Chapter 2896: Mr. Hu
"Disappeared? What do you mean?" the short-haired female player pressed. Pengfei City wasn't one of the twelve main cities, but it was a large city built by a group of stranded players—large in population, strong in strength, and a target the Scepter City wanted to win over.
The messenger looked somewhat panicked. "The whole city collapsed. According to our people, it started suddenly from the northwest, and in the blink of an eye, it covered the entire city. Whether it was buildings or the metal used for foundations, everything turned to powder. Once the ground caved in, the buildings above collapsed too..."
"Didn't they catch the one who did it?" the short-haired female player immediately asked. "Was there a major conflict inside the city?"
The young player shook his head. "Right now, the people of Pengfei City are searching everywhere for the culprit, but I'm guessing they've already left."
"This is the real warning," Mr. Hu said.
Choosing Pengfei City, one of the cities outside the twelve main cities, was meant to tell others that he could easily destroy a large city—the twelve main cities were no exception. Once he had no hope of clearing the instance, even if it was just to vent his anger, he would destroy the cities these stranded players had painstakingly built!
"Did he really do it?" The others were also uneasy. No one had ever destroyed a city before. They had only expanded on the existing cities. It was hard to say whether the destruction of the twelve main cities or the removal of the King's Treasure would more easily lead to the instance's disappearance!
If the instance disappeared, every single one of them would die!
"Unite with the other cities and kill that person!" the tattooed man said with a vicious look.
"Kill him? You say it so lightly," the middle-aged man standing beside Mr. Hu said. "He's a Temporal Evolver. He can kill more than twenty people with a raise of his hand. Don't tell me you think he can only kill those twenty-plus, or do you think he doesn't have any Defense Items?"
If he could even get his hands on an instrument that crosses wormhole points, the level of items he carried wouldn't be low either... He might even be holding Super Items!
"I've already decided to cooperate with him in clearing the instance," Mr. Hu said at this point. Meeting the confused or angry gazes, he added, "It's not that I don't dare to fight to the death, but it's meaningless. Even if we manage to drive him away this time, there's no guarantee he won't come back for revenge later. It won't be as easy to talk then as it is today."
"Besides, he's determined to take the King's Treasure. Although the person who cleared the instance ten years ago didn't make the instance disappear, times have changed, and the situation is uncertain. Rather than waiting for an unknown outcome, it's better to hold onto the chips we have now."
"You're just afraid of dying!" the tattooed man said, his anger rising. "Afraid he'll kill you and let someone else take your place!"
"Shut up!"
"Silence!"
Not only the other five administrators but also many core players glared at him, but there were just as many standing on the tattooed man's side.
"In the end, the other main cities will have to compromise too. What conditions will they propose?" Mr. Hu said earnestly. "From today on, the twelve main cities won't be peaceful."
"Don't act rashly. Don't let chaos break out among ourselves before the enemy even arrives."
After speaking, he looked at the tattooed man and his group. "Your ideas aren't bad, but killing that player is very difficult. I've already agreed, so I'll have to ask you to stay in the basement for now."
The tattooed man and his group's faces changed, and they immediately tried to run. But Mr. Hu simply raised his hand, and countless silver flying needles shot up from under the grass. Under the interference of the instruments, some people quickly fell poisoned. The rest were subdued under the siege of others. Once the Spider Locks were put on, they could only be dragged away stiffly.
"Mr. Hu, are you really sure he'll keep his promise?" the middle-aged man spoke again. "I'm afraid it won't be easy to convince the others."
The possibility of leaving through the teleportation channel couldn't benefit all stranded players, and Mr. Hu's decision to cooperate would inevitably arouse suspicion among those below.
"Then it depends on which gamble they choose," Mr. Hu said with a helpless smile. "Whether to bet that the instance will disappear after the King's Treasure is taken, or to bet that the instance will disappear after the twelve main cities are destroyed."
After that, he called the people present into the Scepter Building. Only after isolating them from the other players' view did he roll up his sleeve and reveal the overly dry skin on his elbow to the core members.
"Mr. Hu!" Everyone was shocked. This was a symptom of Degeneration!
"It's already appeared in multiple places," Mr. Hu sighed. "I have a feeling I won't live much longer. This person's arrival is really too coincidental."
"The twelve main cities seem to balance each other, but you all know the real situation. King City and Crown City's strength is subtly surpassing the other main cities. Once I die, Scepter City will inevitably fall into chaos for a while. Then King City and Crown City are very likely to take advantage of the situation."
"Whether they succeed or not, it will be hard for you to continue giving orders in Scepter City. And if other main cities want to take over Scepter City, they definitely won't leave you—core members with some connections and influence in the city—alive."
"I was just worried about your future situation when this person suddenly appeared. If we can really leave and completely escape this instance, it will be the last thing I can do for you."
"Mr. Hu..." Everyone present was moved, but Mr. Hu waved his hand to signal them not to be like this. "Xiao Ye and the others just can't see it clearly. I'll convince them. But to avoid unnecessary trouble, don't let them out for the time being."
"Don't reveal the news about teleporting away for now. First, calm down the people below. As for what excuse to use, we'll wait and see."
In the end, the other main cities would probably cooperate too. Couldn't they even come up with an excuse to fool the people below?
"You may go. Try to keep things stable. It's just a player who broke into Scepter City. It's not like it hasn't happened before."
Mr. Hu dismissed the crowd and went deeper into the building's basement, to the place where the tattooed man and his group were being held.
After removing the Spider Locks from them, he said with a stern face, "You're too impatient. If you stir up trouble, how will we clean it up?"
"Is the news even something that can be hidden?" the tattooed man said sarcastically. "Everyone knows that the appearance of a new king might cause the instance to collapse. Do you think others won't suspect your motives? Plenty of people want to leave here!"
"Then you should shut your mouths and cooperate!" Mr. Hu scolded. "There are people in Scepter City who want to leave. Don't the other main cities have them too? Once those who want to leave become the majority, or if they take control of the twelve main cities, the situation will be different!"
The tattooed man looked puzzled.
"I'll tell you plainly now. Taking the King's Treasure won't affect the instance," Mr. Hu said. "As long as the instance doesn't disappear, those who want to leave will leave, and those who want to stay will naturally become the backbone of the twelve main cities."
The tattooed man was half-convinced. "You're not trying to set me up, are you!"
"I knew you were an idiot, but I didn't expect you to be this stupid. Going to kill that surnamed Yu means death. The instance disappearing also means death. If you want to die early, I won't stop you. It's up to you whether you're willing to wait or die right now!" Mr. Hu said impatiently. "If you still want to have the final say in Scepter City, then wait quietly first!"