I am weak and friendly

Chapter 365 Indeed, conspiracy theories are contagious.

"Hmm..." Tang Yiping looked at Sun Licheng, sized him up, and then asked, "But before we begin, I'd like to ask, are all the people in your coordination office as weak as you?"

Sun Licheng: "?"

—[The Art of Stabbing] Successfully Performed

Beside him, Gao Ming grinned.

Hahahaha, well said, Tang! You truly deserve to be our [Dragon Group]'s mouth double!

Your coordination office is utterly incompetent!

"After all, your trip to the other side of the world with me last time didn't serve any purpose," Tang Yiping continued to stab him in the back.

In the ward, Sun Licheng clutched his chest.

So heartbreaking!
Gao Ming's smile vanished instantly.

That really hurt.

—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *2
—[The Art of Stabbing] Successfully Performed

Tang Yiping: "???"

No, I'm stabbing Brother Sun, Brother Gao Ming, why are you breaking through his defense?

It's not your turn yet, is it?

So my stabbing technique can actually deal area-of-effect damage?
There had indeed been very few opportunities before to use the [Stab Technique] on two people at the same time. Tang Yiping really couldn't remember ever using an AOE attack before.

"Yeah, if a fight breaks out, I'll have to look after you..."

Tang Yiping continued.

—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *3
—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *2
Another perfect AOE attack.

"And then, after you came back, you actually betrayed me! Is this how your coordination office operates?"

—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *4
—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *3
Both of them staggered backward at the same time.

Seeing the expressions on their faces, Tang Yiping felt a little reluctant to continue.

However, neither of them has been marked with the [Stab-in-the-Knife Technique].

Tang Yiping had no choice but to continue cruelly hurting them.

"Speaking of which, Brother Sun, you're not even as useful as a dog..."

"At least a dog can carry me..."

"And this dog..."

Under Tang Yiping's relentless stabs to the heart, Sun Licheng clutched his chest and staggered backward.

"I...I'm too weak..."

"I am nothing..."

"I... am useless except for holding everyone back..."

"I'm sorry, I won't hold you back anymore..."

At this moment, Sun Licheng was utterly despondent.

How could she possibly have the face to stay by Tang Yiping's side after being so disliked by him?

Tang Yiping is right, I am utterly useless.

He hung his head, turned to leave, and just then, Tang Yiping saw a notification:
—Homo sapiens [Sun Licheng] has been marked with [the art of stabbing].

—The unknown Homo sapiens has been marked with the [Stab-in-the-Knife Technique].

Okay, we finally succeeded.

It's time to stop, Ah Zu!
Tang Yiping told himself.

but……

He couldn't help it!
"Brother Gaoming, you're no good!" Tang Yiping said. "You surrendered even though you took one less knife than Brother Sun."

clever:"???"

Although he didn't know what Tang Yiping meant by those words, he had a strange feeling that they weren't a kind remark.

—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *8
He clutched his chest as he was stabbed again.

Then, Tang Yiping looked at the prompt and suddenly realized...

Wait a minute, I still don't know Gao Ming's real name, but Sun Licheng is the real name.

From this point of view...

"But if we really have to compare, Gao Ming is definitely better, Sun, you're weaker..."

Sun Licheng stopped and turned around: "???"

His expression was incredibly rich at that moment.

No, it's one thing for Tang to call me weak, but I really am weak, weaker than a dog...

But you say I'm weaker than Gao Ming?
In what way am I weaker than this guy?
Tang actually thinks I'm weaker than Gao Ming?

Am I weaker than Gao Ming?
A notification popped up in front of Tang Yiping's eyes:
—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *9
—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *10
—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *11
—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *12
Tang Yiping was a little confused as he looked at the damage numbers that kept popping up in front of him.

No, when did my [Stab the Knife] skill become a DoT (damage over time)?
Is it that you feel sad every time you think about how you are weaker than Gao Ming, and that you feel sad every time you think about it, and then you get stabbed in the back?

My "Stab-in-the-Knife Technique" has this function? Has it become stronger?
Is it due to some talent?
No, just how much do you care about the fact that you're weaker than Gao Ming?
Fortunately, Gao Ming did not suffer continuous harm just because he was weaker than Sun Licheng.

Hmm, from this perspective, Gao Ming seems to be even stronger...

Just as Tang Yiping was about to say something else, Brother Ban coughed and said, "Pingzi, stop!"

The master, who had raised him with great care, found that his apprentice was losing control.

Oh no, I almost lost control of myself again!
Tang Yiping was startled.

Tang Yiping felt like a bull charging around recklessly, stumbling and staggering in everything he did, completely out of control, like a child wielding a large knife.

"Alright, cheer up, my warm-up is over, let's start the test now?"

Sun Licheng, who had been feeling utterly dejected, suddenly looked up upon hearing Tang Yiping's words: "Wait, just now... was it just preparation activities and testing?"

"Yes, this is a prerequisite for my test."

"Does that mean everything you just said was a lie? Were you testing me?"

Sun Licheng asked hopefully.

"I really mean it."

—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *13
—[Stab-in-the-knife technique] Successfully executed *14
Tang Yiping: "..."

He discovered that this seemingly tough man was unexpectedly vulnerable inside, and actually very prone to emotional outbursts...

"In this respect, Brother Gaoming is indeed better than you..."

Tang Yiping said.

I'm sorry, but I have to stab you in the back!

—The "Stab in the Back" technique was successful; the "Anchor of Words" has been instilled.
"Okay, answer my question!" Tang Yiping shouted, attracting Sun Licheng's attention.

"Is your coordination office some kind of villain lurking behind the scenes in the world?"

"Ah? How is that possible?"

"Are you trying to steal my things?"

"What are you robbing? What do you have to shoot? Tang, you only have an internship salary of 3360."

Tang Yiping clutched his chest.

Ouch, so it seems that injuries are mutual after all.

"So, do you have any other motives for approaching me?"

"I just... want to find out who you are, Tang. This is a task given to me by Commander Lin."

"Hmm?" Tang Yiping turned his head away, and Sun Licheng quickly said, "Nothing else, just a normal investigation. The handover documents they gave us contained too much information about you, Tang." He quickly swore, "But I swear on my integrity, I absolutely did not reveal any specific details about your infiltration of the other world, especially your explosive combat power. I've kept that a secret for you for a long time, and I'm still keeping it a secret as much as possible. I absolutely haven't revealed too many details to anyone."

"Your secrets are mostly safe for now," Sun Licheng said with a reassuring smile.

Tang Yiping: "???"

He found that the guilt he felt for betraying Sun Licheng had disappeared.

What? You didn't tell your boss about my heroic feat?

Didn't I just pose for nothing?

That useless old Sun!

Tang Yiping was heartbroken.

"Next question!" Tang Yiping asked Sun Licheng, "Is Lin Po-xiao a mastermind behind everything? Is he a bad guy?"

"Tang, what are you saying! How could Commander Lin be a bad person?" Sun Licheng said indignantly. "You're insulting our coordination office! Even if our coordination office is useless, it's not as capable as you, Tang, and you still can't insult us like this!"

But you're assuming your coordination office is useless, right...?

Gao Ming glanced sideways from the side.

A great victory for our Dragon Group!

"One last question," Tang Yiping said, "If I had something important that could determine the situation in two worlds, would you secretly take it away or report it to Lin Po-xiao without my permission?"

This question stumped Sun Licheng.

He frowned and pondered for a long time before finally saying, "I will try my best to persuade you, Tang, to hand it over to our coordination office, because only our coordination office can make this item achieve its maximum effect."

"But... if you don't agree, I... won't."

"Very good," Tang Yiping nodded, then looked at Gao Ming: "Your turn."

Then he withdrew the [Anchor of Words] and injected it into Gao Ming's body.

"Gao Ming, whose fighting ability is far inferior to Brother Sun's, please answer my question now."

Gao Ming: Ouch, that hurts!
—The "Stab in the Back" technique was successful; the "Anchor of Words" has been instilled.
He doesn't need to ask any other questions.

He asked Gao Ming directly, "Do you think Uncle Shen might be a bad person? Could he be the mastermind behind everything?"

“Now that you mention it, it’s quite possible!” Gao Ming’s eyes lit up. “Look, he seems like a very strange person. For example, he’s always reading the newspaper, right? Who reads the newspaper these days? The villains and big bosses in movies always have all sorts of quirks; and for another example… he’s always gloomy, you never know what he’s thinking, he’s known as Old Silver Coin; even if he’s smiling at you, he’s definitely scheming against you, like a smiling tiger…”

Without batting an eye, Gao Ming listed fifty pieces of evidence suggesting that Shen Hong might be the mastermind and a villain.

So, this is the true feeling hidden beneath the "mask of working"?
The depth of their pent-up resentment is heartwarming.

The evidence was so overwhelming that Tang Yiping simply couldn't classify him as a suspect.

Okay, I understand. Uncle Shen is neither a bad guy nor the mastermind behind it all.

It's unlikely that a villain and the mastermind behind the scenes would have so many flaws.

"Then what if you take this crucial prop and hand it over to Director Shen?"

"What do you take me for? Of course not!" Gao Ming said. "What important thing do you have? Show it to me right now, or I won't let you off the hook!"

Tang Yiping was satisfied and withdrew the "Anchor of Words".

These two... should both be fine.

"Wait a minute, what did I just say? You're not going to tell Director Shen what I said, are you?!" With the Anchor of Words gone, Gao Ming's Working Mask took over, and Gao Ming, who had just been given two dark circles under his eyes by Shen Hong, quickly asked.

He didn't have any other eye sockets that Shen Hong hit.

"Don't worry, my tests are complete. You two should be fine. You've earned my basic trust."

"The test is over? Wait... Did you do that? How did you do that?" Gao Ming covered his mouth.

Beside him, Sun Licheng stared at Tang Yiping in shock.

He just felt that he couldn't control his mouth, that he wanted to spill everything out, and that he couldn't keep anything to himself.

After trying the [Anchor of Words] talent on the two of them, Tang Yiping felt that he roughly understood the function of the [Anchor of Words] talent.

Its function should be to enhance a person's persuasiveness.

As the saying goes, "a word spoken can sink a ship," or "a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold," hence the term "anchor of words."

However, to make someone's words more persuasive, it is impossible to create them out of thin air. To make someone more credible, it means that this person cannot, or finds it very difficult, to lie.

Tang Yiping felt that this talent should be called "straightforwardness".

The persuasiveness has increased, but... it's easy to offend people!
"In comparison, as expected... Lin Po-xiao is probably the mastermind behind it all," Tang Yiping said.

For example, Tang Yiping couldn't help but voice his thoughts now.

Sun Licheng glared angrily at Tang Yiping.

"Why do you think there's a final boss?" Sun Licheng asked. "What exactly did you discover?"

Tang Yiping had his brother pull out the blueprints from under the bed and showed them to the two of them.

Both of them were horrified.

"There's such a thing?" Sun Licheng said. "With this, I could volunteer to Commander Lin and just carry a nuclear bomb to blow up the other side."

"So, when something like this appears, do you think it's reasonable that no mastermind is behind it?" Tang Yiping asked Sun Licheng in return.

Sun Licheng thought for a moment and said, "That makes sense. What if Elder Du just feels that this thing shouldn't be controlled by anyone? ... Tang, how can you be so cynical? Don't you think you're overthinking things?"

It was rare to find that Gao Ming agreed with this point, and he nodded in agreement.

These words made Tang Yiping reflect.

Wait, why do I think Lin Po-xiao is the mastermind behind it all?

Am I being too paranoid?
This is another side effect of which talent?
Tang Yiping covered his head, deep in thought.

He felt that his thoughts were like a horse running free, completely out of his control.

Perhaps I'm just overthinking things.

Where exactly did I get this feeling from?
Tang Yiping was reflecting when Sun Licheng's phone vibrated.

He glanced down at it, then looked up at Tang Yiping.

He then lowered his head discreetly, pretending to reply to a message.

"Excuse me, I need to go make a phone call," he said. "It's work-related; one of the guys in our group has gotten into a bit of trouble."

Tang Yiping was reflecting on himself and didn't pay much attention.

Sun Licheng put his phone back in his pocket and left Tang Yiping's ward as if nothing was wrong, heading to the corner.

Then I saw Lin Po-xiao standing in the stairwell.

"Xiao Sun," Lin Po-xiao asked Sun Li-cheng, "I felt that Tang's behavior was a bit strange today. Did you think so too?"

“Report, Tang has been acting very strangely!” Sun Licheng said.

“Hmm…that’s true. Before we came, Tang had a visitor. Did Tang mention it to you?” Lin Po-xiao asked again.

Sun Licheng looked at Lin Poxiao and replied seriously, "Reporting to Commander Lin, Tang did not mention anything related. Should I ask him about it?"

"Hmm...no need." Lin Po-xiao nodded. "After what Lin did before, I'm worried that the other world might be detrimental to him. So, I'll send a group of people to protect him."

Sun Licheng immediately puffed out his chest and said, "Reporting to Commander Lin, I request that our team carry out this mission!"

"Well, one group might not be enough. In addition to your group, I'll send another group to you. You must protect Tang and not let him leave the ward even for a moment, understand?"

"Yes, I promise to complete the mission!"

Lin Po-xiao nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.

Sun Licheng frowned as he watched Lin Po-xiao's retreating figure.

He had previously strongly opposed Tang Yiping's conspiracy theories, but now that Lin Po-xiao had asked about it, he couldn't help but start speculating about conspiracy theories himself.

He had a gut feeling that something was wrong.

He didn't go back; instead, he... secretly followed them.

(End of this chapter)