Chapter 27: Display The Goods

A square white building, standing without walls, perched like a crane among chickens at the crossroads.

The white building looked like a box, with only a small door and a vent—no windows.

“Get in.”

Wu Xiaomi and the other girls were shoved inside.

The rope had already been corroded by the plant roots and was close to breaking; a little force would be enough to tear it off.

But Wu Xiaomi didn’t rush to break free.

She pretended to stumble, lightly touched the ankle ring, and activated first-person recording.

When eliminating evil, it must be done thoroughly.

When killing pests, you have to destroy the nest.

……

“You speak French?”

At the Xinhuo base, Ah Lei asked Bai Xiaozhi.

“No.”

“Then how did you know the word ‘syndicat’?”

Bai Xiaozhi let out a soft laugh. “Syndicat isn’t unfamiliar to me and my brother.”

“Why?”

“The rules of the beasts have always been there. It’s just that you weren’t born outside the ranch.”

Bai Xiaozhi replied casually, eyes locked on Pineapple Pineapple, constantly typing in keywords like “kidnapping” and “syndicat” to search for new intel.

“Sounds like you and your brother have quite the story,” Ah Lei kept searching while probing further.

“Growing up outside the shelter of parents, you get to see a very interesting, real world,” Bai Xiaozhi said lightly. “The syndicat is everywhere—you just can’t see it.”

“Oh?”

“I don’t know that much,” Bai Xiaozhi paused, her eyes dimming slightly. “I say we had no parents, but actually, over the years, my brother protected me very well… He never let me get involved in those messy things. It was mostly him dealing with the syndicat.”

“Can we get in touch with him?”

“He’s gone dark. I don’t even know if he’s still alive.”

“Uh… sorry.”

“It’s fine. I trust him,” Bai Xiaozhi said calmly. “These changes are nothing to him.”

After a moment of silence, Ah Lei looked curiously at Bai Xiaozhi’s outfit.

Her clothes were mainly black, with only her hair pure white, tied into a neat ponytail.

She had the commanding aura of a villain boss, yet her strong presence made it completely work.

A girl like this—probably the queen bee antagonist at school, right?

She understood the rules of beasts very well.

Then what kind of person was her brother?

Ah Lei couldn’t help but start imagining.

He must be even more fierce and ruthless.

Grew up on the streets, exposed to the syndicat early, used to crime and violence.

Without brutal methods, there’s no way he could’ve protected such a beautiful little sister.

So, he was probably lean but strong, with fierce eyes and a scarred face.

Spoke tersely, always had a gun or knife at his waist, ready to kill at the slightest provocation.

A lone wolf covered in scars, each one a trophy from a deadly battle.

Damn, now that sounds kind of cool.

Really want to meet him.

…..

“Meow~” said Wu Xiaomi.

There was a cat lying inside the white house.

Seeing the kitten, a human instinct kicked in, and she subconsciously started cooing, “chirp chirp chirp,” “meow meow meow.”

The lazy cat glanced at Wu Xiaomi.

Rolled over and kept sleeping.

Wu Xiaomi pouted in disappointment.

“Clang—”

The door of the white building slammed shut, locked tight.

The girls were gathered in the center of the hall, like actors on a stage.

Around them was a two-tiered gallery, with a few masked figures seated above.

Masks?

“Heh, so they do care about saving face?” Nurse An sneered.

She shifted slightly, positioning herself in front of Wu Xiaomi.

The gesture didn’t really serve any purpose—it was just an instinctive reaction.

“The auction begins.”

The auctioneer stepped onto the stage and picked up a small gavel.

He was well-versed in the art of auctioning; the best was always saved for last as the grand finale.

So he glanced at Wu Xiaomi, but didn’t bring her out.

Instead, he pulled out the girl beside her.

“These are all carefully selected goods by the syndicat—perfect whether you’re rewarding your men or keeping them for your own use.”

“Starting price: 500 strategy points. Each raise must be no less than 50 points.”

“You may begin. We’ll start with this young lady—thick black hair, pale skin, delicate facial features—a textbook Asian beauty. Height, one fifty-seven. Petite and charming.”

Unfortunately, after the introduction, the room stayed quiet.

No one raised a paddle.

The auctioneer looked around.

From behind the masks, pairs of heated eyes burned but they were all locked onto a single point.

The auctioneer helplessly glanced at Wu Xiaomi.

Of course. With a gem like that in the room, who would be interested in this kind of plain merchandise?

The transport crew really dropped the ball—they should’ve bagged them up and revealed them one by one.

Idiots.

“No bids?”

It was an awkward situation.

“Next.”

The auctioneer grabbed another rope and dragged Nurse An under the spotlight.

“This lady used to be a nurse before the cataclysm. Graceful demeanor, stands at one seventy-three. Any boss into roleplay won’t regret bidding on her.”

Nurse An was forced to lift her head, gritting her teeth and glaring at the masked figures.

Perhaps it was precisely that defiant look that triggered a few twisted desires.

Someone raised a bidding paddle.

“I’ll go 700 points,” said the masked buyer, then added, “You guys are seriously unprofessional. How am I supposed to know what’s under her clothes? Scars? Padding to fake it?”

“Apologies, apologies,” the auctioneer said repeatedly.

He gestured for his men to bring scissors.

Pulling out a pair, he aimed them at Nurse An’s clothing.

“Displaying the goods is indeed a necessary part of the process. This is the first batch—my men lack experience. I beg your pardon, I’ll skin her right now.”

(1/2)