Chapter 1563: Limiting the Number of High-Level Player Instances
Both sides expressed goodwill, and the Special Defense Department players temporarily canceled the alarm, stepping forward to inquire about Xu Huo's identity.
Xu Huo presented his credentials and said, "I need to go to Lian City. Does the Special Defense Department have any convenient means of transportation?"
Ting City was just a small town; it couldn't possibly be privy to the important information of the Special Defense Department. They had only heard fragmented bits about the infectious disease and didn't know the inside story, so they were unaware that the Special Defense Department was waiting for Xu Huo's return.
However, they did know Xu Huo's name. After all, some past rumors had become less mysterious as a large number of players began to level up.
"So you're Mr. Xu!" Among the three was a fan of Xu Huo, who was so excited he was practically dancing. "I've always considered you my idol. It's because of you that I transferred to Ting City. I never thought I'd actually run into you! Can we shake hands?"
Xu Huo didn't refuse, looking at the man who was clearly older than him. "Just call me by my name."
"I've been following your exploits," the man suddenly lowered his voice and said, "I know everything about your dealings with the Special Defense Department. In Zone 014, you're absolutely a top-tier player. Not just because of your strength, but because no one at your level can surpass you!"
"I also hope that one day I can protect my compatriots like you do!"
"You're too kind. The Special Defense Department are the ones who truly protect the country," Xu Huo said.
The man was enthusiastic and familiar, immediately offering to treat him to breakfast, completely ignoring the constant eye signals from his two companions.
In the end, the group sat down together in a breakfast shop.
"My name is Li Kui. These two are in my group, Zheng Ting and Yuan Hao," Li Kui gave a brief self-introduction before starting to ask Xu Huo what he had done since leaving Zone 014 last time, and whether his return this time was for something special—because every time he came back before, he had almost always stirred up trouble, and he acted quickly and decisively, leaving as soon as he was done, which inevitably made people think he was coming specifically for something.
Based on past experience, Li Kui suppressed his excitement and said, "Is something big about to happen in Zone 014 again? That's why you're back, right?"
Before Xu Huo could speak, the man answered his own question: "It must be! Let me guess, let me guess. Is it because of the special mine discovered abroad?"
"Or is it because of the mutation in the primeval forest?"
"Or maybe it's the joint announcement by the countries in Zone 014 to limit the number of monthly instances!"
Evolution had begun in Zone 014, and environmental changes were normal, but limiting the number of instances?
"I heard it has something to do with the game," Li Kui said. "All the countries that could participate agreed. Starting a month ago, players above C-rank in the Special Defense Department can no longer apply for instance raids."
To help players level up as quickly as possible, the instance raid guides purchased by the Special Defense Department were provided free to internal personnel. Every player could apply, and when necessary, props and potion support was also provided. This was also the reason the Special Defense Department had been able to produce B-rank players so quickly, even if those B-rank players weren't very experienced.
No longer supporting C-rank and above players in farming instances was actually meant to control the number of high-level players.
However, those who could receive government support were ultimately a minority, and compared to the total number of players in Zone 014, it wasn't a large figure.
"This is important, right?" Li Kui probed.
"For ordinary players, there's no loss," Xu Huo said.
The higher the level, the less a player's strength was simply reflected in their equipment. Combat experience and the necessary qualities for clearing instances were the most important. Otherwise, even if they entered an instance, they would most likely just be delivering equipment to other players.
For ordinary players, knowing this was enough.
Li Kui was also tactful and didn't dwell on the issue. Instead, he grabbed some breakfast and urged Xu Huo to eat something hot.
Before they could even take a bite, a convoy arrived outside. The lead car screeched to a halt in front of the breakfast shop. Team Leader Wu and Sima Xiao'er hurriedly got out. When they saw Li Kui and the others, they naturally turned their attention to the stranger beside them.
"Brother Xu?" Sima Xiao'er spoke first.
"It's been a while." Xu Huo had a stranger's face, but his voice hadn't changed.
Team Leader Wu quickly walked over and warmly shook his hand. "It's really been a long time, haha!"
"I'm so glad you're back. Everyone's been looking forward to it!"
As he spoke, he pulled and invited Xu Huo into the car, heading directly to the already-repaired safe zone.
Li Kui and the others silently followed behind, squeezing into the same car, still carrying their breakfast. They grinned and said, "Let Brother Xu have a couple of bites first."
Team Leader Wu couldn't very well kick them out, and it wasn't really the time for hospitality. He had come to pick up Xu Huo to take him to Lian City.
So he had to tell the driver to go while apologetically asking Xu Huo to make do for now.
Xu Huo accepted Li Kui's kindness and didn't discuss anything important on the way.
Once they arrived at the safe zone, the group split up. Team Leader Wu invited him into the office and briefly summarized the current situation.
In a nutshell, the detoxifying fungus liquid was effective, but two more cities had seen infected individuals.
"You didn't catch the person?" The Special Defense Department had previously confirmed it was man-made transmission.
"We caught two, but that doesn't solve the root problem," Team Leader Wu said. The ones caught were just ordinary people who didn't even know they had become carriers of the mutant fungus.
"Tracing the people they've been in contact with also yielded nothing." Their identities weren't suspicious, they weren't lying, and it was difficult to find any issues with the people they'd met. They were most likely randomly selected.
Before Zone 014 could establish a mature and effective monitoring system for players, such situations were impossible to prevent. So the only option was to start with the antidote.
"The Special Defense Department shouldn't be completely helpless. Come up with some practical solutions. The detoxifying fungus can't be supplied in unlimited quantities." Xu Huo looked at Team Leader Wu.
Team Leader Wu knew that asking Xu Huo to save all the patients was asking too much, but the reality was that they couldn't think of a better solution. They had even bought and tried specialized antibacterial drugs, but that stuff grew too fast and was parasitic inside the human body; it couldn't be completely eradicated.
"Let's take a look first." Xu Huo didn't make any promises but proposed going to Lian City first.
Lian City was the first city where infected individuals appeared and also had the highest number of infections.
"The teleportation device is ready." Team Leader Wu led him over and said, "The device can only teleport one person at a time. I'll come over later. Jiang Qiao will be responsible for receiving you in Lian City."
Xu Huo nodded. Before leaving, he asked about Nie Xuan's situation.
Team Leader Wu's expression couldn't hold up. He sighed dejectedly. "We can only hope for his own luck."
"Has he been in Jing City recently? Have you seen him?" Xu Huo asked again.
(Chapter End)