However, Xuan changed the subject: "While it seems very likely that you are telling the truth, the other newcomers cannot verify it the way I can. Could you show us some items you exchanged for, or demonstrate your extraordinary physical strength?"
His gaze swept across the room, directing everyone's attention toward the rest of the newcomers, especially Zero and Cheng.
Zheng immediately walked over and reached out his hand to the two of them: "Hello, can either of you understand Chinese?"
Zero had a lean frame, but his tense muscles were hard as rock. Instead of rashly shaking Zheng's hand, he took a step back and said, "My name is Zero."
The Caucasian mercenary, Ba Wang, firmly grabbed Zheng's hand: "My name is... the heavy weapons gunner, you can call me Ba Wang. Hsss—your grip is so strong!"
Zheng nodded, then looked at the remaining newcomers, asking them to introduce their professions and names.
Yet, filled with deep suspicion and intimidated by Zhang's large firearm, these individuals offered only reluctant introductions before huddling together, showing not the slightest intention of joining the team.
Having finished welcoming all the newcomers, Zheng threw a fierce punch against the bulkhead of the spaceship.
*Clang!*
A half-inch-deep dent appeared on the wall.
Following that, he produced a bottle of hemostatic spray and said, "This is hemostatic spray."
Xuan, who had been waiting expectantly, took Ba Wang's dagger and sliced open his arm...
Immediately afterward, Zero and Ba Wang tested it in turn, confirming the veterans' words.
Zero finally let down some of his guard and said, "I'm a professional assassin, and my specialty is precision sniping. It's a pity my rifle didn't come with me..."
Afterward, Zhan Lan shared some basic information.
For instance, Zhang was a veteran who had survived four horror films, while the rest of them were experienced newcomers who had survived one.
Upon receiving this information, Xuan adjusted his glasses and asked with a puzzled look: "Then why do those two appear to be much stronger than Zhang, who has survived four films?"
Out of the corner of his eye, he had been quietly observing Xia Ren for some time, and had nearly confirmed that these veterans were in a state of division.
Zheng smiled and said, "Aside from the fixed reward of one thousand points, the God of and to Space will also issue additional missions. Completing them grants bonus points and branching storylines..."
"Xia Ren and I completed some missions during our last horror film, which is why we appear somewhat stronger. However, our philosophies differ, and we simply don't see eye to eye."
Seeing everyone looking at him, Xia Ren smiled and said, "The newcomers' qualities are indeed quite good; they make me quite happy."
Xuan adjusted his glasses and remarked, "The load you're carrying weighs at least 300 kilograms, yet judging by your relaxed demeanor, your strength is likely not far behind Zheng's."
"With your strength, it is completely unreasonable for you to have no supporters. I boldy guess that the conflict between the two of you stems from a disagreement on how to form a team?"
Zheng gave a wry smile, thinking that this fellow Xuan was truly a sharp person who could see through the clues at a glance.
He said, "Your analysis is correct. The mission is about to begin. Xia Ren, why don't you state your philosophy and see if any newcomers are willing to follow you."
Xia Ren nodded and said in a loud voice, "My philosophy is very simple: all team members must unconditionally execute my orders!"
Zhan Lan gave a wry smile and said, "You fellow, with conditions like that, who would follow you? Everyone isn't an idiot."
Xia Ren didn't care in the least: "Take it or leave it."
Xuan adjusted his glasses, seeming to understand something.
Just as he was about to ask a question, the only door in the room slowly opened, and everyone looked toward it.
Zhang abruptly drew his large firearm and pointed it at the door: "The mission has begun!"
Seeing this, several of the newcomers brazenly walked out the door. Zheng was startled and hurriedly shouted at the top of his lungs: "You mustn't run around blindly! There are Xenomorphs outside! Even if we're scouting for intelligence, it should be us veterans who go!"
However, this group ran even faster. As they ran, they called out: "What God Space? They can scare me with just any casually arranged movie scene? Those people are all plants!"
"That's right, exactly!"
Only a few people with names remained in the area.
Li Shuaixi cautiously walked up to Zheng and asked, "Can I join you guys? I'm Li Shuaixi..."
It appeared he had chosen Zheng.
"Welcome aboard... We won't abandon our comrades."
Once the newcomers' affiliations were settled, Zhang put away his pistol and asked, "What should we do next? We can't just sit here waiting around doing nothing, can we?"
"Intelligence!"
Zhan Lan and Xuan said in unison.
The foolish Xuan did not know how to plan formations, so Zhan Lan voiced her opinion: "What we can be certain of is that the God of and to Space has significantly increased the difficulty and even completely altered the plot. Our top priority right now is to acquire intelligence as quickly as possible and figure out just how many enemies are on this spaceship..."
A flash seemed to cross the lenses of Xuan's glasses as he pointed at the suitcase to Xia Ren's right and asked, "This is the Red Queen from Resident Evil, isn't it? Have you tried having her connect to the spaceship's network or even hack the ship's system?"
A shock rippled through everyone's hearts as they looked at that utterly ordinary suitcase.
Zheng thought to himself: *This fellow Xia Ren really came fully prepared, what a pity...*
Xia Ren said, "The moment the plot started, I already ordered the Red Queen to hack the spaceship's system, but it will take some time."
"That's fantastic! If we can hack the spaceship's system, we'll be able to view all the surveillance feeds!" Xuan looked quite pleased.
Xia Ren added, "Watching through surveillance is far from enough. It would be best to send someone to engage the Xenomorphs in combat to judge their strength so we can formulate tactics."
Everyone nodded, acknowledging the soundness of his point.
At that moment, Xia Ren suddenly wore an unfathomable smile and asked, "Is there really no one willing to become my team member? Look at how reliable I am—I've prepared weapons, and I have a sharp weapon like the Red Queen."
"As my team member, although you won't have freedom, the probability of survival should be higher."
To be honest, Zero and Ba Wang were somewhat tempted.
Ba Wang asked, "Can you be more specific? What do you mean by completely executing your orders? If you send me to my death, do I have to execute that too?"
Xia Ren smiled and said, "Of course. Not only might I send you to your death, but I will also require you to exchange for God enhancements according to my design, and even make you hand over your reward points. Is that clear?"
"How could anyone be willing to follow you under those terms? It sounds completely unfair," Ba Wang asked.
With a calm expression, Xia Ren replied, "You feel it's unfair because you are judging it from a perspective of self-interest. But the God Space is not a place to do business; a moment of carelessness leads to total annihilation."
"If following me offers a higher probability of survival, I believe there will always be those who are willing to give up anything just to stay alive."
With that, he picked up the Red Queen and made to leave.
Zheng hurriedly called out, "Where are you going?"
Xia Ren did not answer, turning instead to Li Xiaoyi and Zhan Lan to ask, "Zhan Lan, Li Xiaoyi. The two of you will only be a drag if you stay in their group. I'll ask you one last time, do you want to run with me? I'm quite short on people here, and I won't let you die easily."
Li Xiaoyi hastily shook his head in refusal and instead tried to persuade him: "Brother Xia Ren, you'd better act together with us. This mission is so dangerous..."
"Very well then. I wish you all good luck. This is a wireless walkie-talkie. If anyone changes their mind, you can contact me."
He produced a wireless walkie-talkie and placed it on the ground.
"Wait!" Xuan called out.
Knowing what the other wanted to say, Xia Ren walked away without looking back: "Once the Red Queen successfully infiltrates the spaceship and retrieves the intelligence, I will notify you through the walkie-talkie."