Genius Playground

”But...”

Sniffling, he continued,

”Maybe I just... I’d rather see for myself that the Qin Feng at the execution ground isn’t the one I know.”

”Heh.”

The Assassin chuckled.

”Your emotions are clouding your judgment. A man shouldn’t be a slave to his feelings. Whether you see the Magician at the execution ground or not... you can’t change anything.”

Jiang Ran looked at him.

”Then why are you still supporting me?”

This was what Jiang Ran understood the least.

”You know this is a suicide mission. Why did you make Sang Biao agree to it?”

The Assassin took a deep breath and exhaled through his nose.

”This thing called ’luck’... who can really say for sure?”

”Analyzed rationally, going to the execution ground is walking right into a trap. All the guards and security are concentrated there.”

”But on the other hand, there will be thousands of spectators. The scene will be chaotic. Maybe escaping from there, blending into the crowd, will actually make the prison break easier?”

Jiang Ran weighed the Electric Stick in his hand.

He flipped the switch.

”You’re gambling?”

”No, no, no.”

The Assassin shook his head.

”I said it before. Normal escape methods will never get us out of this cage. Only extreme ’luck’ can do it.”

”Then why am I the luck?” Jiang Ran asked.

The Assassin just smiled without answering.

”If we succeed in breaking out this time, if we manage to escape, I’ll tell you then.”

Just then, Sang Biao and the stupid young man came out of the back room, showing off the gear in their hands.

”There wasn’t much in there. Just two Tear Gas canisters. Who knows how to use these?”

The Assassin held out his hand.

Sang Biao handed him the two Tear Gas canisters.

”Let’s move!”

...

After sneaking along quietly for a while, the five of them followed the corridor and arrived at a fork.

Ahead of them was a wall.

Left, or right. They had to choose a path.

Sang Biao pointed to the left.

”The left is the route I planned earlier. It leads to an abandoned building. From the roof, we can figure out a way to escape—either by climbing down or finding a cable to rappel.”

”But I have to say, there are a lot of spots that one or two people can’t get past alone. We’ll have to work together and form a human ladder.”

Then, he pointed to the right.

”The right leads to the execution ground. The place this kid is so determined to go to get himself killed.”

”Choose for yourselves. If you want to go on a suicide mission with this kid, go right. If you want to break out of prison with me, go left.”

The Assassin was the first to move, positioning himself behind Jiang Ran.

”I choose right.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the stupid young man and Bookworm also followed the Assassin.

”Fuck!”

Sang Biao cursed under his breath.

”A bunch of fucking idiots.”

He knew full well that he could never get past the obstacles in the building by himself. With no other choice, he reluctantly followed the group to the right.

It was then that Jiang Ran finally understood.

’In this prison, this prison that only held five random criminals to make up the numbers, the Assassin was the true leader. He must have shown incredible strength at some point before, which was why the stupid young man and Bookworm trusted him so completely.’

They continued down the right-hand corridor.

Gradually, the shouts of the crowd grew louder. Jiang Ran could hear the slogans the Assassin had mentioned, things like ”Kill! Kill! Kill!” ”Execute! Execute! Execute!” and ”Public Enemy Number One!”

”We need to change clothes,” Sang Biao said, looking around.

”These prison uniforms are too conspicuous. Hell, even being naked would be better than wearing these—”

”WOOF WOOF WOOF! WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!!”

The sudden barking of a police dog cut Sang Biao off, startling him so much he jumped.

”Fuck! We’ve been spotted!”

”WOOF WOOF WOOF! WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!!”

The sound of barking grew rapidly closer, accompanied by the thud of heavy footsteps.

It was a prison guard!

”Run!”

Sang Biao yelled, and everyone immediately turned and bolted.

But the police dog was too fast. It caught up in the blink of an eye and lunged, sinking its teeth into Bookworm!

”AHH!!”

Bookworm let out a bloodcurdling scream.

”Leave him!”

The stupid young man had barely finished speaking when another German Shepherd pounced, pinning him to the ground.

With quick reflexes, the Assassin threw both Tear Gas canisters behind them.

But it seemed useless. A fully-armed prison guard strode right through the thick smoke, chasing after them with his pistol raised.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

The gunshots were relentless.

Jiang Ran was in a complete panic. His mind went blank, and all he knew was to run, following close behind the Assassin.

”This is all your fucking fault!”

Sang Biao snarled, gritting his teeth as he swung the Electric Stick at Jiang Ran’s head!

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, the Assassin yanked Jiang Ran out of the way, dodging Sang Biao’s attack. Then, he whipped out the Electric Stick from his own waist and jabbed it at Sang Biao.

”AHHHHH!!!!”

Sang Biao shrieked in pain from the shock, convulsing as he fell to the ground.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Another series of gunshots rang out, and the Assassin staggered and fell.

”Assassin!”

Jiang Ran whipped his head around.

He saw... the Assassin, who had been protecting him this whole time, had been shot! His femoral artery was severed, and blood gushed from the wound like water from a faucet!

”Go!”

The Assassin gritted his teeth, waving Jiang Ran away.

”Get going!”

”But...”

”GO!!!”

the Assassin roared one last time.

Jiang Ran felt as if he were reliving a similar farewell with Qin Feng, back when they were filming in the library.

He gritted his teeth, picked a random corridor, and ran.

However...

His luck was terrible.

He hadn’t run more than a few steps before he realized it was a dead end.

In his panic, he threw open a door and rushed inside.

”WOOF WOOF WOOF!!”

The terrifying sound of a police dog.

He spun around just as a massive black shape pounced on him, its sharp fangs sinking deep into his shoulder!

The pain made Jiang Ran howl!

He quickly drew the Electric Stick and jammed it into the dog’s stomach.

But before the dog could even convulse for two seconds, a prison guard entered with his gun raised—

BANG!

The bullet struck Jiang Ran’s arm with precision, and the Electric Stick clattered to the floor.