Sequence Beyond: My Wife is a Mysterious Boss

Footsteps.

It was very heavy, and every step was accompanied by the teeth-grinding friction sound of the hydraulic transmission device.

"Zzz—crack—"

The dining circle, which had been chatting and joking, suddenly fell silent.

The skinny monkey, who had been so loud and boisterous just moments before, now straightened up like a rooster with its neck being choked, barely daring to breathe.

Lin Bai turned his head slightly, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a towering shadow pressing down against the light.

It was a burly man about two meters away, whose leather jacket was soaked in oil and turned blackish-brown.

The most striking feature is his right arm, which has been completely replaced by a machine.

Rugged, violent, and full of the industrial aesthetics unique to the wasteland.

The hydraulic rods tightened and loosened with each movement, and the rusty rivets at the connection points seemed to roar.

What's even more dangerous is the thing hanging from his waist.

That can be called a gun?

That was clearly a miniature hand cannon.

The dark, heavy barrel was thicker than a baby's arm, and the special bullets packed in the revolving cylinder were so large that you could tell just by looking at the caliber that if you got hit by one, you wouldn't be able to put the gun back together.

"Captain!" Skinny Monkey and the other scavengers lowered their heads, wishing they could bury them in their crotches.

"Iron Eagle", Cade.

Lin Bai narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the ruthless man from the wasteland without leaving a trace.

A stench of blood, like something rolled out of a pile of corpses, was so strong it could choke you even three meters away.

Question: What are my chances of winning if I go head-to-head with him?

Deep in his mind, the parchment replied instantly, its handwriting giving off an air of looking at a fool.

[Answer: 0%]

Although he's only human, his "Rockbreaker-III" hydraulic arm can shatter your sternum with a single punch. And that "Iron Fist-7" weapon on his waist can send you into the dust with a single shot.

[Suggestion: As a Sequence 9 character who only talks the talk, you'd better pray his gun explodes or he suffers a sudden heart attack. Otherwise, if you slide to your knees properly, you might at least leave with a decent corpse.]

Lin Bai's lips twitched.

This guy has a sharp tongue, but his words are also the truth.

In this wasteland, a Sequence 9 [Trickster] going head-to-head is practically suicide.

Looking at Cade's mechanical arm, which exuded a violent aesthetic, Lin Bai seemed to be deep in thought.

Question: How do I become stronger in this wretched world?

[Driving simulation in progress...]

Answer: Three roads.

[1. Mechanical Ascension: Trading flesh for iron. As long as you have money in your pocket and a resilient mind, you can transform yourself into a Gundam.]

[2. Genetic Modulation: Inject yourself with various monster extracts, gambling with your life to mutate. Win and you'll be surrounded by glamorous models; lose and you'll be instantly torn apart.]

[3. Sequence Transcendent: This is the path you are currently on. The most orthodox, yet also the most bizarre.]

[Note: Stop looking. Your fighting power is weak right now. Just stay a charlatan.]

Just as he was complaining, a huge shadow completely enveloped Lin Bai.

Cade walked closer.

Those hawk-like eyes scanned Lin Bai from head to toe, finally settling on his impossibly fair and clean hands.

"Is this the doctor you picked up?" Cade's voice was like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing against each other, making one's eardrums ache.

"Yes, Commander!" Skinny Monkey quickly stepped forward, his face beaming like a chrysanthemum.

"That kid just showed off his skills. His technique is way better than that old cripple who died on a woman's stomach! The key is he knows what's good for him and obeys!"

Cade didn't speak, but just stared coldly at Lin Bai.

Lin Bai was very familiar with that look in his eyes; it was the look of a butcher picking out meat at the market—weighing the weight and deciding whether to braise or steam it.

Lin Bai immediately got into the zone.

If you can't beat them, then act.

He stood up calmly, neither trembling with fear nor foolish enough to provoke.

He nodded slightly, his eyes clear, radiating the confidence characteristic of a professional.

"Greetings, Commander. I am Lin Bai, a surgeon."

The first rule of con artists: When facing the strong, being neither humble nor arrogant is the best disguise.

Being too timid will make you a expendable resource, while being too arrogant will make you a troublemaker. Only by demonstrating your value can you survive.

"Doctor..." Cade grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed, smoky teeth, "In this godforsaken place, doctors are rarer than women."

He stretched out his intact left hand and patted Lin Bai's shoulder heavily.

"Snapped!"

That force almost sent Lin Bai flying on the spot.

"Since you have a skill, don't waste it. Come with me."

After saying that, Cade turned and left.

Lin Bai rubbed his shoulder, which felt like it was about to fall apart from being patted, gave the skinny monkey a "see you later" look, and quickly followed.

The two walked through the camp and headed straight for the armored pickup truck that looked like a steel monster—"The Vulture".

The closer you get to this car, the stronger the smell of gunpowder becomes in the air.

Four guards stood around the car, each with a rifle in hand and their fingers on the trigger, looking at everyone like thieves.

Cade walked to the back of the car, picked up a worn-out first-aid kit, and casually tossed it over.

"then."

Lin Bai quickly caught it.

The box was extremely heavy, and there were several dried, blackened bloodstains on it.

"This was left behind by the last unlucky guy."

Cade lit a cheap cigarette, took a deep drag, and the smoke somewhat obscured his fierce face.

"From now on, this thing is yours. You're responsible for healing anyone who gets hurt. If they recover, they'll get meat; if they die..."

He chuckled and pointed to the vultures circling overhead: "I'll just throw you out to feed the birds."

"Understood." Lin Bai hugged the box tightly, his face showing a timely expression of deep gratitude.

"Thank you for your guidance, Commander. I will do my best."

"Hmm, I have high hopes for you." Cade exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes seeming to soften a bit. "As long as you work hard, I, Cade, never mistreat my own people."

"Once we return to Blackrock City, you'll get a share of the profits from this trip!"

But at that very second...

Lin Bai felt a sharp pain between his eyebrows!

[Malicious intent detected] Triggered!

The stinging pain clearly told him: This guy in front of him was talking nonsense!

The idea of ​​"not mistreating one's own people" is utter nonsense.

Beneath Cadet’s seemingly gentle gaze lies extreme indifference.

Once Lin Bai loses his value, or even if he is only slightly disobedient.

This man would absolutely pull out that hand cannon without hesitation and blast his head into a pulp.

but......

Lin Bai lowered his head, using the act of checking the medicine box to hide the smile on his lips.

It should be malicious.

A true villain is always easier to deal with than a hypocrite.

Since we're all just using each other, I have no qualms about taking advantage of you.

"Alright, get back to work." Cade waved his hand, as if shooing away a fly.

Lin Bai turned around, holding the box.

After walking a few steps, he looked back as if "unintentionally".

Cade didn't leave, but stood beside the truck bed and gently patted the thick waterproof tarpaulin covering it with his mechanical arm.

The movements were very light, even somewhat cautious, as if some fragile, priceless treasure was hidden inside.

In that instant, Lin Bai remembered what Skinny Monkey had said—Cade had obtained a great treasure in the "Cloud City Ruins".

So, what exactly is hidden under that tattered cloth?

[Question: What did Cade get from the Cloud City ruins?]

[Driving simulation in progress...]

[Estimated simulation time: 20 second]

[Answer: The Cicada's Wing.]

Lin Bai didn't react much upon seeing those four words.

But the next note that appeared struck him like a thunderbolt, and his heart almost jumped out of his throat!

[Note: You've got incredible luck, kid. This stuff is one of the main materials for Sequence 8 [Trickster].]

The wind howled past.

The sand and gravel hit my face, stinging painfully.

But Lin Bai felt as if all the blood in his body was burning.

Promotion materials!

In this godforsaken place, in this situation where he could only survive by playing tricks, he actually stumbled upon the main material for advancing to Sequence 8?!

Is this what's called a "major leak"?

Is this the law of conservation of luck?

The first 364 times I died like a dog, but this time I'm getting a newbie gift pack right in my face?

Lin Bai slowly opened his eyes and looked at the "Vulture" in the distance.

What was once a cold, impersonal armored pickup truck now seemed to radiate holy light in his eyes, a hundred times more alluring than a naked beauty.

Cade remained standing beside the car, wiping the gun barrel with his enormous mechanical arm, his face expressionless.

He thought he was a hunter, guarding a pile of spoils.

But he didn't know.

Behind him, the seemingly harmless young doctor, who was timidly clutching his tattered medicine box, now had a completely changed look in his eyes.

That was no longer the look a slave gave their master.

That's the look a hungry wolf gives a fat sheep.

"You're mine now."

Lin Bai licked his chapped lips and gently stroked the red crystal ring with his left thumb.

"They captured me to be a slave and exploited my labor..."

"Then I'll take some of your treasures as compensation for your emotional distress."

"That makes sense, doesn't it?"

......