Chapter 777: Lights Out Time
Someone had brought incense wood into the immigration bureau, and Xu Huo happened to enter the instance by chance. Otherwise, according to the official safety guidelines, he could have easily avoided the surrounding random instances.
The red-haired man and the others worked together, spending an entire day cleaning the villa from top to bottom. They even took the books off the shelves to dust them, replaced the broken windows with spare glass, and repainted the wall that had been damaged the night before, making it look as good as new. When they finished, Zhao Xiaojing also took out all the kitchen utensils, wiped them clean, laid out the tablecloth, and arranged the plates and other items on the table.
"It's nice, but it's a pity we don't have much to eat," Lu Zhen said regretfully.
"I do have some, but I'm not sure if you'd dare to eat it," the baby-faced man said, pulling out two large ham sausages and tossing them onto the dining table with a look of disdain.
Lu Zhen and Zhao Xiaojing exchanged glances. The baby-faced man looked at them in surprise, "You're not going to make me take a bite first, are you!"
The identification fork came in handy.
A cartoon character wearing a chef's hat was projected into the air:
"After multiple processes of fine preparation, this cured ham is slightly salty and can be paired with other dishes."
"Cured ham is not considered a healthy food and is not recommended for long-term consumption."
"No problem," Xu Huo said, putting away the prop.
"Great!" Lu Zhen said. "I haven't had a full meal in days."
She and Zhao Xiaojing quickly sliced the ham. When they learned that Xu Huo also had wine with him, they were both surprised and delighted.
"I used to not drink alcohol, but after becoming a player, I can handle it. Sometimes, when I can't sleep, I have a few glasses," Zhao Xiaojing said.
The wine Xu Huo gave wasn't much. Lu Zhen poured a little into each glass and said with a smile, "Today, we'll just have a symbolic toast."
Zhao Xiaojing touched her face and smiled as well.
Tonight's dinner was quite normal. Xu Huo, as the temporary host, sat at the head of the table, while the other players sat on both sides of the long table. Under the bright light, the clean plates held tempting slices of ham and two freeze-dried vegetables, a glass of cold water mixed with nutrient supplement, half a glass of wine, and napkins folded beside them.
Everyone took their seats. Xu Huo made a "please" gesture, and they began to eat.
"Life really needs a sense of ritual," the red-haired man said with emotion. "Since becoming a player, I can't remember the last time I had a proper meal. I'm either clearing instances or preparing to clear them. I'm always on guard against other players, hiding and sneaking around. Sometimes I don't even dare to show my face."
The situation in Zone 009 was different from Zones 011 and 014. In Zone 014, players weren't yet fully widespread, and the state's violent apparatus was still the strongest and most deterrent force. Instead, it was the troublemaking players who had to be careful everywhere. Zone 011, on the other hand, was already highly mature. The power structure formed by players and the government had reached a balance and could perfectly control the entire district, with no worries about players causing trouble.
In Zone 009, player organizations were very powerful, but they hadn't reached the level of absolute command. The surge in player numbers would inevitably lead to conflicts. At this point, players needed to be more cautious about self-preservation.
"I've been in the game for so long, but I don't feel like I'm alive," Zhao Xiaojing said, looking at her wine glass. "I'm just not dead yet."
"The game really isn't something for ordinary people like us," Lu Zhen sighed. "Right now, I just hope that after clearing the instance and getting out, the players from other zones have already left. If things are calmer, at least our lives won't be so hard."
"Don't be so pessimistic," Liang Chong said. "The game has its benefits too. Look at me—before I became an Evolver, I was already in the late stages of cancer. The doctor said I had at least three months, at most six. Now it's been almost three years, and I'm still alive and well. When I go for checkups now, all my indicators are normal."
"I guess that's the only benefit," Lu Zhen said. "Congratulations to you."
Liang Chong grinned. "So, you see, don't overthink things in life. Maybe a miracle will happen one day."
"Maybe one day the game will just disappear!" the red-haired man added. "As long as you're alive, there's hope. For that hope, let's cheers!"
Xu Huo also raised his glass.
After clinking glasses, Lu Zhen said, "Brother Xu, you must have been to many game zones. Are there any particularly peaceful ones where you don't have to worry about safety and don't have to hide?"
This topic clearly interested everyone, and even the people at the far end of the table looked up.
"Of course there are, and quite a few of them," Xu Huo said. "I've been to one or two myself. They're really livable. As long as you have money, even getting married and having children isn't a problem."
"What a great place..." Zhao Xiaojing said longingly. "A female player daring to get pregnant is basically asking for death."
"Player status can be paused," Xu Huo said. "If you go to those places, you can get a job from the local government and get rid of the instances."
"Zone 009 has a lot of public information. Isn't there any about that?"
"There is," Zhao Xiaojing said, "but reading it online doesn't feel as real as hearing it directly from someone. Which zone are you talking about? I want to get a ticket for that zone."
"Zone 011."
"I know Zone 011," Liang Chong said. "There are public instance guides for it online, but it doesn't seem as good as they say. The people at the bottom in Zone 011 live terribly. In any decent city, resources are concentrated in the hands of a few. Without an identity card, you can't even approach some public places."
"When have the people at the bottom ever lived well?" Xu Huo said meaningfully. "Even the powerful, advanced game zones are just a flash in the pan."
It was like tonight's dinner—it could only provide a brief moment of rest. As long as they were still in the game, the hidden flaws would eventually erupt. To end all this, the game would have to be completely finished.
Once you become a player, it means you'll forever live in this gear, moving forward tirelessly.
"That's true. Brother Xu is different from us," Lu Zhen said dejectedly. "To settle down, you need money too."
"Even as a player, I can't shake off the label of being poor. I'm so pathetic. Does anyone have a good way to make money?" the red-haired man asked sincerely.
"Kill people," Xu Huo said flatly. "You can't rob the district government, and you can't touch the game government. The only possibility is to rob other players."
The red-haired man paused. "I'll just eat."
"Brother Xu, have you ever robbed a district government?" Liang Chong looked at him with intense interest.
Xu Huo smiled. "How could that be? I'm just a D-level player."
The D-level players present almost didn't recognize the word "D-level" anymore.
"Even if you haven't robbed a district government, you've definitely killed high-level players," Lu Zhen said curiously. "Brother Xu, have you ever seen a Super Player?"
Under everyone's gaze, Xu Huo put down his knife and fork and tapped his watch. "Lights out time."
(Chapter End)