Chapter 1129: Selling a Favor
"What is he doing!" Team Leader Wu in the control room immediately exploded, snatching Sun Tong's earpiece and shouting at Sima Xiao'er and the others, "Get him out!"
Sima Xiao'er and the others didn't need to be told; the moment Dai Wenqian shook them off, they followed right after him. However, when they rushed through the door, the situation they had anticipated didn't occur—they had originally thought Dai Wenqian was trying to take advantage of Xu Huo's weakened state, but he stopped just two or three meters from the entrance and stood there, perfectly still, with no intention of making a move.
Sima Xiao'er and the others kept their guard up against him, afraid he might suddenly launch a sneak attack. But only Dai Wenqian himself knew that he wouldn't act, and he dared not. From the moment he stepped through the door, he felt as if he were trapped between blazing fire and freezing ice. The threat of death made him tremble from the depths of his soul and caused him to sweat uncontrollably. His instincts screamed at him—if he dared to take another step forward, he would die!
And all of this was because Xu Huo had glanced at him.
The prop glasses he was wearing now displayed the calculation results, presenting them warmly before his eyes:
"Based on the known combat power of the target, your probability of victory is 0.01%. For the sake of your life safety, it is recommended that you abandon any illusions and run away directly."
Dai Wenqian took a deep breath, put on a smile, and greeted Xu Huo, "Mr. Xu, we meet again. Team Leader Wu sent me to ask if you need anything."
Xu Huo's chest and the floor around his feet were splattered with black liquid, mixed with fungal threads that had partially dried, though new ones were quickly covering them again, forming a layer as thick as a palm. As Dai Wenqian spoke, Xu Huo spat out another mouthful.
Several handkerchiefs had already been discarded on the ground. Xu Huo took out a new one and wiped his mouth, his movements and complexion appearing equally weak.
Dai Wenqian couldn't believe that even facing Xu Huo in this state, his odds were still only 0.01%. He wondered what kind of fortuitous encounters Xu Huo had experienced over the past three months.
Xu Huo ignored the man whose eyes and face were practically churning with the word "jealousy." He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. "You and I have no relationship. The only reason you're still alive and standing here talking to me is that I'm selling Team Leader Wu a favor. If I killed someone from the Special Defense Department on his turf, he'd have a hard time explaining it..."
He opened his eyes and looked at Dai Wenqian. "You can leave now. Don't appear before me again."
A casually spoken sentence, yet it carried immense pressure. Not only Dai Wenqian but also Sima Xiao'er and the others felt it, their scalps tingling as they slowly backed toward the door.
Dai Wenqian didn't even dare to turn around. His eyes fixed on Xu Huo, he retreated step by step, exiting the door the same way he had entered and closing it behind him.
When they came out, Team Leader Wu had already arrived. He pointed angrily at Dai Wenqian. "This is Ting City, not your territory. Disobeying a superior's orders and forcing your way into a restricted area—what do you think you're doing?!"
Team Leader Chang tried to smooth things over for Dai Wenqian, quickly speaking up in his defense. However, Team Leader Wu wasn't buying it this time. He said, "Old Chang, we're friends, and I won't comment much on your methods. But we all know what Dai Wenqian has been up to behind the scenes. Using his authority to forcibly take other people's items isn't a one-time thing. Right now, the Special Defense Department needs manpower, but you still need to keep him in check!"
Anyone with eyes could see what Dai Wenqian was plotting. With people like him around, how could players like Xu Huo ever be willing to work for the Special Defense Department?
Team Leader Chang understood this well, but he still sighed. "Old Wu, water that's too clear has no fish."
Even in the current era of universal players, such things were not uncommon internally, and worse had happened. This was something absolutely unavoidable under any system. Dai Wenqian was actually quite restrained.
Team Leader Wu snorted coldly. "I don't care what he does elsewhere, but he can't stick his hand into my territory!"
"The safe zone won't be open to visitors today. I'll have someone take you to a hotel."
Team Leader Chang took a deep look at the door to the confinement room before leaving with his people. Jiang Qiao also tactfully took her leave.
Team Leader Wu's anger hadn't subsided. He turned and scolded Sima Xiao'er and the others. "How did you do your job? You couldn't even stop one person from going in?!"
Sima Xiao'er and the others looked dejected, but there was really nothing they could do. They were still E-rank players, while Dai Wenqian had already advanced to D-rank.
Team Leader Wu was well aware of this as well. He said displeasedly, "With a crooked heart, no matter how talented, they'll eventually cause trouble."
After closing off the safe zone, he summoned twelve players from the Special Defense Department to guard the outside of the confinement room, forbidding anyone from approaching. Fearing complications, he stayed behind himself, remaining in the corridor with the players.
"Team Leader, do you think Brother Xu has already advanced to C-rank?" Sima Xiao'er quietly asked him. "Just now, it was obvious that Dai Wenqian was scared out. You didn't see his expression—he didn't even dare to turn his back on Brother Xu. His face was awful."
Team Leader Wu shot him a glare. "If you had gone to Jing City, you might have advanced to D-rank by now too."
Previously, the Special Defense Department had selected a group of people for training. The top elites would scout ahead, and after clearing instances, they would record the strategy guides. Then the selected group would use these strategy guides to farm instances. Instead of one instance per month, they would enter at least two instances a month, sometimes three, relying on sheer volume to forcibly advance to D-rank in a short period while continuously updating the strategy guides.
That was how the Special Defense Department had produced a considerable number of D-rank players, and Dai Wenqian was one of the beneficiaries.
Sima Xiao'er was originally supposed to be transferred to Jing City along with Nie Xuan. However, after being promoted to Team Leader, Nie Xuan returned to Ting City, with his authority extending beyond just Ting City. In reality, he was still Team Leader Wu's superior. Sima Xiao'er had come back with him, but he wasn't a man of great ambition. Once back, he just coasted along, living off the strategy guides for E-rank instances.
"Instances are too dangerous. I don't want to go," Sima Xiao'er waved his hand. "I'd be happy never advancing to D-rank. Haven't you seen those who constantly enter instances? They're either missing limbs or coughing up blood every day. Sometimes the strategy guides aren't even accurate, and one wrong move costs them their life. I'm fine with logistics, just helping you out, Team Leader."
Team Leader Wu saw his cheeky grin and couldn't stay angry anymore. "Forget it. Not everyone is suited for instances."
Sima Xiao'er chuckled and said he would inform Nie Xuan of this news.
Not long after, the people from Jing City arrived. Along with the necessary supplies came Professor Lan, who had witnessed Xu Huo's mental evolution in Flower City, Tang Guangbo, who was still responsible for psychological counseling for players, and a professional medical team with equipment, ready to perform surgery at any time.
"How is Xu Huo's condition?" Tang Guangbo asked politely but with concern.
(Chapter End)