Counterattack

The other party's voice sounded friendly.

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

"It's over!"

Qin Ran reflexively shut his eyes.

He thought he was dead for sure!

Qin Ran had feared death for a long time. To survive, he had even entered this Underground Game, 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 Persuasion 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 flame in his heart had never gone out—not until the very last moment.

And when that final moment arrived...

He would risk everything!

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 once more, growing increasingly earnest. "I mean you no harm! I know you don't trust me, but you should trust the facts—if I had fired earlier, you would already be dead. But I didn't!"

The other party's words made Qin Ran's finger on the grenade's pull ring stiffen.

It was not because Qin Ran believed him!

It was because of the information revealed in those words!

Just as the other party had said, if he had fired without a sound, Qin Ran would have died long ago—this was undeniably true!

But he had not done so!

Why?

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

Qin Ran did not think his charm was enough to make the other party show mercy.

The other party wanted something!

It was... that bag of jewelry!

After rapidly considering and discarding every impossibility, Qin Ran found the most likely answer.

"You'd be that kindhearted?"

Qin Ran sneered.

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

The other party remained sincere and even offered an oath.

"An oath? In this war-torn place, oaths are the cheapest things there are! You just haven't found what you're looking for yet! Once you do, will 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!

Qin Ran believed that the moment he turned or made any 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 about the bag of jewelry.

So the bullet might hit his arm or his leg.

No matter where it hit, Qin Ran had no intention of taking that shot!

But he needed to make his stance clear.

His crazed appearance was just right.

"Calm down! Sir, please calm down! I don't want there to be 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 damn 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!"

"To put it bluntly, Saruka is General Janning's dog!"

Qin Ran's method worked.

The other party began pouring out exactly what Qin Ran wanted to know.

However, those words also directly struck at Qin Ran's psychological defenses—though those were only defenses Qin Ran had displayed during his call with Major Saruka.

They were not real.

But this was enough to show just how capable the other party was.

Not only did he know the contents of Qin Ran's conversation with Major Saruka, he had also managed to infiltrate the trusted team Saruka had sent out.

Therefore, Qin Ran had no reason to doubt the truth of the statement, "Saruka is General Janning's dog!"

Because it was probably true!

Qin Ran's feelings became complicated.

It was like a hunter going up the mountain to hunt rabbits, only to suddenly discover that the rabbit had turned into a tiger.

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

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

But one thing was certain: judging solely by his rank of general, he had to be a true high-ranking figure within the rebels.

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

The appearance of the Deceiver behind Qin Ran was the best proof.

Arrogant and conceited!

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

Clearly, Saruka thought he had done everything perfectly.

But what was the truth?

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

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

Then, bypassing the Judgment of a military court, he would be shot on the spot.

Afterward, his file would be filled with crimes that truly existed.

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

The mastermind!

Qin Ran thought silently.

"Well? Have you thought it over?"

The Deceiver behind him interrupted Qin Ran's thoughts.

In the other party's view, one minute was more than enough time for Qin Ran to think.

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

Qin Ran said.

"Sir, you know that isn't possible! Until I see that bag of jewelry, I have no authority to take you away—that requires General Janning's personal approval!"

The Deceiver answered with a smile.

"Then I want to meet General Janning!"

Qin Ran changed his condition.

"Do you think that's possible?"

A chill entered the Deceiver's laughter. He felt that it was time to teach Qin Ran a lesson and make him understand how a captive should behave.

In truth, if he had not been unable to determine whether Qin Ran had hidden the 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 immediately refuse.

He had seen Qin Ran get shot with his own eyes. Although Qin Ran wore a bulletproof vest and had acted vigorously afterward, no one could be sure it was not merely a final burst of strength.

However, the Deceiver did not agree outright.

He said, "To show my sincerity, I can provide you with assistance. I hope you remember my sincerity—now, put down the weapon 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 slowly put down the sniper rifle and 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 allowed him to instantly determine that the latter was nothing serious, merely a graze from a bullet, while the former was rather severe, even with the bulletproof vest cushioning it.

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

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

The only reason Qin Ran could still move so freely—

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

But it would not last. Very soon, Qin Ran would sink into the long sleep of death.

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

Yet even when facing a man who was about to die, the Deceiver remained vigilant. His gun was still aimed at Qin Ran's head.

"Your injuries aren't too serious. As long as you receive 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 beside Qin Ran's feet.

The pistol in his right hand remained aimed at Qin Ran the entire time.

Under the other party's gun, Qin Ran struggled 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 over 30 seconds, accelerates wound recovery, and suppresses bleeding]

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Instance: Yes]

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

...

[Name: Painkiller]

[Type: Medicine]

[Quality: Common]

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

[Special Effect: None]

[Can Be Taken Out of This Instance: Yes]

[Remarks: 3 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 appeared.

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

He became even more confident in what he was about to do.

He slowly undid the fastenings 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 provide you with better treatment—I guarantee that you'll make a full recovery in the shortest possible time!"

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

He was deeply afraid Qin Ran would die just like this.

"All right!"

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

Then, he began taking off the bulletproof vest.

When the Deceiver saw Qin Ran laboriously unfasten both sides of the T1 Bulletproof Vest, pull it over his neck, and prepare to remove it, the gun that had been aimed at Qin Ran's head lowered slightly. It avoided the bulletproof vest, which blocked Qin Ran's face and half his chest, and instead aimed at his legs.

It was an instinctive action.

Inflict the greatest possible damage on the enemy!

The Deceiver's training had taught him to do that.

And it gave Qin Ran an opportunity!

The opportunity he had waited so long for!

Seeing the gun barrel lower, Qin Ran suddenly sped up the motion of removing his bulletproof vest. With both hands, he flung it at the Deceiver like hurling a sack.

At the same time, he kicked off the ground with both feet and leaped backward.

Welcome, readers! The latest, fastest, and hottest serialized works are all here! Mobile users, please read on.