Chapter 105: Transfer

“The Special Affairs Bureau will arrive soon—they’ll clean up this mess.”

Li Cheng adjusted his glasses and quickly told Xiao Feng: “The idea that this book has a fated destiny is complete nonsense, so your child is fine. But personally, I suggest you sell your assets as soon as possible and convert them to cash. Ask the Special Affairs Bureau to help you and your family disappear under new identities and relocate.”

Xiao Feng was still dazed, but his wife snapped out of it, clutching the child and nervously asking: “Are we running from revenge?”

“Yes. The gang behind this crime wasn’t decent to begin with—they might keep targeting you. Also, the one they hired, Wang Beipo, was genuinely screwed to death by Old Feng.”

Li Cheng spoke calmly: “Players have family and friends too. They hold grudges and take them out on anyone connected.”

Compared to the unexplained deaths of Wang Beipo, the nanny, the gardener, and others, Xiao Feng’s family was already incredibly lucky to be alive—they dared not ask for more, only nodded repeatedly in gratitude.

As for the drug that Cervantes gave him, it only temporarily sustained life; once its effect wore off, he would die naturally.

After a brief exchange, Li Cheng left the mountain villa, changed into a new disguise, boarded the intercity bus back to Yin City, and leaned against the window, feigning sleep.

The thunderstorm still raged; lightning split the sky, reflecting in the raindrops clinging to the window as countless flickering points of light.

【Confirmed: Cervantes is a member of the Laughing Troupe】

His friend communication interface suddenly lit up with a message from Yuan Zhixia, accompanied by a transfer link.

Due to the Laughing Troupe’s chaotic nature, they’re despised by official institutions worldwide, and all members carry various bounties.

Anyone providing a valuable lead gets rewarded money; providing a critical lead earns a large sum. Those like Li Cheng who directly help capture Laughing Troupe members receive a direct reward of 2000 game coins.

Li Cheng: 【That much?】

Yuan Zhixia: 【Too much? Not at all. Cervantes is a core member of the Laughing Troupe—his price is justified.】

Yuan Zhixia: 【Also, have you considered joining the Special Affairs Bureau? We’re very interested in reliable intelligence sources.】

Li Cheng: 【Hello, I’m Li Cheng’s girlfriend. He’s in the shower. What’s up?】

Yuan Zhixia: 【?? You can share friend communication too? Honestly, the Special Affairs Bureau isn’t some man-eating monster—why won’t you join?】

Li Cheng: 【Sigh, after watching the movie ‘Full River Red,’ I got emotional and tattooed ‘Loyal and Serve the Nation’ on my back. Now I can’t pass the political review with a tattoo.】

Yuan Zhixia: 【So you’re Yue Fei, the Martial Duke? You’re competing in the Paris Olympics this year.】

The two chatted aimlessly, then closed their friend communication. Li Cheng received another message from Changsun Yao.

She had learned the full details of the incident from You Anjian and the Special Affairs Bureau, and immediately apologized to Li Cheng.

Old Feng, as the employer, had malicious intent, turning what should have been a low-risk guarding job into a deadly mission.

As the intermediary who arranged the job, Changsun Yao bore some responsibility.

In addition to the 3 million cash Old Feng had promised, she transferred Li Cheng 300 game coins as an apology—she viewed Li Cheng, as a Level 5 newbie, as unfairly forced into a mandatory mission.

If Li Cheng had been the one left in the mountain villa instead of Wang Beipo, he likely would have died just as mysteriously.

The Kill Field’s unique mechanics created a distinctive business environment: even large guilds, conglomerates, and agencies rarely played the “big shop, bully customers” game—there were no courts or police in the Kill Field, and every player possessed extraordinary power. A single argument could lead to the annihilation of an entire family.

Li Cheng happily accepted both transfers and turned to view his mission rewards.

【Reward settlement in progress】

【Player overall performance: S, game coins and experience gained increased to 160%】

【Mission Reward 1: 500 experience points】

【Mission Reward 2: 500 game coins】

Within the one-hour time limit, Li Cheng and his two teammates searched the mountain villa, deduced the truth from clues, killed the blood corpse, uncovered the mastermind—Cervantes—and helped the Special Affairs Bureau bring him to justice. An S-rank evaluation was entirely justified.

After applying the 1.6 multiplier, Li Cheng received 800 experience points and 800 game coins, advancing from Level 5 (240/500) to Level 6 (540/600).

Just 60 more experience points to reach the next level.

In game currency, his original 1790, plus the 2000 from the Special Affairs Bureau and the 300 from Changsun Yao, totaled a massive 4090.

Additionally, 3 million in cash awaited collection.

“4090. Such a lucky number.”

Li Cheng took a deep breath and turned to the third reward.

【Mission Reward 3: Random item ×1, quality determined by mission rating】

Under an S-rank mission rating, even a random item couldn’t be pure trash. Li Cheng suppressed his excitement, rubbed his palms together, and opened the chest.

A brilliant flash of light—his inventory now contained a lighter.

【Name: Nuclear Lighter】

【Type: Tool】

【Quality: Fine】

【Effect: Constant Burn. When opened, it stably generates a flame at 1035°C with 100 lumens brightness. The flame ignores environmental restrictions and continues burning in oxygen-depleted, vacuum, darkness, anti-burning magic fields, underwater, and other hostile conditions. Total duration limit: 200 years】

【Consumption: None】

【Cooldown: None】

【Equip Condition: Intelligence ≥ 3】

【Note: The Nuclear Lighter has five settings. At Setting 1, it burns for 200 years. Each higher setting increases flame intensity and brightness, but shortens the maximum burn time.】

【Note: Shipwrecked, stranded on a desert island, unknown monster roars echo from the primal jungle, wild footprints appear on the beach—and I have nothing but this lighter. How do I survive?! V me 50, I’ll tell you my survival story.】

“Emmm.”

Li Cheng examined the lighter—it was square, silver, with an atomic symbol printed on the front, exuding a futuristic feel.

He was on the bus now, so he couldn’t test it out, but the ability to “ignore environmental restrictions and burn continuously” alone made it invaluable in extreme conditions.

The equip condition was oddly specific: Intelligence ≥ 3. Did that mean anyone below that couldn’t play with fire?

Next was the fourth mission reward: Random Skill Scroll ×1.

“Open!”

Li Cheng silently shouted, and a skill scroll appeared.

【Skill Scroll Name: Method of Embodied Roleplay】

【Attribute: Learning (one-time use only)】

【Type: Universal】

【Usage: Active】

【Level: Fine】

【Effect: Immersive Performance. Portray a real or fictional person— the more you believe in the role, the more authentic you become. During this process, sanity recovers faster than normal, depending on the similarity of the portrayal.】

【Consumption: None】

【Cooldown: None】

【Learn Condition: Charm ≥ 6】

【Note: As Soviet dramatist Stanislavski wrote in ‘An Actor Prepares,’ there is no true art without experience. True realism in theater isn’t acting a role—it’s truly living it.】

【Note: Who says I’m schizophrenic? We’re perfectly fine.】

(End of Chapter)