Jason watched the subtle shifts in her expression and knew that his words had taken root.

“Kick him out of the team,” Jason said. “Keeping that kind of threat around is too dangerous. If something happens to you, the team captaincy falls to him — and so does the record score. Natasha, you need to think very carefully about this.”

Natasha’s expression was lost and wavering.

“I’ll be going now. Rest well.” Jason rose to his feet. “I’ll come see you again tomorrow. If you’ve made up your mind by then, my teammates and I will fill the remaining spots, and we’ll give you the strategies. With those strategies, we’ll be able to leave this wretched place before long. With Yuri gone, I’ll protect you — if you’re willing.”

Natasha stared at him blankly.

Jason said: “Natasha, you don’t need to doubt me. You know what kind of person I am. Can’t you trust me?”

Natasha was genuinely at a loss. She didn’t know who to believe. After a long pause, she murmured: “Your teammates… will they come tomorrow?”

Jason: “Do you want to meet them early? That’s fine — if you’d like, I’ll bring them along tomorrow.”

Natasha lay in the hospital bed, her voice faint: “Then… see you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

—

Jason walked out of the ward and saw Natasha’s teammates still waiting outside.

He had nothing to say to them. He swept them with an indifferent look and walked straight past, leaving the hospital.

Bai Youwei glanced briefly at his retreating figure, then returned to the ward with Shen Mo and Ada.

Natasha lay quietly in the bed, still staring at the ceiling with those hollow, empty eyes.

Bai Youwei walked over and asked calmly: “How did it go? Did he tell you that Ada is the most likely suspect?”

Natasha gave a tired nod.

Ada let out a cold laugh. “Thieves always blame others first.”

Natasha said nothing.

Bai Youwei studied her expression carefully, and in her heart, she understood — Natasha was wavering.

Despite her advance warning, Natasha had still been affected by Jason’s words. It was understandable, really. People always tended to trust those they’d known longer.

Ada seemed to sense it too. He frowned and asked Natasha: “No way — you actually believe him?”

Natasha replied quietly: “I don’t know…”

Ada was stunned. Then, gritting his teeth, he muttered, “Fuck.”

Because Natasha saying she didn’t know meant she was shaken. If she truly trusted Ada, she would have said outright “I don’t believe him” — not “I don’t know.”

Ada couldn’t help defending himself: “How could I possibly—”

“Then just kick Ada out of the team,” Bai Youwei said suddenly.

Ada froze, staring at Bai Youwei in disbelief.

Natasha was equally stunned — she had expected Bai Youwei to speak up for Ada.

Shen Mo gave a slight nod. “That works too.”

“How does that ‘work’?!” Ada was both baffled and furious. “What is wrong with you two?! Do you actually think Yuri died because of me? Is that what you think of me? Hey! Where’s the evidence?! …Oh! No need for evidence, you’re just going on gut feelings, is that it?!!”

“Removing you is for your own good,” Bai Youwei said evenly. “For one thing, leaving the team gives you a way to clear your name. For another, it makes Natasha safer.”

“Safer?” Ada couldn’t accept it. “Kicking me out and letting that scheming bastard join instead, leaving Natasha to be around someone like that every day — you call that safer? Are you serious?”

Shen Mo said flatly: “Jason’s goal is the record score. As long as you’re out, Jason must ensure Natasha’s safety. Otherwise the team dissolves, and he walks away with nothing.”

Ada blinked, a dim realization dawning. “So that’s what you two are planning…”

“Though this approach only buys about a month,” Bai Youwei said. “Once they’ve been on the team for a full month, they’ll eliminate Natasha and bring in their own people. Of course, before that, they’ll try to deal with Shen Mo and me inside the instances.”

“So what do we do?” Ada’s eyes widened as he looked at Bai Youwei and Shen Mo. “You’ve analyzed everything this clearly — don’t tell me you have no plan at all?”

—