Chapter 57

Zhang Tie spoke without a single hesitation, completely in one breath, which made it hard for anyone to doubt him. After hearing this, the man named Sneider stared at Zhang Tie's face for a long time with eyes like a snake, seemingly trying to spot any flaws. Zhang Tie just pretended not to notice, his eyes fixed on the money bag in Sneider's hand, swallowing hard.

"Shall we go with you to get it from your home? If we let you go, you might run away, and it would be hard for us to find you again. We are just ordinary pioneers, and this is our first time in Black Flame City; we are not very familiar with the place!" Sneider, who had been carefully observing Zhang Tie's facial expressions, spoke in a gentle voice.

Zhang Tie pretended to think seriously for a moment. "Alright! But you have to pay me three... no, five gold coins first as a deposit. After all, I found that thing, and if you want it back, you should pay some compensation..."

Sneider and Hake exchanged a glance. Zhang Tie could almost feel the cruel message they seemed to convey through their eyes. The curve of Hake's lips carried an indescribable sense of terror and disdain.

"Alright, lead the way!" Five gold coins turned into a streak of gold and landed in Zhang Tie's hand. He quickly clutched the money tightly and stuffed it into his pocket, then pointed to a pile of his belongings on a distant table. "Can I have those things back?"

"Of course..."

As Zhang Tie had expected, Hake and Sneider lived in a large pioneer inn near the Black Flame City train station, close to the edge of the Upper East District. They had rented a suite with a separate entrance in a rather secluded location. Zhang Tie didn't know how they had brought him in, but seeing Hake's exaggerated build and strength, he figured that if they had put him in a bag, carried him on their back, and covered him with a cloak, no one would have suspected—pioneers were a group of people with peculiar temperaments and methods, and many taboos, so no one would doubt that a person was hidden in the cloak.

When they came, Zhang Tie was unconscious. When they left, Sneider made Zhang Tie wear a cloak and a hat to cover himself. Then, the three of them walked out of the inn like three good friends, and no one among the various characters hanging around the inn paid them any extra attention.

Sneider's right hand was draped around Zhang Tie's neck as if hugging a good friend, making Zhang Tie secretly suffer. He felt that the hand around his neck was not a hand but a venomous snake, and one bite from that snake could end his life. Moreover, Sneider had a faint, fishy smell that made Zhang Tie feel slightly nauseous. Zhang Tie didn't even know when Sneider's dagger would appear and slice his neck, ending his life. In front of these two people, even though he was a Level 1 Combat Soldier, Zhang Tie felt as helpless as a baby. Were they Level 6 or Level 7? Zhang Tie didn't know, but he knew that if either of them made a move, he would be finished. So tonight, he couldn't rely on his combat skills; he had to find another way to save his life.

"We are new to Black Flame City and not familiar with the place, so we get nervous easily. When we get nervous, we can't help but do things to protect ourselves, which might hurt some people. So, no matter who we encounter, don't let your words or actions make us nervous. It's better for everyone, understand?" As they walked out of the inn, Sneider said to Zhang Tie in a gentle tone.

Zhang Tie nodded obediently, but his mind was racing.

It was almost 9 PM, not yet curfew in Black Flame City, so there were many people on the streets. The three of them walked along the street, with Zhang Tie and Sneider walking in front, and Hake following behind. They headed towards Zhang Tie's "home." On the way, they encountered two groups of patrolling city guards. Zhang Tie knew these guards couldn't save him, so he didn't make any excessive moves. At this moment, Zhang Tie was most afraid of encountering someone he knew; if he did, he might be in trouble tonight. Fortunately, he didn't encounter any acquaintances, and after passing the two groups of guards, Zhang Tie's compliance made Sneider and Hake slightly relax, and the tense atmosphere between the three of them eased a bit.

"That piece of wood seems to be just Red Thunder Pine, very common. Why is it so important to you?" On the way, Zhang Tie, pretending to be relaxed, asked Sneider.

"It's nothing much. You know, as pioneers, we sometimes have some secret transactions and ways of communication. That piece of Red Thunder Pine is a token. It's just a small trick for us pioneers. Because the patterns and texture of Red Thunder Pine are very unique, there are hardly two pieces with exactly the same pattern. So, splitting a piece of Red Thunder Pine into two halves creates a token that no one can forge. When the two halves are put together, the patterns match, indicating that the right person has been found. Once we get that piece of wood and complete our task, we'll leave. You're quite lucky to earn ten gold coins so easily..." Sneider also pretended to be relaxed as he answered.

Zhang Tie finally understood the purpose of the Red Thunder Pine. It seemed these two were looking for someone in Black Flame City, and they used the piece of Red Thunder Pine as a token. They must have lost it, which is why they were in such a hurry to find him.

"To be honest, if I hadn't bumped into you, you wouldn't have lost your things. How about this, I'll take eight gold coins!" Zhang Tie said, somewhat embarrassed.

"Ten gold coins it is. It's your luck, and we were careless. We'll consider it a lesson learned..."

"Hehe, thanks. These gold coins will last me a long time. My family usually doesn't give me much pocket money, just a few dozen silver coins a week, enough for a couple of dates..."

"Ha ha ha..."

"He he he..."

The two sides, each with their own ulterior motives, chatted as if they were good friends.

"By the way, what's your name?" As Zhang Tie relaxed, Sneider suddenly asked a question that almost made him blurt out his real name. Fortunately, Zhang Tie's mind was very clear tonight, and he had already prepared a survival plan and story. As soon as he heard the question, he answered without hesitation.

"My name is Du Shaofeng..." As soon as he said it, Zhang Tie quickly covered his mouth, looking somewhat at a loss, as if he had said something wrong. A hint of satisfaction flashed in Sneider's eyes; this kid was still too young.

The three of them walked for about twenty minutes in the Upper East District and soon arrived at the residential area where Zhang Tie's "home" was located.

"You two wait here. I'll go in and get the things and come back to find you." Zhang Tie's heart was pounding, but his tone was as casual as before.

"You live here?" Looking at the well-guarded residential area with high walls and bright lights, and two rows of fully armed city guards at the entrance, Sneider and Hake's faces turned grim.

"Yes, my brother is an officer in Black Flame City. This is the residential area for the families of city guards. Of course, we live here..." Zhang Tie said matter-of-factly. "We didn't live here before, but after my brother became an officer, Black Flame City allocated a house to him, and our whole family moved here. Wait a moment, I'll be right back!"

As soon as Zhang Tie moved, his shoulder was tightly grabbed by Sneider. The warmth in Sneider's eyes instantly disappeared, and his eyes, like a snake ready to pounce, stared at Zhang Tie's face.

"Are you familiar with the guards here?"

"Yes, I live here, so I must be familiar with them!"

"Then let's go in together!"

"Sure..." Zhang Tie smiled, looking relaxed. "But the management of this residential area is strict. You two are strangers, so you need a resident to lead you in. I'll talk to the guards and have my brother come out to lead us in. Let's go, we'll go in together..."

Zhang Tie took a step forward...

The three of them walked towards the entrance of the residential area. With each step, Zhang Tie felt as if a hammer was hitting his heart. At this moment, his mouth was dry, and his vision was blurred, as if he were walking on a tightrope over a deep abyss, one misstep away from being crushed to death. If the guards said they didn't recognize him, he would be finished. At this moment, Zhang Tie was gambling, betting that Sneider and Hake were even more afraid of being exposed. He felt that these two were extremely wary of the city guards. On the way, when they encountered two groups of guards, Zhang Tie noticed that Sneider's grip on his shoulder tightened, as if warning him not to do anything rash. Ordinary city guards might not be a concern for these two, but the officers in Black Flame City were all high-level Combat Soldiers, and this residential area was full of military personnel. Zhang Tie didn't believe these two would dare to barge in with him. His only chance of survival tonight lay in making these two believe he could get the wood block but actually couldn't—only in this contradiction would his life have value.

These principles were taught to him by Tang De during his two years working in the杂货店 (general store). Giving desperate people a glimmer of hope was also giving himself a glimmer of hope, making himself useful but not dispensable. This was the survival strategy of the weak in a difficult situation.

If these two eventually believed him and let him go to try, he would be free.

As they got closer to the two rows of guards at the entrance of the residential area, Zhang Tie pretended to be calm, but his legs were almost too weak to move. The closer they got to the soldiers, the more nervous he became...

Sixty steps...

Fifty steps...

Forty steps...

Thirty steps...

As the three of them approached, the guards became alert. Just as they were about to reach twenty steps, Zhang Tie felt a tight grip on his shoulder. Sneider's hand forced him to turn and walk away.

"I've changed my mind..." Sneider's words made the tension in Zhang Tie's heart ease. "Pioneers don't like dealing with people in uniform. Simple things can become complicated with them. Let's think of another way."

"What's the problem? It's simple!" Zhang Tie pretended to be confused. "I can either go in and get the things or we can go in together and get the things. The transaction will be complete..."

"Sneider, I don't trust this kid..." Hake, who was following behind, said in a deep voice, making Zhang Tie's heart skip a beat...

As they turned into a less noticeable corner of the street, Sneider gave Zhang Tie a cold look. "Hake, you watch this kid. I'll go check the situation..."

Sneider left, and Hake's large hand clamped down on Zhang Tie's neck. "Kid, I don't trust you. Don't try any tricks. If you're not honest, I'll crush your neck..."

Zhang Tie quickly nodded obediently...

Ten minutes later, Sneider returned, his face even grimmer. "Let's go back..."

"Let me go, I'll be in and out in two minutes and bring the wood block back to you!"

"Shut up!" Sneider growled, and Hake's hand tightened, making Zhang Tie feel as if a steel band was around his neck, turning his face purple.

"Don't kill him, let's go back and talk about it..."

...

The three of them returned to the pioneer inn faster than they had come. On the way, Hake and Sneider were silent, their eyes filled with a violent and vicious look, making Zhang Tie's heart sink. He knew his tricks had worked, disrupting their plan. Now, they were in a dilemma, and the moment that would decide his fate had arrived...