“What choice does she have if she doesn’t?” Ada closed his eyes and exhaled, frustrated. “I was worried Natasha would be strung along by Jason, but she told me… she said, if Jason hasn’t dealt with that person within one month, she’ll dissolve the team outright.”

One month.

It was a delicate, precise window of time. For a member to become eligible for team leader, they needed to have been in the team for at least one month — and clearing the remaining dungeons would take roughly that same amount of time.

“If the team disbands, Natasha loses her value to Jason,” Shen Mo said in a low voice. “Out of spite, he might not let her keep living.”

Ada pressed his fingers to his brow. “That’s what I told her too. She told me to stay out of it, and to focus on running dungeons. The way she said it… I think she’s planning to take him down with her.”

Everyone fell silent.

They’d spent enough time around Natasha that watching her walk toward what amounted to a death sentence carried a certain weight.

Nick stood to the side, watching with a blank expression, the corner of his mouth twitching once. “You can’t even find a way out for yourselves — so don’t waste energy worrying about someone else’s life and death. That Jason’s not someone to mess with. He’s been in the competitive district a long time and knows plenty of people. Even if he does something, everyone will just turn a blind eye.”

He turned and headed toward the subway station entrance, his tone cool and flat: “Let’s go~”

Bai Youwei and the others exchanged glances, then fell silently into step behind Nick.

……

The Sun Temple again.

The same four of them.

Nick stood at the entrance to the only passage into the temple, arms folded, eyebrow raised as he looked at the three people in front of him.

“Talk me through it. How are you planning to run this? I already walked you through it once last time.”

Bai Youwei said, “Since we’re doing it our way, you don’t need to lead this time. Fall back.”

Nick nodded, his posture relaxed. “Sure — I’ll be in the back, you three go first. You only made it through once. Do you still remember the route?”

“I remember.” Shen Mo looped a coil of rope around his waist, switched on his flashlight, and walked straight into the corridor. “Once is enough.”

Ada switched on his flashlight and followed.

Then Bai Youwei.

And last — Nick.

The order bothered him slightly. Bai Youwei hadn’t followed directly behind Shen Mo… and Shen Mo was apparently fine with that?

The moment they entered the corridor, he heard Bai Youwei make a small startled sound: “It’s so hot in here! Hot and stuffy!”

Nick: “……”

You’ve been here before. You’re only figuring out it’s hot now?

Then he heard Bai Youwei say, “Do you want some chocolate? It’s going to melt in here if we don’t eat it.”

Nick: “………………”

She actually, genuinely, truly, brought chocolate into the dungeon.

【Ahhhhhh Cabbage is back!!!!!】

【Cabbage Cabbage! Today’s Cabbage is just as adorable ahhhh!!!!!】

【We’re here! We’re here to shower you with love! Gifting and going crazy for you! Cabbage mwah mwah mwah mwah mwah】

【Every Cabbage stream is a must-watch!】

【Love Cabbage little sis so much, please accept this sports car from your uncle~】

【Um… could someone explain why this stream is so strange? I feel like I’ve wandered into some kind of cult…】

【Don’t ask. The answer is love.】

【What the heck, this stream is infectious??】

【The way this whole Cabbage faction is screaming — is it that girl in the pink sporty outfit? She’s already ascending to pure chaos — aren’t you going to say anything? Running dungeons while eating chocolate? Excuse me?】

【She’s good-looking, sure, but is all this really warranted? Technical skill is what matters in competitive district streams. This generation of viewers has some questionable taste~】

【Get out! What kind of stray dog thinks they can bark in front of our Cabbage Queen?】

【Cabbage Queen’s charm is beyond the comprehension of people like you! What’s wrong with eating chocolate? She could be having hot pot in here and she’d still have more going on than all of you!】

【Okay I’m not even a fan of anyone but after you said that, I genuinely want to see her fondue in a dungeon…】

……

A small, pale hand reached back toward him, pinching a square of chocolate.

“Want some?” Bai Youwei turned to ask Nick.

Nick’s brow twitched.

—