Luo Shu flashed a chilling smile, baring eight sharp white teeth that gleamed unsettlingly. "I won't kill you—in fact, I'll keep helping you solve this case. But you'll need to help me first. Get this collar off my neck."
Hunter He fell silent, calculating his options. Could he grant this request? Did he have any leverage left?
Luo Shu waited for a couple of seconds, feigning boredom before casually aiming his gun. His unstable persona had Hunter's nerves on edge; the kingpin, usually unflappable, blurted, "Fine! Fine! I'll do it! You win!"
The unpredictability of a madman had dismantled Hunter's schemes.
Inwardly, Luo Shu exhaled, feeling the faint but steady drop in his Sanity Level, which had spiked to a temporary high of 130%. Despite his calm exterior, he wasn't unaffected—he was both tense and exhilarated. This had been a carefully calculated risk, relying on Hunter's underestimation of him. Frederick had mentioned that there were only two detonators, one held by himself and one by Hunter. Coming at night had been part of the plan, as it was the time Hunter would likely be unarmed, in the vulnerability of sleep.
Luo Shu's ruse had worked perfectly, creating just the distraction needed.
After navigating these intricate steps, he had gambled on the hope that no hidden bodyguards would emerge from unseen parts of Hunter's quarters.
Now, under coercion, Hunter led Luo Shu to his bedroom. From an unlocked drawer, he retrieved a small control terminal, loaded an English program, and disarmed the explosive collar on Luo Shu's neck. The ease of access almost shocked Luo Shu.
With two beeps, the collar's green light turned yellow, and it loosened from his neck.
The system chimed in:
[Main Quest Updated!]
[Main Quest "Identify the Killer within 24 Hours" has been modified to "Identify the Killer."]
It was proof once again that, in the Horror Game, anything was possible.
Removing the collar, Luo Shu handed it back to Hunter, smiling with mock politeness. "Here. You might want to check if I broke anything."
Hunter forced a smile, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "No… that won't be necessary." Then, unable to hide his curiosity, he asked, "What's next? What do you really want? You can't leave here alone. You can't kill me."
Luo Shu sighed, impatient. "I've told you, I don't want to kill you. Why are you so suspicious? Can't there be a bit of trust between people?"
Hunter gritted his teeth, swallowing his frustration under the barrel of Luo Shu's gun.
To prove his point, Luo Shu holstered his gun. "You know, I could kill you here and now, and still find a dozen ways to escape. I could pull the fire alarm or toss your body out the window and slip away in the chaos…"
Hunter clenched his jaw, realizing there was truth in those words. If he were killed, his loyal men might not even fight for him. Society had changed.
"Let's have a talk," Luo Shu said, gesturing for Hunter to sit on the sofa. He gripped Hunter's shoulders, leaning in with a focused stare. "The reason I won't kill you is that this case is fascinating. I genuinely want to solve it. But to do that, I need you alive. I need your resources."
Hunter let out a low chuckle. "Absurd." He stared back at Luo Shu. "What's more absurd is that I… believe you. You're insane."
Luo Shu laughed heartily, an unnerving, carefree sound. "See? Free from oppression and slavery, I'll work more efficiently."
Finally, they sat across from each other in the lounge, a tense but balanced negotiation. Hunter even brewed a pot of tea, pouring Luo Shu a cup.
"If what you're saying is true… then yes, I can see how I might have been deceived." Hunter held the hot tea cup, unbothered by the heat, his expression cold and dark. "People like me… wealthy people… We fear death. Even with advances in medicine, there are still countless diseases that can't be cured. Organ replacements…"
Luo Shu nodded knowingly. As a medical student, he understood the limitations of modern medicine. Even with fifty more years of progress, some illnesses would remain untreatable. Disease is a natural mechanism that regulates life.
Hunter continued, "Replacement organs are hard to come by. The market is small, and even if you get a donor's organ, there's always the risk of rejection. So, years ago, a doctor proposed a business no one dared attempt…"
His gaze became icy and terrifying. "He said he wanted to grow human organs."
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