Chapter 101: Sorry, this is my professional habit.

【Invitation Letter】: This is the exclusive reward for the top regional ranking, intended for team discussions and mergers. The generated document must not be violated by either party. Each time, one car team captain may be invited to the exclusive office for discussion, and the other party cannot refuse. (3/3)

Hiss!

This is awesome!

He currently only has twenty cars and eighty empty slots. Three opportunities will definitely be sufficient.

However, convincing the other party will not be easy.

Since the goal is merger, it must be with a strong team—at least top five. Below that rank, even if they accept, it will be useless.

At the thought, he opened the regional car team rankings.

**Handsome Car Team (20/100)** — First place — Points 15.213 million.
**Rose Car Team (21/50)** — Second place — Points 6.489 million.
**Qin Car Team (22/30)** — Third place — Points 6.328 million.
**…**

Rose Car Team, it’s you! Second place!

The golden invitation letter transformed into a streak of golden light that enveloped Lin Mu’s body. He suddenly found himself in an office.

Staring at the room before him, Lin Mu felt momentarily dazed.

Sofa, coffee table, desk…

Wasn’t this just an ordinary office from Blue Star? How nostalgic.

The office he once despised now stirred such deep affection.

A golden light shimmered above the sofa, and a woman in combat attire materialized.

She regarded Lin Mu with open wariness.

“Who are you? How did I come to be here?”

Her hand drifted toward her back, only to meet empty air.

“No need to search for weapons. No items may be carried here. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Lin Mu, captain of the Handsome Car Team.”

Lin Mu! The number-one car team!

Throughout the regional channel, Lin Mu had hovered above her the entire time.

“Hello, I am Zhao Jin, captain of the Rose Car Team.”

“Sit down. There is no need to be tense. I harbor no ill will toward you. This place is simply the effect produced by the invitation letter.”

Zhao Jin knew the invitation letter intimately; it had been globally announced, known to all.

She had simply never anticipated it would draw her in as well.

So this was a venue for negotiations?

Lin Mu clapped his hands. On the coffee table appeared a full tea set, tea leaves, and steaming water.

Only after arrival had he learned this feature: anything one could imagine existed here, apart from living beings.

While brewing the tea, Lin Mu said, “I believe you have already sensed over these many days that danger escalates continuously. Compared with before, the manner of death this time is far more direct.

From tomorrow onward, we move to new territories. I fear tomorrow’s peril may surpass today’s, perhaps even precipitating mass casualties on the first day.”

Zhao Jin nodded. She understood perfectly.

“I invited you here because I seek a formidable alliance to secure a future glimmer of hope. These fourteen days, from beginning to end, no one has perished—while other car teams have suffered losses, some minor, some severe.

I would not claim invincibility, yet I dare assert my strength surpasses that of any individual among you. Consider merging with us?”

Lin Mu slid a cup of tea across to her and lifted his own, sipping lightly.

Indeed, the pure aroma of tea.

To be frank, Zhao Jin found herself tempted.

She had monitored Lin Mu’s fleet closely: each engagement ended fastest, resources yielded the greatest share.

His capabilities were unmistakable.

Her own team, while not weak, might struggle to confront the unknown dangers ahead.

Merging would be ideal.

Yet…

“Merger is possible, but I retain full authority.”

“Complete obedience is required! This admits no negotiation.”

Zhao Jin’s expression darkened. “Then this is not merger, but annexation. After all, I remain second…”

“Can you guarantee every decision will be correct?”

Zhao Jin retorted, “Then can you guarantee?”

Lin Mu shook his head. “I cannot either. Yet I can ensure wrong choices become right ones. As long as no one dies, the decision is right. Simple as that.”

Zhao Jin’s lips twitched. His reasoning was not entirely without merit.

This fleet had indeed blundered forward recklessly all along.

“I can guarantee your resources and your life safety. Is that insufficient? You merely relinquish the right to speak.”

In his mind, Lin Mu silently added: personal freedom as well. No one could escape the collar.

Zhao Jin’s face showed inner conflict. Lin Mu wasted no time.

He refused to believe that guaranteeing survival would not compel agreement.

As for Gu Wanqing and Shu Xin earlier, that had been mere coincidence.

Since then, no further issues had arisen.

Ten minutes later, Zhao Jin drew a deep breath. “I can accept, but you must also promise me one condition.”

“Speak.”

“Improper thoughts toward my members are forbidden unless they consent willingly.”

“No issue.”

He had feared something more complex. This was manageable; women would only slow his combat pace.

Two contracts materialized on the coffee table. “If you are satisfied, please sign.”

The document exceeded twenty pages, dense with small-print clauses.

Lin Mu’s lips curved in a faint smile. This was a panel-generated contract; he had merely refined the wording.

Yet Zhao Jin studied it unhurriedly, unhurried and unconcerned.

Lin Mu’s smile gradually faded. “Ahem, there is no need to read every detail. They are merely mutual agreements.”

Zhao Jin flipped through the pages while saying, “Forgive me. On Blue Star, I was a lawyer. It is my professional habit.”

Finished!

As she turned to the final pages, a tiny clause caught her eye.

“Can you explain this? Why must we wear this restraint collar?”

Lin Mu’s mouth twitched. Game-issued items had this flaw: every stipulation must be literal, even for items like collars.

Otherwise, after signing, he could not impose the collar. Enforcement would constitute breach.

Headache!

“Ahem, it is merely protective for me. Nothing is altered. The condition you mentioned is already noted.”

Zhao Jin’s lips curled. “Yet your clause imposes far greater restraint. Once collared, one must obey every command.”

“Nevertheless, all my teammates wear this collar. If I cannot safeguard my own safety, why should I guarantee yours?”

Lin Mu reclined casually in his chair.

Success was preferable; failure mattered little.

Even with current numbers, he believed he could endure the remainder safely.

Additional lives simply provided extra insurance.

At the thought, he continued, “Consider carefully. Choose between life and freedom. Inform me in ten minutes. I will not waste further time.”