Chapter 166: Cooperation with the Government Hall
“Others aren’t stupid either,” Xu Huo said without hesitation. “If the Government Hall people follow us, will they even show up?”
“And if they find out we’re running errands for the Government Hall, will they let us off?”
“Then just don’t let them find out,” Sun Jirou said. “We’ll take the access card over there and secretly place a locator in their hiding spot.”
“That sunflower courtyard can shift positions. Even with prop help, their range of activity is still within Fairy Tale City. As long as the locator is there, they can’t escape!”
“They might not necessarily stay inside Fairy Tale City,” Xu Huo said.
“Others have legs too. Government Hall people can come in, so of course they can leave.” Tao Chengxin rolled her eyes. “And do you really think they’ll believe we can get the access card?”
“That’s true,” Wang Qiao also said. “If we actually bring the access card over, they might mistake us for Government Hall people instead.”
“I have an idea,” Yang Sheng said. “Why don’t we say we found a clue about the access card and let them go get it themselves?”
“That way, whether or not they’re really looking for the access card, we stay safe.”
“Does the access card have a tracking function?” Gao Baimei asked the old lady. “If it does, we could take the opportunity to bring the card inside.”
“It does, but if you do that, you won’t complete the mission.” The old lady looked hesitant.
“Our mission is to find the teeth. Finding where the female guide and her people are staying means we’ve found the teeth, right? The mission doesn’t require us to return the teeth to the storyteller,” Sun Jirou said.
Xu Huo looked up at her. “You’re really trying to exploit a loophole in the game here.”
“If it doesn’t work…”
“If we can’t complete the mission, we can just use the ticket to go to the next stop,” Sun Jirou interrupted him. “Isn’t that what you said?”
“If we don’t try, none of us will complete the mission. But if we follow my method, there might still be a chance to clear it.”
“I have another question.” After a few seconds of silence, Xu Huo turned to the old lady. “Do you know the owners of the Block Steamed Bun Shop and the Bear Claw Restaurant?”
The old lady shook her head. “Government Hall players don’t necessarily know each other either. But sometimes, players of unknown origin stay in the shops.”
“I think the Block Steamed Bun Shop is definitely their stronghold. That female guide mixes truth with lies—one, to kill us outsider players, and two, to trick us into fighting the Government Hall people!” Sun Jirou gritted her teeth. “We thought the shop owners were all cannibal players, but those players in the shop thought we were from the female guide’s side!”
That explanation made sense.
The players looked at each other, temporarily unable to make a decision.
“Whether you go or not, I have to avenge Shen Tai!” Sun Jirou said hatefully. “Cannibal players all deserve to die!”
Beside her, Tang Yuan’s eyelids drooped, then he looked up at her. “I want to try clearing it too. If we run into danger, I still have a ticket here to escape to the next stop.”
Sun Jirou gave him a grateful look.
Then Yang Sheng slapped his thigh and said, “If we’re afraid of this and that, why even play the game? Even for the clearance reward, we have to take a risk!”
Leaving aside everything else, the potion in the clearance reward was a necessity. They had to try even if it was risky.
“What about you two?” Wang Qiao asked Xu Huo and Tao Chengxin.
Tao Chengxin glanced at Xu Huo, hesitated for a moment, then said, “I’ll join too.”
Xu Huo looked around at everyone. After a moment, he turned back to the old lady. “You see, we’re basically contributing to the Government Hall here. Can you spare us some props or potions?”
The old lady’s expression stiffened for a split second, but quickly softened. She reached out her wrinkled hand and patted Xu Huo’s shoulder. “Good child, what kind of props do you want?”
“Something for self-defense,” Xu Huo said. “What if we go in and can’t get out?”
The old lady looked troubled. “I don’t have any good props…”
“You’re a Government Hall player. Even if your legs are crippled and you can only hide here making sausages, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. You must have something,” Xu Huo cut her off with a smile. “The Government Hall wants to deal with cannibal players—surely they have that much resolve.”
Sun Jirou found his shameless begging for props disgraceful, but the remaining few were very enthusiastic, staring at the old lady with burning eyes.
The old lady didn’t hold back either. “Alright, I can give you two props. You decide how to use them yourselves.”
With that, she pushed her wheelchair into the house and came out carrying a box. Gao Baimei immediately stepped forward. “Let me help.”
Tao Chengxin raised her foot to block her. “Haste makes waste. You’d better sit down.”
Seeing the others looking at her with displeasure, Gao Baimei shot her a glare and sat back down.
The old lady took out a folding umbrella and a black ring from the box.
“Under the umbrella, within three feet, it can withstand three attacks from an advanced player within twenty-four hours. Before the protection count is used up, standing under the umbrella is absolutely safe.”
“The Hypnosis Ring. The smoke it emits can induce a hypnotic effect. Within three minutes, anyone who inhales the smoke will see any object in front of them as three.”
“This umbrella is pretty good.” Xu Huo reached out without hesitation, but Yang Sheng beside him blocked him. “Why should you get it?”
“Because I was the first to find the female guide. You all came here thanks to my clue, didn’t you?” Xu Huo raised an eyebrow.
“We paid!” Gao Baimei said coldly.
Even the most refined Tang Yuan looked at him warily. Xu Huo had no choice but to let go. “It’s hard to defy public anger. Fine, you guys discuss it and let me know the result.”
The old lady watched them with a smile.
A few minutes later, the group came out with the two props and the access card.
Sun Jirou and the others were discussing how to use the props. Xu Huo reached out, took the access card from Tang Yuan, turned his back to the sunlight, and examined it. “This thing really can be tracked? It looks like an ordinary piece of metal.”
“Each instance world has different technological development. Your world being backward doesn’t mean others are the same,” Sun Jirou said with a sidelong glance.
Xu Huo spun the access card in his hand and tossed it back to Tang Yuan. “No matter how advanced the tech, it still can’t stop players.”
“Have you decided how to use the props?”
“The umbrella can be used three times. I’ll hold onto it for now,” Sun Jirou said. “The prop doesn’t specify that it can only protect one person at a time. We’ll play it by ear—whoever’s in danger gets it first. Until then, we won’t store it in the item slot.”
“The Hypnosis Ring works the same no matter who uses it, but whoever takes it has to cover the retreat.”
“That’s not fair. How much use will this ring be against an advanced player?” Tao Chengxin said. “Whoever takes the ring is at too much of a disadvantage.”