Doomsday Wonderland

Chapter 1482: A Blind Spot

The group stood in a stalemate for several minutes, with no one breaking the silence. The remaining search employee must have gone quite far, as they still hadn't returned; Whit E. and Qian Dao kept scanning each corridor entrance, clearly prepared for any sudden move. Nobody knew from which direction that employee would emerge, and everyone hoped to snatch the client before the others noticed.

Ironically, Lin Sanjiu became the only one who couldn't take a client.

The corridor outside the office formed an inverted "T." Whit E. and Qian Dao covered two directions. If the employee returned from their direction, they would be intercepted long before they reached Lin Sanjiu's office. The vacant corridor to her right seemed less like an opportunity and more like a trap: Lin Sanjiu was certain that if she dared to step away from her office, either Qian Dao or Whit E. would seize the chance to capture her office.

If only Whit E. would leave. Once he departed, Qian Dao would likely follow, fearing for the safety of his own company, thus breaking the deadlock.

Lin Sanjiu, slightly irritated, surveyed the two. Whit E. didn't want to reveal his abilities in their presence, still maintaining the appearance of a search employee, though his face was gradually returning to its plump form. Qian Dao squinted, seeming to always be listening for distant sounds.

Lily coughed behind her.

"Since they won't leave, I'll go take a look around," she suggested. "Although I can't attack now, I can help you find their offices. Once I locate them, I'll jot down the addresses and inform you."

'What a real lifesaver!'

In an instant, Lin Sanjiu grasped Lily's hidden intention in her words. Presumably, the other two understood as well, given the sudden change in their expressions.

If Lily informed Lin Sanjiu of their office addresses—or even led her straight there—then Qian Dao or Whit E. attacking Lin Sanjiu's office would be pointless.

With Lin Sanjiu's speed, the moment they attacked, she could abandon her office and head straight for theirs. Knowing the destination, which of them could catch up to her?

"You guys think quite highly of yourselves, but you've forgotten that if I capture your office, you'll go bankrupt on the spot!" Qian Dao said sternly.

"I won't go bankrupt," Lin Sanjiu replied with a smile. "As long as there's a glimmer of hope, we can continue. Going bankrupt is much harder than you imagine. Whit E., Lily, and I have all experienced this firsthand."

The three of them had attacked each other countless times, pushing one another into situations without money or an office. Except for the last incident with Lily, these situations were proven to not be dead ends.

"When you took my first office, I only had twenty dollars, just like now," Lin Sanjiu explained calmly. "Logically, I shouldn't have been able to rent an office and hire employees. But why didn't I go bankrupt? Because at that time, Lily's office was vacant. Theoretically, I could have attacked her office to remain in the game."

The reason Lily went bankrupt was probably because there were people in every office at that time. How could she, alone, take over an office with a defender?

Qian Dao frowned, thought for a moment, and then smiled.

"Fine, let her go," he said, stepping aside to let Lily through. "There's a defense employee in my office. Your first attack will just be negated. Your next attack will be after five minutes, and by then, I would have returned. I'm not afraid. Let her go."

He glanced at Whit E. While Qian Dao's office might be safe, Whit E.'s wasn't necessarily so.

Lily, always a straightforward person, meant what she said. She moved past Lin Sanjiu to leave. Just as she stepped out, a shadow suddenly lunged from the left, slicing through the corridor light, aiming straight at her.

As a chill went through Lin Sanjiu's heart, her body moved instinctively. She lunged forward, stretched out her arm, and yanked Lily back by the waist. When she fell to the ground with Lily, her right hand was still gripping the door frame. Looking up, she saw something resembling a plastic film floating in the air, oscillating as if it was breathing, seemingly frustrated from its failed attack.

Across from her, Qian Dao took a step forward, clearly thinking he had an opening to attack. He hadn't expected Lin Sanjiu's swift reaction. He couldn't even retract his foot in time.

Whit E. snorted and waved his hand, recalling the large cling film.

These two were incredibly cunning and quick-witted. Lin Sanjiu couldn't afford to let her guard down even for a second, feeling a cold sweat on her back.

Since Lily was no longer a player, the "attack invalid" game rule didn't apply to her. In other words, she was now a living target that anyone could attack. Even if she wanted to retaliate, it would be pointless. Any attack on Whit E. or Qian Dao, both players, would be no more impactful than a gentle breeze.

"The moment you step out of this door," Whit E. said, "you'll die in this hallway. The film will wrap around you quickly, tightening and compressing, until you explode into a puddle of mush."

Lily had just narrowly escaped death. Her heartbeat was so rapid that even Lin Sanjiu could hear it clearly. Struggling to her feet from Lin Sanjiu's embrace, her face pale, she whispered, "You really saved me."

"Go back inside for now," Lin Sanjiu instructed, trying to protect both Lily and the office. "We'll find a way. You don't need to risk your life."

In theory, Lily could still use defensive measures. However, being constantly attacked while only defending was too risky for her. After all, there were no defensive employees in Whit E.'s office. To prevent Lily from finding his office, he would surely go all out.

'Wait.'

Lin Sanjiu froze, glancing at Whit E. He was intently watching Lily, seemingly wary she might feint an attack, not noticing Lin Sanjiu's glance.

Something seemed off.

Upon reflection, why was Whit E. still in the game?

She positioned herself at the door and called out, "Qian Dao."

The man in yoga attire drew his foot back, responding with a casual, "Hmm?"

"The office you took from Whit E... was it small with a rent of 20 dollars?"

Qian Dao remained silent, but the sudden alertness on his face was unmistakable and slightly annoying.

"Even if you don't answer, I know. It must have been a small office." Lin Sanjiu's gaze briefly darted to Whit E., seeing him turn his head upon hearing her words. She whispered, "You know best what you took from him. I guess before he could hire a level one employee, you seized his company. So, at that time, he still had eighty dollars. After that, he not only established a company but also hired an employee for fifty dollars."

At this, Qian Dao couldn't contain his surprise.

"You've realized it too, haven't you?"Lin Sanjiu said slowly. "Deducting 20 dollars for the first small officeand another 20 for renting a new small office, then subtracting fifty for theemployee... he's left with only ten dollars. When the second hour arrived, heonly had ten dollars, not even enough for rent, owing another ten. So, why ishe still standing here?"