184: Chapter 184 The Strange Changes of NPCs

It wasn't that Cheng Zhen's smile was too terrifying.

The main reason was that the 'wool' he had just fleeced from Ge Chang was of exceptionally high quality—

[Equipment: Black Lily · Infrared Goggles]

[Quality: Epic]

[Effect: Increases Mental Defense by 45%, Agility by 60%, and Ranged Attack Accuracy by 35%. Grants active skill: Infrared Detection · No One Can Escape My Eyes]

[Infrared Detection: Upon activation, gain infrared vision, detecting all thermal reactions within visual range.

When the skill is active, Ranged Attack Accuracy is further increased by 35% on top of the equipment's base, and it continuously consumes Mental Energy. Cooldown: 12 hours.]

[Note: Rest assured, using it will not turn your skin blue.]

This item was truly amazing.

After activating the skill, a certain streamer named Wu, who misses 40 shots in a row, might even hit 28. How powerful is that?

The happier Cheng Zhen was to get the equipment, the more miserably Ge Chang cried.

It was as if he had lost the most important thing in his life…

Looking at the unbearable scene in front, if these weren't their own people, the several strategists would have run two miles away.

Not to mention the complex expressions on Dashan and the others' faces, Ge Er's thought process had gone completely off the rails.

Ge Er: He stripped Big Brother naked and beat him until he couldn't move. He must be taking Big Brother away to do some bad things!

With his shout, even Ge San was led astray.

Thinking of Big Brother's appearance… was Cheng Zhen's taste that heavy?

They say geniuses are on the left and madmen on the right. It seems the world of geniuses always has some places beyond the reach of ordinary people…

(Huangfu Dong: I'm not, I didn't!)

Seeing Cheng Zhen approaching with an item, Ge Er shrieked in alarm: "It's one thing for you to attack Big Brother, but you're not even letting us two off?"

Cheng Zhen felt several complicated gazes and finally understood what it meant to have his reputation ruined.

He angrily punched Ge Er on the head: "Shut up, what's with that imagination!"

After knocking Ge Er unconscious, Cheng Zhen took out the item and started to figure out how to use it.

Everyone: You look even more suspicious now!

Under the watchful eyes, Cheng Zhen threw out an item, then joyfully exclaimed as if he had caught a Pokémon: "I got blue gloves!"

After he got a clear look, he said with disdain: "Tsk, such trashy stats…"

Everyone: "…"

You're complaining about blue gloves?!

Then they thought, that's not right: What kind of item can steal equipment from someone's body?!

"Cloud-Stealing Hand?!"

Ge San was more discerning. Looking at the familiar shoes, he finally understood why Cheng Zhen had spared their lives.

Killing someone is just a nod of the head, but once killed, there's no benefit. Instead, this item can steal equipment from living people, so it's naturally better to keep them alive.

Looking at his naked boss over there, Ge San deeply understood what it meant to work hard for several years only to return to square one in an instant…

The others had various expressions.

Normally, seeing someone else with such an item, Dashan and the others should be scared, worried that their own equipment would be stolen.

But on second thought, this guy even disdains rare equipment; he probably wouldn't even look at their shabby gear…

"You're quite discerning, so I won't waste words."

Cheng Zhen looked at Ge San and said with a 'kind' smile: "Just tell me directly what good equipment he has on him."

Ge San gritted his teeth: "…If I tell you, will you let us go?"

Cheng Zhen: "If I promised, would you believe me?"

Sincerity is a killer move; such a straightforward answer directly silenced the other party.

Ge San: Not a chance!

The life-and-death relationship between the two sides was no longer something a contract could resolve.

"Look on the bright side," Cheng Zhen 'comforted' him, "While you might not survive with me, there's still a chance to die at the hands of NPCs, isn't there?"

"Our Team Leader always welcomes fresh blood. You only need to serve as test subjects, participate slightly in human alchemy experiments, endure the initial mutation process, change your biological structure…"

Cheng Zhen tried his best to 'comfort' the severely injured man. But with each word he spoke, Ge San's face grew a shade paler, presumably because Huangfu Dong had been too heavy-handed…

"He doesn't have epic equipment, only rare and excellent grade."

Unexpectedly, Ge San didn't answer; instead, Ge Chang, who was hanging, replied.

Everyone was surprised, wondering if this guy had developed Stockholm Syndrome.

"Big Brother?!" Ge San was also astonished.

"To the victor go the spoils. I was simply not skilled enough."

Ge Chang said hoarsely: "From the moment I started this line of work, I knew this day would come sooner or later."

"My two brothers indeed only have equipment of rare grade or lower, but…"

"The other two strategists in our team still have an epic-grade item!"

"Give us a quick death, and I can tell you their information!"

"You're quite the liar," Cheng Zhen snorted, "You don't know yet, do you? The other two strategists in your team have already been captured by NPCs."

"If they really had epic-grade items, how could they have been captured so easily by NPCs?"

Facing Cheng Zhen's questioning, Ge Chang only said: "Because they had already used an item once in a previous battle and are now on cooldown. Your teammates should be very clear about how they escaped."

Cheng Zhen looked at Huangfu Dong, who shook his head slightly. Huangfu Dong also wasn't sure if the other party had used an item or a talent skill to escape from him.

"Alright," Cheng Zhen nodded, "The people are already in hand, so let's go ask them."

Seeing Cheng Zhen agree, Ge Chang had just let out a sigh of relief when he heard Cheng Zhen say again: "Then please convince your brothers to hand over their equipment and such as well."

Ge Chang: "…Didn't you say you didn't care for their equipment?"

Cheng Zhen lectured him: "Even a mosquito's leg is meat. Don't you understand the importance of being thrifty?"

Ge San: Damn it!

Ge Chang gritted his teeth: "…Give it to him!"

Cheng Zhen, having obtained several more pieces of equipment, showed a satisfied expression and lifted Ge Chang off the [Sticky Mouse Wall].

Ge Chang lost some leg hair, body hair, and head hair, but he just endured it with a green face.

Cheng Zhen strung the three together like skewers and carried them away.

As they walked out of the base, they heard the Team Leader cursing loudly: "Despicable! Shameless! To use such methods to lure and ambush us!"

Then, he shouted to several residents: "Don't be deceived by them anymore! Do you also want to end up like that?"

The residents sighed: "We don't want to either."

Hope had just surged in the copy's heart when he heard the residents grip the gold coins in their pockets and say: "But they offered too much."

The Team Leader: "…"

The Team Leader held the potion, revealing a sinister grin: "It's okay if you don't understand now. Anyway, you'll also take our shape, hehehe…"

Huangfu Dong: "…"

I remember, this NPC wasn't like this when we first met, was he?

Who exactly turned you all into this?