The first rays of morning sunlight spilled over the battered roof of the bus.

At this moment, the three people beneath the bus—Chen Tong, Wang Meng, and Liu Yuqing—were staring intently at the massive golden light screen in the sky, like three statues.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence could guess who this "No Need for Words" was!

As for Jiang Nan...

He remained expressionless.

[No Need for Words].

Before the system announced the leaderboard, a voice had privately asked him if he wanted to use his real name, "Jiang Nan," on the list.

Without a second thought, Jiang Nan had clicked [Reject].

What a joke?

In this era of internet explosion, who knows how many people are named Jiang Nan.

He didn't want to be pointed at in the future, with people saying that the top player in the server was a simp.

As for why he was called "No Need for Words"?

It's simple.

Because he found talking a waste of breath, preferring action over chatter.

But compared to his calm demeanor, the other three were different.

Wang Meng was trembling with excitement, his lips quivering.

"It must be the big boss! It has to be the big boss, no doubt about it!"

Liu Yuqing covered her mouth, her eyes filled with stars of admiration.

"The top player in the server... is actually right beside us? And he's tens of thousands of points ahead of the second place?"

Chen Tong looked at the silent young man, her heart in turmoil.

No wonder he was so composed.

No wonder he looked down on those crows.

It turns out, he was already a man standing at the pinnacle of this world!

"Gulp."

The three exchanged glances, instantly reaching a tacit understanding without words.

In this post-apocalyptic world where order had collapsed, what was most important?

Not food, not water, not even superpowers.

But a strong ally!

A powerful, unyielding ally!

The next second, the three of them stepped forward almost simultaneously, offering the [Awakening Fruit] in their hands to Jiang Nan.

"Boss! This is for you!"

Wang Meng bent at a ninety-degree angle, his tone sincere to the extreme.

"If it weren't for you, we would have become bird droppings last night. This fruit is only worthy of you!"

"Yes, Jiang Nan," Chen Tong added softly, her gaze firm.

"You saved my life, this fruit... take it, it might make you even stronger."

Liu Yuqing said nothing, just nodded vigorously, holding the fruit with both hands.

Jiang Nan looked at the three fruits before him, raising an eyebrow slightly.

He did not refuse.

In this small group, the distribution of resources had to be under his control.

He reached out, calmly collecting all three fruits and casually stuffing them into his pocket.

Seeing Jiang Nan accept them, the three were not displeased; instead, they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Accepting them meant he was willing to continue leading them!

However, after Jiang Nan secured the fruits, he neither ate them immediately nor spoke.

He jumped down from the hood and walked to the battered bus.

More urgent and important than eating the fruits was the task of creating a true safe house.

Jiang Nan flipped his palm, and the device rewarded from the leaderboard appeared in his hand.

[Shelter Upgrade Device]

[Function: Forcefully transform any building or vehicle into a mobile shelter.]

"Good stuff."

Without any hesitation, Jiang Nan stood before the dilapidated bus.

"Use."

The moment he silently commanded, a blinding golden light burst from his hand, enveloping the entire bus!

[Transforming...]

[Repairing body... Loading bulletproof armor... Upgrading power system... Optimizing internal space... Loading living modules...]

Under the stunned gaze of the three.

The once rundown bus began to transform!

The blue and white iron skin turned into matte alloy armor.

The shattered windshield of the driver's cabin was replaced with one-way bulletproof glass.

The chassis was raised, and the tires became six massive explosion-proof off-road wheels.

The once precarious roof now supported a miniature lookout tower and solar power panels.

In just ten seconds.

It transformed into a massive black RV with a post-apocalyptic sci-fi style!

"What the... Is this the reward you got, boss?"

Wang Meng's jaw almost hit the ground.

Jiang Nan didn't explain, waving his hand to signal them to board.

Inside, the cramped seats had vanished.

In their place was a spacious living room with soft carpeting, leather sofas, and a thermostat blowing warm air at 24 degrees.

On the left was a fully automated integrated kitchen with a double-door refrigerator.

On the right was a bathroom with separate wet and dry areas, even a bathtub for soaking!

At the rear of the vehicle was a luxurious Simmons bed, inviting anyone to sink into it.

"My God... This is like a palace!"

Liu Yuqing was ecstatic, "There's even hot water!"

Jiang Nan was quite satisfied.

He sat in the leather executive chair, took out the three fruits from his pocket, and tossed them back to the three.

[Eat up.]

He wrote on a note, simultaneously taking out his own fruit.

The three were momentarily stunned, then overjoyed!

"Thank you, boss!"

Without any hesitation, the four of them simultaneously bit into their Awakening Fruits.

The flesh melted in their mouths, turning into a warm current that coursed through their bodies.

After finishing the fruit, Jiang Nan quietly felt his body.

No change at all.

Not even a fart.

[Hint: Awakening failed.]

[You did not acquire any abilities.]

Seeing this message, Jiang Nan's face showed no disappointment, not even a furrowed brow.

No abilities? So be it.

For someone with the [Word Spirit System], so-called F-Class, C-Class, or even S-Class abilities were just flashy extras.

The power to make words reality was the true divine skill.

He needed not random luck, but absolute control.

Jiang Nan casually tossed the fruit core into the nearby sensor trash can, leaned back, and crossed his legs.

More than the failed awakening, he was now more interested in...

What these three could bring him.

This would determine whether Jiang Nan would keep them, or rather...

Their survival.

A few minutes later.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "p𝑎wread.com".

Wang Meng and Liu Yuqing began to glow, indicating successful awakenings.

"Buzz!"

A yellow light emanated from Wang Meng, and he looked at his hands in delight.

"I've awakened! [B-Rank Mechanic]! I can repair any machinery and even perform simple modifications and enhancements!"

Next, a blue light flashed in Liu Yuqing's eyes as she adjusted her glasses excitedly: "I'm a [B-Rank Appraiser]!

"I can see detailed information about items and even spot weaknesses in monsters!"

Two strong supports!

Jiang Nan nodded in satisfaction; these were exactly the tools he needed.

However.

Chen Tong, after eating the fruit, waited for a long time without any reaction.

Only her stomach growled twice.

"I... I seem to..."

Chen Tong's face turned pale, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness.

She had failed.

No awakening.

Watching the excited Wang Meng and Liu Yuqing, Chen Tong suddenly felt like the most redundant person.

In this post-apocalyptic world, having no value meant being abandoned.

She trembled as she looked at Jiang Nan, her eyes red, her voice tinged with tears.

"Jiang Nan... I didn't awaken... Am I useless now?"

"Will you... abandon me?"

Though she was a teacher, in the face of survival, her status was worthless.

The atmosphere in the cabin instantly froze.

Wang Meng and Liu Yuqing dared not speak, as the decision lay in Jiang Nan's hands.

Jiang Nan looked at the pitifully beautiful mixed-race teacher before him, silent for a moment.

Then, he picked up a pen, wrote a line on a note, and handed it over.

Chen Tong took it with trembling hands, like a prisoner awaiting judgment.

However, when she saw the words, she was stunned.

[I can't cook.]

Just three simple words.

Chen Tong was dazed for two seconds, then suddenly realized.

This was leaving her to be the cook! A disguised acceptance!

"Ugh... I was so scared..."

Overwhelmed by relief and lingering fear, Chen Tong could no longer control her emotions, throwing herself at Jiang Nan.

She wrapped his head in her ample bosom!

"Thank you! Thank you, Jiang Nan!"

"Mmph!!"

Jiang Nan was instantly engulfed by the astonishing softness, his nose filled with a milky fragrance, struggling to breathe.

Again?

Liu Yuqing and Wang Meng curiously leaned over to see the note, then burst into laughter.

"Seems like the boss is cold on the outside, warm on the inside," Wang Meng remarked.

"Yes, Jiang Nan is actually very kind," Liu Yuqing nodded.

But they were wrong.

Jiang Nan, smothered in Chen Tong's embrace, though his face was flushed, did not push her away.

Cold on the outside, warm on the inside?

No.

He was simply...

Repressed for too long.

For eighteen years, he had lived like an ascetic monk, saving money for travel and school, seeking sign-in points.

Now, in the apocalypse, he was the top player in the server; what's wrong with enjoying a little?

Rewarding himself with a beautiful teacher wasn't too much, was it?

After calming emotions, he assigned tasks.

The driver's cabin was at the front, a semi-enclosed space with a single bed.

Wang Meng, very tactful, took his blanket and went to the driver's cabin.

"Uh, boss, I'll handle the driving! I'll just stay in the driver's cabin, won't disturb you!"

He even gave Jiang Nan a knowing look, pulling the partition curtain.

In the cabin, only Jiang Nan and the two girls remained.

"Jiang... Jiang Nan, I'll go test my abilities over there, won't disturb your rest!"

Liu Yuqing found an excuse to retreat to a corner, facing the wall.

No one knew if she was really testing her abilities.

As the vehicle slowly started.

Jiang Nan half-lay on the sofa, enjoying the thermostat while checking the route on the smart control panel.

His left hand held a cola, while his right hand rested mischievously on Chen Tong's thigh as she peeled an orange for him.

The tight sensation from years of wearing professional attire, combined with her wine-red hair, had its own charm.

"Ah~"

Chen Tong's body stiffened slightly, her face red to the ears, but she did not resist.

Instead, she submissively leaned a bit closer to Jiang Nan, letting him fondle her at his whim.

She knew, this was the price she paid, and her guarantee of survival.

At this moment, Wang Meng's voice came through the speaker.

"Boss, which way should we go?"

Jiang Nan looked at the smart control panel, casually typing a reply.

[Are you the driver, or am I?]

[Decide for yourself.]

In the driver's cabin, Wang Meng was momentarily stunned.

"Uh... Is the boss really that casual?"

He scratched his head.

But on second thought, no!

"How could a meticulous boss like Jiang Nan be casual?"

"He's testing me!"

"He's training my decision-making skills! He's grooming me as a confidant!"

Wang Meng instantly self-hypnotized, moved to tears:

"Ugh! The boss is so good to me! I must perform well!"

Since he had to choose a path...

Wang Meng looked ahead.

To the left was the wilderness, to the right was the boundary between the wheat field and the forest.

"Although there are footprints there, it looks messy, but since someone has walked through, it means the path is clear!"

"Someone has scouted the way for us, it's definitely safer than wandering aimlessly!"

With this thought, Wang Meng floored the gas pedal, heading towards the chaotic footprints, the direction Yang Wei and others had left.

The RV sped across the wasteland, as if on flat ground.

However, it hadn't gone far.

"Screech!!!"

A sharp braking sound echoed.

The massive inertia caused Chen Tong to cry out, falling into Jiang Nan's arms.

"What happened?!" Chen Tong was startled.

"B... Boss!"

Wang Meng's uncertain voice came through the speaker.

"Someone's blocking the road ahead!"

"It seems to be... Yu Shishi?!"

Jiang Nan frowned slightly, pushing Chen Tong away, and activated the front monitor.

On the dirt road dozens of meters ahead.

A disheveled figure, covered in dirt, stood with arms outstretched in the middle of the road.

Despite the mud-covered face, it was still recognizable as Yu Shishi.

She was barefoot, her shoes nowhere to be seen, looking utterly miserable.

Seeing the bus stop, Yu Shishi's eyes lit up with joy, rushing over and frantically pounding on the door.

"Help! Help!"

"Please! Let me on!"

In the driver's cabin, Wang Meng watched, feeling a twinge of sympathy, but his foot remained firmly on the gas.

"Boss... It really is Yu Shishi, she looks so pitiful, how about..."

"I just run over her? So as not to dirty your hands."

"Or should I grab her up for you as a bed warmer, she might still be usable after a wash."

However, in the cabin.

Jiang Nan's mouth twitched.

No...

What has Wang Meng imagined me to be?

Why do I seem like a demon?

I'm not that cruel, am I?

At most, I'd give her a quick end.

[Let's see what's going on first.]

He typed a response, not ordering the door to be opened.

Instead, he turned to Liu Yuqing, who was peering out the window, and gestured towards Yu Shishi outside.

Meaning, use your skill.

"OK!"

Liu Yuqing immediately understood, adjusting her glasses and activating [B-Level Appraisal].

A blue light, visible only to her, scanned Yu Shishi's body...