Nan Yue instinctively glanced back. Logically, the masked people were not supposed to attack her, as that would violate company regulations. However, she wasn't sure if some specialized ghosts might break their shackles just to harm someone.
But what happened next far exceeded her imagination.
The masked person suddenly reached out and gripped the mask on its face, tearing at it with frantic desperation.
The mask seemed to be firmly fused to the skin; blood seeped from the edges as the figure struggled.
Muffled groans of a woman's voice escaped, causing most of the onlookers to stumble back several steps in terror.
As the mask was finally ripped away, screams erupted from the surrounding crowd.
Nan Yue and the other two gasped. The face revealed beneath the mask was a mangled mess of flesh, sporting seven or eight eyes, four noses, and four mouths.
These were clearly the features of four different people!
A dozen fragmented facial features were scattered haphazardly across the person's face, appearing both grotesque and sickening.
Even more terrifying was that Nan Yue recognized Tan Jiaojiao's eyes among them.
The others, including several department heads, had never expected a masked person's face to look like this. They knew the secrets of the Mobile Division, but they had never come face-to-face with such a gruesome sight.
"I want to leave too."
"I'm going with you."
"I'm quitting."
Four mouths opened and closed simultaneously, producing a mix of male and female voices that spoke in unison.
"I am Bi Danyuan."
Nan Yue's eyes flickered. She hadn't expected Bi Danyuan to still be alive, let alone have the courage to risk everything for a chance to escape, however slim.
Bi Danyuan likely knew this was her last chance.
"Move!"
Nan Yue saw Sister Lian's phone ring. The woman's expression changed drastically, a clear sign that Lan Jing Shui had made his move.
Since they had already submitted their resignations, it didn't matter what anyone else said. They had to leave immediately.
Word seemed to have spread through the building. The employees outside began to grow restless, and many were running toward the upper floors.
They looked like soldiers charging into battle, their eyes shining with a fanatical, excited light.
The four of them pushed through the crowd and ran down the stairs. Amidst the shouting and chaos, Nan Yue caught snippets of conversation.
"President Tan..."
"That traitor, Lan Jing Shui..."
"There's a murder!"
"I have to save President Tan... I'll definitely get promoted."
This was bad.
Nan Yue knew Lan Jing Shui had intentionally slowed his pace, yet they were still trapped in the company.
She had feared that Lan Jing Shui's actions would incite a riot. If the company went into lockdown, they wouldn't be able to leave.
Nan Yue gritted her teeth and pushed through the throng. Gu Xiang Kai, being the largest, led the way, shoving people aside to clear a path for those behind him.
Bi Danyuan was covered in blood, which continued to pour from her face, making her grow weak.
Nan Yue looked back and saw that Bi Danyuan had been separated from them by the crowd, but the woman was still struggling, refusing to give up.
Bi Danyuan's face throbbed with a pain so intense it made her want to die.
Her head also ached, as if countless voices were speaking inside her mind.
She saw the faces of the people she had killed over and over again—both scavengers and ordinary employees. After becoming part of the Mobile Division, she had been nothing more than the company's killing tool.
But she had never given up. She hadn't been brainwashed. Finally, she had found a chance to escape.
Her body was knocked aside, pushing her further and further from Gu Xiang Kai and the others. Bi Danyuan felt her strength failing, but she stubbornly clawed through the crowd, trying again and again.
In the next moment, a warm hand firmly grasped hers. A powerful force pulled her toward the owner of that hand.
"Stay close."
Nan Yue pulled Bi Danyuan tight. "We're almost there."
Bi Danyuan knew how hideous she looked right now, but Nan Yue's gaze held no revulsion, only a faint trace of admiration.
Bi Danyuan's throat tightened with emotion as she nodded heavily. "Okay."
The four of them pushed through the frenzied crowd and stumbled into the first-floor lobby. The hall was deserted, but the overturned tables and chairs testified to the chaos that had occurred there.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Run!"
At the sound of the alarm, the four of them paled and sprinted toward the entrance like madmen.
The moment they burst out of the company, the glass doors slammed shut behind them.
The red alarm lights nearby flashed frantically.
"The company is locked down..."
Zhu Xi Ning swallowed hard. "Lan Jing Shui, he..."
Nan Yue pulled on Zhu Xi Ning's arm. "Let's get out of here first. He's not someone we need to worry about."
Bi Danyuan remained silent, her body tense with the fear that she might not truly be free.
On the street, people had already stopped to stare at the company building where the alarms were blaring. The four of them plunged into the crowd, and their figures vanished on the spot.
【Multiplayer Mission, Code 55943: Blooming Media Company. Mission Result: Cleared.】
【Calculating scavenger rank evaluation based on the cleanup process, please wait...】
【Team evaluation grade for this mission: A+】
【Evaluation reward: 6000 team reward points.】
【Congratulations. We hope you will continue your efforts and devote your all to the Scavenger Project.】
"Phew..."
The trio rested in the lounge for a while. Although their physical functions had been restored upon exiting the mission, they still felt as though they were running for their lives through that suffocating crowd.
"Do you think Bi Danyuan made it out?"
Nan Yue didn't know. She had let go of Bi Danyuan's hand the moment the mission ended.
"I hope she did."
That girl was so resilient and determined; Nan Yue hoped she had survived the mission.
"I wonder if there are any other scavengers left in the company..."
Gu Xiang Kai lay slumped like a dead fish. "Who knows? Even if there are, they probably won't get out."
Lan Jing Shui had gone on a rampage, and the company was sealed. Even if things returned to normal later, the company would surely fix the bugs Nan Yue and the others had exploited.
For instance, they might require resignation notices to be submitted two weeks in advance, which would introduce far too many variables.
"I hope it's just Lan Jing Shui left. I wonder why he chose that path."
Zhu Xi Ning still felt a lingering fear. Lan Jing Shui looked like one of those lazy, carefree young masters from a novel who didn't care about power; he didn't seem like a butcher.
Nan Yue rubbed her temples. The aftereffects of using her ability had faded, but her body was still exhausted. She wanted to go back and sleep.
"Let's go back and rest. None of us got any sleep during this mission."
Seeing Nan Yue's drowsy state, the other two didn't object. They returned to the North District, renewed their housing, and collapsed onto their beds, falling into a deep, unconscious sleep.
Nan Yue was woken up by hunger.
She checked the time on her Neural Interface; she had slept for an entire day.
She stretched, rolling over in bed like a satisfied cat.
Nan Yue didn't feel like getting up just yet, so she browsed the forums on her Neural Interface.
Suddenly, a post caught her eye.
"Searching for my V4 superior."
The content of the post was simple, stating that the author was looking for the person who had saved their life during a mission. Nan Yue looked at the ID.
"Dan Dan Dan Dan."
Rate on N.U.
