Chapter 28: Loot
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
A sandstorm swept through the carriage, and someone had used a stationery with a sandstorm effect.
Tang Lin concentrated on controlling his “Golden Shield,” and the sandstorm couldn’t get close to him. His vision was filled with a dusty haze, but he stood still without panicking.
After about a dozen seconds, the sandstorm passed, and some people who hadn’t taken cover in time had their faces and mouths filled with sand. Meanwhile, Guan Lan and Air sniper had taken advantage of this time to reach near the safe zone.
It was evident that they had used protective gear, as there was not a speck of sand on their bodies. The fact that they appeared here at this moment meant only one thing — they had managed to grab another key.
Neither of them had anything in their hands, but Tang Lin glanced at Guan Lan’s clothes and knew that, just like last time, he had placed the bouncy ball in his pocket.
Tang Lin didn’t attempt to go up and snatch it, instead, he leaned against the side of the carriage to provide an open path for the approaching leader of the Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts.
Other “looters” seemed eager in their eyes, but their bodies remained honest, and they didn’t dare to get close.
Air sniper stopped just outside the safe zone, while Guan Lan continued forward. However, as he was about to step into the safe zone, his movement suddenly halted. He then withdrew his leg and lowered his head, looking at his clothing pocket.
Tang Lin, curious, followed his gaze.
The next moment, his heart started beating faster.
The bouncy ball placed in Guan Lan’s pocket was slowly rolling out. If Guan Lan hadn’t stopped and had continued walking, the bouncy ball would have slid out of his pocket due to inertia. But now that Guan Lan had stopped, the bouncy ball, which was still subtly moving…..was hard to ignore.
Telekinesis wasn’t necessarily exclusive to Fan Peiyang; others might have similar disposable stationeries. However, inexplicably, Tang Lin just knew it was Fan Peiyang.
He didn’t immediately look towards the chaotic scene but maintained a calm expression on his face. However, in his mind, he began to consider multiple scenarios.
From his current position, if Fan Peiyang were to suddenly accelerate the bouncy ball and send it into his hand, he would have enough time to enter the safe zone, place the key inside, before Guan Lan and Air sniper could react.
But what would happen next?
He had entered the next carriage, so what would Fan Peiyang do?
Even if Guan Lan couldn’t see who was using the Stationery Tree, as long as he identified Tang Lin as the “beneficiary,” suspicion would be directly focused on the “VIP.”
Tang Lin couldn’t predict what Guan Lan would do, but getting involved with the Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts would undoubtedly be troublesome.
He didn’t want Fan Peiyang to get into trouble, and if possible, he even hoped that Fan Peiyang would stop now.
However, all these considerations and emotions were stuck in his mind and couldn’t be conveyed to others.
“This is getting interesting.” Guan Lan didn’t rush to retrieve the bouncy ball but turned around to look at the crowd still fighting in the carriage. A look of anticipation filled his small face. “Who is it? Come out and let me see…”
The other “looters” around him were also curious, gathering to see what was happening.
Only then did Tang Lin shift his head slightly, as if joining in the crowd’s curiosity, but in reality, he was rapidly scanning the chaotic scene to find that familiar figure.
Before he could find it, the bouncy ball “plopped” onto the ground and rolled back to Guan Lan’s feet.
The controller had stopped.
“Boring,” Guan Lan bent over to pick it up, and with a hint of regret, he entered the safe zone. When he placed the bouncy ball into the groove, he turned back and discussed with Air sniper, “How can he ensure the key flies safely into his hands from such a distance?”
Air sniper only contributed his ears, not participating in the conversation.
Guan Lan didn’t really want to discuss it with him either. He smiled brilliantly, answering his own question, “a. The controller is around the safe zone. b. He’s having someone else snatch it.”
[Congratulations on entering the next carriage~~]
The leader of the Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts disappeared on the other side of the door.
Ar sniper casually glanced at the people near the safety line, then turned and returned to the melee zone.
Tang Lin silently breathed a sigh of relief. It didn’t matter if they guessed it; as long as they didn’t actually steal the key, the grudge wouldn’t be formed. Fan Peiyang had also avoided endless trouble.
But there was just one thing…
Why had Fan Peiyang suddenly given up?
Tang Lin slightly raised his head, continuing to search for Fan Peiyang’s figure in the melee.
He couldn’t believe that Fan Peiyang had suddenly come to the same understanding as him. Given Fan Peiyang’s personality, even if they had discussed these concerns face-to-face, Fan would probably have only one answer: “Oh, just go ahead first.”
But just now, control over the bouncy ball had indeed been abruptly cut off.
If it wasn’t that Fan Peiyang gave up, could it be… something happened that prevented him from controlling stationery anymore?
As he was lost in thought, a sudden worry struck Tang Lin. Emerging from the chaos, crawling and rolling on the ground, was none other than Lu Jue. He held a bouncy ball in his hand.
He had injuries on his face, his glasses were nowhere to be seen, and his clothes had several tears. However, he couldn’t care less about all of this at the moment. With all his strength, he rushed toward the safe zone, accompanied by several rats and two snakes.
Behind him were several pursuers, with one of them chasing most closely being… Zhuzi?
Tang Lin was taken aback.
The “looters” dared not stop the Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts, but they had fewer reservations about Lu Jue. They immediately gathered in front of the safety line to form a human wall, ready to besiege him.
Lu Jue’s speed did not decrease, and the two snakes following him raised their upper bodies, showing a clear stance of protecting their master.
At that moment, an ear-piercing scream erupted in the carriage. The screamer seemed to pay no heed to the ongoing battle and went all out, making each scream more powerful than the last. In the enclosed space, the effect was even stronger, like ten thousand little devils jabbing your eardrums with pitchforks.
Lu Jue endured the scream without covering his ears, but his feet stumbled for half a step.
In just that half step, Zheng Luozhu caught up and even surged ahead by one body length. He carried an iron plate and positioned himself in front of Lu Jue.
Lu Jue couldn’t brake in time and collided with Zheng Luozhu with a resounding crash. However, he didn’t release his grip on the bouncy ball.
Tang Lin wanted to go help Zhu, but he knew that any movement on his part would disrupt the entire plan and render all of his teammates’ efforts pointless.
The “looters” saw both of them fall together and immediately rushed over to try and overwhelm them.
But a tin can wrapped in several loops of thick wire was faster than them all. It flew through the air and struck Lu Jue’s hand back with a forceful blow.
Lu Jue cried out in pain, his grip loosening, and the bouncy ball flew out as if drawn by an irresistible force, heading straight for Tang Lin.
Tang Lin was well-prepared and seized the opportunity. He raised his hand and caught the bouncy ball firmly, then turned and entered the safe zone. With a quick motion, he placed the bouncy ball into the groove, executing the entire process seamlessly.
Now, he understood why Fan Peiyang had given up on Guan Lan. It was because he had a better target—a less troublesome one and a chance for revenge on top of it. That was a much more advantageous deal.
[Congratulations on entering the next carriage~~]
Tang Lin turned around.
He saw Zheng Luozhu struggling to crawl out from under the stack of looters in obvious pain. Despite being crushed, he shot him a “quick, praise me” look, clearly seeking some affection.
He saw Nan Ge standing on an empty spot in the middle of the carriage, her chest heaving with excitement, but her eyes were filled with vitality.
And finally, he saw Fan Peiyang.
That man was still amidst the chaos, always staying close to him.
Perhaps he had let his guard down too much, and Fan Peiyang frowned.
Tang Lin immediately turned around and obediently entered the door, contemplating that after Fan Peiyang came over, he would definitely ask him for the secret of “how to keep a coat crisp and tidy in the midst of chaos.”
But what if he didn’t make it?
Tang Lin didn’t have that “what if” in his mind.
The door slowly closed.
Lu Jue lay on the ground, frustrated and helpless.
……
A world of difference existed just one door away.
The layout of the new carriage was entirely different from the subway carriages. It resembled more of a dining car on a train, with plush and comfortable seats, clean tablecloths, and tables laden with delicious food. There were roasted chicken legs, tender steaks, stir-fried vegetables, fresh fruits, bread, cakes, cookies, clear water, fruit juice, coffee, red wine…
It was like a ready-made party.
Guan Lan and Tan Hua were enjoying their food when they saw him, and their surprise was evident.
“How did you get in here without even messing up your hairstyle?” Tan Hua tilted his head to scrutinize him. “Did you really find a loophole?”
Tang Lin played along, “I got lucky.”
Guan Lan picked up a small cake, removed the strawberry on top, and tossed it onto an empty plate before happily digging in.
Seeing him silent, Tang Lin deliberately asked, “Aren’t you going to give me options?”
Guan Lan’s initial surprise upon seeing Tang Lin had been replaced with understanding. “It’s obvious. Why bother choosing?”
[“a. The controller is nearby in the safe zone. b. He’s helping someone else steal the key.”]
Guan Lan’s words before entering the door were still fresh in his mind, and then he entered.
Putting it together, the cause and effect were not hard to guess.
What Tang Lin wanted was mutual understanding, something simple, direct, and with foreseeable potential risks.
Tan Hua looked at their team leader, then at Tang Lin, feeling like he had missed something…
In the next fifteen minutes, the door opened four more times.
The first three times, it was members of the Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts who entered, including Melancholic center-parted hair, Air sniper and Wheat-skinned young man. Without exception, they all expressed surprise at the food, though Air sniper only raised half an eyebrow.
The fourth time, it was He Lu, the leader of the Iron Blood Camp.
The Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts, with five members already inside, was initially at ease. However, when they saw He Lu was the seventh to enter, they all stood up in a hurry.
Tang Lin understood their emotions.
There were a total of seven bounch balls, with one belonging to him, one to He Lu, the Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts member stranded outside had no chance to enter.
But when the fifth person entered, his emotions intensified.
The Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts was just one person away, but he was three short!
“Don’t worry,” He Lu said as he stood in the newly entered room, breaking the tension. “Another keys has been sent outside.”
Tang Lin felt a shock in his heart but managed to restrain himself from standing up along with the others.
He Lu didn’t beat around the bush and directly told them what they wanted to know, “This time, ten more keys were sent outside.”
The Strawberry Sweet Doughnuts visibly relaxed.
After the relaxation, someone voiced their frustration, Wheat-skinned young man, in a sarcastic tone, “So how many keys are there really? Imagine people dying and getting injured out there, only to find out that we didn’t need to fight at all. That would be interesting.”
He Lu remained serious, “No one can say for sure how many keys there are. You’ve probably noticed that this time’s challenge is different from before, and many of the usual strategies don’t apply.”
Wheat-skinned young man was just venting and didn’t actually want to engage in a deep conversation with the Iron Blood Camp’s leader. Moreover, there wasn’t much to discuss, as everyone had the same information.
Seeing that no one else was asking questions, He Lu found an empty table and sat down, sipping his water in silence.
When he put the cup down, there was already another person sitting across from him.
He Lu nodded slightly, “What’s up?”
Tang Lin got straight to the point, “My teammates are still outside.”
After a brief recollection, He Lu confirmed one by one, “Iron Plate, Scream, and Tin Can.”
“How are they?” The words were almost natural, but no matter how calm his tone, his anxiety and urgency were impossible to conceal.
He Lu considered for a moment, then chose an objective and precise word, “Vibrant.”
Tang Lin: “…”
He shouldn’t have doubted his teammates’ combat abilities, and he apologized.
With the weight of his worries slightly lifted, Tang Lin calmed down.
Although he had only interacted with He Lu once before, during the appearance of the “Sphinx” in the square, where he had taken Nan Ge to scream, he felt reassured. Regardless of He Lu’s response at the time or the way He Lu’s organization, along with the other three, had divided their roles on the platform for the puzzle challenge, it was clear that He Lu was a methodical person.
Responsible, serious, perhaps not flexible enough, but he stuck to his principles and boundaries.
Just like a moment ago, he had no obligation to reveal the situation and progress on the outside, but he believed it should be mentioned, so he did.
Thinking of this, Tang Lin politely asked, “You mentioned earlier that this time’s challenge is different from before, and many of the usual strategies don’t apply. Can you please elaborate on that….”
If you love what Ciacia is doing, then consider showing your support by supporting a cup of tea for her at Kofi. If you can’t wait for the next release chapter, subscribe to advanced chapters membership on her Kofi to get access to up to 10 chapters!
<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>
