Chapter 312: Everyone's Goals
The entire Flower City suddenly plunged into darkness. Although the Special Defense Department immediately ordered the restoration of power, the power company was helpless—the equipment was jammed and couldn't be restarted. Only one backup line remained operational, but that was a line added after the last player incident, capable of supplying only public facility lighting.
Team Leader Wu and the others then realized the abnormality outside. Normally, it would have been bright by this time. The prolonged darkness and the sudden malfunction of instruments indicated that Flower City had once again fallen under game power, and the scope had expanded to the entire city.
At the same time, Special Defense Department members stationed at various locations reported news. In the instant of the blackout, a large number of people within the city had vanished into thin air—ordinary civilians, special personnel, and players alike. Moreover, all entrances and exits of Flower City were sealed off by the darkness. Cars, helicopters, and drones couldn't get out, and contact with the outside world was impossible.
"I've got the worst fucking luck!" Team Leader Liao said furiously. "Is that fog zone from yesterday back again?"
Team Leader Wu, having lost most of his command authority over the Special Defense Department, hurried out anxiously. "Quick, find Professor Lan!"
"Wait a moment, it's best not to move around recklessly right now!" Team Leader Song called out to him while dialing Dai Wenqian, but the phone rang with no answer.
In that brief interval, the group had already walked out of the conference room. The corridor was pitch black. The Special Defense Department staff who had been moving around outside had all disappeared. The massive hospital fell into complete silence.
Team Leader Song shouted twice inside, but there was no response.
"Can't get through on the phone either," Team Leader Liao said, holding his phone.
Faint light came from outside, but it couldn't penetrate the hospital. Team Leader Wu turned on his phone's flashlight and quickened his pace toward the warehouse.
Team Leaders Song and Liao, along with several Special Defense Department members, followed. When they reached the warehouse, it was completely empty—not only were there no people, but even the cart that had been placed there earlier was gone.
"Did they leave after the power went out?" Team Leader Song asked.
Team Leader Wu's observation skills were still sharp. "Absolutely not. This warehouse looks exactly the same as when Xu Huo was first brought in. The hospital beds and some medical equipment are all gone."
"You mean they vanished into thin air too?" Team Leader Liao's eyes were filled with despair.
"Calm down, calm down," Team Leader Wu said, comforting himself as well as the others. "This situation might be similar to the fog zone from before—the game space overlapping with District 04. People disappearing doesn't mean they're dead. They might have been taken into the game space like before. Whether it's an instance or not, it's a good thing that players disappeared with them. They still have a chance to come out."
"For now, what we need to do is protect the hospital and search for survivors."
"Team Leader!" Sima Xiao'er's voice came from around the corner. He walked over with several other hospitalized players. "What's going on? As soon as the power went out, a lot of people disappeared. I only found these few in the nearby wards."
"The situation is unclear right now. Let's secure the hospital first. We'll deal with other matters later," Team Leader Wu said.
Team Leader Song was already contacting those whose phones could still get through, ordering Special Defense Department personnel to return to the hospital vicinity.
"I'm worried that other players might take the opportunity to break in and snatch people. Even though Xu Huo has disappeared too..." Team Leader Liao said.
"Set up two decoys to attract attention. Anyone who dares to break into the hospital at a time like this—don't show them any mercy," Team Leader Song decided on the spot.
Communications weren't completely cut off, so the Special Defense Department's response was relatively fast. But the moment they withdrew from the evacuation crowd, the players couldn't help but notice.
Among the players who had retreated into the agreed-upon ring-shaped zone, some had also vanished into thin air. The remaining ones immediately realized that the hospital must have had problems too.
In a group chat established by core members, some players mentioned that after the blackout, they had spotted people in the evacuation zone breaking away from the crowd and heading toward the hospital.
"The Special Defense Department and the Iron Triangle's people are all falling back to defend the hospital. Once both sides start fighting, the hospital will be the most dangerous place." Inside a building in the ring-shaped zone, a man in a hoodie and black mask observed the hospital surroundings with a white telescope. "No one's coming out. Xu Huo is still inside."
"We've approached the Iron Triangle several times, but they've ignored us. It's clear they're after Xu Huo," said a woman behind him, also in a hoodie and mask. "Half a month ago, those few were being chased around like dogs by the Special Defense Department. Today, they've brought over a dozen players. Their intentions are probably impure. Xu Huo can't fall into their hands!"
Another similarly dressed man walked over. There were faint scars on the parts of his face not covered by the mask. "What do we do next? Should we go rescue him? If we go over, our agreement with the Special Defense Department will be void."
"Forget about the Special Defense Department. Our target is Xu Huo," the black-hoodie man said, putting away his prop and addressing the others. "Remember, no matter what, Xu Huo's life comes first."
With that, he leaped from the window first. After him, over twenty players jumped down from the building one after another, heading straight for the hospital.
Not far away, in a concealed building, Dai Wenqian watched this scene and couldn't help but remark, "Like dumplings being dropped into a pot. This rabble actually has some skill."
He tossed aside his constantly vibrating phone and turned to Zheng Ke and the other seven. "Follow them and help out. Find a way to create opportunities for the Iron Triangle's people."
"But we don't know the forces behind the Iron Triangle. Letting them take Xu Huo away might not be a good idea," Zheng Ke said.
"They're not here to capture him—they're here to kill him," Dai Wenqian said. "Do as I say. Whether we can win over that hoodie crew depends on this."
Zheng Ke nodded. He was about to put on his mask and leave when his gaze suddenly stopped at a certain spot outside the window. "Xu Huo!"
Dai Wenqian turned around but only saw a figure flash past a tree. It did indeed look like Xu Huo.
"Wang Ya, you four proceed with the plan. Zheng Ke and the rest, follow me."
Two groups emerged from the front and back of the building—one heading toward the hospital, the other chasing after Xu Huo. After silence returned, Zhou Ning and the other three finally stepped out from the stairwell.
"Didn't Dai Wenqian join the Special Defense Department? Why is he here?" Shen Xin asked curiously.
"I read their lips," Liu Jia said. "He wants to create opportunities for those trying to kill Xu Huo. It seems he's trying to stir up conflict between the Special Defense Department and the players, playing both sides."
After hearing this, Shen Xin said, "I spent some time in Jing City before. Dai Wenqian is good at winning people over. When he defected from the player organization to the Special Defense Department, he poached quite a few people. This time, he's probably trying the same trick."
"So what are we waiting for? Let's go help," Hu Wenhu said. "Yuan Yao said Brother Xu is unconscious right now. He's completely at the mercy of those bastards!"
Zhou Ning, who had been silent, fixed her gaze on a shadowy corner. Suddenly she shouted, "Who's there! Come out!"
The other three immediately assumed combat stances, staring intently at the figure emerging from the shadows. Liu Jia was the first to see clearly. She exclaimed in surprise, "Xu Huo!"
Hu Wenhu quickly lit up his phone screen. It was indeed Xu Huo.
Xu Huo looked around at them. "How did you all end up together?"
"Liu Jia and I are friends. Yuan Yao asked for help, and that's how I found out you knew each other," Shen Xin explained. "I mentioned earlier that I went to join Gu Yu, but it didn't feel right, so I backed out."
Xu Huo nodded. Shen Xin was a player he had met in Decibel Town. When he had met Gu Yu in Jing City before, Gu Yu had briefly mentioned Shen Xin leaving her player organization.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital?" Zhou Ning asked curiously.