Chapter 2759: Instance Highlights
At first, it was just robots verifying his temporary identity. The third time, three Enforcement Team members arrived, not only to check his temporary identity but also demanding he remove his disguise prop to confirm his true appearance.
"This doesn't comply with District 022's laws." Xu Huo produced a lawyer's certificate he had obtained just half an hour ago. "In District 022, players have the right to refuse to show their true appearance as long as they haven't broken the law."
"Furthermore, citizens have the right to record law enforcement in public spaces. Your words and actions will be uploaded in real-time to the Message Collection Terminal."
"Several of you, your actions already constitute discrimination and illegality."
The three Enforcement Team members stared at him coldly. "Do as you're told. Refusing inspection—does that mean your identity is questionable?"
"If you have doubts, provide evidence. You need to present relevant proof before you can demand I remove my prop." Xu Huo said seriously. "District 022 follows the law. It's not a case of players doing whatever they want."
The three exchanged glances. Clearly, even without procedural justice, they intended to force Xu Huo to comply with the inspection. The purpose of this move wasn't really to see his true face but to provoke him into retaliation with minimal sacrifice.
Perhaps his travel log had attracted someone's attention, or perhaps it was to add highlights to this tourism instance. The Enforcement Team was blatantly trying to increase the difficulty.
Facing the three closing in, Xu Huo added, "I can remove the prop, but you must show your genuine law enforcement credentials."
With that, he clapped his hands. The instruments attached to their faces and credentials, which had altered their appearances and parts of the credential information, immediately failed. The true faces of the three Enforcement Team members were revealed.
Xu Huo read out their real names. "So you don't actually belong to the local Enforcement Department. I recall that the Enforcement Team is not allowed to enforce laws across cities during non-special periods. Disguising your identities to conduct identity checks on others is already illegal."
He patted the recorder on his person. "I will report this footage to the Enforcement Headquarters."
The three Enforcement Team members hadn't expected to be exposed so quickly. Their expressions soured, but under the watchful eyes of everyone, they couldn't go too far—otherwise, it would cross the line.
After they left, a player on the same aircraft approached to strike up a conversation. "They were probably trying to force you into becoming a wanted criminal. If you had fought back forcefully, you might not have been able to escape today."
"They wouldn't dare." Xu Huo said calmly. If they were only trying to add highlights to the instance by making things difficult for him, they wouldn't go so far as to make it ugly. The disguise was for the same reason—they wanted the instance to look more exciting, not to tarnish the government's reputation or reduce public trust.
He was sure that since the first attempt failed, they would come for him a second time soon.
"Let's get acquainted," the man said, sitting down across from him. "My name is Chai Sheng."
"Xu Zhi." Xu Huo nodded.
After a brief exchange, they learned they were heading into the same instance. Chai Sheng was already in the final third of the instance and was on his way to Snow Cake Castle to find a hidden-edition Snow Cake Doll.
"Actually, before I came, I had already contacted someone. They happen to have a Snow Cake Doll and agreed to trade with me." Chai Sheng looked at him. "But the other party kept delaying their conditions, just telling me to repeatedly take this aircraft, saying they would reveal the conditions when the time was right."
Xu Huo raised an eyebrow. "So, have you received the trade conditions now?"
Chai Sheng smiled at him. "Yeah..."
Before he could finish, he suddenly raised his hand and flung something forward. An umbrella-shaped prop flew past Xu Huo's ear. As the small umbrella opened, a defensive barrier enveloped the two of them. At the same time, water droplets peeled off the barrier and shot out like sharp blades in all directions!
Two players lurking behind Xu Huo were knocked back by the water droplets. The next second, everyone on the aircraft froze in place—not completely immobile, but their legs were stuck to the ground. Looking down, they saw crisscrossing black lines on the aircraft floor, resembling some kind of chessboard.
Xu Huo and Chai Sheng were also immobilized in their seats. At that moment, a human-head-sized die rolled in from behind. It landed with the number "4" facing up.
Seeing the number on the die, one of the attackers from the rear suddenly rushed forward, wielding a short blade. It cut through the umbrella barrier and aimed straight for Xu Huo's throat!
This prop was indeed impressive, because it not only sliced through the umbrella barrier but also broke through the space barrier Xu Huo had casually set up. Whether or not the other party was testing him, Xu Huo pressed his hand down, slammed the person to the ground, then pulled another player standing farther away toward him.
By this time, the aircraft had lost control under the gravity of the bone ring and was rapidly descending toward the ground. The two players took the opportunity to use interference props to break free from the space power's control. Probably thinking Xu Huo wouldn't dare let everyone on the aircraft die, they slashed at several passengers' legs and hurled the screaming travelers toward Xu Huo!
The gravity enhancement had already been lifted. The aircraft wobbled a few times before stabilizing. Xu Huo brushed aside the passengers pushed toward him, used a prop to cut off the possibility of space teleportation, and then brought both attackers off the aircraft.
After falling twice in the Spiritual Gate, the three of them transferred to a lake in the city park.
The two attackers reacted quickly. The moment they landed on the lake's surface, they swept up a large amount of lake water, which froze mid-air into dense ice shards shooting toward Xu Huo!
Having already lost the upper hand in the exchange, the two used the ice cones as a distraction while turning to flee.
Xu Huo stacked "Downhill of Fate," "Dreamy False Teeth," and "Wind Beneath Feet," flying swiftly through the air as he commanded one of them: "Hug the person next to you!"
The two, who were already falling toward the lake under the effect of "Downhill of Fate," immediately embraced each other. One wrapped both arms and legs around the other, dragging them both into the lake!
Unexpectedly, these two were also skilled in underwater combat. Even though they couldn't separate yet, they moved through the water like fish, quickly reaching the shore.
By then, the Enforcement Team was already rushing toward them. Xu Huo curled his lips into a slightly mocking smile, then used "String of Fate" to freeze the two under the lake. Following that, he twisted the Space Ray Blade and "Time-Space Hand" in turn... By the time he disappeared from the spot, a large amount of blood surged up from beneath the lake.
Not bothering with the pursuing Enforcement Team players, Xu Huo moved swiftly through the city, altering his appearance along the way. By the time he reached the city's edge, the players tracking him had been completely shaken off.
"Number 1423 has received the notice and will cooperate with personnel inspection." An Enforcement Team member approaching from a distance replied to their superior while moving closer to Xu Huo, signaling for him to show his credentials.