America: Starting from collecting corpses, leveling up to godhood

The other bag contained brand-new Level 4 ceramic bulletproof plates, a heavy Kevlar vest, and several M84 stun grenades...

Back at the repair shop with the equipment, Chen Ming picked up the scalpel again, cut open the wax figure's abdomen, and kneaded the explosives into a suitable shape like dough, then stuffed them into the wax figure's belly little by little.

To ensure absolute safety, Chen Ming also manually connected a double detonation circuit.

He inserted two miniature electronic detonators deep into the explosives, connected them to a wireless remote control receiver with a signal amplifier, and hid them deep inside the wax figure's chest cavity.

Finally, the cut marks are sealed and smoothed out with melted resin and wax.

The exquisite wax figure has now been completely transformed into a "Trojan horse" capable of leveling the entire villa.

With everything ready, he dialed Victor's number.

"Beep—beep—"

"I thought you might buy a fake passport and get kicked out of Los Angeles like a sewer rat, Chen... you're more courageous than I thought."

"I have a habit of always delivering on time what I promise," Chen Ming said, leaning against the cement wall.

"The wax figure you requested is now in my possession; it's time to settle this score once and for all."

"One million in cash, that's what we agreed on."

"No problem, not a penny less." Victor's tone carried the composure of someone in a superior position.

"However, I have a small rule—for the sake of both of us, you can only bring one helper at most. After all, I don't like too many unfamiliar faces in my manor."

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming looked down at the remote detonator.

"No need for that trouble, I'll go alone, I won't bring anyone with me."

Upon hearing this, Victor's laughter immediately came through the phone.

"Haha, you really are a surprising guy. You have guts, and I admire your arrogance."

The laughter subsided, and Victor's voice suddenly turned cold.

"Since you insist on being a lone hero, that's for the best. Tonight at seven o'clock, drive the things to my private estate."

The phone hangs up.

Chen Ming's plan became increasingly clear.

He understood the psychology of a big shot like Victor—when the other party told him to bring only one person, it was actually a test and psychological pressure.

If Chen Ming really brought helpers, it would only alert the sentries around the manor and lead to a thorough search.

But if he chooses to go alone, Victor will subconsciously think he is an arrogant and foolish brute, thus lowering his guard.

……

6:50 p.m.

The setting sun dyed the sky a blood-red hue.

Chen Ming drove the old van provided by Old Joe along the winding road into Victor's private property.

Beneath the oversized black trench coat, a bulletproof vest and inserts clung tightly to his torso, while a remote-controlled detonator was concealed in the inner pocket near his heart.

At 7:00 AM sharp, the truck came to a steady stop at the entrance of the manor.

A security guard stepped forward and knocked on the car window.

"Turn off the engine and put your hands on the steering wheel." The security guard's gaze swept over Chen Ming's empty passenger seat.

"He really came alone... What an arrogant idiot."

The other two security guards walked to the back of the carriage and pulled open the back door.

"What the hell is this thing?!"

A shout of surprise came from the security guards behind them, clearly startled by the wax figure under the waterproof sheet.

"Don't touch that! That's the boss's prized possession!"

The lead security guard gave a shout over the walkie-talkie, then waved for them to pass.

"Drive along the driveway to the fountain and stop. The boss is waiting for you in the living room."

Chen Ming shifted gears again and stepped on the gas.

Just then, a pop-up window flashed before Chen Ming's eyes.

[Triggered Unexpected Mission: The Demon's Collection Room]

[You think this is just a simple cash-for-delivery transaction? No, Victor is an underground collector with an extremely twisted aesthetic. He not only craves to retrieve his wax figure, but after witnessing your skills and courage, he's even more captivated by your explosive and wild physique… He plans to skin you alive tonight and turn you into a new wax figure, then kill him and leave alive. (Upon completion, attribute points +6, skill points +2)]

Chen Ming paused for a moment while holding the steering wheel.

"You actually want to turn me into a specimen? Should I say you have good taste or are you a pervert?"

Chen Ming gave a noncommittal, cold laugh.

Six attribute points plus two skill points—this was the most generous single reward he had received since acquiring the system.

High risk brings high reward; the higher the system's rating, the more terrifying the defenses in this manor tonight.

But Victor could never have foreseen one thing.

That's inside his exquisite collection, now filled with enough high explosives to blow the entire manor house to the sky...

"Let's see who turns whom to ashes tonight."

The car came to a smooth stop next to the fountain.

Several armed bodyguards stepped forward and roughly pulled open the truck's cargo door. Without a word, Chen Ming pushed the truck loaded with wax figures into the manor's main house under gun escort.

Under the crystal chandelier in the center of the living room, Victor, wearing a bathrobe, was swirling the red wine in his wine glass.

On the Persian carpet in front of him lay an open black briefcase, inside which were neatly stacked bundles of old hundred-yuan bills.

Six fully armed elite bodyguards stood around him, their eyes fixed on Chen Ming.

"Open it." Victor's voice trembled, carrying a morbid fanaticism.

Chen Ming ripped off the black waterproof cloth.

Although the facial restorations look a bit stiff, the wax figure still exudes an eerie yet captivating classical beauty under the soft lighting of the living room.

"Oh... my darling, you're finally back."

Victor lunged forward like a madman, his hands stroking the wax figure's cold face and medieval dress with a fervent gaze, his eyes filled with greed and infatuation.

Chen Ming glanced at the money box on the ground, his tone casual.

"I saw the money... but could I use the restroom before counting it? I'm all sweaty from pushing this thing, I want to wash my face."

Victor didn't even look up, just waved his hand dismissively.

"Turn left at the end of the corridor, that's it. Alexei, accompany our guest there, don't let him get lost."

A burly Russian bodyguard sneered and followed behind Chen Ming, carrying a submachine gun.

In Victor's eyes, Chen Ming was already a sitting duck; as soon as the kid came out of the bathroom, his arms and legs would be broken and he'd be sent to the dissection table...

Chen Ming walked to the end of the corridor, entered the restroom, turned around, and closed the solid wood door in front of the bodyguard.

With a "click," the door was locked from the inside.

The bodyguards outside scoffed and stood guard outside the door like they were watching a dead man—no one could stop them with that lock.

Inside the restroom, Chen Ming's casual expression vanished instantly.

Without any hesitation, he leaped into the thick marble bathtub and pulled the remote control from his inner pocket.

In the living room, Victor was closing his eyes and pressing his face against the wax figure's abdomen, appreciating the texture of the "work of art."

"Oh, you seem... a little heavier than before?" Victor frowned, noticing an unusual firmness beneath his long skirt.

Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, Chen Ming pressed the red button on the remote control hard with his thumb.

"goodbye."

"boom--!!!"