Chapter 1478: No Need for Extra Words
The undiluted antidote made from King Fungus mycelium was exceptionally effective, pulling both people back from the brink of death in just ten seconds.
At that moment, Xin Rong erupted in fury, kicking over the table and leading the players out to settle accounts with the auction house.
One member of the Enforcement Team also went along.
Watching the bluish-black veins on the Short-Haired Female Player and the Baby Face gradually fade, Xu Huo sat back down, closed his eyes, and suppressed the surge of anger. When the Enforcement Team personnel returned, he opened his eyes calmly and asked, "It wasn't the auction house people?"
"Indeed, it wasn't," the Enforcement Team player explained. "Someone infiltrated the backstage and poisoned all the food and drink sent to this room. They acted after all the food had passed the third round of inspection, so the instruments didn't detect it."
"Not targeting Xin Rong?" Xu Huo asked again.
"The Xin family has already gone to investigate." The Enforcement Team player maintained his professional integrity, making no guesses about the matter and simply reporting it to the Enforcement Team.
"I'm afraid I've implicated you." Xu Huo turned and smiled at the two players. "Go settle with the auction house first, then take your things and leave."
The Short-Haired Female Player, who had regained her mobility, wanted to say something but was stopped by the Baby Face beside her. They quietly thanked him and hurried away.
Before long, Xin Rong returned, his anger still not dissipated. He cursed, "What the hell are those people doing, letting someone sneak in and poison the food? I'll spread the word—this auction house is definitely going to shut down!"
"It's not going to be sorted out anytime soon. This place isn't safe, so let's go to my place first," he said to Xu Huo.
Xu Huo had the same intention, but he didn't plan to go to the Xin family residence. Instead, he intended to return to the hotel, and he had a ready-made excuse.
"It might not be the person following you," Xin Rong said. "There are plenty of rivals and enemies in this business. Sometimes you don't even know how you've gotten in someone's way."
In reality, pulling such underhanded tricks at the Platinum Eye had a very low success rate. The city had sensing systems everywhere, and even well-used items would be exposed, not to mention the hired players scattered throughout.
"The poisoner might have infiltrated the auction house long ago."
This meant it was likely not aimed at Xu Huo, given he hadn't been at the Platinum Eye for long.
"We can rule it out," Xu Huo said. "If nothing happens when I return to the hotel, then it has nothing to do with me. If something does happen, the truth will come to light."
Xin Rong, well aware of the principle that "you can't guard against thieves every day," quickly adjusted his plan. "I'll arrange for a few people to stay at the hotel. If it really is targeting you, you won't be alone. Don't be polite with me."
"But that said, if it's aimed at you, you need to think carefully about how to handle the aftermath. No deep-seated grudge, not even someone you know—such a calculated assassination might have someone behind it. Kill one, and there could be a second or third."
"Since you're staying at the Platinum Eye anyway, why not ask Miss Kou Kou for help? If she steps in, this should be easy to resolve."
Bai Kou wouldn't help with this.
Xu Huo didn't say much. Under the escort of two Enforcement Team members, he left the auction house and returned to the hotel.
In addition to Xin Rong's promised covert assistance, the Enforcement Team added four more members—having the Enforcement Team provide protection meant that if the other party dared to strike again, they were also showing disregard for the Enforcement Team.
In fact, the other party was bolder than they imagined. After changing his appearance, he moved into the room across from Xu Huo, since the rooms on either side were occupied by Enforcement Team members.
Prepared this time, the other party's perception ability seemed enhanced. Even through two walls, his eyes followed Xu Huo's movements.
Xu Huo paced around the room a few times, then pretended to be tired and lay down to rest, with three robots standing guard in the room.
In the early hours of the morning, Xu Huo got up and went to the bathroom. The robots couldn't follow him inside. Just as he stood in front of the sink, he vanished into thin air. But in less than a second, an identical person reappeared in the same spot, facing the mirror, slowly extending his hand under the flowing water, mimicking Xu Huo's appearance.
Zeng Lou planned to strike and kill him in one blow when he was transferred to his own room. Since Xu Huo had Enforcement Team players on both sides, they would quickly notice if he disappeared. The time from discovery to finding him next door would be very short, leaving no room for the back-and-forth combat like outside the Xin family villa.
However, having fought before, he understood Xu Huo's strength and thought this mission wasn't difficult. The hard part was shaking off the Enforcement Team players. The Platinum Eye had developed some methods to prevent players from escaping, but it came down to speed.
Zeng Lou's goal was to finish the job and leave the Platinum Eye before the Enforcement Team discovered and restrained him.
Estimating where Xu Huo would appear in his room, he released an item to create several intersecting laser beams near that spot, ensuring that anyone entering would be pierced through... But the moment Xu Huo appeared in his field of vision, Zeng Lou felt his perspective rapidly dropping, followed by a sharp pain from his lower body. Looking down, he saw his legs severed at the thighs, and he had fallen to the ground!
The Xu Huo hit by the lasers was unharmed. He didn't even bother to destroy the item, maintaining his original posture as he stood in place, looking down at the half-height man. "Who sent you to kill me?"
Sudden massive blood loss robbed Zeng Lou of any chance to escape. In his current state, even reaching the station would mean certain death. At the same time, he lost the opportunity to use a space teleportation item to flee the hotel, because as soon as he realized he had been tricked, he immediately tried to activate a space item, but it didn't work.
"I underestimated you..." Before he could finish, his left ear flew off. Xu Huo's tone was calm, but his eyes were icy. "No need for extra words. Just say who sent you."
Zeng Lou let out a sneer, but in the next second, he paid for his provocation—his right ear, along with a layer of skin from his cheek, was sliced off.
Knowing he probably wouldn't leave the hotel alive today, he became even more reckless. "It's someone you can't afford to offend! Unless you leave the Platinum Eye, you'll be living in fear day and night!"
The Tangent easily passed through his throat. As his head rolled to the ground, the Enforcement Team members forcibly broke down the door. Seeing a scene completely different from what they expected, they all stopped in their tracks, standing at the entrance without entering.
After examining Zeng Lou's belongings, Xu Huo handed some items from the luggage compartment to the Enforcement Team members. "I don't know if these can be used to trace his identity or faction affiliation. According to him, he has deep connections and considerable influence at the Platinum Eye."
(Chapter End)