Chapter 402: The Ignorant Are Fearless
(Hold on) "Sun was right, some records can even damage human eyes, but these have all been processed, so you can look at them too." Ai Jia checked the time, "But it's best to finish within two hours, new files will be delivered soon."
Xu Huo said no problem, first helping them clear out the old record disks before picking some to watch.
"I'll go with you." Wan Tingfang followed him when he headed to the screening room, having picked out a few disks herself.
Having seen San Yang effortlessly control these boxes before, Xu Huo had assumed it was his trait or a prop. Only upon entering the screening room did he realize the entire room was a large-scale docking device. Bringing the record disks in was equivalent to connecting them; all he had to do was select which one to play.
This screening room could only play one disk at a time. After discussing it, they decided to watch them one by one. First up was the record Xu Huo had selected about track maintenance, specifically a special case of damage caused by spatial movement.
The record itself had been processed. When projected, it looked pitch black, but as the train moved, the three-petal space around the track shattered like a mirror. Suddenly, intense light burst from the fractured edges. Even processed, the light was still dazzling. Xu Huo instinctively covered his eyes, but soon the light turned colorful and softened.
In just over ten seconds, the light vanished, and the scenery around the train became fivefold.
The view near the track was typically divided into left, right, and sky, but after this intense light, the sky was split into three different weather patterns—sunny, thunderstorm, and overcast—separated by a single line.
In just over ten seconds, the light vanished, and the scenery around the train became fivefold.
The view near the track was typically divided into left, right, and sky, but after this intense light, the sky was split into three different weather patterns—sunny, thunderstorm, and overcast—separated by a single line.
"How amazing," Wan Tingfang marveled. "If you only looked at the light and the scenery, it was quite beautiful."
Unfortunately, beautiful things often carry unknown dangers. After this spectacle, the train's outer shell in the record showed signs of weathering. The special metal dissolved as lightly as ash. After traveling another minute, the train stopped, its internal instruments damaged beyond use.
The record ended there. There was no recording of how the people on board were handled afterward or how the train was repaired.
"There's no footage of the repairs. I wanted to see how they dealt with it," Wan Tingfang said regretfully.
"Probably they sent over a self-contained instrument; no need for people." Xu Huo picked up the second record disk.
"True, if people were needed, it would be technicians." Shi Youzhi's team was clearly more focused on train security, basically just running errands.
"By the way, did you hear about the big incident last night?" Wan Tingfang instinctively lowered her voice.
"What?" Xu Huo asked while watching the projection.
"Someone broke into the Law Enforcement Department prison. I heard they killed quite a few people." Wan Tingfang smiled. "A lot of players went last night, but I heard they didn't catch the person."
Xu Huo glanced at her. "I didn't hear about it. Was it a big deal?"
"A two-hour lockdown, city-wide search." Wan Tingfang added, "In this station city's main district, aside from private residences, almost everything is under surveillance with no blind spots. During a lockdown, everyone must stay where they were when the order was issued and cannot move freely, or they'll be treated as enemies. They might not even wait for the Law Enforcement Department players; the enforcement machines will kill them on the spot."
"That's not very useful against players. With a ticket, they can go anywhere," Xu Huo said casually.
"Exactly, the person already ran off, so what's the point of searching the city?" Wan Tingfang had lost interest in the projection and stretched her neck. "Probably the Law Enforcement Department people were too idle and wanted to assert their presence."
Xu Huo then watched a few more records of alien species attacks.
Alien species usually appeared at night. Due to visual limitations, the records couldn't clearly show their forms, but just from their silhouettes, they were different from those on the initial trial train.
Alien species came in many varieties—he already knew that—but there were just too many bizarre ones.
Interestingly, alien species always appeared in the dark. Was it a species limitation?
"The ones you're looking at aren't interesting. Why not watch mine?" Wan Tingfang interrupted him. "I picked a few without clear time stamps. There might be surprises."
Xu Huo gave her his spot.
Wan Tingfang eagerly started playing them, then looked disappointed after watching. "It's just station maintenance."
Of course, how could the records they were allowed to see contain important information? Besides, these things didn't need human handling anyway; instruments could automatically clear out old records.
The base might have fired those players, perhaps because the players themselves had issues.
Players were always curious about the game's secrets. Would the 011 District Government, which occupied several game zones, not care about the game's technology?
After finishing the record disks they had taken out, Xu Huo put them all back to await destruction.
After that, there was nothing else to do. The team members could move freely until the next notification.
San Yang called Xu Huo to the office. "You took some record disks to watch?"
"I wanted to understand the world outside the track." Xu Huo admitted honestly. "It's more dangerous than I imagined."
San Yang scratched his curly hair a couple of times. "How's your physics knowledge?"
"I studied the basics in school, but I didn't pursue it further." Xu Huo said. "If I had become a scientist, I probably wouldn't be in the game now."
"Haha! That's not necessarily true. There are some tech and theory people in the game too. They're all talents, and the game zone governments actively recruit them." San Yang chuckled twice. "If you have that kind of ability, you can also apply to the game to become a gray player and work for the game government."
Xu Huo spread his hands. "I don't have that ability. I'll have to take risks."
"You're young, it's good to gain experience, but don't even think about the world outside the train." San Yang warned. "Even if the train is damaged by alien species, it's best to stay on board. If you can survive, maybe a maintenance train will rescue you."
"Curiosity and ambition aren't bad things, but you have to know your limits. Don't think that just because you're D-rank, even A-rank advanced players might not dare to leave the train."
"The ignorant are fearless. Understanding a bit isn't a bad thing." Xu Huo smiled.
San Yang nodded. "Alright, I don't have anything else. Oh, if you have time, run an errand for me to the Law Enforcement Department. Their logistics department bought a few instruments. Just grab someone to go with you and pick up a receipt."
This was Xu Huo's first errand, so it was better to go with someone familiar. But Ai Jia and the others had already left and said they were busy, so he had to go call Wan Tingfang, who had stayed behind because she wanted to buy some props.