Green Plum Association

67:45:50

Liu Yuqiang stared at the message on his phone, his breathing gradually growing heavier.

The sender was named "Chairman of Hengyun Real Estate—Zhao Jiping."

Hengyun Real Estate was also a major domestic corporation. Like Liu Yuqiang, its chairman Zhao Jiping was a billionaire.

The two also belonged to a small business association called the "Green Plum Association."

To join the Green Plum Association, a fortune of billions was merely the entry ticket. One also needed joint recommendations from more than three internal members before entering the member voting stage.

If one received approval votes from every member during the voting stage, one could become a Provisional Member. After a one-year observation period, one could then become a Formal Member of the Green Plum Association.

Liu Yuqiang had gone to great lengths to join the association. But the benefits after joining had been obvious: nearly all the members were leaders of top companies in their respective fields. They exchanged resources and formed alliances, making business Much More easier.

However, to avoid drawing public attention, the Green Plum Association did not recruit publicly and only accepted referrals from existing members.

To prevent information leaks, members used a private messaging app that was not open to the public for their usual conversations. The software had been developed by the chairman of a tech company within the association, and its only users were the Green Plum Association's few dozen members.

In the past, whenever a member obtained important business intelligence through certain channels, they would post it in the app's group chat, allowing members to share information and achieve mutual benefit.

But Liu Yuqiang had never expected that a member would be so resourceful as to find a way to exploit the Apocalypse Rules!

As soon as Zhao Jiping's message appeared, members throughout the group began asking questions.

"Old Zhao, you have a way?!"

"What way? Hurry up and tell us!"

"Brother Zhao, at a life-or-death time like this, please stop keeping us in suspense!"

Before death, everyone was equal.

Even billionaires were no exception.

In fact, the Green Plum Association's members feared death even more than Ordinary people!

A powerful man like Liu Yuqiang, who had fought tooth and nail to build his own empire, how could he willingly die under these absurd Apocalypse Rules?

"Old Zhao, hurry and tell us!" Liu Yuqiang could not help sending a message as well. "All of us are counting on you to save our lives!"

Amid the urging of the members, Zhao Jiping finally posted the method for exploiting the rules.

Chairman of Hengyun Real Estate—Zhao Jiping: "My friends, don't ask where I got this information. It's top secret, so I can't say. But I can tell you the information itself... As long as you find someone and knock them unconscious, you can obtain an item candy called 'Sobering Mint Candy.'

This item will appear directly in the Storage Box of your Personal Terminal. After using it, you can maintain absolute wakefulness for three hours. I've already tested it. The information is real. As long as you get more of these Mint Candies, you can definitely hold out for seventy-two hours."

After Zhao Jiping posted the method, the group fell silent.

For a long while, no one sent another message.

Liu Yuqiang felt a few beads of cold sweat seep from his forehead.

He did not know whether the members had immediately gone to try it, or simply did not know what to say.

No one who could amass a fortune of billions and join the Green Plum Association was stupid.

Anyone could immediately realize that this method of exploiting the rules was no different from murder.

But the business world was a battlefield. Of those who had fought their way out of that battlefield, how many could truly be softhearted?

At that moment, Zhao Jiping sent another message.

"My friends, don't blame me for being blunt. I think these Apocalypse Rules are not only a disaster, but also an opportunity. Once the Rule End comes, the world order will be completely reshaped. When that time comes, if us brothers and sisters who survive support one another, why should we worry about not reaching the top?"

"Brother Zhao is right. Let me also tell everyone in the group that I tried Brother Zhao's method, and I really got that 'Sobering Mint Candy.'" One member sent a message, with terrifying efficiency.

When Liu Yuqiang saw it, he thought of his children abroad and no longer hesitated.

He put down his phone, picked up the landline on his desk, and pressed the speed-dial button.

"Hello, is this Xiao Li from the Secretary Department? Come to my office. Right now!"

After Liu Yuqiang hung up, his shadowed gaze fell upon a crystal ashtray on his desk.

After the sudden outbreak of the disaster, since all his children were abroad, he had chosen to remain at the headquarters in Yunhua.

Yunhua was a major city, and the company had a great many migrant workers from other places.

They had left their hometowns and come here alone to work. Now that disaster had struck and transportation across the country had ground to a halt, they could not return home even if they wanted to.

Rather than stay alone in their cramped rented rooms, they might as well remain at the company. The company had ample supplies, and being with other employees allowed them to encourage one another. They had a better chance of enduring these seventy-two hours than if they stayed alone in a rented room.

Xiao Li from the Secretary Department was one of those employees.

After receiving the call from President Liu, he immediately rushed to the chairman's office.

"President Liu, you wanted to see me?"

"Xiao Li, have a seat."

Xiao Li sensed that Liu Yuqiang's tone was somewhat strange, but he assumed it was only because of the disaster and did not think much of it.

After Xiao Li sat down in the chair across from the desk, Liu Yuqiang stood up and walked around the desk to his side.

"Xiao Li, I've treated you pretty well before, haven't I?"

"Yes, President Liu. You've treated me very well."

"How is your family doing? I remember you have a daughter who just started elementary school?"

"Yes. I just spoke with my family on the phone. They're all fine." Mentioning his family, Xiao Li could not help choking up. "It's just that my daughter is still very young. She may not understand how serious this disaster is... I don't know if they can make it through."

"..."

Liu Yuqiang fell silent for a moment, then patted Xiao Li on the shoulder.

"Xiao Li, I promise you. If your family survives this disaster, I, Liu Yuqiang, will provide everything they need for the rest of their lives."

Xiao Li stared at him in astonishment. "President Liu, what are you—"

Before he could finish, Liu Yuqiang suddenly grabbed the crystal ashtray from the desk with his right hand and viciously smashed it into his forehead.

"Thud!"

With a dull impact, Xiao Li's head split open and blood flowed out as he let out a scream.

"President Liu, you?!"

"Don't blame me, Xiao Li. I have no choice. It's for survival. Don't blame me!"

After saying that, Liu Yuqiang raised the ashtray and smashed it down again. This time, Xiao Li only let out a muffled groan before being knocked unconscious.

Almost at the same moment, a mechanical, emotionless voice sounded in Liu Yuqiang's mind.

[You have obtained an item: Sobering Mint Candy]

[Storage Box function unlocked. You may view it through your Personal Terminal.]

It was real... It was really true...

Ignoring Xiao Li, who had gone limp and slid to the floor, Liu Yuqiang threw away the bloodstained ashtray in his hand, stared wide-eyed, and silently thought, Personal Terminal!

A translucent interface appeared before him, displaying a new "Storage Box" function. He selected it and opened it. Sure enough, there was a candy inside.

[Sobering Mint Candy]: After use, maintains absolute wakefulness for 3 hours.

"This thing..." Liu Yuqiang was both shocked and delighted. After coming back to his senses, he hurriedly picked up his phone. "I need to tell the children this immediately!"