Volume 7 - CH 114.2

After listening to Mu Jiashi, Jiang Shuangmei shakes her head and says, “I can’t. I’ve indulged in the parties for a few years.”

Then she gives it some thought, and says, “perhaps Shen Yünjü can? He’s a ‘zombie,’ and from what I’ve heard, he’s always going into Nightmares, never having stopped.”

The ‘parties’ obviously refer to the days when Jiang Shuangmei gave up and just let themselves enjoy the endless parties.

And after going back into Nightmares, she’s been through two with him, including the one where she lost Jiang Shuangjie.

If anyone left an impression on her during this short period, he’s the only one.

And from what she can observe of him during the Nightmares, this ‘zombie’ is pretty reliable as a Missiontaker.

Though then Jiang Shuangmei shrugs, and says, “I’m just saying, because I don’t really know other Missiontakers all that well.”

She hasn’t anyone else she thinks is suitable for entering Xü Beijin’s Nightmare.

“Shen Yünjü?” Mu Jiashi repeats the name, and says, “being a Zombie is alright. If you think he’s reliable, then I’ll talk to him.”

“Sure…” Jiang Shuangmei answers.

Then Ding Yi also advises, “in the last Nightmare, the couple we met might be suitable too? They are from the upper floors, and have worked hard to look for an exit, which means they must have been through many Nightmares.”

Mu Jiashi nods, and mentions, “right. And He Shujün… I wonder if any of them left the bottom floor.”

“Picking from our past companions?” Jiang Shuangmei then says almost jokingly, “what about Mystic? She’s from the upper floors, and such a Missiontaker in a Nightmare may be helpful in unexpected ways.”

Mystic?

Mu Jiashi thinks about it, and suddenly recalls, “you are referring to the Nightmare with the crumbling building and the little girl?”

“You knew that Nightmare too?” Jiang Shuangmei, surprised, asks.

Mu Jiashi says, “I’m working with Fei and Wu Jian.”

Jiang Shuangmei looks a little put off, but then she says, “I see. If you’re serious about inviting her, Mystic has largely rooted herself to the little girl… Uh, not a little girl anymore, but, Mystic is staying by the side of the woman she insists is her daughter.”

“I see.”

Ding Yi then says, “so about the couple, Shen Yünjü and He Shujün, I’ll try and see if I can find them. You’ll have a reply tonight at the earliest.”

Mu Jiashi then thanks her genuinely, “thank you…”

Then he falls into thought.

He himself, Lin Qin, then Fei and Wu Jian, the couple, Shen Yünjü, He Shujün and Mystic…

Nine. Plus the people coming down here from the Golddiggers, maybe one or two. He’ll have enough people, and maybe even room to adjust.

While thinking so, a hand suddenly pops into sight.

Jiang Shuangmei is handing him a utility card.

Mu Jiashi receives it, looking bewildered.

Then Jiang Shuangmei explains, “this is a pretty useful card, and there’s one Use left, but it despises me. I’m handing it to you; this Nightmare is really important. Good luck.”

Mu Jiashi then reads the card over.

‘Card Name: The Devil’s Mask

Card Illustration: [An elegantly detailed mask]

Description: When the Devil is out to do evil, he always needs a mask to hide his appearance.

You will possess this ability, and the Devil will be pleased if it is used to commit evil;

That said, using the Devil’s ability, will always have its price.

Uses: 1/3 (Automatically replenished if you commit evil and remain undiscovered)’

This is an exceptionally useful Trick card among the utility cards, but one must remain wary of the price it says.

Mu Jiashi, grateful, thanks Jiang Shuangmei, who waves her dismissively and casually says, “it’s for leaving the Tower,” then, she pauses, and continues in a sombre tone, “and also… for my sister.”

Mu Jiashi glances at Ding Yi, then says, “I see. Um… Let’s pray that all goes well.”

He says dryly.

Then, he waves goodbye to Ding Yi and Jiang Shuangmei, and returns to his own residence.

Fei and Wu Jian are waiting for him, and, after listening to the candidates so far, they nod.

Shen Yünjü surprised the two of them a little, though.

Mu Jiashi explains, “the Zombies have quite the unexpected survival ability and are able to keep themselves safe better than even many Missiontakers. If he could at least survive all the way in that Nightmare, the hope will be carried on.”

In short, it is an exceptionally pessimistic preparation if the worst were to happen, but Mu Jiashi knows it must be done.

If they can know for sure what Xü Beijin’s Nightmare is, they could perhaps have had more specific measures.

But in this game, clearly, the Tower residents cannot elaborate on the nature of their Nightmare at all, or tell them how to resolve it.

So, all Mu Jiashi can do, is to add as many safeguards as he can, based on information Xü Beijin has told him.

Fei and Wu Jian both look like they still want a word, but in the end, they both sigh, and let Mu Jiashi carry on.

Yes. They definitely need a Missiontaker who can at least survive to the end.

In a sense, whether Xü Beijin did warn them about his Nightmare’s dangers or not, when they enter his Nightmare, they are all going to be ready for death when they enter.

When the rest of the Missiontakers are assembled, including those from the Golddiggers, Mu Jiashi will also tell them honestly about how dangerous this whole ordeal is. They will decide themselves, if they are still willing to enter.

He would not force them if they don’t want to.

This is no simple Nightmare. Their lives are on the line.

Even if they wouldn’t definitely die inside the Nightmares, but succumbing is not much different from dying.

“Oh, also…” Mu Jiashi recalls something, and asks, “about utility cards. If you’ll pardon my asking… how many do you have?”

Fei answers honestly, “we brought some of our inventory with us, so we have dozens, of many types. When everyone is gathered up, we will offer them up. They are consumables in our organisation, so we can use them as we wish.”

Mu Jiashi “…”

Wu Jian cannot see how speechless Mu Jiashi is, and is commenting, “if only we knew… I would have brought along all the rare strategic reserves down with us,” he then goes ‘tch,’ and says, “we can always draw more if we need to.”

There is also no time to have members of their organisation send some down. The Golddiggers are able to send people down, simply because, by virtue of their career, their business model can only extend so far up the floors, so they’re pretty close by.

Fei and Wu Jian’s organisation, though, is far, far higher up.

Wu Jian is seriously lamenting not having brought more utility cards down and ensure success.

Mu Jiashi opens his mouth, and says with a pretty dry tone, “it’s alright.”

That night, Mu Jiashi received a reply from Ding Yi, and also contact from the Golddiggers. He busily ran around to personally talk to every invited Missiontaker.

Finally, the male Missiontaker of that couple from the last Nightmare chose to withdraw. It is because the Golddiggers sent two Missiontakers down, and so, considering Xü Beijin’s requirements, the two of them would be better suited to the task than him.

After understanding that, the Missiontaker chose to stay behind in the Tower.

Now, the ten Missiontakers to enter Xü Beijin’s Nightmare are settled.

Among them, A-One and A-Two are from the Golddiggers. Simply looking at their serial designation, Mu Jiashi is amazed by how helpful the Golddiggers are.

The two Missiontakers are the current top-1 and top-2 of the Golddiggers. After Mu Jiashi asked for help in ‘exploring a new Nightmare,’ the organisation he was once a part of sent the two of them down to the bottom floor, along with really warm regards.

Mu Jiashi was simply astonished. It looks like the utility cards he left behind for the organisation were worth even more than he thought they would.

Well, now isn’t that just being a spoil-sport, though…

Though even if they’re practically being ‘mercenaries for hire’ in this case, but when they returned to the bottom floor, and got into contact with Mu Jiashi, Mu Jiashi still told them about what was going on, emphasising on the potential danger.

He told the same piece of information to all the Missiontakers that were told about Xü Beijin’s Nightmare, but their responses were unexpectedly unanimous.

Shen Yünjü replied, “I’ve had enough of being a Zombie, and being trapped in this coffin of a Tower like a corpse.”

He Shujün replied, “thanks for saving me the last time. Escaping the Tower? Of course I’m in! I came to the bottom floor for that, after all!”

Ye Lan replied, “thank you for asking. I’m glad to join… In fact, I’m honoured.”

Mystic replied, “my daughter told me, she doesn’t like living in the Tower… I can feel it… I can feel it! I can feel an opportunity for freedom!”

A-One, A-Two, who thought this was simply another job, after listening to Mu Jiashi, both appear shocked and yells almost in unison, “for real?!”

They get to do their job and save the world along the way?

Mu Jiashi “…”

His old pals, seem a little, unreliable all of a sudden.

Regardless, the list is settled.