Players, Please Board the Train

If they really insisted on following him, Xu Huo couldn’t exactly chase them away. There was only one road, after all.

But Chi Nan and her group were truly people of action. Even though he’d made it clear he wouldn’t partner with them, they still parked their vehicle nearby, taking turns on night watch, and periodically walking past Xu Huo’s car to make their presence known.

Xu Huo ignored them. The next morning, after washing up and finishing breakfast, he set off again.

As the car gradually merged onto the main road, he glanced at the vehicle following behind, then placed the Awakening Doll on the back seat.

It took a while before Little Pink Hat crawled up to the front seat, grabbing the toy doll’s head and asking, ”You’re not going to ask me for help again, are you?”

Xu Huo handed her a pouch of candy he’d bought in Zone 009, saying in a relaxed tone, ”I came into some money recently.”

Little Pink Hat tossed candies into her mouth, crunching away while staring at him, waiting for him to continue.

”I originally promised to buy you two D-grade dresses, but I got busy and only managed to get one. The other one was also ordered as D-grade, but I’ve got a bit too much money lately, and D-grade just doesn’t impress me anymore.”

Little Pink Hat swallowed her candy and said sweetly, ”You have that much money? Then buy me a C-grade one instead! That way I won’t hold a grudge about you not keeping your promise for so long!”

Xu Huo turned and smiled at her. ”Do you really think I’m that generous an adult?”Little Pink Hat immediately pouted, hopping up and down in her seat in frustration. ”You adults are always bullying kids!”

Xu Huo handed her the dress. ”I didn’t lie to you.”

Little Pink Hat was still very happy to receive the gift, temporarily forgiving him. After changing into it with one click, she gleefully held up her skirt hem. ”I haven’t had a new dress in so long!”

”You hold a dungeon. You can’t be that broke.” Xu Huo said.

”It’s not that I’m poor, it’s that the players entering my dungeon are too poor!” Pink Hat reattached the doll’s head. ”And stingy too. Some people won’t even buy a single lollipop!”

Compared to new dresses, she obviously wanted candy more.

”Our deal was pretty pleasant, wasn’t it?” Xu Huo said. ”Most importantly, I have money.”

Little Pink Hat’s eyes lit up. ”I heard Zone 003 released a limited edition candy...”

”No problem.” Xu Huo agreed readily. ”But you’ll need to help me with another small favor.”

Little Pink Hat wore a ”I knew it” expression. ”Disgusting adults.”

”A small favor. Help me pull one person into your dungeon.” Xu Huo said. ”Zone 009 allows random dungeons. Just get her inside. I don’t need anything else from you.”

Little Pink Hat swung her feet. ”Is she a really strong player? If she’s too strong, she might dismantle the dungeon and kill the dungeon holder, you know.”

”She shouldn’t be that strong.” Xu Huo said. ”Besides, once someone follows her in, even if she could do it, she wouldn’t dare.”

”Also, she might be holding a grey player identity.”

Little Pink Hat wagged her finger. ”This isn’t worth just a lollipop anymore.”

”The other dress, upgraded to a C-grade item. On top of that, I’ll get you all twelve varieties of limited edition lollipops, giving you a new kind of candy to try every month. How about it?” Xu Huo laid out his offer.

”Deal!” Pink Hat slapped his arm with her hand, grinning as she said, ”Zone 009 has a lot of players coming in now. There’ll definitely be some rich adults.”

With that, the matter was settled. Xu Huo put away the Awakening Doll and stopped the car, opening the door to look ahead.

Traffic was backed up again.

Chi Nan walked up behind him. ”Looks like there’s a toll checkpoint up ahead. The situation isn’t good right now. Several major player organizations outside the Capital Safe Zone have set up checkpoints to collect fees. You have to pay head taxes five or six times along the way. That’s why I said Zone 009 is done for.”

This wasn’t hard to understand. Player organizations hadn’t originally formed to benefit the whole country. The more player organizations there were, the better the living environment for players became, and correspondingly, ordinary people would get worse and worse, eventually devolving into two extremes.

Zone 009 was already showing signs of this.

”Whether ordinary people can live well all depends on the conscience of player organizations.” Old Zhou seemed quite moved, looking at the people ahead who were complaining or cursing. ”Who knows what Zone 009 will eventually become.”

”Brother, what do you think?” Chi Nan asked Xu Huo.

Xu Huo glanced at her. ”You probably drew some bad luck when you went out yesterday, didn’t you?”

”Flowers on brocade are nice but optional, but when you’re crossing a river in desperate need, even the smallest boat is a lifeline.”

”Have you considered that if you keep following me, this bad luck might strike halfway?”

The last sentence was a clear warning. Chi Nan’s expression shifted slightly. She said, ”Sorry to bother you,” and retreated back to her car.

The line started moving again. Xu Huo paid six thousand in checkpoint fees before finally entering the Capital Safe Zone.

The outer perimeter of the Capital Safe Zone was lined with steel platforms, on which were placed Spacetime Item suppression instruments imported from other districts. Though not as advanced as District 011’s, they were intimidating enough just sitting there.

Xu Huo quietly tested his Concentrated Air. Inside the safe zone, it was clearly being interfered with.

The safe zone was packed with people. Near the edges, some people had set up tents on the spot. But as the number of tents grew, patrolling players would drive them away, ensuring they all stayed in the outer districts.

Still, many residents were fairly optimistic about the situation, believing that out-of-district players would leave eventually, that Zone 009 players would take control, and that they could return to their hometowns.

The one-month time limit was something ordinary people could be grateful for in this game.

Hotels and inns in the city were all full. Even wanting to rest in your car required paying a hefty parking fee.

Xu Huo abandoned his vehicle and headed toward the exhibition hall.

Wearing the Invisibility Cloak, he went up to the office building across from the one housing the exhibition hall. Life in the capital was less disrupted, and staff members were still working overtime. Occasionally someone could be heard lamenting, ”Even if the world ends tomorrow, corporate slaves still have to work overtime.”

Besides them, there were several players disguised as ordinary people, also monitoring the exhibition hall.

Xu Huo waited by the hallway until Jiangjiang’s car appeared in front of the building in the afternoon.

When she appeared, the players inside the building began conversing, exchanging information to confirm there were no suspicious people in the vicinity.

But when Jiangjiang got out of the car, she turned and looked back toward the building across the street.

”What’s she looking at?” one player asked.

”Maybe checking if there are bodyguards over here.” another player said. ”She’s not a player anyway. How could she possibly spot us? Want to say hi?”

”We’re only responsible for perimeter security. Don’t you know how high the mortality rate is among the players around her? Don’t go looking for trouble. Better avoid any mistakes.”

With a few words exchanged, the monitoring players fell silent again.

Xu Huo went downstairs, stowed his item in the bustling restroom, walked straight out of the building, and entered the exhibition hall disguised as a visitor viewing the exhibit.