Lin Xinghai didn't comment on what Roger said, which was, in a way, a tacit agreement.
If he could become the squad's top gunman, it would be nothing but beneficial for him.
Of course, that was all for later. The most important thing now was to collect more Blood Qi Power.
BANG BANG BANG!
Lin Xinghai kept firing at the approaching Zombies, now fully demonstrating his Gun Technique.
When shooting Zombies within 30 meters, his headshot rate was over 70%.
It felt great. Lin Xinghai even had the illusion that his shooting was getting smoother and smoother.
However, when he casually opened his system panel for a look, he found that it was no illusion.
His Basic Level Shooting Skill's proficiency had surprisingly reached 40.1%.
His shooting skill had actually increased by 0.1% through practice alone.
Of course, the cost seemed a bit steep. All told, he had already fired over 200 bullets.
'Does that mean it takes 2,000 bullets to increase it by 1%?'
'20,000 for 10%?'
'And 200,000 bullets for 100%?'
'And that's not even counting the possibility that the cost will increase the higher it gets.'
'If I factor that in, it would probably take one or two million bullets, minimum.'
"A good Gun Technique is really just fed with bullets," Lin Xinghai couldn't help but mutter.
Just as he was getting into the rhythm of shooting, the convoy gradually slowed down.
Lin Xinghai looked up into the distance and saw that the scenery had changed. Far away, the skyline was crowded with tall buildings, with one skyscraper after another rising from the ground.
Of course, almost all of these skyscrapers had been snapped in half, but the remaining sections were still forty or fifty stories tall.
'Are we entering the city center?' Lin Xinghai wondered.
Just then, Roger began calling out names. About half the people in the vehicle were called and stood up.
"Alright, you're with me. We'll be heading into the city center together shortly," Roger said.
"Uh, what about the rest of us?" Lin Xinghai asked, confused.
"The city center has too many skyscrapers. After they collapsed, some of them fell right across several streets. Under these conditions, it's impossible to clear a path for the Armored Vehicle to drive through."
"So from here, the team will split in two. The Corps Commander will lead an elite force into the city center on foot to retrieve the Energy Crystal Stone."
"The rest of the team will stay in the Armored Vehicles, pull out of Tianshan City, and wait for our radio signal to come back for extraction."
"So for now, just stay with the convoy and head back. With the protection of the Armored Vehicles, your safety is guaranteed," Roger patiently explained the rest of the plan.
Any normal rookie would have gladly accepted Roger's arrangement.
But Lin Xinghai was different!
Why had he come on this mission? When it came down to it, wasn't it all for the Blood Qi Power?
If he returned with the Armored Vehicles, he'd be stuck inside them the whole time with no opportunity to collect Blood Qi Power.
But if he went into the city center, advancing on foot, there would be plenty of opportunities.
He could just squat down next to a corpse to "tie his shoelaces" or something, and that would be all it took.
"Captain Luo, I request to enter the city center," Lin Xinghai said quickly.
"No. The city center is too dangerous," Roger refused without a second thought.
"Captain Luo, don't worry. I can protect myself. As long as I have enough bullets, regular Zombies won't be able to get near me," Lin Xinghai said.
"Yes, your Gun Technique is improving very quickly, and it's already at the standard of a qualified Mercenary. But that's still not enough. The danger in the city center is nothing like what we've faced here."
"You saw those High Level Zombies just now. I can tell you for a fact that the number of High Level Zombies in the city center is at least ten times higher than in the outer districts."
"And it's not just High Level Zombies. We might even run into the more terrifying Mutated Zombies." Roger's expression was grave. If that happened, having a liability along would only put the team in greater danger.
Therefore, his decision was made out of responsibility to both Lin Xinghai and the entire Heaven-Sundering Mercenary Corps.
'My Gun Technique isn't up to par? You're forcing me to cheat again!' Lin Xinghai muttered to himself and opened his system panel.
He tapped the "+" sign twice, spending 9 points of Blood Qi Power to raise his Gun Technique proficiency from 40% to 60%.
"Old Luo, you see those three Zombies in the distance?" Lin Xinghai asked, pointing to three Zombies running out from some faraway ruins.
Roger's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't know what Lin Xinghai was planning, but he knew the kid was about to pull something. He could tell just from being called 'Old Luo'.
Lin Xinghai, of course, didn't care what Roger was thinking. He wanted to demonstrate his strength, so as soon as he finished speaking, he raised the Tearing Rifle in his hands.
He didn't fire immediately, waiting until the three Zombies were within 50 meters before pulling the trigger.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Three consecutive shots rang out, and all three of the charging Zombies were headshot, dropping to the ground without exception.
The whole sequence was so smooth and fluid it was almost mesmerizing to watch.
But everyone in the vehicle who witnessed this had their mouths agape, without exception. Roger's face was a mask of utter astonishment.
Few people in the first squad could hit a Zombie from over 50 meters away.
As for killing three Zombies in a row without even deliberately aiming, relying purely on instinct, only Roger and Chen Hao in the entire first squad were capable of that.
"Actually, this is my true skill. I held back before because I was afraid of discouraging you all," Lin Xinghai said with a sheepish smile.
Roger: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Roger was suddenly glad he had already adjusted his mindset and stopped comparing himself to Lin Xinghai. Otherwise, he felt he might just become a depressed shut-in.
"I think my Gun Technique is more than enough for self-defense. Besides, I'm the type who rises to the occasion. The more danger I face, the more my Gun Technique will improve."
"My Gun Technique improved so quickly precisely because I could feel the danger, and it forced me to tap into my potential."
"If I go with you to the city center, I'm sure my Gun Technique will have another breakthrough, and I'll become the Heaven-Sundering Mercenary Corps' first Divine Sharpshooter," Lin Xinghai continued his bullshitting with a completely straight face.
'Might as well attribute all the system's illogical aspects to my own talent. Besides, I have a fake Special Physique to back up my claims!'
Roger: "..."
With Lin Xinghai putting it like that, what else could he possibly say?
'If I stand in the way of Lin Xinghai becoming a Divine Sharpshooter, won't I be labeled as someone who's jealous of the talented?'
"Fine! I'll go talk to the Corps Commander. If he agrees, I have no objection," Roger finally said after a long silence.