Players, Please Board the Train

“Deng Monkey?” The three clearly knew the man. Yan accepted the cigarette pack but had no intention of letting it go that easily. Two of them flanked Xu Huo and, wrapping him up, tried to drag him into a narrow alley where the surveillance cameras had difficulty recording. “If he’s a friend, don’t be so formal.”

Xu Huo went along obediently with them.

Half a minute later, three small-time thugs were on the ground wailing while holding their feet. Xu Huo adjusted his collar, re-hooked the umbrella over his arm, and walked out.

“Are you looking for Deng Xuan?” At the alley entrance a middle-aged man wearing a cap leaned against the wall smoking. He tilted his chin toward them, “Come with me.”

Xu Huo fell back a few steps to follow. The man led him through several alleys and stopped before a graffiti-covered metal door, motioning for him to wait as he went inside.

This area looked older, its infrastructure far less developed than the Main City District, but whatever high-tech options could be used, had been used. There were surveillance cameras, and some spots even brazenly had mounted guns and weapons.

Footsteps soon approached from inside the door. Deng Xuan was surprised to see him and, after sizing him up, said: “Brother, you got out of the dungeon so fast? You must have struck it rich this trip. Come on in, come on in.”

He stepped aside as he spoke, inviting him in.

Xu Huo walked over, peered through the half-open door for a moment, then stopped outside, “I won’t come in. Didn’t you say last time you could get potions? I want to buy some.”

“No problem.” Deng Xuan didn’t insist when he saw that. He shut the door a bit and came outside, “What potions do you want?”“Evolution agents, healing potion, and preferably other potions that can quickly boost physical ability.” Xu Huo paused, then added, “Can you get advanced versions?”

The game currently issued the basic versions; there were also A versions, T versions, and others, all more expensive than the basic edition.

“That’s easy,” Deng Xuan answered readily, then said, “We have P1 and P2 evolution agents, and our price is two-thirds of official channels.”

Xu Huo’s brows twitched, “Diluted?”

“Of course not.” Deng Xuan smiled, “We only sell, we don’t produce. You know how it is.”

They either came from special channels or were stolen goods, which explained the low price.

They set the transaction for five days later. Xu Huo was about to leave when he noticed the street they had just walked through had changed.

The middle-aged man who had guided him out reappeared and led the way back. Although they retraced the same route, every spot they passed looked different; when Xu Huo glanced back, the streetscape and exits were nearly unrecognizable compared to before.

“What’s there to stare at, never seen items before?” The middle-aged man glanced at him and snapped.

Xu Huo said nothing and left the area, taking a car.

Only after the hovering car fully pulled out of that sector did the middle-aged man finish his cigarette and return. He went into the alley they had come from, felt along a wall, and then knocked. The wall suddenly dissolved and revealed a passage. On both sides of the passage the buildings and public facilities flickered between virtual and real, looking as if a transparent layer of projection had been cast over a real street, or perhaps the street never existed at all and a fake city had been constructed with holograms.

The man pushed open the graffiti metal door. Inside was a small covered courtyard. Deng Xuan stood to one side, and a large table occupied the center. Seated at the table was a bald man whose face was painted with black patterns. Opposite him sat a hunched old man wearing a mask. Behind each of them stood three or four people whose faces showed irritation; the atmosphere was far from cordial.

“Did you get rid of the guy?” the bald man asked the middle-aged man.

“He’s gone.” The man replied confidently.

“Are you sure he didn’t see what’s inside the courtyard just now?” the masked old man asked in a suddenly altered tone.

“This courtyard uses special items. If you don’t go in, you definitely can’t see inside.” The bald man spoke with some sarcasm, “Old Zhao, rather than worrying about that, you should worry about yourself. Your people were cleared out and exposed. Be careful the Enforcement Department doesn’t trace it back to you.”

“The cleanup has been handled. No one will be able to link anything to me. This transaction has weight behind it; you might not be able to handle it.” Old Zhao, unfazed, replied calmly.

“Whether we can handle it is our business.” The bald man raised his hand and an underling immediately placed a chip on the table. “Everything you asked for is on here, the time and place for the trade.”

Old Zhao examined the chip, then laughed. He placed a thin paper slip on the table and stood to take his leave.

After watching them disappear, the bald man nodded to Deng Xuan. Deng Xuan lowered a heavy shutter on the wall. Four blue beams scanned from the four directions of the courtyard inward. Once the rays converged in the center, Deng Xuan said, “Brother Jing, it’s all set.”

The bald man skimmed the paper again and clicked his tongue. “Zhao’s money is too easy to get. Give a few vague locations that are far apart—do they expect people to post guards at every place?”

He said it, but he didn’t pursue the matter further. Instead, he slipped the paper into his pocket and asked Deng Xuan, “Who was that person who just came?”

“A player who only arrived in District 011 a few days ago,” Deng Xuan answered. “He bought items from me. I told him to come here if he needed anything.”

“Don’t invite people next time.” The bald man said. “It’s unsafe.”

“He’s only a D-level player. Should be fine, right?” Deng Xuan hesitated. “He looks like a rookie who doesn’t know the market. I made a lot selling items to him.”

“Should we get rid of him?” the middle-aged man asked.

“No need. Old Zhao will take care of it.” The bald man slapped the pocket holding the paper. “Enough. We have serious business to handle.”

The bald man’s guess proved accurate. After Old Zhao left the courtyard, he had people follow Xu Huo.

Xu Huo was still riding around the city in the car, so they quickly caught up. The follower was cautious and kept some distance. If not for the glowing number “7” above his head, Xu Huo might not have noticed him at all.

A little thought made it clear the tail was related to that mysterious courtyard.

That courtyard had used items: from the outside it looked pitch black inside. Only the two-foot area by the entrance was lit enough to see. Although there was no clear view, Xu Huo felt there were at least ten people inside. With that many people, they weren’t going to coincidentally be having a meal at that exact moment.

So he hadn’t gone in.

Someone following him now was probably a later clean-up. Either they wanted to confirm whether his appearance had ulterior motives, or they intended to eliminate a potential problem.

“To the Stellar Corporation Hotel.” After hesitating two seconds, he took an automated taxi.

The follower tailed him all the way to the outside of the Stellar Corporation Hotel. When Xu Huo went in, the follower didn’t leave; he loitered nearby. Xu Huo watched him for a while through the room telescope and decided to give him a chance.