As long as you have the courage, fierce ghosts go on maternity leave. Chapter 307: Chaotic Scene

With a crisp slap, the young gang mber was instantly dazed by Alexander’s audacity. In rival gang territory, shouldn’t he expect bullets rather than a slap? What was this man trying to do?

"Bastard!" Alexander’s slap carried its own air of authority, his face flushed with haughty rage.

"Lei? You think whoever Lei’s got can compare to what I bring? Back in the day, when Dominic and I were taking shots at our professor, you were probably still pissing your pants and playing in the mud!"

The young gangster glanced at Zoe and swallowed hard. It was true; Zoe was breathtakingly beautiful. Moreover, this man claid to have gone to school with Dominic? Doubts began to swirl in the young gangster’s mind.

"Are you forty years old?" he asked cautiously.

"Right, you do know how to speak. What’s your na?" Alexander stroked his chin, oozing arrogance.

Had Alexander seed nonchalant, the young gangster would have been suspicious. But Alexander’s arrogance, combined with his apparent desire to ntor him, instantly endeared him to the young gangster.

Of course, his suspicions weren’t entirely assuaged. With an air of reverence, he said, "My apologies for my ignorance. I’ve never seen you before, but I’ve long heard about the legendary exploits you and Dominic had, shooting at your professor in college."

"You’ve heard? Impossible," Alexander feigned surprise, then recognition spread across his face. "Makes sense, I guess. I’ve been abroad for years; no point in keeping it a secret anymore. Dominic, my dearest brother!"

Filled with emotion, Alexander choked up. "When Dominic and I beca sworn brothers, we stord the principal’s office with handguns in a fit of impulse. I had good grades and a chance to study in Europe. Dominic took the fall for everything, thinking of my future.

That’s the kind of friendship that you’d die for. Now that I’ve established a small business overseas, the first thing I wanted to do was repay Dominic. This," he said, gesturing to Zoe, "is my gift to him."

As he spoke, Alexander feigned shedding a couple of crocodile tears, his arms still around Zoe.

"Ah, so that’s why we’ve never seen you before!"The young gang mbers suddenly understood.

"I’ve already called; Dominic is busy. If you’re not convinced, you can co up with ," Alexander said, about to walk up the stairs with Zoe in tow.

"Don’t worry, of course we trust you, boss! What are you talking about?" The young gang mber, a sly one, said he trusted Alexander but then ran ahead, saying, "There are plenty of rooms upstairs; let show you the way."

Once they were upstairs, a knock and a shout that Dominic’s classmate had arrived would settle any doubts. Alexander didn’t stop him; he feared that if he walked up alone, these two would imdiately make calls to inquire. Having just one gang mber with him would make it easier to act, even killing him would be a simple task.

They walked, one ahead, one behind. Zoe feigned dizziness, but inside, she was almost laughing at how easily Alexander’s web of lies had entangled them.

As they climbed the stairs and reached a blind spot out of sight from the gang mbers guarding the rooms above, Alexander was about to make his move. Suddenly, footsteps approached.

Pausing for a mont, Lei, covered in tattoos, appeared in their line of sight.

"Lei, what brings you down here?" The young gang mber quickly paid his respects.

"Just ca out for a smoke, heard so commotion; what’s going on?" Lei asked, frowning.

"Lei, Dominic’s old classmate is here, and he’s brought a gift—quite the pri selection!" The young gang mber grinned, stepping aside to let them pass.

"Dominic’s classmate? Why does he look so young?"

Lei was taken aback as his gaze fell on Alexander and then quickly shifted to Zoe, his pupils narrowing sharply.

"Just ca out for a smoke, heard so commotion; what’s going on?"Just then, a voice echoed from around the corner.

It was... Lei’s voice!

Sure enough, to Alexander’s utter astonishnt, another man with tattoos on his arm erged from around the corner of the staircase.

Duplicating had begun?

Alexander was puzzled; this shouldn’t be happening. It was not even 10 PM yet, almost ten hours before he was supposed to enter the cycle. He had entered the cycle the next morning, and upon doing so, had imdiately discovered the duplicate.

According to the rules about duplicates, there were many ways they could be generated, and it was impossible to pinpoint the exact ti duplication began.

Maybe Zoe got up in the night to use the restroom and sleepily glimpsed herself in the mirror. Perhaps she woke up, checked her phone, and saw her own reflection in its screen. Or maybe she simply turned over in bed and saw her own silhouette reflected in the window.

The appearance of a duplicate should be triggered by seeing one’s own reflection, but it didn’t require conscious acknowledgnt. A re accidental glance would suffice to initiate the duplication process.

Uncertain timing didn’t an it could happen all night. Massive confusion started after Alexander woke up in the morning. Initially, upon discovering a duplicate, people wouldn’t imdiately think it was a prank, hoax, or part of so reality show. Many might not even recognize their duplicates at first glance, finding them rely familiar.

And once duplicates were discovered, it wouldn’t imdiately lead to a fight; there would be a process. However, that process wouldn’t last long, especially with so many desperados around.

Within an hour, maybe half an hour, or even just ten to fifteen minutes, disputes would escalate into physical fights. If duplication started at 11 PM and large-scale conflicts only broke out the next morning, what would people be doing in those intervening ten hours?

"Lei! Sothing’s wrong!"

Just then, a frantic voice from one of the gang mbers guarding the place echoed from behind. Two gang mbers, who were previously guarding the staircase, hastily ran up from below. The issue was that one of these gang mbers was just guiding Alexander upstairs monts ago.

Another duplication!

Alexander instinctively glanced at the smooth ceramic wall next to him, puzzled. The neat tiles, under bright lighting, could indeed reflect human figures, but did the gang mber who was leading the way look at the wall?

"It’s happening again?"Zoe couldn’t pretend to be dazed anymore and quickly lifted her head. Both Leis looked at her, eyes widening in surprise.

"Oops," Zoe realized she had said too much and was about to explain.

"Ghost! It’s haunted!"

The scream of the gang mber ca from below.

Again?

Sure enough, two more gang mbers, another Alexander, another Zoe, and another Lei rushed up from below. Things were accelerating now; this ti, the duplications were happening fast.

"Who the hell are you two? Why are you impersonating ?" The Lei upstairs glared at the two Leis below.

"That should be my line! What’s your purpose? Playing pranks on ? You asking for trouble?"

"Damn! This is spooky, really fucking spooky!" The Lei from downstairs drew a handgun from his pocket, angrily exclaiming:

"Who are you people? We were just talking here, heard so noise downstairs, went to look, and there are one or even multiple identical people everywhere! If this is so sort of prank show, it’s gone too far! I’ll chop the one responsible into pieces!"

Suddenly, all three Leis seed to have the sa thought and simultaneously turned their gaze toward Alexander and Zoe:"It must be you two causing all this!"

"Don’t you dare imitate !" bellowed the middle Lei.

"It’s you two who are imitating !" The upstairs Lei gripped his handgun tightly.

"Damn it! You two just wait. Let figure out what’s going on first, then I’ll deal with you two imposters!" The Lei downstairs spoke, but his eyes were fixed intently on Alexander and Zoe.