Love, Gun, Cupid

However, Lin Jiade learned the key to the Western cowboy's rapid-fire technique—placing his left hand on the hammer to shorten the pull-up motion—so he fired four identical bullets during the few steps the overworked man took to catch him.

Every bullet was stopped by the overtime worker's briefcase. The overtime worker had closed in by one step. He pulled out a kitchen knife from the briefcase and slashed at Lin Jiade's neck, while Lin Jiade aimed at the overtime worker's briefcase and pulled the trigger.

As the fifth bullet left the barrel, the overtime worker could almost see his briefcase first deflecting Lin Jiade's shot, and then his cleaver slicing into Lin Jiade's neck.

However, the man working overtime suddenly felt the ground rise. He hurriedly threw his briefcase downwards, barely managing to block the stone pillar that was emerging from between his legs.

Lin Jiade dodged the kitchen knife from the overtime worker. He already knew that the overtime worker was an avatar rather than the real person, so he jumped up, grabbed the overtime worker's head with both hands, and at the same time slammed his knee into the overtime worker's face.

The physical enhancements from the two potions had already allowed Lin Jiade to crush many things with his bare hands; his fierce strike shattered his enemy's nose.

Lin Jiade landed first, the overtime worker dropped his weapon, then staggered to his feet, reaching for his watch—a prelude to activating the overtime spell.

The young man lacked martial ethics; he had no intention of letting the overtime workers use their troublesome overtime magic. If we assess the threat of overtime workers with 10 as the maximum score, at most 3 would not use their overtime magic, while at least 8 would.

The young man picked up the kitchen knife from the man working overtime and tried to cut off the wrist of the man who was wearing a watch. However, the man used his other arm to take the blow. The flesh was torn but not severed, and his hand finally remained on the watch.

"Tsk."

A golden light emerged, and the wounds on the overtime worker healed. Lin Jiade had no choice but to retreat and enter the second phase of his confrontation with the overtime worker.

His tactic was to delay, firstly because it was difficult for the overtime worker under the overtime magic to break through the defense; secondly, the overtime magic could only last for three minutes; and thirdly, the overtime worker did not have ranged weapons.

No matter how you look at it, avoiding direct confrontation and exhausting the time of those working overtime is the most cost-effective approach.

However, the overtime worker was equally uncivilized. After seeing Lin Jiada create some distance, he turned to look at Jasmine, who was engaged in a fierce battle with Drinking Water Bro, throwing all sorts of spells with added light and shadow effects at each other without restraint.

The overtime worker immediately rushed towards Jasmine. His arrival would change the balance on Jasmine's side, so Lin Jiade had to stop, shoot, and then use the quick-loader to load six bullets in one go.

The man working overtime turned back halfway to Jasmine. Of the three bullets Lin Jiade fired at him, only one hit the target, but it couldn't penetrate his defenses. In the blink of an eye, the man's golden light entered Lin Jiade's field of vision.

The overtime worker raised a kitchen knife, and Lin Jiade stretched out his arm to block it. He activated the vine magic, and fine branches wove together at the spot where he was about to be injured.

The moment the cleaver fell, the branch shattered, and the force of the blade lessened. The overtime worker could have left Lin Jiade with a deep, bone-revealing wound, but in reality, Lin Jiade only had a faint red line on his arm.

In the blink of an eye, Lin Jiade's wound stopped bleeding and healed, thanks to the ointment that Kapok had applied to him many times, which gave certain areas of Lin Jiade's body a strong ability to recover.

“I see,” the overtime worker said. “That’s why your companions let you, the weakling, come and fight me one-on-one.”

Reason for extra chapter: I thoroughly enjoyed the second anniversary celebration of Arknights, and I absolutely have to get Iguskati!

Chapter 74 Engagement (4)

Lin Jiade was happy to stall for time, so he replied, "The ball is round, and the strong will not always be victorious. I think this principle also applies to duels between magic researchers."

I spent hours with my teammates figuring out how to defeat you. And how much time can you possibly spend figuring out how to defeat me?

I know I'm weak, so I'm fighting desperately, even resorting to underhanded methods, to become stronger, because I want to protect the people I love.

And you? Are you prepared to risk your life for this mission?

“I do have it,” the person working overtime answered in a low voice. “My child is about to start high school, and the money for a school district house is urgently needed. I need this job to get the money.”

Lin Jiade shook his head: "Is it worth it? You might get the money, but you might also lose your life."

"Fool, money is life."

The previous battle and the conversation that had just ended had taken up a minute and a half. As if knowing this, the overtime worker immediately launched a fierce offensive against Lin Jiade.

For his own sake, Lin Jiade could kite the overtime worker; for Jasmine's sake, Lin Jiade could only fight the overtime worker head-on. He had to predict where the overtime worker's cleaver would attack him and use vine magic in the corresponding area to reduce the damage.

Those 90 seconds were incredibly difficult. The workers left dozens of red lines on Lin Jiade's body, and his repair speed couldn't keep up with the rate of damage. Soon, the areas near his vital organs became covered in blood as the red lines deepened.

"Ouch, that really hurt, but I won!"

The golden light on the overworked man's body dissipated, and the pain fueled Lin Jiade's ferocity. He tackled the overworked man to the ground, grabbed his briefcase and threw it far away, then pressed the silver muzzle of his gun against the overworked man's helmet.

He gasped for breath, the pain that had accumulated over the past 90 seconds erupting all at once, causing him to tremble all over. The person working overtime wasn't in much better shape; Lin Jiade could hear the painful breathing beneath the other person's helmet.

Lin Jiade felt that it wasn't so much that he defeated the overtime workers, but rather that life defeated them. During the physical confrontation, he could clearly feel their weakness—

That mediocre and emotionally distressed middle-aged man had exhausted himself for his family and work, like a candle burning out.

The "overtime magic" is a short-sighted approach; it may make the candle brighter, but each brief moment of brightness accelerates the melting process.

Therefore, as long as he could endure the magic of overtime, Lin Jiade would not lose... He firmly believed this until golden light emanated from the overtime worker again.

Du Juan told Lin Jiade that the physical condition of someone working overtime was only enough for him to reasonably carry out one overtime spell per day. Lin Jiade simplified this into the impression of "activating it once a day" and stored it in his mind.

He was wrong. The number of times the "overtime magic" is activated depends on the worker's determination to work themselves to the bone. When the worker starts burning their life force, they ignore the limit of once a day.

Are you willing to burn through your already limited life just to get the money to buy a house in a good school district?

Lin Jiade couldn't agree with the values ​​of those who worked overtime, but he was deeply moved by their determination to sacrifice everything for their families. However, for Jasmine's sake, he couldn't back down.

In response, he pulled the trigger repeatedly. The first bullet cracked the helmet of the man working overtime, the second bullet shattered the helmet, and the third bullet headed towards the middle-aged man's melancholy face, but a golden light enveloped the man, blocking the fatal bullet.

Lin Jiade felt as if he had fallen into an abyss. His wounds had not yet fully healed, and he was no longer able to cope with the second round of violent attacks from the overtime worker. The overtime worker also realized this, and just as he was about to break free from Lin Jiade's grip, the golden light suddenly disappeared.

The overtime worker's expression went from confusion to distortion, and finally he put on a mask of pain. His avatar dissipated on the battlefield like sand, leaving only a bewildered Lin Jiade.

At the same time, in an office building, red blood covered computer screens, within which black curses swirled.

The man who worked overtime knew what was going on. He impulsively spent a night of pleasure with the Barbary Witch, but... it wasn't just pleasure; the Barbary Witch had also silently placed a curse on him during that time.

The curse could be suppressed when his physical condition was still good, but when he used the overtime magic for the second time, it invaded his weakened body and couldn't wait to take his life.

"I underestimated her," he muttered.

The overtime worker lowered his head, knowing his end was near, closed his eyes, and lay back in his ergonomic chair.

He softly murmured the names of his wife and son. He dreamed that he bought a house in a good school district so that his son could attend the best school. He dreamed that he and his wife lived a happy and fulfilling life together until they passed away.

He dreamed that he was full of energy and in good health, greeting the sunrise with an optimistic attitude; he dreamed that he and his friends were drinking heartily, joking with each other, and telling each other about the injustices in their hearts.

He dreamed that he gained his boss's approval and his colleagues' respect. There was no more overtime, no more hardship, no more discrimination and ridicule. He didn't have to worry about money and could freely pursue his youthful dreams...

In his final moments, the overworked man rediscovered his former self, full of youthful vigor and dreams of a bright future. Then, he left the world that had tormented him and entered the cradle of eternal slumber.

“It’s over,” said the Barbary witch.

The useless witch, despised by both sides, threw away her beverage can, which hit the edge of the trash can and bounced outwards.

A hand reached out from the shadows, pointed gently, and the beverage can obeyed the person's will, silently rising and falling towards the trash can.

"My curse has eliminated those who work overtime," said the Barbary witch.

"That's surprising. I thought you'd be killed by the overtime workers."

“I am more shameless and ruthless than him, and that’s why I survived.”

The Barbary witch turned around. Someone was hidden in the darkness, but she knew who it was, so she said, "I have done my job, and please keep your promise."

She became a little nervous as she spoke, after all, she and Du Juan were not on the same level, and her life was in Du Juan's hands.

"it is good."

Du Juan agreed, and the silver muzzle of her .44 caliber gun emerged from the darkness, bullets hitting the Barbary Witch in succession. The Barbary Witch lifted her clothes and saw that the markings on her abdomen, symbolizing her enslavement, had completely disappeared, and she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

“Now you’re free,” Du Juan said. “What are you planning to do next?”

"I went back to my hometown to prepare for pregnancy. Besides cursing those who work overtime, I also used magic to get pregnant with their child."

"Was it love at first sight or guilt?" Du Juan asked with great interest.

The Barbary Witch answered honestly, "Neither. For the past twelve years, I have been traveling around the world sleeping with men. It's a hobby, but also a way to find men with precious qualities so that I can nurture offspring with precious qualities in my womb."

Chapter 75 Engagement (5)

She paused, then continued, "It's the same here when accepting tasks from employers. Both the Overtime Man and the Water Drinker are excellent, but the former is nowhere to be found, and the latter has allied with the Pay-to-Win Sow, making him difficult to approach."

You know what happened next: I found someone who works overtime. Overtime magic is a branch of time magic; the method involves getting pregnant first and then having an abortion prematurely to obtain a 'material' with time magic.

Then I assembled the 'materials' into the undead knight I needed; that was my biggest takeaway from this trip.

The Barbary witch chuckled lightly: "I know you all see me as a good-for-nothing, and because I am a good-for-nothing, you look down on me."

The intelligence-conscious Drinking Water Guy didn't consider the possibility of me betraying the team, and the Overtime Guy was completely unaware that the deadly curse was being activated when he was on top of me.

I study necromancy and have dealt with death since I was a child. How could I possibly be the kind of harmless, comedic character?

I am ruthless and cunning. My abilities may not be outstanding, but my danger lies in making people perceive me as harmless. I am always looked down upon and subjected to various forms of arrogant care or contempt.

Barbary Witch's smile twisted: "So, the people I most wanted to get rid of in the team were Drinking Water Guy and Overtime Guy. Now that half of my wish has been fulfilled, I can leave in peace."

"Have a safe journey." Azalea reached out a dark hand and waved. "Of course, you know some things should be forgotten."

"Fool, who would forget?" The Barbary Witch sneered inwardly. "You look down on me because my strength is far inferior to yours, but as long as I spread the word, I'll attract someone with enough power to cause you trouble."

On the surface, the Barbary witch feigned genuine fear to gain the other party's trust. After receiving permission to leave, she turned around, a revolver floating in the air pressed against her forehead.

"I've thought about it, and for someone like you, it's safer to put chains of pain and fear around your neck than to show mercy."

The voice from the shadows was filled with pleasure: "Don't worry, you won't die yet, but the trajectory of your life will no longer be able to escape my control."

"Shit!"

The continuous flashes of fire illuminated the shadow cast on the ground by the Barbary Witch. After carefully examining the Barbary Witch's memories, the cuckoo's hand disappeared into the shadows.

Hehuan anxiously stared at her phone on the table in the living room. She desperately hoped that Mumian or Lin Jiade would call to let her know she was safe. Every minute was agonizing for her.

When Du Juan patted her on the shoulder from behind, she was startled. Cupid said, "You should go pick them up and take medical supplies with you."

"what?"

Dujuan sent Hehuan her location and said in a mysterious, prophetic tone, "They're sure to win, but I don't think they'll be in great shape."

The torment of those who worked overtime was over, while those who survived continued on, their bodies scarred and battered. Lin Jiade didn't know why his opponent had left the stage, nor could he care; instead, he looked up to find other battlefields.

He first looked at the kapok tree, because he firmly believed in its strength and that his predecessor had already defeated his opponent.

The battle between the cotton tree and the tuna was coming to an end. The cotton tree's skill left two serious wounds and many small scratches on the tuna's body, but the tuna seemed to feel no pain and its movements did not slow down in the slightest.

Kapok was in much better condition, with only physical exhaustion and no obvious wounds. However, the bodysuit monster's anxiety gradually accumulated during the battle, giving him the advantage, but he insisted on choosing to use the next sword to settle the score with the tuna.

Kapok adjusted her breathing, pushed off with her feet, and sprinted toward the tuna. It looked like the bodysuit-clad monster would use his weapon to draw a graceful arc in two seconds, separating the tuna's head from its body.

Tuna's eyes widened, his clothes billowed, and wind surged from his sleeves. He ran towards Kapok at an even faster speed. Their figures crossed paths and grew further and further apart, finally stopping five meters apart.

“I’ve practiced this move for years, originally intending to deal with that red dragon offspring,” the tuna said without turning around. “You should feel honored, young swordsman.”

Tuna's clothes were stained red with blood, and Kapok left another deep, bone-revealing wound on him. Kapok then swayed and fell, blood oozing from the bodysuit-clad monster.

Tuna confirmed this and looked at Jasmine.

Lin Jiade's mind was in complete chaos, but his obsession with protecting Jasmine led him to aim his gun at the old swordsman. Three shots, none of them hitting the target. The old swordsman moved like a ghost, and in a daze, Lin Jiade had already been stabbed in the abdomen.

The old swordsman didn't use the blade, but instead struck Lin Jiade in the abdomen with the hilt, a gesture of both pity and contempt for the young man who had only been exposed to magic for a dozen days.