"Looking at it this way, the so-called world below and the world above aren't really all that different after all."
Kiri couldn't help but chime in with her own dry complaint, though neither of them made the slightest move to step in and help the fallen woman.
After all, she looked like nothing but trouble. Besides, the assailant had explicitly mentioned something about the price of unpaid debts—this had all the hallmarks of an underworld execution or a vicious personal vendetta.
Playing the hero right now would only drag them into massive trouble. The locals here certainly didn't seem like the warm and welcoming type.
And yet...
"You actually want to save her, don't you?" they blurted out simultaneously.
"Which eye of yours sees me wanting to rescue anyone?!" Li Ke shot back, thoroughly exasperated.
He genuinely had zero desire to save the stranger. His singular focus right now was to quickly exchange their goods for enough cash, then find some girls who didn't require an emotional commitment to get intimate with. As for a stubborn pain in the neck like Kiri, the farther she stayed away from him, the better, if only to save him from a massive headache.
"Oh? Aren't you usually all about rescuing people?" Kiri asked, raising an eyebrow. "You know, the whole 'saving a damsel so she throws herself at you' routine?"
As Kiri spoke, she loosely curled her fingers into a hollow fist and repeatedly pumped it back and forth in front of her mouth—a raunchy gesture that Li Ke understood instantly.
"I woke up and she was already doing it! That has absolutely nothing to do with me!" Li Ke snapped defensively, referring to his past encounter. "Besides, that woman over there looks completely dead anyway."
After tossing out his rebuttal, Li Ke and Kiri walked past the scantily clad female fighter. Looking down at the numerous scars covering her body and her glassy, lifeless eyes, Li Ke shook his head.
From the exact moment the other brawler had thrust those obviously toxic needles straight into her spine, this woman had been a goner. When her head hit the pavement, she hadn't reacted at all; her tongue was practically lolling out onto the ground, and her breathing had completely stopped. She was clearly past saving.
Even if the poison didn't kill her outright, rescuing her would likely leave her a severe quadriplegic—completely paralyzed from the neck down.
Still, to be perfectly fair, if one could look past the myriad of scars, the horrific wounds, and the bizarre accessories, the woman was actually quite beautiful.
Her figure was absolutely explosive. That kind of khaki bodysuit, which completely exposed her inner thighs, was practically designed with pure erotic appeal in mind. While he didn't quite know how else to judge such a outfit, Li Ke felt that whoever invented this thing was an absolute saint.
Especially the chest area—the design of those breast pouches was obviously meant to facilitate a better jiggle... No, wait, it was supposed to secure a woman's breasts so they wouldn't bounce around wildly! Though, judging by the results, it didn't make a damn bit of difference; if anything, they bounced even harder.
"Yeah... she's dead," Kiri muttered, letting out a heavy sigh just as she and Li Ke spotted a gold and silver jewelry shop.
The two exchanged a glance and walked inside together.
Their stash of gold completely shocked the shopkeeper because what Li Ke and Kiri brought out was pure, unadulterated gold, which was a rarity in this region. Consequently, in his eyes, this was gold of exceptionally premium quality.
However, its overall value wasn't astronomically high. After checking a few more establishments, this first shop actually turned out to have the highest offer. Ultimately, they managed to exchange it for over a hundred gold coins.
"According to the terminology of this world, this amount of money is enough to hire an entire adventuring party for a hazardous mission and rent a few market stalls," Kiri said, tossing her fifty gold coins up and down as she looked over at Li Ke.
"As for me, I plan to open a small shop here and sell some goods from Empyrean... After all, I notice there are quite a few Empyreans around here. Relying on the crafting abilities I brought from that world, I can quickly sort out the ammunition issue. At the same time, I'll look for a way back to Empyrean... What about you?"
She pointed toward the group of Empyreans nearby, indicating she wouldn't be short on customers. Moreover, thanks to her remaining 7 Days to Die system mechanics, she didn't have to worry about sourcing inventory or supply chains at all.
The only real issue was that the ammunition calibers from 7 Days to Die didn't match native Empyrean weaponry, but if those people bought their firearms from her, it would solve the problem entirely. Monopoly truly was the ultimate business opportunity!
"Me? I'll probably focus on making money and enjoying the local nightlife," Li Ke said, looking at the purse in his hand and flashing a grin.
The women in this world all had great looks; at the very least, Li Ke hadn't seen anyone incredibly ugly so far, and the tavern waitresses possessed excellent figures and faces. And judging by the female fighter who had just collapsed in the alleyway, she had been killed over money, which meant there must be female fighters out there who would sell their bodies for cash.
"You really are blunt about your interests, aren't you?" An incredibly complex expression crossed Kiri's face. She had no idea what went on inside Li Ke's head, but he always found new ways to surprise her with his directness.
"Of course, I prefer to be upfront. But I care more about something else." Li Ke pointed at the swordsmen carrying sharp blades and the mages clutching magic staffs along the bustling street. "I think I can become stronger in this world."
His gaze was completely resolute. Back in the 7 Days to Die world, he had been hindered far too many times by his own lack of raw power.
Spending money to buy Energy Points for pleasure was a given, but without a doubt, seeking raw power in this world was also an absolute necessity.
Besides, when the time came for him to head back, he had to make sure he brought along a massive haul of high-quality gear.
"Oh ho? Swords and magic, huh? I'm actually pretty interested in that myself, but..." Kiri stroked her chin and let out a soft sigh. "...Right now, I want to find a way back to Empyrean even more."
She had only come to this realm to aid her comrades in battle, but that was exactly where the problem lay—she had accidentally ended up stranded here on the legendary continent of Arad instead.
So, she had absolutely no desire to go adventuring with Li Ke right now. Having sorted out her immediate survival needs, she urgently needed to prove her identity as an Empyrean, seek out any fellow countryfolk who might also be drifting through Arad, and figure out a way back home through them.
And if she couldn't make it back immediately, she could always set herself up as a weapons dealer, dabble in a bit of magic, and support her compatriots here.
"So we..." Li Ke paused in his tracks, looking over at Kiri. "Part ways here?"
He was off to grow stronger and pursue his own goals, while Kiri was going to rally the Empyreans. It was impossible for the two of them to work toward the same objective.
"Well, it's not like I'm going to let you do this and that to me anymore anyway, right?" Kiri looked at Li Ke, her eyes searching his face as if hoping to hear him ask her to stay.
"True enough," Li Ke replied simply.
"Then let's leave it at that. Once we register our information at the city hall, we'll go our separate ways. Come find me at this tavern in a while; I'll give you a hefty sum of gold and some gear to make it up to you."
"Alright."
The atmosphere between them instantly turned quiet. It was only natural; Kiri had already made up her mind the moment she decided to leave, and Li Ke had no intention of continuing to mess with a good girl like her. This split was inevitable.
And yet... things rarely go exactly as planned.
After registering their identities at the city hall and securing their permits, Li Ke and Kiri shared a farewell meal before officially saying their goodbyes.
After checking into a local inn, Li Ke couldn't help but feel a bit melancholy. It was completely understandable that Kiri wouldn't accept him fooling around with other women, so he didn't hold it against her. It was better for them to split amicably without any hard feelings.
Still, thinking back to Kiri's stunning, athletic figure, Li Ke felt a familiar, persistent itch. However, he was completely unfamiliar with this place—clueless about the local slang, the types of establishments, or who ran the adult entertainment businesses. Trying to look for a working girl right now would only invite unnecessary trouble.
"Soliciting girls when I'm completely new to the area is just asking for a swift death sentence. Forget it, time for bed. Tomorrow, I'll pay back that fisherman and his son, then track down G.S.D and Sharan to see how much gold they charge to teach swordsmanship and magic."
With those thoughts, Li Ke spent a thoroughly lonely night. But when he woke up, stepped out of the inn, and headed off to find G.S.D for swordsmanship lessons, he passed by that same alleyway again—only to witness an unbelievable sight.
The female fighter was still alive!
Right now, she was trembling violently on the ground, desperately trying to push herself up but failing repeatedly. Her target destination wasn't exactly a pleasant one either—she was dragging her broken body toward a large trash can.
Li Ke froze. Watching the female brawler struggle to crawl, seemingly determined to scavenge for scraps from the trash bin despite the disgusted glares of the passersby, he walked over and asked a single question:
"Hey. How did you end up in debt anyway?"