Players, Please Board the Train

The one registering them was an old man, who pushed up his reading glasses and glanced at them, ”Are all three of you?”

Xu Huo turned around and saw the masked player he’d glimpsed once on the train standing behind him. He answered the shopkeeper, ”I’m also going to Deep Blue Laboratory.”

”Names,” the old man asked.

”My name is Chu Yuan,” Chu Yuan said, looking back at Xu Huo. Xu Huo didn’t use his own name, ”Xu Zhi.”

”Mao Wei,” said the masked player.

After registering the three of them, the old man handed each a card representing their first landing, along with an island guide, ”The Iris Hotel, just show this card for free accommodation. Coincidentally, there’s a ship heading to Deep Blue Laboratory tomorrow. You can purchase some necessary supplies today, this card gives you a discount.”

”Great,” Chu Yuan happily accepted his, then handed the remaining two to the two who weren’t reaching out.

”When is the next trip to Deep Blue Laboratory?” Xu Huo asked.

”Uncertain, maybe a week later, maybe not until next month. Not many players go to Deep Blue Laboratory. Otherwise, you could charter a boat yourselves.” The old man gave him and Mao Wei a once-over, then gave each of them a can of wheat beer and a massage parlor discount coupon.

Xu Huo took the coupon, flipped it over to examine it a bit more, then said with a smile, ”This place is really nice, giving out so much stuff before even setting foot on the island.””Of course, we want everyone who comes to Sayir Coast to feel right at home,” the old man said with a beaming smile.

Leaving the shop, Xu Huo intentionally lagged behind a little, letting Mao Wei go first, then told Chu Yuan he had something to attend to and wouldn’t go to the hotel first.

The two of them were tied together now, unable to separate wherever they went. Chu Yuan said reluctantly, ”How about we don’t go tomorrow and wait for the next trip?”

”I don’t have the money to charter a boat,” Xu Huo said. He had seen the charter price list on his way over. Boats capable of safely navigating the Sayir Sea started at a minimum of a hundred thousand White Bills, and that didn’t even include hiring crew. The price for the return trip was even higher—it was one thing if you had no intention of trading ore, but if you wanted to exchange for money, you had to make contact with the Bolun Family.

All boats here prioritized the centralized transportation of players, a means of resource control by the Bolun Family.

”Right, there might not be a ship to Deep Blue Laboratory next week,” Chu Yuan said with annoyance, tugging at the rope on his wrist. He couldn’t help but shoot Xu Huo a resentful look, ”Fine, let’s go then. We’re tied to the same rope, don’t you drag me down.”

”No problem,” Xu Huo agreed readily, then turned and headed to the massage parlor with the discount coupon.

”We only have one day to prepare and you’re in the mood for this?” Chu Yuan looked at him in shock, ”And you’re bringing me along?”

Xu Huo glanced at him. The man choked on his own saliva, ”Don’t look at me like that, I don’t have those kinds of interests... and I absolutely will NOT stand guard outside the door for you!”

”Quite the imagination,” Xu Huo said flatly, stepping into the shop first.

Chu Yuan followed reluctantly. Seeing several women in swimsuits approaching, his eyes widened slightly, and he blurted out, ”What are your rates here?”

”Big brother, what are you talking about? Ours is a legitimate massage parlor,” a woman in a black swim dress said, placing a hand on his shoulder and blowing a breath near his ear.

Chu Yuan’s face flushed red, and he stammered, ”Legitimate... I know it’s legitimate...”

”Big brother is so cute,” the woman kissed his cheek, then turned to look at Xu Huo, ”What service would you like, sir?”

”To have some island-essential supplies purchased on my behalf,” Xu Huo said, ”Price isn’t an issue, but the goods must be good.”

”Easy,” the woman called someone to take them to a private room, picked up a remote, and turned on an electronic screen, ”We have a list of essential items here. Everything you need is on it. You choose, and we can have someone go buy it immediately, with a live video feed the entire time, the transaction process filmed clearly, absolutely no cheating.”

”You can enjoy a massage while you wait. No need to pay until the goods are delivered.”

”New players get a discount?” Xu Huo asked.

”Of course, just show your landing card,” the woman said with a sweet smile, ”With the landing card, our service fee here is also discounted.”

”Such good value, how much can you even make?” Xu Huo casually gave her a two-thousand tip.

The woman’s smile grew even sweeter, ”Small profits but quick turnover. Besides, this is Sayir Coast. Everyone who comes is a friend. Haggling over every little thing seems petty.”

”To keep friends, you have to be generous,” Xu Huo nodded, selecting some island-bound items. Corresponding prices were listed. After choosing, he asked Chu Yuan, ”Are you buying?”

Chu Yuan certainly wanted to buy, but seeing the prices, he revealed the shyness of a poor man, ”I’ll look at a different list.”

The woman in the black swim dress changed to a lower-priced list without changing her smile.

Hastily selecting a diving suit, ore detector, anti-radiation medicine, food and water, and some potions to repel snakes, insects, rats, and ants, he returned the list to the woman.

”Why come here for a proxy purchase?” Chu Yuan couldn’t help but ask after the woman in the black swim dress left, ”There are plenty of other shops, right?”

Xu Huo raised an eyebrow at him, ”I believe in frugality. Not using a discount coupon is for suckers. By the way, the tip earlier, we split it.”

”Do you see the fire in my eyes?” Chu Yuan pointed at himself, ”That’s class resentment burning. You’re so rich and you still want to split the tip with me? I didn’t even ask for it.”

”The tip makes the purchaser more attentive. You also enjoy the practical benefit. Splitting is reasonable,” Xu Huo didn’t intend to discuss it further, instead asking, ”Are you getting a massage or not?”

It was a real massage, but done by robots. Reportedly, they were high-priced simulants introduced from other Game Partitions that could serve as companions, a treatment only available in the top-tier package.

Chu Yuan looked quite disappointed, finally managing to say after a long pause, ”If they’re so realistic, why not just use real people?”

The robot scanned their bodies. The one for Xu Huo said, ”Your body is very healthy and does not require special massage. We recommend you use the gentle mode to relax your body.”

When it got to Chu Yuan: ”Your body is relatively weak. Please pay attention to rest and do not excessively overdraw your physical strength. Based on your health status, we recommend you choose the stimulation mode to enhance cellular activity.”

Xu Huo glanced at him, ”With these conditions, forget about real people.”

Chu Yuan shamefully switched his robot to stimulation mode.

Half a minute later, screams echoed in the room.

Xu Huo put on noise-canceling headphones and watched the video feed from the purchasing agent.

In addition to some of the things Chu Yuan bought, he additionally purchased a collapsible inflatable boat, a form-fitting protective suit and protective helmet, enhanced isolation gloves, two anti-radiation sleeping bags, bodily fluids of mutated species, and other items. He didn’t buy any food, water, ore detectors, or the ore identification and collection tools mentioned by players on the train.

He wasn’t here for the ore. Picking up a couple along the way would be fine... The problem was this Chu Yuan, still tied to him for four more days. It would be very inconvenient inside the dungeon.