Chapter 55: Brought the Wrong People, It's Not Those Two

Shuxin and Shuyi crouched on the ground, clutching their heads.

“Sis, why isn’t the other person coming down? How are we supposed to make a move?”

The pistol lay just ahead, within reach. The moment their opponent stepped out of the vehicle, she could grab the gun and retaliate.

But this person just sat calmly in the driver’s seat, refusing to get out.

“Shuxin, stay calm. I have a feeling this one won’t be easy to deal with.” Shuyi peered through the windshield; their adversary was far too composed, showing no sign of urgency. Normally, they’d have gotten out by now.

Suddenly, Number 001 stepped out.

Shuxin was startled. The one coming down was a woman.

“Sis, what do we do?”

Shuyi shook her head. “Forget it, let’s resign ourselves to fate.”

“But the other is a man—what if he…” Shuxin’s face was full of worry.

It was a real possibility. After all, there were no police in this world.

“If it comes to that, we’ll just kill ourselves!” Better to die than submit.

Number 001 approached the two women. “If you get in the car, put on this collar. If not, you die right here.”

As she spoke, Number 001’s middle finger transformed into a sharp scalpel.

Shuxin glanced at the collar, then at Number 001’s hand-turned-blade.

“Sis, what on earth are we dealing with? How does that woman’s hand change shape? And isn’t that man a pervert, making us wear collars? He’ll probably chain us up once we’re inside.”

Images of disturbing scenes flashed through Shuxin’s mind, sending a shiver down her spine.

Shuyi eyed the scalpel. “Maybe it’s a robot. Should we just kill ourselves?”

“Alright. Let’s do it.”

Shuxin reached for the gun, but Number 001 stomped it underfoot.

“So you choose death. Let’s see how many cuts you can withstand.”

The scalpel edged ever closer to Shuxin’s face.

Just as it was about to graze her cheek, Shuyi shouted, “We’ll wear it!”

She’d considered pulling a weapon from her backpack, but a sword hung above her head, ready to sever her hand at any moment. Even if she managed to retrieve it, she couldn’t do much.

They took the collars and fastened them around their necks.

Click. The locks snapped shut; unless Lin Mu wished it, no one could remove them.

Creak.

Lin Mu stepped out of the vehicle, ready to greet his spoils… his team members.

“Ahem, welcome to my team.”

Shuyi’s and Shuxin’s faces twitched. Are you sure your team members need to wear collars?

“Let me remind you: don’t think anything bad about me in your minds, or else…”

“Your sister has already set a fine example for you.”

Beside them, Shuxin trembled violently and collapsed, her face flushed red.

Lin Mu’s mouth twitched. If it weren’t for Zhang Qian’s precedent, he’d suspect the collar’s name was a mistake.

“Ahem, Number 001, take them inside. As for those two, dispose of them.”

Number 001’s digital eyes flickered before she responded, leading the two women into the car.

Lin Mu immediately went to the driver’s seat and removed the vehicle’s core. Only a Level 4 core—quite a pity. He stowed the car itself in his backpack.

“Master, I’ve brought them down.”

Lin Mu turned around and was taken aback.

“Mu bro, if you wanted us to get out, you could’ve just said so—why are you holding us down?” Jiang Ying asked, suppressing her discomfort.

Nearby, the chubby boy stared at the molten lava, trembling all over.

Is this guy planning to throw them into the lava to erase all evidence?

Lin Mu looked at Number 001, exasperated. “Not these two—bring Zhang Qian and that man.”

“Yes, Master.”

Jiang Ying immediately understood and broke out in a cold sweat.

Damn! She’d nearly been killed by Number 001 just now.

Soon, the two were dragged out by Number 001, the scorching air making it hard to breathe.

Their throats felt parched, especially Zhang Qian, whose mouth was still stuffed with a filthy sock; she was on the verge of passing out.

“Just toss them into the lava.”

“Yes, Master.”

Zhang Qian’s eyes widened in terror as she struggled desperately. But to Number 001, her resistance was nothing.

The two dropped into the lava, their screams echoing.

“Mm!!”

“Ah!!!”

Clearly, the lava’s temperature was exceedingly high.

Back in the vehicle, Lin Mu looked at the two sitting in the corner.

“Does this look familiar?” Lin Mu held up a black USp pistol.

Shuxin felt an increasing sense of familiarity; suddenly, it dawned on her. “Ah! You’re the one I traded with!”

At last, Shuxin understood. Aside from the first time she rented the pistol, they’d conducted several pleasant trades afterwards. Renting weapons should’ve gone smoothly this time, too.

But the rental didn’t happen.

She’d thought Lin Mu had been delayed by something.

Turns out, he was the one they’d encountered.

“Big brother, since we know each other, how about you let us go?” Shuxin pleaded.

“You’re mistaken—I’m not restricting your freedom at all.”

Huh??

Shuxin looked at the collar around her neck. How could he say that with a straight face?

“Please, big brother, don’t mess around! We’ve traded so many times—just return the vehicle to us. I’ll sell you good stuff cheap in the future.”

Lin Mu gazed at her with a curious expression. “The vehicle’s core is in my possession. Why should I give it back?”

Shuxin opened her mouth, sighed, and slumped to the floor.

Shuyi looked at Lin Mu. “I’ll give you all my supplies. Since we’ve traded so many times, could you let us off? I’ll even let you order me around once.” She bit her lip, her cheeks flushed.

Lin Mu regarded her with speechless amusement. “I won these things by my own strength—why would I need your supplies? Besides, look, those two are wearing collars too. Why should I treat you differently?”

During their online trades, he’d thought these two were quite shrewd.

Now they seemed foolish—even resorting to seduction.

Even if they tried to tempt him with revealing outfits, bondage, or costumes, it wouldn’t work.

“Let’s not mention this again. If you want to live, be good team members—food and shelter are guaranteed, and there’s no danger. If you want to die, just jump into the lava.”

They shook their heads vigorously. Who would choose death when survival is possible?

Besides, he seemed uninterested in that sort of thing.

Ignoring the two at the back, Lin Mu turned away. He hadn’t finished looting the boxes at their previous location.

Shuxin and Shuyi glanced behind, skipped over Number 001 and the chubby boy, and approached Jiang Ying and her companion.

“How long have you been here?”

“About ten days. I was captured in the labyrinth,” Jiang Ying sighed.

Without realizing it, ten days had passed.

“He hasn’t… done anything to you, has he?”

Jiang Ying and Gu Wanqing shook their heads.

“Then is he… not interested in that aspect?” Shuxin’s words left Jiang Ying and Gu Wanqing thoughtful.

“Maybe he…”