Chapter 2932: Deterrence
Xu Huo's strength was obvious to all. Even the ticket players who hadn't initially paid much attention to the situation in Country X had their eyes fixed on him due to the uproar on the online platforms. After all, given the current gap between Zone 014 and the outer zones, this district only had this one player who could be put on display.
But he was *too* impressive.
The deaths of the wanted criminals hadn't been recorded, so some people only knew that these criminals were dead. As for how they died or where, no one could say for sure. Without witnessing it firsthand, it was hard to say they hadn't simply met their end in other districts.
However, the videos later captured from the combat zones were too horrifying. He had run through so many combat zones in a row without even using a prop. Even if he were a dual Temporal and Spatial Evolver, reaching a level where he could kill at will was something an ordinary person could never achieve. Among so many Super Evolvers, how many could wield Spatial Evolution power with such ease?
Therefore, even if only this one person had emerged in the entire Zone 014, it was enough to make some players cautious.
If Xu Huo were only exceptionally strong in Spatial Evolution, not yet at Lawrence Li's level, it would still be difficult for him to instantly kill others. If he couldn't win, he could just run; escaping with a ticket was easy enough.
But he had also evolved Time. Although for now, he only seemed to freeze players rather than using Time power directly to kill, no one dared to bet that he couldn't. And being targeted by such a Temporal Evolver would be truly disastrous.
As everyone knew, the stronger the ability, the more vengeful the person. The Box Carrier was a typical example. And why could Zone 011 in E27, a later-formed district, single-handedly swallow up other districts formed before and after it, forcing the game to fill the designation with new districts? It was because Zone 011 had a Super Player with Temporal Evolution. Aside from the districts at A-level wormhole points, how many districts at the later wormhole points dared to challenge him?
Therefore, the more famous players, or those whose prop usage had a personal signature, all fell silent in unison.
Of course, this didn't mean they had truly become docile. They just weren't openly declaring war on Country X's players. Snatching some resources was still easy.
At this point, incidents of venting anger by killing ordinary people or players almost completely ceased. In a few densely populated cities that had been taken hostage, many people had died during the stalled negotiations between the country and the players. Seeing no resolution, and with Xu Huo's sudden emergence, the players holding the hostages quietly disappeared, no longer negotiating terms, silently melting back into the crowd.
Over in Jing City, which had been in a state of panic, they received reports with disbelief. In their view, these outer zone players were usually the type to go all the way. They thought they would have to wait for Xu Huo to deal with them to end the matter. Who would have thought that before Xu Huo even arrived, these people would retreat on their own!
Inside the underground conference room, a group of leaders sat in silence. After a long while, someone finally spoke, "It seems this fusion crisis will end sooner than we predicted."
Looking at the other countries in Zone 014, and then at Country X, where the situation had suddenly turned favorable, could a single Temporal Evolver have such a huge impact?
"Instruct the military and the Special Defense Department to dispatch specialized teams to cooperate with Xu Huo's actions. Give him whatever he needs. Information transmission and logistical support must keep up. At the same time, pay attention to his physical condition. The entire Zone 014 only has this one figure; we can't let him overwork himself," said the elderly man at the head of the table.
"Furthermore, a lot of his combat information has been leaked. The Eerie Sound Knights will definitely make a move before he fully matures. This is also their best opportunity."
"Have the strategic team formulate tactics against the Eerie Sound Knights centered around Xu Huo, considering the location and environment. At the same time, our players must also cooperate in the battle. We cannot let our hero fight alone!"
The people in the meeting room immediately sprang into action, arranging personnel, deploying props and instruments. Orders were sent to military bases and Special Defense Department strongholds across the country. The military forces that had been held back as a final reserve also entered the battlefield.
Ting City.
Team Leader Wu looked at the fighter jets circling in the sky, a puzzled expression on his face. "Why did so many suddenly show up? I haven't received any new orders. Did something happen?"
He immediately went inside to contact the Special Defense Department headquarters, wanting to align the information so that Ting City wouldn't fall behind. But the communication line was persistently busy. Just as he was getting worried, a message suddenly appeared on his private communicator. It was encrypted and read:
"Xu Huo is massacring the Special Defense Department headquarters!"
Team Leader Wu's heart skipped a beat, but he quickly judged this to be an enemy's attempt to sow discord. Why would Xu Huo massacre the headquarters personnel? He had just appeared in the southwestern combat zone!
"Not good!" Sima Xiao'er suddenly burst through the door, holding up his phone. "Team Leader, look at the message on the Vanguard Forum. Someone is saying Brother Xu has clashed with the Special Defense Department!"
Team Leader Wu was frantic and immediately pressed for details. "What the hell is going on!"
"It seems the headquarters ordered Xu Huo to provide support, and he refused. Somehow, the communication broke down and a fight started!" Sima Xiao'er said.
Team Leader Wu was dumbfounded. "What kind of reason is that?"
Unless the people at the headquarters had an IQ lower than 70, they wouldn't be so foolish as to try and order Xu Huo around. What ability or authority did they have to arrange Xu Huo? Relying on their big mouths?!
"These people are crazy, absolutely crazy. Because Xu Huo came back, Country X isn't in the same dire straits as other countries. What are they trying to do? Are they even citizens of Country X?!"
"Team Leader, it's hard to say," Sima Xiao'er said with a dark expression. "Xu Huo has lived in a mental hospital since he was a child. Who knows if his mind is stable? Maybe he wasn't sick before, but now he's having an episode. With his abilities, massacring the headquarters would be a piece of cake. How can we rely entirely on him?"
Team Leader Wu suddenly turned his head to stare at him. He quietly grabbed a speaker from the table behind him and smashed it directly onto Sima Xiao'er's head!
*Bang!* Sima Xiao'er stumbled back, his head bleeding profusely. Team Leader Wu seized the opportunity to run out, shouting loudly, "An outsider has infiltrated! Everyone be careful!"
As soon as Team Leader Wu ran out, another Sima Xiao'er came walking towards him from the front. He slammed on his brakes, turning back to look into the room. Where was the "Sima Xiao'er"? There was only a smashed speaker left!
"What's going on?" The Sima Xiao'er in front immediately ran over to ask.
Team Leader Wu reached out to stop him. "My mind is playing tricks on me. Are you Xiao'er?"
Having both experienced mental-type instances, Sima Xiao'er immediately said, "I know there's a hole in your floral boxers. Actually, I made that hole by shooting pebbles at it."
"Good, I knew it was you!" Team Leader Wu grabbed his ear and twisted it. "And you blamed my kid for it, making his mother give him a good beating!"
Sima Xiao'er followed his hand, quickly saying, "Great deeds require not getting bogged down in trifles. Team Leader, let's get to the main point!"