Chapter 218 - 135: Ulterior Motives (Part 2)
’I’m an elite!’
Liu Ziyue steeled herself and glanced at the two Tree-men beside her. According to the system’s explanation, they were her subordinate Race. She had no idea what they were good for, but since this was a negotiation, it was important to bring them along.
She led the two Tree-men out from the protection of the fortress and down below.
The Wasteland was quite chilly at night. When Liu Ziyue had been transported here, she was only wearing a white T-shirt and a short skirt. She had been planning to go to a bar and have some fun, but instead, she’d wound up in the Otherworld. A gust of night wind made her shiver. She stamped her feet, grateful that she was wearing sneakers instead of high heels.
Liu Ziyue didn’t have to wait long before there was movement on the other side. First, Skeletons emerged, but they didn’t advance, simply gathering at the base of the opposing fortress. Then, one by one, massive figures appeared—tall Skeletons clad in Armor, wielding great Hammers.
The Elite Heavy Hammer Skeleton Warriors marched toward Liu Ziyue with heavy, uniform steps. The terrifying pressure nearly made her lose control of her bladder; her entire body trembled uncontrollably. She hugged her shoulders, her face pale, biting her lip hard to keep from making a sound.
Two Elite Heavy Hammer Skeleton Warriors stopped in front of her, glanced down, then stepped to the side and stood ramrod straight. The Warriors behind them did the same, forming two rows that created a path leading directly to her.
Suppressing the fear in her heart, Liu Ziyue looked toward the other end of the path. Three people were descending from the fortress and walking toward her.
As they drew closer, Liu Ziyue breathed a small sigh of relief. They were Human. Young people. ’At least they aren’t ghosts or monsters.’
Li Ziyu walked to the front with Zhang Peng and Liu Xingxing. He looked the woman up and down, raising an eyebrow. ’Well now, she’s a beauty. Her complexion isn’t great, but she’s definitely attractive—could give any online influencer a run for her money.’
Before being transported, Liu Ziyue had been getting ready for a night out at a bar, so she was wearing makeup. She was naturally beautiful—with a delicate oval face, gracefully arched brows, and a high-bridged nose—and her makeup only made her look more stunning.
Li Ziyu gave Liu Ziyue a slight nod and then introduced himself. "I’m Li Ziyu, the master of this fortress. This is Zhang Peng and Liu Xingxing."
Liu Xingxing greeted Liu Ziyue with a cheerful grin, while Zhang Peng merely nodded, his expression completely impassive.
Liu Ziyue let go of her shoulders and took a shallow breath, causing her chest to heave dramatically. She then placed her hands over her stomach, gave a slight bow, and straightened up with a practiced smile. "Hello. I’m Liu Ziyue."
’Just three young men,’ she thought. ’Watch me wrap you all around my little finger. All I have to do is show a little charm, and you’ll be falling at my feet. Then you’ll be putty in my hands. Especially that leader. If I can win him over, I’ll be safe!’
When it came to handling men, Liu Ziyue considered herself an expert. As a gorgeous and sophisticated urban professional, she had never lacked for male admirers. From college freshmen to men in their fifties and sixties—be they eager puppies, old wolves, rich heirs, or big-shot CEOs—she had seen them all.
’These three young men clearly have little experience with women. They have no money, no power, and they aren’t even good-looking. Their physical condition is pathetic, especially that one with the messy hair and the dark circles—he looks like he could drop dead at any second. Tsk, tsk. Someone like that would probably cough up blood after jogging two steps, wouldn’t he?’
Before arriving in this world, Li Ziyu and his friends were the type of men she wouldn’t have given a second glance. With her charms, she figured all it would take was a little bit of flattery to win them over.
In that single instant, a hundred thoughts spun through her mind, and Liu Ziyue already knew how she would deal with the three men before her.
Li Ziyu watched the beaming Liu Ziyue and narrowed his eyes. ’That smile... so fake, so professional. She’s really laying on the sweet-and-innocent act.’
Zhang Peng remained expressionless, ignoring Liu Ziyue completely. In his mind, he had already slapped a label on her: ’A foolish woman who can’t read the room and is looking to cause trouble. *To be watched closely, lest she screws us over.*’
Liu Xingxing, on the other hand, was all smiles—the very picture of an eager young puppy. He waved enthusiastically at Liu Ziyue, looking quite excited. A sophisticated urban beauty like her was lethal to his type.
Liu Ziyue took in all three of their reactions. ’The one with the sunny, puppy-dog smile should be easy to win over. The stone-faced one with the dark circles is wary of me, so I’ll save him for last. And the leader... I think there’s an opening. He’s just acting cool and distant, playing hard to get.’
’This world is too dangerous, too terrifying. I need to secure my safety, and fast. These three men are clearly experienced, and they didn’t just attack on sight. I absolutely have to win them over.’ In her mind, Liu Ziyue classified the situation as a problem of crisis management.
She had to handle these three men in the simplest and fastest way possible. For a beautiful woman like herself, the easiest way to earn a man’s goodwill was, without a doubt, to flaunt her own charm.
Liu Ziyue lifted a hand, gently tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Her gaze turned soft and seductive, her smile deepening into something designed to win favor. She brought a hand to her collar, a gesture that only made the form-fitting T-shirt press deeper into her cleavage. Bending forward again, she began, "Thank you for saving me—"
She wasn’t able to finish before a calm voice cut in. "Let’s get straight to business. You want protection. What are you prepared to offer in return?"