Cooperation?

Zhao Xun followed everyone's gaze and saw five people carrying identical hiking backpacks.

The backpacks were the same color and size, and even the insulated bottles the five carried were the same model.

These five were probably the volunteers sent by the authorities this month.

With the pressure of an entire year without any results, it was impressive that volunteers were still willing to board.

They were huddled together, discussing something in low voices.

Everyone else was paying close attention to the five, but no one approached them. They all made a point of giving them plenty of space.

There was no way all five volunteers happened to have adjacent seat numbers. Other passengers must have cleared a table for them so they could gather around it.

It seemed quite a few people still pinned their hopes on the volunteers.

Thinking this, Zhao Xun wheeled his suitcase back the way he had come, with no intention of stopping.

As he passed the group of five, he suddenly heard a man's rough voice.

"Hello." The burliest of the five, a muscular man with a buzz cut, stood up. He stretched out his long arm and easily reached Zhao Xun's shoulder, giving it a pat.

Zhao Xun stopped and turned his head. Sure enough, the man was looking at him.

"Hello, my name is Wu Wei," the muscular, buzz-cut man introduced himself politely.

Zhao Xun nodded courteously. "Hello. Can I help you?"

"Did you enter the [Endless Train] of your own accord?" Wu Wei clearly had no grasp of small talk. His question was remarkably direct.

Still, he kept his voice low enough that only the five volunteers and Zhao Xun could hear him.

At least he had shown some consideration for Zhao Xun's privacy.

Zhao Xun smoothly trotted out his earlier explanation again. "No, I just happened to have a suitcase with me for a business trip."

But Wu Wei was not as easy to brush off as the slightly plump woman in seat 015. He said in a low voice, "But after you boarded the [Endless Train], you didn't look panicked at all."

He paused, then added, "And when you dealt with the monster in Car 17, you were very calm and composed."

Zhao Xun raised his eyebrows slightly. "You must be pretty capable, then. Most people wouldn't have the presence of mind to observe others while a monster was chasing them."

There was nothing unusual in his expression: neither the nervousness of having his true nature discovered nor the embarrassment of being exposed.

He did not want to reveal his true strength too early, but he also knew he could not guarantee that no one would ever notice.

If someone noticed, so be it.

If it put me at a disadvantage, I'd just find a way to deal with it.

"Since the authorities selected us, naturally, we all have a certain level of ability." Rather than being modest, Wu Wei acknowledged that he was strong.

"You're right." Zhao Xun gave him a thumbs-up. "Everyone's counting on you, so please give it your best."

"You don't need to change the subject." Wu Wei lowered his voice further, but his tone was sincere. "I'm not trying to single you out. I just want to invite you to work with us."

"Work with you?" Zhao Xun mulled over the words, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"Yes, work with us," Wu Wei said firmly. "There are too few volunteers, and we aren't completely confident we can handle every difficulty ahead. Every bit of extra help is precious to us."

"Sorry, I'm used to working alone." Zhao Xun refused without hesitation.

Wu Wei froze for a moment.

Since Zhao Xun had been responding with a smile the entire time, he had thought Zhao Xun would agree. He had not expected such a decisive rejection.

Zhao Xun said politely, "It looks like there's nothing else you need from me, so I'll be going."

Cooperation between players was too fragile. Conflicting interests or restrictions imposed by the game's rules could easily turn them into enemies.

Occasionally cooperating for mutual benefit was fine. Long-term cooperation was not.

Besides, he had not lied. He really was used to acting alone and did not feel he needed companions.

When Zhao Xun actually left, the other four volunteers all looked at Wu Wei.

Wu Wei gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head.

Although he wanted another helping hand, he could not force it. If the other person refused, he could only let it go.

Watching Zhao Xun walk away, Wu Wei sighed inwardly.

He felt that this man was quite capable and would make an excellent helper.

Unfortunately...

Zhao Xun did not continue wandering around outside.

Since he could not explore the veteran players' area, there was no reason to keep walking around. He returned to Car 14.

The bound Shen Yalong was wriggling desperately, trying to free himself.

The pain from his four broken limbs was still distinct, but it was no longer as unbearable as it had been at first. He suspected the pain had numbed him.

That had its benefits, though. He could endure the pain long enough to try to wriggle out of the ropes.

But just as he began trying, Zhao Xun suddenly returned. He stopped moving, looking a little embarrassed.

Zhao Xun put his suitcase back on the luggage rack, then returned to his seat.

He turned to Shen Yalong. "What's your name?"

"Shen Yalong," he answered obediently.

The moment he said it, he regretted it a little.

I should have made up a fake name.

But he had been so nervous that his real name had slipped out instinctively.

Zhao Xun said nothing more, as though he had only asked in passing.

Shen Yalong carefully studied Zhao Xun's expression. Seeing that Zhao Xun did not seem angry about his attempt to escape the ropes, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

After a brief silence, Shen Yalong could not resist speaking again. "Boss... could you let me go? Honestly, I don't have any grudge against you. I just wanted to complete my personal task."

Zhao Xun merely smiled at Shen Yalong without speaking.

Afraid Zhao Xun would misinterpret his meaning, Shen Yalong hurried to explain, "But I'm not planning to do that personal task anymore! You only die if you refuse a task. Failing it just means a punishment, and I don't think that's too serious."

Of course he did not want to be punished. But the problem was that he could not beat the other man. If he insisted on completing this task, he would die here.

Of the two evils, he had to choose the lesser. His only choice was the option that would keep him alive.

"We'll talk after tonight." Zhao Xun gently patted Shen Yalong's shoulder and said with a broad smile, "Until then, you'd better stop spouting nonsense, or I'll cut out your tongue."

His tone was so soft that it did not even sound threatening.

Yet the threat in his words was unmistakably real.

Shen Yalong immediately fell silent.

Although he could not understand why Zhao Xun would only release him after tonight, he had seen a chance of survival and refrained from asking any more questions.

If he annoyed the man with his questions, he would be the one to suffer.

For the rest of the day, Zhao Xun did not leave his seat except to use the bathroom.

For both lunch and dinner, he ate food from his own suitcase.

Most of the time, he rested with his eyes closed, neither speaking nor socializing.

Beside him, Shen Yalong felt an enormous weight bearing down on him.