Players, Please Board the Train

After compensating the store, Xu Huo’s wallet shrank by half again, but catching one player wasn’t a total loss.

However, where there’s a first, there’s a second. This player didn’t return, and subsequent ones might send people after him endlessly.

Opening his game panel, he began searching for methods to alter his appearance. Items with this effect on the bounty platform were all expensive and, like the Twisted Mask, had usage restrictions. Only the skin of an Image Snake and another type of single-use facial restoration mask could achieve a similar effect.

Xu Huo had just heard about the Image Snake from the Enforcement Department people. It was a method often used by wanted criminals to alter their appearance. The description was rather disgusting. After the Image Snake’s skin was peeled off, a kind of mucus would be distributed on the inside. Directly sticking it on the face could modify the facial features. It would solidify in two hours, and once solidified, it would completely adhere to the face, generally impossible to remove, equivalent to a brand new face.

The facial restoration mask was much simpler. Once applied, the appearance would change. Its description was ”looks like anyone but yourself.” A single use lasted twelve hours, and it would automatically fall off when the time was up, similar to a human skin mask. There were ten sheets in total. The drawback was that it couldn’t be used consecutively; there had to be at least a twelve-hour interval. Also, for twelve hours after using the facial restoration mask, the face would remain continuously red and swollen.

The Image Snake skin was ten times more expensive than the facial restoration mask, probably because there was a surplus of the masks. There was even a package deal of buying one snake skin and getting two masks for free.

Xu Huo’s financial situation no longer allowed him to make extravagant purchases, so he chose the most cost-effective buy-one-get-two deal.

But altering his appearance couldn’t guarantee absolute safety.

Taking out the frame again, Xu Huo stepped back a few paces and sat down facing it, maintaining silence.

Two abstract faces of different colors were squeezed together. Brother Tu was playing dead, while the other one was exceptionally active. Not only were its eyeballs moving, but its facial lines also slowly undulated like waves.After staring for a long time, the player inside the painting slurred, ”What strong sand and wind...”

The hallucinogen was only taking effect now. Xu Huo had thought he was immune to this type of potion. ”Is the sand and wind blowing from the front? Can you still breathe?”

”Yes...” The abstract person answered the question and then suddenly began breathing heavily with great effort. ”Can’t breathe... save me...”

”Who do you want to save you? Call his name so he can hear you.” Xu Huo guided.

”Mom... Teacher...” The abstract person called out a few vague titles.

”They’re not here. Who else? He’s standing right in front of you.” Xu Huo patiently continued to guide.

However, the player in the painting was immersed in his own hallucination and never said anything useful. The hallucinogen’s effect wouldn’t last long. After asking a few times, he changed the question, asking about the target he was supposed to kill.

As time passed, the abstract person’s speech became less slurred, but it was still clear he wasn’t completely back to normal. Under Xu Huo’s continuous questioning, he blurted out, ”Who told you to appear there at such a coincidental time...!”

But after saying that, he seemed to sober up and immediately shut his mouth.

Not being able to extract any information wasn’t unexpected. Xu Huo wasn’t disappointed either. He simply said directly, ”You went to such pains to track me down just to silence me. It seems the timing of my visit was very inconvenient. Since you value it so much, you must have something important to do.”

He took out his communicator. ”I know Ran Ying from the Enforcement Department. How about I relay this situation to her?”

The abstract person remained still.

Xu Huo’s finger hovered over the connect button for a moment before quickly moving away. ”Contacting Ran Ying is worse than contacting Shi Youzhi. I heard someone used blood mutants to sabotage a train a couple of days ago. Maybe it was done by your group.”

The abstract person sneered. ”Base personnel have no jurisdiction over matters in District 011.”

”I know the game base doesn’t interfere with partition affairs, but if I say someone is plotting to sabotage a train again, the base people definitely won’t ignore it.” Xu Huo swiped the projection screen to find Shi Youzhi.

”Any actions by base personnel that leave the base are under surveillance.” The abstract person said calmly. ”You won’t achieve your goal. Instead, you’ll attract more attention. That’s not good in a place like District 011 with so many players. How about you use a train ticket to leave District 011?”

”Best to let you out before I leave?” Xu Huo had gotten him into the painting partly due to luck. He probably hadn’t expected to be defeated by a player inferior to him in both physical ability and characteristics. Xu Huo would absolutely not let this person leave the painting while conscious.

”This only benefits you. If I don’t return, my companions will come looking.” The abstract person added.

”You’re right to remind me. I still need to use cleaning solution to wash off, in case I’ve been marked with something.” Xu Huo said deliberately.

The abstract person fell silent.

Knowing he couldn’t get anything more, Xu Huo put away the frame, used a facial restoration mask, called for a car, and left the hotel.

The facial restoration mask felt like nothing on his face. His facial features didn’t change noticeably, but looking in the mirror, they didn’t match his previous face at all. It looked very natural and ordinary.

The driver showed little reaction to his sudden change in appearance. After confirming he came out of the room, he dutifully drove the car.

After the car left the hotel, Xu Huo got off not far from the ancient city district. He wandered the streets for a few rounds, making sure no one was following him, before taking another car to Rose Castle.

In just one day, matters at Rose Castle were mostly handled. The police found very few human bones and some stolen goods before leaving the place. They had probably communicated with the Enforcement Department, so the castle’s lockdown was lifted.

Passing through the garden, Xu Huo again picked a yellow rose. He walked to the castle door and knocked.

It was still Mr. Dong who opened the door, but this time no maid came to take his coat. Only he remained in the castle.

”I’ve come to visit the master of this house.” He said.

”The master has passed away. Now this castle has no master.” Mr. Dong’s expression didn’t change as he answered using ventriloquism. ”However, you may stay here temporarily.”

He then reached out to take the flower and umbrella from him.

Xu Huo only gave him the flower. The castle had returned to the state he saw during his first visit. No traces of burning or electrocution remained in the hall.

”Has Hu Shan left too?”

”She was dismissed.” Mr. Dong answered briefly, pausing before adding, ”Should I prepare dinner? The chef has resigned. The food I make doesn’t taste very good.”

”Do you have ready ingredients? I can cook.” Xu Huo suddenly felt inspired.

Mr. Dong wasn’t particularly concerned about this. He didn’t try to dissuade him nor seemed surprised, directly taking him to the kitchen.

”All the utensils are brand new.” Mr. Dong said.

Xu Huo nodded, rolled up his sleeves, and made a simple fried rice, enough for two.

He invited Mr. Dong to eat together. Mr. Dong declined, then stood properly beside the dining table with a towel in hand.