CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 48: RETURN TO CRIMSON NO.2

Rom looked at Yan Luo, falling into a prolonged silence.

He only snapped back to reality when the director reminded him.

Rom knew there was something called ’charisma’ in this world, but he didn’t expect to feel it from Yan Luo, a young man nearly thirty years his junior.

Taking a deep breath, Rom adjusted his state and continued, "As far as I know, Yan Luo, you will earn over a million in prize money this time. If you’re willing to share, could you tell us what you plan to do with the money?"

"Trying to enhance myself." Yan Luo replied seriously, "Currently, there are some drugs and surgeries on the market that can enhance the human body to a limited extent, but they are not cheap. I need to save more money."

Besides prosthetic modifications, Blue Star also has drugs and surgeries that can directly enhance the human body, but they are expensive and have a high likelihood of side effects.

Even if the average Engraver has a frail body, they won’t attempt these things.

But for Yan Luo, even though those drugs and surgeries have side effects, being able to enhance himself is vitally necessary.

This was Yan Luo’s way of thinking to cover up his own secrets.

Even though he wouldn’t really use those drugs and surgeries.

Rom nodded in agreement, "If you can become stronger, you would indeed be better at Abyss hunting."

Immediately after, Rom continued to ask, "So Yan Luo, will you participate in the next Hunter Skills Competition?"

"No." Yan Luo answered firmly.

Rom made a helpless gesture, spreading his hands and shrugging, "Alright, after all, you achieved an unprecedented high score in the Hunter Skills Competition. The competition no longer poses any challenge for you. I find it unfortunate because just before the interview broadcast started, I received news that the show organizers plan to invite traditional Hunters like you for the next competition. It should be very exciting."

Hearing this, Yan Luo understood.

The Hunter’s Guild had already obtained what they wanted—the invitation of traditional hunters to the Hunter Skills Competition.

The organizers of the Hunter Skills Competition had to admit that their contestants were not so traditional in comparison to real Hunters diving into the Abyss for hunts, and starting from the next edition, the Hunter’s Guild would intervene in the competition to get a share of the profits.

For the Hunter’s Guild, no matter what Yan Luo achieved, they wouldn’t lose out.

If Yan Luo couldn’t deal with city-breaking level mutated creatures, they still gained some benefits from the Hunter Skills Competition; if Yan Luo successfully hunted a city-breaking level mutated creature, even better—the competition could use ’traditional Hunters’ for promotion, making the show more popular, and by then, the Hunter’s Guild could get more out of it.

Even if Yan Luo were to question them, they could simply respond with, "Sponsors’ actions are within the rules’ constraints, there’s nothing we can do," to answer Yan Luo.

Yan Luo didn’t have the capability to confront the high-ups of the Hunter’s Guild, so they completely disregarded him.

In the eyes of the Hunter’s Guild, Yan Luo was just a useful pawn, and as long as their goal was achieved, nothing else mattered.

Although Yan Luo said nothing, and his expression didn’t change, Rom could see his mood seemed to have dropped.

What happened?

Rom didn’t know what Yan Luo was thinking, but he knew the interview should come to an end.

Yan Luo’s interest waned, and continuing the interview wouldn’t lift the atmosphere.

"Alright, this interview has been quite long; I think you might be a bit tired, Yan Luo. Now I want to ask one last question, which I believe is what most viewers are curious about."

Rom smiled and asked, "Yan Luo, could you tell us your standard for choosing a partner?"

Hearing this, Yan Luo was stunned.

Choosing a partner... he had never thought about such a question.

Yan Luo immediately answered, "I’ve never thought about it."

"Then just for the sake of satisfying the curiosity of the vast audience, could you think about it now?" Rom winked at Yan Luo, eager for him to answer the question.

Although many say it’s a joke about marrying or dating Yan Luo, some are serious; they really want to become Yan Luo’s partner.

If Yan Luo answered the question, it could surely spark a new wave of discussion.

Yan Luo thought about it carefully and soon came to a conclusion.

"Perhaps having lost my parents at a young age, lacking the love of elders, I prefer women older than me...though not necessarily older, be it in personality or appearance, as long as they make me feel caring and maternal, I would like them."

Rom’s smile froze on his face, and he couldn’t help but take a sharp breath.

To be honest, he did hope Yan Luo would answer the question about his partner preference.

But Rom never expected Yan Luo’s answer to be so direct.

—He revealed his fetish in public!

Rom fell silent, and the whole studio plunged into silence.

"...Thank you, Yan Luo, for answering my impolite question."

Rom took a deep breath, faced the camera, and said, "Alright everyone, this concludes our post-match interview. Hope you enjoyed watching, and may you have a pleasant day. Next, it’s time to say goodbye, Yan Luo, goodbye."

With that, Rom waved goodbye to Yan Luo.

Yan Luo made the same gesture.

When the director signaled the live broadcast had finished, Rom finally breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, extended his hand to Yan Luo, and smiled, "Thanks for the collaboration."

Yan Luo shook Rom’s hand, nodded, "Pleasure working together."

......

Shortly after the live broadcast ended, Yan Luo received a payment notification from the Hunter Skills Competition organizers.

The champion prize combined with the bonus for breaking the historical record amounted to one million two hundred thousand.

For Yan Luo, this was a substantial sum.

Closing the notification box, Yan Luo turned to look out the window.

He was already seated in the aerial spacecraft that would take him back to Crimson No.2; the president of the Hunter’s Guild from Crimson No.1 didn’t even bother to come commend him, let alone see him off.

In the eyes of that man named Leonardo Fields, clearly, Yan Luo was insignificant, not worth even the pretense.

However, Yan Luo had no opinion on this; the higher-ups of the Hunter’s Guild were all his enemies, and even if Leonardo Fields was willing to put up a front, Yan Luo wouldn’t let go of his hostility.

Riding on the spacecraft, Yan Luo quickly returned to Crimson No.2.

His return was silent; apart from Sasa, Yan Luo didn’t notify anyone.

Yan Luo had just gotten home and received a request for entrance, the sender being Sasa.

Even though it was daytime in Crimson No.2, Sasa’s arrival seemed unusually prompt.

Yan Luo entrusted the Space Box to Keke, letting the little intelligent machine organize it for him, then accepted the request and turned to the living room.

Sasa came through the door and upon meeting Yan Luo in the living room, her first words were:

"Why did you say you plan to buy those enhancing body drugs and surgeries in the interview?"

Hearing this, Yan Luo was stunned.

Moments later, he frowned slightly, perplexed, "Is there a problem with that?"

"It’s a big problem!"

Sasa’s little face was full of seriousness, as she walked over to the long sofa and sat down, gesturing for Yan Luo to do the same; she had much to say to him.

Yan Luo didn’t realize Sasa’s paramount concern and sat on the single sofa, then looking at Sasa, wanting to hear her high-minded discourse.

"Any drug that enhances the human body comes with side effects. If you bought some drug, didn’t use it, yet showed enhanced effects, and didn’t exhibit any side effects, how do you think the pharmaceutical company developing that drug would view you?"

Sasa glared at Yan Luo, fuming, ticking off on her fingers just how much trouble his words caused them.

"Furthermore, the enhancement surgery is the same; you couldn’t possibly undergo enhancement surgery, otherwise others would discover your secret. I guarantee others aren’t as discreete as I am; they would surely expose your secret! Only I can keep your secret while also helping you grow!"

Yan Luo felt as if Sasa was trying to manipulate him, but he had no evidence.