Chapter 86: Dark Star
The person on the other end of the phone claimed to be Huishenshi. Su Xiao had never heard Huishenshi's voice before, but that wasn't important.
"Huishenshi, want to talk?"
As Su Xiao spoke, he hooked his finger at Bubu Wang. Bubu Wang immediately trotted over; with his hearing, he had already caught the content of the call.
Su Xiao dipped his index finger in his teacup and used the tea to write a few words on the table: 'Scavenger, Alternate Space Scroll.'
Bubu Wang understood implicitly. Fighting in the real world required an Alternate Space Scroll. The principle was to carve out an alternate space overlapping with a certain area, fighting inside it to avoid the penalties of an Eighth Rank Contractor battling in the real world. As long as no large-scale destruction occurred, fighting in the real world was permissible.
To get an Alternate Space Scroll in the real world, the fastest way was to find the Scavengers. As for having Baha open one, all active abilities were sealed in the real world, including storage spaces.
Bubu Wang started sending messages to the Scavengers, while Baha took out a map, estimating the distance to that insane asylum and the fastest time needed to get there.
"What's there to talk about?"
Huishenshi chuckled on the phone.
"Are you coming to see me, or am I going to find you? Let's set a time. How about tomorrow?"
As Su Xiao spoke, he picked up the note Baha had written. The distance was calculated; at full speed, it would take about half an hour.
"Bai Ye, do you think I would meet you in the real world?"
"Maybe."
"That's absolutely impossible. As long as I have a shred of sanity left, I won't meet a Technique Type in the real world. Bai Ye, don't bother waiting. By the time the Scavengers deliver the Alternate Space Scroll to you, I'll already be gone. See you."
The call was hung up. Su Xiao put down his phone. The reason Huishenshi said this wasn't because he was monitoring Su Xiao; it was most likely a guess. With that guy's intelligence, figuring that out wasn't hard.
The business of selling potions in the real world had no hope in the near future. Even if Mad Doctor, Director, and Mr. J weren't dead, they wouldn't be active in the real world for a while.
This matter was temporarily postponed. Su Xiao was more curious about why Huishenshi had returned to the real world.
Su Xiao thought it over but still couldn't figure it out. He had been hostile with Huishenshi for a while now, but he had never even seen the guy.
From First Rank to Eighth Rank, Su Xiao had encountered three Violators who left the deepest impression on him: Huishenshi, Shenfu, and the last one. He had never met this last person, not even knowing their gender.
That was the fastest runner Su Xiao had ever seen among Violators. The moment he took a step, that guy had already shot out of the tracking permission's detection range. With a whoosh, they dragged the red dot on the holographic map into a red line, and then never appeared again.
This left a deep impression on Su Xiao. That Violator was truly too fast to catch; he hadn't even entertained the thought of chasing them.
Just as Su Xiao was pondering, the door to the accessory shop was pushed open. A woman in a black suit walked in quickly. Her code name was Peacock, a team leader of the Scavenger organization.
"Mr. Su, are you going to fight other Contractors? This..."
Peacock looked troubled but still placed a wooden box about twenty centimeters long on the coffee table.
"It's no longer needed."
Su Xiao had originally just been testing the waters, or rather, he wanted to bring in the Scavengers to find Huishenshi in the real world through them.
"That's best. I hope any grudges can be resolved within the 'World,' Mr. Su."
"Peacock, let me ask you something."
"What is it?"
"How can an 'Anomaly' return to the present world?"
Hearing Su Xiao's words, Peacock's body instinctively tensed. She thought for a moment, then said:
"Low-rank 'Anomalies' can return to the present world, but mid- to high-rank ones are almost impossible. If such a situation really occurs, it's beyond my knowledge. Mr. Su, are you preparing to fight an 'Anomaly' this time?"
Peacock asked tentatively. She hadn't interacted much with Su Xiao and only knew that he rarely left the accessory shop.
"An 'Anomaly' named Huishenshi has returned to the present world. His previous location was at..."
Before Su Xiao could finish, he noticed Peacock's expression change drastically. Her pupils visibly contracted, and although she tried hard to suppress her facial expression, a trace of fear was still visible.
"Oh? Looks like you know that guy."
Baha landed on the arm of the single sofa.
"Sort of... I know him. Are you fighting against him?"
Peacock calmed her emotions. A long time ago, she had witnessed a scene that was like a nightmare, and the one who caused it all was Huishenshi.
"Fighting? Not really fighting. We want to find him and kill him. But that guy retreats the moment he sees us, so there's nothing we can do."
Baha sounded a bit helpless. Back when Huishenshi was in the Canglong Continent, they couldn't find him. After fighting their way to the Duoyin Royal Capital, Huishenshi had already pulled out.
Come to think of it, anyone with a shred of reason wouldn't have opposed Su Xiao at that time. To fight Su Xiao then, one first had to break through the defense line of hundreds of thousands of Wolf Cavalry plus the Demon Flame Dragon Barbatos before they could even see him.
"Understood. I'll notify the higher-ups. If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
Peacock turned to leave. She needed to get out of here immediately. Huishenshi was dangerous enough, but now it seemed that within her jurisdiction, there was an even more dangerous one. The 'surprise' came too suddenly; Peacock needed to go back and calm down.
"Wait."
Baha spoke. Peacock's body stiffened, and she stopped in her tracks.
"Is there something else?"
Peacock tilted her head slightly.
"You forgot something."
Baha pointed at the wooden box on the coffee table with his talon. Peacock suddenly realized, picked up the box, and hurriedly left.
"Boss, did I say something wrong? Why does that woman seem so jumpy?"
...
Su Xiao didn't say anything. Not being able to cooperate with Mad Doctor and the others to sell potions in the real world was a significant loss. Cooperating with others would bring too many problems, like someone reneging on payment or trying to pry into the business. Mad Doctor and his team would just go and kill them, without even notifying Su Xiao's side.
A peaceful real-life routine began. The Scavengers didn't send any news about Huishenshi, meaning they hadn't found his trail.
In the backyard of the small building, the faint smell of grilled meat still lingered in the air. Amu, who was cleaning up the grill, looked a bit unsatisfied, having only eaten to about eighty percent fullness.
Su Xiao finished the last can of cold beer. His condition was now at its peak.
[Tip: A new world is about to open. The Hunter must return to Reincarnation Paradise, ensuring no witnesses are nearby.]
A teleportation sensation appeared. When Su Xiao's vision cleared, he was back in his Exclusive Room.
[The Hunter is about to enter a new world. Entry time: 12 minutes and 36 seconds.]
[The world the Hunter will enter this time is a designated world: Dark Star.]
[World Entry Objective: Acquire a large amount of Space-Time Power!]
[12 natural days ago, the Dark Star world experienced a high-intensity Space-Time Power shockwave phenomenon. After detection, this was identified as a super-large world collapse, forming a Space-Time Power condensate. This condensate is extremely massive and has fallen onto the land of Dark Star at faster-than-light speed.]
[This 'Space-Time Power condensate' is estimated to be convertible into 27,650 ounces of Space-Time Power, and its ownership is ambiguous (the collapsed super-large world was notarized by the World Tree).]
[The fall location, Dark Star, due to damage to its World Core during the struggle process, has resulted in Dark Star being under dual notarization from Apocalypse Paradise and Holy Light Paradise.]
[Dark Star's current ownership: Apocalypse Paradise (53.25%), Holy Light Paradise (46.75%). Contractors from both Apocalypse Paradise and Holy Light Paradise can enter this world.]
[Space-Time Power condensate ownership: Void Tree.]
[Dark Star world ownership: Apocalypse Paradise, Holy Light Paradise.]
[This phenomenon has led to judgment confusion.]
[According to initial regulations, the Void Tree, as the notarizing party, does not participate in the struggle for the 'Space-Time Power condensate.' Due to multiple factors, this struggle cannot be smoothly notarized, and a 'Resource struggle War' between Apocalypse Paradise and Holy Light Paradise cannot proceed. This incident has been classified as a rare resource struggle.]
[In the fall zone of Dark Star, Contractors from both sides have already engaged in resource struggle.]
[Struggle Result: Holy Light Paradise wins.]
[During the resource struggle, our side's Worker No. 10***05 successfully infiltrated the Dark Star world and set up a Concealment Mark on the exterior of the 'Space-Time Power condensate' (permission granted by Reincarnation Paradise).]
[Concealment Mark Status: Stable, not detected.]
[Intel 1: Due to the ambiguous ownership of the 'Space-Time Power condensate,' after the struggle is completed, this item cannot be immediately taken out of Dark Star. It needs to be notarized within the Dark Star world, with an estimated notarization time of 5 to 7 natural days.]
[Intel 2: After notarization is completed, this 'Space-Time Power condensate' will be fully owned by Holy Light Paradise. Through Concealment Mark sensing, after notarization, this 'Space-Time Power condensate' will be converted into 27,650 ounces of Space-Time Power, to be used within Dark Star for a rare resource transaction with Apocalypse Paradise.]
[Intel 3: All Contractors from Apocalypse Paradise and Holy Light Paradise who participated in this round of resource struggle have already left the Dark Star world.]
[Intel 4: It is estimated that within 5 to 12 natural days, Holy Light Paradise and Apocalypse Paradise will conduct a Space-Time Power transaction in the Dark Star world. Due to the dual ownership of Dark Star and its current partial notarization by the Void Tree, the ownership of the Dark Star world has become even more chaotic.]
[Intel 5: Due to the excessively chaotic ownership of the Dark Star world, during the Space-Time Power transaction, Apocalypse Paradise and Holy Light Paradise will teleport Contractor teams into the Dark Star world, using their Paradise Imprints to carry Space-Time Power and rare resources, thereby completing this round of transaction.]
[Tip: The Hunter must interfere with this transaction, seizing rare resources or Space-Time Power.]
[Time to enter the Dark Star world: 6 minutes and 17 seconds.]
[This world entry characteristics: World Invasion, Resource struggle, Space-Time Power struggle.]
[Tip: Imprint disguise...]
[Tip: Dark Star world language acquisition...]
[Tip: Upon arriving in the Dark Star world, the Hunter can obtain rewards such as chests and World Source within this world, and can even activate main quests (due to Imprint disguise, quest penalties will be constant according to Apocalypse Paradise standards, to avoid detection by Apocalypse Paradise and Holy Light Paradise).]
[Tip: Due to the Hunter's arrival at Dark Star this time being a World Invasion, Resource struggle, and Space-Time Power struggle, the Hunter's obtained World Source is increased by 45%, chest rewards increased by 45%, and quest rewards increased by 70%.]
[Tip: Killing permissions have been fully lifted!]