章 3: Become My Cheat...
His eyes were filled with a mix of frustration and regret as he hammered the heavy hoe into the ground, his huge, exposed muscles tensing with every swing.
While he wasn't the only dark-skinned man here, he was definitely the only one with such prominent muscles and strength, drawing attention. The gazes focused on him were filled with silent questions: "How did he even got kidnapped with those muscles?"
"Ahh! I have to escape from here as soon as I can," the dark-skinned man mumbled under his breath.
He was from a new batch that had just been brought in a couple of days ago. Most of the batch were still clueless, cowering in fear. They didn't know what was happening to them... Yesterday, they were all just chilling in a bar, and suddenly, when they opened their eyes, they were in a dark cave.
They were still scared and confused, trying to make sense of the absurd situation they'd found themselves in. Some had tried to argue with the guards, offering to trade their families' riches for their freedom: "Please, my father will offer millions!"
It was a useless struggle. The dark-skinned man had realized that long ago.
Of course, if their families were that influential and strong, Roth wouldn't have kidnapped them in the first place.
Here, it was simple: Either you work or you get beaten until you were on the verge of death.
The dark-skinned man continued to hammer the ground mindlessly, his brain searching for any possible way to escape... His metal basket, used to collect the mana ores he had dug up, was already filled to the brim.
"Tsk! I think I'll have to spend at least a week figuring out a plan," he thought as he hefted the overly filled bucket onto his shoulder and moved toward the counter. Seeing the long line, he took his place at the very back, his gaze lost in thought.
Just then,
A firm hand gripped his shoulder, snapping him back to reality. He froze for a second before turning around to see who it was.
It was a young man, probably in his early twenties, with gray hair and red eyes. A sharp scar ran down from his left eye, giving him a distinct, almost dangerous appearance.
"What do you want?" the dark-skinned man questioned with a frown.
"I know what you're thinking, I have a plan."
✿✿✿
"He's quick to catch on, huh."
A smirk tugged at the corners of Asuka's lips as he continued observing the muscular man. This guy was different—not just from the rest of his batch, but even the aura he gave off. It was as if he was a master or a warden.
But again, why would a master let himself get kidnapped?
Asuka didn't care much about the man's background right now. What mattered was whether the plan worked. The more he thought about it, the more possible it seemed.
First, he needed to find the perfect opportunity to approach the man without arousing suspicion from the guards. Talking among workers was uncommon here, and any interaction could draw unwanted attention.
Just then, something clicked for Asuka. 'Yeah, that timing would be perfect.'
The line for checking in mana ores and filling quotas was the exact place he needed. With that in mind, he had to wait and coordinate the perfect timing with the muscular man.
A few hours later, a faint grin appeared on Asuka's face as he saw the man's basket finally fill up. But the grin quickly turned into a frown as the man, lost in thought, kept on digging even after his basket was full.
'Idiot, check in already,' Asuka thought, growing impatient. If the man wasted any more time, the opportunity to execute the plan would be pushed to tomorrow.
Asuka wanted to escape today, as soon as possible. His body was already on the verge of breaking down... and the success rate would only drop the longer he waited.
Just then, as Asuka stared at the man, he saw him suddenly pick up his basket and start moving toward the line. Though the man's vision was focused on the line, his mind seemed to be elsewhere.
"Bastard..." Asuka muttered under his breath.
Without wasting another second, Asuka immediately grabbed his own basket and followed the man, cleverly positioning himself just behind him in the line.
Just before the words could leave Asuka's mouth, he hesitated. A sudden pause.
A thought raced through his mind: 'Isn't this too risky?'
It wasn't guaranteed that the man would join him. What if he thought the plan was impossible and decided to snitch to the guards, hoping they might release him in exchange? It was a foolish hope, but in a desperate situation, people could come to any conclusion.
Should I really take this risk?
"I know what you're thinking. I have a plan," Asuka finally said, after a moment of contemplation. It was do or die for him from the start anyway.
'It's all on luck from here,'
The man paused, and to Asuka's surprise, a firm and heavy voice responded, "First, tell me what the plan is."
"I can't tell you here," Asuka replied quickly, keeping his voice low. "But if you agree to do overtime today, I'll give you the signal."
"I need time to think," the muscular man said, his piercing eyes locking onto Asuka's with a sharp intent.
But Asuka remained unfazed. "Very well, take your time until late hours. I'm carrying out my plan today regardless. I can't handle this exhaustion any longer—it's death for me either way." After a brief pause, Asuka added, "But keep in mind, if I get caught while on the run, security will tighten, and your chance of a solo escape later will be slim to none."
The man's eyes bore into Asuka's for a few more moments before he finally gave a quiet nod.
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