“What do you want to do? “
Underneath this green shade, the colonel’s deep gaze fixed on the man before him.
Yang Zicang stood with his hands on his hips, staring blankly with furrowed brows, lost in thought.
A gust of wind passed, rustling the treetops with a whisper.
“Hmm, ” Yang Zicang murmured softly as he lifted his head and said:
“I think, if a response to a wish backed by millions could shatter this Ring of Life of mine, it should suffice. “
The colonel’s gaze visibly contracted in shock.
The young man across from him continued casually:
“Everyone can get a small fragment of the crushed Ring of Life. With its power, people’s original lifespans can be extended through most disasters. This way, perhaps the Doom Vines will never appear.“
Colonel Master Brown’s slightly broad nostrils violently contracted and then expanded a little, twitching and quivering twice.
In the silence, he heard a voice ring out:
“I think if there isn’t mass death, this world will be safe for at least the next hundred years. “
It was as if an invisible tide surged within the colonel’s heart.
He couldn’t put into words everything he felt at that moment.
“President Buchen. ” A voice of a Fogfolk rang out.
Yang Zicang turned his head, somewhat puzzled, looking at the man running toward him.
“What’s wrong? “
“Hurry back to the inn and come inside, ” Zheng Xintian said, sounding a bit urgent yet trying his best to speak in a calm tone.
“I’ll step away for a moment, sir, ” Yang Zicang said with a smile to the brown colonel standing where he was, then took two brisk steps and walked lightly over to Zheng Xintian.
Ang Pailisi’s deep figure stood still under the tree for several breaths before turning his head to look at the figure that had already stepped through the door. He let out a light breath of foul air.
……
“What’s wrong? ” Yang Zicang, having entered the Feilü Hotel, walked toward the doorway of the much quieter room.
Though it had only been a short burst of liveliness, Yang Zicang felt as if it had been a long time since he had last deeply experienced the original quiet atmosphere of the Feilü Hotel.
Faced with the inquiry, the man beside him immediately spoke in a somewhat anxious, low voice: “The guest inside room 408 just came out. “
Yang Zicang, who had been stepping forward on the soft carpet, suddenly halted his stride and turned around. “Really! “
“Really, sigh! ” Seeing Yang Zicang hastily trying to charge outside, Zheng Xintian grabbed his arm and said, “Wait, President. “
“Hmm? “
He stepped over to Yang Zicang’s side and whispered in his ear: “It seems someone in our team might have a problem. But I’m not sure, because this tip came from the guest in 408 who came out and hinted it to me. “
Having said that, he quickly and quietly recounted what had just happened.
Yang Zicang’s gaze shifted from doubt to gravity.
“Did you go check the boat at room 405 as invited? “
“When I came out of room 303 just now, I already took the chance to tell Rocmont to take two brothers over there. “
Yang Zicang pondered for a moment. He glanced around the hotel, his mind recalling the first time he entered the Divine Hotel—the moment of transition and that colorful bullet that had blasted through the wall and arrived.
Actually, the rooms of the Divine Hotel aren’t solely accessible through just a key.
The key is to find where it is and to grasp the conversion time of the hotel rooms.
He suddenly felt a hint of an inexplicable sense of danger.
But if it weren’t a bullet this time, then the “Secret Fruit ” placed in those three locations might fail to respond effectively—because the person originally meant to “counter ” the enemy had gone wrong.
“Heh. ” Yang Zicang let out a low chuckle.
Since that person had such immense confidence, entrusting him with the process of controlling this hotel, if he intended to take it back from the very beginning, he should have also prepared a plan to handle it.
Yang Zicang glanced at the man beside him, recalling the scene when Zhao Anlong had led them into the hotel.
Anyone who could enter here didn’t initially have a confirmed target in mind; nor were these people truly Zhao Anlong’s subordinates. So, after the World Ark gained fame, it was indeed possible that Hong Haocheng, along with certain factions once tracking Wagner’s Key, might—under the threat of such formidable martial force from many strong individuals—choose to covertly hire people to stir up trouble.
“Alright, since that guy in room 408 chose to inform us, it shows he’s been attentively monitoring our actions from above lately. I’ll go ask him. “
“Chairman Yang, stay safe. Also, is there anything else you need me to do? “
“Has Mr. Motaf been settled? “
“No problem. He’s in the bar. Manager Coco Lang won’t let anyone forcibly drag the guest out. But I need to go check on him right away. ” With that, Zheng Xintian rushed toward the entrance.
Just as he was about to pull open the exterior entrance door after leaving the bedroom, Zheng Xintian abruptly halted his steps and turned to look at Yang Zicang, who stood in the room observing him.
“President. “
“Hmm? ” Yang Zicang looked over.
After a moment of thought, Zheng Xintian frowned and looked at him.
“You seem to trust everyone a lot. But sometimes, I feel like you’re not really trusting anyone either. If… that person really has a problem, with this room allocation, will you still give us a share of the rooms as promised before? “
“Uh, well… “
Yang Zicang, wearing a loose military uniform jacket, rubbed the tip of his nose. “Well, Xintian, actually, I have a secret I want to share with everyone. It’s just that I still haven’t figured out how to convey this intelligence. “
“Oh? ” Zheng Xintian seemed somewhat surprised.
Yang Zicang spread his hands and shrugged. “It’s fine. The people fighting over the rooms will never get to learn this piece of intelligence anyway. “
The stunned young man immediately had the words ‘Ancient Gold’ grade intelligence flash through his mind.
He said he hadn’t figured out how to pass on this “intelligence, ” so it should be information at the Ancient Gold level. Only intelligence of this level could make someone who chooses to betray the group’s interests realize just how ridiculous their own actions are as punishment.
Five pieces of Ancient Gold grade intelligence.
By mastering only the fifth piece of Ancient Gold grade intelligence, one could cause the quadrilateral model to give birth to a fifth side, becoming someone like an Angel-type Ancient Fusionist.
But directly telling each other for such a purpose would only make the precious intelligence become common.
“Ha, President, I think I understand. I hope Geraldine is not a fool who has lost the gold. “
“I hope so too, ” Yang Zicang said immediately.
Upon hearing this reply, Zheng Xintian revealed an inspired expression, eagerly and energetically pulling open the door.
Bang. The wooden door was quickly closed from the outside.
Seeing the person leave, Yang Zicang stood still for two seconds, recalling in his mind that the memory of the hotel room had shown no issues. After a moment of thought, he frowned, a flicker passing through his eyes.
No, there was a room thatdidhave an issue.
He felt his breath catch as he lightly gripped the key.
｛I tipped 10N for the door opener at COSTELLA HOTEL.｝
Yang Zicang’s figure rapidly overlapped and faded into the rippling air, disappearing within it.
Through the peephole of Room 407, an eye shifted, scanning the area outside for a moment. Yang Zicang’s face tensed, then he immediately pulled open the door, strode quickly into the empty, bright corridor, and dashed towards Room 408 across and diagonally opposite.
He leaned in close to the door frame.
“Are you in there? My time is tight. “
With a click, Yang Zicang’s pupils contracted in disbelief. The door, which had been sealed shut for days, swung open stiffly, directly.
“Aha~ ” A well-dressed man with a slightly upturned beard stood imperiously just inside the room, “My dear little Brother Buchen. “
“You— ” Before Yang Zicang’s surprised heart could fully pump out the elation brought by that leap of blood, he felt as if something had suddenly constricted it, pressing back that sense of elation with a barely-contained frustration.
He gave a slightly twisted smile and said, “Friedrich… Bergmann, Mr. President. “
Yang Zicang stepped forward, entering the room that seemed as difficult to access as the Presidential Suite. After looking around, he turned back and faced the Grand President sideways while smiling at the man who was observing him with amusement.
“Old man, what are you doing here? ” he asked, pointing at the floor in the room. “Where are the people in this room? “
“Oh, you mean John Sethmis, ” laughed the Grand President. “Ah well, he switched rooms with me. “
“Wh—What! “
Yang Zicang was utterly astonished. “Sorry! ” With that, he spun around and, spurs clattering against the floor, dashed toward the stairwell.
“Hey there! Chairman Yang! ” The Grand President, still halfway inside the room, was about to close the door and give chase when he stepped outside, only to witness Yang Buchen’s figure vanish at a run. “Alas! ” he sighed with a grunt, swiftly turned back, and snapped the door shut.
Reaching the third floor, Yang Zicang, breathing hurriedly with a trace of impatience around his tone, cast a glance at the brass room-number plate on door 303 and positioned himself squarely before Number 302.
He steadied his breathing, lifted his hand smoothly to knock at door 302, but faltered slightly—a certain hesitation barely restraining his movement.
“From the Earth we’re still following our adventure to the Underneath? “
Yang Zicang muttered to himself, then shook his head.Dok, dok-dok.He knocked on the door of this room in the Divine Hotel.
“Who is it? ” A wary voice came from inside the room.
It was indeed that familiar voice. Yang Zicang couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, but in the next moment, narrowing his eyes, he thought of the slight strangeness before him.
How should this be calculated?
Somewhat stunned, Yang Zicang instinctively turned his head to glance toward the front desk counter on the first floor where Manager Muse was. But he only saw the dim, elegant wallpaper of the hotel corridor.
“Ahem, Mr. Samesis. You should be able to tell who I am. “
“Who, who is it? Sounds so familiar, ” a hesitant, shuffling voice sounded hesitantly from inside the door. “Could it be… that president guy from some hotel-room management chairman or something? “
“You could also be the chairman, ” Yang Zicang said.
“What! ” An unexpected voice rang from inside.
“Just sign an alliance pact with my association. On major issues, the minority yields to the majority. I meant regarding the number of hotel rooms you own, ” Yang Zicang said softly.
“Then… s-sigh, um… Chairman, let me think it over. “
Bang!The person inside flinched in fear. As a palm slapped against the door from outside, they stammered, “I-I do have at least one room, you know. If you won’t give me that radiance, at least give me… silver coins worth a million in purchasing power! On any continent. And guarantee you won’t harm me or my partners, nor instigate harm. “
“Fine! ” Yang Zicang agreed immediately.
The man inside showed a pleased expression.
“And-a-another farm, I remember from last time. “
“I know, and a horse, too. “
Semis excitedly rubbed his dry, cracked hands together, turned around in place, and then with joy spreading across his face, he smiled and said:
“With great Radiance! “
After a moment of silence, “Alright. “
“Two wives! “
“I… ” came a voice from outside, gnashing its teeth, “I’ll try my best to ask for you. Alright, friend, can you open the door and sign a covenant now? “
The excited Semis, still beaming with a smile behind the door, rubbed his hands together, gradually tempering his joyful expression into calm.
“Sigh. “
A deep, lingering sigh came from within.
“Then… then wait until you all come up with a way that can fully guarantee my safety once I open the door, and we’ll sign the contract. “
Bang!
A fist slammed heavily against the door, making Semis inside flinch and retract his neck. Though the terms were already very tempting, Semis was now utterly unwilling to open the door, because this wealth seemed far too easy for him to come by.
“Bastard! ” Yang Zicang gritted his teeth from outside. Sensing the time that had already passed, and thinking that something might have gone wrong at sea, he said angrily: “If it weren’t for the fact that you just tipped us off, do you think I’d still be bargaining with you! You’re in a room I’ve rented right now—do you really think I have no way of getting in! “
“Who-who said you could get in? I-I am the standard, legitimate owner of Room 408! ” Semis shouted from inside. “I have complete rights to this accommodation. I was just swapping keys with the Grand President to take a nap. “
“I can immediately change the Resident in 302! ” Yang Zicang announced, pressing his arm against the door and shouting through the peephole.
“I asked that day more early when I got out. ” Inside , Sethmis retreated visibly cramped, tensing his voice to a scarce whisper from his neck-crotch coffer space—hes close in huddling within the front door to bedroom, hands clenching onto doorframe—his heart now pump-trembly outburst acts provocatively defending anyway tough he feel scare bright shit nervous: _”
“You won’t succeed! Change the occupant, and the exchange right will become invalid. The key in my hand will come back to me! “
Having finished that sentence, feeling his argument might still lack a bit of conviction, he cried out loudly:
“You’re not going to get away with abusing the Divine Hotel’s BUG! “
“That’s not certain! ” Yang Zicang slammed his palm against the door again with a bang, turned around angrily, and stomped heavily down the stairs.
Quickly scurrying to the doorway, Semis first listened carefully. Then, biting his lip nervously, he muttered, “Let’s gamble! ” With a sudden twist, he yanked open his door, stuck his head out to glance left and right, then focused his gaze on room 303 right next to his own, room 302.
There was only one shot!
He lunged forward, one foot stepping out into the hallway while spreading himself into a wide X-shaped stance. Clenching his eyes shut and trembling, he reached out a hand to grab the door handle of room 303 next door, twisting the round knob as if he were betting his very life itself.
Click!
With a very faint click of the sound, Saimisi bit her lip tightly, pulled back the leg inside room 302, and stepped into room 303. Then, not even daring to lock the door again, she just let it close gently, lifted her leg high, and carefully placed it step by step onto the carpet in the room.
They don’t know me at all.
Holding her breath, Saimisi curled both arms tight against her chest.
So many strangers came in today…
She walked to the bedroom door, slowly turning her head, feeling the stiffness in her neck as she peered into the silent room.
If only I could get outside, just walk away a short distance, I’d be safe!
“Come on, baby, you can do this. “
Rushing quickly into the room, Saimisi felt her chest tighten as if squeezed, closed her eyes tightly, and clutched the key to room 302 in her hand.
｛The COSTELLA HOTEL unlocker open the door for me.｝
Feeling the sounds of outside conversation near her ear, Saimisi opened her eyes again, her face thin and haggard, and let out a long breath.
She saw, from the other side of the room covered by a gauze curtain, an arm reach out, and then, as the curtain was pushed aside, the bewildered face of a man emerged.
Saimisi nodded at him. “I came from the other side, ” she said, and then, as if it were the most natural thing, she strode out of the doorway in front of her.
Then, he saw outside the door, sitting on a small square wooden stool beside a rectangular machine with many buttons, Colonel Ang Pailisi, who was in the middle of a conversation, and next to him, Caspar Bindo, one arm draped over the machine, the other hand resting on his knee as he listened. The two of them turned around to look.
Semis nodded to them as well. Under the gaze of a group of people watching from a distance outside, he chuckled “Ha,” and keeping his head down, he walked out along the corridor and around the corner of the house.
The man inside the door poked his head out to watch the retreating figure.
On the ground, a crowd of people all stared at this stranger they had never seen before.
“Hey, friend, who are you?” someone suddenly called out.
“Ah ha!” Semis turned his head and replied with a smile, “Mm, everyone, don’t mind me, I’m just heading out to take care of something.“
Upon hearing this response, the group hadn’t yet had time to react when, suddenly, amidst a faint crackling of electricity, a shout rang out: “Grab him!“
The crowd was taken aback. The Colonel of the Brown Lion immediately stood up, raised his arm, and pointed, “Quick, seize that man!“
Realizing something was wrong, Semis let out a “Wah!” and sprinted off in a burst of speed.
“Holy crap!” The group of “Fogfolk” was instantly jolted. “That bastard,” “Stop right there!” Shadows rushed forward, charging after him.
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