Chapter 2897: Why Risk Your Life
Xu Huo had already arrived at Sword City.
Just like when he entered Scepter City, he went directly to the government building and requested to see the local Archon.
Perhaps it was some special day, as the core players of Sword City were more concentrated than those in Scepter City. So when they saw him come to provoke, a large number of players swarmed out, intending to kill him and establish their authority.
This time, Xu Huo showed no mercy. He killed many people, including the three original Archons of Sword City. Only after he had crushed their momentum did he ask again:
"Who's in charge of the city now?"
A large group of Sword City players gathered near the government building, looking at each other. Finally, a female player who appeared to be around forty stepped forward. "If you have something to say, say it in front of everyone."
Ignoring the hatred hidden in her eyes, Xu Huo said, "I want to clear the King's Treasure instance. I hope you'll cooperate with my actions."
"Before coming here, I already reached an agreement with Scepter City. If you disagree, then Scepter City's people will take over Sword City."
"Scepter City?" Another white-haired player immediately stepped forward. "That Hu guy agreed?"
"If he didn't agree, Scepter City's fate would be the same as Pengfei City's," Xu Huo said.
The crowd gasped inwardly. They had already heard about what happened in Pengfei City. They originally thought Pengfei City had offended someone, but it turned out they were the chicken killed to scare the monkeys!
"You have half a day to consider. Give me your final answer by three in the afternoon."
Xu Huo turned to leave, but the white-haired player quickly added, "Cooperating with you to clear the instance might get us all killed."
"Someone cleared it ten years ago and didn't disappear. I imagine the same will happen ten years later," Xu Huo said. "Before I clear it, I can send some of you to other wormhole points."
"Instead of living in fear, choose a more stable life."
"These are the conditions I can offer."
"If you don't accept, I'll have other cities take over Sword City. I believe the other main cities will be very willing."
This time, he didn't say anything about destroying the city if he failed to clear it. Pengfei City's precedent was right there, more convincing than any words.
Regardless of what changes would happen in Sword City, Xu Huo immediately headed to the next stop: Crown City.
Earlier, he had learned from the players of Pengfei City that Crown City and King's City were the strongest among the twelve cities. He had already visited Scepter City and Pengfei City, and had spent some time in Sword City. By now, these two cities should have received the news.
Sure enough, when he teleported outside Crown City, the players from both cities had already gathered outside the city, facing him head-on.
Unlike other cities that deliberately isolated ordinary people, Crown City chose to have residential areas for ordinary people completely surround the main city, with only a high wall built in the middle.
Now, over a dozen defensive barriers had been set up both inside and outside the city. The outer residential area for ordinary people was too vast, so Xu Huo was blocked above that residential area.
"Friend, Crown City has some family matters to handle recently and isn't convenient for receiving guests. I'll have to ask you to stop here." A man who appeared to be nearly two meters tall stood at the very front, speaking politely but with unfriendly words.
Xu Huo glanced at the streets below, which were completely empty of people, then said, "I have business with the Archon of Crown City. Since King's City's people are also here, please pass along my message."
"I want to clear the King's Treasure instance. Please cooperate with me."
"And what if we don't cooperate?" The one who stepped forward from Crown City was an old man. His face was full of wrinkles, his expression fierce, and his narrow, long eyes were fixed on Xu Huo.
Xu Huo smiled slightly. "I believe the other main cities will definitely be willing to cooperate."
The old man let out a low snort, then said, "Time Evolution has its weaknesses. First, it has a control range. Based on your performance in Scepter City and Sword City, your actual control range isn't very wide."
"Second, the Evolver themselves cannot touch Time Power either."
"These are two publicly known weaknesses, but there's a third one."
"Oh?" Xu Huo seemed very curious. "What is it?"
"It's speed," the old man said confidently. "No matter how powerful you are, if you're slow, everything is useless!"
Before his words even faded, he had already flashed to Xu Huo's side and grabbed his shoulder with one hand.
He looked at Xu Huo, and Xu Huo looked back at him.
The next second, black matter surged out of nowhere, enveloped the two, and then quickly disappeared. Before the other players could react, in the blink of an eye, Xu Huo appeared between the two groups from Crown City and King's City.
"You...!" The two-meter-tall man and another King's City player who had been left behind instinctively turned around. Just as they were about to make a move, they suddenly realized that all their surrounding companions had been frozen by Time Power!
With no escape and worried that directly attacking would cause their companions to be killed, the two could only stand frozen in place, holding their items.
"I'm an easy person to talk to," Xu Huo said. "I want to clear the instance, and you cooperate with me. Everyone benefits."
"The conditions I offered to Scepter City and Sword City apply to you as well."
"Sending some people out of Zone 031 in advance is my trade condition. If you still refuse, then I'll have to settle for the next best option."
"I don't want to waste time. Why risk your lives?"
The two listened through gritted teeth. The King's City player forced out a few words: "What about Old Man Pu?"
"Who knows." Xu Huo genuinely didn't know. He asked again, "Can you give me an answer now?"
He had already visited the important main cities. Most of the remaining work wouldn't require his presence.
"We can't make the decision," the two-meter-tall man said. "The Archon isn't in the city..."
Xu Huo's expression darkened. He swung his hand back, and the tangent formed by "Time-Space Hand" shattered the Crown City wall behind him along with the defensive barriers.
Hearing the rumbling sound of buildings collapsing, he looked at the two-meter-tall man. "You should have time now."
The Archons of both cities finally appeared.
Unlike Scepter City and Sword City, which had multiple co-governing Archons, both cities had only one Archon each—a man and a woman, both appearing to be around fifty years old.
"I am Mei Zheng, Archon of Crown City. This is Lady Lou Fei, Archon of King's City."
"We are already aware of your request. We just want to know how you plan to clear the instance."
"Zone 031 has a history of elections," Xu Huo said. "Following the normal election process, the twelve main cities would elect me as King."
Mei Zheng laughed upon hearing this. "That probably won't work."
"If you want to overthrow the existing regime of the twelve main cities and seize control yourself, then perhaps taking over half the main cities would be enough."
"But an election requires nationwide participation."
"Although the concept of a nation is blurred within the King's Treasure instance, this nation actually includes the twelve main cities, seven large cities occupied by the Rebel Army, eleven marginalized small cities, and five medium-sized cities controlled by Stranded Players."