Chapter 106: Heading to the Shooting Range

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Li Ban Chuan was twenty-six years old this year. He was the vice president of one of the world’s top ten investment firms. Not because of exceptional talent, but because the company belonged to his family. As the heir to a major financial conglomerate of an island nation, this current position was naturally his role, overseeing a portion of the family business. He did not enjoy this job. What he truly longed for was to shed his blood on the battlefield. Unfortunately, there was no chance for that. The reason was... just like years ago when the entire island nation was brimming with overconfidence, and all media outlets clamored for buying out the Eagle Nation. But, alas, a father is still a father. No need to be chivalrous when dealing with one’s own son. A single agreement suppressed both their newly emerged big and small factions. The military was similarly constrained, constantly restricted by the Eagle Nation, effectively neutered. Ambitious people wouldn’t waste their time there. So he immersed himself in various shooting ranges or ventured to Africa for hunting expeditions. When he first heard about the Fantasy Park, he didn’t believe it. After confirming that this miraculous place truly existed, he spent several sleepless nights filled with excitement, thrill, but also frustration and worry. Why would such a place appear in the Rabbit Nation? His feelings toward the Rabbit Nation were complicated. He envied their vast territory, enormous market, brilliant culture, and long history. He loved Han and Tang culture, admired Wang Yangming and Zhu Shunshui; his family’s business had invested heavily in Rabbit Nation companies, some of which had grown from obscurity into colossal enterprises. Yet, he also harbored caution and even hostility toward many aspects of the Rabbit Nation. He hoped to use the Rabbit Nation to free them from the Eagle Nation’s restrictions but feared becoming a puppet of the Rabbit Nation. He revered the Rabbit Nation’s traditional culture but believed it had lost its essence, and that the true heirs were themselves. He agreed with, even pushed for, his company’s aggressive investments in Rabbit Nation enterprises, yet worried one day his own country’s culture would be assimilated by the Rabbit Nation. He despised how the Rabbit Nation was said to "cherish trivialities but lack grand principles," even though he sometimes felt the same. Now, after exchanges and struggles for interests, he finally obtained the chance to visit Fantasy Park. At that moment, his mood was exquisite. Especially after hearing that a new “shooting range” had been added within the park and that the monthly top scorer could win an Iron Man suit, he was so thrilled he nearly jumped for joy. Unfortunately, no one had scouted ahead; even the Rabbit Nation streamer he regularly followed, Liang Xiaoyu, hadn’t entered. The park was said to officially open tomorrow. Perfect timing to be among the first batch. Probably some live targets. Perhaps some fierce beasts? Li Ban Chuan grew even more eager. His marksmanship was good; his coach, a retired Eagle Nation marine, said he had the potential to be a top shooter. Once there, wouldn’t he wreak havoc? Thinking of the many profitable investments in the Rabbit Nation, Li Ban Chuan was even more excited. "The Rabbit Nation truly is my blessed land." So, he posted some taunts online mocking the dissatisfied men and women of the Southern Stick Country, then eagerly boarded a plane to the Rabbit Nation.

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The sun rose at dawn. Li Ban Chuan gazed at the long queue ahead, his heart stirred. He had already decided: once inside, he would head straight to the shooting range. Rumor had it that with a single ticket, one could enter repeatedly. Since he had no talent for martial arts and had yet to master any, he preferred the shooting range. As for the terrifying haunted house, he kept his distance out of respect. In college, a female classmate had taken him to a horror theater to win his favor, nearly scaring him into fleeing halfway. That same classmate later fell into debt with high-interest loans and was forced to resort to desperate means. By the time he learned of this, there was no way to save her. Later, he found out that it was his beloved grandfather who had orchestrated all this behind the scenes, with his parents’ support. They wanted him to marry the granddaughter of a political ally. The girl was plain-looking and wild in demeanor; he refused outright. Two years ago, at his grandfather’s funeral, he nearly burst out laughing. As for the dinosaur park and the python pavilion... those had long been picked clean. There were hardly any opportunities left on the fixed routes. Besides, he scorned such petty profits. While pondering this, he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. “Brother, you’re from home too, right?” A man about twenty-three or twenty-four asked. Li Ban Chuan paused, then nodded. “Yes, I’m Li Ban Chuan. What’s your name?” Having learned Chinese from a young age, he was not only fluent but skilled in calligraphy. In this place, revealing one’s true identity might lead to rejection. He didn’t mind putting on a disguise. “I’m Su Ming,” the man smiled. “Your name’s pretty strange, sounds just like a Japanese name.” A flicker of awkwardness crossed Li Ban Chuan’s face. He asked, “Which department are you from?” “I’m just a civilian,” Su Ming laughed. “My mother got the quota and insisted on giving it to me.”

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“Your mother’s very kind,” Li Ban Chuan said. “Aren’t all parents like that?” Su Ming replied. “She said she’s too old to go in, so it’s meaningless for her.” Li Ban Chuan nodded. If only his mother had such a chance... He raised an eyebrow: there was only one quota in the family. “What about you? Which department?” Su Ming asked. “Same as you,” Li Ban Chuan answered. “So what’s your plan once inside? How’d you get the ticket?” Su Ming asked. “My family runs some small businesses, so we have some money,” Li Ban Chuan said. “And you?” Su Ming grinned broadly, patting the backpack behind him. “I’m a game streamer, streaming ‘Honor of Kings.’ Someone sponsored my ticket this time, so I get to check out the shooting range first.” Li Ban Chuan frowned. “I have over a million followers on Dogtooth platform. Just since announcing I’m going in to stream, my followers have already increased tenfold in one day!” Su Ming said excitedly, waving his hands. “If I could come here every day, even Zhang Hongfa would be beneath my feet!” Seeing Li Ban Chuan’s expression, Su Ming called out, “Brother, you don’t even know Zhang Hongfa, do you?” Li Ban Chuan shook his head. “What do you do for work? You’re not military like that guy over there, are you?” Su Ming pointed to a sturdy man nearby. Li Ban Chuan shook his head. “I help with family business.” “Your family must be wealthy,” Su Ming envied. “I’m not so lucky; I have to work hard on my own.” “Everyone has their own troubles,” Li Ban Chuan said cryptically. “What are your plans once inside?” Su Ming asked. Behind him was a foreigner who could barely stammer a few words of Chinese; Li Ban Chuan was the only one nearby to chat with. “To the shooting range,” Li Ban Chuan said. “I want the rewards.” “Good spirit!” Su Ming gave a thumbs-up, then asked, “Together?” “I won’t go elsewhere,” Li Ban Chuan declined politely. “Same here. The dinosaur park and python pavilion will be crowded at opening,” Su Ming said. “I want to stream at the shooting range first, before Yu Ze takes the top spot.” “Well... let’s go together then.” Li Ban Chuan thought it wouldn’t hurt to have company. Being alone was dull, and this guy seemed interesting. “You don’t mind being on camera, right?” Su Ming asked. “I’m streaming.” Li Ban Chuan nodded. He didn’t mind. The TV crew had already filmed everyone once, giving each a close-up. The two chatted as they quickly approached the park’s entrance. Stealing Fragrance