Players, Please Board the Train

The elevator slowly ascended, gradually leaving the cleanup area. Upon reaching the gateway of the Protective Wall, the doors opened, and four or five women with beautiful appearances poured out. Laughing and chatting merrily, they congratulated them on completing the mission, then crowded around, taking hold of Xu Huo’s and 179’s arms respectively, trying to pull them apart.

179 was the Warrior who had used a gun to cover Xin Hui’s successful escape. No matter how Xu Huo questioned him, he refused to utter a single word. Xu Huo could only search through his personal belongings, finally obtaining a number.

This person was the key to triggering his extra mission, so of course he couldn’t let him die. He would bring him into Clown City first.

Xu Huo clamped his hand on 179’s shoulder. The woman beside him, seeing this, said, ”This gentleman is injured. We’ll take him for treatment.”

”A real man sheds blood, not tears. What’s there to treat about such a minor injury?” Xu Huo didn’t loosen his grip, but the man he was holding groaned in pain, half-gritting his teeth as he said, ”I can go back and treat my wounds myself. Just give me the medical expenses in cash.”

Facing the women’s charming faces, Xu Huo’s cold, rigid attitude made the atmosphere somewhat awkward. However, a portly middle-aged man soon walked over, chuckling heartily as he said, ”Congratulations, congratulations. You are the third Warrior this year to cross the cleanup area. May I ask how to address you, sir?”

”Old Wu.”

”Mr. Wu is truly outstanding. To have such courage and insight at such a young age, your future is certainly boundless. Come, come, let’s talk as we walk.”

At the middle-aged man’s signal, several women half-pushed, half-pulled Xu Huo and the other man out of the Protective Wall and into a special vehicle, which then began climbing towards the upper levels of Clown City.

The scenery outside the window wasn’t much different from that of Sunset Clown City. After the vehicle reached the seventh level, projection screens in public spaces openly broadcasted combat videos from the cleanup area. Quite a few people stood around watching, occasionally tapping on their wristwatches, sometimes erupting in cheers or curses.The middle-aged man had been observing Xu Huo’s expression. Seeing he didn’t show any disgust or aversion, he smiled and said, ”Mr. Wu must have some understanding of Clown City as well. Have you considered settling down here?”

Xu Huo turned to look at him. ”Clown City has simple, honest customs. Living here isn’t out of the question. However, I have no interest in the lower three levels.”

”Mr. Wu, you jest. With your caliber, living on the seventh level would be more than sufficient,” the middle-aged man said. ”If you’re willing to settle in Clown City, we can provide you with free housing, a monthly living allowance of twenty thousand White Bills, a ten percent discount on all items and potions obtained by the government. Furthermore, if you wish to date or make friends, Clown City can help you find suitable matches.”

”After all, players spend half their time in dungeons... Mr. Wu, you came to Clown City this time to clear a dungeon as well, right?”

Xu Huo nodded. The smooth passage from the cleanup area to Clown City proved that Sunrise Clown City was also within the game, falling within the scope of the ”designated location.”

”It’s already been cleared,” he said with a slight smile. ”However, Clown City’s games are truly unexpected. Not many districts have the audacity to use an entire city as a game arena.”

The middle-aged man’s eyes showed appreciation as he laughed heartily. ”That’s one of Clown City’s unique features, and also the source of welfare for all its citizens.”

He didn’t shy away from the fact that Clown City used real people as game characters, even stating, ”No pain, no gain. Mr. Wu is a player, you should understand this principle.”

Compared to ordinary people, players were more accepting of such things. After all, players in dungeons, fighting for survival, wouldn’t show mercy regardless of whether they were men, women, the elderly, the weak, the sick, or the disabled.

Xu Huo didn’t express much. Later, the middle-aged man mentioned there would be a victory banquet tomorrow where he could meet Clown City’s higher-ups, and might even get to see the General Administration Chief. He advised Xu Huo to rest early and left the women who had escorted them out behind. As for the injured 179, he didn’t mention a word.

As soon as they entered the room, the women unabashedly removed their tops. One of them stroked Xu Huo’s shoulder and said, ”Mr. Wu, do you prefer two people or several people together?”

Xu Huo’s gaze swept over her chest, then he brushed her hand off as if dusting away dirt. ”Go take a bath, all of you.”

The women covered their mouths with delicate laughs and swayed gracefully into the bathroom.

No sooner had they left than Xu Huo followed right behind.

179 had slumped into a chair the moment they entered. Seeing Xu Huo’s actions, he let out a cold, unsurprised laugh. Reaching into his chest pocket, he was about to act when the person standing at the bathroom door suddenly turned around and stared at him.

179’s expression didn’t change as he pulled out an energy candy from his pocket and tore it open. However, just as he was about to put it in his mouth, his head involuntarily lifted to look forward. Xu Huo, holding a pen, was already standing before him and directly took the energy candy.

Behind them, the bathroom door was now blocked by a tall cabinet. The faint sound of the women talking inside could still be heard. 179’s mind was highly focused, his eyeballs tracking Xu Huo’s hand.

The energy candy looked identical to the rations issued to Warriors by Clown City. However, when Xu Huo pinched it with two fingers, the candy cracked open, revealing a hollow center. Inside was embedded a white, silkworm-cocoon-like object. One didn’t need to guess to know this thing was wrapped in mycelium.

”Spores?” Xu Huo instantly understood 179’s plan. ”You want to turn yourself into a pollution source, letting the fungi grow and pollute the entire Clown City?”

179’s pupils trembled uncontrollably, but his long military training made him instinctively conceal his emotions. He lowered his head, remaining silent, refusing to communicate.

However, Xu Huo chuckled softly. ”Relying on such a tiny thing alone, you probably couldn’t even pollute this building.”

”Clown City suffered a major blow from the fungi. Subsequent government higher-ups would definitely prepare protective measures. If they detect you’re infected with fungi, you’d likely be captured before you even leave this building. At best, you’d only manage to get an area sealed off—the layered construction of Clown City probably has that consideration as well.”

179, shocked and dismayed, darkened his expression. ”Since you can guess all that, why bother asking me!”

Xu Huo used a test tube to store the energy candy and placed it in his luggage compartment. Pulling over a chair, he sat opposite 179 and continued, ”You and Xin Hui probably both carried energy candy like this. However, judging by the survival rate in the cleanup area, your manpower must also be extremely scarce. And relying on just a few people, you couldn’t pollute the entire Clown City.”

”There’s a victory banquet tomorrow. Are your targets the government higher-ups and the General Administration Chief?”

As Xu Huo spoke, he observed 179’s breathing and heartbeat. ”No wonder you wanted to ensure Xin Hui was the first to return to Clown City.”

If the two were cooperating, they should have researched past rankings of the real-person games, understanding how many kills were needed to secure first place. They were even willing to sacrifice themselves, displaying a rather all-or-nothing attitude.

”Infected government higher-ups... are you aiming to cause chaos or expose the real-person games?”