Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!
Chapter 182: Speculations on the Future of Zone 014

Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Speculations on the Future of Zone 014

The sharp paper stopped in front of his eyeball without moving, and Xu Huo raised his hand, "Pause."

The Paper Knife immediately lost its power and fell to the ground, and the Girl in the painting reattached her own finger before running up to him, staring at him with watery eyes.

"Hmm, you are very impressive," praised Xu Huo.

The Girl in the painting’s eyes curved with happiness, and she took out her phone to type: "Do you still want me to hit you?"

"That’s enough for today, let’s talk about it tomorrow," Xu Huo said, glancing at the medal on her chest that had remained firmly in place even when she turned to paper, "Does this thing give you any kind of power boost?"

The Girl in the painting shook her head, slightly confused, and then said, "I really like seeing it."

Seeing her naïve expression, Xu Huo knew he couldn’t get anything more out of her and patted the dust off himself, "Let’s go back."

They drove back, and before getting out of the car, Xu Huo used some Cleansing Potion, but the damage to his clothes was conspicuously visible. The armed personnel at the door notified Chief Wu immediately upon seeing this.

Chief Wu then called him, asking if he had been attacked.

After Xu Huo denied it, he inquired, "Have there been a lot of outsiders causing trouble recently?"

Chief Wu didn’t hide anything, responding directly, "Country Y has become chaotic, and aside from those nations too preoccupied with their own problems, many others want to take advantage of the situation."

It wasn’t just about harming others for one’s own benefit; there were even those who would do harm without any benefit to themselves.

"You should also be careful. In the past few days, I’ve received several reports of Players being followed," said Chief Wu. "Country Y denies the existence of the game and the Players, and they’ve gone to great lengths to block out news while conducting secret experiments. They certainly wouldn’t want to see our country cultivating excellent Players."

Xu Huo indicated that he understood and then asked about Tang Guangbo.

During the isolation days, Chief Wu had sifted through all of Tang Guangbo’s social relations and traces on the internet, confirming that he had never been in contact with Country Y and that for the past decade or more, he had always been longing for his homeland.

"He is now a specially appointed professor at the National Security Bureau, responsible for the psychological counseling of some Players."

Xu Huo raised an eyebrow, "His major is in psychology?"

"Not exactly. He holds three doctorate degrees, one of which is in psychology; the other two are in mechanics and economics," said Chief Wu. "I just found out about this too. The state had plans to invite him back home to teach."

"During these days of isolation, he wrote a paper based on the news released by the state and published it on the Pioneer Forum."

"A talent is a talent indeed. With just that bit of information, he has managed to get a firm grip on the psychology of Players. A few new Players with poor mentalities have stabilized after his reassurance."

Xu Huo took his phone and sat in front of the computer to open the Pioneer Forum, where one of the top posts was Tang Guangbo’s paper.

"The distinction between humans and animals is gradually disappearing in this evolutionary disaster, a tribute to the heroes who still maintain their humanity amidst the storm," was the opening paragraph of his foreword.

He then discussed his views on Players and the game and predicted that in the future, when Zone 014 matures, there would no longer be a distinction between the real world and the game world; Zone 014 would eventually be integrated into the game to become a part of the game world, at which point White Notes would become a new type of foreign currency, and Players from other worlds would also travel by train to Zone 014, forming a trade and competition pattern similar to the current world order.

Just looking at this prediction, Tang Guangbo seemed to think further ahead than most Players. Level E Players, who mostly interact with closed and semi-closed instances, have little insight into the game world. But in reality, the true gaming world should be like Fairy Tale City, becoming a part of the game, with Players and instances becoming the norm.

However, Fairy Tale City is an extreme individual case. There must be other more peaceful game worlds with openly recognized order, where Players are subject to the same constraints as ordinary people.

After hanging up with Chief Wu, Xu Huo continued to read the main body of the paper.

Most of it was about the psychological state analysis of transitioning from an Evolver to an official Player, even including methods for focused self-regulation. However, he proposed an idea in the paper: Cannibal Players should not be indiscriminately condemned.

For some Cannibal Players committed wrongdoing in a state of mental confusion, and if they can control themselves under state surveillance, they could also serve the country. All that is necessary is for the government to control their diet or develop Potions to suppress their binge-eating desires.

That was impossible.

On the screening train, Xu Huo had understood that the true terror of Cannibal Players lay not in their need to consume human flesh, but in their ability to grow stronger by consuming large amounts of their own kind.

Cannibal Players have limitations in their special traits—this fact was also announced by the state. After a few instances, the differences brought by traits will become apparent. At this point, Cannibal Players wishing to grow stronger will need to eat people, and the more, the better. Under this premise, even if they do not have a strong desire to eat, they will choose to do so in order to survive in the game.

This was not a matter of "being forced" or "having no choice," but rather one of survival instinct.

Under these circumstances, how could Cannibal Players possibly be controlled by the state?

Whether it’s hunting down Players from other zones within the game or scavenging corpses for food, if such behavior becomes commonplace among Players, that would be the advent of a real disaster.

The paper had already garnered responses on the forum and had been reposted on various online platforms. Not to mention anything else, this single point had caused much anger because in a previous incident involving the invasion of Players from other zones, people had witnessed Cannibal Players cordoning off buildings to kill and eat at will.

"Knock knock." Tongtong knocked on the door, "Brother, Aunt Fang is here."

The Girl in the painting had brought him a few toys, and the child quickly grew fond of her.

Xu Huo opened the door and said, "Aunt Fang also brought a glasses-wearing uncle. Mom said that’s your stepdad."

By the time he reached the living room, Tang Guangbo was discussing the paper with Father Xu.

"...As a scholar, I’m just proposing a possibility; the real decision-makers are the state and the government."

"But I do think that, in exceptional circumstances, this could be a viable emergency measure, especially now when the number of Players is rapidly decreasing."

"Once we’re past this buffer period, it wouldn’t be too late to deal with them," he continued.

Tang Guangbo adjusted his glasses, "After all, cannibalism is the greatest evil."

Father Xu, not well-informed, simply said, "Using them when necessary, then disposing of them when they’re no longer needed—won’t the state seem too heartless?"

Tang Guangbo sighed and said, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. There’s no helping it."

"Uncle Tang grew up overseas and seems to know quite a bit about the local situation and rhetoric," said Xu Huo as he walked over and sat down.

With a smile, Tang Guangbo said, "This is my motherland. My parents also wished to return here before they passed. Of course, I would pay special attention."

"To adapt to life in Jing City as soon as possible, I even signed up to learn the local dialect authentically."

Xu Huo looked at him, pausing for a moment before saying, "You’re really dedicated."