Backstab

The backpack in Qin Ran's hand was not large.

Otherwise, it would not have been hidden by the corpse's torso.

The entire backpack was only the size of an ordinary schoolbag. Two zippers divided it into front and rear compartments.

Unable to wait any longer, Qin Ran pulled open both zippers.

But the result disappointed him.

Three cans, a bottle of purified water, and a battered notebook—there were none of the game coins or equipment Qin Ran had expected. Still, he quickly came to terms with it.

Even though he was in the completely real Underground Game, some universal game rules still applied. He was currently in the first dungeon, which, by normal game rules, was the Novice Village.

And it was clearly impossible to obtain powerful equipment in the Novice Village.

With a sigh, Qin Ran checked his haul.

[Name: Canned Food]

[Type: Food]

[Quality: Ordinary]

[Attribute: Restores 25 Health and 50 Stamina over one minute]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: It can keep you from hunger. It works better when heated!]

[Name: Purified Water]

[Type: Food]

[Quality: Ordinary]

[Attribute: Restores 10 Health and 20 Stamina over one minute]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: It is far more useful than it looks!]

When Qin Ran's fingers touched the canned food and purified water, information panels like these appeared directly in his field of vision, completely matching what he knew.

Next, Qin Ran turned his gaze to the battered notebook.

When he touched it, another information panel appeared before him—

[Name: Deer's Diary]

[Type: Book]

[Quality: Dilapidated]

[Attribute: None]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: No]

[Remarks: Do not doubt it. He simply found a notebook and recorded everything in it. You can try reading it!]

Qin Ran subconsciously opened the battered diary in his hand. The handwriting inside was messy, and many places had been stained beyond recognition.

Thus, the diary's contents were chaotic and fragmented—

October 21, Overcast

The war had continued for four months. Food, water, and medicine had all become scarce. Artillery fire sounded from time to time, but fortunately, the rebels were no longer searching day and night. They had become perfunctory, only making one patrol during the day before returning to camp! Those thugs were the real problem. Under cover of darkness, they plundered every bit of supplies like locusts.

October 27, Sunny

Damn it! I was robbed by a thug! The last of my canned food and water were taken by that bastard! What should I do? What should I do?

October 29, Overcast

No! I can't wait any longer. While I still have Stamina, I need to do something!

November 1, Sunny

Hahaha, my luck is incredible. What a haul! I found not only food, but weapons too! Please call me Lucky Deer!

November 11, Sunny

Lucky Deer is setting out again. This time, I will definitely return with a full load!

The diary ended abruptly there.

Obviously, he had not been as lucky as he claimed.

Qin Ran looked at the corpse.

Although he still found it hard to bear, he did not turn his head away.

Because aside from gaining some basic information from the chaotic, fragmented diary, Qin Ran had also found a clue: on the corpse in front of him,

there should have been a weapon.

And for an unarmed Qin Ran, a weapon was naturally essential!

At the very least, it would give him some sense of security and the ability to defend himself.

From the basic information in the diary, the surroundings were far from safe.

Surviving for seven days would not be easy.

I hope it wasn't lost!

Thinking that, Qin Ran reached out and searched again.

This search was far more thorough than the previous one.

Of course, sticky, dried blood inevitably smeared Qin Ran's hands, making him retch again and again. But once he found something, none of that mattered.

[Name: Dagger]

[Type: Bladed Weapon]

[Quality: Damaged]

[Attack Power: Weak]

[Attribute: None]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: It has not been maintained. If possible, you can try sharpening and oiling it.]

[Name: Lighter]

[Type: Miscellaneous Item]

[Quality: Damaged]

[Attribute: None]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: Yes]

[Remarks: Does this need an introduction?]

The dagger had been found at the corpse's waist, hidden beneath its clothing. Without a careful search, it would have been impossible to discover.

The lighter, meanwhile, had been found in the corpse's pants pocket.

Picking up the slightly rusted dagger, Qin Ran flicked the lighter's wheel. After two or three tries, a small flame appeared.

By its light, Qin Ran could see more clearly that the dagger bore more than just rust. That bright red color was obviously something else.

As for what it was?

Having read the diary, Qin Ran knew perfectly well.

The civilians trapped in this city had lost the order they once knew under the pressure of hunger, becoming extremely dangerous. When they encountered rebels, they were helpless civilians with no power to resist. But when they encountered civilians barely clinging to life, they became thugs.

Just like the corpse before him!

After giving the corpse, whose eyes remained open in death, another glance, Qin Ran packed up his backpack. He put the canned food and water back inside and slung it over his shoulders, then slipped the lighter into his jacket pocket. Upon entering this dungeon, his clothes had already become as filthy as those of the civilians here. Fortunately, they were not torn.

With the dagger in hand, Qin Ran prepared to leave.

The empty room before him gave him no reason to stay.

And the fading afterglow of the sun, visible through the gaps in the nailed-shut windows, urged him onward.

Night would be when the thugs came out.

Qin Ran had no intention of confronting groups of thugs head-on.

So he would not stay in a building, such an obvious place.

Because any building could become a target for the thugs' search.

"Places like gutters and sewers would be better for hiding."

Qin Ran considered where to settle down.

It did not need to be comfortable. It only needed to be hidden enough.

Naturally, the underground, beyond the reach of people's eyes, was his first choice.

Of course, there might be others hiding there!

But compared to the thugs who never stopped plundering, those hiding people were naturally much safer in Qin Ran's eyes.

Pushing open the door, Qin Ran found a crosswise corridor before him. Opposite him was another open door, beyond which lay an empty room that had clearly been stripped clean long ago.

The corridor ran through an equally empty hall and led outdoors.

Just as Qin Ran was about to take a step,

Bang!

The door leading outside was violently slammed open. One figure tumbled onto the floor of the hall, while another appeared with a low laugh.

The instant the door burst open, Qin Ran withdrew into the room, gripping his dagger tightly and listening carefully.

"Hehe, what a find! It's actually a woman!"

The laughter was filled with undisguised excitement.

"Get lost!"

A hoarse rebuke rang out, accompanied by a rustling sound. Qin Ran pictured her bracing herself with her arms and retreating across the floor.

But then Qin Ran's expression changed.

Because the sound was becoming clearer and clearer!

She was moving closer to him!

At the end of the corridor, aside from the room Qin Ran was in, there was another room. Once she reached the end, she would inevitably enter one of them.

Either Qin Ran's room, or the empty one.

A fifty-fifty chance.

This made layers of cold sweat seep from the hand gripping Qin Ran's dagger.

Closer!

Even closer!

Qin Ran swallowed uneasily.

But that unease did nothing to change what was about to happen.

When the fallen figure backed into Qin Ran's room, his breathing stopped.

Likewise, the figure on the ground, retreating on her arms, froze.

Clearly, she had not expected there to be someone else here.

But in the next moment, she returned to normal.

She continued backing away as before, not even glancing at Qin Ran, much less calling out to him for help.

This greatly surprised Qin Ran.

But the approaching footsteps quickly brought him back to his senses.

The person before him might not be dangerous, but the one following her was absolutely dangerous.

If that person discovered him, they presumably would not mind starting a fight.

And such a fight would ultimately turn into slaughter.

Qin Ran knew his own limits.

He was not physically strong, nor did he know any fighting techniques. Compared with a thug who had survived four months of war, he would be nothing but easy prey.

But it was not as though he had no chance.

Qin Ran looked at the woman on the ground, who kept retreating.

Her expression was very calm, while a meaningful look flickered in her eyes. Qin Ran understood her intention. Holding his breath, he pressed himself as deeply into the shadows as possible.

Tap, tap, tap!

The sound of leather shoes striking the wooden floor was not only clear, but powerful. Like a hunting beast, the person was showing off while claiming prey.

"Don't come any closer!"

The woman on the ground curled into the corner. Her hoarse voice seemed filled with despair.

This only made the pursuer more eager.

The person did not notice anyone else in the room.

Because all attention was fixed on the woman.

The person's eyes traveled up and down over the prey before them, leaving their back completely exposed to Qin Ran.

Having focused his mind and held his breath the moment the person approached, Qin Ran did not hesitate. He slowly and silently raised the dagger.

Then he drove it down with all his strength.

Pfft!