Players, Please Board the Train

The small plaque about two fingers wide had fine jade-like texture patterns. When Xu Huo first saw the blueprint, his immediate thought was that it was a jade token.

The researched materials didn’t mention what it was made of either, and he hadn’t explained it to the craftsman at the carving shop.

The craftsman busy working at the equipment finally looked up. ”You think I can’t even reproduce an access card that’s been obsolete for over ten years? Young man, who exactly are you looking down on?”

Seeing what was in his hand, Xu Huo couldn’t help feeling strange. ”Access card?”

The craftsman held the paper he had traced, pointing at the patterns on it. ”These patterns are naturally occurring on a special metal produced elsewhere. Originally this metal was used for vaults or classified facility entrances. See these three branches at the end of the pattern? The sensors are inside. The first generation had crude craftsmanship requiring three sensors, but now they use composite sensors and the patterns have been modified.”

”Like this?” Xu Huo took out the metal plaque he had obtained from the secret room.

The craftsman adjusted his glasses without looking at him. ”Access cards come with identity recognition and tracking functions. Unless you’re planning to rob the government hall’s treasury, you’d better throw that away sooner rather than later.”

”Thanks.” Xu Huo paid the remaining balance, picked up his cage, and left.

After exiting, he went to meet up with Tao Chengxin and the others. Unexpectedly, they hadn’t found what the female tour guide wanted, but had brought back Tang Yuan and another unfamiliar player.

”Ran into them on the way,” Tao Chengxin gave him a meaningful look before adding, ”Tang Yuan found the storytelling woman.”Xu Huo turned to Tang Yuan. ”So you found one too.”

Tang Yuan nodded. ”I just heard from Sun Jirou, but the story I heard differs from what you were told.”

Sun Jirou explained, ”He followed Wang Qiao and Gao Baimei to the Fresh Meat Sausage Shop and accidentally encountered a storyteller. Their version contradicts what we heard.”

Xu Huo paused slightly. ”Where are Wang Qiao and Gao Baimei now?”

”They’re still at the Fresh Meat Sausage Shop,” Tang Yuan said. ”They weren’t comfortable with everyone leaving, so they sent me and Yang Sheng to find you.”

”Yang Sheng was also someone we met at the Fresh Meat Sausage Shop.”

”Such good fortune?” Tao Chengxin interjected. ”You found the people and still thought of us?”

Tang Yuan smiled without responding, but Yang Sheng beside him crossed his arms. ”If it weren’t for the third task, who’d bother with you people?”

Tao Chengxin angrily started, ”You...”

Xu Huo cut her off, asking, ”Do you know where to find the teeth now?”

”The storyteller didn’t say,” Tang Yuan replied.

”Then we still need to ask,” Xu Huo pondered briefly before asking, ”What story did you hear?”

Tang Yuan and Yang Sheng recounted it again.

The beginning was similar to what they heard from the White-Dressed Girl: after Evolvers appeared, the government hall began secret research and successfully developed batches of potions that accelerated evolution, with all players benefiting at that time.

But the later parts differed. Players were classified into three categories: Black Players, White Players, and Red Players. Everyone knew Red Players were Player-Eaters, but the government hall didn’t exclude Player-Eaters from their training program. Instead, they actively provided them with food sources, allowing them to serve the government alongside the other two player types.

This model should have benefited Fairytale City’s stability, but when the first player mutated into a Mutant, the situation abruptly changed.

Unable to develop an antidote, the government hall planned to eliminate these uncontrollable factors preemptively. But some players learned of this plan. These players joined forces, using laboratory potions to create large numbers of Mutants that indiscriminately slaughtered Fairytale City residents. After creating large uninhabited zones, they tried to blend in with survivors to escape to safe areas.

Some players failed, but others succeeded. These successful players have been hiding in Tourism City ever since, using the entire city’s population as hostages to threaten the government hall into staying out.

Although the government hall hesitated due to the hostages, they weren’t going to sit idle. They sent some players to secretly infiltrate Tourism City, waiting for opportunities to eliminate these players.

”So the reason large numbers of Mutants appeared was because Player-Eaters tampered with things?” Xu Huo summarized. ”Why has no one in Fairytale City given birth all these years?”

”Apparently it’s a side effect left by the potions from back then,” Tang Yuan said. ”I only got the general idea, not clear on details. If you want specifics, you’ll need to find that storyteller.”

Xu Huo set down his cage. ”You’ve heard what we were told too, right?”

Tang Yuan nodded. ”The two versions are completely different. I don’t know which one is true either.”

”So I don’t believe either,” Xu Huo said. ”Unless someone can produce solid evidence.”

”What kind of solid evidence could there be?” Yang Sheng couldn’t help interjecting. ”You want them to dig up people who died twenty years ago?”

”Anything that happens leaves some traces behind. Storytellers shouldn’t be completely lacking in tangible proof,” Xu Huo said. ”According to your version, government hall personnel are hunting Player-Eaters in Fairytale City, and the people we’ve met are likely their targets. Since we’re the only ones who can find them now, if they want us to side with the government hall, they need to give us reasons. Otherwise why should we wade into this muddy water?”

”You have a point,” Tang Yuan quickly agreed. ”How about we go to the Fresh Meat Sausage Shop to discuss this?”

”I’ll wait right here,” Xu Huo said. ”Either have her come to me, or I’ll pretend I never heard any of this.”

Not just Tang Yuan and the other, but even Sun Jirou frowned. ”This way we won’t complete the third task.”

”If we don’t clear this, there are other train tickets. At worst we go directly to the next dungeon,” Xu Huo said bluntly. ”Get this straight - we’re just E-grade players. Why should we meddle in grudges that have lasted decades in this station city? Do we even have that capability?”

His words were harsh, but truthful. Their level was too low.

”I agree,” Tao Chengxin said. ”If government hall personnel really want to know the Tourism City players’ whereabouts, they should be willing to make this small concession.”

Tang Yuan and Yang Sheng seemed convinced. The former said to the latter, ”Why don’t you go find Wang Qiao and Gao Baimei, and together ask the storyteller.”

Yang Sheng hesitated before saying, ”Alright then. Whatever you decide, I’m completing this task regardless.”

After he left, Tang Yuan stayed behind with them.

The group found a place to rest. Shortly after sitting down, Tao Chengxin looked at Xu Huo’s cage and asked, ”What’s in there? It smells a bit.”

”Stray cat corpse,” Xu Huo said.

”Why did you pick that up?” Tao Chengxin was quite surprised by his action.

”Looked pitiful, planning to bury it somewhere,” Xu Huo answered perfunctorily.