Chapter 58: A Different Life!

"Damn it!"

"Carl, you're such a pain!"

As he thought about it, Zhou Yuan suddenly felt annoyed.

He had to work his ass off to improve himself, while Carl, that guy, effortlessly tapped into his talents and gained extraordinary superpowers that ordinary people couldn't even imagine.

Meanwhile...

Earth, Strategic Intelligence Department, General Affairs Office.

"Achoo!"

Just as Carl finished pouring himself a cup of coffee, he sneezed loudly, spraying saliva into the coffee.

"Fuck!"

Carl cursed under his breath, grabbed another cup, and prepared to make a new one.

This was the coffee his immediate superior wanted!

"Private Carl, this little thing can't possibly faze you!"

While making the coffee, Carl muttered to himself, his tone filled with confidence and excitement.

Ever since he joined the strategic forces, he had been bestowed with the rank of Lance Corporal. And just last week, he was promoted to Private First Class. The next step would be Corporal.

This was Private First Class we're talking about!

Higher than Third Class, Second Class, and First Class!

And mind you, he had only joined the strategic forces less than two months ago!

Clearly, Carl Johnson was the rising star of the Strategic Forces!

"I wonder how Zhou is doing."

"That guy hasn't even replied to my emails. He must still be stuck in the mire of Second Class. No wonder he's too embarrassed to contact me, considering I'm already a Private First Class."

"The next time we meet, he better salute me!"

Carl moved quickly, and a new cup of coffee was already poured.

"Excellent!"

"Carl Johnson, you truly are a genius!"

He closed his eyes, sniffed the aroma, nodded in satisfaction, and then left the General Affairs Office to deliver the coffee to his immediate superior.

After all, he was a busy man.

After delivering the coffee to his superior, Carl still had to buy hamburgers for his superior's deputy.

... ...

By the time Carl was serving tea and water to his superiors, Zhou Yuan had finished showering and arrived at the cafeteria with his teammates.

The other squads hadn't returned yet, so there were only eleven members from the First Squad.

"Jerry, get them some drinks, put it on my tab."

"And keep an eye on them, make sure they don't drink too much."

Buck led the team to the beverage area, greeted the vendor, and then turned to his teammates, saying, "I need to report to the Chief Strategic Officer. You guys have a drink."

"Okay, see you later, boss."

"Guys, let's have a good time!"

Everyone cheered and rushed to the beverage area to grab drinks.

However, they all knew in their hearts that although they said they wanted to get drunk, they only grabbed a few boxes of beer and didn't touch any high-alcohol spirits.

Nobody wanted to get drunk, and nobody dared to get drunk.

Emergency missions could arise at any moment, and they couldn't afford to be intoxicated while executing their tasks, as it could cost them their lives.

"Butchery, come on, show me what you've got."

Falcon sat next to Zhou Yuan, opened a few bottles of beer for him, and looked like he was going to educate Zhou Yuan at the drinking table.

"Man, just don't puke on me later."

Zhou Yuan gave Falcon a thumbs-up and picked up a bottle of beer, clinking it against Falcon's in a display of bravado.

For him, beer was no different from plain water.

The rate of alcohol absorption couldn't keep up with his metabolism, so no matter how much he drank, he wouldn't get drunk. At most, his stomach would feel bloated.

"Good, that's the spirit!"

"Alcohol can wash away all negative states."

Seeing Zhou Yuan so readily join in, Falcon also became interested and picked up a beer to drink. 

For men, the dining table is a platform for building relationships and bonding, especially for comrades who fight side by side. 

In just a few minutes, Zhou Yuan's relationship with Falcon became much closer. And not just Falcon, but also the other teammates. 

As a team captain who was highly regarded and openly acknowledged for his strong abilities, Zhou Yuan was very popular within the team. 

All the teammates actively approached him and clinked glasses with him. 

Of course, this was related to their actions earlier in the morning. They personally witnessed Zhou Yuan's performance and deemed him a reliable teammate, so they wholeheartedly accepted him. 

Zhou Yuan also saw these teammates as his buddies since they would be fighting side by side for a long time. It was time to develop long-term friendships. 

After this exchange, the atmosphere within the team became even more harmonious. 

... ...

The next morning, Zhou Yuan woke up refreshed from his bed. 

The drinking session from yesterday lasted from the afternoon until the evening, and everyone had a great time, including him. 

It started as just drinks, but it turned into a "get-together with old friends." 

Everyone took turns sharing their experiences and stories, talking about where they had been, what creatures they had killed, and what difficult missions they had undertaken. 

Being in the Mobile Forces for less than two months, Zhou Yuan had no stories of his own yet, apart from the rumors of "enjoying fighting veterans," so he could only be a listener. 

However, listening to stories felt really good, especially when they were true stories. 

Members of the Hunter Squad were all elite soldiers from their respective units before joining the squad, having achieved significant accomplishments. After joining the Hunter Squad, they accomplished even greater things. 

Zhou Yuan was genuinely interested in their experiences and could listen for hours without getting tired. 

But today, he could share his own story. 

Since the get-together lasted until late evening, Buck canceled the morning training, giving him half a day of free time. 

He planned to go back and visit the former members of Team 8 in the 3rd Platoon. 

Team 8's defense shift at the wall started at 7:10, and it was still early, so there was enough time for a short gathering. 

He would go fully armed, wearing his space armor. 

As the saying goes, "Riches don't return home, and one must travel in style." 

He thought this phrase made a lot of sense. 

Although his physique had been enhanced, his mental state hadn't reached the level of being unaffected by honor or disgrace. He was a bit vain but not arrogant. 

This kind of thinking was quite good, and Zhou Yuan hoped to be a normal person rather than a selfless saint. 

Of course, this was his own understanding. Others might have different opinions about him, but he couldn't control how others perceived him. He just wanted to live comfortably. 

... ...

Soon, Zhou Yuan left the dormitory fully equipped. He wore the full set of armor and combat gear, but only brought a Barrett rifle. 

There were plenty of guns on the wall, but it felt more satisfying to hold a weapon in one's hand, so he planned to go empty-handed. 

"Oh wait... I should bring some gifts!" 

As he was about to take the elevator, Zhou Yuan turned back and headed towards the dining hall. 

He planned to wrap some cigars with yellow paper as gifts. 

First, there were Campbell and Turner, who had shown him kindness and had been looking after him. It wouldn't be right to go empty-handed. 

There were also other team leaders and their members who deserved a gesture of appreciation. 

This was what friendship circles were about!