Players, Please Board the Train

After the Capital City medical and expert teams arrived at the hospital, they conducted a thorough examination of Xu Huo and confirmed there were no major physical problems. The reason he still hadn’t woken up might be a side effect of evolution. Regarding this condition, the medical team didn’t dare to medicate hastily, because giving drugs could not only interrupt the evolution process, it might also cause death.

”We should still draw blood for tests,” proposed Professor Lan, his hair white but his spirits high, adding, ”We brought the only two doses of the brain-evolution promotion agent we have left. Let’s see the blood test results before deciding whether to use them.”

His remark drew Team Leader Song’s displeasure. ”Those are the only two evolution agents currently available. The Special Defense Department has five players headed in the same evolutionary direction applying for them. Their success rate is over seventy percent. Does Xu Huo have that kind of chance? We don’t even know if he can survive.”

”This is not for you to tell me,” Professor Lan buried his head in the files before him and, without looking up, said, ”My orders are to judge whether Xu Huo can use the agent. If he can, give it to him. Other matters are outside my purview.”

”There’s something I already reported earlier,” Team Leader Wu interjected at that moment. ”Xu Huo’s friends won’t allow hospital staff to draw his blood, so…”

He didn’t finish before Professor Lan interrupted him, ”How you manage to draw blood is your business. I still have experiments to run, I’m leaving.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he indeed took his files and left, leaving several Special Defense Department leaders staring at each other. Team Leader Liao said awkwardly, ”Old Professor’s temper is really too much.”

Team Leader Song glanced at him. ”The state protects talent. No matter how bad his temper, it’s not our place to criticize. You should think about how to draw the blood.”

Mentioning this made Team Leader Wu sigh. Besides Yan Jiayu, there were two more people now—three of them stood like gatekeepers outside Xu Huo’s ward, ready to lash out at any disagreement. With Xu Huo there, they couldn’t take forceful action.

”Although I don’t want those two doses to be used on Xu Huo, Old Wu, you’re far too soft. A few players can just manipulate you,” Team Leader Song sneered. ”You need to show some authority within the Special Defense Department.”Wu’s face lengthened. ”Do you know how many players are gathered outside the hospital?”

If Xu Huo had been an unremarkable ordinary person, taking Yan Jiayu and the others down would be no problem. But the trouble was Xu Huo had previously stirred up issues standing up for Evolvers; that rumor hadn’t died down, and internet memory isn’t that forgetful. If something happened at the hospital—whether intentional or accidental—those players could turn it into a major uproar.

This isn’t the old days when a small group of troublemakers threatened state or public safety and everyone would rally behind the government to suppress them. Now the number of players is growing, and they’re watching the state’s stance closely because it affects their interests and their lives. Not to mention the numerous players inside the Special Defense Department itself—during the previous incident with outside players invading, how many Vanguard Players died? People bled and perished. Don’t they want fair treatment?

”Conflicts solve nothing,” Team Leader Wu said, looking at Song. ”When you go out and move about, you bring players with you. Don’t you feel a chill down your spine saying these words?”

Song’s expression shifted slightly, but he still insisted, ”They are challenging state authority. This behavior cannot be tolerated. If we let one person cause trouble today, tomorrow two will complain, the next day three will make demands. Won’t the state descend into chaos? We rely on players now, but we can’t let them run amok or think they are above ordinary people.”

Wu looked weary. ”Things are different now.”

If they failed to handle matters properly during the early surge in player numbers, these tensions would only intensify. When force could no longer threaten players’ lives, the situation could become completely unmanageable.

So right now, the priority isn’t forcing players to obey laws or moral codes; it’s making them trust the state and join in. Only by strengthening the Vanguard Players’ ranks can order be maintained long-term.

”I’ll go check on the others.” Team Leader Wu rose and left the meeting room.

Of the Special Defense Department members who entered the Fog Zone together, only sixteen returned; the rest had vanished with the fog. Whether they were trapped inside the Fog Zone or used train tickets to enter other dungeons was unknown.

Among those who came back alive, four remained unconscious. The medical team tried various methods but couldn’t awaken them. Their situation differed from Xu Huo’s: their EEGs looked normal and their state more closely resembled sleep.

”The chances of these people waking up are slim,” Professor Lan told several doctors nearby. ”Unless someone can bring them out quickly like the others, they will eventually weaken and die.”

An expert at the scene added, ”Before they wither to death, they’ll be transported to the station in less than a month… How is Xu Huo doing?”

”Professor Tang is performing psychological intervention,” one doctor replied.

Team Leader Wu was momentarily stunned. ”You can perform psychological counseling on someone who’s comatose?”

”Judging by the activity of his brainwaves, it’s not impossible,” Professor Lan said. ”We see him as in a deep sleep, but he may be rescuing himself. Let’s go take a look.”

Xu Huo had been moved to a fully sealed ward. Tang Guangbo sat by the bedside and spoke to him. The instruments showed Xu Huo reacted to external speech, though it wasn’t obvious amid his overly active EEG readings.

”Has his condition improved?” Professor Lan asked.

Tang Guangbo turned and, smiling, said, ”I don’t think there’s any need to worry. He can respond to my words, which indicates his consciousness is present. As for why he can’t fully wake, it might be that his physical condition can’t keep up with the evolution.”

Professor Lan looked toward the attending doctor, who immediately reported, ”Ten minutes ago we injected purified evolution agent, but it had no effect.”

Lan frowned. ”That’s abnormal. Based on his evolution timeline, such a large dose of agent should burden the body and produce some reaction. There shouldn’t be no response at all… His situation is different from other Evolvers.”

When he finished speaking, the breathing patterns of the doctors present changed at once.

Yan Jiayu strode quickly to the bedside, kicked Tang Guangbo’s chair aside, sweeping the retreating crowd back, and solemnly said, ”I’ve said many times, you cannot draw his blood.”

Others in the ward were helpless, but Professor Lan said, ”Since his consciousness is present, try medication first. Bring the agents over.”

Team Leader Song, who had just entered, hadn’t yet voiced opposition when he suddenly saw the patient’s hand flinch out from under the covers. ”Awake?”

Everyone turned and saw Xu Huo lift his hand and strike his own abdomen. Just as others thought he was about to regain consciousness, Yan Jiayu lunged, hoisted him up, kicked away from the bed, and ran for the door. The instant she leaped away, the adjacent wall was blown through, and a large truck crashed violently inside!