A Deadly Detour

Now, only the suit-clad man’s team, which had yet to return, remained under his command, and his influence had significantly waned.

So, what exactly had happened to the suit-clad man who was so late in rejoining the group?

The team assigned to the suit-clad man was none other than the two watchmen from before. For convenience, we’ll temporarily refer to them as Minion Alpha and Minion Beta.

In truth, after the incident that morning, the two had been given the cold shoulder by everyone, intentionally isolated. While they could still be considered combatants, their situation was vastly different from the others. Far from being valued, there wasn’t even anyone willing to interact with them.

Suddenly being assigned to go out with these two, the suit-clad man, Liang Qian, was undoubtedly unwilling. No one would want to be with two unstable elements; it felt like a joke at the expense of his own life.

However, he couldn’t argue with the blue-haired youth. He knew he wouldn’t win a fight, and it wasn’t worth falling out with Liu Zhengxuan over such a minor matter.

Therefore, he could only grit his teeth and accept it, chalking it up to bad luck. He resolved to speak as little as possible throughout their journey.

Thus, a team with an extremely peculiar atmosphere set off.

Initially, Liang Qian maintained his wariness, regarding the two with considerable suspicion. But as the exploration progressed, his fruitless efforts made him increasingly irritable.

Seeing no abnormal behavior from the pair, he unconsciously let down his guard. From every angle, they seemed like pure novices, nothing more.

‘What was I even worried about before?’ Liang Qian mused, his thoughts gradually becoming more active.

Since childhood, he had always possessed a strong desire to stand out. He constantly sought to appear unique and superior, eager to impress others with his excellence.

This personality wasn’t particularly endearing, but no one seemed to care.

He truly was exceptional, the archetypal ‘child next door’ from an early age. He had served as a kindergarten class monitor and later as a university student council vice-president, long accustomed to directing those beneath him.

Now, relegated to a subordinate position under the blue-haired youth, he harbored a lingering resentment, though he never voiced it. What he desired wasn’t to be someone else’s minion, but a person of influence wielding real power.

Yet, circumstances were stronger than personal ambition. Having already endured five games, Liang Qian had long experienced the harsh realities of this world. He knew precisely when to act and when to refrain.

This, however, did not diminish his desire to distinguish himself.

Just as he had done during his self-introduction, he would always seize any suitable opportunity to showcase his unique qualities. Now, the perfect chance had arrived.

‘These two are being ostracized. If I show them kindness now, I might be able to bring them over to my side. Besides, the blue-haired guy isn’t here, so as long as I don’t tell anyone, no one will know what I’ve done.’

Liang Qian’s thoughts grew increasingly active. He cast a meaningful glance at the minion duo ahead, intending to employ a conciliatory approach.

The strategy proved successful. The two, feeling anxious and marginalized, accepted Liang Qian’s goodwill almost without a second thought. Soon enough, they began calling him ‘Brother Liang’ at every turn.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Liang Qian, who had unknowingly advanced to the front, became lost in these repeated calls of ‘Brother Liang.’ He even began to walk with a bit of a swagger.

In that moment, a vivid fantasy flashed through his mind: the blue-haired youth kneeling and clutching his leg, weeping profusely, lamenting his blindness. The two women, Xiang Ke and Shu Xun, would lean against him, docile as affectionate kittens.

Even Xia Lingxue, standing to the side, would gaze at him with tender affection, as if utterly captivated by this man. As these thoughts consumed him, his head lifted even higher.

Fantasies were beautiful, but reality was exceptionally cruel.

Liang Qian, having, after all, experienced five games, would not completely abandon his fundamental vigilance. Though five games might only qualify one as a novice in the eyes of seasoned veterans, it was enough to cultivate essential qualities.

Anyone still so naive and foolish at this stage would not have survived to the fifth game; they would have been toyed with and killed long ago.

Upon suddenly snapping out of his reverie, he realized something was amiss.

It was still the same street, desolate and devoid of a single soul. Only a faint, elusive scent of blood lingered around him.

‘Where in the hell is that bloody smell coming from?’ Liang Qian’s pupils constricted, and a desire to retreat welled up within him.

“Brother Liang, what’s wrong?” Minion Alpha asked, a hint of confusion in his voice as he saw Liang Qian stop.

This was where the difference between an experienced player and a newcomer became apparent. As a rookie, Minion Alpha hadn’t detected any anomaly. Two days without any sign of enemies had made him drop his guard.

“Something’s up. Be careful.”

After speaking, Liang Qian wanted to slap himself. He had intended to say ‘retreat immediately,’ but the words that came out were a warning to be careful. It was that accursed desire to show off again.

How could he display his cowardice in front of his newly acquired subordinates?

Proceeding cautiously, Liang Qian remained vigilant for any potential enemies. The faint scent of blood grew stronger and stronger, filling him with profound unease. His urge to retreat intensified.

Finally, he halted.

But Minion Beta had already passed him, disappearing around the corner.

The next moment, a startled cry rang out.

“Brother Liang, hurry! Someone’s dead!”

A jolt went through his heart; his premonition had come true. Disregarding everything else, he exchanged a glance with Minion Alpha and quickly rushed towards the source of the sound.

Two bodies lay at the corner, embracing each other. Their faces were contorted, as if they had witnessed something terrifying in their final moments. Blood flowed beneath them, expanding its crimson territory.

They were the couple who had left the group. Liang Qian remembered these individuals; those who dared to act alone during team operations always stood out, leaving a deeper impression on everyone.

Now, these two had died here, their passing anything but peaceful. They didn’t appear to have been dead for very long.

His heart suddenly tightened. He scanned his surroundings and, only after finding no one, let out a sigh of relief. It seemed the killer had already departed.

Liang Qian suspected that the unseen Hunter was responsible for their deaths, but he had no concrete evidence. ‘We need to get out of here first. The killer could return at any moment.’ He made up his mind, unaware of a pair of eyes glinting coldly from a nearby rooftop.