"What happened?" Sylas asked, surprised to see Clarissa crying while holding the phone.
Seeing Sylas return, Clarissa was overjoyed and quickly said, "Sylas, please, save Hayden."
"Hayden called me. She's trapped somewhere and can't get out. There are zombies everywhere, and she has nothing to eat. She's been starving for days."
Sylas was taken aback; he hadn't expected it to be Hayden. He asked, "Where is Hayden? Is she also in our Hangcheng?"
"Yes, she's in Hangcheng too. She originally came for a program but got trapped here. Her phone battery died, and she couldn't contact me until now. She finally managed to charge her phone and called me immediately," Clarissa explained.
"Hayden is in great danger. Please, save her," Clarissa pleaded.
Sylas slowly responded, "You know my rules. I don't save people who aren't related to me. No one does anything without benefits, and neither do I. Why should I risk my life to save Hayden? It can't be just because she's your friend."
Hearing this, Clarissa felt a heaviness in her heart. But after thinking it over, she realized Sylas was speaking the truth. No one would risk their life to save someone unrelated.
An idea struck Clarissa, and she asked, "What if Hayden was also one of your people? Would you save her then?"
Sylas silently praised Clarissa's cleverness and smiled, saying, "Of course. If you're one of my people, I will definitely save you."
Clarissa understood and softly spoke to Hayden on the phone, "Hayden, there's something I need to tell you."
"I was saved by someone. His name is Sylas, a young man. Now, I belong to him. He takes care of me and protects me, but there are conditions."
Hayden was shocked to hear this, not expecting Clarissa to be in such a situation. But given the current circumstances, it made sense. After all, it was challenging for a woman to get food on her own; having a man's help made a big difference. From Clarissa's tone, it was clear that being taken care of by Sylas meant being his woman.
Clarissa continued, "Hayden, now I have to ask you: if Sylas is willing to save you, are you willing to be his woman? He won't do anything without benefits. If you have no relationship with him, he won't rescue you."
Hayden gasped, finding it hard to accept. Just a month ago, she was a big star. Now, she had to consider selling herself just to be rescued.
"Let me talk to her," Sylas said, taking the phone from Clarissa.
"Hello, Hayden. I'm Sylas," he said. "If you're willing to be my slave, I will come to rescue you now. From then on, you'll be my slave. I'll take care of you and ensure your safety. That's my condition. It's up to you whether you want me to save you."
"For your own safety, you'd better decide quickly. The longer you delay, the harder it will be to rescue you."
"Be your slave? I thought it was just being your woman. Why a slave?" Hayden asked in shock.
"Yes, my woman and also my slave. From now on, you must listen to me. Clarissa is the same way," Sylas explained. "She just didn't have the courage to tell you that."
"Of course, here you only have to deal with me, not like those filthy survivor camps where a woman has to face multiple men," Sylas continued. "Have you made up your mind?"
Hayden was stunned by the terms. She hadn't expected this. But considering her current situation, she began to feel like she had no choice but to comply. If Clarissa could do it, so could she. Sylas had a point—at least with him, she only had to be with one man, which seemed better than facing a group of men in a raider camp.
"I agree. When will you come to save me?" Hayden quickly responded, eager to end her ordeal.
"I'll eat first. After that, I'll come to rescue you. Don't worry, I'll bring you a hot meal as well," Sylas replied with a smile. The prospect of gaining Hayden pleased him.
He was eager to get Hayden, though he was uncertain if she could become an excellent slave. Sylas would only know for sure once he faced her and let the system scan her.
Knowing that Hayden agreed, Sylas was keen to get going and ate his meal faster. It wasn't long before he was full. He was quite satisfied with his lunch today: a steak with some salad and a refreshing Coca-Cola.
After finishing his meal, Sylas asked Clarissa to pack some food to bring to Hayden, serving as a welcoming gift.