The sound of clinking chains echoed in his ears as Robert Lane struggled to open his eyes. His vision was met with the sight of a dim, stone wall.
The damp, musty smell that filled the air made him sneeze.
"He's awake?" a coarse, male voice grumbled from behind him. "This one looks soft and tender. Should fetch a good price."
Who's talking?
He instinctively tried to turn his head, but found his body stiff and unresponsive.
A sliver of memory surfaced.
He had hit the jackpot.
After the game's banner updated, he had gotten five 5-star characters in a single ten-pull at home. He'd bragged about it for hours, his friends calling him a lucky dog in their replies, before he went out to celebrate.
He never made it. Just as he crossed the intersection, his luck ran out.
Am I dead?
The thought flashed and was quickly dismissed. He could feel the cold, hard sensation of metal around his wrists and ankles. He definitely wasn't dead. In fact, he felt...
A sharp pain erupted on his scalp.
"I'm talking to you! Don't pretend you can't hear me."
"Hey,stop playing dead!"
A rough hand grabbed Robert's hair, forcing his head up. A burly man now stood before him, his face covered by a bandana, a nasty scar visible above it. A gleaming dagger was tucked into his belt.
This outfit looks so familiar.
Is that a Treasure Hoarder?
The man's appearance was so recognizable it made Robert's head spin.
I've crossed over.
As a wage slave of the modern era, novels were an essential part of Robert's daily life. He'd read plenty of stories that started like this: hitting a streak of incredible luck, only to wake up in an unfamiliar place. Combined with the man's unique attire—which was identical to the Treasure Hoarders from the game, save for the extra dagger—it was clear.
"Where am I?" Robert asked, his voice weak. He was worried about getting hit again.
Sure enough, seeing Robert speak, the scarred man paused his hand, a cold smirk appearing. "Kid, you passed out in the wilds of Guili Plains. We saved you. You get it?"
Guili Plains?
So this really is Teyvat!
Robert felt a flicker of excitement. If he had to cross over, a familiar world was best. While Teyvat had its dangers, those problems were always solved by other people. As an ordinary person, if he could just earn a decent amount of Mora, surely he could live better than his previous life as a corporate drone, right?
Thinking this, he looked back at the scarred man. But the immediate priority is to get away from these Treasure Hoarders.
"Where am I?" Robert asked, his voice weak. He was worried about getting hit again.
"Kid, you passed out in the wilds of Guili Plains. We saved you. You get it?"
Guili Plains?
So this really is Teyvat!
Robert felt a flicker of excitement. He looked back at the scarred man. But the immediate priority is to get away from these Treasure Hoarders.
"I... thank you for saving me," Robert said, nodding quickly. "I will repay you."
The scarred man was taken aback, then cracked a smile. "Kid, you're pretty smart, aren't you?"
No sane person would believe being chained up was being "saved." This kid was just playing along without calling him out on his lie. The scarred man's expression softened slightly, his mood improving. "Alright then, kid. Who's your family? We can help you send a letter, get your folks to come pick you up."
It was a clear demand for ransom.
Robert looked embarrassed. He had no family in Teyvat. The characters he'd pulled wouldn't recognize him now.
Seeing Robert stay silent, the scarred man's expression turned dangerous again.
Seeing the man's face darken, Robert spoke up quickly, "Boss, I'm an orphan. I couldn't make it in Liyue Harbor, so I was trying to get to Mondstadt to see if there was a way out..."
The scarred man clapped his hands, cutting Robert off. "So, you have no family? Do you have any money?"
Robert looked even more awkward. "Boss, if I had money, would I be leaving Liyue Harbor?"
Whack!
A slap landed on Robert's forehead. The scarred man cursed, "Worthless! If you have no money, what's the point?" He then turned and walked out without another glance, yelling as he went, "Boss! We're in the red! This kid's worthless."
After the scarred man left, Robert shook his head. Being slapped, he naturally felt angry, but... when in Rome. If he was going to seek revenge, he needed to be out of danger and have the strength to do so first.
So, for now, Robert kept a calm face, even adding a touch of timidity. This acting skill was honed in his pre-crossing company. The boss didn't like employees who talked back. Sometimes, pretending it was your fault and letting the boss make a mistake was more cost-effective than telling him how to do it right.
He looked around, staying silent. The surroundings were all stone, clearly out in the wilderness. The scarred man had said he was found in Guili Plains. This was probably a Treasure Hoarder camp, most likely a cave or a den. The scarred man had yelled for the 'Boss,' meaning this was at least a small group. In a direct fight, he was no match.
As a social wage slave, Robert had a clear understanding of his own strength. Even though he worked out sometimes, he was no match for these Treasure Hoarder thugs.
"A famous actor once said, 'If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.' So, if I can't escape the Treasure Hoarders, maybe I should join them?"
Robert pondered. He definitely couldn't pay a ransom. If he wanted to change his situation and shed his status as a prisoner, the best way was probably to join them. The other option was to wait for the Millelith or some adventurers to rescue him. But Robert was hesitant to gamble his fate on luck.
Just then, two figures entered the stone room again. One was the scarred man from before, the other an even brawnier man. Robert saw the huge hammer on his back.
A Treasure Hoarder: Crusher.
He recognized the man's role immediately. These common enemies from the game were now the 'big shots' holding his life in their hands.
"Kid, you say you're an orphan? Can't pay the ransom?" the Crusher asked bluntly, not even hiding the fact this was a kidnapping.
Robert nodded with difficulty. "This boss, I really am an orphan. I truly have no way to repay your kindness in saving me."
The scarred man next to him sneered. "See? I told you. This kid's worthless. We should just kill him. Keeping him around wastes food."
Robert's heart turned cold. Treasure Hoarders didn't usually kill, but that didn't mean they never would. The organization was a mixed bag of all sorts of criminals. Clearly, this scarred man was one of the ruthless ones.
"Then the medicine we used on him would be a total loss?" The Treasure Hoarder boss glared at the scarred man, then looked back at Robert. "You look like you're not too small. Probably have some strength in you." He paused briefly before continuing, "You said you were going to Mondstadt to find work. Forget it. Just stay with us. If you have the strength to work, we won't let you starve."
I haven't even suggested it, and I'm being recruited?
Robert was surprised, but he seized the opportunity, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, yes, Boss. I'll work hard."
"Mmm. Scar, let him go," the Treasure Hoarder boss said, waving his hand.
The scarred man was unhappy but didn't disobey. He took out a key and unlocked the chains on Robert's hands and feet.
The boss continued, "Rest here for a bit. Scar, come with me. Get our new brother some food." With that, he led the way out.
Robert quickly looked at the scarred man, indeed catching a flash of cold intent in his eyes before it vanished.
Scar nodded at Robert. "You wait here." Then he turned and left.