Chapter 16: Unbuttoning the Shirt

The instant the chest opened, a monstrous gray wolf had its vision blocked by the picnic blanket Mo Yubai threw!

Right after came two sharp feathers, whistling through the air as they nailed themselves into the bulging silhouette beneath the blanket!

The monstrous gray wolf howled in pain, and Mo Yubai pressed her advantage!

Amid the sound of tearing fabric as the wolf’s claws ripped through the blanket, she raised the Bird-head Staff high and swung it at the beast’s head!

To her surprise, the monstrous gray wolf was so fast it left barely an afterimage. With an easy dodge, it caused the Bird-head Staff to miss and strike the highway instead.

Before Mo Yubai could strike again, the monstrous gray wolf crouched and lunged straight at her!

Mo Yubai scrambled to dodge, but the gray wolf still slammed her to the ground!

She only had time to whip her head to the side, letting the wolf’s head narrowly brush past her neck, but its sharp fangs still sank deep into her left arm!

In that instant, she could clearly hear the dull tear of her own muscle and flesh!

Her mind went blank. Without a moment’s hesitation, in a flash of pure instinct, her right hand released its tight grip on the Bird-head Staff!

She drew the dagger at her waist and, with a reverse grip, drove the blade deep into the wolf’s throat with all her might!

Scalding wolf blood sprayed across her face. The moment the droplets dripped from her eyelashes, the gray wolf vanished, leaving two feathers to drift gently onto Mo Yubai’s chest.

She did not get up immediately. Lying on the highway, she turned her head to look at her mangled arm, held together only by shards of bone. At that moment, her desire for power reached its absolute peak!

She gently raised her uninjured right hand to block the blinding headlights ahead.

Blood poured from her left arm, the pain so intense it felt almost numb. Her heart hammered wildly in her chest. Panic and excitement danced together, yet the smile at the corner of her lips grew gentler.

After a quick rinse of the wound with disinfectant, Mo Yubai evenly applied the hemostatic powder she had obtained from the Silver Treasure Chest. She used up all six rolls of bandages to secure the injury.

In her current state, looking for medicine in the chat channel would be useless. She could only pray she would run into a Service Area soon.

Packing away the supplies from the Silver Treasure Chest, Mo Yubai set off again, steering the Electric Tricycle with one hand.

The Electric Tricycle traveled for another hour and a half. Along the way, she encountered a Wooden Treasure Chest and a Bronze Treasure Chest.

Mo Yubai did not stop to open either of them, keeping the vehicle accelerating forward.

It was now nearly two-thirty in the morning. Blood seeped through the bandages, dripping down her arm and off her fingertips onto the vehicle.

Her face was pale and her lips bloodless. Steering the Electric Tricycle with one hand, she looked at the single bar of battery left and the endless highway ahead, taking a deep, heavy breath.

After driving for about another hour, the Electric Tricycle’s battery indicator flashed a warning red!

The headlights grew dim, yet there was still no sign of a Service Area.

Ding! Mo Yubai forced herself to focus and voice-activated the game panel. It was a message from Ou Ou.

“Ahhh! Sister Mo, right after we talked this evening, I ran into a Service Area!”

“The moment I got in, a robot tricked me into working at a restaurant. It forced me to work for six whole hours before letting me go!

But luckily, the robot gave me a temporary NPC tag while I was working, so now I can stay in the Service Area for free for another two and a half hours!”

“Haha, I earned forty gold coins! And while I was working, I heard other players say there’s a super luxurious hotel in the Service Area. The cheapest standard room is eighty gold coins a night. Combined with the forty gold coins I got from opening chests, it’s exactly enough for one night.”

“Don’t worry, Sister Mo, I’m saving my money and won’t spend it recklessly. Once you find a Service Area, it’s my treat. We can share a standard room!”

“Sigh, if only you could get to a Service Area right now, Sister Mo. Then we could meet up tonight.”

Mo Yubai read the message, then looked up at the massive illuminated sign that had just appeared ahead of her.

A flood of thoughts rushed through her mind, and she silently muttered, “Unbelievable.”

Pushing her stray thoughts aside, Mo Yubai typed a reply: “Congratulations, your wish came true. I see a Service Area. Don’t book the standard room yet, I have a surprise for you. See you in the hotel lobby in a bit.”

After sending the message, Mo Yubai closed the chat box. The Electric Tricycle slowly rolled through the gates of the Service Area.

[Welcome to A001 Service Area. Players may stay in this Service Area for free for 3 hours!

After 3 hours, a fee of 2 gold coins will be charged for every additional hour. If you have insufficient gold coins, your soul power will be automatically deducted!]

[Time spent in special commercial establishments within this Service Area, such as hotels and restaurants, will not be counted toward the limit.]

The system announcement rang out the moment she entered. Before Mo Yubai could process it, she saw a group of players lurking near the entrance, waiting for an opportunity.

Their faces were pale and their bodies slightly translucent, likely the consequence of having their soul power drained. Even so, they refused to leave the Service Area.

Their eyes locked onto every player entering the Service Area like wolves, waiting for the right prey to pounce on and tear apart.

The moment Mo Yubai’s slender figure, blood-soaked bandages, and Electric Tricycle appeared, they stirred, coiled like springs and ready to strike.

Just then, a robot dressed in a suit walked toward Mo Yubai.

The robot was tall and upright, with the face of a human male.

However, from his neck down to his jawline was a cold, beautiful mechanical structure, exuding a sense of rational aesthetics.

The pack of wolves at the entrance kept their eyes glued to Mo Yubai, waiting for the robot to finish checking her information before they rushed forward to tear her limb from limb!

“Hello. Driving is prohibited within the Service Area. You may store your vehicle in your panel or park it in the parking lot. Additionally, you must present your game account to enter the Service Area.”

The robot completely ignored Mo Yubai’s bloody wound and the greedy stares behind her, speaking with cold, routine efficiency.

Mo Yubai offered a tired smile. Brushing her fingers against the feathers and the dagger hidden in her sleeve, she opened her game panel and displayed her account.

[Beep! Welcome, honored Black Gold VIP, to A001 Service Area. You may stay in this Service Area for free!

A Presidential Suite and a dedicated butler have been prepared for you. Detecting severe physical trauma, the most advanced Medical Pod has been prepared for you in the Presidential Suite!

Please wait a moment. The latest Smart Flying Car shuttle service has been arranged for you!

We are dedicated to providing you with exclusive service. We wish you a pleasant stay.]

As the announcement echoed at the Service Area gates, the greed in the eyes of the lurking wolves almost boiled over!

Yet when Mo Yubai swept her gaze over them, they all lowered their heads and shrank back, not daring to show even a hint of malice.

The previously cold robot instantly put on a standard, polite smile and said respectfully to Mo Yubai:

“Hello, honored Black Gold VIP. I am robot B3333. Please wait a moment while I retrieve a temporary first-aid kit to dress your wound.”

Having said that, he took off his suit jacket and began unbuttoning his shirt from top to bottom, one button at a time.

Mo Yubai watched this in dumbfounded silence, completely forgetting the pain in her arm for a moment.

Wait, even if I’m an honored Black Gold VIP, isn’t this service a bit too…

Before Mo Yubai could finish her wild thoughts, robot B3333’s shirt was completely unbuttoned, and he proceeded to open his mechanical chest.

Wait! He literally opened it?