Chapter 97
Chapter 97
In the real world, within the Sakura Region…
High-ranking officials crowded into a room. Every one of them bowed and scraped, hardly daring to breathe. At their head stood a thin man who remained completely silent.
They seemed to be anxiously awaiting something, their expressions tense.
Clatter!
Someone suddenly pushed open the door and reported, “Prime Minister, Yamagami has successfully taken control of Zhouyou Shijie’s parents!”
“Excellent work!”
“Wonderful! With this, our plan to seize the God-Demon Orb is already half complete!”
“As expected of the Sakura Region’s finest assassin, Yamagami Yusai. Leaving the job to him guaranteed success!”
…
The previously oppressive room erupted with excited chatter. Every speaker sounded delighted, not one of them regarding the kidnapping of an opponent’s family as a despicable act.
“Everyone, quiet down!”
After the brief celebration, Prime Minister Fujita Daimu motioned for silence. “Tell Yamagami Yusai not to lower his guard under any circumstances. Zhouyou Shijie is incredibly powerful and may be capable of bringing a portion of his in-game power into reality. He must maintain an iron grip on Zhouyou Shijie’s weakness!”
“Yes! I will warn him at once!”
“One more thing. Once we have the God-Demon Orb, eliminate Zhouyou Shijie and leave no future threat!” Fujita Daimu’s voice turned cold. “If he remains alive, he will eventually become a scourge upon the Sakura Region!”
The governments of every nation had long known that Destiny was not merely a game. One day, the power found within it would return to reality.
That was precisely why Zhouyou Shijie’s possession of an SSS-Rank Talent had caused such an uproar worldwide.
Aside from the Eastern Region, no other nation wanted to see Zhouyou Shijie continue growing. The Sakura Region was merely one of them.
“Understood!”
After receiving the order, the subordinate immediately left to deliver it.
…
Meanwhile, Zhou Ming had just answered a call from his mother’s phone.
“Zhouyou Shijie?”
A strange, hoarse voice came through the phone.
BOOM!!
Zhou Ming’s mind went completely blank.
The voice did not belong to either of his parents, and the caller knew his in-game ID!
This person had come with hostile intent!
“Who are you?”
The hand gripping Zhou Ming’s phone tightened until veins bulged across it. He fought desperately to restrain his anger. “Where is my mother?”
He had never imagined that his enemies in reality would target his family before coming after him!
“It seems you have no intention of playing dumb.” The voice was distorted and blurred, clearly altered by some kind of processing. “Rest assured, your mother is alive. For the moment, she remains safe.”
The caller moved the phone aside. “Would you like to say something to your son?”
“Ah Ming…”
“Mom!”
Before Zhou Ming could say anything else, the caller took the phone back. “There is an abandoned building in the southeastern corner of Anning District, Su City. I expect you to arrive within three hours. Remember, do not call the police. Otherwise, I cannot guarantee the safety of your mother and father.”
Beep. Beep. Beep…
The caller hung up.
Consumed by anxiety, Zhou Ming hurriedly changed his clothes and rushed out of his rented apartment.
It was late at night.
A fine drizzle shrouded Su City in a thin veil of mist.
Zhou Ming flagged down a taxi and immediately urged the driver toward the abandoned building.
During the ride, the thought of calling the police occurred to him several times, but each time he abandoned it.
“What am I supposed to do?” Zhou Ming felt lost.
Inside the game, he could face the gods without reservation.
But confronting an unknown enemy in reality was entirely different, especially when his parents had been taken hostage.
“Brother, you look pretty rattled.”
The taxi driver was an ordinary-looking young man with bronze skin. Watching Zhou Ming through the rearview mirror, he offered encouragement. “When something happens, the first thing we must do is keep our heads. The best way to overcome fear is to face it!”
“…”
Zhou Ming looked up at the driver in surprise. “It’s you?”
He had met this driver at a barbecue stall before.
Back then, the shameless stranger had even persuaded Zhou Ming to buy him dinner, promising to return the favor someday.
“You still remember me? Good memory!” The young man grinned.
With urgency and anxiety churning inside him, Zhou Ming asked, “Can you help me?”
He had always sensed there was more to this man than met the eye.
At the moment, however, he had no mind to consider anything else.
“I’m only an ordinary taxi driver, and I have fares to pick up. How could I help you?” The young man shook his head in refusal, then added meaningfully, “But I’ve already told you what you need to know!”
Zhou Ming fell silent.
…
The car raced through the rain.
Two and a half hours later, Zhou Ming arrived at the abandoned building.
Viewed from a distance, the building was pitch-black beneath the night sky.
Zip!
A red dot suddenly appeared on Zhou Ming’s forehead, bringing with it a heart-pounding sense of danger.
There was no question about it. The enemy had firearms.
Ring… Ring…
His phone began ringing.
Forcing himself to remain calm, Zhou Ming answered. The voice on the other end sounded highly satisfied. “Good. You are a dutiful son. Your parents are waiting for you on the fifth floor. As long as you behave and follow instructions, I guarantee they will remain unharmed.”
After delivering the message, the caller hung up again.
Zhou Ming drew a deep breath, then climbed the stairs without hesitation. His footsteps echoed through the lifeless building.
When he reached the fifth floor, several red laser sights converged on him.
Click!
Lights flared on, illuminating the darkness. Zhou Ming narrowed his eyes against the glare and saw five masked men holding rifles. Their every action was cautious.
Behind the five men, a middle-aged couple sat bound to chairs. Tape covered their mouths, preventing them from speaking.
“I’m the one you want. They have nothing to do with this!” Zhou Ming said. “Let them go!”
“An ordinary person would already be trembling at a scene like this, yet you still dare negotiate with us…”
The leader of the five, Yamagami Yusai, pulled off his mask and revealed his face. A long scar stretched from behind his ear to his mouth, giving him a terrifying appearance. “Should I say you’re worthy of being Zhouyou Shijie, or that you still don’t understand your position?”
“…”
Zhou Ming’s expression darkened.
He knew these men were ruthless. There was a strong chance they would kill the hostages no matter what happened, but he could not simply disregard his parents’ safety.
“You forced me into this!”
Knowing the matter could not end peacefully, Zhou Ming raised his left hand toward them, an intense desire burning inside him.
At this point, he had no choice but to stake his life on one attempt!
Just as the driver had said, the best way to overcome fear was to face it!
Shk! Shk! Shk!
The five assassins from the Sakura Region immediately aimed their guns at Zhou Ming.
“Don’t make any sudden moves!” Yamagami Yusai shouted. “Or we won’t be so polite!”
On any other mission, they would have shot the target dead with a sniper rifle the moment he arrived downstairs.
But Zhouyou Shijie was different!
The lord who issued their mission had made one point perfectly clear: they had to obtain the God-Demon Orb first.
“Dawn… Bringer!”
Zhou Ming shouted the words softly, his palm aimed at Yamagami Yusai.
“…”
Nothing happened.
For a long moment, dead silence filled the floor. Only the cold wind howled through the building.
Zhou Ming’s heart sank.
Was it still impossible after all?
“Hahahaha!”
Yamagami Yusai doubled over laughing, nearly reduced to tears. “Have you lost your mind from playing too many games? You’re actually trying to use a game skill in reality?”
“No matter how powerful you are in the game, it’s all fake!” Another assassin mocked. He aimed his gun at Zhou Ming’s mother behind him.
“Stop! Don’t shoot!” Zhou Ming roared, losing control. It felt as though an invisible hand had closed around his heart.
“Mmph!”
His mother tried to say something, but the tape prevented her.
Bang!
A deafening gunshot rang out. A wound opened in his mother’s leg, blood flowing from it.
“Make another sudden move and it won’t be just her leg next…”
The assassin turned back toward Zhou Ming. Before he could finish, a hand clamped around his throat and lifted him into the air.
When did he get here?!
Yamagami Yusai and the other three assassins were all shocked.
Hum!
The entire abandoned building trembled.
Killing intent saturated the air as the temperature rose sharply.
“I fucking told you to stop!!”
Zhou Ming’s face twisted with rage, his eyes bloodshot like a beast driven into a frenzy.
At some point, a crimson orb had appeared beside him, floating in the air and radiating an enchanting glow.
Whoomph!
Fire ignited in his palm.
…