Players, Please Board the Train

This move shocked Vivi and the player with the broken hand and injured leg. Seeing the person who had jumped off the train and sunk into the icy lake, Vivi quickly said, ”Wait, I don’t intend to fight you...”

But Xu Huo clearly did not separate them from the player who jumped off the train. He raised his foot and walked towards them. The faces of Vivi and the other player changed, and in the next second, they vanished from the train.

”Arriving at the station so quickly,” Xu Huo said with an unreadable expression, then turned to look at Dr. Deng.

Dr. Deng met his gaze, his body language revealing tension and fear. ”Are you going to kill me?”

Xu Huo didn’t answer his question, merely stared at him.

In just a few seconds, beads of sweat appeared on Dr. Deng’s forehead. Only then did Xu Huo speak. ”I gave you a train ticket because I thought you had value to me. But now, I don’t think you’re worth it.”

The Crimson Sword appeared in his hand. He added, ”You can use your own items now.”

”Wait!” Dr. Deng hurriedly retreated, leaning against the locomotive. ”Don’t you want to know about Dr. Wu’s past? I can tell you everything.”

”You’re full of lies,” Xu Huo said, one hand resting on the sword as if testing its sharpness. The moment he looked up at Dr. Deng, his eyes held scrutiny and assessment. ”Verifying your words won’t be easy.”

”You can find a lie-detecting item,” Dr. Deng said quickly. ”I couldn’t possibly fool advanced instruments and items.””I can fool items,” Xu Huo said flatly.

Dr. Deng shot him a swift glance. ”You can do that, I can’t. If you don’t believe me, you can test me immediately after we arrive at the station. Once in District 011, I won’t be able to leave. You’ll know for sure if you try.”

Xu Huo placed the sword on his shoulder and gently moved it forward, seemingly considering his proposal.

Dr. Deng tilted his head, his gaze shifting between the sword’s edge and Xu Huo’s face. He spoke again, ”If you’re not at ease, once we reach District 011, I can immediately go to the Government Hall or a pharmaceutical company to find a job. That way, my player status can be suspended, and I truly cannot leave District 011.”

”Wait until the time is ripe, then catch another ride to somewhere else?” Xu Huo’s killing intent remained unchanged. ”You prepared tools to kill the Kong Siblings in the Deep Blue Laboratory. Have you also prepared tools to deal with me now?”

”Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the means,” Dr. Deng paused, seeming to make a decision. ”I can tell you the truth. Actually, I resigned from the company under the Stellar Group to pursue the perfect evolution agent.”

”In the laboratories of Stellar Pharmaceuticals, I’ve seen too many people used as test subjects. Some were players who had just started showing side effects, some were just ordinary people—the elderly, children, even pregnant women. For the needs of the experiment, the laboratory staff could violate employee rules to accelerate their degradation, or induce labor in pregnant women to verify if the child in her womb would also be affected by the side effects. They would soak children in nutrient tanks, observing the entire process from an infant’s degradation to death...”

”No need to play the emotional card,” Xu Huo interrupted him. ”Did you resign voluntarily because your conscience wasn’t completely dead?”

”I was fired,” Dr. Deng said after a two-second silence. ”For lack of contribution.”

”You want to find Dr. Wu and the perfect potion to end the suffering of Evolvers?” Xu Huo said. ”Then you should know another thing.”

”The perfect potion is only effective if used before the P1 potion,” Dr. Deng clearly knew more about the perfect potion than he had let on. ”But this world doesn’t only have those who have been taking evolution potions for years. There are also children just born, and many more worlds that haven’t yet entered the game. Wouldn’t this be a good deed that benefits future generations?”

”A very noble goal,” Xu Huo said noncommittally.

Dr. Deng observed his expression. After a while, he said, ”I want to end the game’s control over humanity.”

Only then did Xu Huo put away his sword. ”After we arrive, find your own place to settle. Note down my communicator channel. Contact me if needed.”

Dr. Deng let out a heavy sigh of relief. ”It seems you also deeply resent the game.”

Xu Huo gave a mocking laugh. ”Knowing you’ll eventually end up the same as a Mutant sooner or later, do you think any player would like this game?”

Dr. Deng fell silent.

The two of them arrived at the District 011 station in silence. After the train stopped, Xu Huo, now changed into a set of clean clothes, stepped off the train directly. Without giving Dr. Deng another glance, he left the station.

There were quite a few players loitering near the station. Therefore, the first thing Dr. Deng did after getting off was to walk onto a busy street. From the advertisements plastered everywhere, he picked one and went to apply for a job.

Xu Huo took an unmanned taxi to the ancient city district first. Only after removing his disguise item and restoring his original appearance did he return to the Rose Castle.

But he truly hadn’t expected that after not seeing it for over ten days, the once rather majestic ancient castle had become dilapidated and tattered. It was in worse condition than right after the dungeon ended. The front garden and the rear botanical garden were almost completely flattened. The garden maze had also vanished without a trace. It looked more like an abandoned building on the verge of collapse.

”Sir, you’ve returned,” Mr. Dong greeted him at the door, taking his umbrella and coat. ”Hot tea will be ready shortly.”

”Make mine cold,” Xu Huo said, giving a brief glance to the living room and dining room where most of the furniture had vanished. He asked one more question, ”The repair costs aren’t coming out of my pocket, right?”

”Mr. He Pu left some savings,” Mr. Dong said.

That was good.

Xu Huo looked up and saw Madame Butterfly coming down the stairs. She seemed to have just woken up, yawning as she said, ”Get me a glass of milk.”

Mr. Dong soon returned. Xu Huo got his wish and drank a glass of iced tea, but Madame Butterfly frowned and said, ”How many times have I said it? I want milk that’s been boiled.”

Mr. Dong, who usually had little expression, now looked even more unfriendly. He stood behind Xu Huo. ”Everything is based on the master’s preference.”

The firepower successfully transferred. Madame Butterfly looked at Xu Huo.

Xu Huo had no intention of getting involved in their private matters. He asked, ”Why haven’t you left yet? Didn’t you manage to seize the arms shipment?”

Madame Butterfly was very displeased. ”What? Looking for a fight as soon as you get back?”

Xu Huo glanced at her. ”I wouldn’t dare. I’m afraid you’ll tear down the castle in a fit of rage, and then I won’t even have a place to stay.”

Madame Butterfly’s expression turned even worse. She put down her cup and went back upstairs.

After washing up, Xu Huo went to the study. Some documents were arranged on the desk, among them an old-fashioned letter sealed with wax. Upon opening it, he found it was an invitation from a noble club in District 011, inviting him to a gathering five days later.

”This invitation was given by Duke Tal. If the master can establish good relations with the nobility at the gathering, the matter of inheriting the baronetcy will proceed more smoothly,” Mr. Dong explained.

”Can’t it be resolved simply by spending money?” Xu Huo asked.

”If the master wishes to deal with the Government Hall, it’s better to go through this procedure,” Mr. Dong only said.