Chapter 2181: Kill "People" and Set Fires
The people in the hall were all stunned by this sudden turn of events. They stared at the man who had just been shot, his body slowly falling backward, blood spreading across the floor like a blooming flower.
Xu Huo stood there, the gun still smoking in his hand. His expression was calm, as if he had just done something trivial.
"You... you killed him?" someone finally stammered.
Xu Huo glanced at the speaker, then at the others. "Isn't that what you all wanted? To kill me?"
The crowd fell silent. Some looked away, unable to meet his gaze.
"He was one of them," Xu Huo continued, his voice flat. "A cannibal player. He's been feeding on ordinary people in this area for months. I just saved you the trouble of dealing with him."
A middle-aged man stepped forward, his face pale. "But... but you just shot him in cold blood! That's murder!"
"Is it?" Xu Huo raised an eyebrow. "In this world, what's the difference between killing a monster and killing a monster in human form?"
The man opened his mouth to retort but closed it again. He couldn't find the words.
Xu Huo holstered his gun and walked toward the body. He crouched down, checking the man's pulse to confirm he was dead. Then he stood up and looked at the crowd.
"Anyone else want to try their luck?"
No one answered. The tension in the air was palpable, but no one dared to make a move.
"Good." Xu Huo turned and walked toward the exit. "Then I'll be going."
He pushed open the door and stepped out into the night. Behind him, the hall remained silent, the only sound being the dripping of blood from the corpse.
Outside, the streets were empty. The dim streetlights cast long shadows, and the wind carried the smell of smoke and decay. Xu Huo pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a long drag.
He had been in this city for three days now. It was a place ruled by chaos, where the strong preyed on the weak and the game government had little control. Cannibal players roamed freely, feeding on ordinary people to sustain their power.
But Xu Huo wasn't here to clean up the city. He was here for something else.
He took out a small device from his pocket—a communication device. He pressed a button and spoke into it. "I've found the location. It's in the underground facility beneath the old hospital."
A voice crackled back. "Confirmed. We'll move in at dawn. Be ready."
Xu Huo pocketed the device and continued walking. His destination was a nearby safe house, where he could rest and prepare for the next day's operation.
As he walked, he noticed a figure following him from a distance. He didn't turn around, but his hand moved to his gun.
The figure stopped when Xu Huo stopped. It was a woman, her face hidden in the shadows.
"Who are you?" Xu Huo asked, his voice cold.
The woman stepped forward, revealing her face. She was young, with short hair and a determined expression. "I'm looking for someone. A man named Xu Huo."
Xu Huo's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Because I need his help." The woman took a step closer. "My sister was taken by the cannibal players. I want to save her."
Xu Huo studied her for a moment. "And what makes you think I can help you?"
"Because I've heard about you." The woman's voice was steady. "You're not like the others. You kill them, not join them."
Xu Huo let out a short laugh. "You don't know me. I might be worse than them."
"Maybe." The woman didn't back down. "But right now, you're my only hope."
Xu Huo was silent for a long moment. Then he sighed. "Fine. But don't get in my way."
The woman nodded, relief flickering in her eyes. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet." Xu Huo turned and continued walking. "We might both be dead by morning."
The woman followed him, her footsteps light but determined. Behind them, the city's darkness seemed to close in, swallowing the light and the hope along with it.