96: Chapter 97 Celebration Banquet! Brother Shen, just get it done! We believe in you!

As soon as these words were spoken, Shen Mo felt the strength drain from his entire body.

Yes! Hell difficulty!

He knew very well what this choice meant for him!

The Western Countries wanted to scheme against him in the arena tournament, wasn't it just to make Shen Mo lose his right to choose, and ultimately force him to select the 'Hell-level' trial difficulty?

But they probably couldn't have imagined in their wildest dreams that Shen Mo's true intention was... he actually wanted to go and brave the Hell-level difficulty!

But this decision wasn't exactly friendly for the Dragon Kingdom... Shen Mo knew clearly that the Hell-level difficulty had a chance of failure, and it wasn't low either. The Dragon Kingdom had waited eleven long years, finally getting the opportunity to enter the Second District.

Would they be willing to let him take the risk?

Putting himself in their shoes, if it were Shen Mo himself, he would probably hesitate too... After all, when one could pass easily, why gamble?

Therefore, emboldened by the alcohol, Shen Mo laid his cards on the table.

He had actually thought about it; if he really reached that moment of decision, he could completely decide on his own. As the saying goes, 'A general in the field is not bound by the orders of his sovereign.' Even if he chose the Hell-level difficulty then, the country wouldn't be able to do anything about it!

But! Shen Mo sighed inwardly... People are not wood or stone; how could they be without feelings?

Although he was not from this world, some things in his bones could not change. How did the Dragon Kingdom treat him? How did Chief No. 1 treat him? And how did Old Man Li treat him?

Shen Mo didn't want to comment on the rights and wrongs of the past.

But for himself, Shen Mo couldn't get past his own conscience!

Shen Mo didn't quite understand matters of great principle, nor did he want to!

But he understood one truth: if someone treats you well, even if the whole world says they are a villain, and even if they really did those things, if this person treats you well, you cannot be ungrateful!

The celebration banquet suddenly became quiet.

Shen Mo held his breath nervously, almost able to hear his own thumping heartbeat!

However, what he didn't notice was... the way everyone was looking at him right now wasn't shock at all, but rather carried smiles and teasing.

"You... finished?" Chief No. 1 asked slowly.

Shen Mo looked nervous: "Report, Chief! I'm finished!"

Chief No. 1 nodded casually: "Mm, very good, approved."

"Chief, I really... uh? Hmm?"

???

Shen Mo was stunned.

Wait a minute?

The Chief approved it?

The explanation he was preparing to give was stuck directly in his chest, his face filled with astonishment and flushed red; at this moment, he looked quite comical.

Pfft—I don't know who was the first to lose control, but it was like a chain reaction; the surroundings erupted with a roar, and everyone burst into laughter!

"Hahaha!!!"

"Dying of laughter, Brother Shen's expression is really so funny!"

Chief No. 1 smiled: "Kid, I thought you would be able to hold it in and just choose it when the time came. I didn't expect you to say it after all. Very well, it seems the country's cultivation of you during this time hasn't been for nothing!"

Shen Mo felt stifled: "Chie... Chief, how did you know?"

He remembered he hadn't told anyone about this at all!

Wait!

It seemed he had told one person!

Chief No. 1, completely unaware, took a sip of wine: "Ah, Long Chen told me..."

At this moment, Long Chen, who was clapping and laughing in the corner, had his smile instantly freeze on his face!

???

No.

Old man, act like a human!

When you sold me out, you could have at least hesitated!

Geng Yang, with a flushed face and a big belly, laughed as he patted Shen Mo's shoulder: "Kid, Chief No. 1 has long known your thoughts; he was just keeping it under wraps and didn't say anything. And... it's not just Chief No. 1; basically everyone here knows."

Shen Mo was completely numb.

Fine, fine, fine.

So after all this, I was the only one kept in the dark, right!

"That's right, Brother Shen! Go for it with confidence! We all support you!"

"Yes! That's right! Isn't it just a 'Hell-level' trial? Brother Shen has fought his way through this whole journey; would we not trust you?"

"We all believed you could win when playing against gods, so what is a 'Hell-level' difficulty?!"

"Exactly! Brother Shen, go for it!"

The team members who had previously participated in the competition had their arms around each other's shoulders.

They laughed as they looked at Shen Mo.

Their eyes were filled with nothing but trust!

"Kid, did you hear that?"

Chief No. 1 smiled gently: "Since everyone trusts you, just compete well, put aside your worries, and for everything else... the country has your back!"

The old man said this decisively.

Shen Mo pursed his lips, his eyes slightly reddened, feeling a warmth echoing in his chest.

Yes... this is not the Huaxia of his past life, but this is still the Dragon Kingdom, the country he is familiar with.

Here are the most lovable people in the whole world, and the most trustworthy people!

They are the strong backing of the Dragon Kingdom's people.

They are the soldiers who will charge to the front line when facing any difficulty!

In this life, I have no regrets entering Huaxia; in the next life, I will still be a person of the Dragon Kingdom!

Shen Mo took a deep breath and suddenly raised his glass: "Everyone, rest assured! This battle... will be won!"

"Haha! Good! This battle! Will be won!"

"Victory!"

Countless people raised their glasses and drank heartily!

In the corner, Long Chen watched this scene, his eyes slightly moist, but he cursed with a smile: "Brat... you're better than I was back then!"

...Playing and bustling, this banquet lasted until very late...

Just as Shen Mo had expected, he indeed walked in standing and was carried out at the end.

There was no helping it; although his life as a corporate slave in his past life made Shen Mo frequently socialize, he couldn't withstand so many people drinking with him!

To say nothing else, just those twelve 'beasts' who were eliminated from the competition had absolutely no intention of letting Shen Mo off!

However, men's friendship is just that simple.

In the time it took to have a meal and drinks, Shen Mo was already calling these guys brothers.

As for the fatty who toasted Shen Mo at the beginning, Shen Mo also learned his name—Lin Bei.

As the banquet was ending, Lin Bei drunkenly patted Shen Mo: "Foster father, you don't know... *hiccup*, my Three-Star Wukong died so unjustly in that match. The opponent's Three-Star Neeko had tank items, while my Wukong was all attack items. I thought Wukong was a warrior... Heh, turns out... turns out the damn thing was a tank!"

"Later... I watched your match... and I was amazed... Holy crap! Golden Core Wukong! Too fierce!"

"You... don't forget, teach me how to play chess later..."

Before Lin Bei could finish his sentence, he slid under the table with a thud.

Shen Mo was also very drunk.

With bleary eyes and a confused face, he said: "Alright! I'll definitely teach you... Huh, where did he go?"