Dispute

"What did you do to Peng Fengnian!" Tang Pei said immediately. "Without him, it's impossible for us to clear this dungeon. If you're a player too, you'd better let him go. Given the danger level of this instance, as long as one person completes the mission, everyone else can clear it!"

"Calm down, he's not dead." Xu Huo glanced at the man beside him and continued, "We've already decided to cooperate. He wants you to bring the Paper Phone over, alone."

Peng Fengnian's expression shifted, and he reached out to snatch the phone, but Tang Pei, having interpreted Xu Huo's words as a threat, simply said, "I'm coming over now," and cut the connection.

"What exactly are you planning to do by tricking Tang Pei into coming here?" Peng Fengnian asked, eyeing him warily. "She won't come."

"This Paper Phone... aside from the person holding it, no third party can hear the conversation, right?" Xu Huo paused to ask.

"Of course," Peng Fengnian replied. "This is a B-class item. I spent a fortune and went through hell to get it. How could it not have at least that much security?"

"But don't get any funny ideas," Peng Fengnian warned. "The moment I have the thought, the Paper Phone will self-destruct. Even if you get your hands on both phones, it'll be useless."

Xu Huo remained calm, his gaze falling on him. "Your suit is nice. Lend it to me."

Peng Fengnian's facial muscles twitched. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Huo cut him off: "Lend me your clothes and one phone in exchange for a chance to clear the dungeon tonight. Do we have a deal?"

Peng Fengnian stared at him in disbelief, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly, unable to find his voice. He wanted to say that Xu Huo was spouting nonsense—even a C-class player wouldn't dare claim they could clear the Skin Stripper dungeon in a single day—but seeing the composed, confident look on Xu Huo's face, it felt as if he could actually pull it off.

Where did he get this confidence?

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and he asked cautiously, "Are you a B-class player?"

Ticket-holding Players were almost always assigned to dungeons matching their own level; rarely would a player voluntarily challenge a higher-level instance, and no high-level player would be willing to accompany others through a low-level one. However, it was a different story if they were randomly pulled in.

"Take a guess." Xu Huo didn't answer the question directly.

Peng Fengnian pondered it carefully before dismissing the idea. If he were a B-class player, how could he have never heard of an item crafted by the Super Player Paper Puppeteer?

"You're a C-class player, aren't you?" he said with certainty. "I can tell you're very capable, but the Skin Stripper isn't that easy to deal with. If you try to take it by force, you'll never succeed."

Xu Huo's proficiency with his items and the way he handled himself didn't resemble a novice new to the game at all, so he didn't even consider the possibility of a player lower-ranked than himself, assuming instead that he was even stronger.

Xu Huo remained silent, which Peng Fengnian took as an admission.

Peng Fengnian was decisive enough. "I'll trust you once."

When Tang Pei arrived with the Paper Phone, Xu Huo was already gone, leaving only Peng Fengnian sitting on the ground wearing a large T-shirt and oversized shorts.

"Why do you look like that?" Tang Pei stood at a distance, cautious.

Peng Fengnian beckoned her over. "Come here, let's talk."

Seeing that he didn't appear to be under duress and sensing no one else nearby, Tang Pei hurried over. "What's going on? Did something go wrong? Qin An and the others are covering for me; I don't have much time. I need to get back before the Skin Stripper notices."

Peng Fengnian quickly explained the situation with Xu Huo. Tang Pei frowned. "You gave him the Paper Phone without even knowing his specific plan? What if he ditches us and clears the dungeon alone? Even if the missions for Random Players and Ticket-holding Players are the same, his clearing it doesn't guarantee we will."

"I don't have any other strategy for now," Peng Fengnian said. "You know the situation in the Collection Room better than I do. Our original plan is off the table. Xu Huo is likely a C-class player; he's worth the risk."

"Since you've said so, I'll trust you." Tang Pei handed him the Paper Phone she had brought. "Did he mention what he wants us to do?"

"No," Peng Fengnian replied. "He said he'd tell us when he needs us."

Tang Pei's brow furrowed deeper. "I have to go back. You're the one who agreed to cooperate, and I trust you, but the others might not. If Xu Huo turns out to be unreliable, it won't just be them—I'll take action myself."

Peng Fengnian nodded. "There is no absolute trust between players. Do what you think is best."

After Tang Pei urged him to be careful, she returned to the Factory. When she climbed into the Pigsty, she saw Qin An and the others still cleaning the Workshop and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"What happened with Peng Fengnian?" Yang Can hurried over to meet her.

"We're going to cooperate with that Random Player," Tang Pei said. "Peng Fengnian gave him the Paper Phone and told us to assist him."

"Has Peng Fengnian lost his mind?" Zou Weichang said unhappily. "We let him lead because he has an older brother who is a C-class player and knows more than us. But this other Random Player? On what grounds?"

"That man might also be a C-class player," Tang Pei said. "The Skin Stripper told us there were forty-one large pigs to feed. When I went out earlier, I counted them in the pen—there are only forty."

"If there's a special item involved, it's possible for the pigskin to peel off on its own before it's fully grown," Qin An paused to ask, "What did Peng Fengnian say about the Collection Room?"

"He doesn't have a way for now," Tang Pei said. "That's why he wants us to wait and see if Xu Huo has a breakthrough."

Zou Weichang sneered. "He can afford to wait, but I can't. If Peng Fengnian wants to hand his items over to someone else, that's his business, but I'm not stupid enough to do whatever someone else says!"

"As long as the mission is the same, we have a chance." Qin An signaled for him to lower his voice, then asked, "When does he plan to come in? If it's after dark, we can find a way to stall the Skin Stripper."

Before Tang Pei could speak, Zou Weichang interjected, "I don't agree. I won't use my life as a stepping stone for someone else. If you insist on doing this, then we're through!"

Qin An's expression darkened. "Do you have the ability to deal with the Skin Stripper on your own?"

"I don't have the ability, but it's not impossible to stall until the dungeon time limit expires."

The time limit for Ticket-holding Players was half a month. Even if they failed to clear the dungeon, if they could survive until the time ran out, those with tickets could head directly to the next instance.

"Random Players must complete the dungeon mission to escape, and their mortality rate is ninety-nine percent. That Random Player named Xu faces much higher risks than we do. Of course he wants our help. After all, once this dungeon ends, who knows when the next one will open? Dying at the hands of the Skin Stripper is only a matter of time for him."

"You..." Qin An wanted to continue, but Xian Dazhi, who was keeping watch at the front door, shouted, "Stop arguing! He's coming in through the front door!"

The group rushed over and saw a tall, handsome man with long hair standing at the entrance. He was wearing Peng Fengnian's suit, with a small wildflower tucked into his breast pocket. As he walked in, he addressed the Skin Stripper, who stood a head taller than him:

"Tax Bureau here for an audit. Call your boss out!"