Players, Please Board the Train

It was because someone had brought fragrant wood into the Immigration Office that Xu Huo had stumbled into the dungeon by chance. Otherwise, based on the officially published safety guidelines, he could have completely avoided the surrounding random dungeons.

The redhead and the others worked together, spending an entire day cleaning the villa from top to bottom. They even took the books off the shelves to dust them, replaced the broken windows with spare glass, and repainted the wall that had been damaged last night. It looked as good as new. When they finished, Zhao Xiaojing also brought out all the kitchen utensils, wiped them clean, laid out the tablecloth, and arranged the plates and other items on the table.

”Looks great, too bad we don’t have much to eat.” Lu Zhen said regretfully.

”I do have some, but I don’t know if you’d dare to eat them.” The baby-faced player pulled out two large hams and tossed them onto the dining table with a look of disdain.

Lu Zhen and Zhao Xiaojing looked at each other, and the baby-faced player stared at them in shock, ”Don’t tell me you want me to take a bite first!”

The Identification Fork came in handy.

A cartoon chef figure was projected into the air:

”This cured ham, made through multiple refined processes, is slightly salty and can be paired with other dishes.”

”Cured ham is not considered a healthy food; long-term consumption is not recommended.”

”No issues.” Xu Huo put away the item.”Great!” Lu Zhen said. ”It’s been days since I had a proper meal.”

She and Zhao Xiaojing quickly and efficiently sliced the ham. When they learned that Xu Huo also had liquor with him, they were both surprised and delighted.

”I never used to drink before, but after becoming a player, I can drink now. Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I’ll have a few glasses.” Zhao Xiaojing said.

Xu Huo didn’t give much liquor, so Lu Zhen poured a little into each cup and said with a smile, ”Just a token gesture today.”

Zhao Xiaojing touched her own face and smiled as well.

Tonight’s dinner was quite normal. Xu Huo, acting as the temporary master, sat at the head of the table, while the other players sat on both sides of the long table. Under the bright lights, clean plates held the appetizing ham slices and two freeze-dried vegetables, a cup of cold water mixed with a nutritional supplement, half a glass of liquor, and napkins folded neatly beside them.

Everyone took their seats, and Xu Huo made a ”please” gesture, signaling for them to start eating.

”Life really needs a sense of ceremony, huh.” The redhead sighed. ”Since becoming a player, I can’t even remember the last time I had a proper meal. I’m either clearing dungeons or preparing to clear them, always on guard against other players, hiding and sneaking around, sometimes not even daring to show my face.”

The situation in Zone 009 was different from 011 and 014. In 014, players weren’t fully widespread yet, and the state’s coercive apparatus remained the strongest and most deterrent force, so the players who caused trouble had to be careful everywhere. In 011, it was already highly mature, with the power structure formed by players and the government reaching a balance, able to fully control the entire district without worrying about players causing trouble.

The player organizations in Zone 009 were powerful, but they hadn’t reached the point of absolute command. The explosive increase in player numbers would inevitably lead to conflicts, and at this point, players needed to be even more careful about self-preservation.

”I’ve been in the game for so long, but I don’t feel like I’m alive.” Zhao Xiaojing looked at her wine glass. ”I’m just not dead yet.”

”This game really isn’t for ordinary people like us.” Lu Zhen sighed. ”Right now, I just hope that when I clear this dungeon and get out, the players from other zones have already left. A little peace, at least so our lives aren’t so miserable.”

”Don’t be so pessimistic.” Liang Chong said. ”The game has its benefits too. Look at me, before becoming an Evolver, I was already in the terminal stage of cancer. The doctor said I had at most three months, maybe half a year. Now it’s been almost three years, and I’m still alive and well! I went for a check-up recently, and all my indicators are normal.”

”I guess that’s the only benefit.” Lu Zhen said. ”Congratulations.”

Liang Chong grinned. ”So, you see, don’t overthink things. Miracles might happen someday.”

”Maybe one day the game will just disappear!” The redhead also said. ”Only the living have hope, right? For that hope, let’s toast!”

Xu Huo raised his glass along with them.

After they clinked glasses, Lu Zhen said, ”Brother Xu, you’ve definitely been to a lot of game partitions, right? Are there any particularly peaceful ones where you can live without worrying about safety, without having to hide all the time?”

Clearly, everyone was interested in this topic, and even the people at the far end of the table looked up.

”Of course, there are, and quite a few of them.” Xu Huo said. ”I’ve been to one or two myself. They’re really livable. As long as you have money, even getting married and having kids isn’t a problem.”

”What a great place that sounds like...” Zhao Xiaojing’s face was filled with longing. ”For a female player, getting pregnant is practically asking for death.”

”Player status can be paused.” Xu Huo said. ”If you go to those places, you can get a job with the local government and get away from dungeons.”

”Zone 009 has a lot of public information, isn’t there any about that?”

”There is,” Zhao Xiaojing said. ”But hearing it online doesn’t feel as real as hearing it directly from someone. Which partition are you talking about? I want to get a ticket to that partition.”

”District 011.”

”I know District 011.” Liang Chong said. ”There are public dungeon guides for it online, but it doesn’t seem as great as people say. The people at the bottom of District 011 live terribly. In any decent city, resources are concentrated in the hands of a few. Without identification, you can’t even get close to some public places.”

”When have the people at the bottom ever lived well?” Xu Huo said meaningfully. ”Even the most powerful, most advanced game partitions are just a flash in the pan.”

Just like tonight’s dinner, it could only provide a brief moment of respite. As long as you were still in the game, the hidden problems would eventually erupt. To end it all, the game had to be completely over.

Once you became a player, it meant you would forever live in this cogwheel, moving forward tirelessly.

”That’s true. Brother Xu is different from us.” Lu Zhen said in frustration. ”Even to settle down, you need money.”

”Even as a player, I still can’t shake off the ’poor person’ label. I’m so pathetic. Does anyone have a good way to make money?” The redhead asked earnestly.

”Kill people.” Xu Huo replied lightly. ”You wouldn’t dare rob the district government, and you can’t touch the game government. The only slightly feasible option is robbing other players.”

The redhead paused for a moment. ”I’ll just eat my meal.”

”Brother Xu, have you ever robbed a district government?” Liang Chong looked at him with intense curiosity.

Xu Huo smiled wryly. ”How could that be? I’m just a D-level player.”

The D-level players present suddenly felt like they didn’t recognize the word ”D-level” anymore.

”Even if you haven’t robbed a district government, you’ve definitely killed high-level players.” Lu Zhen asked curiously. ”Brother Xu, have you ever met a super player?”

Under everyone’s gaze, Xu Huo put down his knife and fork, tapped his watch, and said, ”It’s lights out time.”