Players, Please Board the Train

After listening to the robot’s report, the man’s attitude changed again. He directly said to the woman, ”I express my regret and sorrow for your brother’s sacrifice, but as an adult, regardless of gender, one must bear corresponding responsibilities. You previously enjoyed the benefits brought by your brother, but those benefits were also earned through his desperate efforts.”

The woman could no longer make unreasonable trouble. She just gritted her teeth secretly, probably accepting the arrangement, and turned her head away, no longer looking at the others.

The warriors watching the commotion around them gradually dispersed, starting to look for new teammates to form groups.

Xu Huo walked around, gathering some information about the cleanup mission.

First, this was not a formal military operation. The grouping of warriors was not unified by the government; participants formed their own teams. The number of people didn’t matter, as long as a team could be successfully formed.

Furthermore, there were no veterans leading rookies. The mortality rate of cleanup missions was extremely high. It was said that there had never been a warrior who survived after participating in more than three missions. In other words, among these people, the best had only participated in one cleanup mission.

Additionally, equipment was only the most basic. Each warrior could go and receive one protective suit and two guns: one submachine gun and one pistol. Other items, such as enhanced protective suits, new weapons, more powerful bombs, etc., needed to be purchased at a low price.

It was just that bizarre. Clown City organized people to clean up the Mutants outside the wall, yet the good equipment required the warriors to pay for it themselves.

As for the so-called ”military training,” it was actually low-intensity collective training organized by the government. The requirements were very low. Even for some warriors who were unbalanced in their skills, they would only focus on cultivating their strengths. For example, if someone was good at shooting, then their physical fitness training might not need to meet the standard.

For others who already had relevant experience, such as knowing how to use guns, understanding reconnaissance, combat, being able to use medical equipment, knowing basic first aid knowledge, or even having some wilderness survival skills, all counted as meeting the standard of ”having undergone military training.”Clearly, there were quite a few such ”warriors,” and they also lacked money to buy better weapons. Therefore, the atmosphere inside the venue was not good. Apart from a small number of passionate, warlike individuals who were excited and exhilarated, more people were worried.

However, even in this situation, those who cried and complained about not wanting to participate in the cleanup mission, like the woman earlier, were in the minority.

Xu Huo touched his blindfold, trying to take it off.

”The holographic glasses can’t be taken off.” A female player walked over, pointing to the number on the side of her head. ”Each pair of glasses has a unique number. A paired key is required to unlock it.”

”Can’t items destroy it?” Xu Huo asked.

”They can, but I advise you not to be in a hurry to remove it.” Another person walked over and extended a hand. ”Hello, I’m player Ming Ming Ming Ming, abbreviated as Si Ming.”

Xu Huo didn’t shake his hand. The other person withdrew his hand and continued, ”In order to prevent Mutants from climbing over the Protective Wall, Clown City has installed High-Intensity Lights outside the wall. Looking at them with the naked eye is just a glaring expanse of light. If you take off the glasses, your eyes won’t be able to open. You’re still a newcomer, right? Although the area for E-rank dungeon activities isn’t large, as long as there are people, you can inquire about information. Preparations still need to be made. After all, sharpening the axe won’t delay the chopping of firewood.”

To avoid attracting the attention of high-level players from District 011, Xu Huo put away the dungeon and, like the other surviving players, left the vessel in the shortest time possible. He also chose an E-rank dungeon, but he didn’t expect to be directly teleported into the dungeon.

Perhaps it was because that sea area had spatial chaos. By using the train ticket, he directly arrived near the dungeon site, bypassing the need to go through a station, which led to this situation.

Briefly checking his item slot, Xu Huo found that the ”Mobile Metal” was contaminated, with a ”Highly Toxic” prompt on it.

Thinking of the severed hand thrown into the luggage compartment, it was likely that the pathogens had now contaminated the things originally placed inside.

How to retrieve the items in his hand was still a problem.

”My nickname is Zhuo Wangsun.” During the gap while he was checking, another player walked over and reported his nickname.

”Me, Er Gou.” The female player who came over to greet first said.

The several people present turned to look at her. The female player curved her lips and said, ”You can’t blame me for this. When I was choosing my name, I thought I was dreaming. Feeling the two dogs in my arms, I casually wrote ’Er Gou’ (Two Dogs).”

Xu Huo feigned confusion and asked, ”Isn’t it inappropriate to directly use player nicknames?”

”Using a nickname is safer than using a fake name.” The female player spoke bluntly and frankly. ”I heard there’s a player in Clown City who can use characteristics through a player’s name. Fake names won’t work either.”

”What’s the difference between a fake name and a nickname?” Xu Huo asked.

”I’m not clear about that. It’s just a rumor circulating outside.” The female player shrugged. ”Anyway, being cautious is never wrong. Besides, using a nickname is obviously more convenient. I’m too lazy to make up a fake name.”

”In the last dungeon, I made up a fake name and forgot it myself. When cooperating with other players, it almost cost a life.”

”You’re really something, forgetting a name you thought of yourself.” Si Ming gave a thumbs-up.

The female player Er Gou was quite proud, raising her hand in acknowledgment.

Zhuo Wangsun, dressed in a way that showcased his family wealth, also smiled and said, ”How about we go buy some equipment first?”

Xu Huo had no objections and followed the three of them.

”Speaking of which, this cleanup mission is also quite strange. You have to buy your own equipment to fight monsters. It’s like a joke.” Si Ming complained, then clicked his tongue upon seeing the equipment prices. ”I can’t even afford a gun.”

The female player’s situation wasn’t much better. She looked back at Xu Huo and Zhuo Wangsun. ”Do you guys have money?”

Xu Huo had money but didn’t want to spend it. Zhuo Wangsun, however, was generous, quite magnanimously exchanging a set of high-grade protective suits for each of them and buying some weapons.

”This is too embarrassing, taking such a big advantage from you.” The female player’s movements while accepting the items were very smooth.

Zhuo Wangsun smiled good-naturedly. ”It’s nothing. If we’re in the same dungeon, we’re friends. Besides, we need to help each other to clear the dungeon.”

”Are you all players?” The man who had earlier delivered the long speech led over a dozen warriors. He scanned the four of them one by one, finally addressing Zhuo Wangsun. ”I know you’re here to clear the dungeon. Since our goals are the same, why don’t we cooperate?”

There were other players in the man’s team, though it was unclear whether they were locals of Clown City or outsiders. However, cooperating with ordinary people wasn’t cost-effective for them, especially when they had the means to buy equipment. So, Zhuo Wangsun politely declined his invitation.

”Don’t be in a hurry to refuse. We have a better understanding of the situation outside the Protective Wall. Where there are clean water sources, which animals are edible, we have detailed information, all left behind by predecessors. Once you go out, you can’t return quickly. Having this information is also a precaution.” The man smiled at the few of them.

”Agree with him,” Xu Huo spoke up at this moment. ”After all, we’re unfamiliar with the place.”