Pros and Cons

"I'm starving to death." Zhu Yan pulled out a chair. "Have you guys ordered yet?"

After spending the whole morning running for his life in terror, and then arriving at a safe and warm place, Zhu Yan finally felt an intense wave of hunger.

If he didn't eat soon, he really would starve into a fake human.

As for that weird brain-dead idiot, he'd deal with him after eating and drinking his fill.

From a blind spot Zhu Yan couldn't see, Yang Zhanbai shot a cold sneer at the boy.

Then, he quite naturally sat back down next to Qi Yinming, right across from Zhu Yan.

"I ordered every single dish here," Yang Zhanbai said. "I think the roasted pork ribs should be pretty good."

"If you scan the QR code to check the menu, they also have seafood risotto, beef fried rice... There are only a dozen of us, so it's definitely enough to eat—"

"Brother Zhu!"

Yang Zhanbai's enthusiastic introduction was interrupted by the boy.

The small restaurant plunged into silence once again. Zhu Yan had no choice but to look up from the mobile menu and face the boy's almost distorted face.

Zhu Yan naturally knew that the situation among the players here was no simpler than dealing with the horror creatures out there.

For example, even though Yang Zhanbai was powerful and had provided protection for the players, the [Hunter] mark on his hand was likely a thorn in the side that most people here minded.

These people hadn't expressed anything yet, perhaps because Qi Yinming, acting as the leader, hadn't stated his position, perhaps because no one was leading the way in their state of confusion, or perhaps simply because Yang Zhanbai was too strong to defeat.

His cold treatment just now expressed the attitude of "rest and recover first, and don't talk too much."

It seemed not everyone could understand that—

That boy stood in the corner in front of an ornamental plant, jaw clenched tight, his staring eyes meeting Zhu Yan's gaze.

Even though the lighting in the restaurant was tranquil and warm, it couldn't fix his ashen complexion at all.

"Brother Zhu, I just... I just reorganized my thoughts."

The boy looked at Zhu Yan, then looked at Yang Zhanbai with fear on his face, ultimately choosing to bow and scrape to Zhu Yan.

"Ah right, my name is Li Huisheng." He hastily added an introduction. "It's like this, I wanted to summarize the possible ways to clear the game right now."

Zhu Yan tried to stop him with a word, but it was useless.

The boy spoke rapidly and in a high pitch. Even when he realized he and Zhu Yan had spoken at the same time, he didn't stop.

"There are three paths in total! The first is what I suggested before: the shop assistants can walk into the real world. Boss, you choose one person, let the assistant pull this person out, and reach the finish line from the real world."

"The second path is to go through the level you found, Boss, and we go kill the [Alpha Wolf]."

The boy carefully observed Zhu Yan's expression, then quickly glanced back out the window.

From those few blurry photos on the phone, one could tell that the underground level wouldn't be easy to navigate.

Moreover, the monsters on the surface were already so terrifying... let alone the Alpha Wolf!

"The th-third path, even though you pointed out earlier that the rules were wrong, Boss, I still suggest—"

The boy's voice wasn't quiet; this sentence made the atmosphere in the entire restaurant freeze.

The crowd's gazes—whether nervous, pitying, or reserved—all turned in unison toward Yang Zhanbai without exception.

Yang Zhanbai pressed his lips together tightly and cast a nervous glance at Zhu Yan.

Everyone guessed what the boy was going to say, including him, and including Zhu Yan.

It was nothing more than superficially siding with "Zhu Zeyu"—currently the strongest and definitely capable of defeating Yang Zhanbai—and then inciting Zhu Yan to make a move against Yang Zhanbai.

Zhu Yan understood, but he didn't intend to stop it.

In front of a group of players, one must have a justifiable reason for doing things.

This Li Huisheng was shouting fiercely now, so he would wait until tomorrow.

The mark duplicated by the [Copy Ointment] could only last for 5 hours. Therefore, Zhu Yan planned to find the berry-flavored yogurt bowl sold by the Solace Mother before their second action.

Once he got his hands on the yogurt bowl, Li Huisheng wouldn't live much longer.

When this guy discovered the [Hunter] mark appearing on his own palm, while Yang Zhanbai's palm was completely blank...

It should be quite a spectacular sight.

Zhu Yan calmly looked at Li Huisheng, and sure enough, Li Huisheng said the expected second half of his sentence.

"I still suggest we try killing him! What if it works—"

Oh my, just as expected.

Even though he had prepared himself, Yang Zhanbai's expression still shifted slightly.

But Li Huisheng's words were interrupted because a female shop assistant came out from the back kitchen, serving them piping hot food.

"Serve it here first."

Yang Zhanbai waved his hand immediately, and the pot of fragrant Tom Yum soup was placed squarely in front of Zhu Yan.

"You eat first." Yang Zhanbai reined in his emotions, scooping all the mussels and shrimp from the pot into Zhu Yan's bowl. "Killing monsters requires keeping your strength up."

"Exactly, we're hungry too."

Seeing the atmosphere ease up slightly, a few players chimed in in agreement.

"Li Huisheng, come eat first."

"We finally found a place to rest, just take a break."

"Let's talk after we eat!"

Brothers, you're catching on!

Zhu Yan was truly starving; he grabbed the bowl.

The moment the slightly spicy, hot soup flowed down his throat, he felt his exhausted body regain some strength.

Li Huisheng's face darkened.

His gaze followed the innocent female assistant, watching her walk into the back kitchen; then he resentfully turned his head, shrinking his neck as he glared at Yang Zhanbai.

"Brother Zhu—"

"Go eat."

Zhu Yan placed his bowl on the table, neither lightly nor heavily, making a crisp clack sound.

The chopsticks in the hands of two nearby players paused.

Li Huisheng stiffened his neck and didn't move.

This action was just right for Zhu Yan.

If Li Huisheng left immediately, he wouldn't be able to continue with his next argument to save Yang Zhanbai's life.

Therefore, Zhu Yan wasn't angry at all; he merely gave Yang Zhanbai a mild look.

Yang Zhanbai was also watching Zhu Yan, his brows unconsciously furrowed.

Zhu Zeyu was truly a great player—brave, reliable, and had saved his life three times.

If even this kind of person thought they should make a move against him, then he absolutely wouldn't resist.

Oh wait, no, Zhu Zeyu was very strong.

Yang Zhanbai smiled bitterly as messy thoughts sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.

Anyone facing Zhu Zeyu would surely have absolutely no room to resist...

"Your idea is very good." Zhu Yan's voice pulled Yang Zhanbai back to reality. "But we finally found a shop to rest in, and Yang Zhanbai ordered the food. It wouldn't be very appropriate for you to kill him right now. Who's going to pay the bill?"

"Also, he's stronger than you, right?"

"If you kill him now, what if the rules are wrong? What if we actually have to go through the level? What will we do tomorrow?"

Zhu Yan sneered.

"Am I supposed to go find the Solace Mother's yogurt bowl all by myself?"

Li Huisheng said, "Boss, just lead us. My family is rich, I can give you—"

"Who wants your stinking money?" Zhu Yan interrupted him impatiently. "What the hell is money going to be good for in the future!"

If he didn't still need this guy's right hand, Zhu Yan really would have killed him right then and there.

"You think everyone is as high and mighty as Yang Zhanbai? Let me tell you, the very first thing I will do when I get my hands on the yogurt bowl is kill you, you stupid prick."

"You—" Li Huisheng had not expected Zhu Yan to act like this.

His mindset was still stuck in their simple school days, where people generally did not slap a smiling face.

In a school with relatively decent academic performance, even campus bullying was practically extinct.

Zhu Yan ate the shrimp in his bowl, softened his tone, and smiled at Li Huisheng.

"Look at you, taking it so seriously. I was just joking."

He lifted his chin, motioning to the empty seat behind Li Huisheng to indicate that the matter ended there for now.

"Go back and eat. The biggest taboo in an instance is going hungry."

Better to die on a full stomach before hitting the road.

"As for the pros and cons of the proposal you just made, I have already laid them out clearly."

"No one has any objections, right?"