Players, Please Board the Train

The entire Flower City suddenly plunged into darkness. Although the Special Defense Department immediately tried to restore power, the power bureau was helpless, their equipment interfered with and unable to restart. Only a single backup line still worked, but that was a line added after the last player incident and could only supply lighting for public facilities.

Only then did Team Leader Wu and the others realize something was wrong outside. The sky should have already been bright at this hour, and the unnaturally long night plus the sudden failure of instruments meant Flower City had once again been drawn into the game’s power, and the effect had spread across the whole city.

At the same time, Special Defense Department members positioned around the city were reporting: at the very moment the power went out, a large number of people in the city had vanished into thin air — ordinary civilians, special personnel, and players alike. All the exits of Flower City were sealed by the darkness. Cars, helicopters, and drones could not get out, nor could anyone contact the outside world.

“I’m damned unlucky to the nth degree!” Team Leader Liao raged, breathless. “Did that Fog Zone from yesterday come back?”

Wu suddenly lost most of his command over the Special Defense Department. Agitated, he stormed out, “Quick, find Professor Lan!”

“Wait, you shouldn’t wander off right now!” Team Leader Song called after him while he dialed Dai Wenqian, but the call went through with no answer.

In that gap, several people had already left the conference room. The corridor was pitch black; all the Special Defense Department staff who had been walking outside had vanished. The huge hospital was utterly silent.

Song shouted into the interior twice, but there was no reply.

“The calls aren’t going through either.” Liao said, holding his phone.

There were faint lights outside, but none of them reached inside the hospital. Team Leader Wu turned on his phone flashlight and quickened his pace toward the warehouse.Song and Liao, along with several Special Defense personnel, followed. When they reached the warehouse it was completely empty. Not just people — even the carts that had been there earlier were gone.

“Did they leave after the power cut?” Team Leader Song asked.

Wu’s observation remained sharp. “Absolutely not. This warehouse is the same as when Xu Huo was brought in. The beds and some medical equipment are missing.”

“You mean they disappeared into thin air too?” Liao’s eyes went desperate.

“Calm down, calm down,” Wu soothed himself and the others. “Right now this could be similar to that Fog Zone before — the game space overlapping with Zone 014. People disappearing doesn’t mean they’re dead. Like before, they could have been taken into the game space. Whether it’s an instance or not, players vanishing with them is a good thing. They still have a chance to come back.”

“What we need to do now is secure the hospital and search for survivors.”

“Director!” Sima Xiao Er’s voice came from around the corner. He arrived with several other hospitalized players. “What happened? So many people disappeared when the power went out. I only found these few people in nearby wards.”

“Situation’s unclear for now. First secure the hospital, other matters later,” Wu said.

Team Leader Song was trying to reach people who could be contacted, ordering Special Defense personnel to return to the hospital vicinity.

“I’m worried other players will take advantage to come in and grab people. Even though Xu Huo is missing…” Liao said.

“Make two decoy targets to draw them out. Anyone who dares to break into the hospital now shouldn’t be shown mercy.” Song decided instantly.

Communications weren’t completely severed, so the Special Defense Department’s response was still relatively swift, but the moment they pulled back from the evacuated crowds, players would notice.

Some of the players who had retreated to the agreed circular zone also vanished into thin air. The remaining players instantly realized something must be wrong at the hospital.

In the chat group formed by the core members, a player mentioned seeing someone break away from the evacuation crowd and run toward the hospital right after the power cut.

“The Special Defense Department and those Iron Triangle people are both heading back to defend the hospital. If they clash, the hospital will be the most dangerous place.” In a building within the circular zone, a man in a hooded sweatshirt and black mask observed the hospital area through a white monocular. “No one’s coming out. Xu Huo is still inside.”

“He ignored us every time we tried to find the Iron Triangle. He’s clearly planning to go after Xu Huo.” Behind him a woman in a similar hoodie and mask said, “Those few guys were chased like dogs by the Special Defense Department half a month ago, yet today they brought more than ten players. Their intentions aren’t pure. Xu Huo can’t fall into their hands!”

Another similarly dressed man approached; scars showed where his mask didn’t cover. “What’s next? Do we go rescue him? If we go, our agreement with Special Defense breaks.”

“Forget the Special Defense Department. Our goal is Xu Huo.” The black-hooded man put away his gear and told the man reaching out, “Remember, at all times prioritize Xu Huo’s life.”

After speaking, he leapt out the window first. More than twenty players followed, jumping from the building and heading straight for the hospital.

Not far away, in a hidden building, Dai Wenqian watched the scene and said, “Like dumplings dropping — this rabble has some ability after all.”

He tossed his buzzing phone aside and turned to Zheng Ke and seven others. “You follow and help. Also figure out a way to create an opportunity for the Iron Triangle people.”

“But the forces behind the Iron Triangle are unclear. Letting them take Xu Huo might not be good.” Zheng Ke said.

“They’re not here to capture — they’re here to kill.” Dai Wenqian said. “Do as I say. Whether we can gather that hoodie group depends on this.”

Zheng Ke nodded, pulled his mask on, and was about to leave when his gaze suddenly fixed on somewhere outside the window. He exclaimed, “Xu Huo!”

Dai Wenqian turned, but only saw a figure flash past the trees — it did look like Xu Huo.

“Wang Ya, you four follow the plan. Zheng Ke and the others come with me.”

Two groups exited the building, one heading for the hospital, the other in pursuit of Xu Huo. Silence returned. Zhou Ning and the other three then walked out of the stairwell.

“Isn’t Dai Wenqian supposed to have joined the Special Defense Department? Why is he here?” Shen Xin asked.

“I read their lips,” Liu Jia said. “He wants to create an opportunity for the people who want to kill Xu Huo. Seems like he’s trying to pit the Special Defense Department against the players and play both sides.”

Shen Xin, after hearing this, said, “I stayed in Capital City for a while earlier. Dai Wenqian is good at buying people over. When he shifted from a player organization to the Special Defense Department, he took a lot with him. I guess he’s using the same tricks again.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go help.” Hu Wenhu said. “Yuan Yao said Brother Xu is unconscious right now. Are we just going to let those bastards cut him up?”

Zhou Ning, who had been silent, fixed her gaze on the shadowed corner and suddenly shouted, “Who’s there? Show yourself!”

The other three immediately took combat stances and stared at the figure emerging from the shadow. Liu Jia recognized him first and gasped, “Xu Huo!”

Hu Wenhu quickly lit his phone screen. Sure enough, it was Xu Huo.

Xu Huo scanned the group. “Why are you all gathered here?”

“I’m friends with Liu Jia. Yuan Yao asked people to help, that’s how I found out you know each other.” Shen Xin explained. “I earlier said I’d go to join Gu Yu, but it didn’t feel right so I backed out.”

Xu Huo nodded. Shen Xin was a player he had met in Decibel Town; when he and Gu Yu met in Capital City earlier, Gu Yu mentioned that Shen Xin had left the player organization.

“Weren’t you supposed to be in the hospital?” Zhou Ning asked, puzzled.