Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!
Chapter 255: How Could He Dare to Stay Without a Contingency Plan

Chapter 255: Chapter 255: How Could He Dare to Stay Without a Contingency Plan

"Before you were admitted, on the twentieth of July in the same year, a city-wide power outage occurred. In fact, it wasn’t just a power outage; several neighboring provinces also experienced a complete halt of precision instruments, which led to a number of serious accidents. However, due to the extensive area affected and the scientific capabilities at the time, no conclusion could be drawn, so the incident was archived."

"Ten years ago, when you were seventeen, the same thing happened again, but on a much smaller scale. The scientists then believed it was due to fluctuations in cosmic matter that affected the instruments, and some detection equipment did capture abnormal energy fluctuations."

Chief Wu paused a moment, "These two events were previously inexplicable, but from our current perspective..."

"There may be other civilizations... or rather, players who have invaded Zone 014," Xu Huo picked up where he left off, having quickly reviewed the materials, "The location of Zone 014 is at the E27 Wormhole Point, and there should be other Wormhole Points in front of it. With civilizations capable of creating games and players who entered the game a long time ago, it’s not entirely impossible for someone to cross the vast universe and descend upon one or two lower civilizations."

After hearing Yang Chao’s story yesterday, he already had a speculation, and this document further confirmed his thoughts.

Furthermore, the second archiving report happened before the other four children went missing or died. He was certain that someone in The Seventeenth Hospital was deliberately cultivating him and the other four children for an unknown purpose, but as the only one not to have "disappeared" or "died," the price he paid was the death of Xu Zhi!

The sound of a wine bottle shattering echoed; Xu Huo shook his hand and, without changing his expression, pulled out the glass embedded in his palm and threw it into the trash can.

"I’ve also checked the patient list for Seventeenth Hospital," said Chief Wu, "The four children who were admitted around the same time as you... that’s also very strange."

In an effort to win over Xu Huo, Chief Wu had put a lot of work into uncovering his past. He couldn’t have ignored the drastic fates that befell the children who were treated during the same period as him. In the sealed case files of the police, an incident where nearly the entire family, including relatives, had been wiped out raised suspicion towards one of the children who had been admitted, but there was a lack of evidence. Even a police officer, who died in an accident later, mentioned that the child had confessed.

A teenager under eighteen, who performed such a horrific act without any flaws and still dared to provoke the investigators, could no longer be measured by ordinary crime standards.

The situations with the other two children were similar.

Therefore, Chief Wu considered Xu Huo even more valuable. Like the other children who had been through the eerie Seventeenth Hospital, his behavior over the past ten years, although not as excellent as the others, appeared more genuine. His actions were radical and broke the rules, but his principles were sound.

"A hospital appeared out of nowhere twenty years ago, and five children were admitted in succession. Ten years ago, apart from you, these five children disappeared or died one after another," Jiang Qiao said, "It looks to me a bit like an experiment. The foundation was laid twenty years ago, and ten years later, they came back to assess the results."

"Since Seventeenth Hospital went through so much trouble, whether the other four really died or faked their deaths isn’t so hard to guess. As a test subject, Mr. Xu, you are the only one left behind; maybe in the eyes of Seventeenth Hospital, you’re a failure."

"Failure..." Xu Huo murmured these three words, then suddenly laughed, his tone enigmatic, "A failure, huh... that’s interesting..."

Chief Wu subtly kicked Jiang Qiao to signal her not to provoke him.

However, Jiang Qiao continued, "As far as I know, your brother Xu Zhi was very intelligent. Have you ever considered that his death might also be staged, and don’t you want to find him?"

"Xu Zhi is dead," Xu Huo said gravely, his eyes clouded with gloom, "I conducted a DNA test before his cremation, unless someone had prepared a clone in advance."

But that was almost impossible, because he was the one chosen to be cultivated. If the doctor from his dreams returned, he would be coming for him.

His memory had issues, and like Jiang Qiao said, he might be a failure, but since he had survived, why would Xu Zhi die?

"You should collaborate with us," Jiang Qiao said. "Xu Zhi’s death isn’t that simple; Seventeenth Hospital might originate from the game, and even if it doesn’t, it’s at least related to the game. If you want to know the truth and avenge Xu Zhi, you should cooperate with the Special Defense Department."

"How much of the game world can you explore alone? If you join the Special Defense Department, I can promise on their behalf that any clues related to the Seventeenth Hospital found in the game will be provided to you free of charge."

Xu Huo was not persuaded, and this time he stated clearly, "I will not join the Special Defense Department."

Human nature is the hardest thing to trust, and he intended to handle this matter himself.

"I will be staying in Ting City from now on; I won’t come to Jing City unless there’s something special." He continued, "Last night’s incident should give the Special Defense Department some food for thought. You treat Evolvers like savage beasts that must be collared, but those savage beasts will end up biting the hand of the person holding the leash the moment they break free."

"That’s not the way to talk about it," Chief Wu, quite annoyed by his unflinching stance, especially considering past collaborations, responded. "Without control, some people are bound to cause trouble..."

Xu Huo looked at him coldly, "Control Evolvers? What ability do you have to control Evolvers?"

Chief Wu was left speechless, his face turning red, but Xu Huo didn’t leave any face for the Special Defense Department, "It’s only a matter of time before players replace you, unless you can eliminate all Evolvers, which you can neither accomplish nor dare to do."

"A small number of players indicates that this game zone lacks vitality, and a zone without vitality will sooner or later be controlled by forces from other zones, becoming just one of many possible outcomes—a breeding ground. Do you think a civilization capable of crossing spaces to expand into game zones would consider the billions of ordinary people here esteemed guests of friendly exchanges?"

Both Chief Wu and Jiang Qiao looked somewhat displeased, but after a while, Jiang Qiao said, "The relationship between the Special Defense Department and players isn’t adversarial. We are all working to ensure that Zone 014 can survive in the game. You don’t need to be so deeply hostile toward us."

"I hold no hostility towards you," Xu Huo said. "If you automatically equate disagreement with joining the Special Defense Department as hostility, then forget I said anything."

"Of course not!" Chief Wu, unable to understand the change in his attitude, yet still showing some backbone, insisted, "We just hope that the next time you decide to act, you will communicate with the Special Defense Department. Even if I take your side on last night’s incident, do you think the rest of the Special Defense Department will stand by you? Don’t forget that we are also training players, and like you said, at certain times, we are unable to stop them."

"I understand," Xu Huo glanced outside the window, noting the armed personnel who had been outside the hotel since the previous night, and that during the conversation, two more groups had arrived.

"I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused the Special Defense Department, and my stance remains unchanged from before, so there’s no need for the Special Defense Department to waste resources on surveilling me." He raised his hand and tossed out the Open Air Window System, then turned back before stepping into it, "Please convey my message for me."

As soon as he had finished speaking, he and the object both disappeared into thin air.

Startled, Chief Wu and Jiang Qiao exchanged glances. The latter said, "He didn’t enter a copy, did he?"

"It was clearly a tool," Chief Wu said through gritted teeth.

At that moment, Jiang Qiao’s phone rang, and as soon as it was answered, Chief Song’s loud voice came through, "Where’s the person? How come he’s gone?"

"Xu Huo has a space movement tool, something you all failed to consider," Jiang Qiao chuckled. "Who would dare to stay here without a backup plan?"