Players, Please Board the Train

Things went smoothly after that, and once they passed the third fence line, they were officially out of Nation X.

“We just need to cross that mountain forest and we’re there.” The Bald Player’s face lit up with hope.

Along the way, the Painting Woman had been sneaking glances at him, and now she finally couldn’t hold back her question. “Why do you want to leave Nation X?”

The Bald Player shot her a look. “Why do you think? Same reason as you.”

The Painting Woman was stunned. She turned back to look at Xu Huo.

Xu Huo pressed his hand down slightly, signaling her not to say too much.

They still had to cross a mountain, and this stretch wasn’t particularly tense, so the Young Player struck up a conversation with them. “Honestly, I really like Nation X. Where else out there can you find a place this stable? But Nation X players don’t welcome me either, so I have to go back to my hometown—at least to see my old mother.”

“What’s so great about Nation X?” the Bald Player said dismissively. “All the resources are hoarded by the SDF. Ordinary players don’t have a shred of a chance. You go into the game and fight for your life, and when you come back, you’re still being crushed under the SDF players’ boots.”

“They talk about fighting for the country and for your family, but the game’s so dangerous, and I don’t even have the right to do whatever I want. I’m a player—why should I have to live like an ordinary person?”

“You could always stir up trouble,” the Young Player said with a grin. “Go blow up the SDF headquarters.”The Bald Player choked. “The good items are all in the SDF’s hands. How can ordinary players compete?”

The Burly Man loosened his arms. “The SDF’s items were earned by other people risking their lives in the game. If you’re jealous, go grab them from the game yourself. Betraying your own country over something like this? You’d be cannon fodder and a loser in any country!”

“What did you say?!” The Bald Player immediately lunged forward, but the Burly Man simply pulled out a gun and aimed it at him. The coward backed down instantly, forcing himself to find a way out. “Special circumstances—I won’t bother with you!”

The Burly Man let out a contemptuous sneer.

The Young Player, however, draped an arm over the Bald Player’s shoulder and said with a laugh, “Don’t be so petty. We all came out here together—we’re friends. Friends should be friendly.”

The Bald Player shoved his hand off. “I don’t have friends.”

The Young Player shrugged, said nothing more, and then scurried over to the Painting Woman. “Sis, where are you from? How old are you? What’s your job? You’re really beautiful…”

Xu Huo reached out and put a hand between them, cutting him off. “Just walk properly.”

The moment the Young Player met Xu Huo’s eyes, he instinctively stepped back, quickened his pace, and caught up to the two foreign players ahead.

“Don’t talk to strangers,” Xu Huo instructed the Painting Woman. “They might be scammers.”

The Painting Woman wasn’t particularly keen on talking to the Young Player anyway, so she simply nodded.

The group crossed the mountain before truly entering foreign territory. Walking through the forest, the Young Player muttered, “Why isn’t there a single person here?”

No sooner had he spoken than over a hundred people surged from all around. Lights blazed, and a wall of gun barrels aimed at them. Someone shouted, “You four are surrounded! Any move will be considered a provocation against our army. Listen to my orders—raise your hands high…!”

Four people?

The four of them—the Young Player included—whipped around, but behind them, there was no trace of Xu Huo or the Painting Woman.

Two or three hundred meters away, Xu Huo was hiding in a tree. Only after the four were taken away by the military did he climb down and call out to the Painting Woman, who was so bored she was practically fused to a tree trunk.

At this point, he no longer needed to hold back his speed. He kept using Straight-Line Distance to rush toward the city at high speed.

He had a fake ID forged by Zheng Liang, so passing through checkpoints wouldn’t be an issue. His goal this time was to catch a flight headed to Country Y.

It was a specially chartered plane from Country Y, meant to pick up a batch of wealthy and influential people. After confirming the time and location, Xu Huo intercepted one of them in advance, disguised himself as that person, and boarded the plane.

“Welcome aboard this flight, Mr. Qi. Feel free to choose any seat.” The flight attendant took his carry-on luggage and enthusiastically guided him to his seat. After he sat down, she served him drinks.

Wearing an unfamiliar, portly face, Xu Huo leisurely flipped through a magazine on the seat. Only after takeoff did he glance at the two passengers in the rear cabin, then close his eyes to rest.

Two hours into the flight, Xu Huo opened his eyes.

There was now an extra person in the seat in front of him. The man was wearing a black overcoat, leather gloves, and had a small mustache. He looked like a very gentlemanly middle-aged man.

“Ah, you’re awake, sir. Did you rest well?” The middle-aged man placed a snowman crystal ball on the table, and a tinkling melody began to play, though it didn’t draw the attention of any surrounding passengers.

“Don’t mind this. It’s just a small item to ensure no one disturbs our conversation.” The middle-aged man introduced himself. “I’m Kabi Nix.”

“That name is quite famous in Country Y.” Xu Huo raised an eyebrow. “Word has it you’re Country Y’s first C-level player.”

Country Y wasn’t as well off as Nation X. Whether it was to suppress the frequent violent incidents or to boost national confidence, expanding the influence of elite players was a must. That was why Country Y had long established a domestic player ranking list, and this Kabi Nix was on it.

He had originally been a wealthy electronics tycoon before joining the Country Y government and becoming a secret player. But even though he wasn’t active in the public eye, rumors about him were everywhere. Many forum posts speculated that he had been chosen by Country Y to push his player level, and among players of his caliber, his reputation was the highest.

“You flatter me. Becoming a C-level player in such a short time—even doing dungeons twenty hours a day wouldn’t be enough.” Nix smiled warmly. “I have a question I’d like you to clarify.”

Xu Huo made a “please” gesture.

“I’m in charge of this flight’s security. Would you kindly tell me where the real Mr. Qi is?”

“He’s in a hotel. He’ll probably sleep for another two hours.” Xu Huo took a calm sip of his drink. “If you send someone now, you can still make it in time.”

Nix nodded. “I’ll have someone confirm whether he’s alive or dead later.”

“And how should I address you, sir?”

“My surname is Yu.”

“Mr. Yu, what is your purpose for traveling to Country Y this time?” Nix asked with impeccable politeness. “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m only asking to avoid delaying the flight. If you can’t state your intentions clearly, the plane may have to turn back. I believe that’s something neither of us wants.”

Xu Huo set down his glass. “This is good news for you. I want to discuss a deal.”

“Not now, but after I arrive in Country Y.”

“If your side doesn’t want to talk this time, we can always do it next time.”

If it didn’t work the first time, he’d try a second. He was open-minded about it.

Nix clearly understood his meaning and pressed further. “Can Mr. Yu reveal a little about the deal’s content? Otherwise, I’m afraid this flight might have a hard time reaching Country Y.”

There was no way Xu Huo was backing down. “Then I’ll just come next time. Consider this trip a sightseeing tour.”

Nix pondered for a moment and then made another offer. “Would you mind if the plane lands at our military airport?”