Chapter 1963: Clearance Mission Conflict
“It was most likely a bluff,” Qiao Qiao said. “This is a common tactic in the East District. Whether for newcomers or old members, they pull this every so often. Anyone with weak mental fortitude would easily slip up.”
“I only realized it after I ran away. Later, I thought about it—that psychotherapist was just an ordinary person. How could they possibly see through a game-disguised identity?” Old Zhou sighed with some emotion. “But at the time, I didn’t dare gamble.”
“Not necessarily,” Qiao Qiao said. “From what I’ve observed, the East District has caught quite a few Outer Zone Players using this method. Just yesterday, they sent a batch over from the West District.”
“They’re catching Outer Zone Players too?” Xu Huo interjected. “Alive?”
“Alive.” Qiao Qiao pointed at her wrist. “Have you seen those poison-spike bracelets they often use? There are many similar devices. I’ve witnessed two captures. After the targets were taken down, they were loaded into hibernation pods and transported away. Where they were sent, I don’t know. The people were taken away by East District Players.”
Old Zhou also nodded. His observations were similar.
Qiao Qiao then talked about her own mission. She had chosen a freelance identity, somewhat like an assassin—someone who gets paid for jobs. Her Clearance Mission was a task assigned by her employer, targeting a psychotherapist named “Zheng Yuci.”
“The East District people place great importance on mental health. The Agor Corporation maintains a dedicated team of therapists, and this Zheng Yuci is one of them. However, they usually operate within the Agor Corporation headquarters, eating and living inside. The company’s main building has several layers of barriers outside, unaffected by Time-Space Items or devices, making it very difficult to breach.”
“I later looked into the employer who issued the mission and found that the person also works inside the Agor Corporation. Probably some office politics.”
“The game world is truly full of danger everywhere. Even going to work might get you assassinated by a colleague.”
The three summarized the information they each had. Qiao Qiao and Old Zhou’s missions were at the Agor headquarters. Waiting outside was not a solution; they needed to find a way in. As for the “White Blood” in Xu Huo’s mission, if it was some powerful Evolution Agent, it might also be at the headquarters, or possibly in one of Agor’s affiliated laboratories.
“Have you tried the Rebel Army’s channels?” Xu Huo asked. “They might have a way into Agor.”
“We haven’t found the right person yet,” Old Zhou admitted frankly.
Not just them, but many Outer Zone Players had considered this. Some even offered very favorable terms—willing to stand with the Rebel Army for free if it helped them clear their missions. Yet even so, they hadn’t found many willing to cooperate.
“I don’t know if it’s because the Rebel Army has too few people, or if they’re hiding too deep. We haven’t found many mid- or high-ranking members. Most of those discovered were low-level errand runners. Even if you tore their brains apart, there wouldn’t be much valuable information. Moreover, most of their communication is done through the game. Even if you get their account and make contact with some people, the moment they sense anything off, they immediately cut the connection.”
“I heard they’ve been burned by Outer Zone Players before,” Old Zhou said, having looked into it a bit. “Some players had their targets within the Rebel Army and used this method to infiltrate, causing heavy losses to the Rebel Army.”
“Still, being able to keep their communication channels so tightly sealed that neither the East District nor Outer Zone Players can catch them is quite impressive.”
Indeed, such management required not just intelligence but also extremely strict discipline. Otherwise, the Rebel Army’s grassroots members wouldn’t be able to cut off their own limbs—or even commit suicide—at the slightest sign of trouble.
“I don’t get it. Don’t they have any traitors?” Qiao Qiao propped her chin on her hand, stirring the drink in her cup. “Money, the lives of loved ones, or a peaceful life in another district—there must be at least one or two things that tempt them.”
“Maybe we just haven’t encountered them yet.” Xu Huo checked the time. “I’m about to meet someone. Interested?”
Without a word, the two followed him.
The person Xu Huo was meeting was the one who had repeatedly questioned him about the East District’s hostage plan in the game yesterday. They had agreed to meet not far from the city center square. The likelihood of the Rebel Army appearing there and meeting with Outer Zone Players was low, so he initially judged the other party to be an East District Player. But when he arrived alone, what awaited him wasn’t a player, but a Blockade Barrier and Armed Robots.
“Upon report, you are suspected of collaborating with the Rebel Army to disrupt East District order. Please lay down your weapons now…” Before the Armed Robot could finish, Xu Huo raised his Black Blade, simultaneously retracting the item hanging from the hilt, and then swung the blade, cutting through the Blockade Barrier and all five Armed Robots in one clean slash!
The report was probably genuine. This operation was mainly handled by Armed Robots, with few East District Players involved. So when Xu Huo emerged after destroying public property, he happened to brush past nearby players.
Although they had used items to interfere with long-distance teleportation, unless the item’s coverage was extremely wide, it generally wouldn’t affect the manipulation of Space Power. Thus, Xu Huo safely left the city center. Once safe, he immediately changed his appearance, doubled back to the city center, and found the player who had been watching from a distance.
When the Armed Robots were destroyed, the other party had already gotten up from their observation spot and left.
The person hadn’t deliberately fled, so when Xu Huo circled back, they were only a few hundred meters from the meeting point.
“Since we agreed to meet, leaving like this isn’t very appropriate, is it?” Xu Huo appeared before him, accompanied by Qiao Qiao and Old Zhou.
The man was wearing a trench coat. His gaze swept over Xu Huo and the two beside him. “Those on different paths cannot work together. Saves us the trouble of talking.”
As he spoke, another group of players appeared on their periphery. From details like their behavior and expressions, they were likely Outer Zone Players.
It seemed two factions had run into each other.
“Even if your missions are on the Rebel Army’s side, there’s no need to go after other players with such ruthlessness,” Qiao Qiao said. “Besides, how can you be sure we’re definitely on the East District’s side?”
The trench coat man smiled indifferently. “I saw you chatting so enthusiastically, I thought you were working for the East District Players. Turns out you’re not.”
A bland remark, clearly stating that if Xu Huo and his group wanted to fight, it was fine too. Seven against three—the advantage was on his side.
Xu Huo exchanged glances with Old Zhou and the others, wisely deciding to retreat. But at that moment, a beam of light suddenly struck one of the opponent’s players—an Armed Aircraft had locked onto him!
As the nearby two streets rose with Blockade Barriers, over a dozen East District Players teleported to their vicinity. Without hesitation, they used a wide-range removal item to strip everyone of their equipped items. Then, a vibration jamming device activated, and an exceptionally sharp, shockwave-carrying sound instantly surged into everyone’s ears!
(Chapter End)