Do you have a gun?

Su Chen's heart skipped a beat as the sound of knocking reverberated through the room. Outside, the world had descended into a bleak, apocalyptic landscape, where ceaseless screams and gunfire echoed in the distance.

Reacting swiftly, Su Chen rose to his feet, clutching the gravity warhammer in one hand and the slender Miao knife in the other. He leaned towards the door, prepared for whatever lay on the other side.

The lock on his door had been tampered with, a deliberate measure taken to facilitate a swift escape. Su Chen had even barricaded it with a sofa chair.

Approaching the door cautiously, he formulated a strategy in his mind. If it turned out to be a hostile encounter, similar to the encounter with the ghostly figure before, he planned to utilize the gravity Warhammer as a projectile weapon, followed by the Explosive Knife if necessary.

Anxiety gnawed at Su Chen's thoughts, but his plans were abruptly disrupted as he caught sight of three individuals standing outside the door. The man in the center was elegantly attired and appeared familiar. It was the young master who had participated in the auction for the Ring of Anovar. Accompanying him were two security guards.

Initially taken aback, Su Chen swiftly pieced together the puzzle. The reason the Time Regressor had chosen the Sky view Hotel went beyond personal convenience; he must have been aware that this young man resided here, likely intending to seize the ring in the event of a failed auction.

The young master himself occupied another set of presidential suites on the same floor. His security guards had ventured out to investigate the commotion and had witnessed Su Chen's confrontation with the elongated ghost. After deliberation, the young master decided to approach him personally.

It was an unexpected turn of events, as Su Chen realized the connection. However, he remained composed and focused as he queried, "What brings you here?"

"I am Xia Ming, the president of Xihuang Group," Xia Ming responded with a hint of trepidation. "I arrived in Yuanliao City for a business trip and never expected to find myself in such dire circumstances. Upon hearing that there were people residing here, I thought it was worth investigating. And now, I find you."

Su Chen's brow furrowed at the mention of the Xihuang Group. Although he had no recollection of it, his detachment from current events due to his intense focus on cultivating energy units left him unaware of recent developments. He asked bluntly, "What is your purpose here?"

Xia Ming hesitated briefly before deciding to disclose his situation. "Given the chaos outside, I believed that seeking refuge here might provide some respite," he explained anxiously. "But seeing that you are merely striving to survive, just like the rest of us, I was hoping you could extend a helping hand."

Su Chen shook his head, weighing his options. With the Ring of Anovar and his transformative abilities, he possessed the means to protect himself. Aligning with ordinary individuals would only encumber him. Moreover, his encounter with the elongated ghost had taught him the futility of undertaking thankless endeavors. In the midst of his own hardships, he couldn't afford to concern himself with others.

Xia Ming's eyes widened with a mix of surprise and hesitation. He hadn't expected Su Chen to negotiate with him. The gravity of the situation, combined with the potential value of having someone with Su Chen's skills as his protector, made him consider the offer more seriously.

"I can provide you with a gun and ammunition," Xia Ming finally responded, his voice more composed. "But I need your assurance that you will genuinely protect us for the agreed-upon time."

Su Chen nodded, his expression serious. "I will fulfill my end of the bargain as long as you provide the promised resources. However, I want half of the payment upfront, and the remaining half after the three days. It's non-negotiable."

Xia Ming hesitated briefly, but then nodded in agreement. He understood that Su Chen was a capable individual, and he needed his protection in this chaotic world.

"Agreed," Xia Ming said, extending his hand to shake on the deal.

Su Chen paused for a moment, weighing his options. He knew that a simple handshake wasn't enough to solidify the agreement in such dire circumstances. Instead, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper and a pen. He quickly wrote down the terms of their agreement, including the payment details and the duration of his protection services.

"Sign it," Su Chen said, handing the paper and pen to Xia Ming. "This will serve as our contract, ensuring that both parties fulfill their obligations."

Xia Ming hesitated for a brief moment, but then signed the paper without further delay. He understood the importance of having a formal agreement in a world where trust was scarce.

With the contract signed, Su Chen took a step back and gestured for Xia Ming and his security guards to enter the room. As they entered, Su Chen scanned the two guards and noticed that they were armed with pistols holstered at their sides.

"Now, about that gun and ammunition," Su Chen said, his tone firm. "I need to see them before we proceed any further."

Xia Ming nodded and motioned for one of his guards to retrieve the promised items. The guard hurriedly went back to their room and returned shortly, handing Su Chen a semi-automatic pistol along with a box of ammunition.

Su Chen inspected the gun, checking its condition and ensuring that it was functional. Satisfied with his examination, he loaded a magazine into the pistol and chambered a round. He then holstered the weapon at his side.

"Remember, I will protect you for three days," Su Chen reiterated, his voice filled with determination. "But after that, our contract ends, and I will be on my own way."

Xia Ming nodded, understanding the terms. He knew that he had secured a valuable asset in the form of Su Chen's protection, even if it was only for a limited time.

As they settled into the room, preparing for the challenges ahead, both Su Chen and Xia Ming were aware that their fates had become intertwined in this chaotic world. Their journey together would test their resilience and the limits of their trust.