'They don't believe me.'
A flicker of wariness surfaced in Wang Que's mind.
The Treasure Hoarders' boss was surprisingly easy to talk to, and Scarface's fleeting cold expression made Wang Que realize that while he appeared safe, he was actually far from it.
With this thought, Wang Que rotated his wrists and ankles, then quietly sat down in place.
He didn't know what the Treasure Hoarders were planning.
But the workplace safety rule said: the less you say, the fewer mistakes you make; the less you do, the fewer mistakes you make.
When you don't have a guaranteed chance of success, doing nothing and pushing the responsibility onto others is the best strategy.
In this case, since he didn't know what the Treasure Hoarders were planning, Wang Que decided to do nothing and wait.
__
Outside the stone chamber,
the Treasure Hoarders' boss said to Scarface, "This kid's all soft skin and tender flesh. He doesn't have any signs of martial training, nor does he possess a Vision. He probably isn't dangerous. Keep an eye on him for a while and see how he behaves."
Scarface chuckled. "Boss, are you really going to let him join the gang?"
The boss rolled his eyes. "Do you think the Blackwing Treasure Hoarders are that easy to join? Observe him first. We're heading to excavate that ruin next. He can be used as additional muscle for now. If he performs well, letting him join isn't out of the question."
The Treasure Hoarders were a motley crew of society's underclass. If Wang Que proved obedient and useful, there was no reason not to keep him.
"Alright, Boss, you're the one in charge," Scarface nodded.
The Boss continued, "Go get him some food and take him for a walk around. Just remember, don't take him anywhere he shouldn't be."
Scarface chuckled, "Ha ha, Boss, you don't know me well enough? Trust me to handle this."
"Good. I've got other things to do. Just keep an eye on him," the Boss replied before turning and leaving.
Watching the Boss depart, Scarface spat, "What a piece of trash. If I couldn't beat you, I'd be the first to revolt."
Pouting, he headed toward the kitchen.
The Blackwing Treasure Hoarders were a mid-sized gang, numbering nearly fifty members.
Even their temporary encampment was substantial, complete with a dedicated kitchen.
After grabbing a few boiled potatoes from the kitchen and joking around with some passing gang members, Scarface returned to the cell.
Standing in the doorway, he glanced inside.
"This kid's got some nerve, not even trying to escape." Scarface smirked coldly.
If Wang Que couldn't resist moving around, his unfamiliar face would undoubtedly be mistaken by the vigilant Treasure Hoarders as an escaped prisoner or intruder, and the consequences would be self-evident.
He strode into the stone chamber with purposeful steps.
By the time he entered, Scarface had already changed his demeanor. "Hahaha, come on, brother, eat something."
As he spoke, he stuffed several boiled potatoes into Wang Que's hands. "The group's out in the wilderness right now, so there's nothing fancy. Just fill your stomach for now."
The potatoes were cold, but Wang Que didn't care. He accepted them eagerly and stuffed them into his mouth. "Thank you, Brother! Thank you, Brother!" His voice was muffled by the food in his mouth.
Scarface didn't mind. Watching Wang Que wolf down the potatoes, he nodded slightly.
The potatoes had been tossed on the ground before being handed over, covered in sand and grit.
The fact that Wang Que could swallow them whole fit the profile of a penniless orphan perfectly.
"Haha, no need to thank me. It's all because the Boss values you," Scarface said with a laugh.
Wang Que had already devoured the first potato.
Looking gratefully at Scarface, he said, "Then I must thank you, Brother! My name is Wang Que. May I ask how you'd like to be addressed?"
Scarface said, "When you're on the road, you can't afford to use your real name. If you respect me, call me Brother Scar. If you don't, just call me Scarface."
Wang Que gave a hint of flattery. "Brother Scar, you clearly have real skill. I hope you'll look after me in the future."
He had once groveled for three months to a minor manager at a client company just to get a deal.
A few flattery lines for Scarface were child's play.
No one slaps a smiling face.
Praise always sounds better than curses.
Basking in Wang Que's flattery, Scarface replied, "No problem, no problem."
After a pause, he continued, "Hurry up and eat. Once you're done, I'll show you around the group so you don't feel too lost and avoid any misunderstandings."
"Right away," Wang Que nodded guilelessly, continuing to devour the slightly sandy potatoes.
'I survived days without food, and you're worried about a few grains of sand? You're the ones who call this 'organic' farming? Give me a break.'
Before long, he had polished off several potatoes.
Scarface nodded in satisfaction. "Follow me."
He turned and strode out, Wang Que hurrying after him.
Only after leaving the stone chamber did Wang Que realize just how vast the place was.
The place where Wang Que was imprisoned was just a small cave, and there were over a dozen similar caves scattered around.
All these caves were located within a massive cavern.
At the front of the cavern was a curved entrance, which seemed to be the way in.
In the center of the cave burned a fire, with torches stuck around it to illuminate the interior.
Visible throughout the cave were numerous scaffolds, upon which people stood with bows and crossbows, likely serving as guards.
Around the perimeter of the cave were groups of unarmed Treasure Hoarders, gathered in clusters of three to five, seemingly playing some kind of gambling game.
Scarface, apparently itching for action, led Wang Que over to join them.
Only then did Wang Que see what they were playing:
It was a simple game: guessing the face of a Mora.
The Mora's design featured a Celtic triquetra combined with an inverted triangle, somewhat resembling a three-leaved clover.
Originally, it had no distinct front or back.
But the Treasure Hoarders had polished one side, creating a "reverse" side.
In the center of the crowd lay a pile of Moras.
"Bet and let go!" a burly man shouted, his eyes gleaming at the sight of the accumulating Moras.
He tossed the gambling token high into the air, then swiftly slapped his hand down to cover it as it landed.
The Treasure Hoarders erupted in shouts.
"Front! Front! Front!"
"Back! Back! Back!"
Wang Que, intrigued, craned his neck to see.
The burly man slowly raised his hand, revealing a triangular knot pattern.
"Hahaha! It's front! I won!" Someone laughed, grabbing the money.
"Damn it! Why is it front again?" Another member watched dejectedly as their money was taken.
Wang Que shook his head slightly. A pack of gambling addicts. They deserve to die.
Scarface, standing nearby, glanced at Wang Que's dismissive gesture, his eyes turning cold.
Dislikes gambling? That won't do.
The Treasure Hoarders were, at their core, a gang of thugs. Recruiting someone without weaknesses would make them difficult to control.
His eyes narrowed, Scarface reached into his coat and pulled out three or five mora. "Come on, if you're joining the crew, you need to fit in. Join the fun."
He pressed the mora into Wang Que's hand.
The moment the mora touched his palm, Wang Que's vision blurred. A strange virtual panel suddenly appeared before him.
[ Name: Wang Que ]
[ Race: Human Race ]
[ Life Energy Level: 1 (You're a pure civilian, unable to even defeat a slime.) ]
[ (At this stage, leveling up requires 100 Mora per level.) ]
[ Skills: None. ]
[ Wealth: 5 Mora ]
[ --- ]
'M-My cheat?"