Players, Please Board the Train

Whether or not someone was stirring up trouble, the video of Special Defense Department members using anesthesia and capture nets to drag away players had been pushed to the top of every major online platform, even eclipsing the news about the residential building explosion. Public opinion was highly unfavorable toward the Special Defense Department, and the key issue was that not all those captured by the department were Player-Eaters.

This terrified those who had already become players, or those about to become players, or those hoping to become players, all afraid of becoming targets for suppression.

However, the Special Defense Department had people specifically responsible for this area. After the arrests were completed, they quickly released a brief summary of the mission’s purpose and process, stating that those captured were all plotting crimes, and that two of the explosions were even committed by them, providing corresponding evidence.

Following that, the sudden incidents around the Special Defense Department headquarters were gradually broadcast live by drones. There was too much leaked information; netizens’ comments couldn’t keep up, and there was even a brief period of silence.

But this silence didn’t last long, because in the drone footage, a team of rescuers along with the wounded they were helping were killed by a group of players who rushed in. These Player-Eaters even taunted the drones, biting a dying rescuer to death right in front of the camera!

Hatred toward Player-Eaters on the internet surged to unprecedented levels. For many people, player battles had only been seen in restrained online videos or heard about from others’ accounts. Facing such bloody and brutal slaughter scenes directly, no one could hold back.

”Kill them all!”

These four words flooded every online platform. Many nearby players spontaneously formed teams to go help.

In response, the Special Defense Department issued a new relocation order, further clearing the area around headquarters.

The winter night was cold, but even residents twenty kilometers in a straight line from the Special Defense Department headquarters were evacuated overnight, taking refuge further away.The local armed police, who had long prepared for such a situation, worked with the transportation department to clear roads, ensuring everyone could evacuate in an orderly fashion, while also blocking players who wanted to go to headquarters—whether they planned to help or cause trouble, all were intercepted.

”We’re not going in!” one player shouted to others after being stopped. ”Going in now would just make things worse. What if someone with bad intentions sneaks in?”

Facing guns and cannons surrounding them from every angle, even the most hot-tempered players didn’t dare to fight head-on. It wasn’t that they couldn’t break through this level of armed defense, but the cost to get through would definitely be high, and it simply wasn’t necessary.

However, a few players relied on their characteristics or items to silently infiltrate the blockade, but that was no longer the armed police’s problem.

Xu Huo, along with the Spring Rain Association, Brother Liang, and the others, were on the edge of the blockade. From their position, they could just see the checkpoint not far away.

”Good thing we got in early, or it would have been a real hassle.” Brother Liang was now disguised as Xu Huo. He, along with Zheng Liang, Guan Zuhong, and more than a third of the others, had changed their appearances to either Xu Huo’s real face or the fake face he used when appearing at the club.

Their task was to buy Xu Huo time and to lead the scattered players toward his location.

”You’ll be divided into six groups,” Xu Huo repeated to everyone. ”Group One’s delay time is three minutes. If the three minutes are up and I haven’t sent a signal, you’ll regroup with Group Two. Group Two’s time is six minutes. When six minutes are up, I will definitely send a signal, and you’ll bring everyone over then.”

”If Group One and Two’s delay plan fails and you can’t attract enough players, quickly regroup with Group Three. Group Three’s estimated time is nine minutes. Assuming the first two groups fail, at least half of the members will regroup with you. This number can attract more players. Your mission is complete once you bring everyone to where I send the signal.”

”The delay times for the last three groups are ten minutes each. The longer the time, the more dangerous it gets. Just do your best. I don’t need you to sacrifice your lives. If you face absolute danger, prioritize entering a dungeon.”

”Currently, most players in Zone 014 are E-grade. There won’t be too many D-grades, and even if there are, they won’t gather in large numbers. Ordinary player organizations don’t have that kind of pull for now. If foreign forces are interfering, their primary targets would be the Special Defense Department and the large player organizations gathering around headquarters.”

”Characteristics and items all have activation conditions. This condition is either distance or senses—whether it’s hearing, seeing, or smelling, or some undetectable high-frequency signal. Maintaining a certain distance is key to survival. You all have trackers on you. If one person stays in the same spot for more than five seconds, it means they’ve been controlled or are in danger. Others must immediately rescue them, buying them a chance to escape into a dungeon.”

”I still think five seconds is too short,” Brother Liang said. ”Depending on the situation, we might need to hide.”

”You guys coordinate among yourselves. This five-second mark is just a simple danger prediction. Once you enter the combat zone, communication might not be so easy. But I think five seconds is the most appropriate time. With so many players in the combat zone, staying hidden in one place for too long doubles the danger,” Xu Huo said.

”Additionally, be aware of Random Dungeons. Although there aren’t that many dungeons around the Special Defense Department headquarters, we can’t rule out the possibility of someone moving a dungeon entrance here. Once you’re inside a dungeon, you’re on your own.”

”Don’t worry,” Gu Yu said. ”Since we joined in, we’ve all prepared mentally. Our parents and loved ones live on this land. The fewer Player-Eaters, the better!”

”Besides, you’ve given us quite a bit of supplies.”

Before coming, aside from White Bills and evolution agents, Xu Huo had also made each of them use an antidote in advance. And he had stated that he would replenish their evolution agents afterward.

Evolution agents were what every player wanted most, second only to train tickets. Of course, they had volunteered originally, and weren’t just after supplies, but Xu Huo was so generous, they really couldn’t bear to refuse. Although they weren’t clear on how he planned to deal with those players, for now, they just had to follow the plan and complete the mission.

Xu Huo looked around at everyone and said seriously, ”Everyone, once this is settled, we’ll meet up again.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he jumped down from the window.

He was fast, while the others had to take the elevator. Gu Yu and Brother Liang nodded to each other and left the building separately.

Xu Huo didn’t go by ground. For one thing, there were too many players, and for another, he might step into a Random Dungeon. So he chose a not-so-tall building area, passing over the rooftops toward the spot he had pre-selected.

With Wen Xuelin’s help, he had changed to a new face. Even if players noticed him, they didn’t pay attention. As he passed, he did notice some people taking the opportunity to loot and vent their anger, but the Special Defense Department was also quick, and someone came to take over almost immediately.