Global Abyss: My Skills Can Enhance Infinitely

Panda had just entered the club with Tao Yu, pushing open the door to a blast of sequestered, booming music that filled their ears. The rhythmic rock-influenced music, paired with the flashing lights, stimulated everyone on the dance floor.

On the central stage, a cybernetically enhanced beauty was tweaking the control panel; on the other side, a cat woman and a bunny girl were dancing an indescribable dance.

The bunny girl, in particular, was left with barely a scrap of cloth on her body, her exposure so extreme it defied description.

"Panda, you're back from the Abyss~, is this your friend? I haven't seen him before, but he's handsome~"

As soon as they entered, a seductively dressed woman sauntered over with a sultry gait.

Tao Yu's eyesight was excellent; a casual glance around revealed that many nearby were dressed in uniform, likely just waitstaff.

However, they seemed not to mind offering services beyond those of a typical server.

As for the woman's compliment about him being handsome, Tao Yu chose to ignore it.

Even though it was indeed the truth, he was still in his partner's suit, with a mask on. She must find the mask handsome...

"Table three, bring two pitchers of 'Joy Beer', and add a tropical fruit platter with an ice tower. That kid from last time will be coming too, don't stop him."

Panda's hand, large as a fan, casually slapped the woman's back and, rather cheekily, he sniffed his fingers afterward.

The scantily clad, seductive server didn't mind at all. Instead, she replied with a flirtatious giggle and a coy look,

"Oh, you're such a tease. Will that rustic little brother be coming too? Should I call Lina from last time? He's been missing her. I can bring another sister to join you guys."

The server even gave Tao Yu a provocative look.

Professional, indeed, and pleasing to the eye.

But Tao Yu, who had been pampered by a wealthy woman, was unmoved by these offerings.

"No need, we've got some business to talk about. We'll call you when we need you."

Although Panda's face was always smeared with a lascivious smile, his words left no room for negotiation.

"Alright, got it."

The server obediently complied, knowing full well the gravity of her job in such a place.

In their line of work, many sisters who suddenly vanished were those who let something slip while keeping company with clients who had been drinking too much.

There were plenty of people in the Inner City with unstable minds; it was all too common for someone to lose control and spill things they shouldn't.

Even an innocent eavesdropper might inadvertently spark trouble.

Like that, she led Tao Yu and Panda to a booth by the side of the stage, a more secluded spot.

Perhaps because it was still early in the afternoon, the dance floor was packed, but the rest of the venue was only around a quarter full. The booth Panda had chosen was near an unoccupied area.

Once in the booth, Panda casually pressed something nearby.

What was originally a semi-open booth was instantly sealed with a transparent membrane at the top and entrance, effectively silencing the deafening noise outside, proving to have exceptional soundproofing.

And from the looks of it, the membrane seemed to be one-way; people on the outside probably couldn't see in. It was specially designed for privacy or quiet conversations.

"Nice setup here, someone else coming later?" asked Tao Yu with a smile.

"Haha, well, it's usually not for business talk," Panda replied, winking and raising his eyebrows suggestively at Tao Yu.

"The guy coming later, you know him. An Outsider like you, with a Grade A talent for balance control. His name is Zhang Lei, currently employed at our company, and he's quite the go-getter."

Upon hearing this, Tao Yu remembered the guy he met six months earlier at a dinner with a few talented individuals from the Development Zone.

He was the life of the party, articulate, and quite adept at navigating social situations.

"Oh, him. So he's moved to the Inner City?"

"His family has some assets in the Development Zone, and along with his own earnings, moving in by himself wasn't much of an issue. The only thing he lacks is some sophistication. Last time he was here it was quite embarrassing."

Panda seemed to recall something amusing, a sly smile spreading across his face.

But inside, he was surprised by Tao Yu's composure.

Tao Yu had strength and connections, but being an Outsider, his experience should have been limited.

It appeared to be his first visit to such a place today, yet he wasn't the least bit swayed.

Zhang Lei, when he first came, couldn't take his eyes off the sights—a young man in his prime unable to withstand such temptation.

Having mentioned his Grade A talent, he was quickly targeted by an experienced girl who plucked his 'title', borrowing his seed in the process.

"Coming here purposely, there's something you can't talk about elsewhere, right?"

Tao Yu casually mentioned it, making Panda sigh as well.

"Yeah, now aside from the two from the Suns, there are eleven other big shots marking their territory everywhere in the new Development Zone. We took the early lead in our growth momentum and have been investing in various aspects, but with their move, the pressure on us is indeed quite substantial."

"Sun Shiqing... even the young master can't keep them in check?"

Tao Yu was also somewhat surprised. Weren't there only two last time he came back? Now there were eleven?

Apart from the confirmation of the installation of the teleportation device, it seemed to have also coincided with a wave of birthdays.

"Of course, he can keep them in check. No matter what, they wouldn't dare to mess around in front of those two, but the problem is that we can't bother them with every little thing. You know that as well."

At this, Panda's face also showed a hint of helplessness.

Having strong backing could solve many problems, but indeed, this support was not directly related by blood, and it was not something they could ask for anytime and anywhere. It was mainly used to deal with the direct pressure from the big shots in the Floating City.

But sometimes, pressure doesn't necessarily require their direct involvement.

Yama is easier to meet than the troublesome minions!

Down below, there were plenty of lackeys trying to curry favor, and it might even not be their intention, but some of the Inner City Pioneers also cared about certain benefits and began to wave the big flag.

Both sides were waving the flag of the Floating City; neither would easily show their full hand, so when they clashed, it came down to actual strength.

"Haven't you already brought quite a few people into the fold? They still come to bother us?"

"Heh, the plots we've staked out have great locations, taking advantage of our first-mover position, and hold tremendous potential,"

Panda now seemed somewhat pleased with himself.

If the benefits weren't significant enough, they of course wouldn't provoke them without good reason.

"If it weren't for our numerous allies, we would've buckled under the pressure long ago. For now, it's a tug of war, and the issue isn't too serious, but it'd be even better if you could come back,"

"I'm a bit too far away at the moment."

Tao Yu didn't say something like 'I'll go and greet Sun Shiqing' because, just as Sun Shiqing had initially said, Tao Yu couldn't really accept the overflowing kindness on her part.

At least, involving himself in the current matter was inappropriate.

"That's fine, don't bother with the trouble of coming and going. Just keep haggling. In the worst case, we just concede a bit of the profit, it's not a big deal,"

Panda didn't have any intention of coercing Tao Yu to return.

For now, it was enough that Tao Yu could stabilize the protection on the young master's side. For the other regular collisions, if they really couldn't hold up, then they simply had to back down a little. The other party wouldn't push too hard.

"Inner City kids, huh? Who are they? Send me the information, and I'll take a look,"

Tao Yu pondered for a moment, then his eyes deeply looked at Panda.

Raising snakes and jade bees also accounted for a long-term trade.

Even in the short term, after ramping up the business and selling part of the shares for money, that would bring in an enormous cash flow.

Concede benefits?

Concede what benefits?

What if another wave comes next time?

If it's just a competition of strength among Inner City scions, and the Floating City doesn't get involved, then there's nothing to fear.

Once there's enough killing, no one will dare to covet anymore...

And Panda, who had just been venting to Tao Yu and wondering when he would return, suddenly felt all the hair on his body stand on end, shivering with goosebumps as if he was a fluffed-up cat.

Seeing this reaction from the tall figure who stood at two meters and thirty centimeters, Tao Yu gave him an extra look.

"What's the matter? Are you allergic to some implant you got?"

At that moment, Panda looked at the hair standing up on his arm, a bit dazed, and then swallowed before saying,

"It's a type of insect's killing intent detection, but since it's an implant, it's not very accurate, a bit of a nerve blade, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't..."

However, it was at that moment when someone rang the bell outside. A cat girl carrying a tray arrived at the door with Zhang Lei in tow.

Zhang Lei had acted quite smooth and adaptable at the dinner party last time,

But this time around, he seemed somewhat ill at ease and seemed still not quite adjusted to the environment he had stepped into.

That expression made Tao Yu feel a bit emotional.

After all, he was a person who had come to the strange Inner City, a foreign environment,

Without the backing and confidence of his family, his self-assurance had diminished substantially. After all, he was just a nineteen-year-old, of the age when one usually starts university...