45: Gao Tianyu

Gao Tianyu looked at the elevator shaft beside him and said calmly, "Now we have two options."

"The withdrawal point at the top of the Babel Tower requires two dog tags. We can consolidate our gear onto one person, and then the other two commit suicide."

"After suicide, a dog tag will appear beneath the body."

"The living person will take the gear and hand it in for withdrawal."

Hearing the solution Gao Tianyu offered, both men swallowed in unison.

Suicide, while simple to say, is by no means easy to do.

"If you can't bring yourself to do it, I can help," Gao Tianyu said, sensing their apprehension.

Zhao Qian quickly shook his head.

"While this could break the deadlock, one person can't carry everything."

"Armor and helmets aren't cheap either. Even if the treasures we bring out can cover the losses, wouldn't we have come in for nothing?"

Gao Tianyu nodded, a subtle smile playing at the corner of his lips.

"Exactly! Didn't you just say there's a risk when coming in?" Mohican Fatty also spoke up, unwilling to accept, "Why should we take the risk, have two people commit suicide, and still not make any money?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qian's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain, and his fingernails were almost digging into his flesh.

The most frustrating part was not only that they wouldn't make money, but if the people downstairs reached the top of the Babel Tower, they could pick up the armor his team had discarded and then withdraw comfortably.

Zhao Qian steeled himself and looked at Gao Tianyu, asking, "Damn it! What's the second option? If worst comes to worst, I'll just go all out against them!"

...Inside the main weapon

Liu Yan, who was eavesdropping, couldn't help but praise Gao Tianyu more after hearing the conversation between the three.

Liu Yan had long grown tired of hearing about Gao Tianyu's reputation.

It was either he did this or that, always various commendations and praises.

Just a few days ago, he was praised again for finding a pirate coin.

It was only a little past seven in the morning, and it seemed the other party was practically living in the Third District.

"This person is a bit cunning."

This was Liu Yan's first true impression of Gao Tianyu.

There was no other reason; he had seemingly offered two methods to the two men.

But in reality, he was forcing them to choose the second option, a choice Gao Tianyu had specifically prepared for them.

From the very beginning, he had been deliberately escalating the conflict between Zhao Qian and the other team.

Under these circumstances, how could Zhao Qian choose the first option, which would disadvantage himself and benefit the other party?

If he ever met him, he would definitely shut him up immediately!

Liu Yan hated people who played mind games the most!

But then again, Liu Yan was very curious about the second option.

If Liu Yan were in this situation, he would only choose to move quietly, randomly pick an elevator shaft to slide down, and fight them head-on.

But that was only in a game, or in a Top Secret Area.

In a game, it goes without saying, death is just death.

In a Top Secret Area, one not only had to bear millions in losses but also suffer from those damned after-effects.

"If I encountered this situation in a Top Secret Area... what would I do?" Liu Yan frowned slightly.

He might have to enter a Top Secret Area sooner or later; the drop rate for the resuscitation ventilator was pitifully low even in the Top Secret Area.

But with zero tolerance for actual death in the Top Secret Area, Liu Yan couldn't help but think seriously...

At the top of the Babel Tower.

Seeing that both men's emotions were in place, Gao Tianyu then said with a troubled expression, "Actually, I prefer the method I just mentioned. The second one is a bit risky."

Gao Tianyu walked to the side of the elevator shaft and pointed to the inner edge of the shaft.

"See these protruding edges? We can climb down little by little using these."

After Gao Tianyu finished speaking, Zhao Qian and the other man looked incredulous.

"Are you kidding? It's so high, once we let go..."

"Besides, it's exhausting and slow. How is it different from a grappling hook?"

Zhao Qian was very confused by this.

Gao Tianyu shook his head.

"A zipline can't stop midway, but hanging on these edges allows us to hover."

"They know we're up here, so they definitely won't dare to aim upwards directly below us. They can only wait outside the elevator for us to land with a zipline."

Zhao Qian nodded, half-understanding, not knowing if he truly grasped it.

"But we don't know if they're grouped together or spread out," Zhao Qian suddenly thought.

"If the three of us climb down one elevator shaft, what if the three of them are also grouped together? Wouldn't that be the end?"

"If we spread out..." Mohican Fatty stopped mid-sentence.

If the three of them spread out and the opposing three were also grouped, then his team would face the situation of one dying and two surviving, still at a disadvantage.

Only if the three of them spread out, and the opposing three were also doing the same, could they barely gain an advantage.

"That's why I said I recommend the first method," Gao Tianyu sighed helplessly, then continued, "Each of us takes one elevator shaft. After getting close to the bottom, we stop first, listen to determine the number of people. If it's one person, we directly ambush them. If it's two or more, we just stay still."

"The only problem is that it consumes a lot of stamina. How about you reconsider the first option?"

"As you can see, physical endurance is not my strong suit," Gao Tianyu said, extending his thin arm.

Zhao Qian pondered carefully, his eyes gradually brightening. It did sound feasible!

To achieve such a degree under completely disadvantageous circumstances was quite impressive.

"It's alright, you climb this elevator. We'll go upstairs. This one is a bit shorter, it should be fine."

Zhao Qian patted Gao Tianyu's thin shoulder, even giving it a squeeze.

"I'll do my best," Gao Tianyu nodded.

"Fatty, are you okay?" Zhao Qian raised his chin at Mohican Fatty.

"You still don't trust me? I'm fat, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid," Mohican Fatty shot Zhao Qian an annoyed glance.

Seeing this, Zhao Qian burst into laughter. It seemed that with a solution to the pressing problem, Zhao Qian was in a great mood.

If they successfully took down the team downstairs, not only could they take all the treasures they had looted, but they could also claim the enemy's spoils.

After confirming, Gao Tianyu remained at the elevator shaft on the first floor of the Babel Tower.

Zhao Qian and Mohican Fatty went up to the second floor of the Babel Tower, each heading to an elevator shaft on opposite sides.

"Damn, it's deep," Zhao Qian glanced down the elevator shaft.

This height made Zhao Qian involuntarily start to have second thoughts.

But then he reconsidered: Gao Tianyu had already advised choosing the first method three times. If he backed out now, it would be too disgraceful.

Moreover, why should his team only break even by committing suicide and not make any money?

While the team downstairs could comfortably set up an ambush?

Thinking this, Zhao Qian gritted his teeth and placed his backpack aside.

After turning his back to the elevator shaft, Zhao Qian extended one foot downwards.

He indeed stepped on the edge.

The protruding foothold was wider than he imagined.

This also gave Zhao Qian some courage.

"Just don't look down."

Zhao Qian took a deep breath, adjusting his state of mind.

Then, Zhao Qian slowly climbed down.