Backstab

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

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

The entire backpack was only the size of an ordinary schoolbag, divided into front and back compartments by two zippers.

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

However, the result disappointed Qin Ran.

Three cans of food, 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 accepted 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.

It was obviously impossible to obtain powerful equipment in the Novice Village.

With a sigh, Qin Ran inspected his haul.

[Name: Canned Food]

[Type: Food]

[Quality: Ordinary]

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

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: It can keep you from starving. It works better when heated!]

[Name: Purified Water]

[Type: Food]

[Quality: Ordinary]

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

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: It has far more uses than it appears!]

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

Then, 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]

[Attributes: None]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: No]

[Remark: Don't 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 scrawled, and many parts were stained beyond recognition.

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

October 21, Cloudy

The war had lasted 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 round of patrols during the day before returning to camp! Those thugs were the real problem. Under cover of darkness, they plundered every scrap 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, Cloudy

I can't go on like this! I can't wait any longer. While I still have the strength, 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 heading out again. This time, I'll definitely return loaded down once more!

The diary ended abruptly there.

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

Qin Ran looked at the corpse.

Though it still made him sick, he did not look away.

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

there should have been a weapon.

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

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

From the basic information in the diary, the area around him was not safe.

Surviving for seven days would not be easy.

I hope it hasn't been lost!

Thinking that, Qin Ran reached out and began searching again.

This search was far more thorough than the previous one.

Naturally, 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]

[Attributes: None]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: Yes]

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

[Name: Lighter]

[Type: Miscellaneous Item]

[Quality: Damaged]

[Attributes: None]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: Does this need an introduction?]

The dagger had been found at the corpse's waist. Covered by its clothes, it would have been impossible to discover without a careful search.

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

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

By its light, Qin Ran could see more clearly that the dagger bore more than just rust. That vivid 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 their old order under the pressure of hunger and become incredibly dangerous. When they encountered rebels, they were powerless civilians. But when they encountered other civilians barely clinging to life, they became thugs.

Just like the corpse before him!

After glancing once more at the corpse with its eyes still open, Qin Ran packed up his backpack, putting the canned food and water back inside before slinging it over his shoulder. He tucked the lighter into his shirt pocket. When he had entered 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 last remnants of sunlight fading through the gaps in the nailed-shut windows urged him onward.

Night was when thugs came out.

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

So, he would not remain somewhere as conspicuous as a house.

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

"Gutters, sewers, places like that 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 human eyes, was the first choice.

Of course, there might be other people hiding there!

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

When he pushed open the door, Qin Ran saw a crosswise corridor before him. Directly opposite was another open door, and the room beyond was empty, clearly stripped bare long ago.

The corridor passed through an equally empty hall and led outside.

Just as Qin Ran was about to take a step forward—

Bang!

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

The instant the door burst open, Qin Ran shrank back into the room, gripping his dagger tightly as he listened.

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

The laughter carried undisguised excitement.

"Get away!"

A hoarse rebuke rang out, followed by a burst of movement. Qin Ran could picture her bracing herself with her arms and repeatedly backing across the floor.

But Qin Ran's expression changed the next moment.

Because the sound was growing clearer!

She was moving toward him!

At the end of the corridor, aside from Qin Ran's room, there was only one other room. Once she reached the end, she would inevitably retreat into one of them.

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

A fifty-fifty chance.

Cold sweat formed in the hand clutching Qin Ran's dagger.

Closer!

Even closer!

Qin Ran swallowed nervously.

But that anxiety 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, backing away on her arms, froze.

Clearly, she had not expected another person to be here.

But the next moment, she returned to normal.

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

That surprised Qin Ran greatly.

But the approaching footsteps quickly snapped him awake.

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

If that person discovered him, they probably would not mind having a fight.

And such a fight would ultimately become a killing.

Qin Ran knew his own limits.

He was not physically strong, nor did he know any fighting techniques. Compared to a thug who had survived four months of war, he would be throwing his life away.

But it was not as though he had no chance.

Qin Ran looked at the woman who had fallen to the ground and kept retreating.

Her expression was calm, but there was a meaningful gleam in her eyes. Qin Ran understood her intention. He held his breath and pressed himself deeper into the shadows.

Tap, tap, tap!

The sound of leather shoes stepping on the wooden floor was not only clear, but forceful. Like a hunting beast, the man showed off his might even as he closed in on his prey.

"Don't come any closer!"

The woman curled into the corner, and her hoarse voice seemed filled with despair.

That only made her pursuer more eager.

He did not notice the other person in the room at all.

Because his attention was entirely fixed on the woman.

His eyes traveled up and down over his prey, leaving his back completely exposed to Qin Ran.

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

Then, he drove it down hard.

Pfft!