Apocalypse: My Items Can Upgrade Infinitely

To say they weren’t nervous would be a lie.

After all, the sight of a vehicle covered in Zerg remains bursting into the service area yesterday afternoon had stunned everyone.

Anyone who bothered to ask would know just how terrifying the owner of that modified RV was.

Some said he could take on hundreds of Black Spine Zergs by himself, and that the Thirteenth Division had only escaped because he’d successfully drawn the Mother Empress’s attention.

Others claimed he was a magnet for Black Spine Zergs, a bad-luck charm; the Zerg Hunting Teams and Awakeners who accompanied him almost never came back alive.

In any case, all sorts of rumors had spread over the past few days, each more embellished and fantastical than the last. But the one constant in every version was the unquestionable power of this young Awakener.

Now, as they watched him slowly approach, it wasn’t just the film crew in the parking lot who grew tense. Even the Enhanced People soldiers on guard duty at the perimeter gripped their guns tighter, their palms slick with sweat.

Lin Feng walked up to their captain, smiled, and said directly,

"I’m acquainted with your Lieutenant Li Ran. I’m just here to give something to the celebrity over there. She accidentally left it behind yesterday when she came to discuss a mission with me."

The captain looked troubled. After all, without a direct order from Li Ran, if he let this man through and something went wrong, the responsibility would be all his.

Lin Feng saw his hesitation and patted him on the shoulder.

"We all wear the same uniform. If this puts you and your men in a tough spot, just go announce me. If Miss Jiang herself agrees to see me, then it has nothing to do with any of us."

"Right?"

The captain’s eyes lit up at his words. He nodded and ran over to the luxury RV.

Just then, the curtain behind the RV window twitched.

Lin Feng already knew Jiang Yun’er was watching him. Now, in response to the captain’s question, she hesitated for a few seconds before speaking from behind the curtain:

"Let him approach. The rest of you, move closer as well."

After what had happened last night, Jiang Yun’er had to be on her highest guard when facing Lin Feng.

’Last night was a classic case of a critical blunder born from carelessness. I tried to use my Mind Control to secretly bring Lin Feng under my sway, but the plan backfired spectacularly, and I ended up in his grasp instead.’

’I was the one who made the first move, and with Lin Feng’s subtle threats hanging in the dead of night, with no one else around... all those factors combined to shatter my mental defenses. In the end, I was forced to yield.’

Now, in the clear light of day, although Jiang Yun’er still felt a lingering fear, the sight of a dozen film crew members and ten or so soldiers armed to the teeth gave her the courage to face him again.

’They’re all under my control, Charmed by my ability. One cry for help and they’d swarm the RV, preventing Lin Feng from pushing his advantage like he did last night.’

’At this point, Lin Feng has become my personal demon. I know I have to face this obstacle head-on if I ever want to conquer it.’

So, when she mustered her courage, opened the door, and let Lin Feng into her RV, the smiling young man before her was holding a small gift bag.

"Look, I brought you a present."

When Lin Feng casually tossed the bag onto the table, Jiang Yun’er paid it little mind. She leaned against the coffee machine, picking up a cup of fresh, hot coffee.

Today, she wore a warm-toned, high-collared knit sweater. The tight, stretchy fabric clung to her upper body, creating a look that was at once mature and conservative, yet couldn’t help but reveal her exquisitely curved figure.

She had the air of a beautiful housewife from next door.

"What are you doing here?"

"The specifics of the mission aren’t your concern, are they?"

In stark contrast to the cozy warmth of the RV, the woman’s words were laced with ice.

Lin Feng shrugged.

"Correct. I’m only in charge of your security from the shadows. My job is to bail you out when you get into trouble."

"And that trouble is very likely to occur."

At the mention of capturing live Zergs, Jiang Yun’er’s indifferent expression vanished. She knew Lin Feng was the expert in this field—far more than those grunts—so she retorted, 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Why? It’s just a few Red-Armored Beetles and a single Black Spine Zerg. You’re saying the Thirteenth Division can’t handle that?"

Lin Feng shook his head.

"The numbers are the whole problem. They sent an elite squad, and they’re almost all Tier One Late Stage. With just two or three people, it wouldn’t be an issue. But with too many Awakeners gathered in one place, you’re guaranteed to attract the Mother Empress’s attention."

"Sometimes the danger isn’t just on the ground. It comes from the sky and the Underground, too."

As he spoke, Lin Feng plopped down onto the sofa and made a grasping motion in the air toward the woman before him.

"An enemy you can’t see is the most terrifying of all."

"You should understand that when true danger arrives, that little Charm Ability of yours won’t be enough to control people and make them die for you against the Zerg Race."

"Not even the top brass can force that Tier One Late Stage elite squad to do something they don’t want to. Do you really think they’d sacrifice themselves for some actress?"

Jiang Yun’er frowned, pondering his words for a moment before the deeper meaning clicked.

"You mean this so-called elite squad... they aren’t the original team assigned to protect me for this mission?"

"They have their own agenda, and I’m just... a side job?"

Lin Feng snapped his fingers.

"Brilliant. You’re a smart woman..."

"So... you should know what to do."

Jiang Yun’er bit her lower lip, lost in troubled thought as the coffee in her hand slowly went cold.

"Just say it. What else do you want?"

"Anything. As long as it doesn’t involve sleeping with me."

Lin Feng held up his hands in a gesture of innocence.

"What kind of person do you take me for? Am I the sort of scoundrel who takes advantage of someone in a crisis?"

"I’m just the man standing behind you."