Before dinner, Ada and Natasha returned, bringing news with them.

Ada had spent two million points and obtained strategies for 2 dungeons. Natasha had asked a contact for information and turned up 1 more strategy.

All told: out of 34 dungeons, they had safe passage through 3.

That left 31 unknown dangers ahead.

At the dinner table, Ada said with pent-up frustration, “The person had four strategies we needed. I was going to buy them all, but then his companion showed up mid-deal, recognized who I was, and said strategies couldn’t be provided to anyone from the Thieves NB Squad. Absolute nonsense!”

Natasha gave a tired sigh. “Aisha was the same — she’s in the Barren Plains Squad, and their captain has told everyone not to leak their strategies to anyone for the time being. Strategy trades are off. Selling for high scores is off. They’re clearly taking precautions against us. But she did tell me about the Death Mines situation.

There’s a lot of cover underground, which makes ordinary ammunition difficult to use effectively. You’ll want to bring a large quantity of smoke grenades beforehand — the creatures in there are afraid of them. Lighting equipment is also essential.”

Natasha looked toward Yuri. “We could start with the Death Mines next — clear them one by one as we go.”

Yuri nodded. “The score results just came in, and it’s natural that people are on guard now. Everyone take a few days off. We’ll see how the situation develops.”

“Fine by me……” Ada let out a long, aggravated breath. “Might as well rest a few days. Our record’s not going anywhere.”

Yuri reminded him, “True, no one can surpass our record in the Queen’s Nest — but if someone else breaks records in other dungeons during this period, this year’s spots could still be taken from us. Don’t get complacent. Everyone needs to go to the service station at least once a day and check the record rankings.”

There were over a hundred dungeons, which meant there were over a hundred different records to keep track of.

Of course, breaking any one record wasn’t something you could simply decide to do. Every record had been pushed close to its limit. It was like the Olympics — there were sprints, long-distance runs, high jumps, swimming events, and many more disciplines, and each year only a handful of athletes managed to break any record at all.

Shen Mo spoke quietly. “The Alarm the People Squad broke records earlier than us. During that stretch, they didn’t seem to encounter any inability to trade for strategies.”

“Because at that point, there was still hope of beating their scores,” Ada said, his laugh carrying a note of contempt. “Once we hit 999 points, almost no one went back to the Queen’s Nest. A pack of cowards — can’t score high themselves, so they resort to underhanded tactics.”

Yuri caught the sharp edge in his words and frowned slightly. “We don’t know for certain that this was orchestrated by the Alarm the People Squad. Don’t say anything for now — wait a few days. Whoever it is will show their hand eventually.”

Ada glanced at him as though he had something more to say, but in the end said nothing.

They talked for a while longer. Dinner was eaten with little appetite.

Throughout it all, Bai Youwei didn’t say a word. She sat like a pretty doll — quiet and well-behaved, and equally detached, entirely removed from the situation. When she had eaten her fill, she prepared to head back to her room.

Shen Mo went with her. They had just risen from their chairs when Ada called out to him.

“Come out for a smoke?” Ada extended a cigarette toward him, his eyes carrying some unspoken meaning.

Shen Mo was quiet for two seconds, then accepted the cigarette. He turned to Bai Youwei. “Go on up first.”

Bai Youwei looked at Shen Mo, then at Ada. Her dark bright eyes curved faintly — a glint of playfulness in them. “Oh~ Well then, once you’ve finished smoking, stay out there a little longer. Let the smell clear out.”

If there’s something to talk about, take your time.

……

Shen Mo and Ada went out to the courtyard. The sky had grown dark by then — the dying sun cast a murky, dim yellow light, and the sky above had taken on a stained shade of blue-violet.

Ada lit his cigarette. White smoke drifted and curled in the lamplight.

He smoked in silence and said nothing for a moment — as though the only reason he had called Shen Mo out here was to smoke.

Shen Mo was equally quiet. He lowered his head to light his own cigarette, and with a faint flicker of intuition, looked up toward the building above. He found Bai Youwei peeking down at them from the second-floor window.

He couldn’t help but smile.

Ada had also spotted her, and laughed. “Your wife really does care about you~”