The Seeds of Suspicion

It was the blue-haired youth who interrupted the driver. He rose from the ground, calmly dusting off imaginary dirt from his clothes, then spoke with an air of composure.

“It couldn’t have been those two.”

Liu Zhengxuan’s voice was steady and remarkably reliable, a stark contrast to his vibrant blue hair.

“Why? Oh, is it because they’re on your side?”

‘Why did I ever bring this guy into the team?’ Xiang Ke wondered. ‘Do they still offer refunds?’

She didn’t expect any real help from these teammates; her only hope was that they wouldn’t cause trouble at a crucial moment.

Yet, this guy… Xiang Ke felt a surge of helplessness. If not for her temporary alliance with Liu Zhengxuan, that one sentence alone would have thoroughly offended their adversaries. He was such a liability, it made her wonder if he was an infiltrator.

Having not been in a pure rookie game for what felt like ages, Xiang Ke had overestimated the newcomers’ quality. Anyone who had spent time in this treacherous game wouldn’t make such a basic mistake.

Newbies lacked this awareness. Only by truly experiencing the shift between life and death could one adapt and gradually keep pace with the game’s rhythm.

It was hardly surprising that the driver, Wu Jiancheng, who had only just passed his three-game novice period, would act this way.

He simply believed it would be beneficial and acted on that impulse, failing to see the deeper implications.

This served as a crucial reminder for Xiang Qi, making her fully grasp the importance of observing more, thinking more, and deciding only after careful consideration.

She could not afford to make such a rookie mistake. Pulling Shu Xun, who had glued herself to Xiang Qi upon seeing her, aside, she prepared to watch the impending drama unfold.

‘If only I had sunflower seeds, peanuts, and some soda,’ she thought. The idea made her stomach rumble louder, her body protesting its hunger.

Speaking of which… this bespectacled girl appeared delicate, yet she possessed considerable strength. Xiang Qi glanced thoughtfully at Shu Xun, who, noticing Xiang Qi’s gaze, offered a smile in return. Xiang Qi didn’t dwell on it, for the show was about to begin.

“Please mind your words.”

A faint, enigmatic smile played on the blue-haired youth’s lips, making Wu Jiancheng feel a shiver of unease.

‘He’s just bluffing,’ Wu Jiancheng tried to reassure himself, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Alas, it was already too late.

“Why do I say that? Allow me to explain.”

Though ostensibly for the driver, his explanation was truly for everyone present.

“There were no obvious wounds on the deceased… at least none I could find. We can provisionally rule out murder,” the blue-haired youth stated his judgment methodically, like a professional forensic pathologist. “If those two were responsible, there would undoubtedly be signs of a struggle. It wouldn’t be this clean.”

“Are you trying to say he committed suicide?” Wu Jiancheng burst into laughter, using it to mask his uneasiness, as if he‘d heard a ridiculous joke.

“Of course not suicide. The man died of natural causes.” Liu Zhengxuan knew perfectly well what the two night watchmen had been up to last night; after all, he had personally orchestrated it, solely to create an opportune moment to invite Xiang Ke out.

“If my guess is correct, he likely had a history of heart disease.”

The blue-haired youth declared his conclusion.

“His face was pale, his expression distorted, and his right hand clutched his chest tightly, accompanied by profuse sweating. These are classic symptoms of an acute myocardial infarction.”

Regardless of whether those present believed him, he had no intention of explaining further. His aim was simply to state his position.

Wu Jiancheng grew anxious. Too flustered to discern the truth, he only knew his situation was dire and he needed to find a way to save himself.

At least what this guy said sounded professional enough.

“How can you be so certain your judgment is correct? How do we know you’re not just making it up? Even if you were, we wouldn’t be able to tell, would we?”

“Heh.”

Only a cold, inscrutable chuckle answered him.

Indeed, Liu Zhengxuan possessed no medical knowledge; those few sentences were conjured on the spot. However, as the leader of this team, his words carried significant authority due to his subtle, inherent prestige.

In contrast, Wu Jiancheng, the driver, lacked any substantial presence, making it impossible for him to contend with the blue-haired youth in such a situation.

“We are all part of a team; it’s better not to squabble. We share a common enemy, the Stalker. It would be unwise to lose combat strength due to internal conflict at a time like this.”

Xiang Ke stepped in to mediate, subtly signaling to the blue-haired youth that she would handle the matter.

Though clearly annoyed, the blue-haired youth gave an almost imperceptible nod, indicating his compliance.

Giving face to an ally in such matters was acceptable. Besides, Wu Jiancheng’s muscular build suggested he wasn’t someone to be easily provoked; subduing him if truly angered would require considerable effort.

Currently, they were still short on food and water, so carelessly expending physical strength would not be a wise choice.

“How about this, Wu Jiancheng? You apologize to these two, and we’ll let this matter go. We’re all comrades who have to live together, aren’t we?”

It was clear this woman wasn’t particularly skilled at leading a team.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have doubted you so casually.” Wu Jiancheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. A knot had formed in his heart, and he turned to apologize to the two men.

In truth, no one dictates that an apology must be accepted, especially when matters of life and death are involved, where another life was almost lost.

The two night watchmen naturally resisted accepting, but out of respect for Liu Zhengxuan, they agreed. What they truly thought remained their own secret.

‘This small team already shows clear cracks,’ Xiang Qi thought, feeling a certain satisfaction after watching the drama unfold. She always felt better when others weren’t doing well.

The two night watchmen were, of course, isolated. Even the slightest hint of threat meant no one dared to associate with them; life was more important than anything else.

Once the seed of suspicion was planted, it could never be uprooted.

The same applied to the driver, Wu Jiancheng. His initial aggressive demeanor had left a deep impression on everyone’s minds, a problem not easily dismissed.

And then there was Xiang Ke, who, at this moment, was unaware of what had truly transpired. Xiang Qi lowered her gaze, silently pronouncing a death sentence upon her.

Perhaps as a veteran player, her abilities were indeed outstanding, demonstrating considerable skill in many aspects, truly making her formidable.

However, her grasp of human nature was still insufficient.