Infinite Ebullience

"This isn't good." As he watched the prisoner approach the air hostess, Tang Zheng instinctively reached into his travel bag. There, he had an extreme force Vengeful Goddess Tactical Folding Knife, an authentic Italian product. It was a gift from his uncle when he got into university, and it could cut through iron like mud.

However, things didn't escalate as he expected. After a few steps, the prisoner suddenly laughed at the hostesses, bent over and said apologetically, "Sorry, I meant no harm, just a joke. Rest assured, I am a model prisoner." He then returned to the corner, sat beside the elder man, and closed his eyes to rest.

Almost everyone heaved a sigh of relief. The hostesses even patted their chests in gratitude. But Tang Zheng's scalp tingled, his body instinctively tensing up. The veins on the back of his hand, where he held the folding knife, bulged from exertion. The other party seemed to notice Tang Zheng's reaction but remained silent, a trace of gravity crossing his face.

A calm prisoner is far more troublesome than an impulsive one. Tang Zheng didn't believe that a man who dared to escape from prison after being suppressed for over a dozen years would be intimidated by a few women. Moreover, the first few words spoken by a person who has suddenly entered a safety zone from a dangerous situation are very likely to be an honest outpouring of emotions. That left only one explanation —he was waiting for the perfect hunting opportunity.

"I get it. Is this a survival game?" The high school student jumped up, shouting excitedly, "I read novels often and they do have such content. The Main God summons ordinary people then teleports them into a world for a survival challenge. No wonder our phones have no signal."

"Have you all lost your enthusiasm for life? The Main God always chooses such people." Seizing the opportunity to strike up a conversation, the high school student asked the air hostess excitedly, but alas, no one responded to him. The air hostesses didn't even glance at him.

Tang Zheng subtly shook his head, musing, it served him right. In a strange environment, people instinctively form small groups based on identity, status, age, and clothing. The high school student was evidently unreliable in their eyes, and his questions had no value.

After all, who would blindly trust a stranger? Typically, individuals make their own protection their top priority unless one can prove their innocence and worth. Thus, each person's occupation and identity serve as a fundamental guarantee of trustworthiness; otherwise, the default mode is silence and distance.

Take the two prisoners, for example, they were clearly ostracized. The socially experienced maintenance worker understood this too and didn't make a scene. As for Tang Zheng, without flaunting his student ID, he probably would have been the most overlooked and insignificant one —who knew if he was an unemployed drifter? However, his tall figure and chiseled appearance offset some of the negativity, providing at least a bit of reassurance. Nevertheless, that was as far as it went.

Tang Zheng was indifferent to their dismissive gazes. With firm lips pursed, he discreetly examined the people in the room because he needed a few reliable hands on his side. Trying to survive alone would be quite challenging, and it was clear that he wouldn't be the team leader. Zhao Jingye, the man with a captain's credentials and good rapport with the most abundant group —the hostesses— was the likeliest candidate.

Just as Tang Zheng was devising countermeasures for the potential situations that might arise, the black cube in the center of the room suddenly lit up, turning semi-transparent. This unexpected event startled everyone. Especially when the rock version of the International Song began to play, they all looked at one another in confusion.

"Look, here it comes, the Main God's arrived." The high school student, wholly excited, darted forward, declaring, "I was absolutely right. What kind of challenge awaits us this time? Where are the weapons? The equipment? Ha, I might become the leading player this time."