Players, Please Board the Train

【Player Extra, please note that this newly generated dungeon is about to leave District E27-014.】

A prompt suddenly sounded in his ears. Xu Huo rolled up the dungeon authorization document, glanced back at Xu Zhi and the others standing behind him, gave them a slight nod, then opened a door in front of himself.

When his consciousness returned, he found himself on Yan Jiayu’s back. She was carrying him while standing at the building’s entrance, her feet coiled with strength as if ready to charge out at any moment.

The moment Xu Huo opened his eyes, Yan Jiayu sensed it. She quickly said, ”This place is about to disappear, we need to get out quickly!”

The fog surrounding the building had become very thin, and the skyscrapers of Flower City could be seen in the distance. Without further delay, the two ran at their fastest speed toward the edge of the Fog Zone.

Team Leader Liao from Flower City’s Special Defense Division and his subordinates, along with Team Leader Wu and others who had rushed to the scene, were now all stationed outside the Fog Zone blockade.

Because Xu Huo had not awakened for a long time, Yan Jiayu refused to leave. Sima Xiao Er and others had no choice but to first carry out the several unconscious players, but even after exiting, those people still hadn’t woken up.

”I heard Xu Huo say that place was a Mental Pollution Area, where consciousness gets trapped and it’s hard to escape. We were all brought out by him,” Sima Xiao Er briefed Team Leaders Liao and Wu on the situation. Actually, he only partially understood it himself, but compared to others he had touched slightly closer to the truth. ”However, the unconscious people were caught by monsters when we were escaping and couldn’t make it out.”

”Don’t be so pessimistic. Maybe people will gradually recover after leaving that building,” Team Leader Wu patted his shoulder. Just as he spoke, Little Gao, who was lying on a stretcher behind them, suddenly sat up.

”See, what did I tell you,” Team Leader Wu said with a smile.Sima Xiao Er quickly ran over, ”How did you wake up? Did you see Xu Huo in the hospital?”

Little Gao nodded, ”Xu Huo pulled me out. I was in a daze, closed my eyes, and suddenly became clear-headed.”

Sima Xiao Er looked back toward the Fog Zone, his expression tense as he said, ”The fog is about to disappear. Why haven’t they come out yet? Team Leader, let me go in to find them!”

After Sima Xiao Er and others disappeared into the fog last night, Team Leader Wu had already prepared for these people’s sacrifice. That more than one-third of them could emerge now was fortunate amidst misfortune. He didn’t want to see more players sacrificed, but Xu Huo’s value was undeniable. Moreover, he had saved so many people this time. Though he was angry, the person still needed to be rescued.

He immediately communicated with Team Leader Liao, asking them to send players in.

Team Leader Liao had already prepared people, ”There are several players whose dungeon time limits are approaching. I’ll have them go in to rescue people. If there’s an emergency situation, they can escape into dungeons.”

Team Leader Wu naturally had no objections. Just as the players were about to enter the Fog Zone, two figures suddenly flipped out from behind the high wall. Xu Huo and Yan Jiayu moved so fiercely that they couldn’t brake in time, colliding with two players in front. The two male players were knocked to the ground, while Xu Huo and Yan Jiayu—one grabbing piano wire, the other performing a sideways somersault—landed steadily on the ground one after another.

”What a coincidence,” Xu Huo greeted Team Leader Wu with neither warmth nor enthusiasm.

Team Leader Wu’s face twitched, his mouth moved a couple times, but he swallowed his words.

”The fog has dispersed, and the building has disappeared too,” Yan Jiayu pointed at the space that now only contained a thin layer of fog. ”The welfare institute is still there.”

”What happened?” The welfare institute’s security guard walked out with weak legs and arms. Seeing Xu Huo and Yan Jiayu at the front, he quickly said, ”I haven’t done anything bad! At most I’ll quit this job!”

Xu Huo paid him no mind and said to Team Leader Wu, ”The rats in Flower City’s sewers have mutated. There are skeletons in the pipe well next to the welfare institute—probably the missing director.”

”I’m the person in charge of Flower City,” Team Leader Liao stepped forward first to shake hands with Xu Huo, smiling broadly as he said, ”I’ve long heard of Mr. Xu. I didn’t expect you to give me such a big gift on our first meeting. I wonder if you and Miss Yan have time to stay for a simple meal, so I can fulfill my duties as host.”

”Are there any specialty dishes?” Yan Jiayu asked. ”Flower City has many famous dishes. I’ve been camping for Random Dungeons these past few days and didn’t have time to try them.”

Team Leader Liao naturally agreed enthusiastically, even saying he would invite the best chef.

”Excellent!” Yan Jiayu said energetically, turning to ask Xu Huo, ”Are you coming?”

Xu Huo glanced at her, ”I need to rest.”

Although it had only been a short day, his energy consumption had been substantial.

”No problem,” Team Leader Liao chimed in. ”I’ll arrange accommodation right away.”

As he spoke, he signaled his subordinates to make the call while smiling at Team Leader Wu, ”Old Wu, should I arrange for your people too?”

”Not necessary,” Team Leader Wu said coldly. ”We’re returning to Ting City immediately.”

”Safe travels, safe travels,” Team Leader Liao invited Xu Huo and Yan Jiayu into the car and led the group away.

”Team Leader, are we returning to Ting City now?” Sima Xiao Er came over and asked, ”If we go back like this, I’m afraid it won’t look good in the report.”

Team Leader Wu glared at him, ”Do you think I don’t know that?”

The incident started in Ting City but was resolved in Flower City. Flower City emerged without losing any personnel, while Ting City division did nothing and lost so many people. If he couldn’t even figure out the causes and consequences of this incident, how could he explain things when he returned?

Most importantly, they needed to understand why this heavy fog appeared. This was clearly a new form of game invasion different from dungeons, and they had to grasp its patterns.

”You, go follow them and see where they’re staying,” Team Leader Wu sent an inconspicuous tech team member to drive after them, then complained, ”That Xu Huo kid is too inconsiderate. He’s lived in Ting City for nearly ten years, yet he shows me so little face...”

”Team Leader, you forgot you went to negotiate with him a few days ago. If I were him, I wouldn’t give you face either,” Sima Xiao Er chimed in.

”Get lost!”

Xu Huo didn’t have any particular issues with Team Leader Wu, but dealing with him would lead to a bunch of follow-up matters—too troublesome.

Rubbing his throbbing temples, he closed his eyes and leaned back in the seat. But gradually a headache emerged, becoming increasingly unbearable.

Gritting his teeth and enduring for a while, he couldn’t help but punch the car door. Team Leader Liao, sitting in front, was startled, but Xu Huo didn’t look at him. Instead, he raised his eyes to stare at the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror.

The driver was a player. When their gazes met, his hands suddenly slipped, and the car violently swerved toward the roadside.

”Stop the car quickly!” Team Leader Liao roared. The driving player snapped out of it as if waking from a dream and quickly slammed on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt by the roadside, throwing everyone inside forward.

”How are you driving! You can space out on such a smooth road!” Team Leader Liao said, still shaken, then turned to look at Xu Huo. ”Are you injured?”

Xu Huo had braced his feet against the front seatback and wasn’t affected, but his condition was indeed abnormal. The veins on his forehead were bulging, his temples visibly pulsating rapidly, and his face had turned bright red.

Yan Jiayu took out her phone and played an audio file, ”This is scripture recited by my Master. Calm your mind first.”

”Quick, to the hospital!” Team Leader Liao urgently instructed them to drive.