Natasha was taken aback by the words and fell silent.

She didn't refute Jing's strategy because every servant was naturally prepared to die for their master.

Only Su Yan looked deeply at Jing, understanding that her words were not a test or provocation, but a genuine plan.

Using the lives of N Card servants to pave a way forward was the safest method at the moment.

She even believed it was a low-cost decision with a decent return.

It might even be profitable.

"Master, the final decision is yours."

Jing looked into Su Yan's eyes and bowed her head respectfully in his silence. "I'm merely offering a suggestion."

At this moment, the second wave of the Zombie Tide refreshed again.

With the emergence of black mist, nearly hundreds of zombies appeared simultaneously.

Their movements were swifter, their strength greater, fearlessly plunging into traps, rushing towards Su Yan's location with fierce roars.

The traps initially set up didn't achieve the expected lethal effect. The first wave of zombies collapsed the traps and fell to the ground, while the second wave trampled over their remains and the trap debris to continue their charge.

Old Chen and Da Hu, along with other servants, had long been standing in front of obstacles with steel pipes and clubs, fighting the zombie horde with the help of trap remnants.

They hesitated not, never retreating, standing firmly in front of Su Yan.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Natasha had already drawn her bow, arrows slicing through the air, whistling down the street, hitting several zombies right in the head.

She saved a few servants who were about to be scratched and infected by zombies, shooting arrows while running forward, pulling out a short blade with her right hand to join the battle as soon as her arrows ran out.

The combat prowess of an SR-rank servant was undeniable. With Natasha joining the fight, the zombie horde was firmly held back, zombies falling one after another.

But it was merely a surface optimism; everyone could see that the strength of the second wave of the Zombie Tide was already pushing the limits of what the team could bear. If there were a few dozen more, or if the traps had been fewer, the tide would have reached Su Yan.

The second wave was already like this, so what about the third and fourth waves if they continued to stay in this area?

By then, Su Yan would have to personally join the battle, and as the number of refreshing tides increased and their strength grew, the intensity of the Zombie Tide would eventually reach a point where even a Legendary Card would struggle to resist.

Su Yan didn't join the battle, only walking slowly, his gaze fixed ahead.

He was expressionless, his thoughts unknown.

Until Jing spoke from behind him, "Master, the situation is clear. The progressive refresh mechanism will exceed our current capacity in just 2-3 waves."

"And the resources available on the street are limited, meaning the so-called 'farming Blood Coins' tactic won't last."

"We ultimately have to reach the end; it's an unavoidable fact."

The battle lasted a full half hour before ending, Natasha returning to Su Yan with a furrowed brow.

"Master, we can't stay here any longer; the next wave will be stronger."

Natasha reported the battle situation, "Although no one was injured, everyone's stamina is exhausted, and the materials for traps are depleted. Next time, we might have to face more and stronger zombies barehanded."

The situation was worse than Su Yan had anticipated; this team had no chance of surviving the third wave in the same area.

And his strength wasn't considered weak, so what about the other users in the Chat Channel... their situation was likely worse, with greater survival pressure.

Su Yan had already learned from interactions in the Chat Area that the layout of the Racewalk streets in Zombie Ruined City 1-1 was roughly the same, with each user sharing a Map but not seeing each other.

Based on this, Su Yan could infer the situation and pressure of others from his own experiences.

"Let's go, find another place."

Su Yan gestured for everyone to follow.

He could also choose to stay, letting the servants fight to the death to kill more zombies, but it wasn't worth it.

Even if Su Yan could be cold-blooded enough to disregard the lives of his people, indifferent to the sacrifice and damage of low-level cards, he still had to consider the efficiency of investment and return.

The second wave of Zombie Tide kills brought Su Yan 533 Blood Coins.

Adding the previous tide's kills, this meant that even excluding Natasha, the other servants could generate nearly a thousand Blood Coins, almost breaking even.

The Blood Coins brought by the servants afterward would be pure profit.

Of course, these Blood Coins didn't mean these servants had the direct combat power to face zombies.

The physical qualities of N Card servants were similar to ordinary humans, perhaps slightly better depending on their skills and professions, but still limited.

In Su Yan's view, the greatest value of N Card servants wasn't their direct combat power.

It was their ability to think like normal humans, their ability to use and modify tools, and the help they provided to users on the path of survival through their professional experience.

These were the most valuable aspects, not easily measured by Blood Coins.

After walking for a while, Su Yan arrived in a new area.

This was a road he had traveled before, not unfamiliar.

"Stay here, keep farming Blood Coins until the Zombie Tide exceeds our limit, then we'll leave."

Su Yan instructed the servants to search the surroundings and prepare defenses before the next refresh.

Natasha wasn't sent ahead for reconnaissance but stayed to oversee the battle, and Su Yan himself held a Legendary Card, ready to join the fight at any moment.

"Jing, you're right."

Su Yan looked at the busy servants and suddenly spoke, "I must consider cost and output, but that doesn't mean I'll casually sacrifice you."

Jing was taken aback, sighing slightly, "Master, that's unnecessary kindness."

"It's not pure kindness."

Su Yan glanced at the librarian beside him and suddenly smiled, "It's a matter of values. In my eyes, you're not cheap."

"Whether from a life perspective or a card level perspective."

"You made a good point; in survival, everything requires careful consideration. But is it possible that the mechanism deceives us regarding card levels?"

"Especially in the positioning of Servant Cards, are low-level servants necessarily cheap and expendable?"

Su Yan spoke meaningfully, "I've played many games, and those games taught me a lesson: you can't fully trust what the developers say, sometimes not even a single word."

"From a pure cost and output perspective, I believe you can bring me greater value and benefits."

"Take you, for example."

Su Yan patted Jing's soft shoulder, suddenly smiling, "Sending you into battle would be the greatest waste of your value, as your strength lies in your mind."

"The same principle applies to each of them, different professions, different experiences, different abilities... Pursuing high-level cards isn't wrong, but it might not be the optimal solution."

"Maximizing the value of all cards, achieving 1+1 greater than 2, is the correct approach."

"Making the best use of everything and everyone is the key to survival."

Su Yan pointed at the servants, full of spirit, speaking freely.

This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

He didn't want to consider costs, values, or life and death.

He only knew one thing: do what I want to do!

The greatest value of living is to truly implement one's thoughts and actions!

Whatever my values are, that's what I'll do, without overthinking right or wrong.

Jing looked up at him, touching her shoulder where a bit of warmth lingered.

Suddenly.

The girl smiled.

"Master is right; you're the smartest."