Chapter 2373: Mermaid Game
The flat-headed man didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "The Mermaid Mask is the key to the Mermaid Game."
Xu Huo turned to look at Shi Shuai and the others. "Is this game in the Fish Feast Building?"
The little girl and the Painting Woman naturally looked at Shi Shuai, who waved his hand. "Don't look at me, I don't know either."
"I know." From the corner of the distant corridor, the round-faced player had returned, leaning half his body out and saying, "On floors with a number divisible by three, in rooms with a number ending in three, the Mermaid Game is played at a specific time. You just need to go in with someone wearing a Mermaid Mask. Generally, the Mermaid Mask is the game chip; without the chip, you can't open the door."
"What time?" Xu Huo looked down at the flat-headed man again.
"From eight to nine o'clock on the second night of Carnival Day," the flat-headed man said. "I can give you the mask."
Xu Huo didn't respond, just studied him.
The flat-headed man immediately became alert. "It's impossible for me to wear the Mermaid Mask. You have to be good-looking to wear it; most of the time, female players wear it."
"Besides, prop disguises won't work. They check before the game starts."
"So you've been there," Xu Huo said. "What exactly do you play inside?"
The flat-headed man thought for a moment before answering. "It's basically a bunch of players with connections getting together to swap female companions, but it has to be done through gambling."
"The way it's played is relatively civilized—you sit at the gambling table, and the bet is the person you brought."
"Players with connections, meaning?"
"You've probably seen some young players in the Fish Feast Building who come with bodyguards. They're the ones with connections, mainly here for fun or to broaden their horizons. It's not necessarily all young people. The ones who like this game tend to be older."
Seeing that Xu Huo still seemed intent on making him take the place, the flat-headed man quickly added, "These people all bring bodyguards. Those who don't know the rules are lucky to just get beaten out; if they're not careful, they might even lose their lives!"
"Why are you so nervous?" Xu Huo said flatly. "With your looks, the chances of you getting beaten to death are pretty high."
The flat-headed man didn't mind being mocked. He said again, "Leave some leeway for future meetings. Let me off, and I'll owe you a favor. If you ever need help in the Fish Feast Building later, I'll definitely repay that favor!"
"It's been a while since I heard such a refreshingly fake lie." Shi Shuai walked over and crouched in front of him. "You don't think we're stupid, do you? You were just trying to kill us! Letting you go would be asking for trouble, wouldn't it?"
"Let's just blow him up," the Painting Woman said, asking the little girl for two micro bombs and rolling them in her hand.
The flat-headed man ignored the others and only looked at Xu Huo. "I mean what I say. There are so many players in the Fish Feast Building. Enemies today could become friends tomorrow. It's not like we have some deep, irreconcilable hatred. Can you really kill every player you've had a conflict with?"
"If you're not at ease, I can make a contract with you."
"I have a special item that can forcibly bind the people who make the contract. If I don't fulfill the agreed terms, the collateral item will be directly transferred to you."
"I can put up several of my A-grade items as collateral."
"A-grade items are hard to come by. No one gives them up easily."
The flat-headed man was doing his best to convince Xu Huo, but Xu Huo showed no sign of agreeing. However, the materialized objects on the man gradually receded.
"I'm not interested in making a contract," he said, moving the Black Blade away. "But if I can catch you once, I can catch you a second time."
The flat-headed man stood up and, true to his word, didn't run. He grinned. "I, Qiu Ping, am not a good person, but I never take back what I say! I'll definitely repay this favor!"
Xu Huo stepped back two paces and made a "please" gesture.
Qiu Ping nodded, took out two Mermaid Masks and placed them on the ground along with the invitation, then quickly left.
"You really aren't going to kill him?" Shi Shuai said with a hint of disappointment. "I thought you'd stab him in the back when he turned around!"
"If you want to, you can go finish him off yourself." Xu Huo picked up the masks and the invitation.
"Brother, are you thinking of playing the Mermaid Game?" the round-faced player finally came out, a bit excited. "This game isn't for just anyone, but if it's you, you can definitely handle it."
"Why do you say that?" the little girl asked curiously.
"You don't know. Besides betting female companions, this game also bets high-grade items, especially those players with deep pockets. They might lose over a dozen A-grade items in one go." The round-faced player rubbed his hands together. "Bro, take me along to see the sights!"
There were indeed quite a few people in the Fish Feast Building who came with bodyguards, clearly pampered young masters and ladies. A-grade items also varied in strength, so losing a dozen or so wasn't unheard of.
"If you know about it, why haven't you gone yourself?" the little girl asked again.
"My strength lies in gathering information, not fighting," the round-faced player coughed dryly. "You have to guard against those young masters turning hostile."
"There are quite a few A-grade players moving around here. If those people are staying long-term, the bodyguards they bring are mostly A-grade too. In terms of quality and quantity, they'll have an advantage in at least one area. It's not worth it for a few items." Xu Huo was about to put the masks away when someone suddenly ran over from a distance, urgently saying, "Can you sell me your Mermaid Mask?"
The newcomer was a female player. To show her sincerity, she walked over and first took off her own mask, a hint of anxiety on her face. "I really need a Mermaid Mask. I'm willing to trade three high-grade items for it."
"The Mermaid Game?" Xu Huo raised an eyebrow.
The female player's eyes flickered. "It seems you know about it too. The Mermaid Mask is actually useless for most players... That game isn't a good place. Rumor has it you can win A-grade items, but in reality, more people lose. It's not as profitable as just killing a few people."
The round-faced player pursed his lips. "Then why do you want the mask?"
The female player took a deep breath before saying, "I need to save a friend."
"I'll be honest with you. A friend of mine was captured and brought here. She doesn't have an invitation, and she was brought in as a 'mermaid.' If she hasn't been picked out by someone, she's most likely to end up in the Mermaid Game."
"Yesterday's draw was for mermaids, and today is Carnival Day. The people actually wearing Mermaid Masks are almost all dead, and the masks are hard to find, so..."
"The Mermaid Game hasn't started yet. This is my only hope." She met Xu Huo's gaze again. "Please, sell me the mask."
"One mask is a small matter," Xu Huo said. "But I heard someone has to bring the mermaid in."
The female player immediately understood. "I can put on the mask and go in with you."