Players, Please Board the Train

”Clang!” The Mobile Metal swiftly moved to his arm and blocked this attack for Xu Huo, after which he drew the Crimson Sword. However, the sword energy was blocked by something resembling an airbag that popped out from the other’s belt.

Dodging the two bead-like explosive objects the other man flung over, Xu Huo switched into the metal protective suit. The diamond gloves on his hands transformed into the half-palm gloves ”Stress-Free Wrap.” From a distance of several meters, he drew a bloody gash on the nobleman’s neck.

The lethality of ”Stress-Free Wrap” was quite limited; this slash wouldn’t be fatal. But seeing his own blood made the man panic. He immediately tried to imitate Palada and flee outside. However, Xu Huo wasn’t about to give him that chance. He directly used ”Two-Half Magic Trick.” Unable to move, the man watched as his lower half separated from his body. Panic-stricken, he toppled sideways. The next second, his body’s chest was pierced through!

The man, not yet dead, looked at his own chest with a shocked expression. Yet, the next second, the sword was pulled back out. Xu Huo, now standing behind him, flicked the bloodstains off the blade, and with a backhand motion, lifted the quilt covering the bed.

Although some bloodstains had been cleaned, half of this deceased woman’s chest and half of her buttock had already been carved out. Her originally beautiful eyes had lost their luster and were wide open in a stare. Her body was covered in bruises from beatings.

Re-covering the body with the quilt, Xu Huo dragged the not-yet-dead man over, making him sprawl by the bedside. Using a fruit knife he casually grabbed, he pinned the man to the bed, forcing him to maintain a posture looking at the woman. Then, adjusting his clothes, he calmly left the room.

Meanwhile, Palada jumping out from the sixth floor didn’t attract much attention. He himself smashed through the glass of a fifth-floor room, jumped in, then fled to the corridor. Choosing the nearest elevator, he used his wristband authorization to go directly to the ninth floor.

”This man is insane, daring to attack a noble!” Probably a bit muddle-headed, Palada didn’t recognize Xu Huo. He rushed all the way to the main hall on the ninth floor, barged through the door, and shouted, ”Someone is attacking nobles!”

In the main hall, over twenty people were sitting in twos and threes. These people were dressed luxuriously and carried themselves with elegance. Upon seeing him, they merely gave him a glance. Captain Matt paused briefly before continuing his previous topic. ”Tonight will be a unique and novel banquet. To increase the fun of the banquet, I specifically gathered some players to board the ship. Please be careful not to get scratched by the prey while hunting.”

The others chuckled softly. A Black Wristband noble said, ”I knew it. A banquet attended by the Captain is bound to be even more exciting.””Players are more flavorful than ordinary people. I’m practically drooling,” another Red Wristband said, taking a sip of wine to disguise his eagerness.

”No need to be too impatient. Our journey still has several days. If it ends on the first day, it might become boring later,” Matt said, taking out an alarm clock. Pointing at the countdown on it, he said, ”Today’s hunting time is two hours. After two hours, this clock will start a musical countdown through the public channel. I hope everyone returns here by the time the countdown ends.”

”Two hours seems a bit short, doesn’t it?” someone questioned. It was Bai Kou disguised as Madame Butterfly. Fanning herself with a small fan, she said, ”If it’s just for killing and eating people, wouldn’t that be too boring? Only animals engage in mechanical hunting and feeding. Prey that panics and fights back makes hunting much more thrilling. With such little time, the excitement won’t even have time to build before it’s over.”

Duke Tal was in a lowly seat at such an occasion. Bai Kou suddenly speaking up made him appear nervous, not daring to meet the gazes of the Player-Eaters looking over.

Bai Kou, however, smiled at those looking her way. ”Isn’t that right?”

The other players seemed to agree with this point. After a moment, Matt extended the time to three hours. Addressing Bai Kou, he said, ”Madame Butterfly’s beauty and reputation are well-known. Speaking of which, this isn’t our first meeting. I wonder if Madame still has any impression of me.”

”None whatsoever,” Bai Kou said carelessly.

Matt laughed heartily, pressed the button on the clock. The advancing vessel came to a stop, and two-thirds of the ship’s lights went out. The ninth floor, like most places on the ship, sank into darkness.

”Everyone, the Carnival Night has begun,” Matt said, performing a gentlemanly bow to the crowd. ”Please enjoy these three hours to the fullest. I wish you all a pleasant time.”

The players in the main hall set down their wine glasses one after another and walked out silently but with pleasure.

Having been ignored from start to finish, Palada rushed up to Matt. ”Captain Matt, didn’t you hear me? Someone is killing nobles.”

Matt looked at him kindly. ”Hunters can also be bitten to death by their prey.”

Palada choked, then burst out in anger. ”What right do those people with no status or position have to attack nobles?! They should just obediently wash their necks clean and wait to die!”

Matt’s expression turned somewhat pitying. ”Child, haven’t you seen the essence of this world yet? As long as you are in the game, anyone can become a hunter, and anyone can become prey. If you don’t want to be prey, sharpen your weapons. Don’t say such things that tarnish the noble’s face.”

The last sentence carried a warning tone. After speaking, Matt no longer paid attention to his pestering and went to the tenth floor via the elevator.

Palada stood in place for two seconds, shamefully and angrily sweeping the wine bottles and glasses off a table, then stomped downstairs in a rage.

When the elevator reached the seventh floor, he suddenly sobered up and felt a bit of regret. Just as he was planning to return to the ninth floor, the elevator stopped. He nervously looked at the door. Upon seeing the person standing outside was Madame Butterfly wearing her butterfly mask, he sighed in relief. He was just about to speak when a sharp pain shot through his throat.

He instinctively reached to touch it. Bringing his hand down, it was covered in blood.

”You...” He struggled, lunging towards Madame Butterfly, but she kicked him out of the elevator. Smiling at him, she said, ”You just can’t speak right now. It’ll probably take a few more minutes for you to die. Later, someone might come over, drawn by the scent of blood. Isn’t that thrilling?”

Palada ignored her, pouring healing potion into his mouth while fleeing down the corridor.

Bai Kou didn’t bother with him either. However, Palada’s luck was truly terrible; he happened to run into Xu Huo, who was searching around.

Xu Huo had changed clothes again and now wore a black wristband.

He had changed his face. Palada didn’t recognize him, thinking he was a fellow noble. So, he hurried over to ask for help. Coincidentally, at that moment, footsteps could be heard approaching unhurriedly not far away. Startled and somewhat losing his reason, Palada pulled him into the nearest room to hide.

The person walking past the door was a Player-Eater. The other politely knocked. ”Stop hiding. With such a strong smell of blood, where can you possibly hide?”

After saying this, he let out a laugh.

Under Palada’s terrified gaze, Xu Huo opened the door. Facing the person outside, he flashed his wristband. ”There should still be rules, right?”