In an instant, Lin Ye froze in place.
Jianyu… was actually eliminated.
“Mr. Lin, I will send Dean Ding’s address to your phone.”
“If you wish to see Dean Ding, you can come anytime… Mr. Lin, please rest assured, this location is specially guarded by our research institute personnel, so no unauthorized individuals will discover your whereabouts.”
Lin Ye said nothing more and simply hung up the phone.
Regarding Jianyu’s elimination, Lin Ye felt a strange emotion in his heart.
To be honest, did he have any deep feelings for Jianyu? Not really.
He had only met Jianyu twice in total, and she had helped him choose the secluded Cliff Villa property; thinking about it, that was all there was to it.
In fact, during their first meeting, Jianyu, as an official, was somewhat arrogant and didn't leave a particularly good impression on Lin Ye.
At most, there was a bit of acquaintance between them.
However… the dead deserve respect…
Lin Ye wasn't a sentimental person, but he still felt a hint of sadness at the passing of such a vibrant life.
At that moment, Lin Ye truly felt one thing…
That was the cruelty of this world!
In fact, shortly after transmigrating to this world, Lin Ye had already understood its cruelty.
People had to struggle in dungeons every day, and most people in this world were bottom-tier LV0s; if they weren't careful, they would be eliminated due to their points running out.
Although there were no real wars, battles were happening in the dungeons every moment.
There was no need to think; the survival rate in this world would be even lower than on Earth in his previous life.
However, Jianyu, as one of only two people Lin Ye knew since coming to this world, was eliminated in less than a week.
This forced Lin Ye to re-evaluate his understanding of this world.
With his knowledge from his previous life and an understanding of dungeons far superior to this world's, he naturally had a smooth journey and rose quickly.
But what about ordinary people?
Since he could easily eliminate two hundred thousand Great Harmony people, then the strong in this world could naturally easily eliminate other weaklings.
Even regular staff like Jianyu were actually constantly teetering on the edge of life and death.
Lin Ye sighed, left the Cliff Villa, and started his car.
Then, he directly navigated to the location Dayan Hao had just sent him.
…
An hour later, Lin Ye arrived in a deep forest.
The location Dayan Hao gave him was actually a very secluded sanatorium.
Lin Ye parked his car outside the iron fence, and immediately a young man with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a straight back walked up to him.
“Hello, Mr. Lin, I am Dayan Hao.”
“I will take you to Dean Ding’s room.”
Dayan Hao greeted Lin Ye very politely.
“Why is Dr. Ding in a place like this? This seems to be a sanatorium, right?” Lin Ye surveyed his surroundings again.
“This should be a secret of the research institute, but Mr. Lin is now a top Designer of our Great Xia Settlement, so he naturally has the right to know all of this…”
“Dr. Ding has late-stage pancreatic cancer and needs to come to this sanatorium for regular treatment every week to maintain his life.”
“…”
Lin Ye could only choose to remain silent.
The two walked through a small garden and arrived in front of a three-story building.
At the building’s entrance, several guards respectfully saluted Lin Ye.
“Hello, Mr. Lin!”
“Hello, Mr. Lin!”
Lin Ye could actually understand the respect of these people.
Because there was no concept of a nation in this world, the so-called official organization was merely a management body, with no actual power.
For a Settlement, the strong were paramount! Especially a top-tier strong person like Lin Ye, who had already entered the TOP50, could bring substantial benefits to the Settlement.
Naturally, he would be respected by everyone.
Walking through the long corridor, Lin Ye finally arrived at Dr. Ding’s room, and Dayan Hao discreetly stepped back.
He lightly knocked on the door, and Dr. Ding’s voice came from inside.
“Come in.”
Lin Ye slowly pushed the door open and saw Dr. Ding lying on the hospital bed, with an IV drip in his wrist.
At first glance, Lin Ye felt a contrast when he saw Dr. Ding.
Because when he saw Dr. Ding during the Battle of the Imperial Sea, he felt that Dr. Ding was very robust, with a vibrant and energetic feeling.
But at this moment, Dr. Ding was curled up on the hospital bed, his face haggard and sallow, and his white hair appeared somewhat disheveled.
He looked completely like a scrawny old man.