Chapter 234: Guarding the ticket
"Act discreetly?" Osmond raised an eyebrow.
The woman smiled softly and continued, "On one hand, we can send someone to steal the ticket. On the other hand, if Waldo arrives in City 28, we can pretend to help him find the thief who stole the ticket. This way, we not only secure the first-class ticket but also build a friendship with Waldo. It’s a win-win situation."
Upon hearing this, Osmond suddenly realized the potential benefits and a hint of excitement crossed his face. "Hahaha, that’s perfect! It will also mess with that kid Waldo a bit!"
"Exactly," the woman agreed with a chuckle.
However, Osmond paused for a moment and said, "But you know, Waldo has already recruited other survivors to guard that ticket. Trying to steal it discreetly won’t be easy. I’m afraid there might be complications. What if something goes wrong?"
The woman nodded, acknowledging the potential difficulties. She then wore a determined expression. "In that case, if it comes to it, you may have to personally eliminate those loyal to Waldo and seize the ticket. With no evidence, Waldo won’t easily discover the truth."
Osmond agreed with a nod, realizing there might not be a better option. Shortly after, he began gathering his subordinates from the Tiger Group, his trusted followers. They shared common interests and a strong bond.
Osmond addressed them, "Help me obtain the first-level ticket, and I won’t forget your efforts. You all know how brutal the reality is right now. At least half of the survivors won’t get a ticket. They’ll be abandoned and eliminated. But with my help, with the Tiger’s help, believe me, each one of us can secure a ticket. The condition is that you must assist me in obtaining that first-level ticket. Do you understand?"
The members of the Tiger Group responded in unison, "Understood!"
As Osmond watched his departing comrades, he lit a cigarette and began to smoke in silence.
"Waldo, oh Waldo, why do you have to stretch your hands so far? You really don’t take me, Osmond, seriously, do you? Someday, you’ll pay a hefty price for your arrogance! This first-level ticket is just the beginning!"
Osmond’s eyes were icy, and they emitted a dangerously dark gleam. A mere glance from him sent shivers down anyone’s spine.
On the other side, Waldo had already recruited over ten survivors, most of whom hailed from City 28. Some were Waldo’s fans, while others were there solely for his promise of obtaining a ticket.
"Come on, everyone! The first-class ticket is just nearby. We absolutely can’t let someone else take it before us, or our ticket will be gone! Ivor, hurry up!" Ivor, a Waldo fan, urged impatiently.
He was not only a fan of Waldo but also desperate to secure a ticket. He knew that, even at this early stage, there would be intense competition for tickets, especially for survivors without any backing or influence.
Obtaining a ticket was an uphill battle, but with Waldo’s assistance, even securing a third-level ticket seemed effortless, and second-level tickets weren’t entirely out of the question.
Of course, the condition was that they first helped Waldo guard that coveted first-level ticket.
"Hurry, we’re almost there!" Ivor continued urging his companions.
Before long, the group arrived at their destination, a spacious square with a wide-open view all around.
A cubic treasure chest, radiating a five-color glow, hovered in mid-air. Undoubtedly, it contained that coveted first-class ticket!
"A first-level ticket!" Ivor’s eyes lit up, and he breathed a sigh of relief simultaneously. Thankfully, they arrived just in time, and no one had taken the ticket yet. If it had been snatched away, their ticket chances would have been gone, and it might have angered Waldo.
Then, Waldo could blame them for not guarding properly, and there would be no escaping his wrath. Fortunately, the ticket was still there!
"Spread out and guard this first-level ticket. We must wait for Waldo to arrive!" Ivor commanded. He was the leader of this temporary group of over ten people, a position designated by Waldo himself.
This showed Waldo’s trust in him, which Ivor didn’t take lightly. He made sure everyone understood the gravity of the situation and took their roles seriously.
Then, the team dispersed, positioning themselves in different directions around the ticket chest. Ivor raised his voice once more, "Brothers, guarding the first-level ticket is a task entrusted to us by Waldo! What does this mean? It means that Waldo trusts us and believes that we can safeguard this ticket! There’s no doubt this is the most precious ticket, but we must also have self-awareness. We can’t afford to be careless, or we might not even make it to the next day! Our task is to protect this ticket, keep everyone away, and wait for Waldo to arrive! This is an extremely challenging mission because of the ticket’s value, and we must remain vigilant!"
However, in return, once we guard this ticket, we won’t have to worry about our own tickets anymore. When Waldo steps in, getting as many tickets as he wants will be a breeze, won’t it?
At this moment, Ivor’s voice was resonant and clear, reaching every ear in the vicinity.
Tickets.
It was the most urgent need for everyone at this moment. However, in the fiercely competitive situation, they had no assurance they could secure a ticket for themselves. Helping Waldo guard this ticket was actually a way of securing their own future.
"Don’t worry, leave it to us. No one can get close!" Ivor reassured the group.
"That’s right, a first-level ticket is meant for Waldo, and others are simply out of the league!"
"Heh heh, I’d like to see who the fool is that dares to mess with what Waldo has reserved! Anyone who wants to get close to this ticket better ask if I’m willing to allow it! It won’t work for anyone, not even if Osmond comes! "
The crowd responded loudly.
These words were not only meant for Ivor to hear but also for others who had been lurking nearby. Shortly after their arrival, others had also started to arrive, sneaking around without revealing themselves.
Obviously, they were up to something sinister and had some plans in mind. The best way to deal with this was to discourage them from their risky and unrewarding intentions!
Sure enough, after they spoke, some of those lurking in the darkness hesitated in their actions.
