Chapter 1569: Judging Others by Oneself
Xu Huo’s words were taken as a blatant threat. The expressions of those present shifted dramatically. Jamming devices and items took turns being deployed, but because they were also using Space items, they did not activate the Space jamming devices. Thus, Xu Huo effortlessly used Space Ray Blades to destroy the Spiritual interference devices. Then, with a clap of his hands, he activated the trait “Written Intensity,” forcing some of the people to look at him against their will.
Following that, he released his Spiritual Realm, sending those unaffected by the trait through the Spiritual Gate to the outside of the hospital. The remaining people were locked inside the Library Tower, where he used Materialized Objects to sever one arm and one leg from each before tossing them out.
These B-rank players were indeed carrying high-level items, but Xu Huo also possessed high-level items. The item clash showed no clear advantage, and none of these people were Super Evolvers. Having risen to B-rank in a short time, they lacked combat experience. Moreover, whether it was Space Power or Spiritual Power, they couldn’t effectively counter him without their instruments. Even when outnumbered, Xu Huo held his ground.
Of course, some among them had decent trait evolutions, and certain trait items were hard to guard against. But that didn’t mean they were unguardable. “Lifelike Wax Figures,” “Cat’s Triple Life Loan,” and “Life Flashback” allowed Xu Huo to steadily eliminate potential trait risks. For the rest, he could compensate with Spiritual interference. Without their instruments, a significant portion of these B-rank players couldn’t even tell whether the person they saw was real or an illusion.
The battle lasted only a few minutes. More than half of the people had their arms or calves severed by Tangents or Materialized Objects—Xu Huo held back, not killing the elites that the government had spent immense effort and resources to cultivate. Severing one arm and one leg was enough to remove them from the fight.
After dealing with these people, Xu Huo stepped outside the hospital. Holding a communicator he had taken from a player, he looked at a building not far from the hospital and said, “Aren’t you going to use those prepared energy weapons?”
At this moment, the area around him was littered with players who had been dismembered and thrown out. Unlike those disheveled elites, even though he didn’t look in great shape himself, no one dared to launch another reckless attack.
Before executing this plan, the military had prepared for mutual destruction. But they hadn’t expected Xu Huo to show mercy in this situation.
His restraint meant the military couldn’t use suppression as an excuse to escalate the conflict. Thus, the operation’s leader, Shangguan Jing, issued a halt order and came out to meet Xu Huo.
The injured players were sent for limb reattachment. The military set up a negotiation table downstairs from the hospital. Only two people sat at the square table: one was Xu Huo, still with a nosebleed, and the other was Shangguan Jing, a military representative in his forties.
Shangguan Jing was also a player.
“Mr. Xu is even stronger than we understood,” Shangguan Jing said, handing over a handkerchief.
Xu Huo’s gaze didn’t waver. He wiped away the nosebleed caused by overusing his Spiritual Power, then leaned back in his chair and said slowly, “Has the military taken over the Special Defense Department now?”
“The Special Defense Department’s internal affairs are split in two. Minister Ji and I handle different matters,” Shangguan Jing replied formally.
That was the official line, but judging by the state of Team Leader Lü and Jiang Qiao, the original Special Defense Department personnel had been pushed to the margins. Even Team Leader Lü’s daughter could be used as bait, showing that the original staff had no say at all.
The military had always taken a hardline stance. As the nation’s cornerstone, they didn’t have the same leeway as the Special Defense Department when handling certain issues. For them, orders meant precision and efficiency—no ambiguity or middle ground.
Because of this, negotiation wasn’t their first choice.
Of course, Xu Huo had clashed with the military before, and many resented his methods.
“I have to admit, we’re at a dead end right now,” Shangguan Jing said bluntly. “The military has no advantage in this negotiation. Mr. Xu can state your terms.”
“Don’t rush to refuse,” he added. “If there truly were no better option, you wouldn’t have returned to District 014. The fact that you came back gives us a glimmer of hope.”
“I know you usually work alone, focusing on clearing instances and improving your personal abilities. You have no interest in spending a lot of effort to save ordinary strangers. But hear out our offer before deciding whether to help.”
“The clue to the Seventeenth Hospital,” Shangguan Jing revealed his trump card. “This is our minimum offer. On this basis, you can name any condition, and the military will do its best to meet it.”
“The Seventeenth Hospital?” Xu Huo’s eyes sharpened.
“Not the instance Seventeenth Hospital,” Shangguan Jing clarified. “The Seventeenth Hospital where you received treatment as a child. A military player accidentally discovered an identical hospital in an instance district. If you agree to this deal, we will fully disclose all basic information and search findings to you, withholding nothing.”
Xu Huo stared at the other party for a long time without speaking.
The military had no credibility in his eyes. During the Special Defense Department’s internal investigations, many of the problematic individuals were connected to the military. And now, only after failing to control him did they bring out the “Seventeenth Hospital” card. They were clearly trying to use this information to bind him—though capturing him outright would have been preferable.
Moreover, he suspected the value of this “Seventeenth Hospital” information wasn’t high. Otherwise, they would have led with the information rather than offering it alongside additional conditions.
“Have the original Special Defense Department personnel come and talk to me,” Xu Huo said after a moment.
Shangguan Jing frowned. “You don’t trust us? The information the military holds won’t increase just because it’s handed to Special Defense Department staff. Quibbling over details won’t benefit either of us.”
Besides, the longer this dragged on, the more people would die.
“Have the original Special Defense Department personnel come and talk to me,” Xu Huo repeated, then added with a hint of sarcasm, “Benefit? Do you think anyone stands to gain from this?”
Shangguan Jing stared at him.
Xu Huo couldn’t be bothered to waste words. He stood up and walked away.
As he turned, Shangguan Jing also stood. He raised a hand behind him, making a specific gesture to stop the players who were about to act, then called out to Xu Huo’s back, “From the day we became soldiers, we were prepared to sacrifice at any time. Becoming a player only added another layer of responsibility to our identity as soldiers. For the safety of the people, we have the resolve to bleed, and we will pay any price!”
Not everyone harbored ulterior motives. Xu Huo was willing to believe Shangguan Jing’s heartfelt words. So he turned back and asked, “The government has probably collected quite a bit of information on various districts by now. Do you know of any place with an abnormally high growth of fungi?”
“If you can find a suitable location, maybe you can save those people. If not, I can’t help.”
“Also, I hope the next time I meet someone, it will be the head of the original Special Defense Department.”