Bro, You're Gonna Hack Me to Death

Zhu Yan turned and lunged back, slamming down onto the Boss's back with a loud thud.

[Complain] had worked.

A Level 5 Boss wouldn't be completely drained, but with its strength faltering, its entire body was slapped onto the ground like a lump of clay.

A massive sound echoed through the space. Zhu Yan didn't have time to worry about Yang Zhanbai; he pressed the blade of the table knife against the back of its heart.

"Done," he whispered, his heartbeat quickening and his breathing growing heavy.

This Boss was very dangerous; he absolutely had to drain it a bit more with [Complain].

"You ungrateful thing. I brought your food to the front hall, which means you're on the menu too."

The Boss didn't speak. Its head was pressed hard against the tiles, and its eye sockets began to rot again.

It had seen the "Captain" before—just a low-level monster with a voracious appetite and nothing special about it.

Why had it suddenly become so strong?

Not only had it gotten much smarter, but it was also able to easily overpower him!

It could feel the sharp tip of the knife pressed against its back—

If the "Captain" wanted to, that thing could absolutely stab right through him.

The Boss was filled with venomous resentment.

Damn it.

Whatever the reason behind this, once it was out of danger, it was going to kill the Captain immediately!

"Don't get excited, bro." The Boss very humanly raised its hands in a gesture of surrender. "Peace, peace & love."

Zhu Yan was speechless.

Bro, that's easy to say.

But your eye sockets are rotting all the way to your mouth!

"Peace my ass." He couldn't hold back his urge to retort anymore. "We're in a battle, what the hell are you loving! Get up and fish for players for me!"

Over by the bar.

While the two terrifying creatures were fighting, Yang Zhanbai quickly explored his side of the hall!

He had heard some of the conversation before those two things started fighting.

He didn't know what the "interesting thing" the "Captain" mentioned was, but judging by how things developed, the Boss didn't quite approve of this "interesting thing."

Fight, fight, it'd be best if one side got killed.

Yang Zhanbai cheered them on gloatingly in his heart as he quickly moved to the other side of the hall.

You could see from one end to the other here. Aside from the golden cage they came in through, there didn't seem to be any other exit.

Yang Zhanbai huddled in a corner, his mind racing.

It was night now. According to the rules, terrifying creatures could attack players.

It was too dangerous.

He had originally planned to run away, adhering to the principle that saving his life was the most important thing.

With that plan ruined, he could only brace himself to face two—or one—monster.

Yang Zhanbai stared intently at the bar, an idea immediately forming in his mind.

Rustling sounds came from behind the marble bar, and then, the Boss's hair, standing up like steel needles, slowly appeared in sight.

Just now, he had used the identity of a [Hunter] to trick the "Captain."

The "Captain" hadn't hurt him. Did this mean terrifying creatures couldn't harm a [Hunter]?

If so, then he could naturally use the title of [Hunter] to trick them again!

Yang Zhanbai sneered and tightened his grip on the knife in his hand.

Under the pale light, the Boss stood up—

Unlike what Yang Zhanbai had imagined, it actually raised its hands high in surrender, and right behind it stood the "Captain," its face full of death and its skin a sickly green!

Holy crap.

Yang Zhanbai's heart trembled slightly.

Was this "Captain" actually that strong?

Zhu Yan controlled the force in his hand; the table knife just barely pierced the Boss's clothing, resting coldly against its flesh.

"Hurry up," he urged in a low voice. "Use information to bait him so he brings down more food."

Getting food was an excuse; sharing information was more important.

But the Boss didn't catch on. It aimed that face, half of which had completely rotted away, at Yang Zhanbai.

"Yo bro," it said in a weird tone. "I won't beat around the bush with you. We sell [Thrilling Joy] here, priced at 300 Bone Coins a bottle."

What the hell?

Zhu Yan stared at the back of the Boss's head, shocked.

Was the substance up there that messed with people's brains actually [Thrilling Joy]?

Then why were his addiction symptoms far less severe than those of his classmates who ate the snacks, even though he had merged with [Thrilling Joy]?

"If you buy five bottles, you can get the key to the next level from me."

"Once you reach the next level, you can meet the Alpha Wolf."

The Boss chuckled cryptically and flicked its wrist.

With that movement, a bunch of golden keys suddenly appeared in the crook of its little finger, sparkling under the light.

"How about it? What I sell is a concentrated, specially made version of [Thrilling Joy]. The fear-inducing [Thrill] makes up a very small percentage, while the happiness-inducing [Joy] makes up a huge percentage. It's definitely worth it."

"If you want something with more kick, we also have a 1:1 version of both."

Damn.

There are ratios for this?

Zhu Yan's eyes were opened.

Then what ratio was the [Thrilling Joy] in his body?

No, that wasn't the main point right now.

Zhu Yan put his questions aside for a moment and glanced at the keys hooked on the Boss's finger.

The keys are here, so where is the keyhole?

He had to find a way to trick it out of him!

Across the bar.

Yang Zhanbai was also staring intently at the bunch of keys, thinking rapidly.

300 Bone Coins a bottle, five bottles would be 1500 Bone Coins. This should be the condition for passing the second level.

He didn't have a single cent.

However, he didn't care whether he passed the level or not.

Because the broadcast said that whether it was the [Alpha Wolf] or the [Hunter], as long as they killed one, they could get that precious 48 hours.

One was a terrifying creature, the other was a human traitor who had defected to the [Carnival Paradise].

In his eyes, there was no difference between the two!

If the [Hunter] was also a player, then he just needed to go back to the surface and drag them out.

And according to the broadcast, the [Hunter]'s level was 0, which was within the range of his abilities.

The Boss just said that they could meet the [Alpha Wolf] in the next level. This path pointed to the ending of killing the [Alpha Wolf].

This was much harder than killing the [Hunter]—

Why did he have to waste time here?

According to the broadcast, the [Hunter], whose mission was to "harvest human lives," probably wouldn't hide here during the "great time" of the night.

Yang Zhanbai looked at the Boss and the "Captain" behind the bar, a playful sneer forming on his lips.

He finally understood.

This entire level was a massive trap designed to waste their time!

"Boss, your [Thrilling Joy] is indeed a great deal."

Yang Zhanbai didn't know what [Thrilling Joy] was, but that didn't stop him from pretending.

He didn't plan to buy this [Thrilling Joy], but he had to find a way to make the Boss willingly let him go back.

"But my level is low, and I don't have that much money." Yang Zhanbai was very honest, glancing at the "Captain" who was controlling the Boss.

The "Captain" was the one who truly had the final say.

And the "Captain"'s twisted tastes were obviously heavier; it seemed to care more about how to play with its food.

"But I am a Hunter. We are on the same side, and I have a way to bring you more food."

Holy shit!

Zhu Yan was so terrified that he quickly pressed the edge of his blade a little closer, screaming internally.

Hunters are not allowed down here, bro!!

I am the fucking Hunter, so could you please stop casually stealing my title?!

Yang Zhanbai couldn't hear Zhu Yan's inner thoughts; he just thought his own idea was absolutely brilliant.

"...The method will be quite interesting too. It absolutely will not disappoint you, Captain."