Chapter 1335: The Truth of Coming and Going
Xu Huo did not object to the slicked-back-haired player joining them, and even invited his companions along. "Since our goal is the same, the more people we have, the safer it will be."
The man standing opposite him reached up and smoothed his own glossy hair. "My brothers all have families and people to take care of. They won't be taking this risk."
The other players present did not speak, clearly having already discussed it, though their expressions showed slight concern after the slicked-back man finished speaking.
The only one still opposing was the white-haired elder. He worried about Dr. Duo Er's safety, had no trust whatsoever in outer zone players, and even raised the price again, asking all of the slicked-back man's companions to go along and protect Dr. Duo Er.
But no one paid him any attention. Only Dr. Duo Er turned back to comfort him a few words, saying that after arriving at the secondary city, he would definitely contact him first.
In the end, all parties reached a cooperation agreement. The slicked-back player Dai Song disguised Dr. Duo Er's appearance, then placed a special item on him to disguise him as a player—this was the most convenient method.
Having several players escort an ordinary person would make the target too obvious. It was best if everyone appeared to be players, since not everyone entering the Stairway to Heaven was there for Dr. Duo Er.
Of course, there was also a backup plan: Xu Huo and Dai Song would disguise themselves as ordinary people in different ways.
This was not easy. Just as it was difficult for an ordinary person to pretend to be a player, it was equally hard for a player to pass as an ordinary person. Not to mention the items worn on their persons, but even their breathing rhythm, different from ordinary people, and the enhanced physical strength from super evolution made them distinguishable.
Dr. Duo Er relied on the item to become a "player," but the disguised effect could be exposed. If discovered, the backup plan could buy some time—mainly to guard against assassination attempts.
With truth and falsehood mixed together, even if someone noticed that Dr. Duo Er was wearing an item, they wouldn't immediately target him.
"Since that's the case, why not let me go with you?" the white-haired elder said. "You could directly disguise me as Dr. Duo Er."
Dr. Duo Er was the first to object. Xu Huo said, "That's not helping. If we take you, we'll have to split our attention to protect you. If you think you can be sacrificed, think about the consequences of your fellow players easily giving up on you to protect someone else."
It was so obvious. Others weren't fools. He wouldn't serve to delay or cover anything; he would just waste a life.
With it said so clearly, no further persuasion was needed. The white-haired elder solemnly bowed to Xu Huo and Dai Song. "I entrust Dr. Duo Er to you two."
"I will do my best to protect the doctor," Dai Song said.
The three left the underground room. The disguised Dr. Duo Er now looked burly and strong, unlike his original thinner frame. Xu Huo walked behind him, reminding him to adjust his gait, then said, "The car is at your eleven o'clock. Walk up and greet them normally."
Dr. Duo Er did as instructed and got into the passenger seat. Xu Huo and Dai Song took the back seats.
"Drive," Dr. Duo Er said familiarly to Qiu Ming.
Qiu Ming instinctively wanted to turn back and look at Xu Huo, but after being kicked by Cao Qinglin behind him, he silently started the engine.
They left the city without incident.
"Is this necessary?" Dai Song said after seeing Xu Huo relax. "No one is following us."
That was precisely the strange part. As soon as Xu Huo left the underground room, he noticed at least six players within five hundred meters watching them, but all the way out of the city, no one followed... He didn't know who those people were, but he didn't think their disguise could fool everyone. Even the group that had forcibly entered the lab knew to leave a surveillance item behind to scoop up secondhand information. These people gave up too easily, and right where Dr. Duo Er had been hiding.
But he didn't need to explain this to Dai Song. He only said, "Safety first."
"Mr. Xu is right. It's best to be cautious." Cao Qinglin's gaze wandered between Dr. Duo Er and Dai Song, then settled on the former. "This is Dr. Duo Er, right?"
Both of them turned to look at her. "How did you figure it out?"
"Your posture and demeanor," Qiu Ming also said. "People who frequently do instances have a different look in their eyes, and they wouldn't be this scared."
Dr. Duo Er was suddenly troubled. "It seems my disguise isn't good enough. Can it fool other players?"
"It shouldn't be a big problem," Xu Huo said. "Don't we have a backup plan? Even if someone sees through it, we can buy some time to figure out if they're friend or foe."
It was hard for non-professionals to make a flawless disguise. Having a general appearance was enough.
"Close-up, prolonged observation makes it easy to see through, but just passing by or brushing shoulders isn't that easy," he added. "Doctor, you can pretend to rest and try to avoid eye contact with outsiders. If you do make contact, just treat them like patients in the lab."
"That's a good idea." Dr. Duo Er breathed a sigh of relief, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes to rest.
Not long after, the car began to bump.
Qiu Ming looked at the overly lush vegetation ahead and frowned. "I'm afraid we won't be able to drive much longer. We'll have to walk."
This was still close to the first city of the Twin Cities, not yet entering the Stairway to Heaven.
"This is the original precise route map of the Stairway to Heaven," Dai Song handed the map to the front. "Although it's the old tourist route and a bit roundabout, it's also a shortcut through the Stairway to Heaven. With fewer stops, under normal circumstances, we can get through in two or three days."
"Now that the roads are covered with mutant plants, it's still the easiest path compared to other places. Avoiding the areas completely overrun by mutant plants, I estimate we can make it in five days."
The original travel itinerary for the Stairway to Heaven was five days.
Mentioning this, Dai Song sighed. "Back then, there were trains introduced from other districts."
Unfortunately, after the district was invaded by outsiders, all of that was gone.
"Aren't you a resident brought in from an outer district by the later district government?" Cao Qinglin asked. "Weren't the original inhabitants of District 023 almost completely slaughtered?"
Dai Song was genuinely surprised. "The original inhabitants of District 023 were almost completely slaughtered? Who told you that?"
"About twenty years ago, didn't District 023 experience a large-scale evolution event?" Cao Qinglin specified. "Many ordinary people evolved, but a large number died."
"You must have come from the desert area," Dai Song quickly understood. "Twenty years ago, there was indeed a large-scale evolution event, and quite a few people died. Nearly half of District 023 turned into desert due to sudden climate change, but still, more than half of the people in District 023 survived."
Cao Qinglin couldn't help but look at Xu Huo: So those people, Mr. Chi and the others, were lying? And what about those numbers?