I wouldn't mind turning you into a complete waste of space

Task card in hand, Lu Yuanhang ran through his calculations, trying to devise the most meticulous undercover operation possible, then single-handedly drag this bunch of abnormal guests into the abyss of defeat.

A sly grin curled his lips as he slowly raised his head.

Only to discover, without warning, several hawklike gazes shooting toward him at once.

They seemed ready to pierce right through him and expose the cards he kept hidden behind his back.

Lu Yuanhang jolted, sweat instantly breaking out on his forehead as alarm seized him.

No way. No way.

They haven't all figured out I'm the mole, have they?!

But those gazes lingered for only two or three seconds before shifting away as though nothing had happened.

The pressure on Lu Yuanhang instantly eased. He let out a long breath. I knew it. How could they possibly be that sharp?!

All brawn and no brains-intelligence was definitely these action stars' weak point!

Soon, the guests had put on their professional gear and headed toward the dense woods with their paintball guns.

Feng Dayuan held up his megaphone. "Find and swiftly capture the enemy stronghold, or 'eliminate' all enemy troops. Accomplish either objective, and you win."

"You have a two-hour time limit. You can choose a captain first, then work out your battle plan."

The moment he finished speaking, Jian Li started into the woods.

Perhaps it was because he had carried out too many bloody missions in his previous life, caught between life and death amid hails of gunfire. Although he walked into the dense woods as casually as if he were strolling through a garden, his retreating figure radiated an unmistakable killing aura.

Feng Dayuan looked over, his expression briefly freezing, as though he had remembered something from long ago. His eyes were unreadable. A second later, he spoke into the megaphone. "Jian Li, your nonnegotiable orders are one word."

"Win!"

Holding his paintball gun, Jian Li raised an arm without looking back and made an "OK" sign.

The gesture was casual and effortlessly cool.

Like one hot-as-hell mercenary commander.

The livestream chat erupted in screams.

At the very back of the group, Lu Yuanhang sneered. "Who are you trying to impress?"

You'll be crying soon enough!

As soon as they stopped beside their own stronghold, Jian Li turned with his paintball gun. "Who wants to be captain? Decide within two minutes."

"I'm not sticking my neck..." Yuan Feng swallowed the rest of the phrase and hurriedly corrected himself. "I'm not being captain."

"Next."

Jian Li's gaze landed on Huo Xiao's face. The latter's ink-dark eyes were fathomless. "I don't like trouble."

"Then..."

Luo Xiaohong, Shi Huayi, and Zhou Nan raised their hands simultaneously. "We're not doing it either!"

"All right." Jian Li nodded. "I'll do it, then."

Lu Yuanhang immediately protested. "Why didn't you pick me?"

"Don't worry." Jian Li curled his lips. "When we're choosing a suicide squad, you'll definitely be our first choice."

"Why?!" Lu Yuanhang was used to getting his own way and had no patience whatsoever. Besides, he wanted to use the captain's position to sabotage the match outright, so he argued vehemently, "This isn't fair. We have to take a vote..."

Before he could finish, Jian Li glanced at his watch and suddenly said sternly, "Two minutes are up. Move out!"

Seeing that all the other guests had already followed, Lu Yuanhang flew into a humiliated rage. "Hey-"

"How dare you ignore me?!"

"Believe it or not, I can make you lose spectacularly!"

Jian Li suddenly stopped, then delivered a textbook spinning kick, snapping a protruding branch as thick as a forearm in half.

He glanced back, a cold curve on his lips. "Keep running your mouth, and I wouldn't mind turning you into a complete waste of space."

Lu Yuanhang was clearly frightened and did not dare say another word.

Comments flooded the livestream.

[Jian Li's pretty good! How come I never noticed before? He looked so sickly, like a chronic patient!]

[Yuanhang was just pointing out something unfair. Did he really need to threaten him with violence?!]

[Is it okay for a variety show to promote violence like this?! And why is Yuanhang always the one getting hurt?! First Instructor Feng slapped him, then Yuan Feng broke his arm, and now Jian Li is openly threatening him?! This show needs to be taken down and cleaned up!]

[Watch your wording, person above. It was dislocated, not broken. If it were really that serious, he should be in the hospital instead of fighting to be captain!]

[I suggest panda blood have a little self-awareness. He's useless at everything, yet he still wants to compete for the position?!]

[Jian Li is so hot! No wonder everyone backs him! I'd support him too!]

[...]

Jian Li first checked his radio, then signaled with his eyes for the other guests to spread out. Leaning slightly forward, he said, "Advance in a skirmish line and search as you go. Stay concealed. Work in pairs, supporting each other front and rear."

"Also, aim for headshots whenever possible. High kill rate, no follow-up shots needed."

"If you understand, acknowledge over the radio."

Yuan Feng said, "Position one, acknowledged."

Luo Xiaohong said, "Two, acknowledged!"

Shi Huayi said, "Three!"

Zhou Nan said, "Four!"

Huo Xiao said, "Five."

The low, clear voice sounded just behind Jian Li's ear. He instinctively turned and saw Huo Xiao, his expression stern and his gaze burning.

"I'll cover you from behind."

Jian Li raised an eyebrow. "..."

In fact, he had always operated alone in his previous life and had never entrusted his back to anyone. After all, mercenaries came from different countries and gathered together only for money. Any day, they might betray their employer for money too.

So putting his life in someone else's hands was the stupidest thing he could do...

Yet with Huo Xiao, he actually felt an inexplicable sense of trust.

Was it because... the enemy of my enemy was my friend?

That reasoning made some sense.

So Jian Li gave a slight nod. "All right."

"Just don't suddenly shoot me in the back."

At that, Huo Xiao smiled faintly. "Don't worry. That's something only a mole would do."

Suddenly hearing his secret role called out, the guilt-ridden guest went rigid.