Chapter 554: Dawn Clown City
"They use holographic glasses to track every warrior, ranking each killer, ranking each battle, and based on the audience's preferences, they either create difficulties for the top-ranked players or send them equipment. The final winner is determined by the total number of kills on both sides, and the loser has to give up ten percent of the game broadcast revenue."
"So many people died, and in the end, it only decides whether two Clown Cities split the profits forty-sixty or sixty-forty." Water stains appeared on Xin Hui's mask. "It's absolutely infuriating!"
Xu Huo was silent for a moment, then said, "The fungal infection in the Cleanup Zone was cured long ago, wasn't it?"
"It could be completely cured more than ten years ago." Xin Hui took a deep breath. "But the high-level government didn't clean it up. Instead, they put special agents into the water supply to promote fungal mutation. The symptoms of flowers growing on bodies and pale faces and heads all appeared later."
"The ridiculous thing is that the toxic agents they brought in can actually be purified by the fungi in the underground nest."
"No wonder the water source has to be continuously polluted." Xu Huo paused. Given the frequency and number of warriors Clown City deployed, the agents they carried should have turned lakes and other areas into dead water, but these places were still constantly self-purifying, which seemed to be thanks to the fungi.
"So, does this underground nest actually cover the entire Cleanup Zone?"
Xin Hui hesitated slightly. "I can't be sure, but the fungi really can grow in many places."
"Clown City has blocked game information from the lower levels. How did you find out?" Xu Huo asked again. There were still some points in Xin Hui's words that didn't hold up to scrutiny, but this account of the past in the Cleanup Zone was only her personal experience, very limited, and its authenticity was questionable for now.
"I met an outside advanced player." Xin Hui said. "Clown City's government hasn't completely blocked this information from the upper class. Almost all government personnel, and some advanced players, know about this game show. He told me all these inside stories."
"Since you hate this game, why do you still participate?" Xu Huo lit a cigarette. "You keep saying Clown City tramples on human life, but isn't you coming in to kill people the same thing?"
Xin Hui was silent for a few seconds. "Because Clown City is my home. I don't want to watch it sink further. Only by becoming stronger can I possibly change this situation."
She wasn't telling the whole truth, but Xu Huo didn't press further. "Clown City will interfere with game participants, so the mutant beast tide we encountered earlier was probably also interference. Judging by your appearance, you've killed quite a few people. Since killing others can earn you a ranking, your goal should be that too. What's the benefit? Don't tell me Clown City has a support plan for low-level players."
"Believe it or not, this is the truth." Xin Hui said.
Xu Huo fixed his gaze on her for a moment and said flatly, "So you're willing to kill people to protect this underground nest, all for the future of Clown City?"
Xin Hui let out a sarcastic laugh. "At least these fungi can still save people, while some people have blood flowing through their veins that is dirty!"
Xu Huo tentatively believed her words, then changed the subject. "You're only an E-level player. How long will it take for you to become an advanced player? Forget about changing the situation. Is it really worth killing so many compatriots who are also kept in the dark, or even full of passion to reclaim their homeland, starting right now?"
Xin Hui was silent. Xu Huo didn't continue to press her. He withdrew his strings and said, "You're not here to clear the instance. After the game ends, you can enter Clown City, right? I'll go with you. Given your current injuries, traveling with me is the only way you might survive to the end."
Xin Hui didn't struggle pointlessly. Instead, she said, "To get in again, you have to cross the entire Cleanup Zone to the opposite Dawn Clown City. Once you're in, it's hard to get out. And even then, you can't bring anyone with you."
Xu Huo seemed to have forgotten about the two children still waiting for him. He nodded. "Let's talk about it after I plant my flag on the walls of Dawn Clown City."
Xin Hui stood still, her face turned towards him. She seemed to be seriously looking at him for a long time. "Do you want to go back and find the other three?"
"No need." Xu Huo said. "Don't underestimate any player."
*
Dawn Clown City.
Inside the host's studio, a beautiful woman took off her holographic glasses and stepped out of the work pod. An assistant immediately handed her water, following her as she walked. "The mayor and the head director just sent invitations. They both want to invite you to dinner."
The woman took a sip of water and tapped on her watch. A mechanical voice spoke for her: "I just want to rest today. Decline them."
The assistant looked troubled. "But this is the mayor's third invitation. If we refuse again, will he make things difficult for us?"
The woman's red lips curled up, a captivating smile appearing on her beautiful face. "Next time he calls, you can directly relay it to the Grand Archon's office and have the Grand Archon refuse him."
The female assistant's face flushed. "I wouldn't dare. Besides, didn't the Grand Archon go to another district? He shouldn't be back so soon."
"He will definitely be back today." The woman said.
The assistant suddenly understood. "Sister Lang Lang, today is your birthday! The Grand Archon is so good to you, he will definitely come back to celebrate your birthday with you!"
The woman seemed uninterested in this topic and instead asked, "Have the white-hot battle prediction data come out?"
The assistant nodded and pulled up a data chart. "The top three are basically unchanged: 227, 145, and 67. However, 227 has temporarily left the monitoring range, so the data hasn't been updated."
"A dark horse warrior has emerged among the top ten. He's not a player, but a retired military talent from the Grand Archon's office. He's skilled in using various cold and hot weapons. Sister Lang Lang, this guy is amazing. He used only discarded materials from abandoned cities to double the lethality of original firearms. Many viewers are rooting for him."
"The final champion might be born from among these people."
"What about the support data?"
The assistant pulled up another data chart. "The audience still hates players as always. 227 has had five encounter battles added so far, more than anyone else. Also, the mayor really likes contestant 67 and has spent a lot of money trying to push 227 out."
After listening, the woman asked again, "What about those two, 254 and 249?"
"Before they took off their glasses, those two weren't on the kill list, so they're only in the most-watched broadcasts now. According to feedback from the data team, they've already figured out the Cleanup Zone confrontation battle and spread the word. In the past night, without any large-scale attacks, nearly fifty warriors were eliminated. They probably took off their glasses and quit the mission themselves."
The assistant's fingers tapped quickly on the transparent tablet. "However, these two disappeared near the Mist Forest area. They haven't shown up yet."
The woman glanced at the location on the map. "So what if they know the truth? Can they escape Clown City?"
She paused, then added, "Prepare a nice dress for me. After the champion is decided, I will receive them together with the Grand Archon."
(End of Chapter)