Translator: AnubisTL
Meanwhile, Scar Dog received a message from Ma Zi, his face instantly darkening. "Brother Jiang," he said grimly, "Ma Zi's demanding sixty percent of the loot for this operation."
"Give it to him," Chen Jiang replied coldly, his expression wary as he gripped his hand cannon with one hand, aiming at the shop's curtain, ready to face the drones that could burst in at any moment, bristling with firepower.
"Understood," Scar Dog replied, his face also darkening slightly. He quickly relayed the message. If Ma Zi delayed any longer, they'd be completely trapped here.
Surrendering was out of the question.
As outsiders, they were inherently at odds with the natives of this world. There was no concept of imprisonment or trial; capture meant immediate execution.
Their makeshift weapons were no match for the world's well-equipped military forces.
Just then, the drone's mechanical whine echoed outside the shop once more.
"Third warning. Criminals inside the shop, drop your weapons immediately and surrender."
"Three warnings complete."
"Requesting authorization to unlock firepower."
"Authorization granted."
"Firepower unlocked: 38%."
"Prepare to fire!"
The next moment—
A hail of bullets pierced the door curtain and tore through the shop, striking with relentless force.
Chen Jiang swiftly ducked behind a crate in the warehouse, his face twisted with anger as he glared at Scar Dog. "Where's that old bastard Ma Zi? Is he attending his own funeral? Where the hell is he?"
"Ma Zi raised his price again—90%. He won't send a pickup unless we pay."
"I see."
Chen Jiang suddenly exhaled, a flicker of realization in his eyes. "He never intended to come. He wants us dead here."
They had transmigrated to this world three months ago.
To this day, they still didn't know what kind of world it was, only that its technology was advanced and its firepower far superior.
Three months ago, everyone on Earth had been thrust into this damned world.
However, it seemed the people of this world weren't surprised by the sudden arrival. They had long prepared their defenses and, the moment the newcomers landed, swiftly mobilized their forces and firepower to launch a massacre.
He didn't know how many people died in that slaughter, but he knew it was a great many.
Of the group he was with at the time, only he and Scar Dog escaped; everyone else perished.
After a month of wandering in the wilderness, battling those damned mutated beasts, they stumbled upon Ma Zi's human settlement tucked away in a corner of a ruined junkyard.
Since then, they had been working with Ma Zi.
He planned and executed the operations, while Ma Zi provided fire support and acted as backup.
They split the profits fifty-fifty.
After several successful missions, they had developed a solid working relationship.
For example, the unmanned heavy truck had been Ma Zi's support. According to the plan, Ma Zi should have already sent a modified off-road vehicle with a deck to wait for them at the shop's back door.
Only Ma Zi possessed such an illegally modified vehicle.
This time, however, Ma Zi clearly had no intention of letting them live.
Huff.
Chen Jiang peeked out at the tattered curtain, riddled with holes. He could hear the distant wail of sirens growing louder. With a pang of regret, he pulled a palm-sized, white-glowing stone from his pocket.
[Item Name: X-18 Energy Block]
[Item Tier: One-Star Item]
[Item Description: Can be used to power vehicles, weapons, drones, and all mechanical products. It is the most common type of energy block, mass-produced on assembly lines.]
[Item Corporation: City 18, Hoffett Corporation]
In this world, nearly all items and objects triggered an information screen to appear in one's mind upon contact. The exact mechanism behind this phenomenon remained a mystery, and they had neither the time nor the resources to investigate it.
He handed the energy block to Scar Dog, his voice urgent. "Here, use this and get out of here now!"
When they had first transmigrated to this world, each of them had received a random talent. Scar Dog's talent was called "Energy Drive."
[Energy Drive: Consumes an energy block to open a spatial portal, allowing random teleportation within a limited area. The teleportation range varies depending on the energy block's star rating.]
"This..."
Scar Dog paused, accepting the energy block from Chen Jiang. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes. "Brother Jiang, we worked so hard to get this energy block."
"Without it, we can't assemble our own vehicle. Our future movements will be severely restricted. Wasting it like this feels like such a waste."
"There's no time for arguing."
The gunfire outside had ceased, leaving the shop riddled with bullet holes. The screech of brakes and the enforcers' warning shouts to clear the area were already audible.
The enforcers had arrived.
"Move! If we don't leave now, we'll be trapped."
"Yes, sir!"
A deep reluctance flashed in Scar Dog's eyes as he clutched the energy block, activating his energy drive to open a spatial portal and escape.
Poof!
With a soft hiss, the energy block dissolved into white mist, coalescing into a shimmering, human-sized portal in mid-air.
"Go!"
The crisp ping of a grenade pin being pulled echoed from outside. Without hesitation, Chen Jiang hoisted the burlap sack slung over his shoulder and charged toward the spatial portal.
But just then—
He suddenly noticed a glass-encased item displayed beneath a nearby cabinet. It looked somewhat valuable, though it was positioned at the very bottom, close to the floor.
At first, they hadn't even seen it.
Without hesitation, Chen Jiang stopped abruptly and lunged toward the cabinet. He snatched up the glass box and shoved it into his chest, just as he heard the grenade hit the floor and begin to roll.
"Move!"
He roared urgently, summoning the fastest sprint of his life. With every ounce of strength he could muster, he charged straight toward the spatial portal.
Scar Dog, reacting instantly to Chen Jiang's shout, hoisted the steel sword-mounted autocannon from his shoulder and plunged through the portal, vanishing from sight.
The instant Chen Jiang dove through the portal—
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion erupted behind him.
The ear-splitting roar, searing heatwave, and violent shockwave nearly convinced Chen Jiang he was about to meet his end right there.
After what felt like a few heartbeats, Chen Jiang and Scar Dog materialized in a warehouse, their heads spinning slightly. The spatial portal transit had been like being thrown into a meat grinder—a truly unpleasant experience.
(End of the Chapter)
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