Players, Please Board the Train

Team Leader Wu’s desire to learn more about players and the game from Xu Huo wasn’t purely self-serving. From his position, his perspective wasn’t that grand; many matters were beyond his concern. The reason he spoke this way was genuinely because he wanted to save Xu Huo.

After all, Xu Huo’s current condition was unclear, and the situation outside could no longer be compared to the past.

Sure enough, a call came from Capital City. The medical team and expert team would arrive in Flower City within two hours. Additionally, he was instructed to coordinate actions with Team Leader Liao to ensure Xu Huo’s safety.

”Some players have already caught wind of this. Team Leader Song is also bringing people over. Be careful,” Jiang Qiao warned. ”The Special Defense Department’s attitude toward Xu Huo is polarized, especially now that his situation is special. Don’t let anyone exploit a loophole.”

After hanging up, Team Leader Wu returned to the ward and fetched steel plates, intending to block up the windows as well.

Yan Jiayu squatted by the bedside, pointing at Xu Huo, whose condition had clearly improved, and said, ”He doesn’t need the IV anymore, right?”

Team Leader Wu hastily called for a doctor. After examining him, the doctor was no longer surprised. ”The patient’s physical condition is very good. He is slowly healing on his own. However, it’s best not to move him for the time being to avoid any sudden complications.”

Seeing the doctor about to leave, Yan Jiayu asked, ”Do you have any food here?”

”You want to eat in the intensive care unit?” The doctor’s voice rose in pitch.

”Then can Xu Huo be transferred to another ward?” Yan Jiayu asked again.”Neither is acceptable,” the doctor flatly refused.

”If you want to eat, you can go out. I’ll keep watch here,” Team Leader Wu said.

Yan Jiayu shook her head and asked the doctor to buy her some filling snacks, saying she would eat at the door and not let anyone approach Xu Huo during that time.

Team Leader Wu had no choice but to do as she said.

After replenishing her energy, Yan Jiayu returned to the ward. She stood by the window for a while and suddenly said, ”Players are coming.”

Team Leader Wu was right beside her. ”They might be from the Special Defense Department.”

”No,” Yan Jiayu said seriously. ”I’ve met most of the people from the Flower City Special Defense Department. There are quite a few unfamiliar faces mixed in near the hospital.”

Team Leader Wu realized something. Checking through his own channels, he discovered that news of Xu Huo’s special evolution had leaked. Several players he privately contacted had even sent messages specifically to inquire.

Furious, he found Team Leader Liao. ”What’s going on? Xu Huo’s condition isn’t even confirmed yet, and rumors are already flying everywhere. Are your subordinates incapable of keeping their mouths shut?!”

Team Leader Liao was also baffled. ”I haven’t breathed a single word about what you told me to anyone else. Could it be the hospital staff?”

Team Leader Wu suddenly remembered the player from earlier. ”That guy is called Hou Song, right?”

Players’ hearing was better than normal people’s. Although there was some distance earlier, it wasn’t impossible that he overheard their conversation.

”Most likely it’s that kid. Otherwise, the news wouldn’t have spread among players so quickly,” Team Leader Liao said with a dark expression. ”Now’s not the time. We’ll deal with him after this is over.”

”Players can’t be relied on at a time like this. Call in special forces personnel,” Team Leader Wu said. ”Transfer all the patients out of the hospital, clear out the medical staff too. Have our people move Xu Huo to a different ward.”

As the hospital mobilized, more and more players converged on Flower City. The movements from Capital City, in particular, essentially stamped the information about ”a player undergoing special evolution” as verified. Both the Special Defense Department and civilian player organizations turned their attention toward Flower City.

Dai Wenqian, who had been out on business not far away, had already entered Flower City. Browsing an encrypted post on the Pioneer Forum, he said with a laugh, ”Things have flipped in just a few days. Last time, the Special Defense Department wanted to capture Xu Huo, and players outside supported him. This time, players are coming for him, and it’s the Special Defense Department’s turn to protect him.”

Zheng Ke, who was driving, said, ”Even if you kill Xu Huo, you can’t follow him into special evolution. What are these people coming to join the fun for?”

”Research on Evolvers isn’t only being done by the state. Don’t underestimate those player organizations. Plenty of people are willing to support them. Anyone who’s played a few games now understands that evolution is more important than any item or level. With a ready-made Evolver right here, who wouldn’t be curious?”

”Could they actually try to snatch him?” Zheng Ke raised an eyebrow, his eyebrow stud flashing.

”Snatching the person would be best, of course. If they can’t get the whole person, grabbing a head would work too. Besides, Xu Huo has quite a few items,” Dai Wenqian shook his head. ”He miscalculated. Exposing that space-moving item so early. Kill him, and you can at least get a pretty good quality item.”

”Team Leader Song is calling,” Zheng Ke handed over his own phone.

Dai Wenqian took it, spoke a couple of sentences, then hung up, scoffing derisively. ”How heartless.”

”What did he say?” Zheng Ke asked.

Dai Wenqian said mockingly, ”He said if Xu Huo can’t be saved, don’t let him die in vain.”

Zheng Ke gripped the steering wheel tightly. ”These people really don’t treat our lives as players’ lives!”

Dai Wenqian didn’t speak, a slow smile spreading across his face.

At the same time, the Painting Woman and Yuan Yao had already arrived at the hospital.

Yuan Yao vomited as soon as he reached the hospital, then followed the Painting Woman into the ward on shaky legs. The moment he saw the unconscious Xu Huo, he roared, ”Who did this to Brother Xu!”

”He might be evolving,” Yan Jiayu greeted him. ”You guys got here really fast.”

”Came by speeding,” Yuan Yao glanced at the Painting Woman. ”Sister Lichun’s driving skills... are quite wild.”

The Painting Woman leaned over the bed, propped her chin in her hands and looked at Xu Huo for a moment, then sat down and started playing a game.

”That’s it?” Yuan Yao looked at her in surprise.

”He won’t die,” the Painting Woman used her phone to vocalize.

Yuan Yao scratched his head. ”Then why were we called over in such a hurry?”

”Xu Huo told me before he passed out to have Lichun come over,” Yan Jiayu was just following instructions. She sized up the Painting Woman. ”Are you very powerful?”

The Painting Woman immediately said, ”I could take on ten Xu Huos, no problem.”

Yan Jiayu’s eyes lit up. ”Great! I was just worried about not having anyone to help.”

”What ’take on ten Brother Xus’!” Yuan Yao hurriedly interjected. ”Don’t listen to her bragging. How could she possibly be a match for Brother Xu? If you need to do something, just call me.”

Yan Jiayu said seriously, ”I think someone might want to kill Xu Huo.”

Yuan Yao jolted, then his expression turned grave. ”In that case, we need to find more people to help. I just saw Team Leader Wu outside. The Special Defense Department has sent a lot of people, but we can’t fully trust them either. After the Capital City incident last time, the Special Defense Department even posted an announcement on the Pioneer Forum targeting Brother Xu.”

He paced around the ward a few times before saying, ”I’ll find some more people to help. I figure if a fight breaks out, the Special Defense Department won’t dare use weapons with too much lethal force. Besides, players’ characteristics and items are unpredictable. To deal with them, we still have to rely on ourselves.”

Deftly taking Xu Huo’s phone, he notified Zhou Ning and others they had cooperated with before. ”Let’s stir the waters muddy, then seize the chance to escape!”