Chapter 245: Benign Changes
"By the way, this is a glove I found in the game. Take a look." She pulled out a pair of translucent gloves as thin as cicada wings.
Xu Huo took them. As soon as he stored them in his item slot, the gloves automatically wrapped around his hands. When he touched the table, the gloves instantly turned white.
**Degraded Gloves:** When touching a fresh object, it automatically mimics the object's density, changing its color and hardness. A costume-changing item popular among female players. Note: It can only mimic fabrics. Do not force it to do what it cannot.
Xu Huo was looking for glove-type items to pair with "Everywhere Strings." The strings could only act on the same object once, and carrying disposable gloves or finding temporary tools was troublesome—it was not only detrimental to combat but also allowed opponents to see through the item's usage. Gloves that could change density were a good match for the strings' usage, but he would have to go back and test whether they could actually be manipulated.
"This item is pretty average, but it's the best I could get in the game." Zhou Ning said apologetically.
"It's very useful to me." Xu Huo paused. "I'll trade you an item for it."
"No need!" Zhou Ning quickly waved her hands. "You helped me out a lot before, and I also took your potion. This item is my way of repaying you. I wouldn't dare shamelessly ask for more."
"Did you get the hair growth potion?" Xu Huo asked.
Zhou Ning shook her head, disappointment on her face. "The items you get in the game are more or less related to traits, but potions don't seem to follow that rule. This time when I came out of the instance, I only got evolution agents and self-healing agents."
"Cousin, you want the hair growth potion?" Yu Qingqing glanced at the top of Xu Huo's head. "I have some. If you need a lot, I can help you buy some."
Xu Huo gave her a cold stare, and Yu Qingqing pouted and continued eating.
Xu Huo took out the D-grade hair growth potion he had obtained this time. "I don't need it. It's perfect for you."
"You'll need it sooner or later." Yu Qingqing muttered quietly from the side.
Zhou Ning's face flushed. She quickly glanced at Xu Huo's stern features and lowered her voice. "Really, you don't have to..."
Hu Wenhu gently pushed her from behind. "Sister Ning, don't be so polite. The hair growth potion is very useful for you. In the game, it might even save your life. Let's consider this as us owing Brother Xu first. We'll find good items and potions later and bring them to him!"
With that, he took the potion.
Zhou Ning still felt embarrassed. She murmured, "I owe you another favor..."
Xu Huo gave a relaxed smile. "We're friends. No need to be so formal."
Zhou Ning seemed encouraged by his smile. She took a deep breath and said, "My trait has improved this time. I'd like to ask for your guidance."
"I wouldn't call it guidance. Let's find a place to spar after we eat." Xu Huo said.
Before they could finish their meal, the restaurant owner personally came over. Not only did he waive their bill, but he also proactively offered them a pre-loaded membership card.
"If you have time, feel free to come by often. Any hotel under my group offers free room and board to players. If you want to stay long-term, just let us know in advance, and we can prepare daily necessities according to your requirements." The round-faced owner smiled warmly, making people feel like a spring breeze.
"Who said we're players?" Zhou Ning's face darkened.
The round-faced owner quickly said, "Don't misunderstand, don't misunderstand. It's all over the internet. They say players have much bigger appetites than ordinary people. The country has also released some methods for identifying players, and you all look extraordinary... Players are also our fellow countrymen. There's not much else we can help with, so we just want to do our part."
"Please don't feel pressured. I have no ill intentions. Even if you're not players, that's fine. Let's just build a good connection!"
Xu Huo saw sweat forming on his forehead and reached out to take the membership card. "Thank you."
The owner's smile became even more sincere, and he politely saw them out.
Once outside, Hu Wenhu couldn't help but say, "If only everyone had this attitude toward players."
"Dream on," Yuan Yao chimed in. "Right now, other areas in Zone 014 are in chaos and misery. Only our place is still relatively stable. Players made huge sacrifices before, plus the country's propaganda. Except for the cannibals, ordinary people are looking at players through rose-tinted glasses. Just wait and see. Before long, the disturbances caused by players will be dug up and settled."
"No way," Hu Wenhu said hesitantly. "The country is still encouraging ordinary people to join the player ranks."
"What's so strange about that? There are so many people in the world. You can't expect everyone to think the same way." Yu Qingqing said.
"But the living environment for players has indeed improved." Zhou Ning said. "A month ago, no player dared to show themselves. Now, some patrol teams in Ting City are even equipped with players, along with Special Defense Department credentials. If players are willing to maintain order in their spare time, the country provides potions and monetary subsidies."
"For now, these changes seem benign." Xu Huo spoke up. "Bringing things out into the open is better than letting them fester underneath."
"Still need to be careful." Zhou Ning added. "Besides ID numbers, lifestyle habits and blood can also identify players. That owner just now was gambling on getting involved with players. But as far as I know, there have been cases of players going missing in some places. Any scarce resource becomes a target."
"In other words, players aren't strong enough yet. Once player levels go up, the world will change again." Yuan Yao sighed.
"I want to live to see that day." Hu Wenhu said.
"Don't be so pessimistic, Little Tiger." Yuan Yao patted his shoulder. "Look, things are pretty good now, right? There are even instance guides on the forums. Maybe you'll get lucky and run into someone ahead of you. With instance guides, clearing them becomes much easier."
Hu Wenhu nodded repeatedly. "I submitted an instance guide and got some potions and white notes."
Xu Huo noticed Zhou Ning frowning and asked, "You didn't trade instance information for potions?"
Zhou Ning's expression was serious. "I don't trust those players. I don't want to give clearance information to those people. Every additional lawless player who survives means more people will suffer."
"You're overthinking it," Yu Qingqing said. "The country has regulatory measures. Once you get off the initial train, no matter where you are, if you don't report in time, someone will come to arrest you."
"That can only filter out cannibal players to the greatest extent. What about other players?" Zhou Ning shook her head. "I don't have that kind of self-sacrificing spirit. Anyway, I won't do it."
Yu Qingqing pursed her lips and said nothing more. Indeed, there were people who saw the game as a lawless place. She had already seen that on the initial train.
"You all go back first." Xu Huo cut off this topic, nodded to Yuan Yao and the other two, then said to Zhou Ning and her companion, "Let's go somewhere else."