Chapter 2614: Then Can I Snatch It?
But regardless of which speculation was correct, following the Night Parade to escape the restricted zone was definitely not an option. There was no other way to end the instance early—the only method was to have rescue players continuously send trapped players out of the restricted zone, thereby reducing casualties.
Fortunately, the players within the instance site did not attempt to forcefully break through the blockade barrier to flee elsewhere. Most players displayed exceptional moral character and integrity at this critical moment.
The turning point came on the fourth day of the restricted zone. After A-rank players from Zone 001 joined forces to destroy three Night Parade teams that were about to form, the number of head-covering masks snatching people across the entire instance site decreased. The expansion of the restricted zone also stalled, and the expected Night Parade occurrences in eight cities suddenly dropped—Zone 001 had discovered a genuinely effective way to delay the instance. At the very least, under these circumstances, casualties would no longer continue to rise. And without enough Night Parade teams, the instance's ability to kill and rob high-level players also lost its previous intensity. With fewer powerful players being eliminated, the growth of the Night Parade teams was slowed down.
This gave all instance sites room to breathe. With the restricted zone no longer expanding, some citizens had already resumed normal life. After all, as long as they stayed far away from the restricted zone, those flying head-covering masks were not entirely impossible to defend against.
One had to admire Zone 001's recovery ability. Faced with such a major crisis, even ordinary citizens could stabilize themselves so quickly.
"Can't leave anyway. Gotta live somehow—what difference does it make how you live?" someone thought philosophically.
The people rescued from the restricted zone were gradually released. Old Mr. Xi couldn't go home, so he came to find Xu Huo. The three of them visited Jing Shi again.
Jing Shi gratefully hosted them and invited them to stay.
"Everywhere's the same," Old Mr. Xi said without objection. He asked his staff to send over his tools—he was going to start researching how to craft an item for Xu Huo.
"Let me be clear upfront: this item might not be made quickly. You can wait for me in Zone 001, but don't nag me every day."
Xu Huo naturally had nothing to say. His main reason for staying was to learn more insights about temporal and spatial power from predecessors like Jing Shi. After chatting with Jing Shi for a few days, he also met Ogawa's teacher—the famous master clockmaker.
This master clockmaker was not an Artificer himself. He couldn't craft items, but his skill in making clocks was extraordinary. Among the clocks he had made, some had turned into time items. This was not only the game's recognition of his craftsmanship but also a unique stroke of fortune. As a result, many people came to learn from him, seeking to understand the art and the spirit of the craftsman while also trying to comprehend time evolution.
Old Mr. Xi knew this master clockmaker. His expression was complicated when mentioning him. "He's a decent person, but he can't tell right from wrong."
Xu Huo raised an eyebrow. "If he can't tell right from wrong, can he still be considered decent?"
"He doesn't do bad things, but he prioritizes making clocks above all else. Even if someone completely unscrupulous brought him suitable materials, he'd still take the job."
Zone 001 was a special district where everyone had a "law enforcement consciousness." Every individual had their own judgment of "evil" and firmly believed they were right. Those who were vague and ambiguous in their dealings were the minority.
"His craftsmanship is excellent. Since you have the chance, you should go see him too. If he weren't trapped in the instance site, you might never get to meet him."
Old Mr. Xi clearly had no intention of meeting the clockmaker and retreated to his room early.
The master clockmaker didn't come alone. Behind him followed more than a dozen apprentices, including the female player Xu Huo had seen on the train who used a Primordial Stone as an ornament.
The master clockmaker was called Master Cong, a taciturn old man. However, unlike Old Mr. Xi, he was very burly, with visibly powerful arms and hands covered in calluses. When he looked at people, his gaze was calm, without any hint of scrutiny or evaluation.
To him, people seemed to be all the same—including the apprentices following him.
After Jing Shi arranged his accommodations, he went to his room to rest, leaving an assistant to inform the others that the next class time was to be determined. The apprentices could move freely within the host's permission.
Jing Shi's courtyard was large, and since Ogawa was also an apprentice, preparations had been made in advance. Accommodation and meals were scheduled, handled by household robots.
The Painting Woman could no longer hold back and ran off to find the female player. The female player and her companions were still wearing apprentice uniforms and were very friendly. They lent the jade pendant to the Painting Woman again.
The Painting Woman played with it for a while, then asked where she could buy the Primordial Stone numbered S-112.
"Little sister, ordinary people can't buy this," the man beside her said with a smile. "People who have this kind of Primordial Stone usually aren't short on money and won't sell it."
The Painting Woman thought for a moment. "Then can I snatch it?"
The three people at the table all looked at her. The female player said meaningfully, "Oh? How would you snatch it?"
The Painting Woman raised her hand, intending to stuff the jade pendant into her chest—this was her usual practice. In the past, when she got the Light Gentleman medal, she would hide it in her clothes. But that wouldn't work now.
Xu Huo grabbed her arm. "This is someone else's property."
The Painting Woman looked very disappointed. She reluctantly took out the jade pendant and placed it properly, her longing completely undisguised.
"You're quite interesting," the female player said with a smile. "No one has ever said they'd snatch something from me right in front of my face and actually tried to do it."
She looked at Xu Huo. "You haven't taught your sister well."
"She's a bit unfamiliar with social norms," Xu Huo said with a gentle smile. "She doesn't understand what consequences such actions might bring. I apologize to you on her behalf."
The female player stared at him, her gaze filled with scrutiny. It wasn't hesitation about whether to teach him a lesson—she was seriously examining him, as if making a long evaluation.
Xu Huo remained silent, calmly waiting for her final decision.
"The tea has just been brewed. I've been remiss in hosting our distinguished guests," Jing Shi said as he arrived in the garden, instructing robots to serve tea and snacks. As if unaware of the tense atmosphere, he smiled and invited them to taste the pastries made by the new chef, then arranged for more robots to move away the floating head-covering masks.
In Jing Shi's estate, every living person wore a hood or mask-type item or device, which was enough to deal with the current slow-moving instance.
Of course, drinking tea under a sky filled with eerie head-covering masks that could bite people's heads off was a bit strange, but humans had strong adaptability.
The female player did not pursue the Painting Woman's earlier behavior. Instead, she made a gesture of refusal, clearly indicating she had no intention of sharing afternoon tea with them.
Xu Huo tactfully took the Painting Woman and left.
Back inside the main building, the Painting Woman quietly typed a message: "Can we snatch it and run right away?"