Chapter 1573: I Have High Hopes for Him
The two of them had quite efficient information channels. They already knew that Xu Huo had returned to Zone 014, but they hadn't expected to run into him so soon.
"I'm sorry for the trouble," Xu Huo thanked them.
"It's nothing. I just happened to be performing in that area and ran into Grandpa Xu," Gu Yu said cheerfully. "But the real credit goes to Huang Junjie. He heard Grandpa Xu was nearby and went specifically to pick him up, even escorting him all the way back to Jing City."
Huang Junjie quickly waved his hand. "I just ran a few errands. Didn't really help much. There were Special Defense Department players following the old man the whole time, so he was perfectly safe."
Since everyone was already here and it was a rare opportunity, they naturally wanted to catch up.
After sending the old man home, the three of them found a place to have a few drinks.
Gu Yu was both a player and a celebrity, and she was quite popular. Before they even ate, several people came up to ask for her autograph.
"You're doing really well as a star. There's no need for you to risk going into instances," Huang Junjie said, optimistic about Zone 014's future. "The environment will only get better from here."
"Relying on others is never as good as relying on yourself. Besides, my current career is tied to my player identity. Without that status, who would be willing to invest in me? I'm counting on that money to buy equipment." Gu Yu took a big bite of grilled meat and said with a smile, "The slimming potions in the game are effective and have no side effects. Every female celebrity needs them."
"There are quite a few people in that business," Huang Junjie said, knowing a bit about it. "There are plenty of players who just focus on making money without causing trouble."
"If everyone were like that, the world would be at peace."
Gu Yu snorted, then turned to Xu Huo. "I don't know what the Special Defense Department is up to lately, but they must be planning something big. Have they contacted you?"
"Just some small matters," Xu Huo said, not wanting to elaborate.
"As long as you know what you're doing," Gu Yu said. "Some people in the Special Defense Department have gone crazy targeting player organizations. Not only are they blocking our strategies, but they're also restricting our gatherings. I think these people are losing their minds."
"How are things on your end?" Xu Huo asked with concern.
"What else can we do? Just endure it," Gu Yu shrugged. "Spring Rain is fine. Our money comes from legitimate channels. It's harder for players who get their funds from gray areas."
"The situation is similar for the First Association," Huang Junjie added. "It's not as relaxed as before, but it's still bearable. Compared to other zones, Zone 014 is relatively good."
"That's because the Special Defense Department doesn't have the energy to bother with lower-level players like us," Gu Yu hit the nail on the head. "If you could casually advance to C-rank like Brother Xu and become a Super Evolver, the Special Defense Department would probably be watching your association every single day."
Huang Junjie smiled and raised his glass. "That's not necessarily true. Zone 014 hasn't reached the point where high-level players are running around everywhere. As long as you have enough strength, you have the right to speak. The Special Defense Department has to listen whether they like it or not."
He looked at Xu Huo again. "Our First Association was able to become a partner of the Special Defense Department smoothly thanks to you. I know there's bound to be a big change coming soon. If you need anything, just say the word. The players of the First Association are more than willing to cooperate with you."
Gu Yu's gaze flickered between the two of them, and she finally said, "Brother Xu, actually, a lot of players have been asking about you. If you take the lead, there will definitely be plenty of support. The Spring Rain Association is naturally on your side."
Xu Huo looked at them. Although he had anticipated that the Special Defense Department's actions would provoke player resentment, he hadn't expected that even the First Association, which had a deep cooperative relationship with them, was ready to flip the table.
"Do you have a detailed plan?" he asked.
Huang Junjie quietly set down his glass. "The First Association's idea is to negotiate. We go back to the old model where the Special Defense Department sells strategies at a discount, and players prioritize supplying resources to them. But we need to add a mandatory clause."
They couldn't have a repeat of this time, where the Special Defense Department cut off almost all of the player organizations' strategy channels just to control the players' advancement speed.
Player organizations had provided the Special Defense Department with many things in the past. When the Special Defense Department was short-handed, they had even taken responsibility for maintaining urban security and collecting information on random instances. The two sides had originally maintained a mutually beneficial balance, with everyone sharing the desire to create a safe and stable environment for their families. But now the Special Defense Department was choking off the source, making it even harder for player organizations to develop. However, whether it was the Special Defense Department or the military, both represented the interests of a minority. If this precedent was set, the living conditions for other players would only become more and more difficult.
Few could do what Xu Huo had done—single-handedly forcing the Special Defense Department to back down.
Gu Yu hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's about fifty-fifty. Some people think we can negotiate, but I think others just want to muddy the waters."
"But that's not surprising. There are plenty of players who have grudges with the Special Defense Department."
Xu Huo understood. These two, or rather the other players with intentions, didn't really need him to take the lead. The groundwork had already been laid. They had even discussed a plan. Now they just needed someone with enough weight to step forward and negotiate with the Special Defense Department. And that person also had to ensure they could hold their ground during the negotiations, rather than being forced into the game after just a few words. Otherwise, the player organizations' fight for their rights would be nothing but a joke.
Instead of answering directly, he asked, "What do you two think of Nie Xuan?"
Whether in the Special Defense Department or among player organizations, the name Nie Xuan was like thunder. Especially after he had dealt with quite a few players last time, his strength and methods had earned widespread recognition.
"Isn't there a rumor that he's dying of illness?" Gu Yu said hesitantly. "What does this have to do with him?"
Xu Huo slowly swirled his glass. "I have high hopes for him. Sooner or later, the Special Defense Department will be under his control."
Gu Yu and Huang Junjie exchanged a glance. The latter's expression turned somewhat grim.
For player organizations, Nie Xuan was a man with no flexibility. In other words, with him, things were black and white, and he was very tough. While he was certainly a rational person who knew what could and couldn't be done, with such a hardliner in charge, the situation for player organizations might not improve much.
"Based on what Team Leader Nie has done in the past, he always prioritizes the majority," Gu Yu gave a relatively neutral assessment. "He values order more and is a reasonable person. He shouldn't lose his mind and act on a whim."
"So things haven't developed to the point where the two sides need to confront each other," Xu Huo said. "Tell your people to stand down. Flipping the table only leads to death."
Only then did the two of them slightly change their expressions. Since the Special Defense Department had developed, they had been plugging up every possible leak, and very little information leaked out. So they didn't know exactly how strong the Special Defense Department was now. A few months ago, they still needed to sign cooperation agreements with player organizations to appease them. A few months later, had the gap in strength really become so vast?
"Ding dong." Xu Huo's phone received a message. The content was an image of a house. He glanced at it and stood up. "I have something to take care of. I'll be going now."
(Chapter End)