Suffocating Maneuvers

On an island overrun by monsters, when you encountered someone who looked almost exactly like a demon, the usual response was to run. But Colonel Packard simply did not have the confidence to leave like that.

The island was fraught with danger. Without the Husky’s help, they could barely take a single step forward.

Colonel Packard and James exchanged a glance, then braced themselves and walked toward Russell. Joining them were battlefield journalist Weaver and the Asian young woman, Shan.

Weaver had asked to join them herself, while Shan was there because she was closest to the Husky and might be able to communicate with it. Besides, like Ying Yingying, she had yellow skin and black hair. Combined with her innocent, sweet demeanor, that made it easy for the other party to lower his guard.

"Hello, sir…!"

Colonel Packard was a hard-nosed soldier and not good at greeting people with a smile, so James and Weaver were the ones who struck up the conversation. One had been an agent, the other a journalist; both were eloquent.

"My name is James. These three are my companions: Weaver, Colonel Packard, and Shan…" James gave a brief introduction, then held out his hand. "Thank you for your help. Your pet did us a huge favor. May I ask what we should call you?"

"Jason!"

James smiled and tried to build rapport. "Mr. Jason, may I ask what country you’re from?"

Russell raised a hand and pointed at Shan. "The same as her."

Shan froze for a moment, then pointed at herself uncertainly. "The same as me? You’re Chinese too? Then why are you called Jason? Is that your English name?"

The moment she said that, James and the others were mortified. The man clearly did not want to give his real name. They just needed to understand that internally—why ask it out loud?

Or was she really that foolish?

"My surname is Jie, and my given name is Sen. I simply made Jason my English name," Russell answered solemnly.

Shan suddenly understood. "No wonder. So that’s how it is."

Weaver could not stand it anymore. She pulled the foolish Shan aside, already regretting bringing her over to say hello. It was too embarrassing.

After some awkward small talk, James did not pry into Russell’s identity. Once he learned that Russell was also headed for the center of the island, Colonel Packard took the opportunity to suggest traveling together. Russell and Ying Yingying had already intended to do so, so he went along with it.

"Helping you through this crisis won’t be a problem, but I have one condition. If you agree, everything is negotiable. If not…" Russell shrugged. If not, they would go their separate ways and leave their lives to fate.

"Please, tell us. If it’s something we can do, we certainly won’t refuse." James and Colonel Packard exchanged a look, praying that Russell’s request would not be too difficult.

"I want to take a few pictures." Russell pulled a digital camera from behind his butt and waved it in front of them.

"Just pictures?" James was dumbfounded. This… this was too simple.

"Don’t worry, I won’t make things difficult for you. The kind of pictures where you keep your clothes on."

"No problem at all."

"Who has a black leather jacket? Cut out an eyepatch and put it on Colonel Packard. Remember, it covers the left eye. Don’t get it wrong!"

Holding the camera, Russell directed James and Colonel Packard. "Gentlemen, don’t be so stiff. Stand shoulder to shoulder, lean against each other, face the camera, and keep smiling."

"Come on, one, two, three—peace signs!"

"Colonel Packard, your smile is too stiff. Don’t force a fake smile. You’re a tough guy; you should smile without smiling!"

"James, make your smile more devilishly charming… You don’t know what devilishly charming means? Actually, neither do I… Let me give you an example. Your successful older brother suddenly goes bankrupt and turns into a happy shut-in, and you’re delighted by his misfortune… Oh, you don’t have an older brother…"

After barely finishing Nick Fury and Loki’s costume photos, Russell directed Weaver to step in and take a few couple shots with James.

"Ms. Weaver, your expression needs to be more commanding. Imagine you’ve just won a Pulitzer Prize for journalism… Yes, exactly. You have a great feel for the camera."

"James, when you’re with Ms. Weaver, your smile can’t stay devilishly charming. Your smile needs a little more submissive-wife energy…"

"Why, you ask? Good question. In my setup, although you’re married, Ms. Weaver has the final say in everything. She’s a standard strong career woman, the sort who beats you up every few days. And you can’t even beat her, so your smile needs some resentment and grievance mixed into it."

"James, lie on the ground and close your eyes…"

"Get closer, kiss him! Ms. Weaver, show some of that strong-woman spirit. That’s it, hold James’s hand down…"

"OK, excellent! James, squeeze out a few tears… That’s the feeling. Simply perfect. You two should become actors."

"Shan, this has nothing to do with you. Don’t appear in the shot."

"Huh? Why?"

"I’m afraid it’ll flop!"

After that suffocating round of directing, Russell put away the digital camera with satisfaction. "Don’t worry, everyone. Since you’ve met my condition, I will keep my promise and help you reach the center of the island."

The group was completely baffled. Though they did not know why Russell was so obsessed with photographs, they did not ask. Trading a few photos for a protective charm—there could be no better outcome.

Besides, they had not lost out. James and Weaver in particular had only been ordinary friends until then, but during the shoot, feelings quietly blossomed between them. They naturally took the opportunity to establish themselves as boyfriend and girlfriend.

On the battlefield, the soldiers sorted their gear and checked their remaining weapons and ammunition. Tempted by Shan’s snacks, all fifteen Huskies had run over to act cute. Not a single one remained by Russell’s side.

Russell looked around and realized something was missing. Before long, he spotted Ying Yingying cutting meat beside the Tyrannosaurus Rex’s corpse.

"What are you doing here, pulling teeth?" Russell walked over and asked.

Ying Yingying had obtained four backpacks from the soldiers, all stuffed with Tyrannosaurus Rex teeth. The Dogleg Saber in her hand was incredibly sharp, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex’s sturdy fangs fell at every cut.

"Besides Tyrannosaurus Rex teeth, I also need Kong’s teeth. I just don’t know whether a thirty-meter Kong and a seven-meter Kong will have the same effect. I hope this trip isn’t for nothing…" Ying Yingying busied herself happily and answered without thinking. Once she finished speaking, she shut her mouth and ignored Russell.

"What about Skull Crawler teeth? Don’t you want those?"

"Useless. I don’t need that stuff, though Skull Crawler flesh and blood would make good enhancement ingredients." Ying Yingying glanced at the Skull Crawler’s corpse. "The blood and vitality of this kind of giant beast are abundant. Refined into medicine, it can strengthen the body and improve the main god’s evaluation of physical strength…"

As she spoke, Ying Yingying suddenly felt a chill run down her back. She stiffly turned her head and saw black mist churning beneath Russell’s hood. Those blue eyes were terrifyingly bright.

Ying Yingying dropped onto the ground and scooted several meters away to a safe distance. Swallowing hard, she said, "What are you doing? Why did your expression suddenly…"

Why had he suddenly turned perverted?