"Who is it?!"

Not just Yang Kang and the other two, even Wei Xinyu and the other one playing games simultaneously put down their phones.

They looked towards the door.

The knocking stopped, followed by an ordinary male voice.

"The five people inside, I know who you are, and I know your identities."

"Let me in, I have something to discuss with you, concerning your life and death."

Two sentences, gripping the heart.

Striking directly at the deepest recesses of the five people's souls.

Causing their hearts to pound wildly.

What did these two sentences mean?

Had someone already set their sights on them?

"I'll go see who it is."

Yang Kang walked over to the peephole and looked through it at the man outside the door.

The man wasn't old, quite young.

His appearance and clothing were utterly ordinary.

And then, he didn't recognize him, didn't know him at all.

Separated by a single door.

The man outside seemed to know someone inside was watching him through the peephole. He actually looked up, squinting and smiling, directly at the peephole's position.

Letting his face be seen more clearly by the person behind the peephole.

And he even opened his mouth wide: "Open the door, I'm the only one outside."

Yang Kang took a few steps back.

He turned his head to look at the other four, all four were shaking their heads.

"He says he's the only one outside. Who knows, maybe seven or eight big guys are hiding out there."

Lü Youwei cracked his knuckles, making popping sounds.

"So, my point is, should we pretend no one's home, deliberately not answer, or just flat out ignore him? Or maybe just tell him to leave?"

Wang Zhong interjected, "Wait a moment. I think letting him in is impossible, but we could have a video chat with this person, talk to him about what he wants, and what he said about matters concerning our life and death."

Yang Kang thought this was a good idea.

So he also loudly replied to the person outside the door.

The person outside, upon hearing this, nodded and left.

After about three minutes.

Yang Kang's WeChat received a friend request message.

He looked at this person.

It was the person with the group nickname "The Artist" in the Alice Apartment residents' group chat.

"The Artist... isn't that the person Wang Baobao mentioned is the suspected ringleader of a criminal gang in Alice Apartment, who also teamed up with a guy named Jia Tao, wanting to target Lin Feng?"

The current situation was a bit bad.

It wasn't scary if the other side was alone, but it was terrifying if they were a group.

Just thinking about it was frightening, a group of murderous psychopaths.

He accepted the friend request.

Over there, first sent a happy emoji.

Immediately after, came a video call.

Yang Kang also connected.

After connecting, Yang Kang placed the phone on the living room glass coffee table, propped up by a phone stand.

The video screen showed him sitting on the sofa, having a private video call with the man called The Artist.

Of course, the other four could also hear their conversation.

"Hello there!"

The Artist initiated the greeting first. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

He should also be in his own house, sitting on the living room sofa.

Yang Kang said bluntly, "Don't waste time. Tell us about the matter you mentioned needing to discuss with us, concerning our life and death."

The Artist chuckled, "Alright then, I'll be direct."

"I know all five of your identities, and I know why you came here."

"You should be similar to that couple Lin Feng and Wang Ziyi last time, right?"

Yang Kang's face was expressionless.

But inwardly, he was somewhat shaken.

His eyes shifted to the side, wanting to see how the other four would want him to answer.

Among the four, except for Wang Zhong who nodded, the other three showed no reaction.

Yang Kang therefore nodded, "Don't spout so much nonsense."

The Artist, on the other end of the screen, chuckled, "Fine. I'll speak plainly."

"I don't really understand why you rich people came here."

"But since it's similar to that young couple Lin Feng and Wang Ziyi."

"I can protect you and ensure you leave Alice Apartment safely."

These words directly struck the hearts of the five like a heavy hammer.

Protect them and ensure they leave Alice Apartment safely?

This was practically grabbing them by their Achilles' heel!!!

"You're that kind-hearted?"

Yang Kang sneered.

He remembered, Lin Feng and Wang Baobao had said, in this entire Alice Apartment.

Except for Jiang Ran, everyone else's words needed to be carefully weighed.

"Sigh, don't just because I've killed a few people before, get labeled with so-called 'heinous crimes' or the title of 'serial killer,' and develop prejudice against me. In fact, even among criminals as you perceive them, there are relatively good people."

"I am one, understand?"

Yang Kang still sneered, hands in his pockets, "Alright then, I'd like to hear, how will you protect us and ensure we leave Alice Apartment safely? There must be conditions, right? I don't believe you'd exert effort for free, doing thankless tasks."

The Artist clapped, "Communicating with smart people is so good, truly worthy of being an elite in pharmaceutical research in America."

Yang Kang's expression changed again.

In the past, Yang Kang thought fame was a good thing.

Who in the world wouldn't know of you?

Having a big reputation really made things easier.

Just like Song Jiang, the Timely Rain from *Water Margin*.

That guy is a classic example of using reputation to get things done.

Although Yang Kang wasn't as widely known as those singers or actors.

But if you searched his face, you could still find a personal biography page.

But now, in this situation.

His identity being known so clearly by a deranged criminal, a deranged serial killer.

Once again proved the principle that many things are double-edged swords.

Since his identity was exposed.

Then the four people beside him.

Except for that university student Kong Haoxia, the other three.

Should also be known.

After all, you could find them online too.

Seeing Yang Kang's face looked very unpleasant.

The Artist smiled slightly, "Alright, don't be so tense and have other emotions."

"Straight talk, let me tell you the conditions for me protecting your departure!"

"Looking at my name, The Artist, you should know my life is full of art."

"But, in today's world, no matter how artistic, that's still spiritual nourishment. Without material sustenance, you absolutely cannot survive."

"Even though our living area is limited to this apartment."

"We still need money."

"Coincidentally, you are rich people."

"As long as you give me money, I guarantee you leave here safely."

For Yang Kang and the other five, money was the least valuable thing.

The other four, hearing it was this kind of condition, all breathed a sigh of relief.

Yang Kang asked, "How much money?"

The Artist: "Whatever amount you give me, I'll take it. Give me 100, I'll take 100."

"Give me 1,000, I'll take 1,000."

"Give me 10,000, I'll take 10,000."

"I don't disdain any amount of money."

Hearing earlier that just giving money would guarantee protection, they had sighed in relief.

But now, give any amount?

You'd accept it?

Isn't this messing with people? Would anyone do something for such a small amount of money?

Yang Kang: "Just that? Are you joking with me? Just for such a small amount of money?"

The Artist: "I haven't finished speaking."

"Each of you five, according to your own thoughts, give me money."

"I will protect the top three who give the most money and ensure they leave safely."

"As for the two who give the least money, then I'm very sorry, I can only ask you to stay here for a lifetime."