45: Chapter 45 Fratricide

The day after the Thousand-Faced Sect Leader surrendered, a bizarre change occurred in the enemy camp.

At 3 AM, a starving Corpse Monster sneaked into a comrade's tent, raising a bone knife toward his sleeping companion. Just as the tip was about to pierce the neck, glowing text suddenly appeared on his wrist:

[Kill a unit from the same faction, reward: 100 nether talismans]

[Confirm kill?]

The Corpse Monster froze, then tremblingly pressed "Confirm" in the void.

"Squelch—"

The bone knife fell, and the companion died in his sleep. The number on the Corpse Monster's wrist immediately changed from [0] to [100].

First came terror, then ecstasy; his blood-red eyes turned toward the other tents.

Similar scenes played out all over the military camp.

A Thousand-Faced Cultist finished his prayer and immediately stabbed a teammate in the back; two werewolves were patrolling side-by-side one second and tearing at each other the next; even the vengeful spirits floating in the air began devouring one another.

"I'm rich! I earned five hundred!"

"Move! I saw this one first!"

"Don't steal! There are several more sleeping over there!"

The military camp became a hunting ground, and former comrades became walking nether talismans. The most ironic part was that all rewards were credited in real-time; after killing someone, they could immediately go to the "temporary service station" set up by Lin Chen to exchange for food.

The service station was set up at the edge of the battlefield, like a convenience store. Shelves were filled with bread, canned goods, bottled water, and even cigarettes and alcohol. The only cashier was a Ghost Soldier with a QR code hanging on his chest:

[Pay with nether talismans, no credit allowed]

"I want two loaves of bread!" the Corpse Monster who had just killed three companions shouted excitedly, waving his arms.

The Ghost Soldier glanced at his wrist: "Balance 300, pay 20 nether talismans?"

"Pay, pay!"

The Corpse Monster devoured the bread greedily, wiped his mouth, and fixed his eyes on other "prey."

Zhang Hao held binoculars on the city wall, clicking his tongue in wonder:

"Master, they actually fell for it?"

Lin Chen was registering newly captured prisoners, not even looking up: "Hunger is the best salesman."

This move was indeed ruthless.

Of the thirty thousand enemy troops who surrendered last night, fewer than twenty thousand remained. They didn't die in battle; they were killed by their own people.

Even more brilliant, Lin Chen introduced "team discounts":

[Team kills enjoy a 20% discount]

[Accumulate ten kills to receive a VIP membership card]

[This month's kill champion will be rewarded with a one-day tour of the Netherworld]

Thus, an even more absurd scene appeared:

Several Thousand-Faced Cultists formed a "hunting squad" to specifically target lone soldiers; two werewolves started a "monthly package service," promising to protect employers from being killed; someone even developed a "kill guide" and sold it secretly in the camp.

"Madness! They've all gone mad!"

The Thousand-Faced Sect Leader was chained in a corner, watching the army he built with his own hands slaughter each other, blood and tears streaming from all eight of his eyes.

He tried to stop it, but as soon as he spoke, he was hit with a "market disruption fine." Now, his debt to Lin Chen had snowballed to a hundred million, and his term of labor to repay the debt was extended to two thousand years.

"Don't be sad," Lin Chen patted his shoulder. "Once you start working, I'll arrange a lighter job for you."

The Thousand-Faced Sect Leader gnashed his teeth: "You will die a horrible death!"

"Many people have said that," Lin Chen said dismissively. "Now they're all carrying bricks at my construction site."

Just then, Qin Weiwei walked over timidly:

"Brother, can I... can I also go earn some nether talismans?"

She was referring to the kill rewards.

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "Who do you want to kill?"

"Just... kill a few at random," Qin Weiwei's eyes flickered. "To earn some pocket money."

Actually, she had another plan—to escape in the chaos.

Lin Chen looked at her with a half-smile and handed her a dagger:

"Go ahead, stay safe."

Qin Weiwei was ecstatic, taking the dagger and running.

Of course, she wasn't going to kill enemies; she was heading straight for a secret passage deep in the military camp. It was an escape route she had prepared long ago, as long as...

"Squelch—"

The dagger suddenly reversed direction and stabbed into her own thigh.

Qin Weiwei screamed and fell, a system prompt sounding in her ear:

[Betrayal detected, triggering 'Ingratitude Tax']

[Punishment: One hour of self-mutilation]

She watched in horror as her hand uncontrollably raised the dagger, about to stab her other leg.

"Help, help me!" Qin Weiwei cried out to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen walked over slowly: "I forgot to tell you, all weapons have 'Betrayal Insurance' purchased for them."

Qin Weiwei was sweating profusely from the pain: "I was wrong! I won't do it again!"

"You've said that many times too," Lin Chen crouched down and pulled the dagger from her leg. "It seems working to repay your debt is too easy for you."

He summoned two Ghost Soldiers: "Take her to the septic tank. She's not allowed to rest until she's finished cleaning it today."

Qin Weiwei cried heart-wrenchingly as she was dragged away.

Zhang Hao shrank his neck at the sight: "Master, isn't that a bit too harsh?"

"Harsh?" Lin Chen sneered. "She was just about to activate a self-destruct sequence to blow the entire Fortress into the sky."

Zhang Hao gasped.

Meanwhile, the slaughter in the military camp reached a fever pitch.

The survivors were seeing red, hacking at anyone they saw. A Thousand-Faced Cultist who had just earned enough nether talismans to buy food was stabbed in the back by a companion the moment he turned around.

"W-Why..." He died with his eyes wide open.

The killer licked the blood off his blade: "Your nether talismans are mine now."

Even more terrifying, Lin Chen introduced a new event at the right time:

[Limited-time Double Rewards: For the next hour, kill rewards are doubled]

[Special Event: The top ten in kill count will be released and pardoned]

This caused the last bit of sanity to vanish.

Soldiers tore at each other like beasts; the camp became an asura field. Blood stained the earth, and severed limbs were everywhere.

"Stop! Everyone stop!" An old soldier tried to intervene but was instantly hacked to pieces.

When the sun rose, less than five thousand remained of the thirty-thousand-strong army.

These survivors were covered in blood, their eyes numb. They walked mechanically to the service station, used their newly earned nether talismans to buy food, and then crouched in corners to eat silently.

No communication, no expression—like a group of walking corpses.

Lin Chen stood on the city wall and nodded with satisfaction:

"That's about enough."

"Go bring them all back. It's time to start work."

The Ghost Soldiers marched out of the city, rounding up the survivors like harvesting crops. No one resisted; everyone obediently put on handcuffs.

Zhang Hao counted the numbers and reported excitedly:

"Master, we've gained another four thousand-plus coolies!"

"And we saved the trouble of suppressing them!"

Su Qingyu looked at the numb crowd below and asked softly:

"Is this... really okay?"

Lin Chen turned to her: "Do you remember they wanted to stew us yesterday?"

Su Qingyu fell silent.

Yes, that was the apocalypse. Being kind to enemies was being cruel to oneself.

As the last prisoner was escorted into the Fortress, a system prompt sounded:

[Ding! Major threat detected as eliminated]

[Reward: Netherworld Token x1]

[New function 'soul ferry boat' unlocked]

Lin Chen looked at the black token that suddenly appeared in his hand, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.

"It seems it's time to visit the Netherworld."

In the distance, the Thousand-Faced Sect Leader, locked in the corner, saw the token and suddenly struggled frantically:

"No! You can't go to the Netherworld! There is..."

Before he could finish, a bolt of heavenly thunder struck down, charring him.

[Revealing heavenly secrets, punishment: execution]

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "It seems the Netherworld is more interesting than I thought."

He put away the token and ordered the Ghost Soldiers:

"Send all these newcomers to the construction site."

"Tell them to work hard; maybe they can get their sentences reduced."

He paused, then added:

"Especially that Thousand-Faced Sect Leader. Resurrect him and keep him working."

"He owes me a hundred million; it won't be that easy for him to die."

Zhang Hao looked at the Sect Leader, who was still twitching after being charred by lightning, and suddenly felt:

Opposing Lin Chen was truly the stupidest thing in the world.

Having to work even after death—who could stand that?