"Well, that's fine too. In a way... it simplifies the plan." The woman glanced out the window, then turned. "Tang De, you haven't given that thing to Qin Tianxiong yet, have you?"
"Given what? How could I..."
"Tang De, listen to me and listen carefully. I'm asking if you have given the item to Qin Tianxiong yet!" the woman's tone turned frigid.
"What are you getting at?" Tang De's expression darkened.
"I know you want to cooperate with the Alliance. That magnetic stack from Wang Ju was the gift you intended to offer them. But have you considered one thing? What if that Alliance Major dies in the factory?"
"Hmph? What are you planning?!"
"Oh, nothing much. Originally, we planned to wait for you to give the item to Qin Tianxiong. Then, when he led his team into the factory, we would just detonate it with a 'BOOM!' By then, you would have naturally given up any thoughts of cooperating with the Alliance, right?" the woman said with a faint smile.
"You dare to trick me? I'll fucking kill you!"
"Don't be so hasty, Brother Tang. It's not too late to make your move after I've finished. Now, Qin Tianxiong didn't go, but that Major did. This isn't a bad opportunity, you know."
"What kind of opportunity?"
"Wouldn't it be better if someone who's in the way dies? You can still cooperate with Qin Tianxiong. That way, the Alliance will support you, and so will we. Isn't that for the best?" the woman said alluringly.
"Heh, I'm not Wang Ju. I will absolutely never work with you!" Tang De sneered.
"Well then, that can't be helped. I've already planted explosives at the factory. With a single command from me, that Major will be dead for sure. Afterward, we'll just casually spread a rumor that the Major died in the factory because you, Tang De, leaked the information. Do you think the Alliance will still have a place for you then?"
"Despicable... But do you really think this is enough to make me submit?"
"Think it over, Brother Tang. We both benefit by cooperating, and we both suffer if we don't. As long as we keep quiet, no one will know why that Major went to the factory. We can just find a random scapegoat, and you'll still be you, Tang De. Furthermore, we'll help you prepare something to deliver to Qin Tianxiong. When that time comes, the Forgotten Land will truly be your domain," the woman's smile grew even more bewitching.
"..." Tang De fell silent.
"Alright, I'll be on my way. If you've made up your mind, Brother Tang, head over to the factory and take a look. See if that Major is still alive, will you?" Having said her piece, the woman walked slowly to the window.
Tang De's fists clenched, but he didn't move to stop her.
The woman glanced back at Tang De, the smile on her lips growing even more radiant. Without another word, she leaped lightly out of the window.
...
「Dream Toy Factory.」
Gao Neng was temporarily safe.
However, he knew that even though Shen Ning'Er had spoken up to save him, it was only because she didn't want him to die at the hands of others. Once she dealt with the two people before them, it would probably be his turn.
'The Nightmare Mission...'
'It really is a nightmare!'
Gao Neng was truly witnessing Shen Ning'Er's power this time. Coupled with an intellect that matched his own... 'if I choose to fight her head-on here, it's anyone's guess who will break first.'
"Aaargh, I'm making my move!" Gao Neng yelled, recklessly leaping forward.
The imposing woman instinctively retreated.
At the same time, Shen Ning'Er's Furious Golden Ape moved. Its two fists, seemingly forged from solid gold, smashed toward the imposing woman like a pair of great mountains.
"No!!"
The imposing woman tried to kick out in her final moments, but a fist had already smashed down on her head. She raised a bronze shield, but it shattered almost instantly.
BOOM! The factory building shook violently.
The blast of wind sent Gao Neng's short hair flying.
And just then, Gao Neng saw a wrench lying on the ground.
'That's my wrench!'
'The wrench Shen Ning'Er scared out of my hand!'
In an instant, Gao Neng dove for the wrench like a drowning man grasping at a lifeline. He snatched it up and clamped it hard onto the iron shackle on his ankle.
"ARGH!" Gao Neng roared, putting every last ounce of his strength into it. His muscles tensed, hard as steel.
SNAP!
The iron shackle snapped.
Having broken through the first human physical limit, it was possible for him to snap pure iron that wasn't exceptionally hard.
At the same time, the pained scream of the scruffy old man echoed from nearby.
'No time to hesitate.'
Gao Neng's eyes darted around, searching for an escape route. 'I can fail the mission and become a 'guapi,' but I absolutely cannot lose a leg, much less die here.'
"MEOW!" In the distance, a stray cat, as if it had spotted prey, darted into a corner of the factory and vanished.
'It's the cat I sent flying with my wrench at the factory entrance!' Gao Neng's eyes lit up. 'Life is full of surprises.' He broke into a run, heading for the spot where the cat had vanished.
RUMBLE!
RUMBLE!
A series of massive crashes echoed from behind him.
A golden light illuminated the factory floor.
In the brilliant light, Gao Neng could clearly see a large, open hole in that corner where a manhole cover should have been. 'Every cloud has a silver lining! If that cover were still there, I'd have had no chance.'
"Here I go!"
"Gao Neng, where do you think you're going?" After dealing with the two, Shen Ning'Er quickly spotted the fleeing Gao Neng. With a flick of her hand, the Furious Golden Ape charged after him.
Gao Neng didn't dare look back.
He knew that looking back while fleeing was the biggest mistake one could make. Not only was it completely useless, but it would also slow him down and make him more likely to trip.
"Shen Ning'Er, want to know how I beat you? I'll tell you right now!" Gao Neng yelled as he ran.
"Hm?" Shen Ning'Er's eyes narrowed, and the Furious Golden Ape's movements faltered for a second. "It was really you who defeated me? You, of all people?"
...
No answer came.
Because Gao Neng had already jumped into the hole.
"Hmph, men... so typical!" Shen Ning'Er stamped her foot and quickly followed. "Trying to run? Do you really think you can escape from me, the invincible pretty girl?"
...
'Not run?'
'And wait to die? No thanks!'
The moment Gao Neng jumped in,
he felt like he was in the clear.
Below him was a massive sewage drain pipe. It was a labyrinth of branching paths and countless exits, like a spider's web.
'Shen Ning'Er will never be able to catch me now,' Gao Neng thought as he ran. 'Failing the Nightmare Mission will turn me into a 'guapi,' but that's still better than being dead, right?'
'Wait, that's not right!'
'If I really become a 'guapi,' wouldn't that be worse than death?'
'Besides, I can get a Middle-Level Treasure Chest from the Nightmare Mission. Who knows what's inside? It's got to be better than the Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill from a basic chest, right?'
Gao Neng's gaze swept across his surroundings.
He was thinking.
'Is completing this mission worth the immense risk?'
'Shen Ning'Er is just too strong. I can't beat her head-on. Using others as a diversion is also unrealistic because no one else can even pose a threat to her. And without a threat, there's no opening for a sneak attack.'
'Most importantly, Shen Ning'Er is wearing that Golden Feather Robe. Even if I got close, I probably couldn't even scratch her, could I?'
'What should I do?'
"MEOW!" Just then, he heard the stray cat cry out again. For some reason, he could sense the excitement of a predator that had spotted its prey in that sound.
'Wait a minute!'
'This is a sewage drain, right?!'
'That means there are bound to be... those things... down here, right?'
'My childhood trauma...'
'If Shen Ning'Er actually dares to follow me in here, she's the one in for a nightmare, isn't she?'
"Gao Neng, you can't escape," Shen Ning'Er's voice echoed through the pipes. "If you confess everything, I might consider giving you a quick death."
"I'm over here! If you can catch me, I'll do more than just confess—I'll even let you toy with my emotions!" Gao Neng yelled back as he sprinted away.
And right in front of him,
a timer was flashing incessantly.
Time Remaining: 28:25
Twenty-eight minutes left. Nearly half an hour. 'That's plenty of time to show Shen Ning'Er what a real nightmare is.'
"So you haven't gotten far, have you?" Hearing Gao Neng's voice, a cold smile once again graced Shen Ning'Er's lips. She pressed one hand against the sewage pipe.
BOOM!
The entire sewage pipe system seemed to explode.
Black "Iron Energy" surged out from the pipe network, and as it flooded the system, the pipes themselves began to warp and twist.
Gao Neng's excitement was short-lived. A continuous CRACKLING and POPPING sound erupted from behind him.
He was stunned.
'What kind of plot twist is this?!'
Just as he had that thought, he heard a flurry of footsteps from behind, accompanied by a series of sharp YELPS.
He glanced back.
Gao Neng's eyes went wide.
'Dogs?!'
'A dozen iron dogs?!'
In that instant, Gao Neng realized just how naive he'd been. Shen Ning'Er might be afraid of rats, but when faced with her, where would he find the time to go catch one?
More importantly, even if Shen Ning'Er was terrified of rats, it wasn't as if seeing one would render her completely powerless.
It wasn't like he had a rat on hand, anyway.
And even if he did, Shen Ning'Er could probably still take on ten of him at once.
(Seeing you all fighting over your recommendation tickets pains me so much I can't breathe! So, for such a long chapter, asking for a few recommendation tickets isn't too much to ask, is it?)