Chapter 2143: I'm Here to Cause Trouble
"Isn't this a waste of effort?" Zhao Zizhen shook her head with some self-mockery. "I thought with such a big commotion this time, we'd get a real response, but I didn't expect it to be resolved so quickly."
The number of Outer Zone players who died in that battle just now wasn't small, but the losses on District 008's side were quite low. From this, it could be seen that whether players or ordinary people, they were all accustomed to this way of handling emergencies, and were very skilled and tacit.
"No wonder it's so hard for Outer Zone players to clear instances here." Zhao Zizhen seemed rather disinterested. After all, with so many players unable to stir up any waves, what could she and Xu Huo, just the two of them, possibly do?
"It's not necessarily a bad thing," Xu Huo said. "A battle of this scale didn't attract District 008's attention, which shows their classification of emergencies is different from other districts. Probably only battles of a considerable scale would be enough to bring in reinforcements from other cities."
"So what?" Zhao Zizhen didn't understand.
Xu Huo didn't answer this question. Small-scale battles being digested within the city meant the city's public security relied mostly on local equipment and instruments, as well as the Enforcement Team and local player organizations. Judging from the previous situation, when instruments and equipment could handle most of the defense and blockade, not even the player organizations, let alone the Enforcement Team, were willing to intervene. So before an incident expanded to a certain scale, local players weren't too keen on expending manpower.
In other words, if three or five Outer Zone players started fighting, the first to respond would definitely be the nearby defense and blockade barriers. At that point, the Enforcement Team would arrive immediately, but they wouldn't necessarily intervene right away.
If the fighting then expanded in scope, the Enforcement Team would prioritize driving the players into a "Non-Game Area" simulated by instruments to blockade their Personal Panel. At this stage, the vast majority of traits and props would be completely locked down, forcing reliance on Super Evolution and personal physical evolution. This was also when the Enforcement Team would come in to harvest... If it was a fight between Outer Zone players, there might be a waiting period.
After the Enforcement Team entered the blockade barrier, they would most likely also have their Personal Panels restricted. But District 008 had plenty of various combat instruments, giving them an advantage over unprepared Outer Zone players. Of course, if someone had brought a Jammer in advance, that instrument advantage could be broken.
However, since they were aiming to exploit their advantages, the people sent by the Enforcement Team would generally have some special skills—proficient in close combat, or having undergone Secondary Evolution. And if these advantages didn't prevail, the "Non-Game Area Simulator" would probably actively deactivate quickly. Then the Enforcement Team, having suffered considerable losses, would swiftly encircle and suppress, ending the incident as soon as possible.
So, as long as it was handled properly, this square in the Double-Bright Bird Administrative District was a good arena.
"Isn't the instance you need to clear about the stolen declaration?" Zhao Zizhen asked abruptly.
Xu Huo looked at her. "Why do you say that?"
"Your methods don't seem to have worked at all," Zhao Zizhen said. "It's as if your main goal isn't to clear the instance, but to drag the Tian Clan into this. Do you have a grudge against the Tian Clan?"
As she spoke, she suddenly looked Xu Huo up and down. "You wouldn't be the player who provoked the Tian Clan, would you?"
The information on the Message Collection Terminal was processed quickly enough, but many players had also seen the first-hand reports. Changing one's appearance was simple, but the Outer Zone player targeting the Tian Clan seemed to be just that one.
"Whatever identity or goal I have doesn't matter," Xu Huo said. "The fact that I'm in the same instance as you is definitely true."
"The first wave of players who bravely charged into the Tian Clan Transport Company has quieted down. More players will test the Tian Clan in different ways next."
He continued, "The information on the Message Collection Terminal about 'the Tian Clan holding the stolen declaration' hasn't been deleted. You might as well go check near the transport company or the Tian Clan laboratory. Perhaps the person who actually holds the declaration is mixed in among them."
Zhao Zizhen didn't show much expression. Even though she felt she had been played, she didn't resort to harsh words. Instead, she said, "If you want to avenge the already-destroyed Block Fairy Tale City, I respect you as a true hero. But I still advise you: you're not strong enough yet. A gentleman's revenge is never too late. Wait until you reach A-rank before settling the score. If you can't clear the instance, even if you turn District 008 upside down, you won't be able to leave this place in the end. You know the situation here well. Finding a player's trail is simple."
"That's all I have to say." With that, she stepped back two paces and leaped away from the building.
Xu Huo didn't stay long either. He left the Double-Bright Bird Administrative District once more and returned to the Station City.
By now, it was already dark. Because of his earlier statement that he would come again tonight, the entire Station City—especially the areas where the Tian Clan members lived—was on high alert. Not only had the patrolling surveillance instruments and Armed Robots increased, but even player organizations that rarely appeared in public had shown up. Every street, even every Portal, was guarded by players.
Xu Huo was an Outer Zone player, so when he came out of the Portal, two Armed Robots and three flying surveillance monitors immediately appeared around him. They conducted a detailed identity registration and warned him that after this registration, he had better not make any changes to his appearance during his stay in the city. If he changed even once, he would be immediately listed as a dangerous target. The lightest consequence would be expulsion from the city; more serious would be arrest or immediate execution on the spot.
"I understand." Xu Huo signed "agree" on the protocol opened by the Armed Robot.
"This is your temporary identity card. Please pin it in a conspicuous place." The robot handed over a miniature badge. Just as he was about to take it, a hand suddenly reached out from the side and grabbed it first—a man who looked refined and polite flipped it over to look at the identity card number, then looked up at Xu Huo. He then actively walked up to him, ready to pin it on for him.
"No need to trouble yourself." Xu Huo blocked him, but the other party pressed down on his shoulder and said in a gentle voice, "I've seen many Outer Zone players. Some look timid and afraid at first glance, but others exude an 'I'm here to cause trouble' aura from head to toe. Although such people are troublesome, District 008 isn't afraid of trouble."
"But for the sake of your own life, I suggest you take my words to heart."
As he spoke, he had already pinned the identity card onto Xu Huo's sleeve.
As if he hadn't heard the warning in his words, Xu Huo's expression remained calm. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I will definitely respect District 008's rules and laws."
He paused, then looked the man in the eye. "May I go now?"
The man finally stepped back a few paces. "As you wish."
(Chapter End)