Chapter 2189: Cooperation Proposal
The two of them looked at each other, and Xu Huo raised his hand to touch his face, only to find that his hand had turned into a mechanical arm. He looked down and saw that his entire body had become a machine.
“This is the effect of the instance,” the short-haired female player said. “It’s a fixed instance. I’ve been here for a long time, but I haven’t found a way to clear it. I’m afraid you’ll have to stay here with me.”
Xu Huo looked around. This was a laboratory, but it was completely sealed off, with no doors or windows. The walls were made of a special alloy, and there were various instruments and equipment inside, as well as some mechanical parts.
“What instance is this?” Xu Huo asked.
“Deep Blue Laboratory,” the short-haired female player replied. “This is a high-risk instance. Once you enter, you’ll be transformed into a machine. You have to find a way to restore your human form to leave.”
“How long have you been here?” Xu Huo asked.
“I don’t remember exactly,” the short-haired female player said. “Time here is chaotic. But I’ve tried many methods, and none of them work.”
Xu Huo walked over to the instruments and examined them carefully. These instruments looked very advanced, and some of them even had energy fluctuations.
“These instruments can be used,” the short-haired female player said. “But I don’t know how to use them.”
Xu Huo didn’t say anything. He continued to examine the instruments, and after a while, he found a control panel. He pressed a few buttons, and the instruments began to operate.
“You know how to use them?” the short-haired female player asked in surprise.
“A little,” Xu Huo said.
He operated the instruments and soon found some data. These data recorded the experimental process of the Deep Blue Laboratory, which was about how to transform humans into machines.
“This laboratory is researching machine transformation,” Xu Huo said. “They want to turn humans into perfect machines.”
“Then how do we restore ourselves?” the short-haired female player asked.
“Find the reversal device,” Xu Huo said. “Since they can transform, there must be a way to reverse it.”
The two of them began searching the laboratory. The laboratory was very large, with many rooms and passages. They searched for a long time but found no reversal device.
“Could it be that there is no reversal device?” the short-haired female player said, somewhat discouraged.
“There must be one,” Xu Huo said. “Otherwise, this instance would be unsolvable.”
Just then, they heard a noise. They followed the sound and found a hidden door. Xu Huo pushed open the door, and inside was a small room with a machine in the center.
“This should be the reversal device,” Xu Huo said.
He walked over to the machine and examined it. The machine was very complex, with many buttons and switches. Xu Huo studied it for a while, then pressed a few buttons.
The machine began to operate, emitting a low hum. Then, a beam of light shot out, enveloping Xu Huo and the short-haired female player.
They felt a warmth, and then their bodies began to change. The mechanical parts gradually faded, and their human forms returned.
“It worked!” the short-haired female player said excitedly.
When they had completely returned to human form, the laboratory began to shake. Then, a door appeared on the wall.
“The exit is open,” Xu Huo said.
The two of them walked out of the laboratory and found themselves in a corridor. The corridor was very long, with many doors on both sides.
“Where is this?” the short-haired female player asked.
“I don’t know,” Xu Huo said. “But we should be out of the instance.”
They walked along the corridor and soon came to an exit. Pushing open the door, they found themselves on a street.
“We’re out!” the short-haired female player said happily.
Xu Huo looked around. This was an unfamiliar city, with many people coming and going on the streets.
“Thank you,” the short-haired female player said to Xu Huo. “If it weren’t for you, I might have been trapped in there forever.”
“You’re welcome,” Xu Huo said.
“My name is Lawrence Li,” the short-haired female player said. “What’s yours?”
“Xu Huo,” Xu Huo said.
“Xu Huo?” Lawrence Li was slightly startled. “You’re that Xu Huo?”
“You know me?” Xu Huo asked.
“I’ve heard of you,” Lawrence Li said. “You’re quite famous in the player world.”
Xu Huo didn’t say anything.
“Do you have any plans now?” Lawrence Li asked. “If you don’t, how about we team up? I’m pretty strong, and I won’t hold you back.”
Xu Huo thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright.”
“Great!” Lawrence Li said happily. “Let’s go find a place to rest first. I know a safe zone nearby.”
The two of them walked toward the safe zone. On the way, Lawrence Li introduced herself. She was a veteran player with rich experience and had cleared many instances.
“By the way, do you know about the Game Government?” Lawrence Li asked.
“I know a little,” Xu Huo said.
“The Game Government has been recruiting players lately, saying they want to deal with a threat,” Lawrence Li said. “I heard it’s related to the Super Evolvers.”
“Super Evolvers?” Xu Huo asked.
“Yes,” Lawrence Li said. “Recently, many Super Evolvers have appeared. They’re very powerful, and even the Game Government is having a hard time dealing with them.”
Xu Huo fell into thought. He had encountered Super Evolvers before, and they were indeed very strong.
“What do you think?” Lawrence Li asked. “Want to go check it out?”
“Let’s see,” Xu Huo said.
They soon arrived at the safe zone. It was a small town with many players resting there.
“Let’s find a place to stay first,” Lawrence Li said.
They found a hotel and checked in. After resting for a while, Lawrence Li suggested going out to gather information.
“I know a bar where a lot of players hang out,” Lawrence Li said. “We might be able to get some useful information there.”
The two of them went to the bar. The bar was very lively, with many players drinking and chatting.
Lawrence Li found a seat, ordered two drinks, and began to observe the surroundings.
“Look at that person,” Lawrence Li said, pointing to a man in the corner. “He looks like a high-level player.”
Xu Huo looked over and saw a middle-aged man sitting alone, drinking. The man had a strong aura, clearly not an ordinary player.
“Want to go talk to him?” Lawrence Li asked.
“Let’s wait and see,” Xu Huo said.
Just then, the middle-aged man seemed to sense their gaze and looked over. He smiled at them, then stood up and walked over.
“Hello, two friends,” the middle-aged man said. “I’m Sima Xiao’er. May I ask your names?”
“Lawrence Li,” Lawrence Li said.
“Xu Huo,” Xu Huo said.
“Xu Huo?” Sima Xiao’er was slightly startled. “You’re that Xu Huo?”
“You know me too?” Xu Huo asked.
“Of course,” Sima Xiao’er said with a smile. “You’re very famous in the player world. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“You flatter me,” Xu Huo said.
“I’m not flattering you,” Sima Xiao’er said. “I’m telling the truth. By the way, I have a cooperation proposal. Are you interested?”