Chen Che's heart was pounding faster.
The Demoness's eyes were stunningly beautiful—but he couldn't look at them for long; they seemed to ensnare the soul.
Five minutes!
He only had five minutes for this mission.
If he couldn't resolve the crisis in front of him within five minutes, the Demoness would kill him.
A cold sweat broke out on Chen Che's forehead as he thought quickly.
Why did the Demoness want to kill him? According to the memories in his mind, he sorted it out roughly.
He'd made contact with the Tasting Commerce Association.
He'd taken money from Tasting.
At the same time, the Demoness had secretly transported a batch of arms that were then seized by someone else.
Rumor had it that it was sand bandits connected to Tasting.
This batch of arms was crucial to the struggle between An Nishang and another Deputy Director for the Director's seat.
Countdown: four minutes and thirty seconds.
The Demoness's bewitching eyes looked at him emotionlessly, her fair fingers trailing along his cheek, bone-chillingly cold.
On the Wasteland, where it's almost impossible to develop industry, arms were the most important resource.
This shipment cost the Demoness dearly, and she'd been punished by the Night Empire Headquarters.
And he, as the Demoness's boy toy, just happened to know this information.
He had just met with the rival Tasting Commerce Association, taken their money, and then the arms disappeared for no reason.
If he didn't die, then who would?
Countdown: four minutes.
Those long fingers were now caressing his neck again, delicately sliding along the wounds there.
Her indifferent eyes finally showed a flicker of emotion—surprise.
He was still alive after all that.
That cockroach-like vitality actually surprised the Demoness.
No, that's not right.
I didn't betray her. Think, dammit—there has to be something wrong with this logic.
Chen Che pushed his brain to its limits. In his past life as a chef, besides gourmet food, his biggest hobby was reading twisty detective novels.
He loved horror puzzle games.
Wait... I've got it!
Countdown: three minutes and thirty seconds.
The Demoness's hand clamped onto his throat, squeezing slightly. His windpipe compressed, and he found it hard to breathe.
Chen Che made a bold move—he wrapped his arm, hidden under the comforter, around the Demoness's bare waist, feeling her slippery skin, and gasped out loud:
"I didn't betray you, and I wouldn't dare betray you."
"I reached out to Tasting because I went to their casino and lost a huge amount of money. I had no idea beforehand that Tasting ran the place.
After I lost, Young Master Chen from the casino came to see me. He said he could write off my debts, even give me some extra cash, as long as I helped out with something…"
Three minutes left.
The Demoness pressed close to him was still expressionless, but her hand on his neck was no longer tightening.
"He likes you!
He wanted your personal nightwear! As long as it had your scent and you'd worn it, that's all he wanted...
I was afraid you'd punish me, so I gave him that ripped nightgown you didn't want anymore. That's it—I did nothing else."
2:40 left.
Her eyes still didn't betray any emotion, but her grip started tightening again.
Still not enough!
Chen Che's pupils contracted. He sped up: "I know who betrayed you—Moore! That damned black man!"
An Nishang's pupils finally moved, her hand withdrew from his neck, and Chen Che saw the countdown...
Still going, but much slower now.
On average, three real seconds passed for each second lost on the countdown.
Chen Che gasped, facing those bewitching eyes, and continued: "That casino? Moore was the bastard who recommended me to go. He said there was more than just gambling, all kinds of wild stuff, too.
So I went.
I didn't know it was Tasting's casino, but there's no way he didn't. He sent me there on purpose."
"I'm just the perfect scapegoat—lustful, stupid, didn't even know I'd been sold off.
But I'm loyal to you!
I've seen your methods with my own eyes!
If I came clean about gambling, at most you'd punish me. But to betray you? I'd be better off dead…"
"You know it was only because I overheard you and that black man talking that I learned there was a shipment of arms.
But that's all I knew. I didn't know specifics about the shipment, or the route.
Moore knew!
He betrayed you. He must have some dirty deal with others behind your back, and I bet it's Tasting pulling the strings.
He needed a scapegoat to clear himself of suspicion."
"And that's me!"
Real-time data.
An Nishang's killing intention toward him dropped from 90% to 70%!
Chen Che kept pouring out his loyalty: "He recommended that casino on purpose. He knows my vices.
Losing money was probably part of the plan, too.
That's how I got close to Young Master Chen.
I ended up with some unexpected cash.
Your arms went missing, you got punished from above, and in your anger you realized there's a traitor.
You'll investigate everyone.
No matter how careful Moore is, he's still terrified of being found out by you when you're pissed off.
So he needed a scapegoat to distract you.
My guess… my guess is Moore's probably been subtly hinting that I also knew about the shipment, making me look like the leak?"
"And so the rest just falls into place."
An Nishang slowly closed her eyes, deep in thought.
"You can investigate. It should be easy to verify everything about me.
To you, I'm just a toy—my life is worthless.
If I die, it's nothing. Someone in the dark constantly stabbing you in the back—now that's deadly."
An Nishang finally spoke her first words.
"Shut up."
Real-time data.
An Nishang's killing intention toward him dropped from 70% to 30%.
Push a little more.
He boldly moved closer to her, kissing her snowy white neck to show his obedience.
"Boss… I just had a stroll through Hell—might as well call it rebirth.
I don't want to die a second time. I get it now.
Keeping things from you was my fault. You've already killed me once—doesn't that clear my slate?
I'm unswervingly loyal to you. I want to live.
I'll wise up—there won't be a second time."
An Nishang's eyes snapped open, now even more bewitching and blood-red. She suddenly choked him, pinning him down.
"Dying once really did make you smarter." Her voice oozed with desire.
That's the kind of woman she was—whenever emotional turbulence hit, she'd vent by screwing.
Chen Che's lips curled into a slight smile, unintentionally.
This round, at least, was over.
…
One hour later.
Chen Che leaned against the headboard and lit a cigarette.
The system prompt rang in his head.
[Congratulations! Mission complete:
You've received a Recipe Reward: Craving-Relieving Pancakes (Yellow Grade First Rank)
Craving-Relieving Pancakes:
Main ingredients (choose one): flour, highland barley, mixed grains, bark…
Designated ingredient (no substitute): black cockroaches.
Effect: Gambling addiction, poison, carnal urges... Is there any craving a single pancake can't fix? Loaded with carbs for instant satisfaction, filling enough to replace any desire. The next time you get the urge, try one.
Note: Long-term consumption can help break all your cravings.
Click the recipe to enter the Food God Space for cooking lessons.]
"This thing's basically a detox miracle."
Chen Che took a drag, having thought the Food God System was pretty much bullshit before.
But if all the dishes he made had powers like this…
Then he'd truly have a lethal tool for the Wasteland.
"Yellow Grade, Ninth Rank recipe… Yellow Grade must be a level, right? Heaven, Earth, Dark, Yellow… Must be. If the Yellow Grade recipes are this powerful―what about the higher ones?"
This could make him a fortune.
In the apocalyptic Wasteland, there were plenty of bottom-rung folks addicted to mind-altering substances, fixated on the chemical high.
Which meant lots of factions controlled them through their cravings.
As Chen Che pondered, the bathroom door opened. The first thing he saw was a long pair of snowy-white legs, sparkling with water drops.
On one thigh, two small, flaming red Other Shore Flowers bloomed in tattoo form, winding up to the woman's back.
A seductive bright red Other Shore Flower covered her entire pale, beautiful back.
Memories surged into his mind.
This was called a Demon Pattern.
The source of supernatural power in this world.
An Nishang regarded him coolly. "Stay quiet and stay here. Step one foot out without my permission and I'll cut off all three of your legs."
Chen Che shivered, showing his loyalty.
"Yes."
He wasn't ashamed of it. Without strength, dignity was just bullshit.
An Nishang changed into new clothes and walked out of the luxurious room.
Chen Che glanced at the real-time data.
An Nishang's intent to kill him… 60%?!