The Creatures That We Are-Chapter 1199: Beautiful Lady

Degenerate Street, Li City University

“I have a tentative proposal.” Wang Shu cocked her head with a smile and took the lollipop out of her mouth. “Wanna hear it?”

Liao Liao maintained her poker face, but her heart was racing. What was she up to again?

She wasn’t in a rush to start a fight, though. It wouldn’t do them any harm to hear her out first—well, not unless Sloth had abilities similar to Word Game, Deception, or Gambler. Then she would be able to hurt them through speech.

Liao Liao gestured at her companion. “Stay put. I’ll have a private chat with her.”

Despite her concern, Hong Xiaoxiao decided to follow the order. She took Nainai’s and Old Seven’s hands and went invisible with them.

Liao Liao looked at Wang Shu warily. “Alright, talk.”

Wang Shu pushed the lollipop back into her mouth and blinked. “You said so yourself. The odds are fifty-fifty if a fight breaks out. We have an equal chance of winning and losing.”

Well, yeah, Miss Obiouvs. Liao Liao didn’t voice that thought.

“So why fight to determine a winner?” Wang Shu smiled. “That’ll be tiring.”

Liao Liao realized what Wang Shu was proposing, but she waited until the death monster to say it.

“We can just play rock-paper-scissors or toss a coin. The odds will be fifty-fifty, too.” Wang Shu flashed her a genuine smile. “If I win, you die. If you win, I die. Easy and simple path to the same result.”

Liao Liao pulled her lips into a cryptic smile while she yelled in her mind, As expected of Sloth! She puts no effort into even something that’ll decide life and death. Compared to her, I’m a model employee!

But she’s right about one thing. If the chance is going to be fifty-fifty, why fight? It’s more efficient to opt for a simple alternative.

And it’s actually beneficial to us. If we fight, losing will mean total party kill, while winning will still come with casualties.

If we decide the winner through a simple game, though, defeat will mean the same, but none of us will die in a victory. That’s a bargain!

What do I do? I’m being swayed!

Can it be Wang Shu’s scheme, though? And how are we going to ensure that the promise is kept?

“Have you reached a conclusion?” Wang Shu asked.

Liao Liao’s lips quirked up. “Interesting proposal. I’ll have to talk to my teammates.”

“Sure.” Wang Shu tilted her head. “Then I’ll go for snacks in that store. Find me whenever you’ve made a decision.”

With her hands behind her back, she skipped her way to the convenience store while humming.

...

A few minutes later, all members of Team Liao Liao migrated to a rooftop to discuss Wang Shu’s proposal.

“No! This must be a trap!” Old Seven gesticulated hurriedly. “Don’t you see? See how pretty Wang Shu is?”

“And?” Hong Xiaoxiao asked in confusion.

“You can’t trust a word out of the mouth of a pretty lady!”

The other three exchanged a strange glance. They didn’t understand how Old Seven came to that conclusion.

Liao Liao turned to Nainai. “What do you think, Empress Nai?”

Nainai lifted her delicate chin pridefully. “This Empress accepts her challenge!”

“Your reason?” Liao Liao asked.

“Hmph, the insolent one dares to challenge this Empress’s destiny? That’s akin to a fly trying to shake a tree!”

“An ant, you mean[1].” Liao Liao corrected.

“Same-same difference!” Nainai said awkwardly. She quickly protested, “Human language is too fussy.”

Liao Liao turned to Hong Xiaoxiao then.

Hong Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and thought for a moment. “If this isn’t a trap, I say we take it. Because...”

She trailed off. Liao Liao finished her sentence for her with a wry smile: “Because you don’t think we stand even a fifty percent chance against Sloth if we fight?”

Hong Xiaoxiao nodded. “I told myself to fight to the last moment bravely, or I wouldn’t be able to face our companions after death. But that’s just me trying to make myself feel better. I think the most important thing is to win the battle no matter what. That’s what our lost companions would most want to see.”

She met Liao Liao’s gaze with heated eyes. “So if luck will give us a better chance, I say we take it.”

Liao Liao smiled approvingly. “I agree with Little Hong.”

Old Seven couldn’t believe it. “Wait, are you all out of your mind? How can you let luck decide something this important?!”

“Luck is a real strength,” Liao Liao said.

“No! I can’t accept it!” Old Seven vehemently declared. “If we can’t defeat her, I’ll die accepting my inadequacy. If we die because of luck, I won’t be able to rest easy even after death!”

Silence followed. Then Liao Liao looked up and said, “I understand how you feel and respect what you think, Old Seven, but I am the team leader tonight. You must obey the order.”

“But—”

“You must obey the order,” Liao Liao repeated.

Meeting Liao Liao’s solemn, determined eyes, Old Seven sighed. “Fine, fine. Go ahead! Let me just preface that I won’t take responsibility if we lose. You’re gonna be the one to kowtow to our companions in the netherworld.”

“Duly noted.” Liao Liao smiled.

...

Five minutes later.

Wang Shu sat on the edge of the convenience store’s rooftop with her hands on the floor and her legs dangling off the edge. Drinks and sweets lay beside her. The cold white moon looked upon her and the gray ruin below.

She hummed a melancholy tune as the night wind kissed her face gently. She stopped when she noticed someone approaching. She turned around with her arms around her legs and her chin rested on her knees, lazily looking up.

The four awakeners stood in a line, expressions serious and eyes alert.

“Have you decided?” Wang Shu asked with a smile.

Liao Liao nodded. “We agree to your proposal. Let’s decide with a game of rock-paper-scissors.”

“Haha, that’s more like it.” Wang Shu smiled. “Fighting is a hassle.”

“However,” Liao Liao paused, “We don’t trust you. What if you refuse to honor your word after we win?”

“Nothing I can do about that.” Wang Shu shrugged. “Aren’t all games based on mutual trust and credibility? Same for Truth or Dare.”

“I have a suggestion.” Liao Liao poitned at Old Seven. “He has a Talent, Contrat. He can create a contract about our game with binding power. Whoever violates the condition must pay a heavy price.”

“Sure,” Wang Shu agreed readily.

Liao Liao gave Old Seven a pointed look. “Alright.”

Old Seven hesitated before walking between Wang Shu and Liao Liao, extending his hands to them. “No time to create a formal contract. Let’s have you form an agreement with me as the medium. Just take my hands.”

“Okay.” Wang Shu remained on the floor. Looking up, she extended a hand sluggishly. “Come closer. I’m too lazy to get up.”

1. An ant trying to shake a tree is an idiom that means challenging the impossible. ☜