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Clutching the spacesuits in his arms, Huang Liang clenched his fists.

Looking into Ye Lin's cold eyes, which even held a hint of mockery, he felt anger burning inside him.

Ye Lin looked harmless, but deep down, he was no different from the scum Huang Liang had encountered before-cold-blooded to the core, treating human lives like a game.

He couldn't do that. He had to save Wang Yuanyang.

Even if it was foolish, it was his duty as a soldier, and the bare minimum of human decency.

Watching Huang Liang leave, Ye Lin gave a contemptuous smile and softly uttered a single word.

"Idiot..."

Ignoring Ye Lin's mockery, Huang Liang ran off without looking back.

Behind him, Zhang Tie opened his mouth, unable to bear it. After a moment's hesitation, he could only give up.

Emotionally, he wanted to save Wang Yuanyang too, but rationally, one more person wouldn't make any difference. If the Species and "God" really feared spacesuits, Huang Liang could bring him back alone.

Besides, Ye Lin had saved his life too.

Like a child who had done something wrong, he silently lowered his head and swept the shattered glass aside. If Huang Liang managed to bring Wang Yuanyang back, at least they wouldn't be cut by glass when they rushed in.

He Zheng looked utterly indifferent. He barely knew Wang Yuanyang, and the man was hostile toward them anyway.

If he died, he died. It wasn't He Zheng dying.

Beside Ye Lin, An Ke said nothing, but something flickered in her eyes.

As though something had occurred to her, she couldn't help looking at Ye Lin's profile.

"Did you do that on purpose?"

Unlike the others, she didn't believe Ye Lin was truly cold-blooded.

If he wanted Wang Yuanyang dead, there was no need to hand over two spacesuits.

Besides, Ye Lin's final taunt had been far too deliberate.

"A test."

"Maybe those monsters fear spacesuits, but moving back and forth in front of them is another matter."

Ye Lin offered the explanation casually and turned around.

An Ke frowned. She couldn't tell whether Ye Lin meant what he said. That possibility had occurred to her too, but she kept feeling it wasn't that simple.

"Then what do we do next? Hide and open the airlock? Or wait to see whether Huang Liang can make it back?"

At her words, everyone turned toward Ye Lin.

In theory, once they changed into spacesuits, they no longer needed to fear the Species. But hearing the shrieks rapidly approaching in the distance still made them nervous.

Especially since no one could guarantee that every "God" would be afraid.

"No. We don't open the airlock yet. We lure in a group of Species and kill them one by one."

"With an opportunity this good, why wouldn't we farm points?"

He Zheng was startled. He had never imagined Ye Lin would be this bold.

While the others were surprised, Hu Jia was frightened.

"Lure them over and kill them!? But what if that enrages them!?"

The idea that spacesuits worked was only a logical deduction. Even if the Species felt fear, what if facing death brought out their ferocity and drove them to attack?

Wouldn't they end up dead without even knowing what had killed them?

"That's why we need a test."

Ye Lin spoke softly and entered the maintenance room.

His words jolted them. Before they could work it out, An Ke's expression shifted as she suddenly understood.

"So that's why you provoked Huang Liang?"

"You're using him to test it?"

He Zheng was confused. Watching the two speak in riddles, he blinked and couldn't help asking.

"What test? What does that mean? Seriously, what are you two talking about? Ye Lin, don't get too greedy. As long as we get out alive..."

Before he could finish, An Ke gave a rueful laugh and cut him off.

"He's not being greedy. If anything, he's being too cautious."

"He deliberately provoked Huang Liang to make sure he'd save Wang Yuanyang."

"Even with an extra spacesuit, Wang Yuanyang is bound to attract Species when he tries to run back here. That means Huang Liang will have to shoot to save him."

"As long as Huang Liang survives, it means we can safely farm points."

A simple test, straightforward and highly effective.

Yet after saying it aloud, An Ke felt shaken, and her gaze grew even more complicated as she looked at Ye Lin.

It didn't sound like much, but only after figuring it out did she realize that Ye Lin had already planned everything that followed before explaining the answer to them.

Every step led into the next.

First, he made everyone pin their hopes on him, forced Wang Yuanyang to take a risk, then forced Huang Liang to rescue him. Finally, he put both their lives on the line to test whether they could farm points. If they could, He Zheng and the others would only trust him more. If Ye Lin then agreed to share even a tiny portion of the rewards, he would have the entire team firmly under his control.

Killing, saving, helping, deceiving, rewarding-the chain of tactics sent a chill down her spine.

Who exactly was this guy?

"Fuck... so that's what this is..."

"But Ye Lin, what if we can't farm points? Wouldn't Huang Liang and Wang Yuanyang die for nothing?"

A little slow on the uptake, He Zheng mulled it over for several seconds before understanding. Still... although he wanted to farm points too, it would be a shame if Huang Liang died.

The guy was a little naive, but he was genuinely capable.

Contrary to their expectations, Ye Lin didn't say that their deaths wouldn't matter.

His expression remained calm as he gave an answer that didn't address the question.

"If I don't let him go, we might all die."

"Besides, he'll most likely survive and bring Wang Yuanyang back."

Without explaining further, Ye Lin averted his gaze from their suddenly stunned faces and walked straight toward the first airtight chamber.

Unnoticed by anyone, his fingertips had gone white. He was nowhere near as relaxed as he appeared.

It seemed he had already found the answer and even had the leisure to farm points.

But only he knew they were standing on the brink of death. One careless move, and everything would be lost.

How many of us were still human...?

Had I really... guessed right?

The first painting flashed through his mind. Ye Lin let out a soft breath, suppressed his distracting thoughts, and his gaze gradually hardened with resolve.

At this point, he could only move forward, by whatever means necessary.