Players, Please Board the Train

”I think the best plan is to split up,” Wu Xiaonan analyzed. ”Apart from the Kong Siblings, there are five other players. Two of them are injured. We have six people here, so neither numbers nor experience are equal. In a brawl we’d be at a disadvantage.”

”Even though they said only two of them are B-rank players, the others might not be weak. Even multiple versus one doesn’t guarantee the upper hand, isn’t one-on-one too risky?” Miao Yu asked.

”Putting traits aside, they definitely have items higher than our levels. Nobody can deny that.” Wu Xiaonan glanced around the group, then continued after no one spoke. ”A single suitable item can control the whole field. Gathering and then dispersing is also a way to reduce risk.”

”Of course, I’m not saying everyone should scatter completely,” she added, ”but we should increase the fighting distance a bit. The east half of this building is actually suitable. The corridors form many intersecting squares—hidden yet open. While tying down the Kong Siblings, we can cover each other.”

”That’s also a way to deal with Kong Hui,” Miao Yu said. ”She can control objects to attack, whether that comes from a trait or an item. Narrow spaces with lots of cover favor us.”

”Kong Cheng is the same,” Gan Qing said. ”Maybe behind walls or other obstacles his ’Random Grab’ effect will be reduced.”

Areas with more cover would indeed favor them, but B-rank players outclassed them not only in items and traits, but even physically. One-on-one was always high-risk; relying on a slight terrain advantage alone didn’t give them a real chance.

The dungeon wasn’t ending yet, and it was clearly impossible to hide from the Kong Siblings for days. Xu Huo listened to their discussion and quickly adjusted his plan in his mind.

”I think that’s too risky,” Chu Yuan couldn’t help but say. ”Even if they take the bait, doesn’t a one-on-one still leave one player? Who wants to be unlucky enough to face two people at once?”

”Someone will definitely stay behind to protect Dr. Deng,” Gan Qing said. ”Maybe Dr. Deng won’t even come forward. With luck, one of the Kong Siblings might stick close to him.””Why don’t we go after Dr. Deng?” Wan Yunrong suggested. ”He’s just a civilian; controlling him shouldn’t be hard. We could use him to bargain with the Kong Siblings.”

Gan Qing agreed with that. The others thought it sounded easier than risking a direct fight with players, and some wavered.

Xu Huo said nothing. Even if they used Dr. Deng as leverage, it should only be after the first plan had been executed. Otherwise the situation would become the Kong Siblings and their allies surrounding Dr. Deng and waiting for an attack. In that case, even doubling their numbers would be handing themselves over.

Bang! A sudden noise came from the corridor. Everyone instinctively held their breath, and they then saw Ge Pan hobbling out.

Out of caution, the players remained silent. Ge Pan didn’t seem to notice them. He didn’t rush over; instead he found a hidden spot and sat down to dress his wounds.

Soon two more players ran over— the Black-Shirted Player Xu Huo had seen before, and the Player in Gelatinous Coat.

They were careful not to kick up dust, so they only checked the perimeter of this floor briefly.

”Most likely he ran upstairs,” the Black-Shirted Player said. ”These plants are all quiet.”

The Player in Gelatinous Coat nodded. ”He killed one of ours; he can’t just get away with it... Where could he run? The lab is small. Let’s go up and block him.”

”No rush. Wait for Kong Cheng and the others to come down,” the Black-Shirted Player said. ”They can’t escape anyway. Protecting Dr. Deng is the priority.”

They talked, then returned through the corridor to the west side of the lab.

After a while, Ge Pan emerged from behind the corpse pile. He had been heading for the elevator, but stopped at the doorway and called out toward a direction: ”Gan Qing?”

Gan Qing stood up. ”How did you find me?”

Ge Pan looked relieved. ”I was just checking. When I fought the players near Dr. Deng I overheard fragments. You made quite a commotion just now.”

”You killed one of them?” Gan Qing asked.

”One isolated player,” Ge Pan paused, then added, ”the one with the vacuum device.”

Gan Qing showed a slight smile. ”That’s good news for us.”

”Did you encounter anyone else?” Ge Pan asked.

Xu Huo stepped forward. ”We’re all here.”

Ge Pan looked delighted. ”I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find you.”

”Same here,” Xu Huo said. ”We all came together; it’s better to stay together.”

Chu Yuan knew Ge Pan was in league with Mao Wei. He had expected Xu Huo wouldn’t expose himself, yet Xu Huo actually wanted to bring Ge Pan over.

”You really killed the one with the vacuum device?” Chu Yuan pressed.

Ge Pan pulled out the vacuum device in front of them.

Everyone present had seen the vacuum device. Seeing it, Miao Yu said, ”Looks like you only suffered minor injuries. You could still be useful.”

”What are you planning to do?” Ge Pan asked.

Wan Yunrong repeated her suggestion and added, ”I figure they’ll come looking for us soon. What do you think of this plan?”

”Too dangerous,” Ge Pan said bluntly. ”I was lucky to be able to kill one player. The other players will probably be stronger. Dr. Deng might even be carrying a Special Item. In short, trying to seize Dr. Deng under player protection... forgive my frankness, but one-on-one is more reliable.”

”We have more people now, and the Kong Siblings will have to split off to protect Dr. Deng. That’s a rare opportunity.”

Originally Dr. Deng had eight players around him. Two were dead, two had their arms severed by Xu Huo, so of the current six, two had reduced effectiveness. If a method of dispersing enemy fire worked and one of their own could break free, they could go after Dr. Deng later.

”That’s an option,” Xu Huo said. ”Let’s pick a place first.”

The group took the elevator, heading to the second floor.

Xu Huo and Chu Yuan went in first, then Miao Yu and Ge Pan, followed by Wu Xiaonan, Wan Yunrong, and Gan Qing—seven people in three rows.

When the elevator reached the second floor and the doors opened, Wu Xiaonan suddenly turned to Xu Huo. ”Oh, right. I forgot to give you something.”

Xu Huo reached out his hand. Ge Pan, standing in front of him, reflexively moved aside, but then saw that Xu Huo’s hand suddenly shifted and slapped toward him.

Ge Pan tried to dodge, but Miao Yu, standing next to him, blocked him. In the split-second of that clash and block, Xu Huo’s palm struck the middle of his back.

Unprepared, Ge Pan froze in place. Wu Xiaonan’s hand flipped and a knife stabbed into his abdomen!