Matrix Survival: I Get A Random Chest Every Day

"So, let's kill the bastard Banizumi?"

The two players were stunned upon hearing this, looking at each other in confusion, unsure of what Li Zheng was up to.

"That's right, you've got one minute to decide. If no one makes a choice after one minute, I'll let you all become food for my pet here." Li Zheng pointed at the bewildered Sakura, smiling dangerously, "To help you focus on this proposal, let's start by disabling one arm for each of you."

After saying that, he really started counting, number by number.

In his hand, he picked up a longsword and plunged it hard over the shoulders of the two, tearing off one arm each from the inside.

He wasn't doing this without purpose; he didn't want to give them time to think calmly.

From the moment he took action until now, not even a minute had passed. In this minute, the two conscious players' minds were still in a state of chaos, easily influenced.

But over time, they would calm down and might discover Li Zheng didn't want to become a marked player.

So Li Zheng only gave a minute to think. For safety, he disabled one arm each because the pain would cause a mental panic.

"Ten, eleven, twelve... twenty..."

Time ticked by exactly as Li Zheng expected. Their faces twisted with pain, without much thinking, and within thirty seconds, they both spoke up: "I'll do it!"

"Thirty-one..."

The counting stopped abruptly; Li Zheng shook his head: "There's only one Banizumi bastard, so only one of you will have the chance to kill him for survival."

He signaled Sakura to have the Pink Poli release them.

"Why not... let the two of you fight it out, and the one left standing gets the chance to kill Banizumi?"

Li Zheng wasn't at all worried that they would resist. Even given ten more days, they couldn't pose a threat to him.

With the Pink Poli around, he wasn't afraid of them trying to escape again.

Sure enough, once freed, both immediately drew their weapons and attacked the teammate they chatted pleasantly with just a minute ago.

For survival, even if their own father stood in front of them, they wouldn't hesitate at all.

Both of their weapons were lousy, only Silver Level. One fought in close range with a Tachi, the other used an M4a1 carbine from afar.

The one wielding the Tachi managed to strike the opponent's neck fiercely before they could aim.

Because only one arm could move, he lacked the strength, and the Tachi got stuck between the opponent's neck bones, unable to pull it out.

Bam!

Struck by the Tachi, the other fired a shot before dying, hitting the opponent's thigh, leaving a bloody hole.

Li Zheng watched the scene without flinching, though inside, he was contemplating something else.

Not sure if the Emotion Balance Bracelet had just taken effect and the effect hadn't worn off yet, or perhaps it wasn't directly caused by himself, but as he looked at the bloody scene, an unexpected calm remained within him.

"Maybe tonight I can test it. Only by understanding this malevolent energy can I maximize the benefits of mental training."

Among the Mud Furnace players, the one who survived was the bandaged one; from his previous injuries, it was evident he was more skilled with close-combat weapons.

Stepping on the corpse of his companion, he forcefully pulled out the Tachi and limped toward Li Zheng, blocked by Sakura.

"Mr. Li, I won." His gaze crossed Sakura, fixing on Li Zheng.

Vaguely, he sensed something amiss. Why wouldn't Li Zheng personally kill all three of them?

And even agree to let one go?

Could it be Li Zheng wanted revenge by slaughtering them all?

Or did Li Zheng have some twisted enjoyment in watching others kill each other?

He barely had time to think; the pain in his shoulder and thigh made it hard to concentrate, perhaps only after surviving and tending to his injuries could he calmly ponder it all.

"Congratulations." Li Zheng offered a gentle smile, pointing to the still-breathing Banizumi bastard: "Now claim your prize. Kill him, and I'll let you leave here alive."

If Shinoda Chizuru were alive, she'd surely find Li Zheng's current expression very familiar and frightening.

"Thank you, Mr. Li." The man dragged a leg, flailing an arm with skin barely holding it together, reaching Banizumi and thrusting the Tachi into his chest.

Schluk~

Withdrawing the Tachi, blood spurted out.

Two minutes ago, the three sat together joking, and now, only one remained, having personally killed the other two.

"Farewell."

After killing Banizumi, he turned to leave, not wanting to stay even for a moment.

"Stop." Li Zheng suddenly ordered, startling him into a tremor, turning back.

"Is Mr. Li going to go back on his word?" His face was ashen, as he finally realized Li Zheng didn't want to personally kill just to avoid being marked.

"Go back on my word? I only asked you to stop, never said I would kill you, so where's the betrayal?" Li Zheng's smile turned cold, "Or are you going to falsely accuse me once more after framing me as a rapist?"

"I wouldn't dare!" His heart skipped a beat. Each of Li Zheng's expressions seemed magical in his eyes, easily sparking terror within him, as cold sweat trickled down, carefully asking: "Then why did Mr. Li stop me?"

Every word was spoken cautiously, fearing provoking Li Zheng to truly go back on his word and kill him.

Li Zheng picked up two Identity Cards and put them in a capsule: "Do you think you can get away with framing me?"

He tossed a loudspeaker at the man: "Publicize the plot you planned with Banizumi to frame me, then disappear from my sight!"

"...Sure!"

Nodding, he picked up the loudspeaker Li Zheng threw, feeling relieved.

Turns out Li Zheng only stopped him for this; he really had been overthinking it.

For someone of Li Zheng's level, reputation must matter more. How could he break faith with a minor character like him?

He sent two "confession" messages to the world channel, detailing the plan to frame Li Zheng from start to finish. Due to his good confessional attitude, he even described the plan thoroughly, to the extent that both his small horn and the loudspeaker Li Zheng gave weren't enough.

For that, Li Zheng provided two more loudspeakers so he could publicize all of it, including any contingency plans they had for dealing with Li Zheng.

"Can I leave now?" After finishing the world channel broadcast, he looked at Li Zheng, seeking his approval.

After reviewing the plan posted in the world channel, Li Zheng impatiently waved him off: "Scram."

"Thank you, Mr. Li!" Gratefully, he quickly hobbled away on an injured leg.

Li Zheng dug in his ear, pulled out a long, thin salted fish, holding it before his eyes: "I'm sorry, I lied to you. See how polite I am, I even apologized. But you guys never said even a 'sumimasen' to me!"

Gunfire erupted, the Energy Bomb shot out in an instant, shattering the target's skull.

"Done, next one." Stowing away the Daiyu Spear, Li Zheng walked with ease, collecting the third Identity Card, and prepared to find the next target.

Just then, another world channel message popped up, catching Li Zheng's attention.

"Looking for me?"

...