She Flees, He Pursues, She Has No Escape

"Madman, do you know what you're saying?"

Captain Cook's expression darkened.

Wu Wang just shrugged.

"Of course I do. Due to the special rotating cylinder structure, a revolver theoretically won't jam."

"You know that, and you still…"

Halfway through his sentence, Captain Cook narrowed his eyes. He'd suspected the kid was cheating ever since he got five byes in a row, but he couldn't find any proof.

Now, despite knowing a revolver couldn't jam, the man was still proposing such a bet. It was obvious he was confident in his methods.

If he could just see the trick in person.

Perhaps he could catch him red-handed!

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a chill crawled up Captain Cook's spine, as if he were being watched by some great and terrible presence.

Cold sweat broke out on his brow.

No… it's too risky.

That presence was already warning him.

The man had clearly come prepared. He wanted something important. This wasn't the time to give in to his gambler's instincts.

He had to change the game!

"I refuse to accept such a nonsensical proposition," Captain Cook declared. "I demand to choose the game. If you don't accept, then I'm sorry."

A take-it-or-leave-it expression spread across his face as he gestured toward the main door, motioning for Wu Wang to leave.

He was being shameless!

But so what? He was the captain of this cruise ship.

Even if the rules dictated that he had to abide by a wager he lost, they didn't say he had to accept every bet.

If I don't bet, I can't lose!

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow, a surprised look on his face. Mary never said this captain would be so shameless.

But he needed to find out William's whereabouts. He could only shrug, putting on a nonchalant expression.

"Alright, tell me your game. It won't be something unfair, will it?"

"Oh, my friend, it won't be unfair at all!"

The smile returned to Captain Cook's face. Under the rules, his games had to be relatively fair. Even the Russian Roulette from just now was like that.

Although the revolver couldn't kill him, the game itself, the act of firing, was still a fair setup.

With that, he took a fountain pen from his pocket.

The pen was dark green with elegant, unique lines. The gold trim and embedded diamond chips were clearly real; one glance was enough to tell it was quite valuable.

He walked over to Waitress Number Five and placed the fountain pen in her hand.

"This fountain pen has been with me on my voyages for decades," he announced. "Now, the waitress will take the pen and run, hide, or even fight back on the cruise ship."

"You cannot order her to hand it over. If you can place the pen back in my hand before the ball ends tonight, you win. How about it?"

A strange light glinted in Captain Cook's eyes.

On the surface, this wager was very fair. A simple chase. May the best man win.

But in reality, it was extremely disadvantageous for Wu Wang. The waitress knew the ship's layout far better than he did, making it easy for her to escape.

Plus, there was the most difficult part. Even if he found the waitress, how could he possibly snatch the pen from her?

Considering her strength on the deck yesterday, if she decided to fight back, she could probably smash Wu Wang's head into watermelon juice with a single slap.

So, Wu Wang retorted, "Then I have to add two conditions. First, the waitress cannot flee to any place I currently cannot enter. Second, even if she fights back, she cannot cause direct lethal harm."

As soon as he said this, Captain Cook narrowed his eyes and sized up the Decade before him.

Just as I thought. This guy already knows about the 【Back Kitchen】. His motives for seeking me out are anything but pure!

But he still smiled.

"Of course, no problem, my friend!"

He continued, "This is a fair game. The waitress certainly won't pose a threat to your life. Otherwise, wouldn't it just be a fighting match?"

That's right, Cook thought. Merely not posing a threat to his life. Breaking his legs or arms doesn't count.

"Sir, you should give up."

Just then, Waitress Number Five suddenly spoke up. With an extremely unnatural expression, she glanced at Wu Wang.

"You will not be able to take anything from my hand."

Once the game officially began, she couldn't violate her rules and go easy on him. She would have to do her utmost to prevent Wu Wang from taking the pen.

She was well aware of her own power. No one on this cruise ship could surpass the waitresses in strength, not even Captain Cook.

Because they were the avatars of Mary.

Unexpectedly, Wu Wang just gave her a thumbs-up. After holding the pose for about ten seconds, he smiled.

"Daijoubu, I'll win. Shall we officially begin?"

"You're the guest. Be my guest," Captain Cook shrugged.

With that, Number Five heaved a heavy sigh.

Bang!

The explosive force erupting from under her feet cracked the wooden floorboards like a stone smashing into a frozen lake. Her figure shot out of the room, kicking up a gust of whistling wind that made the curtains in the corridor flap loudly.

Her speed was dumbfounding.

Captain Cook watched Wu Wang's unhurried back as he turned and walked step by step toward the corridor, as if in pursuit. He couldn't help but laugh.

"Enjoy your game. Try not to throw out your back."

Clang!

On his way out, Wu Wang casually pulled the door shut behind him.

Then, he bent down and pulled a doll-like object from his holster. He tossed it to the floor.

The doll repeatedly mumbled, "Kill her," as it waved a small knife and scurried off in a specific direction.

【Chucky the Doll】!

【Gaze at a target for ten seconds while using this item. Chucky will then physically pursue the target for 12 hours. It cannot be destroyed or lose track of the target by any means, until the time is up or the target shows no signs of life.】

This was Wu Wang's insurance. Chucky would not lose the target.

The ten seconds he held up his thumb had been just enough time for the doll to lock onto Number Five through the viewing slit of his mask.

The waitress was powerful. Chucky had no way to kill her. But as a tracking method on this inescapable cruise ship, it would always be able to find her.

As for how to snatch the pen, Wu Wang had a plan. He shook the sword sheath at his waist. It looked like a cosplay prop, but it contained the wonderful tools he would need later.

She flees, he pursues.

She had no escape.

The moment the door closed, the smile vanished from Captain Cook's face, replaced by an expression of confusion mixed with fear.

He dropped to one knee with a thud.

Facing the empty Captain's Room, he asked in confusion, "Boss, why did you let Number Five participate in the game? What if she was the one who helped him cheat in the Russian Roulette just now?"

The next second, a voice so faint only he could hear it echoed in his ear. The tone was flat.

"Number Five would not help him cheat, but something unknown has happened to her. A Mary in the 【Back Kitchen】 has awakened naturally. This is not normal."

"I want to see what's so special about this man."

"To have earned Mary's favor to such an extent!"

At this, Captain Cook recalled Number Five's words urging the man to give up. That was right. Under normal circumstances, a waitress would never comment on a guest's actions.

Their job was merely to observe. Not to interfere.

"Will this affect your plan?" Captain Cook asked with concern.

The one he called boss let out a disdainful sneer, as if someone had asked something as laughable as how an insect could stop a moving train.

"It has no effect."

"This is merely an appetizer before the ritual succeeds."

"When the fifth night's ball arrives, everyone will cheer for my Mary's revival."

"They will offer up a dance of joy with their very lives!"