Counterattack

The other party's voice carried a friendly tone. moɔ.xuʜꙅ9

Yet it sent a chill through Qin Ran's entire body.

"Finished!"

Qin Ran instinctively shut his eyes.

He thought he was doomed!

Qin Ran had feared death for a long time. He had even entered this Underground Game at all costs just to survive, yet he had never expected to die before even clearing the Beginner Instance...

For a moment, Qin Ran regretted taking the risk.

If he had listened to Colin's advice and hidden in the underground warehouse until the seven days were over, perhaps he could have lived a little longer.

But that trace of regret quickly vanished.

He had struggled to survive, and the fire in his heart had never gone out, not until the very end.

And when that final moment arrived...

He would make one last desperate gamble!

Qin Ran clenched the Type [-Ⅱ] Grenade in his left hand, his finger hooked through the pull ring.

Even if he died, he would take his enemy down with him!

Qin Ran's eyes were filled with indescribable stubbornness and determination.

"Sir!"

The Deceiver's voice rang out again, his tone becoming even more earnest. "I mean you no harm! I know you don't believe me, but you should believe the facts—if I had fired earlier, you would already be dead, but I did not do that!"

The information revealed in the other party's words made Qin Ran's finger freeze on the grenade's pull ring.

It was not because Qin Ran believed him!

It was because of what those words revealed!

Just as the other party had said, if he had fired silently, Qin Ran would have died long ago—there was no doubt about that!

But he had not done so!

Why?

What had made him give up the chance to kill Qin Ran in one blow?

Qin Ran did not think his own charm could make the other party show mercy.

The other party wanted something!

It was... that bag of jewelry!

After rapidly turning the matter over in his mind and ruling out every impossibility, Qin Ran found the most likely truth.

"You'd be that kindhearted?"

Qin Ran gave a cold laugh.

"Of course. You should believe the facts! And as long as you cooperate with me, I will certainly spare your life—I swear!"

"An oath? In this war-torn place, oaths are the cheapest thing there is! You simply haven't found what you're looking for yet! Once you do, would you let me go?"

Qin Ran sounded utterly disdainful.

His voice was low and hoarse, becoming hysterical toward the end as his whole body began to tremble.

However, Qin Ran did not take the opportunity to turn around!

He believed that if he turned around or made any other movement beyond the other party's expectations, the other party would definitely fire.

That was right. The other party wanted to keep him alive in order to ask where the bag of jewelry was.

So the bullet might hit his arm or leg.

And no matter where it hit, Qin Ran did not want to take that shot!

But he needed to make his attitude clear.

That crazed posture was just right.

"Calm down! Sir, please calm down! I don't want any misunderstanding—and you're a smart man. As long as you tell me where that bag of jewelry is, I will meet your demands!"

"Get me out of this damned city!"

"Believe me, that isn't difficult for me!"

"After all, I serve General Janning! I'm on a completely different level from your partner, Major Saruka!"

"Saruka could even be called General Janning's dog!"

Qin Ran's tactic had worked.

The other party began rattling off exactly what Qin Ran wanted to know.

But the other party's words also struck directly at Qin Ran's psychological defenses—though those were merely what Qin Ran had displayed during his call with Major Saruka.

They were not real.

Yet this already demonstrated just how capable the other party was.

He not only knew the contents of Qin Ran's conversation with Major Saruka, but had also infiltrated the group of trusted men Saruka had sent out.

Therefore, Qin Ran did not doubt the truth of the statement, "Saruka could even be called General Janning's dog!"

Because it was probably true!

Qin Ran's feelings became complicated.

Qin Ran had originally only wanted to kill Major Saruka and improve his clearance rating, but he had drawn out the figure behind Saruka: a rebel general.

Qin Ran did not know what role General Janning played among the rebels.

But one thing was certain: with the rank of general alone, he had to be a true high-ranking member of the rebels.

Moreover... Saruka's actions had not escaped his notice.

The appearance of the Deceiver behind him was the best proof.

Arrogant and conceited!

Thinking of the forcefulness Saruka had displayed during their call, Qin Ran could not help giving him that assessment. Then he added a prefix to it: self-righteous.

Clearly, Saruka believed he had done a fine job.

But what were the facts?

It was only because the time had not yet come to close the net.

Qin Ran could easily imagine that once Saruka obtained the jewelry gathered by Vulture, what awaited the major would definitely be a secret arrest.

Then, bypassing a military tribunal, he would be executed directly.

After that, his file would be filled with crimes that had genuinely occurred.

There was no need to doubt it. General Janning had already planned everything out.

The mastermind behind it all!

Qin Ran thought silently.

"Well? Have you made up your mind?"

The Deceiver behind him interrupted Qin Ran's thoughts.

In his view, one minute was more than enough time for Qin Ran to think.

"I want to leave this city, then I'll tell you everything!"

Qin Ran said.

"Sir, you know that isn't possible! Before I see that bag of jewelry, I don't have the authority to take you away—that requires General Janning's personal approval!"

The Deceiver answered with a smile.

"Then I want to see General Janning!"

Qin Ran changed his demand.

"Do you think that's possible?"

A chill crept into the Deceiver's laughter. He felt it was time to teach Qin Ran a lesson and let him understand how a prisoner should behave.

In truth, if he had not been unable to determine whether Qin Ran had hidden that bag of jewelry in this area or elsewhere, and if he had not wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble, he would have shot Qin Ran dead long ago. Why would he waste so many words?

"I need treatment right now. I was shot earlier!"

Qin Ran said again.

This time, the Deceiver did not refuse immediately.

He had personally seen Qin Ran get shot. Although Qin Ran was wearing a bulletproof vest and had appeared lively afterward, no one could be sure that it was not merely a final struggle before death.

However, the Deceiver did not agree outright.

He said, "To show my sincerity, I can offer you some help. I hope you will remember that sincerity—now, put down the firearm in your hand, then turn around. Slowly! Yes, like that. Turn around slowly and let me see your wounds!"

Under the other party's directions, Qin Ran put down the "sniper rifle" and slowly turned around.

The Deceiver immediately saw the wound near Qin Ran's lower abdomen and the wound on his left calf.

The Deceiver's battlefield knowledge let him instantly judge that the latter was nothing serious, merely a grazing bullet wound, while the former was more severe, even with the bulletproof vest cushioning it.

But how much protection could a police bulletproof vest provide against military rifle rounds?

The Deceiver judged that Qin Ran's injuries had to be serious. His internal organs had definitely been damaged, and some might even have suffered irreparable harm.

As for why Qin Ran could still move freely...

It was nothing more than decent physical fitness and a powerful desire to survive.

But it would not last. Before long, Qin Ran would sink into the slumber of death.

The Deceiver had seen countless examples like this on the battlefield.

However, even when facing a dying man, the Deceiver remained vigilant, his gun still aimed at Qin Ran's head.

"Your injuries aren't too serious. As long as you get treatment in time, you'll be fine—I can give you some medicine and gauze now. Treat yourself!"

As he spoke, the Deceiver extended his left hand, removed a leather pouch from his waist, and tossed it at Qin Ran's feet.

The pistol in his right hand remained aimed at Qin Ran from beginning to end.

Under the other party's gun, Qin Ran forced himself to sit down and picked up the leather pouch. Inside were two rolls of bandages and two syringes.

[Name: Advanced Bandage]

[Type: Medicine]

[Quality: Common]

[Attributes: Restores 30 Health within thirty seconds, accelerates wound recovery, and suppresses bleeding]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Brought Out of This Instance: Yes]

[Remarks: It is much better than ordinary bandages and gauze!]

...

[Name: Painkiller]

[Type: Medicine]

[Quality: Common]

[Attributes: It allows you to ignore your pain, but only for 3 minutes!]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Brought Out of This Instance: Yes]

[Remarks: Three minutes is enough for you to do many things, such as... write a will?]

The moment Qin Ran's fingers touched the bandages and syringes, the item information immediately appeared.

The latter in particular made Qin Ran's eyes light up.

He felt even more certain about what he was about to do.

He slowly unfastened the clasps on both sides of the [T1 Bulletproof Vest], making every movement look as though it took all his strength.

"You should give yourself an injection. Of course, if you tell me where the jewelry is, I can give you better treatment—enough to ensure you recover completely in the shortest time possible!"

Watching Qin Ran's movements, the Deceiver could not help reminding him.

He was terrified Qin Ran would die just like that.

"All right!"

Qin Ran looked entirely obedient as he rolled up his sleeve and gave himself an injection.

Then he began taking off the bulletproof vest.

When he saw Qin Ran laboriously unfasten both sides of the [T1 Bulletproof Vest], pull it over his neck, and prepare to take it off, the Deceiver's gun, which had been aimed at Qin Ran's head all along, lowered slightly. Avoiding the face and half of the chest blocked by the vest, it aimed at Qin Ran's legs.

It was an instinctive action.

Inflict the greatest possible damage on the enemy!

The Deceiver's training made him do it.

That gave Qin Ran an opportunity!

The opportunity he had waited so long for!

Qin Ran watched the other party's gun lower. His movements to remove the vest suddenly sped up, and he hurled the bulletproof vest at the Deceiver as though swinging a sack with both hands.

At the same time, he kicked off the ground and shot backward.

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