67:45:50
Liu Yuqiang stared at the message on his phone, his breathing growing heavy.
The sender was listed as "Zhao Jiping - Chairman of Hengyun Real Estate."
Hengyun Real Estate was another major domestic corporation, and like Liu Yuqiang, its chairman, Zhao Jiping, was a billionaire.
Both men belonged to a small chamber of commerce called the Qingmei Association.
To join the Qingmei Association, being a billionaire was merely the price of admission. An applicant also needed a joint recommendation from at least three existing members to even be considered for a vote.
Only after receiving a unanimous vote of approval from all members could one become a probationary member. After a one-year observation period, they could finally become a full member of the Qingmei Association.
Liu Yuqiang had gone to great lengths to join the association. But the benefits were obvious. The members were almost exclusively the heads of leading companies in their respective fields. They shared information and formed alliances, making business much easier.
However, to avoid attracting outside attention, the Qingmei Association didn't recruit openly, only accepting referrals from within.
To prevent information leaks, members used a private, closed-off messaging app for their daily chats. The software was developed by one of the members—a tech company chairman—and its only users were the few dozen members of the Qingmei Association.
Whenever a member obtained some critical business intelligence through their channels, they would post it in the group chat, ensuring that all members could share information for mutual benefit.
But Liu Yuqiang had never imagined that a member would be so resourceful as to find a loophole in the Apocalypse Rules!
As soon as Zhao Jiping's message appeared, the other members in the group flooded the chat with questions.
"Old Zhao, you have a way?!"
"What is it? Tell us, quickly!"
"Zhao, this is a matter of life and death, please don't keep us in suspense!"
In the face of death, all are equal.
Even billionaires.
In fact, the members of the Qingmei Association feared death even more than ordinary people.
How could a titan like Liu Yuqiang, who had fought tooth and nail to build his empire, be willing to die under some bizarre Apocalypse Rules?
"Old Zhao, just say it!" Liu Yuqiang couldn't help but send a message himself. "We're all counting on you to save our lives!"
Amidst the urging of the other members, Zhao Jiping finally revealed the loophole.
Zhao Jiping - Chairman of Hengyun Real Estate: "Fellow members, don't ask me for my source. It's top secret, I can't say. But I can tell you the information itself... All you have to do is find someone and knock them unconscious. You'll get a candy-like item called a 'Sober Mint Candy.'
"The item will appear directly in your personal terminal's storage box. Using it will keep you completely awake for three hours. I've already tested it, the information is real. As long as you get enough of these mints, you can definitely last the 72 hours."
After Zhao Jiping posted the method, the group chat fell silent.
For a long while, no one sent another message.
Liu Yuqiang felt beads of cold sweat form on his forehead.
He didn't know if the other members had immediately gone to try it or if they were simply at a loss for words.
There were no fools in the Qingmei Association; you couldn't become a billionaire by being stupid.
Everyone realized in an instant that this loophole was no different from murder.
But business was a battlefield. How many of those who had fought their way to the top were truly soft-hearted?
Just then, Zhao Jiping sent another message.
"Fellow members, forgive me for being blunt. I see these Apocalypse Rules as both a disaster and an opportunity. When the rules end, the world order will be completely reshaped. When that time comes, what's to stop us—the brothers and sisters who survived—from reaching the pinnacle by supporting one another?"
"Zhao is right. I'll also say this to everyone in the group: I tried Zhao's method, and I really did get the 'Sober Mint Candy.'" another member messaged, their efficiency terrifyingly high.
When Liu Yuqiang saw this, he thought of his own children who were abroad, and his hesitation vanished.
He put down his phone, picked up the landline on his desk, and pressed a speed-dial button.
"Hello, is that Li from the secretarial department? Come to my office. Right now!"
After hanging up, Liu Yuqiang's dark gaze fell upon a crystal ashtray on his desk.
When the disaster struck, he had chosen to stay behind and hold down the fort at the head office in Yunhua, since his children were all abroad.
Yunhua was a major city, and the company employed a great number of workers from out of town.
They had left their hometowns to come work here alone. Now that the disaster had broken out and transportation was halted, they couldn't go home even if they wanted to.
Rather than holing up alone in their cramped rental apartments, it was better to stay at the company. There were ample supplies, and being with other employees meant they could encourage one another. They stood a better chance of surviving the 72 hours here than alone in their apartments.
Li from the secretarial department was one such employee.
After receiving the call from the big boss, Liu Yuqiang, he rushed to the chairman's office.
"President Liu, you were looking for me?"
"Ah, Li, have a seat."
Li felt that President Liu's tone was a bit strange, but he chalked it up to the disaster and didn't think much of it.
Once Li was seated in the chair opposite the desk, Liu Yuqiang stood up and walked around the desk to his side.
"Li, I've treated you well in the past, haven't I?"
"Yes, President Liu. You've been very good to me."
"How is your family doing? I remember you have a daughter who just started elementary school, right?"
"Yes. I just got off the phone with them; they're all doing fine." At the mention of his family, Li's voice choked up a little. "It's just... my daughter is still so young, she probably doesn't understand how serious this disaster is... I don't know if she'll make it through."
"..."
Liu Yuqiang was silent for a moment, then patted Li's shoulder.
"Li, I promise you this. If your family survives this disaster, I, Liu Yuqiang, will cover all of their living expenses from now on."
Stunned, Li said, "President Liu, what are you say—"
Before he could finish, Liu Yuqiang's right hand shot out without warning, grabbing the crystal ashtray from the desk and smashing it violently against Li's forehead.
"THUD!"
With a sickening thud, Li's head split open, and he let out a pained cry.
"President Liu?!"
"Don't blame me, Li. I have to do this to survive! Don't blame me!"
With that, Liu Yuqiang raised the ashtray and brought it down again. This time, Li only managed a muffled grunt before he was knocked unconscious.
At that very same moment, a flat, mechanical voice echoed in Liu Yuqiang's mind.
[You have obtained the item: Sober Mint Candy]
[Storage Box function unlocked. Can be viewed on your personal terminal.]
'It's real. It's really real...'
Liu Yuqiang ignored Li, who had slumped to the floor, and threw down the bloodstained ashtray. His eyes wide, he silently commanded, 'Personal terminal!'
A translucent interface appeared before him, displaying a new "Storage Box" function. He chose to open it, and sure enough, a single piece of candy was inside.
[Sober Mint Candy]: Upon use, maintains absolute wakefulness for 3 hours.
"This thing..." Liu Yuqiang was overcome with a mix of shock and elation. Snapping back to his senses, he quickly picked up his phone. "I have to tell my children about this right away!"