Waves crashed into the shore, the sound guiding them through the milky haze that grew thicker the further they advanced.
The two advanced side by side when the ground suddenly slanted downwards, the matted grass changing into small rocks and soft sand that moved under their weight.
Only one misstep and the earth would dislodge beneath them, rocks tumbling downhill. A mischievous idea sprouted in Thanh Van's mind as he took a step forward, then waited, letting the earth crumble beneath his feet.
"…!" Thanh Van faked a yelp as one second, he was hovering over nothing, and in the next second, he was crushed against Kruger's body, the man's heartbeat thumping powerfully against his ear.
The man had pulled him back from rolling down the hill - and as expected, Kruger fell right into the honey trap.
Thanh Van wanted to gag from the cheesiness.
This NPC skin was too good!
"Let me walk first." Kruger's deep voice rumbled in his chest. The arm coiled around Thanh Van's waist rested there a little too comfortably. The large palms cupped his slim form with ease.
So effortlessly that it made Thanh Van squirm like a little worm against the powerful body to escape before Thanh Van cringed so hard he would throw himself down the hill and straight into the damn ocean.
Who knew sergeant Kruger could be as clingy as a squid?
It took Thanh Van an elbow and a fist to wedge some breathing space between them before he would melt into Kruger's heated body.
Green eyes gazed up at the rugged visage. A makeshift pout on his plush lips designed to disarm. But despite his great efforts to charm, Kruger merely stared at him with dark, piercing eyes.
Thanh Van fluttered his lashes despite the little emotion on Kruger's visage. "If you walk first, I won't be able to catch you if you fall."
And there would be no interest in Thanh Van to do so, either. One should be glad he didn't kick them down the hill to speed up the process.
Can't. Must stay in character. Just stay in character as a useless little flower vase. Thanh Van repeated the mantra in his heart.
"I will survive."
Oh, this guy was just asking to be bullied!
"We are being chased." Thanh Van reminded him, a sliver of mischief in the curve of his lips. "Are you using me as a shield, sergeant?"
"… That was not my intention." The palm cupping Thanh Van's waist tightened briefly, as if feeling wronged, yet the man's eyebrow didn't even twitch.
Too brooding. Thanh Van cringed in his heart.
Any moment now, the system would announce that midnight had arrived. Although this was fun, Thanh Van couldn't entertain this hunk longer.
Standing on his tiptoes, Thanh Van's hand slid up the man's chest, his touch feathery as the hand came to rest over the broad shoulder. "Then, tell me sergeant, what are your intentions with me?"
Kruger's heart thumped harder in its cavity with such suggestive words. Skin hot through the thin layer of cotton between his chest and Thanh Van's palm.
Despite this, the sergeant's face betrayed no emotions. "… We should head to the port."
Thanh Van let out a charming chuckle as he leaned over, breath tickling Kruger's ear. "Then why are you holding me so tightly, sergeant?"
Kruger's arms hurried to unfurl at once. Teasing him was fun, but so was this scenario, so Thanh Van took this chance to escape downhill, disappearing into the mist first.
Time seemed to freeze as Kruger's gaze followed the beauty.
Truly, this Ruan An fascinated him so.
***
Thanh Van reached the edge of the port first. Dirt and stones changed to solid wood planks beneath his feet.
But before he could advance, Kruger had already reached his side like a clingy dog, pulling Thanh Van by the arm and forcing him to still.
"What-" Thanh Van's lips parted to ask when ahead, among the mist, between the thundering sound of waves crashing onto the rocky shores, shouts and screams reached their ears.
"Stay close." Kruger said no more as he walked down the pier first.
Thanh Van's brows twitched as he was dragged along. It was not like he had a choice here. Kruger's hold seemed to tighten the louder the shouts and screams grew around them. Any more, and he might as well amputate Thanh Van's hand.
The rotting wood creaked under their weight as they crept closer to where the ship should have been when the mist suddenly split open, clearing around the pier. The eerie moonlight washed over them, revealing a figure crouching by the edge of the pier.
As they got closer, the figure turned out to be none other than Kim Jihun, sleeves pulled back, fishing for something from the water. Not far off, Christof Kunze's pained figure could be seen sitting by one of the posts, nursing his injury.
But where were the rest of the players? And where-
"Where is the ship?" Thanh Van's gaze sharpened over the black water that reflected the moonlight.
The players bobbed up and down along with the waves as the poor fools tried to swim against the rippling water that grew closer to the shore, lapping over the rocks.
Against the horizon, the outline of a ship was slowly drifting further and further away. A familiar silhouette stood on deck, alone under the eerie light of the full moon.
In the glacial water, the players screamed and cursed, calling for the ship to turn back, but it had already drifted out of hearing range.
Swim as you might. No one was going to pull them on board. Soon enough, the players gave up on the fruitless chase, treading back towards the shore.
Thanh Van's lips twitched, body trembling slightly under the gruelling wind that whipped in from the sea. He wanted to laugh but held his tongue, biting back the chuckle that fought to break free.
No wonder senior Wu had ranked E, player 800. The heartless beauty had taken the ship to the ocean alone, abandoning them all to death.
Thanh Van applauded the cruel beauty, his eyes crescendoing in delight at the turn of events.
Well played, senior Wu.
Well played.