The Stellaron Hunter still hadn't appeared.
But the offensive from a certain Zeig and a certain March 7th was growing fiercer by the moment.
"Damn it, I fell for it."
Dan Heng caught the strange fragrance and immediately covered his nose and mouth.
But the Silvermane Guards standing nearby—and Seele—weren't so lucky.
"Eh? Why do I suddenly… feel so listless?"
Clang—
Seele's scythe slipped from her hand and fell into the snow beside her.
Her whole body staggered, collapsing against a nearby rock.
Once she slumped down, she let out a long moan:
"Ah… what meaning is there left in life anymore."
Another Silvermane Guard collapsed to the ground and sang out:
"World… just end already."
"I'm so tired… God, please, let this damn repetitive daily life come to an end."
Seeing Seele and the surrounding Silvermane Guards all enter full lay-flat mode, Dan Heng immediately sensed something was wrong.
"This is bad. The vapor from that hot tea earlier also had hallucinogenic effects—they've all been hit."
He quickly turned toward Kiana, who had just handed over the red tea. Like a mouse, she darted through a teleportation gate and vanished without a trace!
"I should have realized earlier—she'd be on their side." Dan Heng furrowed his brows.
Fortunately, he himself hadn't been affected.
This sedative only induced extreme laziness and would likely wear off in a short time.
Dan Heng stood in place, rubbing his chin as he pondered the two's intention in using such tea.
"Could it be… they want to muddle my mind so I'd sign the contract in a daze?"
Thinking to this point, Dan Heng understood.
This electronic contract used the Interastral Peace Corporation's system—once signed, it carried legal weight across the cosmos.
If he still wanted to live in this universe, it would be better not to sign and then try to renege.
Seele lay sprawled on the rock, hand on her stomach, lazily mumbling to Dan Heng:
"You… why'd you have to provoke them… Those two were having such a good time, and you had to butt in. Even if you really wanted to join, don't say stuff like 'I don't want any money'—now you've offended both of them."
Back then in the Goethe Hotel lobby, when Dan Heng declared he wanted no compensation at all—just to take a cut of their profits—it had instantly forced Zeig and March 7th into a temporary alliance.
What a sleazy move.
"Ah, so hungry… Can you help me get a bottle of Happy Soda?" Seele asked in full Ge You slouch pose, ordering Dan Heng around.
The other Silvermane Guards lying on the ground also reached out toward Dan Heng:
"I-I want chips… Can you feed me?"
"I want hot pot… I want to be fed too."
"Me me me, I want durian!"
Dan Heng stared at the people on the ground and raised an eyebrow: "Already entered phase two? Mouth open, food comes."
Gepard, seeing the battlefield situation, walked over and asked:
"What does 'mouth open, food comes' mean?"
Dan Heng gazed at those people and explained to Gepard:
"It means they've gotten so lazy from laying flat that they don't want to do anything themselves—so they trouble others."
"Oh, I see." Gepard nodded, then pulled out his phone and glanced at it.
"Seems… about time to eat anyway."
He turned back to Dan Heng for confirmation:
"Dan Heng, everything's fine on the Executive Officer's side, right? Can he guarantee our safety during the meal?"
Dan Heng nodded gravely:
"Anything unrelated to the internal war can be done without worry."
"Understood. Then let's eat."
Gepard called over the various officers and issued the order to distribute food and restore stamina.
The logistics-assigned Silvermane Guards began handing out meals to the others.
Nearby, Seele weakly reached out:
"I want… Happy Soda."
"Here here here, stop whining." A logistics Guard hurriedly handed her a bottle.
But the moment the Happy Soda touched Seele's hand, it dropped to the ground.
"?"
The Guard looked at Seele in confusion—she hadn't even tried to grab it; she just let it fall.
"Miss Seele, what are you doing, playing god and demon?"
"Ah… Can you unscrew the cap and put the bottle to my mouth? I really don't want to move."
"…"
"And… this rock is so hard. Can you get some softer cloth to pad it for me… thanks. And also…"
"Miss Seele, if you keep going, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back from punching you."
"…"
After the food-distributing Guard left, Seele silently glanced at the Happy Soda that had fallen into the snow and still didn't move.
"Ah… someone pick it up for me… I really can't be bothered to move."
"Me too." The other laying-flat Guards nearby also called out:
"Can't you just feed the chips into my mouth? So troublesome…"
"We've known each other so long—feeding me a meal is no big deal… Is anyone even listening?"
"Damn it, you all have hands and feet—can't you eat yourselves?!" a normal Guard cursed.
"…Don't wanna move."
"Alright then—100 credits each and I'll feed you. Who wants in?"
"Me!" "Me me!" "Me too!"
In an instant, the lazy Guards all responded enthusiastically.
Seele had originally wanted to call out too, but she suddenly realized… she hadn't brought any money at all.
"…"
Seeing this scene, Dan Heng suddenly understood.
"So that's how it is."
He watched as they, in order to stay completely lazy, started spending credits to have other Guards feed them, and murmured:
"If I also become that lazy, they'll suddenly appear to bargain with me."
Watching the scene, Dan Heng couldn't help but sigh.
Those two had too many tricks—there was no telling when he'd fall for one. Truly impossible to guard against.
After thinking it over, Dan Heng opened his phone again.
In the group chat, Zeig and March 7th were exchanging pleasantries.
[Ultimate Slacker: Ayy, Dan Heng, it's so cold over there—make sure to stay warm, like drinking a nice hot tea or something~]
[Ultimate Beautiful Girl: I checked the weather forecast—looks like it's gonna snow soon. When are you coming back? We've prepared tons of yummy food and we're waiting for you~]
[Cold Dragon Young: …]
"Sigh." Dan Heng let out a breath.
He directly initiated a voice call in the group chat. Once the two connected, he said:
"Alright—don't you just want some compensation? No need for such troublesome contracts. I'll split half the museum's revenue with you two, and keep the other half for myself. Fair enough?"
"?" Zeig sounded puzzled on the call:
"Then if we just kill you outright, we get it all~ Besides, didn't you say you wouldn't take a single credit from the museum? Why keep half for yourself?"
"To save up and buy you two a nice graveyard plot later." Dan Heng said gravely.
"…"
At that moment, March 7th's voice came through the call:
"That's even worse! We absolutely have to get the troublemaker out!"
Dan Heng was silent for a moment before speaking calmly:
"You two better think carefully. If I really withdraw, from now on each of you will only get one rest day—the other has to work. With me around, it becomes work one day, rest two."
He continued:
"And if I hand over my half revenue share to split between you two, that means even on your rest day, you'll still get a quarter day's earnings."
"What the—?" Zeig's shocked voice came from the other end: "You're actually negotiating now!"
"So—what do you think?"
…