Chapter Twenty-Eight: Liu Mengchao's Hint

Stepping in from the balcony, the first thing that caught Liu Mengchao’s eye was the flickering television. The static hissed incessantly, like a lingering shadow that refused to dissipate from the screen.

Inside the room were Komuro Takashi, Hirano Kouta, and two reincarnators: Xu Zhengdong, and Ye Yutian, who was sprawled across the bed clutching a bottle of liquor. Ye Yutian’s hand never left the bottle, and each time the television crackled, he took a swig. But as he watched Liu Mengchao enter from the balcony, the dust-clouded haze in his eyes suddenly cleared.

For some, the more they drink, the deeper their stupor grows. But Ye Yutian was different. For reasons unknown, the more he drank, the sharper his mind became, like a car fueled to capacity, its engine revving ever faster.

The plot of Apocalypse Academy was wiped clean before his eyes, as though someone had scoured it with a rag. The Humvee had eight seats; counting the little girl Alice, that made nine.

“Gulp.”

Ye Yutian downed another mouthful, glancing at the three people before him, his thoughts spinning. He’d been abandoned by his fellow reincarnators after an accident while driving the school bus. Had it not been for the buxom Shizuka Marikawa supporting him along the way, he’d likely have ended up like that fool Koichi Shido, separated from the group with a handful of students.

But now, his usefulness had run its course. Everything depended on what was in that cabinet before them.

Guns.

A powerless man, once armed, could kill many—as long as his hands remained whole and his finger could pull a trigger.

“Next, I suppose, it’s time to plot my murder,” he thought. Scenes from the world of reincarnation replayed in his mind like a film. Xu Zhengdong, with his gold-rimmed glasses, seemed to glance back at him with a chilling smile.

“You think I’m that special forces soldier? To think a chemistry teacher like you would get the upper hand,” Ye Yutian mused, raising his bottle. The liquor, meant to dull his senses, instead made his gaze razor-sharp.

He raised his eyes to the clock on the wall.

Night, 7:12:05.

“Twelve hours left until fate is decided. Shizuka Marikawa has fulfilled her purpose, bringing us to her friend’s weapon stash,” Ye Yutian pondered, watching the three men prying open the cabinet, “and including my drunken self, I’m the second to be abandoned.”

His gaze slid to Liu Mengchao, who seemed not to notice him, intently watching Xu Zhengdong and the others wrestle with the cabinet.

“This veteran won’t abandon his teammates, so that rules him out. Qi Xiaoxiao and Saeko Busujima are too strong to be discarded. So, only two others need to be eliminated.”

With that thought, Ye Yutian tipped back his bottle again, the fiery sensation burning from his throat down to his stomach.

“It must be Xu Zhengdong and Hirano Kouta. Without that gun-toting otaku, they can earn more points from the Lord God. And Xu Zhengdong has already been subtly excluded through earlier actions.”

Damn it!

If not for that accident, the one being abandoned now would be that anime character, Makoto Ito. How could he have been so stupid? This world could no longer be solved with money.

Click—

Bang!

With a loud crash, the cabinet door finally yielded. Three guns stood neatly against the wall, gleaming coldly. The military otaku, Hirano Kouta, lunged for the nearest one, grabbing it eagerly.

“That’s an M1A4 rifle,” Ye Yutian silently named it as he watched Hirano examine the weapon. He recognized the other two as well: the Armalite AR-110(T) automatic rifle, a modified Knight’s SR-25 semi-automatic sniper, and a battered, dirt-common shotgun—an Ithaca M-37.

Ye Yutian curled his lip in disdain. He was confident he could handle any of them expertly. But now he had no opportunity—unless, just maybe, he could secure the veteran’s support.

He knew he could kill silently and efficiently.

“There’s murder in your eyes.”

Thump, thump!

His heart leapt in his chest.

“The tension in your lower eyelids, the lift in your upper lids—it flashed across your face for just 1/25 of a second,” Liu Mengchao murmured, now standing beside Ye Yutian without him noticing. “A micro-expression of fear. No one can hide it.”

Fear.

Liu Mengchao whispered softly into Ye Yutian’s ear.

In an instant, the pool’s total surged upward.

Pool total: 192,000.

“I don’t like useless people,” Liu Mengchao continued, all the while keeping an eye on the three men excitedly circling the guns—and on the ever-increasing pool total. It had just risen again.

“You… you intend to kill me?” Ye Yutian’s teeth began to chatter, though he forced himself to stay composed. It wasn’t time to give up—not yet.

Liu Mengchao said nothing, just tossed something casually.

A small knife landed before Ye Yutian with a soft ‘clack’. Insignificant as it was, it appeared right in front of him.

What was this…? Ye Yutian raised his head, searching Liu Mengchao’s face for any clue, hoping to read him as Liu Mengchao read others.

Nothing.

Red digits blinked on the wall clock, advancing by another minute.

Night, 7:12:19.

“People usually sleep the deepest around three or four in the morning,” Liu Mengchao remarked, watching the pool edge closer to 193,000.

“I understand!” Ye Yutian picked up the fruit knife before him without a word. His hand trembled until he gripped the handle, and when he noticed Liu Mengchao made no move to stop him, a smile inadvertently appeared on his face.

The veteran was hinting that he still had value!

Ye Yutian’s heart pounded uncontrollably.

Liu Mengchao was pleased, too—the pool was nearing 200,000. Still, it was a long way from a million.

With nothing more to add, Liu Mengchao flashed Ye Yutian a cryptic smile, shook his head, and headed downstairs.

Gulp, gulp.

Ye Yutian nervously took several swigs, only stopping when the burp from his churning stomach drew curious glances from the other three men. He forced a muddled smile.

“Just a useless wretch,” Xu Zhengdong’s eyes were filled with contempt. “No matter what, I’m destined to survive. At least, my teammates won’t drag me down.”

Click!

In Ye Yutian’s sight, Hirano Kouta picked up the empty shotgun and flipped off the safety.

Xu Zhengdong looked up at the clock.

Night, 7:15:25.

“Before dawn, I will be sitting in that Humvee, escaping from hell!”

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This was today’s first update… The second will be released punctually at 10 o’clock…

Also, the platform glitched again… If I missed anyone’s reward, I hope you’ll leave a message in the comments so I can add you in…

Thanks to the generous supporters: Fifty-One Stones, Yan Yan Yan Yan Long, Tale of the Starry Sky, Prehistoric—Creation of Heaven and Earth, W no i, Nangong Shitian, Frozen Speechless, Pencil in Hand, Linbei the Cat, Rebellious Vermilion Moon, and Huaxin*Huaxin for your rewards.