Players, Please Board the Train

”Although evolution rate isn’t directly tied to player level, higher evolution rates make players stronger, and leveling up is just a matter of time.” Gu Yu spoke frankly: ”I’m currently at 16%. With a few more P1 potions, I can reach 20%, which is considered relatively high in Capital City.”

”If your evolution speed is fast enough, the government might even provide potions for free.”

”Is that true?” The Shen siblings’s eyes lit up.

Gu Yu glanced at them, ”If you don’t believe me, just ask any players from Capital City. But this standard requires official assessment.”

The siblings looked at each other, both appearing excited. They had been lucky enough to obtain potions earlier, so their evolution rate had increased relatively quickly. If things were really as good as Gu Yu described, they could head to Capital City.

Wang Chaoqing looked at them enviously, ”I’m only at 6% so far.”

While Wu Qiuyi and the others had higher evolution levels, Lin Pei specifically asked the silent Xu Huo.

”Just reached 10%.” Xu Huo had only used potion once, so his evolution rate had remained stagnant.

”Your evolution rate shouldn’t be low either, right?” he asked Lin Pei.

”I’m slightly higher than Gu Yu,” Lin Pei said, then paused before adding: ”Exceeding 10% requires P1 potions. I don’t have any P1s left, but I do have two bottles of P0 potions.””Brother Lin, since you can’t use them anyway, why not sell them to me?” Wang Chaoqing quickly said: ”If my evolution rate improves, I can be more helpful to everyone.”

Shen Yi pushed him back into his seat, ”We haven’t settled accounts with you yet, and you’re already trying to take advantage!”

Facing their cold gazes, Wang Chaoqing said awkwardly: ”After all, we’ve shared hardships together...”

Soon the vehicle approached Master Nise’s residence. Xu Huo stood up and got off first, with Gu Yu following behind them.

Some areas with puzzles had notes posted nearby, making them relatively easy to find. However, these puzzles didn’t announce themselves at fixed times - you had to wait for them to pose a question before answering would be useful.

The town had no shortage of clocks. Just around Master Nise’s residence, there were chimes every hour on the hour, sometimes from one clock, sometimes two or three together.

This differed from what Wu Qiuyi had described.

Wu Qiuyi had said that clock chimes only occurred in town every few hours.

”Why are the chimes so frequent here?” Gu Yu also found it strange, ”I didn’t hear this many before.”

”Probably because it’s safer the closer you get to Master Nise’s residence,” Xu Huo said.

If Master Nise’s granddaughter came out regularly, it made sense for there to be more puzzles concentrated in this area.

Over five to six hours, they heard over ten clock chimes. Sometimes they had to split up to search.

Seeing that Xu Huo only took out his pocket watch to check against the clock time each time, Gu Yu proactively found paper and pen to record the locations, times, and questions.

”Can you really remember all these random questions? It’s easier to write them down.”

Xu Huo acknowledged but didn’t follow her suggestion. After each puzzle, he would wander around the shop.

With long intervals between chimes, a bored Gu Yu followed him around the shop, rummaging through things. Suddenly she stared at his profile and said, ”Wait a moment?”

Xu Huo turned back, ”What is it?”

”Stop moving,” Gu Yu shifted sideways a couple of steps, cupping her chin in thought. ”Your profile looks very familiar. I’m sure I’ve seen you somewhere before.”

”Probably in a TV drama,” Xu Huo continued fiddling with objects in the drawer without looking up. ”I’m an actor too, but just an extra.”

”You? An extra?” Gu Yu looked at him incredulously, ”With your looks and presence, even if you can’t get lead roles, you should at least get supporting roles.”

Xu Huo gave her a steady look.

Gu Yu coughed dryly, ”Don’t misunderstand. I think those directors must be blind to only cast you as an extra. How about this - come with me to Capital City. I can introduce you to work. You need money to afford potions.”

”I don’t lack potions,” Xu Huo held up a glass tube, shaking the pale blue liquid inside.

”What’s so interesting about that? Just a toy,” Gu Yu fiddled with the small shells and fish in the nearby adhesive tape, leaning against the counter while tilting her head to look at him. ”I’m serious.”

”So am I,” Xu Huo ignored her and focused on his task.

After talking around him for a while without getting a response, Gu Yu gritted her teeth and turned to leave.

When Xu Huo exited the shop, he found she had already disappeared.

Standing at the shop entrance and looking around, he headed directly toward the nearest chiming location.

Gu Yu entered the shop shortly after, noted down the puzzle, and said: ”We still have plenty of time anyway. Let’s check Master Nise’s residence. I have a special item that could help melt metal. If it works, we’d be more confident about sealing the Pit Cage.”

Only then did Xu Huo give her his full attention, ”Agreed.”

Gu Yu rolled her eyes.

The two entered Master Nise’s room. Gu Yu looked at the clocks with appreciation: ”These are all master-level works. Things that absolutely don’t exist in our world. They’d fetch quite a price if we could take them out.”

As she spoke, she noticed the holes in the floor, frowning as she moved closer, then crouched down to sniff along the ground surface.

”What are you doing?” Xu Huo stood on the stairs, looking down at her from above.

”Seeing if I can smell any familiar scents,” Gu Yu twitched her nose. ”Too bad my olfactory evolution isn’t very pronounced, otherwise I could find people immediately.”

”But I know a player who can identify scents from three days ago on an object. He can remember smells and won’t forget them even after a long time. Even more sensitive than a dog’s nose.”

Xu Huo expressionlessly said, ”Are you going to keep talking nonsense or go look at the Black Metal?”

Gu Yu restrained his smile and looked at him seriously, ”Going solo doesn’t work in this game. Smart players form teams. Look at Wu Qiuyi and those three - they seem friendly enough but keep clear boundaries with us. They won’t reveal anything about their strength, special traits, or items. Can you really trust companions like that?”

Not to mention complete strangers, even people you know beforehand can’t be trusted once you enter a dungeon.

Rather than refuting her words, Xu Huo said: ”Players don’t need to trust each other. As long as our goals align, we won’t have conflicts before leaving Decibel Town.”

”Oh?” Gu Yu smiled sarcastically, ”Then who was it that ambushed you?”

”You probably have some idea too, don’t you?”

”I have a proposal - why don’t we team up? That way, no matter who tries to target either of us, they won’t have an opportunity.”

She paused, then brought up another matter: ”There’s a player mutual aid society in Capital City. I’m a core member. I think highly of you. As long as you agree to team up with me, you can join after we get out.”

”Players need train tickets most. The mutual aid society specifically helps members find tickets. Members are like brothers and sisters - betrayal isn’t allowed and doesn’t happen. We can enter dungeons together, which gives much better survival odds than struggling alone in the game.”