The Max-Level Boss Just Wants to Be a Slacker [Apocalypse] – CH48

Chapter 48: The Professor from Country A

Xiong Mingyuan felt that he had finally grasped the truth.

Ever since his younger brother returned from that mission with them, he had been praising Mo Qi whenever he had nothing better to do.

Although he never managed to describe exactly why Mo Qi was so impressive, it made Xiong Mingyuan realize that this Mo Qi was definitely not just some pretty boy. He had abilities of his own.

Xiong Mingyuan had previously tried to gather information about him, but most of it seemed unreliable.

Among the people who had come to Shanhe Base with Mo Xiu’s team, there were all kinds of rumors. Some even claimed Mo Qi was an idiot who couldn’t take care of himself.

But looking at the scene before him now—Mo Qi’s movements and reactions were calm and natural. Though he kept a low profile and didn’t attract attention easily, how could this person possibly be stupid?

He looked completely normal.

Rumors really did grow more outrageous the more they spread. If he had only listened to those people’s nonsense, he would have been badly misled.

However, Xiong Mingyuan had invited them here today not merely to share a meal.

He actually had an important matter he hoped Mo Xiu could help with.

Mo Xiu had already guessed as much.

But he had no intention of asking first. In fact, he found this kind of social interaction troublesome. If he didn’t still need to remain in the base, he truly hated these sorts of engagements.

Perhaps it was because he had worked like a beast of burden in his previous life.

In this life, he only wanted to live for himself.

Mo Xiu was already thinking about what excuse he should use to refuse if Xiong Mingyuan asked him to do something later.

After all, he had finally been reborn—wasn’t it better to happily lie around like a salted fish? Why should he work?

Both men were calculating in their own minds.

In the end, Xiong Mingyuan couldn’t hold back any longer and spoke first.

“Brother Mo Xiu, speaking of which, during that last mission, I really have to thank you and your team for helping my younger brother. You must have gone through quite a bit of trouble.”

Mo Xiu smiled and nodded but didn’t respond.

Here it comes, he thought.

The polite opening remarks had begun.

He wasn’t going to give Xiong Mingyuan the chance to continue smoothly, so he simply smiled and kept eating.

As for Mo Qi beside him, his attention was entirely focused on the lamb in front of him.

He took a bite himself, then fed a bite to Mo Xiu. Everything else had nothing to do with him.

Xiong Mingyuan tried a few more polite exchanges, hoping Mo Xiu would respond more.

Unexpectedly, this kid’s skill at dodging the topic was even better than Xu Liang’s had been.

With so many people present, Xiong Mingyuan had originally planned to get Mo Xiu to openly express support for him, letting everyone see his leadership ability and that Mo Xiu had voluntarily chosen to stand on his side.

Then after Mo Xiu expressed his stance, he could smoothly ask for help.

The plan had seemed flawless.

Wasn’t this how social interactions were supposed to work?

So why wasn’t Mo Xiu taking the bait?

All his compliments had simply been accepted with a nod!

And then there was Mo Qi.

Xiong Mingyuan still didn’t know exactly what abilities this man possessed, but one thing was certain—

This guy could eat.

Among everyone sitting at the table, it felt like he alone ate more than the rest combined.

Damn it! He just grabbed an entire lamb leg again!

Hadn’t the previous one already ended up in his and Mo Xiu’s stomachs?

And now he was reaching for the front leg too!

The corner of Xiong Mingyuan’s eye twitched.

Although he had invited everyone to eat roast lamb today, the truth was that such high-quality meat had become rare in the apocalypse.

He had also hoped to eat more himself.

Xiong Gangyong, sitting nearby, was even more obvious.

He watched longingly as Mo Qi kept picking up piece after piece with his chopsticks.

He had just spotted a perfectly roasted chunk of lamb and stretched his chopsticks toward it—

But before he could reach it, the meat was already in Mo Qi’s bowl.

“Brother Qi!” Xiong Gangyong called out in a muffled voice, unable to hide the grievance in his eyes.

Mo Qi found it amusing.

He tore off half of a small lamb leg that he had already stripped most of the meat from and handed it to him.

Sure enough, Xiong Gangyong’s face immediately brightened with joy.

Mo Xiu, however, had originally been in a good mood.

But when he saw Mo Qi directing his attention toward Xiong Gangyong—and even giving him meat—he felt a slight discomfort.

Mo Qi had never treated others like this before.

He rarely showed so many emotions when interacting with other people, let alone appear so cheerful.

Mo Xiu had always believed he was special to Mo Qi.

Of course, he still knew that he was far more important to Mo Qi than Xiong Gangyong.

But why, whenever he saw scenes like this, did he still feel a faint sourness in his chest?

Mo Xiu realized something about his current state was wrong.

He hadn’t thought deeply about it before.

But ever since that awkward morning when he had rushed into the bathroom and stayed there for a long time, things had changed.

After that incident, even someone as inexperienced and slow to notice as him understood that such reactions were abnormal.

The lamb was exceptionally delicious, yet in Mo Xiu’s mouth it now tasted like chewing wax.

As a result, his responses to Xiong Mingyuan became even more perfunctory.

Eventually, Xiong Mingyuan couldn’t endure it any longer.

How much food was eaten didn’t matter.

He had invited Mo Xiu here for a serious discussion.

Giving up on the polite dance entirely, he spoke directly.

“Brother Mo, to be honest, I invited you here today because I want to discuss something important.

The apocalypse has lasted for a long time now, and no one truly likes living this way. I believe you would also like to see this life come to an end as soon as possible.”

Hearing this, Mo Xiu snapped out of his thoughts and looked at him.

This direction of conversation was not something he had expected.

Curious about the man’s purpose, he listened as Xiong Mingyuan continued.

“Since the apocalypse began, people have been researching ways to develop a cure for the zombie virus.

Our base wants to contribute to humanity as well, but we’re not very large and our capabilities are limited.

A few days ago, I received news that a highly respected professor from Country A is close to completing such research.

However, while he was collecting samples outside, he ran into danger and disappeared.

And the place where he vanished… just happens to be near our Shanhe Base.”

“A professor from Country A?”

Mo Xiu was startled.

He had never heard about such a thing in his previous life.

Of course, he knew that many people must have been researching the zombie virus after the apocalypse began.

But as far as he remembered, the research institute at Shanhe Base had always focused on developing and enhancing supernatural abilities.

Could this be the butterfly effect caused by his rebirth?

Perhaps because Xu Liang had died earlier, Xiong Mingyuan now had the time and resources to learn about this professor.

If Xiong Mingyuan had approached him for some other reason, Mo Xiu would have refused without hesitation.

But this was different.

What if this professor truly held the key to ending the apocalypse?

Even though he currently had the ability to live comfortably with Mo Qi, how could such a life compare to the world before the apocalypse?

Mo Xiu swallowed the excuses he had prepared earlier.

Sighing inwardly, he still nodded decisively.

“So you want me to find that professor from Country A?

What’s his name? What does he look like? Do you have a more precise location?”

Hearing this, Xiong Mingyuan’s face lit up with delight.

He quickly told Mo Xiu everything he knew.

He also called over several people who had already been chosen for the mission so they could meet Mo Xiu and discuss cooperating to find the professor.

“I remember you said you wanted to rest for a while,” Xiong Mingyuan added.

“I’m not trying to make things difficult for you. But the area where the professor disappeared is quite dangerous. I can only rely on someone truly capable like you.”

Mo Xiu waved his hand dismissively.

He had heard too many flattering words like that.

Still, after hearing the details, another question surfaced in his mind.

Why would a professor from Country A appear within the territory of Xia Country?

His name was Frank—a foreigner.

In the middle of an apocalyptic crisis, he had traveled all the way here?

And how had Xiong Mingyuan obtained such information?

“Can you tell me the source of this information?” Mo Xiu asked.

Xiong Mingyuan smiled and pointed toward a man sitting nearby.

“That’s thanks to Old Feng—Feng Wenkang. He’s well-informed.

Our base maintains some contact with other groups, though not much. Old Feng learned about this major news and told me immediately.”

Mo Xiu glanced toward Feng Wenkang.

The man smiled politely and nodded.

But instead of easing his suspicions, it only deepened them.

Regardless, Mo Xiu had no intention of refusing this mission.

Xiong Mingyuan intended for Mo Xiu’s entire team to cooperate with the people he had already selected.

But Mo Xiu didn’t plan to agree to that arrangement.

Since the search area was dangerous, Lu Pingwan and Xie Wu didn’t necessarily need to go.

Lu Pingwan’s Level-2 water ability had weak offensive power, and Xie Wu was just an ordinary person. Though intelligent, he wasn’t skilled in combat.

Cheng Cheng, however, could come.

His growth recently had been remarkable. Perhaps his fight with Bian Tai had inspired him.

Since then, he had begun experimenting with summoning and controlling various dangerous plants—and the results had been promising.

In Mo Xiu’s previous life, top-tier plant ability users were both offensive and defensive powerhouses.

Cheng Cheng had great talent. Bringing him along would serve as good training.

As for Mo Qi—

Knowing him, even if Mo Xiu tried to leave him behind, he wouldn’t agree.

So Mo Xiu hadn’t even considered that option.

And then there was Xiong Gangyong.

He would definitely come along as well.

Not only because he was now part of their team, but also because he was Xiong Mingyuan’s younger brother.

When Mo Xiu had agreed to let him join the team earlier, he had already considered this.

With the younger brother around, even if Xiong Mingyuan developed bad intentions, he would think twice.

Thinking this, Mo Xiu turned to Xiong Gangyong right in front of Xiong Mingyuan.

“Dayong, you’re coming with us on this mission too. It’s such an important matter—you should contribute as well.”

The moment he heard that, Xiong Gangyong completely ignored the resistant expression on his brother’s face.

He slapped his thigh excitedly.

“Of course I’m going! I love contributing!”

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