Jiang Cheng guessed that they had found something in the cars driven over by Chen Xiaomeng’s group. There were probably ropes, carpet that could wrap up two people and items like disinfectants. The police would know more than he did about what those things meant.
However, they didn’t find things like guns or else the situation would be more intense than this. Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes as he weighed the situation in his mind.
When he left the police station, the sky was almost dark. He rushed home at 5.55 pm. He heard the phone ring at 6 pm punctual. It rang four times, no more and no less.
He sighed. It looked like Pi Wan was temporarily safe. When those people heard the name Hao Shuai, they instantly changed their target away from Pi Wan. When he got Pi Wan’s call that he had found Chen Xiaomeng, he knew instantly that this was a trap. Because… it was too easy.
If Chen Xiaomeng could be that easily found by amateurs like Pi Wan and his friends, she would have died in the nightmare realm already. Based on Jiang Cheng’s understanding, once the nightmare mission started, it would never stop. In other words, the missions would keep hounding you, and the fight in the nightmare realm would extend into the real world. After all, the rewards were real.
Be it in the nightmare or in real life, once the owners were murdered, you could obtain the good stuff from them. This was like looting in video games.
Compared to the many variables in the nightmare realm, this would be simpler in real life. For someone like Chen Xiaomeng, Jiang Cheng thought of a suitable term: Fishing.
The fight in the nightmare realm could easily move to the real world. When you found your former teammates, you were already on the hook. The fisher would follow the trail to eliminate you and the organisation behind you. Compared to the limited number of players in the nightmare missions, there were no limitations in the real world. For example, if Jiang Cheng hadn’t seen through Chen Xiaomeng’s plan that day and called the police beforehand, he would have died already. He’d be wrapped up in the carpet in the trunk and moved back to be kept as spoils of wars. Chen Xiaomeng was someone who’d do something like that.
The middle-aged man with her was not a simple character either. Even Jiang Cheng had no confidence in taking him down in a one-vs-one fight. After this incident, Jiang Cheng had a new understanding of the realm of nightmares. Some of his existing hypotheses were confirmed.
Chen Xiaomeng’s appearance that day also confirmed that. There were players in the missions who sought each other for reliance in the real world. As time progressed, this phenomenon became more obvious, and they became more professional. This was how new players became veterans. Other than the players’ experience, it would be related to the ‘organisations’ that would provide them with aid. These organisations would not be as simple as he thought. Jiang Cheng’s face darkened. The water… was surprisingly deep.
At 6.04 pm, Jiang Cheng picked up the phone and called back. It only rang once before it was answered. The person on the other side was very cautious. Jiang Cheng only heard weak but rapid breathing and no talking.
“It’s me,” Jiang Cheng sighed. Such cowardice had to be representative of Pi Wan.
“I am so scared!” Pi Wan cried. “Doctor Jiang, you have to know this hostel doesn’t even have an attached bathroom. There is only a shared bathroom. I had no choice and had to use the mineral water bottle…”
Jiang Cheng interrupted him, “It’s fine now. You can go back.”
“Go back where?” Pi Wan was stunned.
“Go back to where you came from.”
“Also,” Before he put the phone down, Jiang Cheng reminded him, “Don’t contact that friend anymore. If he comes to find him, send him off with some money.”
Pi Wan blinked with confusion, “Doctor Jiang, did you somehow offend you?” He swallowed nervously, “He is actually a very nice person. He just doesn’t like to speak. He is very good at his job, and his mouth is very tight!” Pi Wan said embarrassedly, “Doctor Jiang, you know me. I wouldn’t have him find the person for you.”
Jiang Cheng scanned the messy office and the overturned couch. He took a deep breath, “If you have the chance to see him again, remember to call me.”
Pi Wan suddenly sat up straight. He nodded. “Doctor Jiang, do you have a job for him?”
“No.” Jiang Cheng said, “I want to test how tight he is.”
The conversation ended in an awkward atmosphere. Jiang Cheng sat for two minutes before he shouted at the stairs. “It’s fine now. You can come out.”
Then, a large head poked itself out from the second floor. “Doctor,” Fatty asked excitedly, “Are you alright?”
Jiang Cheng drank the water the policewoman poured for him earlier in the day, “I’m fine.”
Fatty bounced down the stairs. The buttons of his shirt were missing. Only the frayed threads were exposed. The buttons were probably yanked off when he was being pursued.
Fatty, who had scratches on his arms, felt relieved when he saw the Doctor. As he rubbed his arms, he smiled, “As long as the Doctor is fine.” He pointed out the window, “Actually, I was in that building opposite. I saw how many they were. I snatched… I mean, I borrowed a woman’s phone to call the police. I didn’t think the police would react so quickly. I just hung up, and they have already arrived.”
“It looks like I’ll have to thank you this time.”
Fatty scratched his head and smiled dumbly, “Doctor, you’re welcome. As long as you’re alive.”