Chapter 2969: Change
As an outsider looking in, Zong Lanzhi was convinced that Xu Huo was just like those players who couldn't see the situation clearly—having resolutely entered Hai City after resolving the first-level combat zone, and now stepping forward to ensure the rights of non-players.
Zone fusion was a war between local zone players and outer zone players. Ensuring one's own survival was the only way to guarantee the zone's future. Yet someone was foolish enough to die saving the old, weak, sick, and disabled. If too many players died, what meaning was there in only the old, weak, sick, and disabled surviving? Wouldn't they still be doomed to perish sooner or later, just like the zone?
Ordinary people were indeed the foundation for the birth of players, but ordinary people without player potential could be sacrificed for trade-offs!
"Since Mr. Xu has spoken, I have no objections." After weighing the options, Zong Lanzhi cast a vote of approval. During their negotiations, people continued to die. Various conflicts and crimes kept erupting within Jing City. He could tell that Xu Huo was running out of patience.
Understandable—having just returned from an instance and rushing to emergencies everywhere, then immediately going to war with the Eerie Sound Knights, his mental and physical energy were severely depleted. No one would want to waste energy on pointless bickering.
"We have no objections either." Xiao Yue had already communicated with the player organization behind her.
Xu Huo looked toward the former government personnel.
The elderly man seated at the head rose and said, "We'll follow Mr. Xu's lead."
After speaking, he nodded to everyone and, accompanied by his secretary, left early.
Internal matters were resolved, but the instance wasn't over yet. The former government personnel were still needed to handle the main work.
And when some positions were officially changed to players, the frequency of suffocation deaths within Jing City began to decline. This meant their approach was correct.
But this situation lasted only half an hour. After half an hour, the number of suffocation deaths exploded exponentially, affecting people of all ages, including even one player!
"What the hell is going on?" Minister Ji was completely baffled. The government structure had been adjusted and was proving effective, which meant the population ratio of players to non-players had reached a balance and should be stabilizing. Even if it were unbalanced, it shouldn't suddenly explode like this. Were ordinary people unable to support so many players, or were players unable to sustain such a large population?
"Send more people away." Zong Lanzhi, as the temporary head of the Enforcement Department's First Division, immediately made a decision. "Although the government structure has changed, the instance's scope is limited to one city. Jing City has too many people."
After the government structure changed, many players who had been scattered throughout Jing City gathered near the safe zone. Most of them had connections with existing safe zone personnel. Their purpose in gathering was to clear the instance. Among them were many clever individuals who quickly offered speculations and corresponding plans.
Now was the perfect time to evacuate people.
The safe zone issued orders, and those united for clearing the instance began to act.
Xu Huo stood on a high vantage point, overlooking the figures rushing through the city, and gradually turned his gaze toward the distant sky.
"Any new leads?" Nie Xuan appeared on the rooftop and handed him a bottle of water.
"Not really," Xu Huo said. "Just a feeling that the zone fusion isn't over yet."
Nie Xuan wasn't surprised. "The Eerie Sound Knights are gone, but there are other player factions looking to cash in. These people come one after another, all trying their luck. If they can establish a foothold in Zone 014, they might even secure a stable resource supply channel in the future."
He turned to look at Xu Huo. "They might not be able to do much else, but grabbing what they can and running is still possible. And you're trapped in the instance right now—it's a good opportunity."
Xu Huo finally turned to look at him. "You're implying something?"
Nie Xuan turned around, leaning against the railing, his face half-hidden in shadow. "Aren't you going to kill some people?"
Although Nie Xuan looked down on those within the government who spent all their energy scheming for power, people like Zong Lanzhi, who directly stepped in to take over, weren't any better. And the very mindset of such people was dangerous.
Only caring about their own little patch of land, even looting national resources in the chaos—if people like that rose to power, what about the players who fought to protect their country and homeland?
Even if a zone government were established and power transferred, it shouldn't be handed to people like Zong Lanzhi.
Xu Huo glanced at him briefly, then looked forward again. "What's the difference? Some people walk ahead, but that doesn't mean they'll always walk ahead."
"It looks lively now, but after a while, things will change again."
Nie Xuan caught his implication. "You think they'll refuse to let go once they taste the sweetness of power?"
"People have limited energy," Xu Huo said flatly. "No matter how lofty their ideals or how great their ambitions, as long as their energy runs out, they'll naturally think of retreating."
"The biggest advantage ordinary people have over players is that they don't have to face instances. And players—unless they want to become ordinary again—have to keep fighting in the game."
"Staying alive is the most important thing for a player."
Most of those who could become core members of the upcoming zone government were people with high evolution rates. That also meant their future instances would be even more dangerous. How many ready-made guides and low-risk high-level instances were there?
Right now, people like Zong Lanzhi wished players could directly replace the government. But the reality was that they couldn't. A massive amount of tedious, complicated work required enormous manpower and energy. This wasn't something a small group or even a minority with strong energy could accomplish—it required enough people.
"Exactly because of that, these people might leave a mess behind." Nie Xuan didn't want the hard-won situation to be thrown into chaos by a few people's selfishness.
"The military and the former Special Defense Department have a huge number of players. Their advantage is their existing network of connections. Even if they're separated out, they're still the backbone of the nation. With them around, no one can wreck the situation." Xu Huo paused, then added, looking at him, "But if you think you can solve everything once and for all, that's absolutely impossible. As long as this world is in human hands, problems will keep coming, one after another."
Nie Xuan exhaled, then said, "I hope they'll behave."
"By the way," he said, as if just remembering, "the higher-ups asked me to check if you want anything. The IOUs the Special Defense Department wrote you before—no one dares to default. But once players take over resources everywhere, you probably won't be able to get anything better. While the authority is still in the hands of former government personnel, consider it both payment and reward. As thanks for what you did for Zone 014 during the fusion incident, you can take some rare items."
He pulled out a list with a flourish. "I brought the list for you. Pick whatever you want. But in my opinion, taking everything wouldn't matter either."
"Alright," Xu Huo said without any hesitation, scanning the list as he spoke. "And have the Special Defense Department write me a few more IOUs."