The clanking of iron chains echoed in Wang Que's ears as he struggled to open his eyes.
Darkness greeted him, broken only by the dim stone wall before him.
The damp, moldy smell invaded his nostrils, making him sneeze involuntarily.
"Awake?" A rough male voice came from behind.
"This kid looks delicate. Should fetch a good price."
'Who's talking?'
He instinctively tried to turn his head, but his body was stiff and unresponsive.
A trickle of memory surfaced.
___
He'd struck it lucky.
After the gacha pool update, he'd pulled a ten-piece all-gold run at home.
He'd boasted about it on social media, only to be bombarded by jealous comments.
Overjoyed, he'd gone out to celebrate.
But as he stepped out, crossing the intersection, his luck changed.
'Am I dead?'
The thought flashed through his mind before Wang Que quickly dismissed it.
He could feel the cold metal pressing against his wrists and ankles.
He was definitely not dead, but rather...
Just as he was thinking this, a sharp pain shot through his scalp.
"I'm talking to you, boy! Don't pretend you can't hear me."
"Hey, don't play dead!"
A rough hand grabbed Wang Que's hair, forcing his head up.
A burly man stood before him, his face partially concealed by a bandana. A vicious knife scar marred his cheek, and a dagger glinting with a cold light hung at his waist.
'How familiar this outfit looks.
Is this the Treasure Hoarders?'
The figure was so familiar that Wang Que felt momentarily disoriented.
'I've been transmigrated.'
As a modern-day slave worker, novels were an indispensable part of Wang Que's daily life.
He'd read countless stories about characters waking up in strange places after a stroke of luck.
The man's distinctive attire, complete with a dagger—a perfect match for the Treasure Hoarders from the game, except for the extra dagger.
"Where am I?"
Wang Que, fearing another beating, immediately weakly asked.
As expected, Scarface paused mid-swing, a cold smile spreading across his face.
"You were unconscious in the wilderness of Guili Plains. We saved you, got it?"
Guili Plains?
This is Teyvat!
Wang Que's heart raced with excitement. If he was going to travel through time and space, landing in a familiar world was ideal.
Though Teyvat was fraught with dangers, others would deal with them.
As an ordinary person, wouldn't earning some Mora allow him to live a better life than the relentless menial works of his previous existence?
His thoughts swirling, Wang Que glanced at Scarface again. The immediate priority is escaping from these Treasure Hoarders.
Wang Que nodded immediately. "Thank you for saving me. I'll definitely repay you."
Scarface paused, then a faint smile appeared on his face. "You're not as dumb as I thought, kid."
Who in their right mind would think being tied up and locked up was being "saved"?
It was just that the kid was smart enough not to call him out.
Scarface's expression softened, his mood improving. "Alright, kid, who do you belong to? We can help send word so your family can come get you."
Meaning, let your family send the ransom.
Wang Que looked awkward. He had no family in Teyvat. He hadn't even recognized the character he had taken over yet.
Seeing Wang Que's silence, Scarface's expression turned dangerous again.
As Scarface's face darkened further, Wang Que quickly spoke up. "Brother, I'm an orphan. I just couldn't make it in Liyue Harbor anymore, so I was thinking of going to Mondstadt to see if I could find a way out..."
Scarface clapped his hands, interrupting Wang Que. "So you have no family? Then do you have any money?"
Wang Que looked even more awkward. "Brother, if I had money, would I have left Liyue Harbor?"
Slap!
A slap landed on Wang Que's forehead.
Scarface growled, "If you don't have money, shut your damn mouth!"
Ignoring Wang Que's reaction, Scarface turned and strode out, shouting over his shoulder, "Boss, we're losing money on this one. The kid's not worth a cent!"
After Scarface left, Wang Que shook his head. The slap stung, and resentment simmered within him, but... when under someone else's roof, one had to bow their head.
Even if he wanted to seethe with hatred and plot revenge, he needed to escape danger and build his strength first.
So, Wang Que now wore a placid expression, even a hint of timidity.
This acting skill had been honed in the corporate world before his transmigration.
His boss disliked employees who dared to contradict him. Sometimes, pretending to be wrong while watching the boss make mistakes was more satisfying than pointing out what should be done.
Surveying his surroundings, Wang Que remained silent.
Stone walls surrounded him, clearly indicating he was in the wilderness. Scarface had mentioned earlier that he'd been found unconscious in the Guili Plains.
This must be a hideout for a Treasure Hoarders gang in the Guili Plains, likely a cave or underground lair.
Scarface had called out "Boss," proving this gang had multiple members. A direct confrontation would be futile.
As a modern people, Wang Que knew his limits well.
Though he exercised regularly for comic cons, he was no match for these hardened criminals in a fight.
"Lord Garfield, the famous actor, once said, 'If you can't defeat your enemies, join them.'"
"So, if I can't escape the Treasure Hoarders, maybe I should join them?"
Wang Que pondered this.
He definitely couldn't afford the ransom right now. To change his situation—to escape from being a prisoner—the best option seemed to be joining the enemy.
The alternative was waiting for the Millelith or an Adventurer to rescue him.
But Wang Que was reluctant to gamble with his fate, leaving it to chance.
As he was thinking this, two figures entered the stone chamber.
One was Scarface, the man from before. The other was an even burlier man, even more imposing than Scarface.
Wang Que noticed the massive hammer strapped to the burly man's back.
A Treasure Hoarder Crusher.
He recognized the profession at a glance.
These were the small-fry mobs that players casually slaughtered in video games, now elevated to 'big shots' who held his life in their hands.
"Kid, you said you're an orphan and can't pay the ransom?" The Treasure Hoarder Crusher didn't bother to hide the kidnapping.
Wang Que nodded stiffly. "Boss, I really am an orphan. I can't thank you enough for saving me."
Scarface, standing beside the Crusher, sneered. "See? This kid's worthless. We'd be better off killing him and saving the food."
Wang Que felt a chill in his heart. The Treasure Hoarders generally didn't kill people, but that didn't mean they never did.
The Treasure Hoarders were a motley crew, a melting pot of criminals of all stripes.
Clearly, Scarface was one of the ruthless ones.
"Then weren't the drugs we gave him earlier a waste?" The Treasure Hoarders' boss glared at Scarface before turning his gaze to Wang Que. "You look big and strong. You must have some muscle."
After a brief pause, he continued, "You said you were heading to Mondstadt to find work. Why bother? Stay with us. There's always work to be done, and you'll never go hungry."
He's recruiting me before I even asked?
Wang Que was surprised, but he seized the opportunity, nodding vigorously. "Yes, boss! I'll work hard, I promise!"
"Hmm, Scar, let him go," the boss waved dismissively.
Scarface looked displeased but didn't disobey. He pulled out a key and unlocked the chains on Wang Que's wrists and ankles.
The boss continued, "Rest here for a while. Scar, come with me. We'll get some food for our new brother."
With that, he strode out, leading the way.
Wang Que quickly glanced at Scarface.
As expected, a flicker of coldness flashed across Scarface's face before quickly vanishing.
Scarface nodded at Wang Que. "Wait here."
Then he turned and left.