Players, Please Board the Train

”Other people aren’t fools either,” Xu Huo said without hesitation. ”If Government Hall people follow us, will they even show up?”

”On the contrary, if the other side discovers we’re running errands for Government Hall, will they let us go?”

”Why let them find out?” Sun Jirou said. ”We’ll take the access card over and secretly place a tracker where they’re hiding.”

”That sunflower courtyard can change locations, but even with the help of items, their activity range is still within Fairytale City. As long as the tracker is there, they can’t escape!”

”They might not necessarily stay out of Fairytale City either,” Xu Huo said.

”Others have legs too, you know. If Government Hall people can come in, they can certainly go out,” Tao Chengxin rolled her eyes. ”And do you really think they’d believe we could obtain the access card?”

”That’s true,” Wang Qiao also said. ”If we really bring the access card over, we might instead be mistaken for Government Hall people.”

”I have an idea,” Yang Sheng said. ”How about we say we’ve discovered clues about the access card and let them retrieve it themselves.”

”This way, regardless of whether they’re truly looking for the access card or not, we remain safe.”

”Does the access card have tracking functionality?” Gao Baimei asked the Old Woman. ”If it does, we could take the opportunity to bring the access card inside.””It does, but if we do that, you won’t be able to complete your mission,” the Old Woman appeared hesitant.

”Our mission is to find the teeth. Doesn’t finding the female tour guide and her group’s residence mean we’ve found the teeth? The mission doesn’t require us to return the teeth to the storyteller,” Sun Jirou said.

Xu Huo glanced up at her. ”You’re really trying to exploit loopholes in the game here.”

”What if it doesn’t work...”

”If we can’t complete the mission, we can just use train tickets to go to the next station,” Sun Jirou interrupted him. ”Isn’t that what you said?”

”If we don’t try, none of us will complete the mission. But if we follow my method, there might still be a chance to clear the level.”

”I have another question,” Xu Huo turned to the Old Woman after a few seconds of silence. ”Are you acquainted with the owners of Building Block Buns and Bear Claw Restaurant?”

The Old Woman shook her head. ”Government Hall players don’t necessarily know each other either, but sometimes players of unknown origins stay in the shops.”

”I think Building Block Buns is definitely their base. That female tour guide mixed truth with lies—first to kill us outsider players, and second to trick us into fighting with Government Hall people!” Sun Jirou said through gritted teeth. ”We thought the shop owners were all Player-Eaters, while the players in these shops thought we were with the female tour guide’s group!”

This explanation made sense.

The several players looked at each other, temporarily unable to reach a decision.

”Whether you go or not, I must avenge Shen Tai!” Sun Jirou said bitterly. ”All Player-Eaters deserve to die!”

Beside her, Tang Yuan lowered his eyelids, then looked up at her. ”I also want to try if I can clear the level. If we encounter danger, I still have a train ticket here to escape to the next station.”

Sun Jirou gave him a grateful look.

Then Yang Sheng also slapped his thigh and said, ”If we’re afraid of this and that, why even play games? Even just for the clearance rewards, we should give it a shot!”

Putting everything else aside, the potions among the clearance rewards are essential items—worth taking the risk to try.

”What about you?” Wang Qiao asked Xu Huo and Tao Chengxin.

Tao Chengxin looked at Xu Huo, hesitated for a moment, then said, ”I’ll join too.”

Xu Huo scanned the group, then after a moment turned to the Old Woman. ”You see, we’re basically contributing to Government Hall—can you support us with some items or potions?”

The Old Woman’s expression stiffened momentarily but quickly softened. She reached out with her wrinkled hand and patted Xu Huo’s shoulder. ”Good child, what items do you want?”

”Defensive ones,” Xu Huo said. ”What if we go in and can’t get out?”

The Old Woman appeared somewhat reluctant. ”I don’t really have good items...”

”You’re a Government Hall player. Even though you’re disabled and can only hide here making sausages, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse—you should have something,” Xu Huo cut her off, smiling. ”Government Hall wants to deal with Player-Eaters—surely you have at least this much courage.”

Sun Jirou looked down on his shameless behavior of begging for items, but the remaining few people were quite enthusiastic, staring eagerly at the Old Woman.

The Old Woman didn’t hesitate either, saying, ”Alright then, I can give you two items. You decide how to use them.”

After speaking, she wheeled her chair inside to retrieve a box. Gao Baimei immediately stepped forward. ”Let me help.”

Tao Chengxin lifted her foot to block her. ”Haste makes waste. You’d better sit down.”

Seeing the others looking at her unfavorably, Gao Baimei glared at her and returned to her seat.

The Old Woman took out a folding umbrella and a black ring from the box.

”Three feet under the umbrella—within twenty-four hours, it can block three attacks from high-level players. Before the protection count is used up, you’re absolutely safe standing under the umbrella.”

”Hypnosis ring—the smoke it sprays can create a hypnotic effect. For three minutes, anyone inhaling the smoke will see any object in front of them as three.”

”This umbrella is quite good,” Xu Huo unceremoniously reached for it, but was blocked by Yang Sheng beside him. ”Why should you get it?”

”Because I found the female tour guide first. Didn’t you all come here relying on my clues?” Xu Huo raised his eyebrows.

”We paid!” Gao Baimei said coldly.

Even the most gentle-mannered Tang Yuan watched him warily. Xu Huo had to let go. ”Can’t fight everyone. Fine, discuss and let me know the outcome.”

The Old Woman watched them with a smile.

A few minutes later, the group came out with the two items and the access card.

Sun Jirou and the others were discussing how to use the items. Xu Huo reached over and took the access card from Tang Yuan’s hand, turning his back to examine it against the sunlight. ”This thing can really track? It looks like an ordinary piece of metal.”

”Each dungeon world has different technological development. Just because your world is backward doesn’t mean others are the same,” Sun Jirou glanced at him.

Xu Huo twirled the access card before tossing it back to Tang Yuan. ”What’s the use of advanced technology? It still can’t stop players.”

”Have you decided how to use the items?”

”The umbrella can be used three times—I’ll keep it for now,” Sun Jirou said. ”The item doesn’t specify it can only protect one person at a time. We’ll play it by ear—whoever’s in danger gets to use it first. Until then, it won’t be stored in item slots.”

”The hypnosis ring can be used by anyone, but the person holding it is responsible for covering the retreat.”

”That’s not fair. How much use will this ring be against high-level players?” Tao Chengxin said. ”The person holding the ring gets the short end of the stick.”