Chapter 616: The Chaos Begins
Whether someone was deliberately stirring things up or not, videos of Special Defense Department members drugging players and dragging them away with capture nets were pushed to the top of major online platforms, even overshadowing the news of the residential building explosion. Public opinion was highly unfavorable toward the Special Defense Department, with the key issue being that not all of those captured were cannibal players.
This caused unease among those who had become players, were about to become players, or hoped to become players, as they feared becoming targets of suppression.
However, the Special Defense Department had personnel specifically responsible for this area. Shortly after the arrests were completed, they briefly announced the mission's purpose and process, stating that those captured were all plotting crimes—some were even responsible for two of the explosions—and provided corresponding evidence.
Subsequent sudden incidents around the Special Defense Department headquarters were gradually broadcast live via drones. There was so much breaking news that netizens' comments couldn't keep up, resulting in a brief period of silence online.
But this silence didn't last long, because in one drone-captured video, a rescue team along with the injured they were helping were killed by a group of players who rushed in. These cannibal players even taunted the drones, biting a dying rescuer to death right in front of the camera!
Hatred toward cannibal players surged to unprecedented levels online. For many people, player battles had only been vague videos on the internet or stories heard from others. Facing such bloody and brutal scenes of slaughter directly, no one could hold back.
"Kill them all!"
These four words flooded every online platform. Many nearby players spontaneously formed teams to go help.
In response, the Special Defense Department issued another relocation order, further clearing the area around the headquarters.
The winter night was cold, but residents within a twenty-kilometer straight-line distance from the Special Defense Department headquarters also evacuated overnight, seeking refuge farther away.
Local armed police, who had long prepared for such a situation, coordinated with the transportation department to clear roads, ensuring everyone could evacuate orderly. They also blocked players trying to reach the headquarters—whether those intending to help or those planning to cause trouble—all were intercepted outside.
"We're not going in!" a player shouted to others after being stopped. "Going in now would just add to the chaos. What if someone with ill intentions sneaks in?"
Facing guns and cannons surrounding them from every angle, even the most hot-tempered players didn't dare to force their way through. It wasn't that they couldn't break through this level of armed defense, but the cost of getting through would be too high, and it simply wasn't worth it.
However, a few players relied on their traits or items to silently slip into the encirclement zone. But that was no longer the armed police's concern.
Xu Huo, along with the Spring Rain Association and Brother Liang and his group, were at the edge of the encirclement zone. From their position, they could just see the checkpoint not far away.
"Good thing we got in early, or it would have been a hassle," Brother Liang said. He had now disguised himself as Xu Huo. He, along with Zheng Liang, Guan Zuhong, and over a third of the members, had either taken on Xu Huo's true appearance or the fake face he used when appearing at the club.
Their task was to buy time for Xu Huo and to lure the scattered players toward his location.
"You'll be divided into six groups. The first group's delay time is three minutes," Xu Huo repeated to everyone. "If three minutes are up and I haven't sent a signal, you regroup with the second group. The second group's time is six minutes. When six minutes are up, I will definitely send a signal, and then you bring the people over."
"If the first and second groups' delay plan fails and you can't attract enough players, quickly regroup with the third group. The third group's estimated time is nine minutes. Assuming the first two groups fail, at least half of the members will regroup with you. This number should attract more players. Once you lead them to the location where I send the signal, your task is complete."
"The delay times for the last three groups are ten minutes each. The longer the time, the more dangerous it gets. Just do your best. You don't need to sacrifice your lives. If you encounter absolute danger, prioritize entering an instance."
"Currently, most players in Zone 014 are E-rank. D-rank players won't be too numerous, and even if there are, they won't gather in large groups. Ordinary player organizations don't have that kind of appeal for now. If foreign forces are involved, their primary targets will be the Special Defense Department and the large player organizations gathered around the headquarters."
"Traits and items all have activation conditions. These conditions are either distance or senses—whether hearing, sight, smell, or undetectable high-frequency signals. Maintaining a certain distance is key to survival. You all have locators. If one person stays in one place for more than five seconds, it means that person has been controlled or is in danger. Others must immediately rescue them and help them escape into an instance."
"I still think five seconds is too short," Brother Liang said. "Depending on the situation, you might need to hide."
"You'll coordinate among yourselves. This five-second rule is just a simple danger assessment. Once you enter the combat zone, communication might not be easy, but I think five seconds is the most suitable. With so many players in the combat zone, staying in one place for too long doubles the danger," Xu Huo said.
"Also, be mindful of random instances. Although there aren't many instances around the Special Defense Department headquarters, it's possible someone might move an instance entrance here. Once you enter an instance, you're on your own."
"Don't worry," Gu Yu said. "Since we joined, we're all mentally prepared. Our parents and loved ones live on this land. The fewer cannibal players, the better!"
"Besides, you've given us plenty of supplies."
Before coming, besides White Notes and evolution agents, Xu Huo had also let each of them use an antidote in advance. He also made it clear that he would supplement them with evolution agents afterward.
Evolution agents were the second most desired item for players after tickets. Of course, they had volunteered originally and weren't just in it for the supplies, but Xu Huo was so generous that they couldn't bear to refuse. Although they didn't know exactly how he planned to deal with those players, for now, they just had to complete the task according to the plan.
Xu Huo looked around at everyone and said seriously, "Everyone, we'll gather again once this is over."
With that, he leaped down from the window.
He moved quickly, while the others had to take the elevator. Gu Yu and Brother Liang nodded to each other before leaving the building separately.
Xu Huo didn't take the ground route. First, there were too many players, and second, it was easy to step into random instances. So he chose a moderately low building area, crossing over the rooftops toward a pre-selected location.
Through Wen Xuelin's help, he had changed to a new face. Even if players noticed him, they didn't pay much attention. Along the way, he did spot some people taking the opportunity to loot and vent their anger, but the Special Defense Department was quick to respond, and personnel soon arrived to take over.
(Chapter End)