Players, Please Board the Train

”By the way, this is a glove I found in the game, take a look.” She took out a translucent glove as thin as a cicada’s wing.

Xu Huo took it, and as soon as it entered his item slot, the glove immediately wrapped around his hand. When it touched the table surface, the glove instantly turned white.

[Deteriorated Glove: When touching a fresh object, it automatically imitates that object’s density to change color and hardness. It is a popular outfit-changing equipment among female players. Note: It can only imitate fabrics, please don’t demand the impossible from it.]

Xu Huo was looking for glove-type items to coordinate with the ”Omnipresent String.” The string could only work on the same object once, and carrying disposable gloves or temporarily finding tools was troublesome—not conducive to combat and easily allowing opponents to figure out the item’s usage method. A glove that could change density somewhat matched the string’s usage, but whether it could actually be operated would require testing back home.

”This item is quite ordinary, but in the game, I could only get items like this.” Zhou Ning expressed with some apology.

”It’s very useful for me.” Xu Huo paused, ”I’ll exchange it with an item.”

”No need!” Zhou Ning quickly waved her hands, ”You helped me tremendously before, and I already took your potion. This item can be considered my repayment. How could I have the nerve to shamelessly reach out again?”

”Then did you get the Hair Growth Potion?” Xu Huo asked.

Zhou Ning shook her head, her expression showing disappointment, ”Most items obtained in the game are somewhat related to characteristics, but potions don’t seem to follow this pattern. This time after leaving the dungeon, I only got evolution agent and healing potion.”

”Cousin, you want Hair Growth Potion?” Yu Qingqing’s eyes glanced toward the top of Xu Huo’s head, ”I have some here. If you’re lacking a lot, I can help you buy more.”Xu Huo gave her a cold stare. Yu Qingqing pouted and continued eating.

Xu Huo took out the D-grade Hair Growth Potion he obtained this time, ”I don’t need it, so I’ll give it to you.”

”You’ll need it sooner or later.” Yu Qingqing muttered quietly beside them.

Zhou Ning’s face grew warm. She quickly glanced at Xu Huo’s stern features and lowered her voice, ”Really, it’s not necessary...”

Hu Wenhu gently pushed her from behind, ”Sister Ning, stop being overly polite. The Hair Growth Potion is very useful for you—it might even save your life in the game. Let’s consider it as owing Brother Xu for now. Later when we find good items or potions, we’ll send them to Brother Xu!”

As he spoke, he took the potion.

Zhou Ning still felt embarrassed and murmured, ”I owe you another favor...”

But Xu Huo smiled warmly, ”We’re friends, no need to be so formal.”

Zhou Ning seemed encouraged by his smile. She took a breath and said, ”My characteristic has improved this time. I’d like to ask for your guidance.”

”Guidance is too strong a word. After we finish eating, let’s find a place to spar.” Xu Huo said.

Before they finished their meal, the restaurant owner came personally. Not only did he want to comp their meal, but he also proactively presented prepaid membership cards.

”Whenever you have time in the future, please come often. Any hotel under my company provides free food and accommodation for players. If you want to stay long-term, that’s fine too—just let us know in advance, and we can prepare daily necessities according to your requirements.” The round-faced owner smiled warmly, making people feel comfortable.

”Who are you saying is a player?” Zhou Ning’s face darkened.

The round-faced owner quickly said, ”Don’t misunderstand, don’t misunderstand! This is all circulating online. They say players have much bigger appetites than ordinary people. The country has also announced some methods to identify players. And you all look exceptionally distinguished... Players are still our fellow countrymen. There’s not much else we small common folk can help with, we can only do our small part.”

”Please don’t have any psychological burden. I don’t have any bad intentions. Even if you’re not players, it doesn’t matter—we’re just building good connections!”

Seeing sweat beading on his forehead, Xu Huo reached out and took the membership card, ”Thank you.”

The owner’s smile became more sincere as he politely saw them out.

After leaving the restaurant, Hu Wenhu couldn’t help saying, ”If only everyone treated players with this kind of attitude.”

”Dream on,” Yuan Yao chimed in, ”Other places in Zone 014 are either chaotic or suffering terribly. Only our area is relatively stable. After the sacrifices players made before, plus the country’s propaganda, aside from player-eaters, ordinary people view players through rose-colored glasses. Just wait and see—it won’t be long before the disturbances caused by players get dug up for reckoning.”

”Really?” Hu Wenhu said hesitantly, ”But the country is encouraging ordinary people to join the player ranks.”

”What’s strange about that? There are so many people in the world—you can’t expect everyone to think the same way?” Yu Qingqing said.

”But players’ living environment has indeed improved.” Zhou Ning said, ”A month ago, no players dared to show themselves openly. Now some patrol teams in Ting City are equipped with players, and they have Special Defense Department credentials. If players are willing to maintain order during their free time, the country provides potion and monetary subsidies.”

”From the current perspective, these changes are all positive.” Xu Huo spoke up, ”Having things out in the open is better than letting them ferment beneath the surface.”

”Still need to be careful.” Zhou Ning added, ”Aside from identification numbers, living habits and blood can also identify players. That owner just now was simply gambling to build connections with players. But from what I know, there have been cases of players disappearing in some areas. Any scarce resource becomes a target for plundering.”

”It’s just that players aren’t strong enough yet. Once player levels rise, the world will change again.” Yuan Yao sighed.

”I want to live to see that day.” Hu Wenhu said.

”Don’t be so pessimistic, little Hu Zi.” Yuan Yao patted his shoulder, ”Look, isn’t it pretty good now? There are even dungeon walkthroughs on the forums. With luck, you might encounter people who’ve gone before you. With dungeon walkthroughs, clearing becomes much easier.”

Hu Wenhu nodded repeatedly, ”I submitted some dungeon information and received some potions and White Bills in return.”

Seeing Zhou Ning frowning, Xu Huo asked, ”You didn’t exchange dungeon information for potions?”

Zhou Ning looked serious, ”I don’t trust those players. I don’t want to give clearance information to those people. For every additional player who survives to commit evil deeds, several more people will suffer.”

”You’re overthinking it,” Yu Qingqing said, ”The country has supervision measures. After coming down from the Preliminary Trial Train, no matter where you are, if you don’t report in time, someone will come to arrest you.”

”That can only screen out player-eaters to the maximum extent possible. What about other players?” Zhou Ning shook her head, ”I don’t have any spirit of sacrifice. Anyway, I won’t do it.”

Yu Qingqing pursed her lips and didn’t speak further. Indeed, there were people aiming to treat the game as a lawless land—she had witnessed this on the Preliminary Trial Train.

”You all go back first.” Xu Huo cut off this topic, nodding to Yuan Yao and the other two, then said to Zhou Ning and the other, ”Let’s change locations.”