Chapter 622: Within Expectations
Earth Tiger paced back and forth in his own room, as if searching for something.
But he searched for a long time and found nothing.
Black Sheep was standing nearby, watching him helplessly.
"What are you looking for?" Black Sheep said impatiently. "Looking for death?"
"Mind your own business, will you?" Earth Tiger replied. "What the hell is it to you?"
The two fell silent after that, both turning their heads away in frustration.
Earth Tiger kept rummaging through boxes and cabinets, kicking up dust all over the room, while Black Sheep frowned at the table full of food in front of him.
"Is this what you call 'treating me to a meal'?" Black Sheep shook his head. "Boring. I'm leaving."
"Found it!"
Earth Tiger let out a joyful shout, then turned around to show Black Sheep what he was holding in his hand.
It was a plastic bag that still looked fairly new.
"What is that...?" Black Sheep was a bit confused. "You've been looking for a plastic bag this whole time?"
"So I asked, what the hell is it to you?"
Earth Tiger walked up to Black Sheep in a huff, grabbed a chicken leg from his plate, and tossed it into the plastic bag, followed by the bread and fruit from his plate.
Black Sheep stared blankly as he looted his plate like a bandit, feeling like his brain had short-circuited.
"Hold on, wait a minute..." He reached out to stop Earth Tiger. "What the hell are you doing?! Why does this scene feel familiar to me?"
"Who's to blame? Blame yourself for not eating all this time," Earth Tiger said. "Just get new food from the table yourself."
"I just don't get it... Who is this for?"
"It's for..." Earth Tiger glanced at Black Sheep, then frowned. "None of your damn business, is it?!"
"Fine, fine. I must have a screw loose to even bother with you," Black Sheep said through gritted teeth. "No wonder I'm the only one out of this whole bunch who's willing to put up with you. I'm out of here."
Earth Tiger paused slightly at that, then acted as if he hadn't heard and continued stuffing the food from Black Sheep's plate into the plastic bag.
Black Sheep stood up and took three steps toward the door, when a knock sounded.
He froze for a moment, then reached out and opened the door.
Standing outside were Ground Dog and Ground Rat.
"Oh, leader, haven't seen you all day. Your forehead's still as dark as ever," Ground Rat said with a smile at Black Sheep, pushing the door open.
Ground Dog also lazily nodded at Black Sheep. "Good evening."
"You two..." Black Sheep was a bit confused about the situation now.
"Dark-faced leader, don't you recognize me? I'm 'Fence-Sitter'!" Ground Rat patted his own chest with great pride as he introduced himself. "And over there, the overtime work dog."
That remark pissed Black Sheep off. "Fine, fine, you two can be whoever you want to be."
Ground Dog ignored the two who were talking, walked in, nodded weakly at Earth Tiger, then went over to the sofa and lay down. His eyelids looked droopy, as if he was about to fall asleep at any moment.
Earth Tiger stared at him for a few seconds, caught up in his atmosphere, and then they both yawned together.
Black Sheep had thought no one else would be coming today, and had only come in to sit with Earth Tiger so he wouldn't lose too much face from having no guests. He hadn't expected their old buddies to show up.
He thought for a moment, then looked at Earth Tiger. "Did you invite them today too?"
"No," Earth Tiger said, stuffing the plastic bag full and then tucking it into his pocket. "But don't worry—everyone who came yesterday will come today, and there'll be even more than yesterday."
Black Sheep felt something was off. He slowly stepped forward and stared into Earth Tiger's eyes for a long time.
"What are you staring at?" Earth Tiger asked.
In response, Black Sheep reached out and slapped Earth Tiger's big head.
"Hey!" Earth Tiger flared up instantly. "Old Black, have you lost your damn mind?!"
"You're the one who's lost it!" Black Sheep lowered his voice and said to him. "Listen to yourself. Does what you just said sound like something a moron like you would say? You saw him?"
"I—I don't know who you're talking about." Earth Tiger's eyes shifted away from Black Sheep's face and very unnaturally fixed on the ceiling.
"Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner!" Black Sheep continued in a low voice. "Was it necessary to keep this from me too? Is this food for Brother Sheep?"
"Ah..." Earth Tiger scratched his head. "So you figured it out. I was hoping you'd see how amazing I am."
"Your sudden amazingness is really hard for me to accept," Black Sheep said. "Did Brother Sheep say anything else to you?"
"What else would he say?" Earth Tiger thought about it. "That's pretty much it."
"Damn it... you stupid cat, what about the 'plan'?!" Black Sheep lowered his voice even more, but his expression was already a little angry. "Do you realize there's a 'sword' hanging over all our heads right now? You're the only one who's seen Brother Sheep—why didn't you ask him about the 'plan'?!"
"You're the stupid sheep," Earth Tiger said, also lowering his voice. "Brother Sheep has lost his memory! How would he know if I asked him?"
"This..." Black Sheep frowned. "Then what do we do? Do we make a plan ourselves?"
"But..." Earth Tiger scratched his own face and said, "Brother Sheep said someone else would be coming tonight... Maybe that person knows something?"
"Someone else coming?" Black Sheep thought for a few seconds. "Did you call someone else?"
"No, I only called you and Lazy Dog."
By this time, Ground Rat was helplessly watching the two of them loudly conspiring, and spoke up, "Leaders, from the looks of it, you two seem to want to keep this from me and him, right?"
"What are you eavesdropping for?" Earth Tiger asked.
"Your voices, leaders, are way too loud. I had nowhere to hide," Ground Rat said. "Maybe you two should stop whispering and just say it out loud. That way you won't get tired, and we'll have an easier time listening."
"Get lost," Earth Tiger said. "Don't forget you're a 'fence-sitter.' I haven't considered you one of us yet."
Ground Rat shook his head helplessly at that, with a fake smile. "As expected, you're such a wise leader. Following a wise leader like you really gives me confidence."
Just as the two were talking, the door was pushed open again, and the tall, bandaged Ground Rabbit walked in, his expression heavy.
"Oh, Bandage Leader, you've come too," Ground Rat said with a smile, greeting him. "You're not dead yet?"
Ground Rabbit glanced at Ground Rat, then looked around the room at the scattered Earth-level Zodiacs, and finally lowered his head helplessly. "Brothers, did you all see today's 'Pegasus Moment'?"
Of course, everyone had seen the "Pegasus Moment." They had been standing right outside the game grounds, watching countless participants being slaughtered before their very eyes.
The things they had to expend so much effort to accomplish, the "Heaven-level" could do with just a single thought.
"Everyone... what exactly did we become 'Heaven' for?" Ground Rabbit asked again.