Chapter 2904: Talking Nonsense in Broad Daylight
In the luggage compartment, Xu Huo packed up anything of little use and sold it all to the game. Even if the individual value wasn't high, the sheer quantity added up to a decent amount of money.
As for the props and instruments, he picked out about a tenth, mainly instruments and special items. The single-use items weren't particularly outstanding, so he bundled the rest and handed them over to Nie Xuan. Compared to selling, these items would be more useful to the players of Zone 014.
As he passed the items over, he added a note: these should be distributed as much as possible to players below B-rank.
Two years had passed since entering the game, and Zone 014 should already have some A-rank players. Whether these A-rank players were naturally gifted or had climbed the ranks by following guides, they should already be equipped with the best items. Even if they had shortcomings, the national government would have prepared for that.
But the number of A-rank players was still small, meaning they wouldn't play a major role in the zone fusion. The backbone would still be B and C-rank players. Not that these two ranks would be ignored by the nation, but with limited resources, it was hard for them to get A-rank items and instruments. In same-level battles, having an A-rank item or instrument could greatly increase their survival rate.
Although compared to the total number of players and the area of Zone 014, these items weren't much, and once a large number of instances started generating, the incoming A-rank players wouldn't be few, having something was better than nothing.
Moreover, if A-rank players wanted to cause trouble, relying solely on B-rank numbers couldn't stop them. At that point, it would depend on the deployment of various national governments. Going head-to-head might not be advantageous, but figuring out the intentions of players from other zones would allow for adapting measures to local conditions—after all, it was their territory.
Nie Xuan had been so busy lately that he barely had time to sleep, often relying on potions to push through. After Xu Huo sent over the props, Nie Xuan quickly sent back a video.
Xu Huo looked at the state of the person in the video and wanted to ask why he always looked like he was on the verge of death every time he saw him, but Nie Xuan sending the video clearly had another purpose.
"I've already looked at the props list. The number of A-rank players in our country isn't large yet. Zone 014 has started seeing instances on a small scale, and I estimate the fusion will last a long time until instances break out fully."
"Recently, the Special Defense Department has begun arranging player upgrades in batches. Once players reach A-rank, they can buy some life-saving potions from the game channel that can't be obtained elsewhere. No matter how many we have, it won't be enough."
"Although the military and the Special Defense Department have tried their best to purchase instruments and potions from various channels, truly good things are scarce. There will likely be heavy casualties."
"The Platinum Eye instruments have been delivered. As you requested, one of the Non-Game Area Simulators has been set up in the core safe zone. The Special Defense Department has already arranged for personnel to protect your parents and family around the clock. If anything happens, they will be evacuated first."
"Also, the movements of the Eerie Sound Knights have been strange lately. They seem to be deliberately contacting some wanted criminals, causing chaos in many zones. I suspect Jin Feixue's final destination is Zone 014, but it's hard to predict where he'll start."
"As for some personnel deployments I can disclose, I'll send you a list later. If you return from the instance, you can decide on the battlefield based on the situation."
"But everything else is secondary. Your life is the priority."
"If Zone 014 suffers a heavy blow, I personally hope you will prioritize your own life at all times. With you here, no matter how severe the trauma to Zone 014, there will be a chance for it to rise again in the future."
"Never take risks on impulse. Remember this."
Xu Huo understood his veiled hint and quickly replied, "Take it easy. Don't send yourself to the grave before the zone fusion even happens."
Nie Xuan sent back a smiley face.
Just as he finished sorting things out, the players of King's City brought in several ticket players, including the buzz-cut man he had seen before.
As soon as he entered the hall, he spotted the gemstone throne placed beneath the statue and stared at it intently. "Is that the King's Throne?"
Xu Huo sat on the steps not far in front of the throne, with some scattered notes and manuals on the ground. He picked one up and flipped through it casually, not even looking up as he said to the newcomers, "King's City will arrange accommodation for you. During the election period, you'll stay in the city and run errands. If I successfully clear the instance, you can imitate me in the future."
Imitate? How could they imitate?
Was he talking nonsense in broad daylight!
"I heard that Crown City has made some moves. I doubt they'll let you clear the instance so easily," the buzz-cut man said. "There are forty-two ticket players who came to King's City this time. We can take over guarding the King's Castle from the other stranded players. Even if the twelve main cities try anything, it'll be hard for them to hide it from us."
He almost outright said that the people of King's City were physically present but mentally absent. Although they were guarding outside, whether it was them or other main cities trying something, they would probably turn a blind eye.
The players of King's City were a bit angry but didn't say anything. They didn't need to choose sides, nor did they need to earn Xu Huo's trust.
"I actually think you're the ones who don't want me to clear the instance," Xu Huo said with a smile.
The buzz-cut man also smiled. "We'd love to reap the benefits, but the election has already started. I'm afraid no one can take this peach."
This was a clearance method that couldn't be replicated. The other ticket players still came mainly to understand the layout of the twelve main cities and the situation of the players. If Xu Huo could send away a large number of stranded players, they could later ally with the rebel forces for a counterattack.
Armed occupation of the four main cities was still the preferred clearance method for other players.
Xu Huo didn't continue this topic. Instead, he handed out two sheets of paper. "Take a look at this."
The buzz-cut man took them and saw that they were some revised legal provisions. Besides prohibiting the massacre of ordinary people, there were also rules targeting the archons of the twelve main cities. The archons of the twelve main cities could not leave their governing cities unless a full-zone war broke out. The archons and the core officials they personally led had to be completely replaced every two years and could not govern again within six years.
Additionally, the twelve main cities were not allowed to initiate war against the allied forces. Every year, they had to assist the allied forces and the surrounding cities inhabited by ordinary people in the name of developing Zone 031—this was something every ruling faction of the main cities had to implement.
Of course, this set of rules also applied to the allied forces, except that the war restriction didn't bind them.
At the same time, neither the twelve main cities nor the allied forces could conduct human experiments in any form, especially on children under twenty.
After reading the subsequent provisions, the buzz-cut man thought for a moment and said, "You want to use special means to restrain these people? If it's a prop, it might be hard to implement according to your original intention."
"Also, aren't you afraid that these restrained players will divert the trouble, leading later ticket players to slaughter all the ordinary people?"