Tower of Overturn

While Russell contemplated, Glass became somewhat panicked.

She reached out to cover the wine-soaked chest of her gown.

It seemed as if she only just realized that her thin white shirt had become wet with the wine, making it semi-transparent.

"Sorry, I'm going to step out for a bit... to change clothes..."

Glass got up and whispered softly, "I'm really sorry!"

"Ah, it's nothing."

Russell smiled, "I should have noticed and warned you sooner; rather, it's my responsibility."

"I'm really sorry... You can watch a variety show or listen to an opera if you want. The program library here is quite comprehensive."

With that, Glass didn't wait for Russell to respond; she simply waved her hand in the air, opening the screen opposite the sofa bed.

Although every person's chip at the back of their head comes with a playback function, a big screen still feels more comfortable to watch.

Not to mention, it was a huge screen that took up an entire wall—once it switched on, it began playing a comedy show similar to a stand-up act.

The canned laughter that surrounded Russell even had surround sound, echoing from all around him.

Watching Glass leave the room with her handbag, Russell didn't make himself uncomfortable.

He comfortably sprawled on the soft sofa bed, squinting his eyes as he listened to the comedy.

Should he credit Glass for her carefulness? Even though the wine had spilled, the sofa bed didn't become damp.

But laying down directly didn't seem quite right to him. Mainly because he felt it impolite whether he took off his shoes or not.

It was at this moment, while lying on the sofa bed, that Russell couldn't help but sneeze—the pillow was a mix of scents from three girls, slightly overpowering for Russell, who had a keen sense of smell.

As he rolled over on the sofa bed and looked up at the screen, he unexpectedly discovered...

The giant screen playing the comedy suddenly popped up with two huge red frames, precisely overlaying the faces of the two characters.

[Escape].

[Escape].

[Escape][Escape][Escape][Escape][Escape]—

Right after that, a multitude of warnings of various sizes, like virus pop-ups, kept surging forth, completely covering the entire screen.

"—Hahaha!"

The shrill canned laughter still surrounded him from all directions. The hysterical laughter was as if someone were mocking Russell.

Russell's pupils constricted, sensing a tremendous crisis.

He suddenly sprang from the sofa bed, sliding off as if he swiped down... but just barely missed a cold, heavy metallic arm.

It was originally aimed right at the back of Russell's head.

Startled, Russell's pupils instantly became vertical slits like a cat's, and he reached out to grasp at the empty air.

Between the fingers of Russell's right hand, three emerald green semi-transparent light shadows were clamped.

The Nonexistent Device, set to "sever only nerves and data lines," followed the end of the metallic handle and slashed toward where the shoulder would be. And Russell felt the tangible sensation of cutting through something.

Russell sprang back sharply, his ears perked up to scan his surroundings.

In front of him, a silent silhouette gradually emerged from the void.

—This was the same black-clad figure from the armed helicopter yesterday.

His left prosthetic arm unnaturally hung down, clearly unable to function anymore.

"Iron Claw can't be used,"

mumbled the black-clad figure in a muffled and unclear voice, "Be careful, don't engage him in close combat."

—More people?!

Russell tensed up inside.

The next moment, a dull thud resounded from the void.

There was a loud ping... something was launched and hit the ground.

In the brief flash of light from the launch, Russell spotted two blurry figures and recognized the round ball that landed next to his feet.

—That was a flash bomb!

Russell was startled.

The bodyguards hired by this newspaper were ruthless. Did they have to go to such lengths just because they had made contact with Glass?

I am from the Tianen Group too!

—And you're using the prosthetic body I made!!

"Stop, I'm from the Execution Department! One of us!"

As Russell grabbed a pillow to shield his eyes from the flash bomb's intense light and sprang backwards nimbly, he shouted out his identity at the same time.

He also kept a wary mind and didn't reveal that he was from the Special Execution Department.

But as the bright light flashed past and Russell threw the pillow away...

He distinctly heard several sounds of safeties being released and guns being cocked.

A regular person definitely wouldn't recognize it, but Russell immediately identified... those weren't the sounds of riot guns firing rubber bullets—it was the sound of pistols.

The four figures in black were briefly revealed by the flash bomb and, as their bodies gradually faded and disappeared, they indifferently cocked their guns.

—Russell's heart sank quite a bit.

Without a doubt, a regular security company would never use live firearms! The riot guns and stun sticks like those used the day before were supposed to be the standard armament!

"Don't try jumping through the window, you won't be able to open it!"

Cui Que's voice suddenly came through the speakers around him, "Go upstairs or blend into the crowd in the lobby!"

But how am I supposed to do that!

Russell thought to himself.

However, in the next moment, the four persons were suddenly forced into visibility.

Their entire prosthetic bodies malfunctioned due to overheating, emitting smoke that was visible to the naked eye.

It was Cui Que!

She had forcefully hacked and infiltrated their prosthetic bodies, freezing them in place!

Russell was ecstatic.

So the support from teammates really was useful!

It was just like a player accustomed to long-term solitude in solo queue, playing a duo for the first time with reliable and in-sync teammates... he was so moved, he was almost in tears.

"The Inferior has already come in from the top floor! He is looking for you and should arrive within three minutes! Hide yourself first!"

The ones who raised their pistols could no longer move.

And Cui Que's voice was urgently emanating from the surround sound speakers all around.

"But doesn't this mean they can also find me?"

Russell complained.

Cui Que immediately said, "Unless they've been watching the surveillance all this time, but the staff in the surveillance room are playing games... these people are not with the Hive!"

"—Then I know where I have to go!"

Exactly, the restroom!

Easy to hide, hard to search, convenient for counter-attacks, and possible to escape through the ventilation ducts!

With Russell's jumping ability, he could reach the ceiling without needing a ladder!

So Russell flung the door open—

"Bang!"

With a crisp sound.

The person quietly standing outside the door, holding a whiskey bottle, smashed it directly on Russell's head with force!

Russell instantly felt dizzy, stumbling back two steps. Blood slowly trickled from the corner of his eye.

Clutching his forehead, through the hazy blur, he could only make out broad shoulders.

"Oh, I know you. You're our newest hero boy..."

Below that smiling mask flowed a voice that was smooth and comforting... rich and deep:

"Russell... right?"