MMPS Ch. 35

Chapter 35: Accepting a New Mission

Leaving the mess to his subordinate Xiao Qi to handle, Zhao Ran made a brief appearance before the media. As soon as he fulfilled the minimum obligation, he hurried back to the company without delay.

Inside the building, Zhao Ran entered the elevator that led deeper into the company’s internal sections. Passing by the black-clad bodyguards, he casually flashed his ID card, the cold wind from outside still clinging to his trench coat.

The bodyguards stood rigid as statues, their backs straight, beads of cold sweat rolling from their temples down to their jawlines. Not one dared breathe too loudly until Zhao Ran disappeared into the far end of the corridor. Only then did they exhale collectively, their tension visibly dissipating. The heavy black suits they wore clung to their backs, darkened by sweat.

Zhao Ran stepped into an elevator reserved exclusively for upper management. The double doors slid open, revealing a spacious interior lined with polished walls. Four bodyguards stood motionless against the walls like sentinels.

This was no ordinary elevator. Instead of moving strictly up or down, it shifted laterally, gliding toward a specific destination. When it stopped, the opposite doors opened, revealing a corridor strikingly different from the rest of the building.

The hallway exuded an air of refined antiquity. It was decorated with intricate wooden shelves displaying celadon porcelain and lacquerware, treasures from the company’s reclusive boss. Warm, golden light streamed from the cloud-patterned ceiling, bathing the space in a gentle glow. The redwood floors creaked faintly underfoot, releasing a faint, calming scent of ancient cypress.

As Zhao Ran passed a shadowy fork in the corridor, he abruptly paused, his instincts flaring. Something was off.

From the dark recess of the branching path, a shadow lunged toward him with startling speed. Zhao Ran sidestepped, but the figure barreled into him, driving them both backward. Staggering under the momentum, Zhao Ran collided with the door of a nearby restroom, which flew open under the impact.

The assailant was Yu An, his face obscured by a jet-black hoodie that seemed to meld into the surrounding darkness. His movements were as sharp and predatory as a beast lurking in the shadows, emerging only to strike.

Zhao Ran’s voice was cold and steady as he shut the restroom door, keeping the approaching bodyguards outside. “Lucky for you, I know the boss’s office is impenetrable to outsiders. Otherwise, that little stunt would’ve cost you your head—literally.”

After reprimanding Yu An for his reckless behavior, Zhao Ran remembered there was something more serious he needed to address. Just as he was about to launch into another tirade, he noticed Yu An’s condition.

Soaked to the bone, the younger man stood there, head bowed. Water dripped from his hoodie, pooling at his feet. Bloodstains, only half-washed away, mottled his clothing, and wet strands of hair stuck out messily from under his hood. He looked like a bedraggled stray dragged in from a torrential storm, tattered and desperate.

“…Why are you soaking wet?” 

“I was washing clothes.” 

“And managed to soak yourself instead?”

“I stood in the clothes to wash them.”

Zhao Ran’s temper flared. His expression hardened into something cold and unyielding. He grabbed Yu An’s chin, forcing the younger man to meet his gaze. “How many times do I have to tell you—”

“You told me to kill Zeng Rang.” Yu An interrupted smoothly, his voice soft yet cutting.

The hood slipped from his head, revealing a face adorned with glistening droplets of water. Though he didn’t display much emotion, his eyes unmistakably sparkled with cunning mischief that hinted at having found a loophole in the command.

Zhao Ran glanced around the restroom, searching for something to discipline the insolent youth with. Finding nothing suitable, he raised his hand, intent on striking. Yu An flinched slightly, his lips tightening as though bracing for impact.

The palm lingered in mid-air as Zhao Ran glanced at his own hand, a momentary hesitation before he slipped it into his pocket. Turning to leave, he couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling of the little brat’s ecstatic expression. What was going on in that twisted mind? 

This kid was already vulnerable to being led astray, and with the big boss’s manipulations, who knew what dark thoughts might take root?

Suddenly, a pair of arms reached out from behind, gripping his waist with a vice-like hold, dragging him back into the bathroom and slamming the door shut.

Yu An held an Armor-Piercing Awl in his right hand, its tip pressing lightly against Zhao Ran’s neck, their bodies pressed tightly together. His left hand rested on Zhao Ran’s chest. 

“I’m doing this at the big boss’s request; this is the payment he gave me. I really like it.” Yu An said, spinning the sharp little blade between his fingers. “See? With it pressed against you, even you don’t dare to move. It’s definitely a good thing.”

Ordinary knives and guns posed no threat to Zhao Ran, but this weapon was different. Embedded with a Tier 2 Red core, it could draw blood from any living creature. 

“Hmph… can a little knife really buy your life?” 

“Your life is a different price.”

Zhao Ran snorted: “If someone wants to buy my life from you in the future, would you take that deal?”

“I would.” Yu An said, lowering his head, his breath warm against Zhao Ran’s shoulder. “As long as he can offer me something I like more than you.”

As they struggled, they inadvertently hit the light switch, plunging the room into darkness. Yu An was soaked, the heat radiating from his body seeping through his clothes, making the air thick and humid. The shadows in the corners felt almost alive, wrapping around them like a suffocating shroud.

In the dim light, Zhao Ran’s features became almost spectral, vibrant, yet obscured. Yu An could barely make out his crimson outline,

The tight-fitting black hooded pants began to shift, creating an uncomfortable tension. Yu An pressed closer, desperate to hide the involuntary reaction of his body. Zhao Ran was speechless, and for a moment, silence enveloped them; Yu An thought he had genuinely angered Zhao Ran. But then, in an unexpected movement, Yu An’s wrist was seized, and Zhao Ran spun him around, slamming him against the icy wall.

He could easily pin both of Yu An’s wrists with one hand, like a sturdy pair of handcuffs: “It’s not that I don’t dare to move—I’m just worried that if I dislocate your arm, I’ll have to comfort you to stop you from crying.”

Yu An leaned against the wall, defiantly tilting his head up: “Interviewer, why are you angry? I’m curious. Even my own father never disciplined me.”

“If your father doesn’t discipline you, I will. If you want to follow me, you have to play by my rules.”

“I’m here to work; as long as I please the boss, why do you care if I walk the right path? The boss said you weren’t a saint either.”

“Interviewer, do you like men?” Yu An’s lips curled into a sly smile, his eyes glinting with cold desire. “You kissed me when I bit you; you must like me like this, right?”

The Armor-Piercing Awl fell into Zhao Ran’s hand. He weighed the blade lightly before pressing it horizontally against Yu An’s lips, the edge facing inward, lifting his tongue and forcing him to bite down on it. “Shut up, or else, I’ll teach you a lesson.”

Zhao Ran’s left hand, gloved in thin leather, reached between Yu An’s legs and squeezed hard.

“Mm!” With the piercing awl clenched in his mouth, Yu An couldn’t make a sound. The sharp blade pressed inward, forcing him to carefully manage his tongue against it, knowing that even the slightest movement could cut him.

Minutes passed, and Yu An’s body began to sway, his legs weakening, unable to muster any strength. After a while, he tilted his head back against the wall in agony, but with his hands trapped, he could only gasp for breath, saliva mixed with blood trickling from the corner of his lips to his chin.

“Can you behave now?” Zhao Ran asked.

Yu An’s neck veins bulged as he nodded with difficulty, the weight of his situation pressing down on him.

Zhao Ran released his grip, and Yu An slumped against the wall like waterlogged clay, supporting himself on the ground as he spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged spit. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the interviewer, whose clothes were impeccably neat, save for his left glove, which was soaked, fingertips dripping.

Just that one scene sent a surge of heat through Yu An, but it only made the tightness of his pants more painful. 

Zhao Ran leaned against the sink, pulled a cigarette case from his trench coat pocket, and took one out, placing it between his lips. He then tossed a lighter in front of Yu An.

Yu An gritted his teeth, picking up the lighter, enduring the weakness in his legs as he leaned against the wall to stand up. His trembling hands reached for the flame, the warmth illuminating Zhao Ran’s face.

As the light flickered, it cast eerie shadows, causing Zhao Ran’s eyelashes, pupils, and hair to rapidly fade. The strands closest to the light turned almost snow white, as if a demon had shed its cloak, revealing a pure and unblemished side.

“Stop pretending.” Yu An suddenly snatched the cigarette from Zhao Ran’s lips, clamping it between his fingers. He gripped Zhao Ran’s neck with both hands, pulling him closer, their faces inches apart. “Let’s talk.”

“What are we discussing here? Office romance?” Zhao Ran took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around him like a ghostly shroud. “Who swore up and down in front of me last night, only to go back on their word the very next morning? You make such a colossal mistake, and I’m supposed to offer myself up?”

“What do you even like about me?” Zhao Ran leaned over the sink, his eyes piercing as he regarded Yu An.

“Your vibe, your scent.” 

“We’ve only known each other for a few days.” Zhao Ran chuckled, a sound that felt almost hollow. His own totem imprinted on Yu An would inevitably affect him; it was no surprise he felt drawn to him. Yet, Zhao Ran craved a more intriguing answer, though he couldn’t quite articulate what he hoped to hear.

“It doesn’t matter.” Yu An said, his gaze unwavering and fervent. “When I see you, I just want to act on it.”

“Ha… damn.” The unexpected boldness of Yu An’s confession made Zhao Ran exhale sharply, his lips parting slightly to reveal sharp, white teeth. His ears flushed with heat. This was the first time he had been cornered by someone so unhinged, so direct in their feelings.

He turned to exit the bathroom, but Yu An stepped in front of him, blocking his path: “Interviewer?”

Zhao Ran sighed, pulling the hood back over Yu An’s face: “Call me Ran-ge.”

*

As Zhao Ran entered the big boss’s office, he sank into the plush leather sofa.

The big boss looked up from the tea table, his eyes landing on Yu An, who stood obediently beside Zhao Ran, silent and fidgeting with his fingers. Yet, there were hints of blood and water stains marring his clothes, a disturbing contrast to his otherwise calm demeanor.

“Kid, you can step outside.” the big boss commanded.

Once Yu An reluctantly exited, the big boss poured a cup of tea, his tone shifting to one of reprimand. “What’s with the anger? Here, have some chrysanthemum tea to cool down.”

“I’m mad he doesn’t learn his lesson.” Zhao Ran leaned back, resting his elbow on the armrest. “Boss, if you want to promote Yu An, it’s best not to train him as a killer.”

The big boss squinted, a sly smile creeping onto his face as the delicate chain of his gold-rimmed glasses swayed: “Spoiling him like this? The Aberrant Hunter Company doesn’t teach killing; do you think it teaches charity instead?”

“This kid is different. He just hasn’t shown it in front of you yet. Once he does, it’ll be like a flood breaking through a dam. I barely managed to stamp out the signs, and now you’re encouraging him again.”

“You’re still airing my dirty laundry in front of him; how am I supposed to manage him later?”

“He likes to listen; he kept asking me, and since today was quiet, I shared some old stories.” The big boss, ever good-natured, rubbed a red bead between his fingers, nodding absently, though his mind seemed elsewhere.

“Young people make mistakes; just bear with it. How’s the commission from the Gray Crow Game Company going?”

True to form, the boss’s evasive tone was gentle yet firm, so Zhao Ran had no choice but to shift gears.

“After our investigation, there are nearly a hundred victims, all claiming they were disturbed in different games. Most are game streamers, with a small portion being debtors or patients, etc. High-profile streamers encounter disturbances more frequently, but the number of times they are personally affected is quite low. We’ve conducted multiple investigations and confirmed it’s the work of the Aberrant; it has the ability to navigate through data and is easily attracted by hatred or fervent emotions.”

“Resolve it as soon as possible.” The big boss spread his hands, a hint of urgency creeping into his demeanor. “I have high hopes for ‘Grey Crow: Toy House.’ I invested in it two years ago, and now this incident has surfaced during the promotional period.”

“Investment?” Zhao Ran raised an eyebrow, aware of his boss’s penchant for trends. “We’ve already developed a response plan. The Safety Technology Unit and Mechanical Logistics Unit are working overtime to produce the linking equipment. The only issue we haven’t resolved is that we need someone to step forward and publicly play the game with a streamer account. Only then can our tech team lure the Aberrant into a specific scene and lock it down. However, Gray Crow Games has subtly indicated that no streamer dares to take on this task.”

“Use one of our own.”

“We can’t handle the game… we’re too old for that.” Zhao Ran brushed his hair back, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. “Let’s find an intern.”

“Now that you mention it, I suddenly remember.” The big boss rummaged through a drawer and pulled out Yu An’s resume—

Special Certification: Full achievement holder and speedrun record setter for over 100 horror games.