Restricted Lovers [Complete] - 7

Episode 3, Chapter 2: The Beginning of a Conspiracy

. The fun competition was indeed a conspiracy!

Having memorized the entire conversation, I was even more eager to tell my beautiful landlady about it, regardless of whether she believed me or not.

Now transformed into a massage stick, I couldn't walk on ordinary roads. I crouched down and carefully squeezed through the gaps between the branches and the tree wall. Using this method, as long as I got the bearings right, I could move in a straight line without hindrance. In just a few minutes, I escaped this huge garden maze.

Outside the maze was a bustling carnival. Following the old method from cartoons, I covered myself with a clump of leaves, moving around, stopping and starting, hiding as I went.

The stall closest to the edge of the maze was "Doll Paradise," selling clearly handmade items. The simple stitching exuded a strange warmth, and the careful sewing gave the dolls, imbued with a lot of love, a human-like approachability.

Looking at them, one could almost see a group of girls working tirelessly late into the night, cutting fabric, threading needles,

and stuffing cotton. And when they finally broke the thread and completed their work, their joy and hope were reflected in the smiles of the dolls, giving them a soul. But their hard work didn't yield commensurate results. Ninety percent of the crowd was drawn away by the two sugar painting and glassblowing stalls on the left, leaving business rather slow. Three bored girls watching the stalls sat at the counter, sipping bubble tea and chatting about everything under the sun. Their fingers bore many fine scars. I had always thought nobles were all talk and no action, but it seemed they weren't all pampered girls.

"See? Those people from the photography club are dressed so interestingly," said the bespectacled girl with pigtails.

"Yeah, I see! Amazing, even the Terracotta Warriors are here!" added the girl with a ponytail and a slender neck.

"It's not their costumes that matter, but the content of the fun competition," said the curly-haired girl with her hair tied up in a princess style. "What kind of activity could make them skip even the morning's competition?"

"A so-called competition must be a battle between two teams!" said the girl with the ponytail. "But who wants to be in the same group as the photography club? If everyone runs to the other team, do you think the poor thirteen-person team wants to compete like that?"

That's right!

While admiring her prophetic words, I stealthily crept to the table. Taking advantage of their distraction from the merchandise, I grabbed the brown-yellow fringed tablecloth hanging from the edge and, like Spider-Man from the movies, slowly, slowly climbed up.

"Heave-ho!"

I bent over, my upper body plunging into the arms of a little imp. My slightly bent body allowed my lower body to spring up while my upper body was straight. I kicked my legs a few times, and soon, I was completely hidden under her seaweed-like puffy skirt.

It was really tiring!

I let out a long, panting breath. A journey through the land of giants definitely needs a strong protagonist.

"The ominous Thirteen has long since crumbled, becoming a myth from ancient times,"

the braided girl's words made the princess-haired girl gasp, covering her mouth. "Huh? Why?"

"It's because the photography club president is always traveling for studies. I heard this from a senior who graduated last year. Before the photography club was the extreme sports club, there was a legendary president who entered our school at an unprecedentedly fast pace."

"Unprecedentedly fast?"

"Yeah, I heard he only spent three weeks in kindergarten, three months in elementary school, graduated from junior high after one semester, and became a freshman at Sefer Academy."

"Oh my god, how old was he?" the ponytail girl asked.

The braided girl held up four delicate fingers.

"Four years old? Impossible!"

"But that's not all. What people talk about most isn't his genius, but his short stature, short limbs, and fatally cute face.

"Imagine a doll-like blond little boy, struggling to carry a heavy textbook to school every day, slightly out of breath, his bright black eyes always looking at you with a desire to know everything. When such a cute person stands in front of you wearing a uniform a size too small, who could resist hugging him?"

"...I really want to rub his skin, which is smoother than tofu!" The girl with the ponytail couldn't help but exclaim, completely captivated.

"Because his appearance is so outstanding, he's chased by a large group of girls every day as soon as he enters the school gate, making him restless and unable to concentrate on his studies. So, what was originally planned as a one-year high school life has turned into three years and he still hasn't graduated. To ensure his personal safety, he even founded an extreme sports club."

"It's a pity that in the early days of the club, we didn't have enough members and our strength was pitifully weak. In the end, we had no choice but to become exchange students and study abroad in peace. That's because foreigners' aesthetic views are quite different from ours, and they are more accepting of students who skip grades, so we don't have to worry about being seen as oddballs," the braided girl said.

"I see... If I could, I would really like to meet him!" the princess-haired girl said with a hint of disappointment.

"What happened to him later?" the ponytail girl pressed.

"Well, I heard that because he's too smart and too cute, he became the target of everyone's competition, repeatedly entering and leaving prestigious schools, and he still can't escape it. What's worse, he's wasted more than ten years, and it seems he hasn't even gotten a diploma."

The ponytail girl was speechless.

It's truly heartbreaking! I couldn't help but shake my head as I listened.

"But recently, there's been a rumor, whether reliable or not, that two days ago, airport cameras captured images of someone resembling him, and the photography club president might already be in the country!" the braided girl announced, her gloom lifted.

"Strange, the news agency hasn't heard anything about it, how do you know?" The girl with the ponytail raised her eyebrows, seemingly doubting that this was just hearsay.

The girl with the braids, however, calmly observed her disbelieving expression until the girl with the ponytail and the girl with the princess-style haircut exclaimed "Ah!" in unison.

"That's right, you finally figured it out." The girl with the braids said with a smile, "My father is the director of the Aviation Safety Bureau. I begged him for a long time to help me investigate privately!"

"Wow, do you have any photos? Can you send me one..."

"If you guys are willing to go shopping with me at that store tomorrow, I might seriously consider it..."

The group joked around for a while, chatted about the photography club for a bit, and then changed the subject.

Three women are like a marketplace, and that's not an exaggeration. But thanks to the exchange of a lot of information, I learned a lot and gained a better understanding of the extreme sports club. However, most of the women's private conversations were either erotic and alluring or boring and empty to me.

It felt like attending a boring lecture by an old professor, only good for helping me fall asleep. Although the three girls weren't exactly ordinary-looking, staring at them for too long made me numb. Their chatter, so hypnotic, made me drift off. I struggled to keep my heavy eyelids open, wanting to sleep but afraid to.

Time ticked by, and my body reached its most relaxed state, filled with the bliss of a recent sauna. My eyes were still open, but my soul had already flown halfway away.

Bubbles of sleep rose and fell in my nostrils, and my mind transformed into colorful, translucent bubbles, drifting one after another towards the sky. The blue sky was alluring, and the white clouds looked exceptionally soft. I longed to fall asleep on a pillow as soft as cotton candy, in the perfect temperature.

These plush toys fit the bill perfectly: soft, supple bodies, a comfortable temperature, and beautiful clothes of varying thicknesses and textures—perfect as sheets and blankets.

I touched the chiffon fabric of the fairy's dress; it was breathable, but unfortunately a bit transparent. So, the shy, somewhat insecure little witch, who seemed to have just stepped out of the gates of an ancient magic academy symbolizing mystery and fantasy, with light brown curly hair cascading down her back and faint freckles on her cheeks, became my first choice.

She sat gently on a piece of flesh and bone that had been kicked aside by its dog owner, with crossed bandages on its head, its body yellowish-white, seemingly dirty but actually clean. Her right hand gripped a magic wand with a red crystal ball at the top; the brown shaft resembled three intertwined tree roots that disliked each other, twisting and contorting into a straight shape, perfectly fitting the size of a hand.

Her left hand, with a hint of tension, clutched a corner of a black hooded magic cloak trimmed with snow-white rabbit fur; a one-piece, high-necked, sleeveless, tight-fitting mini-dress clung to her body, the black fabric seemingly coated with transparent varnish, vaguely reflecting the surrounding light and images.

Her figure, somewhere between voluptuous and flat-chested, wasn't particularly outstanding, but it was beautiful enough to evoke no desire. A circular, mercury-like necklace, about half the size of her palm, encircled by a six-pointed star, hung across her chest, close to her heart. A black leather belt cinched

her slender waist, its silver buckle so bright it reflected the shadows of those around her. Black boots covered half her thighs, the tops encircled by a band of white leather, the leather adorned with incantations in gray dye that undulated and spiraled around her pale thighs. A row of rubies, like buttons, glittered on the boot shafts.

After all, she was just a doll, not quite realistic, but she was worth the impulse to buy. However, I didn't have that kind of money, and her price was considerable. For nobles accustomed to scorning prices, it might just be a manageable allowance, but I wasn't one of them.

What I wanted was her floor-length, exaggeratedly bridal-skirt-like black cloak, perfect for a peaceful nap. Before crawling inside, I grabbed a little carrot baby hiding under the innocent red hat, drooling and looking dazed, like a child without any sense of knowledge, intending to use it as a pillow.

Since my transformation, only three slow hours have passed, and the only one who would believe a single word of my lewd tale is Sama, who has unwavering faith in the dwarves, and she's also the most unguarded person I know.

I didn't choose this place simply because it was close and convenient, although that was a significant factor, but my main purpose was to gamble; this gamble was whether Sama would pass by here as I hoped, browse this stall, and discover me.

I must admit she truly is my guardian angel; just then, I saw her slowly approaching with three girls.

She was still dressed in a snow-white puppy costume, with a fluffy dog-ear headband on her head, her wavy blonde hair concealing her originally round little ears; a red leather strap adorned with golden bells was tied around her neck, neither too loose nor too tight, the bells making a rhythmic, clear sound with her movements.

A strapless top, the same color as her dog ears, couldn't hide her slightly rounded, petite breasts, but their flawless shape was completely obscured by her short, white fur fluttering in the wind, a real pity; a mini-skirt that barely reached her thighs hugged her pert buttocks, and a fluffy tail reaching her knees hung down the back of the skirt, swaying with her steps.

She smiled happily, revealing her white canine teeth, her already round and bright eyes taking in every attractive feature; her five fingers gently pressed together at the first knuckle, forming a tower-like shape; the deliberately oversized dog paw gloves had five pink balls sewn on the front, symbolizing paw pads, stuffed with plump cotton flowers.

"So many fun things! I want to take them all home. I wonder if my big teddy bear will be jealous?"

Her feet, clad in high-heeled dog-paw boots, unconsciously kicked at the pebbles on the ground. Sama's cheeks, flushed with excitement and the warm sunlight, glowed like those of a ripe apple, as if proclaiming the sweetness of the fruit. Like all men who see her for the first time, I quietly and unconsciously swallowed.

To my left, the girl whose eyes were hidden by long bangs remained silent, her face expressionless as she read a "Cat Care Manual," as if the carnival's hustle and bustle were a meaningless, wasteful, and disruptive noise. Her gaze was fixed on the words, yet miraculously, she seemed able to walk freely without bumping into anyone.

The girl with bangs had cat ears that were black on the outside and red on the inside, with a few strands of hair hanging down from the edges, forming coconut leaf-like whiskers. A bright red ribbon, about a meter long and the width of an index finger, was tied to her left cat ear, forming a thin bow at the base of her ear. The remaining ribbon lightly touched her shoulder along her snow-white hair.

Under the ruffled collar of her white shirt, there was also a shorter black bow of the same width. In the center of the bow was a white queen's head embossed pin with a blue background and gold trim. Below the pin, a soft and light white handkerchief was spread out. Over the shirt, she wore a knee-length bright red dress with a suit collar and wide ruffles at the hem and sleeves. Underneath the ruffles, a

section of white lace stacked like leaves was visible. As for her waist, a black shiny vest with several black leather belts cinched her extremely slender waist, greatly enhancing her feminine charm. Below her lower back, about three fists' length from the end of her long black cat tail, there was also a bright red bow. Beneath the dress were two incredibly shapely, perfectly curved legs, encased in white stockings with the tops folded back to reveal the lace, reaching only three fingers above the ankle, paired with jet-black high heels. She effortlessly lifted her feet forward, maintaining an upright posture and elegant poise, exuding a languid yet noble air.

"I think this isn't about jealousy, but rather whether your room can hold all this stuff," replied a red-haired girl walking to Sama's right. Her hair, adorned with crescent-shaped gold earrings embellished with gold tassels, curved backward from her tan forehead, her sleek lines piercing the sky like giant grey-black goat horns as she spun 360 degrees.

Asymmetrical gemstone rings and earrings adorned her ram horns, some with thin gold bars hooked by small gold hoops that clattered and rubbed against each other as she moved roughly, producing a sound like jade hands gliding through a beaded curtain. Her red hair was neatly combed, but some ends were deliberately styled into messy, outward-curling arcs, creating a wild and unrestrained feel.

On the forehead of the red-haired girl, at the base of her two ram horns, were two egg-sized, dark, shiny artificial gemstones, like precious crystals forged in flames. Around her grey, alluring eyes, a layer of blue eyeshadow was applied to deepen the contours and enhance the three-dimensionality, and long mascara was applied. Geometric patterns drawn with blue paint climbed like vines on the skin of her left cheek.

"It's not fair!" Her bright red lips pouted, like the surface of a candied hawthorn, so sweet it made you want to lick it. "Why am I the only one without shoes?"

Her high-necked, sleeveless red cheongsam, embroidered with pale gold phoenixes, had a high slit on her left thigh. A pattern similar to her left cheek started on the outside of her thigh and flowed down smoothly to a gold anklet.

She walked barefoot, slightly on her tiptoes, her expression clearly displeased.

"Yes, that's it! So feminine!" Walking behind the three, the most normal-looking girl in her uniform exclaimed "bingo!" and quickly pressed the shutter button on her camera. "Wow, stunning!"

"Stop taking pictures!" The goat-like girl stood with her hands on her hips, the three or four bracelets on her right wrist—some made of translucent jade, others of cool metal—clattering loudly. “Ryua and I aren’t students in Bai Baihe Class 2, why are we wearing these weird clothes?”

“If you want to raise money for toys, don’t resist. If it weren’t for the fact that Sama’s class had already sold out of fried rice and had a few extra animal costumes, who would buy your photos if you didn’t wear these?”

“That’s so unfair.” To raise money, the not-so-docile, fake, hidden violent goat girl—whom I could hardly recognize, so alluring that it made my knees buckle and I would rather prostrate myself on the filth and let her trample me—even the Scarlet Moon Queen wouldn’t dare to utter a sound.

Such mutability is truly terrifying.

“Ah, what a cute doll!” After Ryua murmured “It’s so hot,” Sama glanced at the stall, her gaze settling on the little witch sitting quietly on a dog bone, the owner of the magic robe I was hiding in, seven meters away, and rushed over excitedly.

She skipped and hopped, her movements in sync with my heartbeat, leaving every inch of distance behind her; while Queen Scarlet Moon, who had a strong opinion about clothing, watched Saki running and jumping like a puppy, seemingly tireless, and impatiently tapped her right foot on the floor; as for Ryua, who seemed uninterested in everything, she went to rest in the shade, having already read two-thirds of the two-hundred-page book, her catwoman attire subtly alluring to those who wanted to "own" her.

Feng Hua didn't miss a single opportunity, photographing every gesture of the three women from various angles. Most of the men who passed by automatically picked up the light green binder and blue pen hanging from her waist, their faces full of anticipation as they filled in their personal information in the form secured by the upper left metal clip, and checked the names of those they wanted to buy photos from.

Photos were sold individually: fifty yuan each, twenty-five photos for a special price of one thousand yuan. This was the price for the standard version; for more revealing photos, one hundred yuan each, thirteen photos for a special price of one thousand yuan.

Under the metal clip on the upper right, there was a three-centimeter-thick stack of completed consumer data. It seemed Feng Hua had at least earned her basic salary and was now working hard for profit.

"This, this, this is it!"

Sha Zhen reached out to pick up the little witch. Although things were developing in a positive direction, the ponytail girl guarding one of the stalls immediately put down her 700cc paper cup drink and stood up to explain when a customer came in; not to mention there was also Fei Yue, who could kill me in an instant.

Self-preservation was the most important thing. I stepped back, bypassed the thin fairy who was smiling and glancing at me, slid over the soft belly of a dumpling, and disappeared into the lion pack.

"Hello." The ponytail girl smiled.

"Uh... hello." Perhaps realizing that she had been a little too impulsive, Sha Zhen withdrew her hand, immediately stood up, faced the other person directly, and responded very politely.

At this moment, the ponytail girl had already reached out her hands, one on each side, under the witch doll's armpits, picked her up, and let her sit on her left forearm.

“She is Patricia, our class’s masterpiece. Look, her hair is real, her pupils are two-part emeralds with certificates, and the red crystal on her wand is the same; as for her clothing, the inspiration comes from En. The Royal Magic Academy in Sifito’s novel *The Raven* is modeled after Penny, the shy little sparrow and childhood friend of the heroine, Qin Si.”

“Excuse me… why not Qin Si?” Sama asked somewhat shyly.

“It’s our class monitor’s personal hobby,” the ponytail girl replied with a smile.

“Penny’s appearance is indeed not outstanding, and her magic is ordinary and not remarkable, but she still earned the same degree as Qin Si through her own efforts. Although she unfortunately died in the witch-hunting operation later in the story, our class monitor liked her very much. Therefore, Patricia is only for display and is not for sale.”

“Oh, what a pity…” Sama murmured, glancing at the little witch with a hint of reluctance, but seemingly too shy to ask for her to part with it. Fortunately, her attention was immediately drawn to a bride doll dressed in a wedding gown and wearing a phoenix crown at the next table, defusing the awkwardness.

The girl with the ponytail put the little witch back on the dog bone and turned to continue serving guests. Sama asked her about some obscure design techniques and needlework, and the girl with the ponytail explained them one by one, seemingly about to go on and on.

I was helpless; with someone following me, it seemed unlikely that Sama would notice me alone!

I jumped off the table along the brown-yellow tassel tablecloth and retraced my steps back into the maze, deciding to find another way.

Back at the old spot—behind the two vending machines—it was already past 1:30. The sky was scorching, and the foliage behind the vending machines was torn and tattered. The heat from the machines kept me from calming down. I knew the fun competition was about to begin, but I still couldn't spread the word about the extreme sports club.

"Where...is this?"

Just as I was getting so bored I was thinking of smashing something to vent my frustration, I suddenly heard a girl's mutterings. Through the tree wall, I could vaguely see a brown handbag slung over her left shoulder as she moved from left to right towards the entrance of the landscaping.

"Strange, this isn't it either?" She lightly touched her cherry-red lower lip with the pad of her right index finger, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment, like a small animal lost in a rainforest, looking around at a terrifying, unknown world.

Four-Leaf Clover?!

Realizing this wasn't the exit, she didn't leave immediately. Instead, she wiped her sweat and adjusted her light yellow straw hat with a sky-blue ribbon. Her thin-strapped sky-blue dress seemed a bit too light and transparent, so she added a white short-sleeved jacket, paired with white high-heeled sandals, looking like a young woman heading to a summer beach vacation.

Then, as if she had noticed something, she quickly walked towards me.

“Great, a vending machine!” She rummaged through her bag for her coin purse, looked at the displayed goods for a moment, and then placed her seemingly heavy tote bag next to the machine.

After inserting a fifty-yuan coin, she pressed one of the buttons on the vending machine. With a “thump!”, the map fell into the automatic dispensing slot. She bent down to pick it up, carefully untied the red ribbon binding the cylindrical paper roll, and unfolded the map inch by inch.

Just then, a sudden gust of wind swept in, and the surrounding trees and walls swayed rapidly in the wind; the upward force of the wind swirled the withered leaves hanging loosely on the branches, unable to withstand the swaying, into the sky. In an instant, the sky looked like it had been swarmed by locusts, filled with brownish-yellow and greenish-black dots.

She looked up in fright at this sudden sight until the gust of wind completely subsided. I took the opportunity to slip into her tote bag.

When the turbulent air subsided, the tree wall stood still as if nothing had happened, and the sky cleared again, she breathed a sigh of relief, released her right hand, letting the map roll back into its loose cylindrical shape. Then she tossed in three ten-dollar coins to buy a can of hot cocoa, pulled the tab, and took a sip to calm her nerves.

As I mentioned before, this green tree maze wasn't very large. Although there were sections in the northeast, southeast, northwest, and southwest, tightly fitted around the central circular garden, the area wasn't vast, roughly the size of a football field. Of course, occasionally someone would get lost, but no one seemed as severely affected as her. Despite having a map, it seemed to offer little help, serving only as a reference.

After wandering around for twenty minutes, still circling the center of the maze, I finally suspected she had a severe lack of sense of direction, leading her to distrust the signs and be unable to leave her comfort zone, left only to wait for someone to lend a hand. This symptom indicated she had contracted some incurable, non-hereditary terminal illness, and I was frantic with worry.

I thought this was a godsend, a direct, high-speed train, but it was delayed and plagued with problems. Not only was it a waste of time, but for my safety, I couldn't even ask for compensation. It was truly awful!

"Yotsuba!"

"It's here, after all."

"Ah, everyone." Yotsuba maintained her smile, pushing the suspenders closer to her neck, showing no sign of panic.

Whew, thankfully I was quite patient, and before I was about to jump off the train, I managed to hold on until the rescue team arrived.

"Waaah, Yotsuba, I was so worried! I went to Iris Class 2, and they said you left alone. I thought I'd never see you again!" Sama rushed over like lightning, grabbing Yotsuba's waist and sobbing.

Was it really that serious? Hearing Sama's assessment, I couldn't help but glance at her reliable, reassuring expression through my bag. Just how bad was her sense of direction?

“That’s why I said it’s best not to wear a tracking device when you go out, right? Having a satellite on standby 24/7 to locate you is not only highly accurate, but it also saves manpower for monitoring and escorting you…” Before Fei Yue could finish speaking, Feng Hua immediately gave her a whack on the back of the head.

“Ouch, what are you doing…”

"Accompanying the prisoner, please use 'accompanying'; escorting, please use 'assistance'." Feng Hua pulled out a special vocabulary list from somewhere, updated it, and stuffed it directly into Fei Yue's chest through her sleeve.

"Don't do that, it's cold!" Fei Yue frowned, leaning forward, squeezing her cleavage as she reached for the booklet that was irritating her skin. At that moment, Feng Hua, not letting the opportunity pass, snapped away a roll of film with a "snap! snap!"

"That's too much!" Fei Yue clutched her collar, looking like she had been assaulted.

"Because you're well-endowed!" Feng Hua praised. Perhaps to balance her feelings, Sha Zhen and Liu Ya also finished shooting a roll of film together, though the images weren't as erotic.

Sigh, are you guys here to find someone or to scout locations?

With a calm cat standing like an ice cube beside her, Feng Hua couldn't bear to give up her antics. Suddenly, she lifted Fei Yue's skirt, adjusted the angle, and pressed the shutter, firing a series of flashes.

"What are you doing!" Fei Yue hurriedly pressed down on her fluttering skirt, a barely perceptible blush rising on her face.

"No, you blush first, then cover up! We've been training you for over a year, how come you still can't tell the order? Let's start over!" Feng Hua slapped Fei Yue's hand away, lifted the skirt again, and snapped more than ten photos in the blink of an eye.

Hearing Feng Hua's "instructions," Fei Yue didn't dare to reach out to cover up this time, just stood stiffly, blushing and indignantly saying, "What are you doing?!"

"This time it's a little better. You need to stutter, and remove the interjections as well. Also, remember to add the word 'I hate it.'"

Feng Hua continued to nag, "The way you press down on the skirt should be as gentle and elegant as possible, it should be alluring yet hesitant, alluring yet shy, only by being partially revealed can you attract a man's attention. This is what you lack most right now, so don't do it like this!" She suddenly used both hands to lift up Liu Ya and Sha Zhen's puff skirts and mini skirts at the same time.

The black lace on the stockings and the white panties made me stunned on the spot.

"It's so cold." Ryua's gaze remained fixed on the book.

"Waaah~~ Fuuka is a pervert! Waaah... what am I going to do? Sama will never get married..." Sama threw herself into Yotsuba's arms and cried.

"See? Too cold or too hot will make a man lose his appetite." After explaining the example, Fuuka commanded again, "Try it again as I just said!"

"Ugh... ugh, you're so annoying..." Her skirt was forcibly lifted three times, and Hiizuki's face flushed red. She pretended to be angry and said, "What... what are you doing?!"

"Very good! That's how normal girls are. Don't make a mistake next time."

Not normal at all!

Looking at Fuuka, who didn't blush at all when lying, and her unilaterally carrying out abnormal education, pushing the judgmentless Hiizuki down the wrong path, although the training process was quite good... this was related to a girl's future development. Shouldn't she at least consider her reputation?

"Everyone, I'm glad you came to pick me up. Where are the others?" Yotsuba asked.

“The others? Oh, Xiaocheng and Yinyou should have gone to the sports field first. After the relay race, it’s time for the fun team competition. I’ve already arranged a meeting place with them, so don’t be late,” Fenghua said.

Under Fenghua’s leadership, the group exited the maze very smoothly, proving that complementary friendships are best.

Outside the maze, the school buses that transport students and tourists between the central garden and the sports field had been waiting for a long time. Fenghua chose a bus with about a third of the seats still available. The girls filed on, and once all forty seats were filled, the driver stepped on the gas and drove towards the sports field at a moderate speed.

The interior of the school bus was similar to that of a regular bus, with four seats in a row. The two on the left were numbered A and B, and the two on the right were numbered C and D, with an aisle in the middle. Each seat had its own audio-visual equipment, but because the school bus was wider than a regular bus, there was relatively more personal space.

The girls sat on the right side of the school bus, near the center. Hiiyue and Fuuka sat in 4C and 4D, respectively, while Yama sat in D.

Hiiyue immediately closed her eyes to rest as soon as she settled in; Fuuka sat diagonally by the window, her right elbow resting on the armrest, her chin propped up by the back of her hand, her left hand holding the remote, switching between various financial programs, occasionally letting out a cold snort; Yotsuba placed her handbag beside her, pressed the power button on the TV back of the seat in front of her, and switched to a cooking program to watch intently; Sama put on her headphones and listened to music; Ryua was doing the same thing.

Although Sama was right next to me, with Yotsuba there, I didn't dare to make any big moves. From what Fuuka had said, they would be making their move all afternoon. Even if they failed to get close to Sama, there was still the chance with the pretty landlady, but that was a last resort.

I anxiously anticipated a possible chase when, suddenly, the school bus slammed on the brakes, swerving sharply to the left at a 90-degree angle. The screeching sound of the rear wheels scraping against the ground, the puff of white smoke, and the acrid smell of burning rubber made me dizzy. Some passengers who weren't wearing seatbelts lost their balance and fell into the aisle.

"What's going on!"

"What happened?"

"Dear passengers, I'm very sorry, this bus almost ran over a kitten. Due to a hasty decision, we made a sharp turn, causing you all considerable fright. I sincerely apologize." The driver's calm voice came through the microphone: "Please return to your seats as soon as possible. For your safety, please fasten your seatbelts."

"Oh, I see..." Hearing the school bus driver's explanation, Feng Hua breathed a sigh of relief: "I thought it was those extreme sports club guys who did this!"

After understanding the cause of the incident, the complaints quickly subsided, and those who had lost their balance obediently fastened their seatbelts, still shaken, no longer daring to resist.

"Is there really a cat?" Although she was the most stable among those not wearing seatbelts, after the violent shaking, Fei Yue stopped pretending to sleep and turned her gaze to the window.

"The wall is high enough. Even if a stray cat didn't squeeze through the iron bars of the main and side gates, there would always be students illegally bringing pets to school," Feng Hua said.

"Assuming there really was a cat meowing, and I missed it when I wasn't paying attention," Fei Yue clearly expressed her doubt, "then why doesn't the car turn back to its original direction?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Hua immediately pushed Fei Yue's neck and above back, her face almost pressed against the window.

"Really, why are we heading straight for the administration building? Hey! Driver... Hey!"

Feng Hua shouted, but the driver ignored her. At this moment, someone else realized something was wrong and discovered that a transparent glass panel had silently lowered between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, like the protective gear used in prison vans to transport high-risk criminals. Some nervous passengers finally couldn't hold back and stood up, banging on the glass with their fists, but the driver continued driving forward without caring.

“It’s no use, that’s bulletproof glass.” A strange sound came from the fist striking the transparent material. With a precise judgment, Fei Yue flung open the window with a “whoosh!” “Then we’ll have to jump!”

“Wait!” Feng Hua quickly grabbed her waist from behind. “At least 90 km/h, are you trying to kill yourself?”

“Didn’t you want to avoid falling into the photography club’s clutches?”

“I don’t want to, but I can’t let you risk it. How will I explain to your father if you get hurt?” Feng Hua forcefully pressed her back into the seat. “Even if you manage to escape, what about Yotsuba, Sama, and Ryua? They’ll all fall into enemy hands anyway, so we might as well go with them.”

Fei Yue thought about it and, finding it quite reasonable, obediently stuck back into her seat, her face serious, waiting to deal with the next tricks. The other passengers, still unwilling to give up, unable to break the bulletproof glass and with the doors sealed shut, could only helplessly resist and be forced to their destination.

When we arrived at the teaching building, the open space in front of us was already full of people. Some of them had been forced to come by the fake school bus driver, while others had probably followed the arrow signs on the ground after listening to the announcement.

As soon as the school bus stopped, the driver grabbed a name tag that had been altered to read "Extreme Assistance" from the windshield and jumped off to escape. He also spilled gasoline from the fuel can as he fled. By the time the electric doors opened and the angry passengers got off to chase after him, he was long gone.

After a search, the real school bus driver was finally found in the rest room behind the driver's seat, his hands bound behind his back, naked, and with a pair of underwear stuffed in his mouth. Fortunately, it was an older woman who found him, not a young, pretty, inexperienced prostitute, so it wasn't too horrific.

However, seeing the scheming older woman constantly praising the driver's physique and trying to persuade them to become friends, I couldn't help but feel sorry for the driver, who was unable to be untied and was still being threatened by the woman.

Besides the driver, another new discovery was made in the crowd: the beautiful landlady and Yin You were also there. They had been abducted early on. Although there were no obstacles to prevent the "contestants" from leaving the fun competition venue, all the people who decided to stay because they were worried about seeing the million-dollar prize money awarded, along with their roommate who might also be abducted there at some point, decided to stay and wait for the opportunity to meet up.

"Enough to obliterate our existence, formless and colorless, the courage born from the heart of warriors, we too offer you, with eyes of hatred, a filthy history. The sins that stripped our race of freedom and filled the void of false justice will be punished when they ripen. The howls of ten thousand demons have begun, the time of judgment has arrived, the eternal, unyielding clash will devour the sacrifice and heal. We will bestow upon you a jewel of equal weight to your souls as the reward for your victory, the sighs of the gods will become the mourning of the dead."

A deep, contemptuous voice flowed from the loudspeaker, and everyone gradually fell silent, listening to the poetic opening, while the sky gradually darkened with the sound, a chilly wind blew by, and thunder rumbled faintly in the intersecting lightning.

Episode 3, Chapter 3: The Demons of the Extreme Sports Club.

The sky was a thick, dark red, and the dim environment made the crowd uneasy. Were those guys in the Extreme Sports Club really gods? Could they even control the weather at will?

Just as I was thinking this, a small piece of something floated to the tip of my nose. I sneezed slightly, and the thing fell into my hand with the airflow. With a slight shake, it shattered into pieces. I brought it closer to smell it; it had a familiar burnt smell—was it the ash of joss paper?

"Finally, this moment!"

Laser-simulated lightning struck the clock tower, and the large circular clock in the center of the rose window pointed to fourteen o'clock. The golden bell on the spire began to swing, striking out the corresponding number of times with solid and accurate force.

Eleven dark figures, lined up in a row, revealed their evil forms in the light.

From left to right, Di Luo wore a long, vampire-style black cloak, its high collar almost burying his face in shadow. He was as cold as a sculpture, yet free as a king of the night released back into darkness. A simple bow, made of gold and silver thread, tied around his neck, the long tassel at the end swaying gently in the night breeze.

Beneath the cloak was a deep blue military uniform with two gold trims embroidered on the collar, cuffs, and hem. A blasphemous inverted cross silver chain hung arrogantly on his chest, and the back of his white silk gloves was also embroidered with the same ornate black lace pattern. Facing the screams of countless girls in the square, he remained indifferent, his pale, perfectly sculpted face unmoved. There

was no passion for battle emanating from him; he regarded the humans beneath his feet as nothing, lazily reigning supreme.

Standing beside Di Luo, Xi Rui lowered his head, his expression indifferent.

His powdered face appeared ashen, and his tinted contact lenses made his eyes appear red and black. Beneath a deep red Justicar coat with thirteen silver buttons, he wore a long vest and breeches with the same thirteen buttons.

In his right hand, he held a three-pronged silver candlestick, the bright red candle dripping blood-like wax; in his left hand, he held a dagger, placed before his chest in what seemed like an inverted cross symbolizing rebellion. The hilt featured a three-headed monster riding a giant lizard, and the blade of the Aomori sword was stained with an unidentified dark red liquid that was almost black. He

was shirtless, with a breastplate on his left chest and a two-headed snake tattoo on his right arm, its red tongue flicking menacingly; several greenish-blue spikes, seemingly poisonous, protruded from the back of his upper arm. Long, deep, and terrifying scars, like centipedes, snaked across his face, arms, and chest, making him appear as if he were a creature pieced together from corpses.

His muscular legs, devoid of any excess fat, were painted a bluish-green, while scattered across his body, large, horrifying wounds created with special makeup, revealed slightly translucent, lead-colored scales. His feet were bony and sharp-clawed, yet he had only four toes. His eyes widened in fury, and he roared; one could feel his unparalleled power without even needing to attack. A

gentle smile still graced his face, as if he were attending a joyous ball rather than a bloody war; however, the gleaming white fangs beneath his thin lips confirmed that the smile was merely a facade to lower one's guard. His right hand, gloved over his wrist, gripped a cane with a slightly curled end, and his unusually light-skinned long hair was neatly tied back with a white ribbon.

A white handkerchief was tucked into his left breast pocket, and beneath his black suit with the collar embroidered with bright red devil numbers were a shirt, vest, and lapel collar. He removed his black top hat and gave an elegant gentlemanly bow to the crowd, the gleaming toes of his black leather shoes seeming to foreshadow the ruthlessness to come.

Standing to B's right was C, who had a pair of bull horns on his head symbolizing power.

On his left horn, a golden viper of death climbed. C wore a half-silver mask and a bullfighter's outfit, flamboyant and eye-catching. He wore a white shirt, a gold tie, a red vest, and a black coat with gold and silver trim; the coat's shoulders were embroidered with colorful circular epaulettes, each pattern containing a demon, and the sleeves were adorned with rows of tassels, with two gold buttons sewn onto the cuffs.

Beneath his wide, gold belt were capri trousers covered in abstract patterns, the cuffs adorned with short laces that swayed with his movements; beneath the trousers were pink stockings and black loafers; C brandished a light sword in his left hand with an air of arrogance, a red cloak draped over his right arm across his waist, several swords embedded in it, the black image of a dying bull lying in a pool of blood unmistakable.

At the very center of the dark ranks, naturally, sat the throne of Vice President Ryan, holding a large, toaster-sized brown box made of wood and slightly rusted iron strips, dressed in a general's uniform, resembling an early warlord. On his high-collared uniform, horizontal and vertical purple stripes crisscrossed; on his left breast, a dazzling array of badges depicted fragmented goddess faces.

On either side of Ryan's gold shoulder straps, a dancing black demon was painted, as if celebrating an impending black feast; a white-on-white, purple-on-the-inside cloak flowed behind him like wings; the military knife at his waist, its gilded, ornate hilt gleaming brightly.

Beside the demon, in his left hand, lay a black-covered book of judgment, his neatly combed brown hair framing his face. Wearing a single-lensed spectacle, he dressed like a scholar, or perhaps a meticulous butler.

Over his shirt, a dark red V-neck vest cinched at his waist; a silent, howling demon head pinned to his red bow tie; dark leather shoes covered his black and brown striped trousers, the black bat wings on their pointed ears suggesting they might take flight at any moment. In

his right hand, he held a pocket watch, counting down incessantly; the watch face featured a relief of a tormented, agonizing dead.

Su Fei, who never seemed to know anything about seriousness, actually looked quite good in a gentleman's vest. Combined with an orange thirteen-rose-buttoned overcoat, riding breeches, and high riding boots, he genuinely had a touch of aristocratic flair. The red paint coiled around his left eye, though attempting to draw most of the attention, couldn't conceal the long dragon tail beneath his violet-blue decorative shawl.

Pluto was undoubtedly the most eye-catching this time, with glossy green hair, grey eyes, and a pure white outfit beneath his unbuttoned white overcoat. Two palm-sized gold brooches strung with gold chains cinched his coat's lapel; his white-gloved hands held a cracked dragon-slaying sword, its once-glorious scabbard depicting a knight trampled by a dragon—a tragic song of justice.

"Hehe... Fantastic! So many maggots..." Soren leaned forward, greedily gazing at the writhing crowd, grinning and involuntarily drooling. At this moment, he was completely like a ravenous wolf, his cruel nature unleashed by unbearable hunger.

His loose, dark green hair covered his left eye, and the severe dark circles under his eyes appeared even darker in the gloomy sky. He wiped his mouth, but his lewd laughter continued unabated, sending chills down my spine. His

double-breasted black coat was wide open, the cufflinks at his wrists adorned with a circle of unintelligible demonic script, the belt hanging loosely at his waist, the top two buttons of his shirt undone, and his red tie loosely around his neck.

On his left chest, a shield-shaped badge three fingers wide was pinned, one half bearing the demonic number 666 in black letters on a red background, the other half a fragmented skull in white on a black background, symbolizing his devotion to darkness and his thirst for slaughter.

Far to the right, Far's bright red hair burned like wildfire, revealing demonic horns like those of an antelope. Beneath a short, buttonless, royal blue vest with white trim, a black high-necked, sleeveless bodysuit so thin it perfectly showcased his defined muscles, while a red and white striped belt bound his white trousers.

He clenched his fists, his hands covered in black fingerless gloves, and stared at the crowd with a stern, unsmiling expression, muttering something, while Sauron's lips curled into a wider grin.

"So you are the warriors who have gathered to defeat us?" the paparazzi stepped forward, sneering contemptuously, his wickedness palpable without any effort.

"Hey, is it really a million if we win?" a man of about twenty-four jumped out of the crowd and shouted at him.

"Though we are unrestrained and wild, we always keep our word, like this—" The paparazzi flicked his index finger, and the man's body suddenly shuddered violently, a line of blood appearing on his face. The man clutched his chest and collapsed to the ground before he could even groan.

Shocked to see someone had died, people froze for a moment, then screamed and fled for their lives. But there were only four cars with oil leaks at the scene, and on foot, they couldn't possibly get out of range. So, the immobilized public transportation became the best hiding places, and a large group of people scrambled to squeeze into the vehicles and hide behind them.

But the limited space couldn't handle the overwhelming demand, and so, in the ugly side of human nature, people kept crammed into the safe zone, only to be ruthlessly pushed out an equal number of others.

"Though it requires risking your life, it's ultimately just a game. Don't let your sharp eyes be blinded before it even begins."

A groan rang out, and the "corpse" on the ground twitched twice. The dead man slowly propped himself up, looked at the people divided into four groups around the school bus, and his face was filled with confusion.

"He's not dead, he's alright!" After calming down, only the bolder ones had the mind to examine the paint stains on the man's chest after his resurrection.

"Now it's time to explain the rules." The paparazzi opened the rusty treasure box, grabbed a handful of gems, and let them flow through his fingers, flashing blue, green, and white light in the laser beam. "If you want to obtain the treasure, there are some things you must know.

"First, this is a battle between demons and humans within a designated area, and no living creatures outside the designated area can be affected. "

Second, all humans within the designated area must participate in the battle, without exception.

"Third, the battle lasts for one hundred and seventy minutes. If any warriors are still alive by then, humanity will be declared the winner."

"Fourth, each demon defeated will earn you gems worth one million yuan, up to a maximum of eleven million. After the countdown ends, the prize money will be equally distributed among the surviving warriors. However, if the entire army is wiped out, the accumulated amount will be forfeited.

Fifth, the 170-minute battle time limit will end prematurely if one side is completely annihilated.

Any questions?"

"Of course! I'm just going to die for nothing!" The man who had just missed the huge prize money, now shot, clutched his bright red shirt and complained bitterly.

"Sixth, demons don't have very good eyesight. People who have been hunted can be reborn by simply removing their red-stained clothes. This is the most favorable rule for humans. But if your skin is also stained with this indelible dye, it's best to lie down and wait for the time to run out, otherwise you'll end up like this."

The paparazzi flicked his index finger again, and the unfortunate man fell to the ground a second time. This time, people could clearly see the syringe inserted into his buttocks.

The needle was completely submerged beneath the skin, the plunger pressed tightly against the top of the syringe. No one knew where the liquid went.

"This is a fast-acting sleeping pill, guaranteed to keep you dreaming until dawn. We hope that any warriors with existing drug resistance will cooperate fully after receiving the injection, so we don't have to use real bullets to ensure the 'deceased's' peaceful sleep. All needles have undergone strict sterilization and disinfection to ensure they are never reused and there is no risk of infection. Please administer the injection with confidence."

The paparazzi gave a slight bow, offering his condolences. "Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Demonstration Material."

"Wait, we didn't agree to participate!" Frost Moon unleashed a death ray at the paparazzi, defiantly displaying her power.

"Secondly, all humans within the designated area must participate in the battle, without exception. Those who do not wish to participate can take their own lives; being hit by a bullet won't hurt too much."

The paparazzi said with a smile, "If you're really afraid of pain, you can find a place to hide. As long as you don't get killed by the demons,

you might even get a share of the rewards if you're lucky. "To be honest, there's a third way to avoid this game, but it's not recommended in principle: leave the designated battle area. The designated area is the entire campus, excluding the male and female dormitories. In other words, you're trapped inside the Sefer Academy and can't escape."

Damn, this is a delaying tactic!

Hearing this, I immediately looked around and saw that the walls surrounding the entire campus had been erected with high-voltage barbed wire, and hundreds of construction vehicles had even professionally erected wooden warning signs before leaving: "Danger! Keep away from electricity!" "

Damn it, where did this elementary school dropout come from!

I don't know if this is intentional humor, but besides a bunch of people who can't laugh, there's also Fei Yue, who's started a fire.

"Damn demon!" Fei Yue quickly pulled out her Beretta pistol, but Feng Hua stopped her before she could fire.

"Stop, do you want to kill someone?!"

"But—"

"No buts!" Feng Hua said angrily, her flames even suppressing Fei Yue's murderous aura.

"The last point, which is the method to kill the demon." The paparazzi glanced at Feng Hua and Fei Yue's argument indifferently, and with a wave of his hand, twenty-six silver metal barrels, each about 150 centimeters tall and with red lights flashing on their heads, slid out of the administration building in sequence.

The metal barrels formed a circle around the crowd, three feet apart, and after stopping, a loudspeaker emitted a synthesized warning: "Do not approach! Attention! Do not approach!"

Then, the dome on top of the barrel automatically opened, releasing a puff of cold white smoke, and the red light flashed more urgently. "

Do not approach! Caution! Do not approach!"

the metal barrel continued to warn. People on the periphery nervously moved closer to the center. When the white smoke dissipated, the red light turned green, and the contents, along with the lid, were ejected with a "whoosh!"

The sound was short and not loud, but the sheer size of the object still startled many people, causing them to fall to the ground. Below the lid was a silver metal rack filled with firearms, ten in a circle, arranged in three layers.

"In the game, please use the designated weapon—the Glock 17, 186mm in length and weighing only 625g. Its features include lightness and a high magazine capacity. Each magazine contains seventeen specially made red-painted bullets. Additional bullets must be obtained from fallen enemies; they will not be provided separately. In addition to the designated firearms, environmental weapons can also be freely used, but damage is still determined by the use of specially made bullets."

"Please collect your supplies quickly and find suitable cover. Eleven demons, including myself, are currently residing in this administration building. The binding seal will automatically release in thirty minutes. During this time, we will not fire on you, except for those who eliminate the demonstrators, those who directly attack the demons, and those who point their guns at me."

In that instant, eight more eager participants were shot in the same spot and fell to the ground with a thud.

"Finally, I assure you that each demon has only one life. Regardless of whether the bullet hits clothing or skin, and regardless of whether it is a vital spot, the demon will be killed instantly. Please act quickly. In thirty minutes, the demons will swarm out and relinquish control of the administration building to conduct guerrilla hunting. Have fun!"

After explaining, the voyeur, still smiling, held the wooden box and disappeared into the darkness with the other members.

Human nature is such that we only understand the necessity of witnessing the fate of villains to know why rules must be followed, rather than just being written on paper. The incompetent only find their usefulness in times of need. Seeing that those who transgress the rules are to be killed without mercy, everyone present reached a consensus that taking advantage of someone in distress is extremely unwise. Therefore, they obediently lined up to collect their weapons.

Every ten weapons collected, the metal rack automatically lowered by one level. When all the guns were collected, the metal cap closed, and the barrel automatically slid back into the administration building. With

only fifteen minutes left to retreat after collecting their weapons, Fei Yue swept up the remaining ten or so Glock 17s, as if participating in a "grab more, get more" promotion – why not take it all?

"Let's go!" Ignoring the scattered crowd, Fei Yue led the six towards the teaching building.

Personally, I think this decision was very correct.

While unity is strength, and a multitude of shots can eventually hit their mark, a large group can lead to slow reactions and numerous openings, potentially resulting in the enemy eliminating them first. The biggest fear is the emergence of scoundrels who disobey orders, act arbitrarily, and cause the deaths of everyone. Therefore, considering this situation, it's better to spread the risk.

The eight men who had been dealt with, like the previous man, had been unconscious for three or four minutes before staggering to their feet, looking almost like zombies. Their pistols had been kindly placed beside them. After taking a few seconds to assess the situation, they simultaneously removed their shirts, bare-chested, and grabbed their guns, catching up with us.

Most chose to run to the right of the academy; the library, teaching buildings, and student activity center seemed like ideal defensive positions, and naturally, the extreme sports club members would begin their cleanup from there.

In fact, running in any direction isn't a good strategy. The demons may seem to be holding back, but they've probably already memorized the directions the participants have scattered in, and they know exactly how many people to eliminate in each location based on the headcount.

Although we outnumber the demons, they possess superhuman strength. Our only hope for a comeback is that an unexpected dark horse emerges on our side!

Humans are vulnerable and pathetic when on the run, and I didn't want to dwell on this frustrating situation. Before reaching the designated point, I tried to stay alert despite my dizziness, urgently devising a winning strategy.

Upon arriving at the teaching building, Fei Yue immediately chose the basement, probably because it offered food and drink, avoided being attacked from above and below, and had a long bar between the student cafeteria and staff kitchen—ideal for both defense and offense.

Despite prior arrangements, about a third of the participants also came here, some acting alone, others forming small groups, scattered across different floors.

However, places with food are always more popular. Upon entering the restaurant, the food stalls at the carnival had already fed the crowds, leaving only a boy in black sitting quietly at the counter, calmly enjoying a bowl of fragrant beef noodles. Unmoved by the world's turmoil, he seemed like a celestial being.

Feiyue, without wasting any time, pulled the trigger without even looking, firing two shots at the boy before Fenghua could react.

There were so many empty seats; was it really necessary to use such methods to drive away customers?

The red bullets whizzed through the air, aiming straight for his temple. The boy calmly swallowed a mouthful of noodles, picked up the bowl, took a step back, and flipped over a four-person table to block the next three bullets, disappearing silently behind it. Not

knowing what kind of vicious scheme the other was plotting, Feiyue paused her futile attack on the table, but the gun barrel remained aimed at the center of the table, unwavering.

"Is he a demon?" a disheveled, unkempt man behind her asked.

"Judging by his skills, he's definitely from the photography club

. If he's not a demon, he's a spy for the demon." Feiyue stared intently at the square table, her index finger gripping the trigger, her nerves on edge, ready to deal with the boy in black's counterattack. "Who cares if he's from the photography club? If he's not a demon, killing him won't earn me a million, why bother!" The颓废 man tossed his pistol idly, ignoring the no-smoking sign on the wall as he lit a pipe.

"This is indeed none of your business. You're not one of Sefer's people, so naturally you wouldn't understand. I won't blame you if you don't help, at least don't bother me." Feiyue said expressionlessly.

"What? This is really annoying. Are you playing the game of drawing lines?" The颓废 man took a deep drag on his cigarette.

"We share the same stance, but we've never been on the same side from the start. You're free to do whatever you want, and it's none of your business what I want to do. The rules of this money-making game are incredibly simple: initially, it's about finding treasures, and later it's about fighting each other for the spoils. Unfortunately, a million isn't just for whoever finds it; even if you're not happy, only cooperation can increase your chances of winning. But I just can't stand your arrogant, fierce woman. For everyone's sake, I won't hold you back, but as for helping you—don't even think about it!"

"I'm glad we share the same thoughts."

"Yeah, something to be happy about." The颓废 man slumped into an empty chair, crossed his left leg, and rested his foot on his right thigh. "I don't need to cause trouble, and you won't benefit from it anyway. You still have a long way to go to beat that guy. That's how naive underage girls who haven't experienced society are."

He took another deep drag on his cigarette, burning down to only a third of the pipe. "Learn from wild dogs, keep your guard up, and don't mess with people you can't afford to offend. But if you have money, that's a different story." All

he talks about is money. Why does this guy reek of greed?

Perhaps this is going to go on forever, Fei Yue stopped paying attention to him and focused all her attention on the four-person table. For some reason, there was a persistent silence behind the table, an unseen pressure building up. Fei Yue was suppressing the man, but she was also being controlled by him.

Affected by the gunshots and the shouting, everyone's attention turned to this side, and the conversation quieted down. At this moment, things that had been inaudible before became faint and fragmented.

I listened intently; the sound was coming from behind the four-person table.

A barely audible gurgling sound, and the splashing of soup as someone slurped noodles.

Humiliated, Fei Yue's face was ashen. She lowered her upper body, her left hand slipping under the high slit of her skirt, sliding down her right thigh, and under the blushing gazes of countless men, pulled out a Beretta pistol. She fired fifteen shots at the table, riddling it with holes and forcing the black-clad youth to react.

A dark figure rolled out from the right side of the table, immediately attracting several shots. Fortunately, the real gun was out of ammunition, so Fei Yue had fired a Glock 17. Even if hit, it wouldn't be life-threatening, but the red paint smearing was still visually shocking.

The bullet penetrated the shadow, which trembled and collapsed to the ground, but it was flat—just an outer garment.

"Coward, what kind of trick are you playing?" Fei Yue blushed.

"Don't make false accusations, they've already shown their true colors." The dejected man spat out his extinguished cigarette butt, picked up the cigarette pack, and took another one from the opening: "Look, take a look at the bar yourself."

Fei Yue looked up as instructed and saw an empty bowl, a pair of wooden chopsticks, and 120 yuan in change on the counter.

However, while the boy in black was arranging these things, everyone's attention was focused on his black outer garment, and they didn't notice anything amiss, except for the disheveled man.

This seemed to be a significant blow to Fei Yue's pride, and her red lips pursed in resentment. At this moment, the boy in black had turned the tables, his right hand flashing out swiftly, and a double-edged throwing knife arrived in an instant, aimed directly at Fei Yue's face. Fei Yue was agile after all, and she dodged the sneak attack by the side. Seeing out of the corner of her eye that her opponent was trying to escape, she unceremoniously

fired her remaining eight bullets. The boy in black calmly dodged; there were many tables and chairs in the restaurant, and plenty of cover. The eight bullets either hit the furniture or were fed to the pillars. One or two more tricky shots were deflected by his iron pellets, and the bullets only grazed past him.

This surreal battle wasn't just something I watched in stunned silence; a whole bunch of people were dumbfounded.

"Wow, is he even human?!"

"Willow leaf throwing knife and Ruyi pearl!" The girl holding the martial arts novel screamed excitedly.

"Ah, what's that?"

The black-clad youth, having deflected the threat, retaliated with the remaining iron pellets in his palm. Feiyue dodged left and right while also protecting others, her movements becoming increasingly restricted. The youth pressed his advantage, flicking his left hand, and a hidden dart shot out instantly.

"Despicable bastard, using a concealed weapon!" Startled, Feiyue barely managed to dodge.

"The pot calling the kettle black. Hiding beretta in your inner thigh and then randomly unleashing it—is that considered honorable?" the颓废 man interjected.

In that brief moment of defensive maneuvering, the attack had significantly weakened. Looking again, the black-clad youth was gone, only the emergency exit door remained slightly ajar.

Feiyue, eager to catch up, didn't have time to argue, but as soon as she pushed open the safety door, her hurried steps came to an abrupt halt.

Sharp iron caltrops were scattered all over the floor, stretching all the way to the first-floor stairwell.

Judging by the black-clad boy's speed, even if he took the other staircase to climb to the first floor, he would have long since disappeared!

"Damn it, where did he get so many places to hide these things!"

Perhaps knowing she couldn't catch the enemy, Fei Yue felt somewhat discouraged. She turned her head sharply, intending to continue the unfinished argument, only to find that the dejected man had already slipped away during the break. Her face darkened even more.

Just then, the remaining people all surrounded her, adoring her like a hero.

"So strong! Please let me join you!"

"Please, please partner with me!"

In their eager eyes, all that was revealed was countless stacks of one million.

Greed is disgusting, yet it is an ineradicable negative desire in human nature. Although I dislike it, this is a good opportunity. I rummaged through my bag for notes and a pen, quickly wrote a few words, crumpled them into a ball, and threw the paper at Sha Zhen's head when no one was looking.

Hit by a foreign object, Sama rubbed her head and noticed a crumpled piece of paper at her feet. She naturally turned to look for the litterer, only to find everyone busy fawning over her. She could only pick up the paper and, in a very eco-friendly way, toss it into the trash can—

Hey, that's not how it works!

Seeing her plan fail, I quickly wrote three more notes and threw them at her again with increased force. Afraid

of being ambushed a second time, Sama picked up the paper and opened it.

Sama:

Find an opportunity to quickly move the others to the "Library" or "Administration Building."

The devil won't target papers or professors' personal belongings. "Little

Mo

…" Sama exclaimed, clutching the paper and glancing around at the crowd, but everyone seemed indifferent.

"What's wrong, Sama?" Yotsuba asked, looking at the paper in her hand with suspicion.

"No… nothing." Sama immediately smiled, hiding her hand behind her back and casually tossing the paper into the trash can. “Hizuki… I just think… with so many people, wouldn’t it be better if we went to the library?”

“But, is the library open today?”

“I don’t know… but I want to go check.” Sama, unable to give a clear answer, insisted.

“I also think we should leave here as soon as possible.” Hizuki had somehow managed to squeeze through the crowd, but the crowd continued to blindly push towards the empty standing area. “The commotion is too big. The photography club will definitely come here first. Let’s go to the library or the activity center!”

“The library!” Sama said.

“I like it there too.” Ryua said.

“Okay, okay, as long as we get out of here quickly, these worshippers are unbearable!” Kaga, almost out of breath, was flushed red.

And so, before the demons came to slaughter them, the girls immediately made a plan to move to another location, but just as everything was about to be put into action, suddenly a cry rang out: “Oh no… oh no! Waaaaah!”

A person rushed frantically from the first floor to the stairwell, and before they could catch their breath, they suddenly let out a shrill scream, and then tumbled all the way down the top step to the restaurant entrance.

"Huff...who? Who scattered nails all over the floor?!" He cried out in pain. Luckily, he was wearing a thick, giant mascot costume, so although the caltrops had turned him into a hedgehog, they hadn't cut his body. But his first step wasn't so merciful; the caltrops had actually pierced the sole of his foot.

"It's caltrops," Fei Yue corrected.

That's right, nails and caltrops are very different! The biggest difference is that, when both are scattered, the probability of a nail's sharp side facing up is ten percent, while caltrops are one hundred percent!

"Right, what did you just say was wrong?" Seemingly afraid that another argument would break out, Feng Hua quickly changed the subject.

"Wh...ah, oh no!" Startled, the man remembered the earlier commotion and said in a panic, "Oh no, I just saw from the lobby...the photography club people are running this way!"

"They're finally here!" Fei Yue grabbed Glock 17 and was about to rush forward.

"Stop! This isn't a one-on-one duel." Feng Hua grabbed her from behind, turned around, and pulled the informant by the collar. "Explain yourself clearly. There's a long way between the administration building and the teaching building. It would take at least ten minutes to run. Where were you when you saw them?"

"Only... about two hundred meters! I was watching with binoculars the whole time, and their clothes are easy to recognize. I shouldn't have been mistaken!" The beautiful woman pressed him, and the man immediately confessed everything.

"Should have? What do you mean 'should'! Should something be added to 'should' if it's certain?!" Feng Hua angrily pulled at his collar from front to back.

"I'm... I'm sorry, I was wrong..." In the dizzying heat, the tormented poor guy could only apologize repeatedly.

"Forget it." Without saying anything more, Feng Hua let go, letting the man's head slam against the floor with a "bang!"

She glanced at her watch and said, "There are only about eight minutes left. Feiyue, you're the expert in this area, so you'll give the instructions later, and we'll do our best to cooperate."

"Okay." "

And..." Feng Hua suddenly stood up, went behind the bar, pressed the building-wide broadcast button, picked up the microphone, and said, "Everyone in the teaching building, listen up! Those standing by the windows have definitely seen the demon coming this way. I believe you all know what this means—it means that the long-legged eleven million is about to become your grand prize!

"However, to receive this grand prize, we need everyone to do their part. Those who want to claim the prize, please gather in the lobby on the first floor within three minutes! To reiterate, we have a way to defeat the demon. Those who want to claim the prize, please gather in the lobby on the first floor within three minutes!"

As soon as she put down the microphone, a commotion erupted overhead.

"Alright," Feng Hua said to the people still in the restaurant, "Let's go upstairs too."

Upstairs, the noisy, beehive-like hall was packed with people—young men and women, the elderly, women, and children—whispering amongst themselves, their voices a jumble of words, high and low.

"Please be quiet! There's no time left. Please be quiet and listen to me!" Feng Hua raised her right hand as a gesture of attraction, then raised her voice.

While there wasn't immediate complete silence, the noise gradually subsided.

"Can we really defeat the demon? What method is it?" an impatient man asked.

"We are students of Sefer, and no one knows the Photography Club's misdeeds and capabilities better than us, so please trust us. As for the method, due to time constraints, we will prove it with our actions later. To dispel any doubts in your hearts, let me first introduce you—this is my partner, Feiyue."

Without further ado, Feng Hua pushed Feiyue to the front. The beautiful woman in her cheongsam, amidst the men's clamor, immediately heightened the unfounded fighting spirit.

"Though she is a woman, her fighting ability should not be underestimated. Those who witnessed that thrilling duel in the basement can bear witness for us. If anyone here still has doubts or believes they are better than her, please step forward. We sincerely hope you will stand up and lead us in this battle."

Feng Hua paused deliberately for a while, allowing the witnesses in the student cafeteria to release information and reassure everyone. After calculating that the time was about right and seeing no one step forward, she continued, "Then, please let our leader give the order!"

Leading the way, Fei Yue straightened her back, her expression sharp, and declared in a loud voice, "I, Fei Yue, am the commander of this operation. Please..." "You must all obey my orders and not act unilaterally."

After saying this, she paused for a moment, seemingly realizing that those before her were ordinary civilians, not soldiers. She then changed her rigid and inflexible manner, speaking frankly: "I've always been poor at expressing myself, but I want you all to know that, apart from those without combat abilities, I don't want anyone who's cowardly, hiding at the back of the line, or disrupting the organization's order out of greed."

She glanced around, estimating the number of people present, and continued: "There are about two hundred people here. If you defeat a demon, each person will receive a reward of one two-hundredth."

Money regardless of life or death!

Hearing this announcement, some people strongly supported it, while others immediately started mentally calculating.

It sounded very tempting; a high demon bounty sounded substantial, but the problem was that there were still too many participants! One million divided by two hundred is only five thousand. Even if

you were incredibly lucky and wiped out all the paparazzi, five thousand multiplied by eleven would only amount to… “Some might think that a prize of at most fifty-five thousand yuan is insignificant, but think about it carefully. If the demons are easy to deal with, you won't be the only ones alive. Even if only one hundred and fifty survivors remain, does the extra few thousand yuan make a difference?

“On the other hand, if the demons are extremely difficult to deal with, without teamwork, you'll be wiped out. In such a situation, if you die, you won't get a share of the prize money. What right do those unwilling to step forward have to expect others to sacrifice themselves for them?

“It's either fifty thousand, five thousand, or zero. There's no third option. If the demons had the terrifying power to eliminate you, they wouldn't have left one or two people to share the huge sum!”

Fei Yue's explanation was quite effective, almost immediately silencing any dissenting opinions that were about to rise up, and making them understand that those around them were not enemies, but their best allies.

Indeed, if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold; even if there's internal strife, the prize money must be accumulated first.

There are eleven demons and two hundred contestants, averaging eighteen per demon. Two people attacking one demon together seems easy, but it's actually barely manageable, and that doesn't even account for the elderly, children, and those with combat phobia. Gathering contestants from other buildings to assist might improve their chances, but right now it's a dire situation; distant help can't solve the immediate problem!

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