No wonder Songbird was so desperate and willing to pay any price.
Xiao Jun's explanation made sense, but Zheng Xun had to remind him of something.
"Vice President Xiao, anyone with eyes can see how dangerous that instance is. The chance of your president's relative surviving is practically zero."
"We know." A crack finally appeared in Xiao Jun's flawless expression. "But the president said we had to bring them back alive, or bring back their body."
Zheng Xun nodded.
"Does that mean you agree, Mr. Zheng?"
Zheng Xun shook his head.
"Hey, you-" Cheng Jie had a fiery temper and spoke bluntly. "What's your problem? Are you messing with us?"
Su Hairong propped her cheek on one hand.
"Mr. Zheng, if you have any other demands, you can tell us. Don't be shy."
"I won't join Songbird, but I'll help you clear the Huaiyin Instance."
Zheng Xun fixed his clear eyes on Xiao Jun, who sat in the middle.
"That's my answer. Whether you accept it is up to Songbird."
"You won't join the guild, but you'll still help us?" Cheng Jie's surprise was plain on his face. "Where did a saint like you come from? Out to save all sentient beings?"
Zheng Xun smiled, a little slyly.
"I don't want your Silver Contract, but I'll have other conditions. Don't worry, they'll definitely be within a range you can accept."
Su Hairong looked at Xiao Jun, who had remained silent. After a moment's thought, he made a decision.
"All right. But let me be frank: whether Songbird fulfills your conditions will depend on your performance in the Huaiyin Instance, Mr. Zheng."
"Of course. I won't disappoint you."
The van drove smoothly along the road, passing through a shopping district on the way. Zheng Xun watched the scenery slide past outside the window.
"Oh, I have one more request."
"Go ahead," Xiao Jun replied.
"Since you want me to lead the team, I'm staking my life on Songbird. It's only fair that everyone in Songbird listen to me for a few days, isn't it?"
"Don't push your luck!" Cheng Jie almost jumped up, only stopped by the roof of the van.
Zheng Xun pursed his lips and turned his head away.
"If you won't agree, forget it. Stop the car, stop the car. I'm getting out."
"Why, you ungrateful..."
"Cheng Jie." Xiao Jun called his assistant by his full name in a low voice. Cheng Jie was forced to fall silent, though he was still very unhappy about it.
Songbird was counting on Zheng Xun to risk his life for them now, so naturally they had to keep him happy.
"As long as you don't go too far, we'll do as you say."
Zheng Xun beamed.
"That's more like it."
Cheng Jie nearly choked.
"Brother Xiao, you're just going to spoil him like this-"
Su Hairong added fuel to the fire from the side.
"What's the harm? We're counting on him right now."
"Sister Rong, you too..."
Xiao Jun gestured for silence. Whatever they had to say could wait until they got back.
Zheng Xun ignored the looks they exchanged. Leaning against the window, he suddenly spotted a supermarket.
"Oh, I just remembered something!"
"What now?!" That impatient voice could only belong to Cheng Jie.
Zheng Xun turned around and smiled at Cheng Jie.
"I want to buy something."
The van stopped in an inconspicuous corner, and Cheng Jie got out looking thoroughly disgruntled.
"Buy me a Little Genius-uh, a player wristband! I also want a copy of the Newcomer's Guide."
Zheng Xun's words rang in his ears.
Cheng Jie shoved one hand into his pocket and kicked a pebble in frustration.
"It's not like Songbird doesn't have them. Why does he have to have them right now?!"
As Cheng Jie gradually walked away, Xiao Jun looked at Zheng Xun.
Zheng Xun was truly exhausted, his eyelids drooping despite himself.
"The player wristbands sold in supermarkets are the most basic kind. They have few functions and break easily. If you want a wristband, Songbird can have one custom-made for you," Vice President Xiao said softly.
Zheng Xun shook his head wearily, curled up inside an oversized Songbird team jacket. Su Hairong had found it for him a little while ago, and he had casually wrapped it around himself.
"I want a cheap one. You people at Songbird... might tamper with it..."
"Did he fall asleep?"
Su Hairong pulled the oversized jacket higher around Zheng Xun.
"It was a 3S instance, after all. It must have taken a lot out of him."
With the negotiations over, Xiao Jun relaxed against the back of his seat.
"Vice President." Su Hairong stopped putting on her deliberately delicate expression, deep concern showing on her face. "Will this really work? Zheng Xun has only been through one instance. He appeared out of nowhere, and his entire past is a blank slate."
On the way to District 1089, Su Hairong had already looked into Zheng Xun's background.
The player had no record of registering with any guild, nor was there any footage of him playing before. That meant this was his first time entering the White Tower as an independent player.
All of that only showed that Zheng Xun was a complete newcomer.
But when Su Hairong investigated his background, she hadn't found any valuable information either.
No parents, no school records, no employment records.
He was like a visitor from beyond the heavens, appearing in the game out of thin air.
If she had to make a comparison, it was somewhat like when the White Tower first descended.
Su Hairong had touched his hand while passing him the contract. It was warm; he was human.
But that still wasn't enough to make her trust Zheng Xun.
Xiao Jun seemed troubled by it too.
"We're desperate enough to try anything. For now, we can only trust him. That was the president's decision as well."
Cheng Jie grabbed a random player wristband and a copy of the Newcomer's Guide at the supermarket. After signing autographs for the fans who recognized him, he pulled up his hoodie and hurried back to the van.
"Hurry, hurry," he said, closing the door. "The fans are catching up!"
Once the van started moving, he sat back down and turned around, only to see Zheng Xun fast asleep.
Cheng Jie was so angry his nose nearly went crooked. He tossed the items into Zheng Xun's lap.
"Didn't you say-!"
Su Hairong kicked his calf with the toe of her high heel, and he lowered his voice.
"Didn't you say you wanted to look at it right away? You're asleep? You really know how to order people around!"
"Let him rest." Xiao Jun loosened his tie a little more. "Whatever happens later, he's one of Songbird's people now. Cheng Jie, show a better attitude."
Cheng Jie could hardly put his grievances into words.
"Brother Xiao's like this, and so is Sister Rong. Both of you are playing favorites with him! He hasn't even joined our guild yet. If he really did join and tore the guild apart, would you stand there applauding him too?!"
"What are you talking about?" Su Hairong poked him in the head with a polished finger. "Why would we let him tear the guild apart?"
"I knew Sister Rong was still thinking straight."
"What if he hurt his hands?"
"..."
Xiao Jun smiled faintly. Seeing Cheng Jie's frustrated, speechless expression, Su Hairong also struggled to hold back a laugh.
Zheng Xun appeared to be sleeping soundly, completely undisturbed by the voices around him.
But his sleep seemed restless. His brows stayed tightly furrowed, and his body trembled slightly from time to time.
Zheng Xun had indeed fallen asleep, but he was having a strange dream.
Calling it a dream wasn't quite right. If it was a dream, it was far too real.
He stood outside the gates of a deserted school. There was no one inside. Something had smashed a hole in the window of the security booth, and the wind made a whimpering sound as it blew through.
The sign that had stood beside the school gates had fallen and been propped against the wall, black characters on a white background.
-Huaiyin No. 4 Middle School.
"Big brother."
A faint voice sounded. Zheng Xun looked down and saw Little Red Riding Hood raise her face, split into four sections, her long tongue hissing as she breathed.
One of her hands was still clutching the hem of his clothes.
As he looked down, Zheng Xun also noticed that a black player wristband had appeared on his wrist at some point.
He opened the screen. His personal information had already been entered.
[Name: Zheng Xun] [Level: lv99]