Chapter 1694: One Hour Before Lights Out
“Smack!” Another foot came from the side, stomping the sticker doll from head to toe. Then a branding iron-like prop was thrown on top, pressing it firmly to the ground, preventing it from standing up again.
The one who acted was the shirt woman. She looked around at everyone and said, “If they were really strong enough to rob the entire train, why bother with all this pretentious nonsense? I suspect they’re deliberately stalling for time, or buying time—some props take a certain amount of time to take effect… No matter what they’re planning, the right move is to not let them succeed.”
The sticker doll, pinned by the branding iron, struggled on the ground, shifting back and forth, occasionally sticking its mouth out to speak: “…Listen to me, absolutely… you don’t want to know the rules… it’s definitely for your own good…”
The burly player took his blade and chopped off the sticker’s protruding mouth.
After being split in two, the sticker doll quieted down and didn’t get up again like before. However, the water droplets floating in the air did not disappear.
The players in the carriage tried their best not to touch those water droplets. Those near the two doors avoided them and stood guard by the entrances. Just as everyone was waiting for what would happen next, an announcement suddenly rang out throughout the train:
“Attention all passengers. Train C590 is currently experiencing a hijacking incident. Until the incident is resolved, train crew services may be delayed. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
This was a unique train-wide announcement, not just broadcast in a single carriage. The carriages in front and behind also heard the same message.
“What does this mean? The whole train is under control?” the vest-wearing female player said cautiously, stepping back to put distance between herself and the others.
“Didn’t you hear what that sticker said earlier? They said they’ve taken control of the carriages after the VIP room. That means the train staff aren’t part of the hijacking,” said the player with the upward-pointing little braid.
But neither the conductors nor any other staff had the duty to protect passengers. That’s why the train simply notified everyone about the hijacking, while subtly indicating that the staff wouldn’t intervene.
“I don’t believe they have enough people to control every single carriage!” the borrowing-fire female player slammed her palm against the door of the small compartment.
“That’s not easy to say,” someone pointed at the water droplets in the air. “Do you even know what these things are?”
“The situation in the front and back carriages is the same,” said the buzz-cut man standing with the borrowing-fire female player, glancing around. “The transition car is no exception.”
“Should we ask about the situation in other carriages?” Xu Huo suggested at this point. “What if it’s some kind of illusion or trick?”
“Fine, you open the door and go ask then,” the borrowing-fire female player shot him a look. “They’re just water droplets anyway. They won’t kill you.”
Xu Huo’s expression turned somewhat unpleasant, and he shut his mouth, saying nothing more.
The player at the front door of the carriage had already been looking outside for a while. He turned back and said, “I think the carriage ahead is in a similar situation to ours. Since everyone’s the same, I don’t think we need to panic this much. As long as we hold our carriage, there shouldn’t be a problem. As for these water droplets… even if the hijacking players can control all the liquid on the train, there must be a time limit.”
“Good analysis,” the hat-wearing player chimed in. “Using a sticker doll to announce so-called robbery rules is most likely meant to mislead us.”
“Not everyone on this train can be a hijacker. The so-called ‘using the small to overcome the big’ only gives them a head start. Following their line of thinking might actually lead us into a trap.”
“No matter how many hijackers there are or how strong they are, staying still and waiting for them to make a move is always the safest bet.”
The others in the carriage exchanged glances and didn’t object. This was the most convenient approach for now. They couldn’t let themselves be scared by people who hadn’t even shown their faces and obediently cooperate with a robbery.
“It’s almost lights-out time,” the upward-braid player reminded quietly. “Do you think they’ll use the mutants against us?”
There was less than an hour until lights out. That was the real concern for the players.
The current situation was that no one knew if hijackers had infiltrated their own carriage. Lights went out at eight in the evening and wouldn’t come back on until eight the next morning. If the train passed through mutant-active areas during the night, the hijackers would have an entire night to pull all kinds of tricks—impossible to guard against.
“I say we just find them!” the burly player pounded the table until it rattled. “I don’t believe that if we kill one or two, the rest won’t show themselves!”
“Keep your voice down,” the shirt woman said. “One of their goals in staying hidden is to make us suspicious of each other, preferably to make us fight among ourselves. That way, they can pick up the pieces more easily.”
The burly player let out a rough breath. “So we just wait? What if they’re determined to make a move tonight?”
The one-hour window before lights out was a very delicate length of time.
Even after destroying the sticker doll, the players’ primary concern wasn’t that the hijackers would suddenly attack or that the floating water droplets would strike. Instead, they worried about accidents during the night.
The hijackers had come prepared. With mutants as an external factor, they could easily destroy the carriage to make an example of someone, thereby threatening all the players.
As for why they didn’t strike at night but chose to announce things in advance—just as the hat player had said—the hijackers wanted to use the small to overcome the big. Naturally, the lower the cost, the better. And one hour was enough time for players to consider compromise or start suspecting each other.
The unknown was the most terrifying thing. Even if only to learn the hijackers’ demands and plans, some players would have listened to the sticker doll’s words. Traps or no traps, it was the fastest way to make contact with the hijackers.
Not every player could protect themselves when mutants broke through the carriage. If they were thrown off the tracks, their chances of survival were slim.
Silence lasted for several minutes. Two people lost their patience. But just as they were about to speak, Xu Huo spoke up first: “How about we use props to seal up the carriage?”
The props players used in games were primarily chosen for convenience. Props that were troublesome and time-consuming to use were generally avoided, but that didn’t mean they didn’t exist.
Xu Huo pulled out a roll of light-blocking adhesive film and looked around at everyone. “The single compartments aren’t fully lightproof. It’s best to cover the inside too.”
“I have no objections,” the shirt woman was the first to respond and immediately came over to help.
“What’s the point of sticking that on?” the burly man said impatiently. “Any small prop can tear it off easily. Might as well not bother.”
“Isn’t that perfect?” Xu Huo replied. “Whoever tears it down, we’ll know they’re the hijacker mixed in with us.”
Most of the players in the carriage scoffed at his suggestion. For the same reason the burly man had stated, such a simple prop was too easy to destroy. It was completely useless, and making a show of sealing the windows would only make them look ridiculous.
(End of Chapter)