God's Imitator

Huang Shengjie’s instinct was to step back, but his eyes went to the Contraband scattered on the ground and he hesitated.

If he ran, Zhao Heng could pick it all up without the slightest difficulty and push it through Solitary Confinement’s window bars.

Someone from Community 23 would certainly be inside ready to receive it.

Even as every instinct told him to back away, the rules were clear: no matter how physically powerful Zhao Heng was, he could not use violence that caused permanent injury or death. Minor physical contact was one thing, and if it triggered a violation, that was a cost to the other side.

There was no reason to let himself be driven off just by the sight of the man’s size.

Zhao Heng kept approaching. Without expression, he cracked his knuckles, the joints popping loudly.

”This game doesn’t allow serious violence. But you can make contact as long as it doesn’t cause permanent injury or death. It’s just a Minor Violation.

”Most players, even if they read that rule, won’t dare act on it, because without training and real experience you have no way of controlling it. Too light and it means nothing. Too heavy and you trigger the instant-death penalty yourself.

”As it happens, I have a great deal of real experience.

”I have several methods that can knock a person unconscious without killing them, and I’m confident I can do it within one Minor Violation.”So. Would you like to find out?

”If you leave now, we each go our own way. I can treat this as if nothing happened.”

Huang Shengjie’s brow furrowed. He studied Zhao Heng’s expression carefully and took half a step back, but did not immediately leave.

”You’re bluffing. I don’t believe you.

”Knocking someone unconscious without killing them is nothing like how it looks in films. Even someone with extensive experience can easily misjudge it.

”And you’re not catching me by surprise. I’m ready to fight back, which raises your margin of error even further.

”If the system reads your force level as even slightly over the line, you trigger the instant-death penalty. Are you really willing to gamble on that?”

Zhao Heng gave a confident smile.

Huang Shengjie expected him to say something more. Instead, in the next instant, Zhao Heng launched himself forward like a projectile, charging straight at him.

His muscle mass cost him some agility and speed, but he was still operating at a level that simply outclassed the average person.

Huang Shengjie’s pupils contracted sharply. He spun around and ran at once, but Zhao Heng was faster.

Within seconds, Zhao Heng had overtaken him and cut him off from the front.

Huang Shengjie saw clearly that Zhao Heng twisted his body and raised one thick arm, the palm heavy with calluses, angling what looked like a knife-hand strike toward the side of his neck.

Huang Shengjie’s mind went completely blank. With adrenaline flooding through him and blood rushing to his head, acting on almost pure reflex, he threw a punch straight at Zhao Heng’s face.

A dull thud sounded. Huang Shengjie felt as though he had struck solid rock. His fist connected with Zhao Heng’s face, but his knuckles ached from the impact.

The next moment, nothing happened.

Huang Shengjie looked in surprise at Zhao Heng’s right arm. The knife-hand strike had stopped just short of his neck, the force pulled back at the last moment, making no contact at all.

”You...”

Huang Shengjie realised in an instant that he had been played. A second later, full-body paralysis set in, leaving him completely immobile.

He had triggered a Minor Violation by attacking Zhao Heng.

Zhao Heng gave a contemptuous smile, turned his back on Huang Shengjie without another glance, and picked up the Contraband from the ground, pushing it easily through the gaps in Solitary Confinement’s window bars.

Then he turned and disappeared back into the mist.

Ten units of Contraband were pushed through the window bars of Solitary Confinement one after another.

But Li Mao sat completely still, not moving.

Because Yao Yuan was sitting directly across from him.

Neither of them dared be the first to touch the Contraband. The moment the opposing player made contact, a violation would be triggered.

For now, all they could do was stare at each other.

Yao Yuan said, ”The confinement period is a fixed twenty minutes, and it’s nearly up.

”But I timed my entry deliberately, so I came in later than you and I’ll leave later too.

”These units of Contraband will end up with me in the end.”

Li Mao said nothing.

Yao Yuan continued, ”We’ve talked quite a bit. I’d say we have a reasonable sense of each other by now.

”I can tell you’re not satisfied with Community 23. You may even harbour some genuine resentment toward Zhao Heng. But at the same time, your fear of him outweighs that resentment.

”Which is why you’re willing to share information about Community 23’s internal dynamics, but you won’t do anything that crosses a line, and you certainly won’t expose Zhao Heng’s strategy.”

Li Mao hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke, ”If you can promise me that I’ll be free to buy and use the special medications as I choose in Community 2, I’ll consider your invitation.

”That’s what matters most to me.

”If you can’t agree to that, there’s nothing more to discuss.”

Yao Yuan shook his head, ”I’m sorry, but I genuinely can’t promise that.

”Controlling the medications is a collective decision our community made together. It reflects what most of our players want. I’m loosely part of the leadership, but not in a position where I can make exceptions to that.”

Li Mao let out a sigh, ”Then there’s nothing to talk about. I don’t think I can endure that kind of pain, and I don’t think I can get through withdrawal either.

”It seems like we won’t have much opportunity to cooperate after all.”

Yao Yuan was quiet for a moment, then said, ”As far as inviting you to join Community 2 goes, you’re right, that’s probably off the table.

”But I think there might be other ways for us to work together.”

Li Mao looked puzzled, ”What other ways? Your community hasn’t shown the kind of strength that would make me feel confident. Don’t expect me to do anything that crosses a line.”

Yao Yuan nodded, ”I can see that. You’re a player who only moves when the situation is completely in your favour. You never fire first, and you only commit when you’re certain of winning.

”So. Suppose everything fell into place on its own, and all you had to do to achieve your goal was nothing at all?”

Li Mao said nothing, but his silence was clearly as good as a yes.

Yao Yuan continued, ”I can’t promise anything with certainty, but you might want to watch how things unfold. I’ll do my best to make that kind of situation happen.”

Li Mao felt his Worker Badge vibrate against his chest. He glanced at it and realised his confinement period had ended and he had to leave.

Unlike the Medical Room, Solitary Confinement was not somewhere you could come and go freely. Lingering deliberately could trigger another violation.

Yao Yuan had entered slightly later and would be free to leave slightly later as well.

The Contraband would have to be left behind.

Yao Yuan said, ”After this, you’ll most likely stay in the prison and keep receiving materials and converting them into Gold Pounds. You probably won’t be able to find out what’s happening outside at all.

”But I still hope you’ll pay attention to any community-wide broadcast that might come through.

”When that moment arrives, you’ll know what to do.”

Li Mao looked at him, said nothing more, and quietly left.

About a minute later, the Worker Badge on Yao Yuan’s chest vibrated. He was free to leave Solitary Confinement.

With some effort, he gathered up the Contraband from the floor and returned to the cell block.

He Qinyun had not yet come out of the Medical Room, but Yao Yuan couldn’t wait any longer.

He pushed 10,000 Gold Pounds into the cash slot and left the cell block.