Players, Please Board the Train

Both Tan Yang and Pu Kang had their limbs broken. Even if they managed to stay conscious, there was no way they could run into the dungeon, so they could only resign themselves to being captured by the gray-robed figures.

Their blood-stained clothes had already been changed, and they were carried onto wheelchairs and pushed into a lounge. Two gray-robed figures stood guard over them and said, ”Calm down, you two. The banquet is about to begin.”

Tan Yang wasn’t anxious at all. His heart was filled with despair, as if he could already see his own ending.

Just a few hours ago, he had been considering whether to absorb Double Snake into the First Association. But after witnessing the gray-robed figures brainwashing Sima Xiao Er and the other white-robed people at the resort, he immediately realized that Double Snake was no ordinary player organization and demanded to leave.

But he never expected that the player holding the number ”one” would hit it off so well with Double Snake, even helping them fight against Tan Yang and Pu Kang when things got violent.

Up until now, Double Snake hadn’t made any demands of them, merely taking them to tour the club’s kitchen.

When he unexpectedly saw the pile of white robes stacked in the corner, he understood that the number of Player-Eaters within Double Snake’s ranks was definitely not small. Those who had been filtered out like Sima Xiao Er were simply being provided for these people.

If Double Snake had captured him and Pu Kang and was forcing them to attend the banquet, they were undoubtedly trying to pressure them into going along with the corruption.

The number of players attending the Double Snake gathering was astonishing, and those who had been selected were certainly the minority. He could only hope that Huang Junjie hadn’t fallen into Double Snake’s hands.

Pu Kang, sitting nearby, was heavily shaken. He hung his head dejectedly and said, ”Even if he knows we’re missing, how could he possibly find this place?”Regret was written all over Tan Yang’s face, but since things had come to this, there was nothing he could do.

About ten minutes later, the gray-robed figures pushed them into a moderately sized dining room. There were five tables inside, and aside from a few empty seats at the head table, all the others were full. Everyone wore half-face masks, revealing only their mouths. From their builds and skin, there were old and young, male and female.

As soon as the two of them entered, everyone’s gaze focused on them. The intensely concentrated stares made the hairs on their backs stand up.

Only after they were pushed to their seats did a masked man walk through the main entrance. As soon as he came in, he placed his phone horizontally on the cabinet stand against one wall, then stood before the crowd and said, ”I got held up by something just now, so I’m late. Don’t take offense, everyone.”

One guest chuckled in support, ”What could possibly delay Mr. Qiu? It couldn’t be a beauty, could it?”

The others joined in the laughter. The young man addressed as Mr. Qiu seemed quite amused. ”A few minutes ago, I got a call saying that one of our gathering spots in Water City was raided by the Special Defense Department.”

The people in the room hurriedly asked how it was handled. Mr. Qiu said, ”Players come and go as they please. What could the Special Defense Department possibly do about it? They wasted a trip for nothing.”

Everyone relaxed visibly. A woman asked, ”Double Snake’s gatherings have always been rock solid. How did this happen? Could there be a problem on Dale’s end?”

”A few clueless pests followed along, nothing more. I personally arranged the security at this club, so rest assured, everyone.” Mr. Qiu then turned his gaze to Tan and Pu. ”We have two special guests today. Let me introduce you all. This is Tan Yang, chairman of the First Association, and Vice Chairman Pu Kang.”

As he spoke, he walked over to them and placed his hands on their shoulders. ”Double Snake has always wanted to be friends with the First Association. I never expected Chairman Tan to be so generous as to bring the Vice Chairman along. Today’s meal is on me. After this meal, the First Association will be Double Snake’s ally. You two can come to me if you ever run into any trouble.”

”That’s quite a big mouth,” Pu Kang sneered coldly. ”Double Snake is nothing but a small, unknown player organization. On what basis do you think you can solve the First Association’s problems? Roping in some low-level players to do shady, underhanded things is just pathetic!”

Mr. Qiu stared at him, slowly letting his smile fade. Then he grabbed Pu Kang’s head and slammed it into the dining table. But rather than smashing Pu Kang’s head open and making him bleed, his own hand was cut with several deep gashes, and blood gushed out!

Pu Kang straightened his neck and laughed. ”My limbs might be useless, but I still have plenty of items!”

”Hiding items in your hair?” Mr. Qiu shook off the two black-robed figures who rushed over, snatched a plate from the table, and smashed it hard over Pu Kang’s head. Then he kicked the wheelchair over and delivered a flurry of vicious kicks while shouting, ”Who do you think you are to talk back to me? I could crush you with just one finger!”

Even the best items were useless if you couldn’t use them. As Pu Kang hit the ground, his hands were immediately pinned under the black-robed figures’ feet. His defensive item barely blocked a few kicks before it failed. Mr. Qiu stomped on his face and ground it into the floor. ”I was being polite, and you actually thought the First Association was a big deal! Who the hell do you think you are?!”

”That’s enough!” Tan Yang couldn’t take it anymore. ”You didn’t keep us alive just to use us as punching bags, did you!”

Mr. Qiu finally stopped. He straightened his clothes, dusted off his hands, and signaled. Several black-robed figures carried in oversized trays, completely covered, placing one on each table. Then they brought out all kinds of dipping sauces and condiments. The pungent, sour, and spicy smell rose into the air, and many in the room had green-tinted eyes, swallowing hard.

Seeing the familiar curves and contours under the cloth covers, and then looking at everyone else’s reactions, Tan Yang understood everything. Everyone in this room was a Player-Eater. Today’s gathering was prepared for the Player-Eaters!

”You’re going to eat us?” He could barely keep his composure.

But Mr. Qiu just smiled. ”To be honest, Black Players don’t really suit my palate. Too much killing intent, too short-tempered. The meat just isn’t as good.”

He walked behind Tan Yang, patted his shoulder, and bent down to whisper in his ear, ”Killing you would be easy. But I’d rather have you become one of Double Snake’s people. Eat the food on the table, or become the food on the table. Your choice.”

Tan Yang glanced at the phone Mr. Qiu had placed nearby and let out a bitter laugh. ”The camera’s on, isn’t it.”

”I like smart people.” Mr. Qiu took a knife handed to him by a black-robed figure, lifted the lid of the tray, sliced off a piece, and put it in his mouth. After chewing, he licked his lips and said, ”Fresh!”

Tan Yang pressed his lips tight, his expression a tortured conflict of emotions.

But Mr. Qiu’s attention soon shifted. A gray-robed figure came over and whispered something in his ear. He let out a loud laugh. ”They’ve got guts! They actually found their way here. Open all the doors and windows. We’re just in need of some entertainment to go with the meal!”

In the lakeside dining room, the wooden doors and windows were pushed open, opening up the view completely. Mr. Qiu casually sat down at the table, looking toward the kitchen on the opposite side of the lake. He raised his hand, and several black-robed figures appeared on the steps in front of the dining room, setting up submachine guns and opening fire at the trees on that side.

As the sound of trees exploding echoed, several figures leaped out from behind them, constantly shifting positions to dodge the bullets. But under this relentless barrage, they looked extremely harried.

Mr. Qiu laughed heartily and shouted toward the lakeshore, ”The people you want are right here. Think you can make it over?”