Chapter 557: Night Fragrance Breeze
"With just a few of you, it's definitely impossible. Is there someone inside the city helping you?" Xu Huo glanced at 179, then said, "So there is someone backing you up."
"Just exposing the real-person game won't do much good," he commented neutrally. "Although Clown City isn't very big, its architectural structure makes it easy to seal off the city. Besides, the people who truly control Clown City have most likely already accepted the real-person game. Protests are useless. The best way is to overthrow the current government."
By this point, 179 could no longer control the tension in his body. He stared fixedly at Xu Huo, his eyes a mix of fear and hatred.
Having said this much, Xu Huo didn't continue. He smiled, stood up, and walked to the bathroom door, addressing the people still pounding on it from inside: "Stay in the bathroom quietly for one night, and I'll let you out alive tomorrow. If you insist on coming out, I'll have to add a midnight snack."
The bathroom instantly fell silent.
Xu Huo returned to the center of the room and said to 179, "I'll think it over—whether to tell anyone about this tomorrow."
Then he used the Kite String to tie the man up, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.
179 sat in the chair without moving.
At three in the morning, the room door opened silently. A shadow as stealthy as a cat slipped into the room, fired five shots at the bulging blanket on the bed, and then approached.
"He's not dead!" 179, restrained by the prop, tried to warn the intruder, but it was too late. Xu Huo, who had been clinging to the ceiling, dropped down and swiftly grabbed the attacker by the throat, disarming them of their gun.
The newcomer was also a player. At close range, Xu Huo immediately caught a faint, fragrant scent. He quickly held his breath and put on the "Oxygen Supply," but the shooter took the opportunity to break free from his grip, pulled out a dagger, and slashed at his throat.
Xu Huo reached out and grabbed it. The dagger instantly turned to powder. The attacker shot him a surprised look, then turned and fled toward the door.
Instead of chasing, Xu Huo walked over and considerately closed the door the intruder hadn't managed to shut.
179 couldn't understand this move, and Xu Huo simply turned back and said, "Looks like the player you called isn't very high-level either."
179 stared at him in shock and uncertainty. "What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Join in the fun," Xu Huo said flatly. "It's human nature to enjoy a commotion. If the mood strikes, I might even pick a side to help."
"You'd help?" 179 had never seen such a good-natured player. The higher the level and the stronger the ability, the less cooperative players tended to be. Either they didn't care about these matters, or they were easily swayed by the government's generous offers. There was no stable foundation for cooperation.
"Of course. I'm a good person," Xu Huo said with a smile. "Otherwise, ask Xin Hui. I not only saved her but also let her go. Without my help, could she have made it to Chaoyang Clown City so quickly?"
179 fell silent.
Xu Huo wasn't in a hurry. If it didn't happen tonight, someone would come looking for him tomorrow.
The night passed relatively peacefully. The next morning, many people extended olive branches, inviting him to visit different places or attend banquets. Asking the hotel staff, he learned this was normal. Not just him, but all players who had successfully completed cleanup missions and returned to Clown City received this treatment.
Note: players.
If someone was willing to hire them at a high price, players could choose to settle in a district afterward. If they didn't want to, they could accept government welfare and let the authorities arrange things.
Xu Huo ran into Xin Hui while going out to eat. When she saw 179 being led along, her expression soured, but her wariness toward Xu Huo was even more pronounced.
The middle-aged man from yesterday appeared before them again, brimming with enthusiasm. "Miss Langlang would like to have breakfast with you all. This is an unprecedented honor! The Rose of Chaoyang Clown City, the apple of the Grand Archon's eye, rarely meets with outsiders. You're all very lucky!"
A tall, burly man among the group lit up at these words and said eagerly, "We can't keep Miss Langlang waiting! Let's go, let's go!"
The others, who had all heard of "Miss Langlang" to varying degrees, showed looks of longing and quickly followed the middle-aged man to the top-floor restaurant.
Xu Huo's gaze lingered on Xin Hui and 179. He followed the crowd into the restaurant. As soon as he stepped inside, he heard someone ahead say, "What a wonderful fragrance."
A special, delicate scent filled the restaurant. A woman stood with her back to them in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows. Just from her silhouette, she fulfilled every man's fantasy. The men present couldn't help but turn their heads, trying to catch a glimpse of her face beyond her flowing hair.
The woman soon turned around and gave them a gentle smile. "Welcome, everyone."
It wasn't just her figure, but her face and voice as well—all perfectly hitting everyone's sweet spot. Even Xin Hui's cheeks flushed slightly, her gaze turning infatuated.
Langlang seemed accustomed to this kind of attention. She politely invited everyone to sit down. The burly man rushed to take the seat next to her, but before he could get close, two players blocked him. "Please take another seat, sir. The seat beside Miss Langlang must remain empty."
The burly man was the one whose leg 179 had shot through yesterday. His eyes were practically glued to Langlang. Pushing against the two players, he said, "Miss Langlang personally invited me to eat with her. Blocking me—are you looking down on someone? Disrespecting Miss Langlang?"
The players stood their ground. In the end, Miss Langlang herself asked him to sit a seat away, defusing the conflict.
The others also wanted to sit close to Langlang, even if it was just one chair away. But after much jostling, the seats beside Langlang were all taken by players, leaving no chance for anyone else to get near.
Xu Huo sat across from Langlang. The fragrance emanating from the woman confirmed that she was connected to the player who had tried to assassinate him last night. Appearing so openly before him now was likely an attempt to resolve any lingering issues.
During the meal, Langlang spoke little. Most of the conversation came from the others trying to flatter her. As breakfast neared its end, Xin Hui said worriedly, "Miss Langlang, you've eaten so little."
Langlang rested her chin on her hand, her elbow on the table, and said lazily, "I haven't had much of an appetite lately."
"It has been too hot lately. Greasy food must not appeal to you, Miss Langlang," the burly man quickly chimed in. "I know a snack shop nearby with light flavors. If you'd like, I'll go buy some right away."
Langlang tilted her head to look at him. "You'll go yourself?"
The burly man was utterly enchanted. "Of course!"
Langlang smiled. "Hurry back. I'll wait for you here."
Without a second word, the burly man left the restaurant. The others followed suit, one after another, offering to bring back delicacies or mentioning flower shops with specially cultivated blooms that could lift one's spirits.
Langlang smiled a few times, and they all scattered.
In the end, only she, the two players, Xin Hui, 179, and Xu Huo, who was drinking water, remained.
Langlang fixed her gaze on him and asked softly, "Has Mr. Wu ever seen a rose wither?"
(Chapter End)