Chapter 12

"Are you crazy?!"

Korin growled lowly.

"No!"

Qin Ran answered firmly.

"Then, do you know what you're saying?"

Korin's gray eyes seemed to be looking at a madman.

"Of course, I know exactly what I'm saying, and I understand what I want to do. Just like I know that 'Vulture's' lair is heavily guarded and full of danger—yet, I have to do this... It's an opportunity!"

Qin Ran looked at Korin and said seriously.

"'Vulture' has sent his subordinates to surround and exterminate us. Clearly, he doesn't intend to let us live, even if this attempt fails! Moreover, 'Vulture' will become even more ruthless, as you said, only by eliminating us can that bitch maintain her reputation, and showing her vicious side is the best way to do it!"

Seeing Korin's expression soften, Qin Ran took a deep breath and continued.

"When 'Vulture' sends people again, those guys won't be as easy to deal with as the ones we face now! Their vigilance will make it hard for us to act! Not to mention, we can't expect to ambush them like this again! And their equipment will be even better—don't tell me that before the war, the entire police force relied only on these handguns to maintain order!"

As he spoke, Qin Ran gestured to the loot in his hand.

"But, but..."

Korin frowned, wanting to say something, but ultimately said nothing.

Because she knew Qin Ran was right.

Although she had previously despised 'Vulture,' she couldn't change the fact that 'Vulture' was powerful.

"So, we must eliminate 'Vulture' before he reacts! Completely destroy him!"

Qin Ran said with determination.

"Alright, alright, I agree with you, Qin Ran, but you need to understand, this isn't easy!"

Korin thought for a moment, raised her hands in surrender, but her words still carried a tone of persuasion.

Korin needed a long-term reliance. Even though Qin Ran's reasoning was sound, she hoped the plan or the entire matter would be more stable.

Especially since they had gained some advantages.

Korin hoped to use the loot to exchange for supplies, then survive longer in this damned war, even if it meant hiding and showing only a part of herself.

After all, she had been doing that for the past four months.

But Qin Ran was different!

Qin Ran was a player!

And he was a player who needed to rely on this game to earn enough money to treat his terminal illness!

So, he needed to become strong quickly, eliminate enough enemy NPCs, and obtain weapons and equipment that could be sold to quickly save up for his treatment.

Therefore, 'Vulture,' an enemy NPC who clearly looked like a boss, was someone Qin Ran would never let go.

As for relying on hiding to get through the rest of the game time?

If Qin Ran were an ordinary player, he might consider it.

But unfortunately, Qin Ran wasn't.

"I know this isn't easy, so we need to make it more stable and simpler—Korin, can you help me keep an eye on the surroundings? Oh, and I need to borrow your kitchen knife!"

Qin Ran pointed to the captive on the ground and said to Korin.

"Sure!"

Korin sighed and walked to the other side of the ruins.

There, she could hide and still have a good view of the surroundings, allowing her to see everything. Before leaving, Korin, as Qin Ran had asked, left the kitchen knife behind.

This kitchen knife was originally Qin Ran's loot.

He had given it to Korin tonight for the battle, just in case.

Now, Qin Ran's temporary borrowing was something Korin wouldn't question.

What Qin Ran wanted to do?

Korin had already guessed, but she maintained a supportive attitude.

Living in the war for four months, Korin had long changed her original views. She no longer simply clung to right and wrong; she only knew that doing this would help her survive better.

This was the wish of everyone in the war!

Korin was no exception.

Watching Korin move to the alert position, Qin Ran finally turned his gaze to the captive.

Qin Ran didn't know exactly what Korin was thinking, but he knew she was on the same boat as him and could be trusted.

Qin Ran kicked the captive to wake him up from his unconscious state.

"Please, spare me!"

The armed thug, stripped of his fangs, begged for mercy the moment he woke up.

"Sure, as long as you tell me everything I want to know!"

Qin Ran nodded, his tone calm.

But this calmness made the captured thug even more terrified, as he couldn't tell if Qin Ran was being sincere or deceiving him.

But he had no choice.

Because the initiative was entirely in Qin Ran's hands.

"What do you want to know?"

The captured thug asked cautiously.

"Everything about 'Vulture,' including your lair and the number of people!"

Qin Ran said.

"I don't know much about 'Vulture' the boss, but the lair is in the underground warehouse of a mall on Sixth Avenue, and we have twenty people... Ah!"

The thug didn't finish his sentence before he let out a scream.

Qin Ran raised his knife and cut off one of the thug's fingers.

"Shut up! You know, I'm not asking for what everyone knows. I want to know what no one knows—you have two more chances!"

Qin Ran, holding the kitchen knife, looked at the thug coldly.

Immediately, the thug's screams stopped. Looking at Qin Ran's cold face and the bloodied kitchen knife, the thug's fear overcame his pain.

"I really don't know much about 'Vulture' the boss. He didn't have a reputation before, but he suddenly became famous during the war! The lair is indeed in the underground warehouse, but we have thirty people—'Vulture' the boss recruited more people a few days ago!"

Pain and fear made the thug reveal some substantial information.

Thirty people?

Qin Ran's eyes narrowed.

Twenty and thirty were two completely different concepts!

If it were the former, after dealing with the two armed thugs from yesterday and the seven today, Qin Ran would only need to face eleven enemies.

But now, he had to face twenty-one!

Suddenly, Qin Ran felt the pressure increase!

But the next moment, Qin Ran frowned, thinking of a problem.

"Thirty people's living needs, how can you manage that under these conditions? And you don't seem to lack food or water! The mall where the lair is located is just a department store, not a supermarket! Don't tell me 'Vulture' brought this from the police station! You're lying to me!"

As he spoke, Qin Ran raised the kitchen knife.

As Qin Ran said, meeting the living needs of thirty people was extremely difficult in the current situation.

This wasn't peacetime, nor was it the beginning of the war.

The war had already lasted four months, making the city's living supplies extremely scarce.

Even though he had only been here for less than two days, Qin Ran could feel the value of food and water.

But the armed thug in front of him showed no signs of hunger or thirst.

On the contrary, his body was strong and full of vitality.

If it were just one person, it could be explained as luck, but Qin Ran recalled that all the armed thugs he had encountered were like this.

Clearly, these armed thugs were not lacking in food and water, and their supplies were abundant, with no immediate risk of running out. This wasn't just the living needs of thirty adults; it was at least the living needs of thirty adults for two or three weeks!

Even with 'Vulture's' weapons and numbers, it was impossible to achieve this.

Unless they had robbed a large supermarket.

But that was impossible!

Because when the war started, the residents of the city had already emptied the supermarket.

So, Qin Ran subconsciously thought the thug was lying.

"No! No! 'Vulture' the boss has special channels to obtain supplies!"

The thug, seeing the raised kitchen knife, his eyes narrowed, and immediately explained.

"What channels?"

Qin Ran asked.

The thug hesitated, but Qin Ran didn't hesitate.

The raised kitchen knife fell sharply.

The thug's finger was cut off again.

"Ah!"

The thug let out another scream.

"Seems you don't understand your situation. Do I need to remind you again?"

As he spoke, Qin Ran raised the kitchen knife again.

"Rebels! Rebels!"

The thug immediately said.

"Rebels?"

Qin Ran was taken aback.

Qin Ran never expected 'Vulture' to be in league with the rebels. After all, according to Korin and the thug, 'Vulture' was just a small-time thug before the war!

How could such a person have connections with the rebels?

"'Vulture' the boss captured some women and used them to form a partnership with a rebel major!"

Seemingly afraid of being cut again, the thug blurted out the information before Qin Ran could ask.

The moment he heard this, Qin Ran clenched the knife handle tightly.

Qin Ran, who was not stupid, naturally guessed what the partnership between 'Vulture' and the rebel 'major' was.

This made Qin Ran burst with rage from the depths of his heart.

Then, the rage turned into a killing intent.

But when he looked at the thug, he appeared calm.

"Very good, it seems you understand our way of talking—next, tell me the layout of the lair and the positions of the guards!"

Qin Ran said.

"Sure, sure!"

The thug nodded repeatedly and spilled out everything he knew like a waterfall.

But he didn't notice that Qin Ran's eyes were becoming increasingly cold.