Chapter 2790: Probing
The next day when they came to Whale Garden again, Ms. Ruo had already returned to normal. There were more smiles on her face, and she treated them more intimately, no longer ending conversations in just a few words like their first meeting.
During their conversation, she mentioned the coexistence between her personalities. The reason she lived alone in Whale Garden was that sometimes her siblings would suddenly come out to kill people. Of course, those they killed weren't exactly good people, but dealing with the corpses still gave her quite a headache.
She had long since left the game and become a Gray Player. Although she was no longer under the control of District 022, if she killed too many people, the government departments could still interfere if they wanted to. Moreover, she felt that recently there seemed to be an undercurrent stirring, and certain people were growing less and less patient with her.
She didn't necessarily have to stay in District 022, but if possible, she didn't want to move in the short term. She had already grown accustomed to life here.
"This isn't just a problem of dealing with corpses," Gong Ying said. "Nine times out of ten, someone is trying to force your hand. Forget corpses—even if you stepped on an ant, they could use it to attack you."
Ms. Ruo let out a soft laugh. "That's not quite the case. I suspect it's an old enemy of mine."
Gong Ying was somewhat surprised. "You have enemies?"
"Many enemies," Ms. Ruo said. "I joined the Game Government Base very early on, completing instances while working for the Game Government. The reason I could retire and live in peace so early was because I made significant contributions—most of which involved human lives."
"Contract Staff of the Game Government Base usually only handle station and track maintenance. Would they assign ordinary players to do cleaning work?" Xu Huo was slightly surprised.
Ms. Ruo nodded. "The district I was born in is somewhat different from ordinary game districts. Many of us spent our entire lives striving to join the Game Government Base, become Gray Players, and then retire safely."
"Of course, the Game Government isn't as neutral as it appears on the surface. They are scattered across different wormhole points and are easily influenced by local environments. There are plenty of people with selfish motives—plundering resources and eliminating obstacles all require manpower. Some things that Game Government personnel can't or won't do are outsourced to Gray Players."
Ms. Ruo had her own "work" habits. She was also accustomed to having other personalities clean up after her jobs. Most of her siblings didn't know or care how the cleanup personality handled things, but perhaps that was how she had left traces.
The change in attitude from the District 022 District Government signaled that she had lost this layer of protection.
"The young man who came yesterday was just the lightest probing," Ms. Ruo said, taking a sip of tea. "I could smell the scent on him—a scent unique to my enemies."
Gong Ying was a bit skeptical. Even if what Ms. Ruo said was true, that guy from yesterday clearly couldn't be an important figure liaising with her enemies.
"What do you plan to do?" Xu Huo asked.
"I'm not sure," Ms. Ruo said, looking toward the underwater Star River. "Maybe I'll die here."
"Don't be so pessimistic!" Gong Ying quickly comforted her. "There are plenty of places like District 022 in the game. At worst, you can move!"
Ms. Ruo turned back and smiled at the two of them.
Xu Huo understood her meaning well. She was someone who did dirty work for the Game Government Base. Having stayed in Lake City for over a decade without issue, suddenly being found meant two possibilities: either the Game Government Base had stopped keeping her information confidential or could no longer protect it, or one of her other personalities had left clues while handling matters, allowing her enemies to track her here.
In either case, once she was targeted, it would be very difficult to shake them off—unless she could use the cross-wormhole point teleportation device in District 022. But even that couldn't guarantee 100% safety, because certain traits and items in the game had the ability to track across wormhole points.
The fact that her enemies hadn't come to kill her immediately but instead negotiated with District 022 was very telling—her enemies were definitely not a rabble.
"Is it just for revenge?" he asked. "Is it revenge, or something else?"
Ms. Ruo lowered her head and chuckled softly. "Maybe they think I know the secrets of the Game Government Base. People who have suffered under the Game Government band together, and what they most want to do is retaliate against the culprits. I, as a mere blade, am not that important."
"Unfortunately, how could the Game Government Base trust someone like me? I don't have anything in my hands that could be used to atone."
"Even if you say that, others might not believe it," Gong Ying said. "Better to run first. Maybe you can escape?"
Ms. Ruo shook her head. "Burdened by sin, my heart has always been tormented. If someone could kill me, it would end my suffering."
"I'm just waiting now."
She leaned against the window, lonely, sorrowful, and beautiful, her expression helpless as she gazed at the garden of flowers and plants.
Gong Ying's sympathy was practically overflowing from her eyes. But Xu Huo, who also witnessed this scene, showed little emotional change. After a moment, he said, "Is there anything you need my help with?"
Ms. Ruo turned back. "You're only here to do the instance. Why get involved?"
Gong Ying's sense of righteousness erupted. "Just say it. We'll do what we can!"
Ms. Ruo seemed to hesitate for a long time before opening her hand. A natural green gem appeared in her palm. She looked at Xu Huo. "I can never return to my hometown. She has a grave there. If possible, I hope you can bury this gem in that grave. It is me."
The gem floated up from her hand and drifted slowly toward Xu Huo. Just as he was about to reach for it, Gong Ying was quicker, snatching the gem and saying that such a small matter she would definitely handle properly. However, she still suggested that Ms. Ruo prioritize moving, since so many years had passed and there were many ways to atone.
Xu Huo glanced at Gong Ying, then brought up the District 022 Government. "The District Government has no reason to cooperate with outsiders to disturb you. Maybe you can turn the situation around."
Judging by how District 022 treated players from other zones, if they were truly so righteous, Punishment City wouldn't exist.
"Thank you for your kindness. I'll think about it," Ms. Ruo said.
Today's conversation ended there. Xu Huo called Gong Ying to leave, but she was too worried and offered to stay in Whale Garden to accompany Ms. Ruo in case anything unexpected happened.
Xu Huo gave her a half-smile. "Do you think you can protect her?"
Gong Ying said righteously, "Doesn't a strong person need protection too?"
"Fine then," Xu Huo said, lifting his chin. "Give me the gem."
How could Gong Ying possibly hand over something she had already gotten? She immediately put on a fawning smile. "Let's talk it over. Everything is negotiable. Ms. Ruo, I'll come see you again tomorrow morning!"
Ms. Ruo smiled as she watched them leave.
"Brother Xu, what's your clearance souvenir? If it's not the gem, can you let me have it?"
Xu Huo turned around and said slowly, "I don't think it's of any use to you."