I'm in the Ark, a player.

Amidst such immense panic, some people couldn't help but run away.

Just as he took his first step,

"boom!"

A gunshot echoed through the narrow corridor.

The business association member who had just been running fell to the ground with a large hole in the back of his head, blood mixed with some soft tissue splattered all over the ground.

"Don't run away!"

"I'll shoot if you try to run away."

Qin Tianling shook the little helper in his hand, trying to reason with these guys.

Fortunately, the other party listened to advice and did not dare to make any moves after Qin Tianling spoke.

Qin Tianling nodded in satisfaction, then asked.

"May I ask who are the higher-ups in Jack Armor?"

Qin Tianling wasn't really interested in listening to the NPCs' lengthy dialogues, let alone remembering the specifics of what they said.

But Qin Tianling remembered clearly who wanted to kill him.

Qin Tianling's gaze swept over the group of merchants, and he sensed the pressure they felt; they would then act on their own initiative.

A crowd gathered, and soon the high-ranking members of Jack's armor were brought out by the group.

Qin Tianling released the old man he had initially grabbed and instead grabbed the tie of the Jack Armor executive.

"It was you... who tried to kill me time and time again."

But honestly, the people you sent were really too weak. If someone hadn't warned me, I wouldn't have realized there was an assassin trying to kill me..."

The top leaders of Jack Armor were ashen-faced; they opened their mouths as if to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

He felt a chill run through his entire body.

I felt like a featherless beast, completely at the mercy of others.

At this moment, a guy who had just pushed out the Jack company executives spoke up.

"Um... every grievance has its source, every debt its debtor. Now that you've found the person you're looking for, may I leave?"

"Okay."

Qin Tianling waved his hand.

"You may all leave."

The man had just taken a step with delight—

"boom."

Another shot,

The man who had just taken a step fell to the ground, his mind racing with the same bizarre idea.

Qin Tianling sighed with great sorrow.

Qin Tianling looked at the corpse on the ground with great heartache.

Why did you run away?

I just said I'd shoot if you tried to run away. Did you all just ignore me?

"That's enough. I'm the one who wants to kill you. It has nothing to do with anyone else."

The executives at Jack's company finally spoke up.

"Is this the time to play the hero?"

"Oh, I see, a dying person's words are often wise, right?"

Qin Tianling smiled as he looked at the Jack Company executive in his hand.

"It's a pity."

I would feel very uneasy if I let them all leave.

It's like lying in bed every day, feeling uneasy about the useless things you've cleansed from your body and the useless rewards you've collected from daily tasks.

This anxiety is keeping me awake at night.

"Killing us wouldn't do you any good either!"

Despite their fear, the executives at Jack's company spoke up.

He knew he might not survive today.

But he was unwilling to give up!

He wanted to struggle.

What if... what if we manage to persuade this guy to change his mind?

"The fact that you're not here is the best thing for me!"

Qin Tianling said matter-of-factly.

Jack's executives broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this.

This attitude is not one that can be negotiated.

I need to seize the opportunity, to grasp what he cares about, in order to keep the negotiations going.

Only then can I survive!

I must survive!

Is there anything he cares about most?

Not a knight... Oh right, he's a gladiator knight!

Jack's company executives suddenly had an idea and continued...

"But if you were to kill me, and kill everyone in our Business Federation, the Knights' Arena would not be able to continue!"

"—Have you really never felt joy in knightly competition?!"

"Indeed, I've always found cricket fighting very interesting, and the fact that you can legally beat people up makes me feel really good."

Qin Tianling thought for a moment and answered truthfully.

This answer gave a glimmer of hope to the executives at Jack's company, who had initially held little expectation.

Have the opportunity!

There is still room for maneuver!

I might actually survive!

"Right!"

As long as you release me and us, you can have any knight you want as your opponent, and play however you want!

Not only that, we can also give you a knight title, manage your operations, and bring you fans.

We can even team up to create your own entertainment company, guaranteeing you a constant stream of money!

"There are still assets that keep generating gold coins?"

That sounds very appealing.

Qin Tianling thought for a moment, then spoke.

Upon hearing this, the previously deathly pale faces of Jack's executives suddenly regained some color.

My initial fear has subsided somewhat.

It worked!

We've convinced them!

Indeed, enemies can become friends when it comes to interests!

He breathed a sigh of relief for the time being.

"But before that, I'd like to ask you something."

Qin Tianling looked at the executives of Jack Company and asked with a smile,

"Will you still allow the Unarmored Alliance to hunt down infected in the future?"

What's the problem?

Judging by common sense, the answer here should absolutely not be "yes," given his previous behavior.

But his tone of voice... his words...

Is it still possible?

Does this mean... they want us to intervene?

On the surface, they protect those infected, but deep down they also despise them?

"Yes, yes, I will have the Unarmored Alliance clear out those infected!"

Jack's executives shouted,

But Qin Tianling narrowed his eyes as he looked at him, and after a moment, he spoke again.

"............I was thinking about those infected people who stood in my way; they were all kind and righteous."

You actually want to lay a hand on them?

It seems we absolutely cannot keep them here.

Oh no, oh no, I answered wrong! I guessed wrong!

"No, no, wait, wait!"

Jack's company executives almost instinctively changed their tune.

"I will absolutely not allow the Unarmored Alliance to harm the infected again! The plan to eliminate the infected will be put on hold!"

Unexpectedly, Qin Tianling smacked his lips in dissatisfaction after hearing this.

"Tsk."

He questioned,

"If you don't send people to attack the infected, how am I supposed to complete the mission and claim the rewards?"

It seems we absolutely cannot keep them here.

So, is it a matter of wanting both?

Oh, I see!

I know, I know what to do!

"Then I'll instruct the Unarmored Alliance not to kill the infected, just to make a show of it, and let you play the hero and protect them!"

Jack's executives continued,

He has plenty of ideas. As long as he can persuade this guy to give up killing him, he can come up with any idea he can think of!

"They'd even come up with something like this just to survive."

How can you be so calculating?

Qin Tianling shook his head, looking at him with regret.

"It seems we absolutely cannot let him live."

No...that's not how it is!

Things shouldn't be like this!

I've given you a benefit!

I made a promise to you!

Why, why did you kill me?!

If you kill me, you won't get any of those things!