Players, Please Board the Train

Xu Huo left some food for the two children and departed the lower city district. The welfare system in District 011 was fairly comprehensive; welfare homes could provide orphans with basic living security. To showcase the benevolence of the upper class, they also offered targeted sponsorship.

So-called targeted sponsorship meant a sponsor would provide for all of an orphan’s living needs without taking on an adoption relationship, covering everything from living expenses to schooling. If the child was later tested and found suitable to become a player, they would even receive potion support. Typically, such a child would grow up to work for their sponsor.

If the sponsored child proved to be of mediocre aptitude, they would subsequently be abandoned.

No welfare home was a pure land, but for orphans in the lower city district, this was still the best place to go.

When Xu Huo returned to Rose Castle, Madame Butterfly had also just returned.

Madame Butterfly’s channels were different from his and made it easier to obtain information.

”This incident, in simple terms, is an internal power struggle within the Municipal Hall,” she said. ”A leak appeared under a certain high-ranking official in the Municipal Hall, which implicated an entire faction. Correspondingly, the White Epaulets were also affected. Aside from the original players moving the pieces, the only ones who benefited from this affair are the Black Epaulets.”

”In ten days, there will be a relatively large-scale personnel reshuffle within the Enforcement Department. At the very last moment, the Black Epaulets blocked the White Epaulets’ promotion channels.”

Xu Huo wasn’t surprised. Where there are power struggles, there are people looking to hitch a ride. Logically speaking, the group of leakers led by Zheng An from the Rongxin Group should have connected with Zhao He from the Municipal Hall. Zhao He contacting outsiders might not necessarily have been for his own personal windfall; he could have been acting on orders to split the spoils later.

Of course, he didn’t succeed. And before the supplies were finalized and delivered, the Rongxin Group had already dealt with Zheng An and the others. Wouldn’t that have alerted Zhao He and his associates?The Rongxin Group received a tip-off early, but they only cleaned up their own internal personnel. That was normal; they didn’t need to go after the buyers at all. There had always been people eyeing the weapons. Therefore, they didn’t wait for the whole affair of receiving the supplies at the sea station.

Or perhaps they were confident it wouldn’t alert the enemy. People working in the Municipal Hall wouldn’t necessarily be that obtuse. At the very least, someone within Zhao He’s team intercepted this news.

The Black Epaulets wouldn’t take benefits for nothing; they must have played a key role inside.

The subsequent encirclement and cleanup operation was merely putting their achievements on public display.

”Most of the players who first infiltrated the ship and the flying car team were from the lower city district. The transport plane that came later belonged to a Free Players organization from another city. They originally intended to seize an opportunity for easy gain, but ended up losing both their men and their advantage, with one-third of them killed by the Black Epaulets.” Madame Butterfly twirled her small fan. ”The Black Epaulets have made a huge splash this time. For the next half month, victory banquets will surely be everywhere.”

Pretending not to understand the hint in those purple eyes, Xu Huo asked, ”Did any other high-level players show themselves?”

”Maybe one or two. But anyone who survives to become a high-level player isn’t a fool. The Black Epaulets and the Municipal Hall’s weapons and personnel movements couldn’t possibly leave no trace at all.” Madame Butterfly said. ”Only outsiders who are fools would run over there.”

Xu Huo glanced at her. ”Are you insulting me, or insulting yourself?”

Madame Butterfly gave a light, mocking laugh, her eyes flashing. ”Aren’t you really going to go look for your old flame?”

Xu Huo smiled. ”Even if you find me displeasing, there’s no need to set such a trap for me, is there?”

He had been in District 011 for quite some time now, yet his evolution rate hadn’t increased. Was it because he didn’t have the money to buy evolution agents?

Observant people would inevitably start thinking more deeply.

He Pu researched potions due to illness. Could he not have known about the perfect evolution agent? If he knew, then the woman before him might know, and might have discerned the reason his evolution rate hadn’t been improving.

Madame Butterfly covered her mouth with a light, tinkling laugh. ”Oh my, I nearly forgot to remind you. If your evolution rate remains stagnant for too long, it might arouse suspicion.”

”Thanks for the reminder.” Xu Huo prepared to go upstairs to rest.

”By the way, what’s your relationship with those two children?” Madame Butterfly spoke up behind him.

”No relationship.”

”So it was pure kindness?” Madame Butterfly sounded as if she were mocking him. ”Never mind. The internal power struggles of District 011 don’t have much to do with us anyway.”

Xu Huo’s smile faded slightly. He didn’t say anything more.

Over the next few days, the two of them were each busy with their own affairs, generally leaving early and returning late, and then engaging in mental sparring sessions upon returning.

When Madame Butterfly was in a good mood, Xu Huo had it a bit easier. If she was in a bad mood, he would have to endure a vicious beating inside.

Not a literal beating, but mental damage. Twice, after leaving her Mental World, Xu Huo had a nosebleed.

Therefore, five days later, Madame Butterfly said to him, ”I can’t take you into the Mental World again for a while. Come back after you’ve rested properly.”

”Do you have any other items that can pull people into a Mental World?” Xu Huo asked. ”I’m preparing to enter the next dungeon.”

”No.” Madame Butterfly warned him. ”Don’t think about flying before you can walk steadily. You might be able to cause confusion for players of the same level, but when it comes to a real fight, it still depends on real blades and solid guns. If you encounter a high-level player, your advantage could turn into a disadvantage. You don’t think only people who have undergone mental evolution understand that there are materialized items in the Mental World that symbolize one’s mental state, do you?”

”Just preserving an advantage and being prepared for all eventualities.” Xu Huo had made considerable progress these days. At the very least, his Mental World had evolved once more.

Madame Butterfly hesitated slightly, then gave him a hollow, openwork bronze ball resembling a scented incense burner.

”This is an item I used when I first began my mental evolution: the Constraining Star Sphere. It can create an environment that causes mental confusion within a three-meter radius, but it only lasts for five minutes.” She said. ”Whether you can make your Mental World useful depends on you.”

”Thank you. I’ll return it to you when I come back.” Xu Huo accepted it. It was a C-grade item.

”No need.” Madame Butterfly waved her hand. ”It’s useless for me to keep it anyway... Have you bought your train ticket for District 011?”

Xu Huo smiled. ”Don’t worry. I will come back.”

Madame Butterfly glared at him. ”What? You think I’m concerned about you?”

”Not at all. I’m just reminding you that you can’t take Rose Castle until I’m dead.” Xu Huo said.

Madame Butterfly turned around, paused as if she still wanted to say something, then looked back, only to find the spot where Xu Huo had been standing was now empty. She shook her fan, took off the hairpin on her head, and a beam of warm light descended from above her, like a faint flame, burning away the attire on her body that had previously emphasized her femininity.

The gorgeous, intricate red gown transformed into efficient black clothes and pants. Her golden, slightly wavy shoulder-length hair became waist-length black hair. Her facial appearance also differed greatly from before. Apart from those purple eyes, there was no trace of the previous coquettish charm; instead, she appeared cool and aloof.

Sweeping her black long hair back, she said to Mr. Dong, ”It was you who hid Uncle Fan Xiao’s body, wasn’t it? Take me to him.”

”I am not clear on Master He Pu’s whereabouts.” Mr. Dong said. ”Miss Bai Kou.”