Chapter 48: Impersonation

The Skinner, his hair a complete mess, held his deboning knife tightly, his fierce expression freezing the moment he heard Xu Huo’s words: “What did you say?”

Xu Huo gave a disdainful glance at his bloodstained apron. “Call the boss out.”

“I’m the boss.” The Skinner stared at him. “Who are you?”

“So you’re the boss.” Xu Huo sneered, giving him a contemptuous look before walking straight into the office. He flopped down on the sofa, stretching his legs onto the tea table. “Bring out the accounts. Let’s check the books.”

The Skinner was momentarily taken aback by his boldness and followed him inside. “I’ve paid the taxes here according to the number of people…”

Xu Huo sneered, cutting him off. “Don’t you have any idea what kind of business you’re running here? You think that little money can fool anyone?”

The Skinner’s expression flickered uncertainly. “It’s always been paid like this before.”

“Before is before. Since I arrived, the rules have changed.” Xu Huo shot him a sidelong glance, tapping his index finger on the sofa.

The paper phone in his pocket vibrated silently, but it was enough for the Skinner to notice.

Xu Huo instinctively reached into his pocket but stopped halfway. He didn’t answer the call and instead said harshly, “Stubborn, huh?”

With that, he abruptly stood up and strode toward the hallway, ignoring the stunned players. He pushed open the front door of the workshop, covering his nose in disgust as he walked in. “This smell? Not even three months of stinking socks can compare.”

“Is this ground even meant for walking? Stepping on it would ruin my shoes!”

“And these machines? Tsk tsk, are you selling meat or worm eggs?”

“Rats too? Is this factory a stinking sewer?”

“I can’t believe anyone would dare buy stuff coming out of here!”

“Just breathing this air means you’ll need to cleanse your lungs after you leave!”

“Those two pigs died in such a disgusting way. Would meat with such a tragic death really taste good?”

“Covered in stinky sweat—stay away from me!”

...

From the workshop all the way to the pigsty, Xu Huo found fault with everything: the floor tiles, machines, even down to the knives and aprons. Besides calling a few players filthy and stinky like pigs, he described the piglets in the sty as looking melancholy, saying anyone who had eaten this kind of meat would definitely be in a bad mood.

Tang Pei and the others were stunned by his performance. They had witnessed the Skinner’s slaps firsthand—how could Xu Huo not fear getting beaten to death here?!

But Xu Huo wasn’t afraid at all. After tearing the factory apart with words, he turned back to the Skinner and sneered coldly, “The health bureau must love places like this. I wonder how many inspections your place can survive.”

The knife in the Skinner’s hand had long been discarded after Xu Huo accused him of not washing it for three days. His facial muscles twitched, and after a while, he forced out a twisted smile. “Let’s talk it out. Come to the front.”

After saying this, he first invited Xu Huo out, then shouted at the players, “Did you hear everything just now? Get back to work!”

The players saw his bulging veins and eyes like bells. Some grabbed brooms, others water guns, and hurried back to their tasks. Glancing sideways, they caught the Skinner turning his face away and smiling at Xu Huo. They immediately doubted their own sanity.

That was the Skinner—could he really be so easily intimidated by a few words?

Of course, those few words didn’t scare the Skinner.

He was notorious for his ferocity, with an intimidating height and aura. Most players would naturally show fear when they saw him. The game also assigned a task to complete his work, which effectively shackled the players—in situations where the other two tasks couldn’t be completed, working for the Skinner at least guaranteed survival.

So, the relationship between the players and the Skinner was unequal. It was hard for employees to stand up to their boss.

Xu Huo put on a show, opening his mouth about checking accounts and closing it on inspections, creating the illusion of an outsider. Even if the Skinner demanded proof, it would take time.

The game world had a complete social system, which wasn’t entirely bad for the players.

Glancing at the tea the Skinner had poured, Xu Huo didn’t even bother reaching for it.

Seeing this, the Skinner turned and took some rolls of money from the desk drawer, placing them in front of him. “I don’t know what to call you. I’m new here and have only raised pigs in the countryside. I know little about the outside world, so please forgive any poor hospitality.”

Xu Huo didn’t even look at the money. He tapped his index finger, and the paper phone in his pocket vibrated again.

This time, he still ignored it, coldly staring at the Skinner. “Playing me for a fool? I don’t care whose connections you’re using. The people upstairs have changed, so the people downstairs have to change too.”

“I’m not interested in these things.”

Seeing that Xu Huo truly wasn’t interested in the White Bills, the Skinner took out a box of cigars from a nearby cabinet.

The cigars wrapped in gold foil were neatly arranged in a pure gold box, looking tacky and gaudy. But Xu Huo actually smiled.

The Skinner lit one for him, and the two smoked together, finally easing the atmosphere.

“My surname is Wang. You can call me Mr. Wang.” Xu Huo exhaled smoke. “Money is an external thing. Compared to some good things, it’s no different from paper.”

“I never take it seriously. But some things can’t be bought with money.”

The Skinner nodded along while studying him, his expression shifting several times.

Xu Huo pretended not to notice and only tapped his finger when the timing was right, signaling Peng Fengnian to call again—this was the prearranged code.

This time the call connected, and Xu Huo no longer ignored it but nodded to the Skinner and went outside to answer.

As soon as he stepped out, the Skinner’s expression darkened. He picked up the landline and dialed a number. Half a minute later, he put down the phone and walked to the window.

“Be careful, the Skinner is eavesdropping.” Peng Fengnian, hiding far away and watching the factory, had sweaty palms. After Xu Huo went in, he wiped his hands several times, afraid of missing the code and not daring to blink.

“I know.” Xu Huo’s expression remained unchanged, but the next second he spoke angrily. “Sis, you’re following him without a name or status, not for money or profit, just to get me a good place. And he sends me off to such a small spot?”

“…It’s inconvenient now. It’s precisely the time to arrange for our own people…”

“Anyway, I won’t go back unless I’m satisfied. Our family isn’t penniless, and he has the nerve!”

After some muttering, he put away the paper phone and returned to the office as if nothing had happened.

The Skinner smiled broadly and handed over a cigar. “I heard the top official at E27 Wormhole Point has changed. Mr. Wang, are you transferred here too?”

At E27, Xu Huo immediately recalled the code on his return ticket. The game world was divided by wormhole points. His starting point was at E27 Wormhole Point, and the Good Taste Fresh Meat Supply Plant instance invaded the real world, so it was also located in the same area.

He narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “Why are you asking so many questions?”