Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!
Chapter 312 Various Goals

Chapter 312: Chapter 312 Various Goals

The entire Hua City suddenly plunged into darkness. Although the Special Defense Department acted immediately to restore power, the electric utility was helpless; their equipment was interfered with and couldn’t be restarted. Only one backup line, added after the last player incident, remained functional, but it could only provide lighting for public facilities.

Chief Wu and the others then realized the abnormality outside. Normally, at this time, it should already be bright. The overly prolonged night and the sudden malfunction of instruments and equipment indicated that Hua City had once again fallen under the game’s power, and this time the scope had expanded to the entire city.

Meanwhile, Special Defense Department members stationed at various locations reported news. At the moment of the blackout, a large number of people had vanished into thin air—ordinary soldiers and civilians, special personnel, and players. Moreover, all of Hua City’s entrances and exits were sealed by the darkness. Cars, helicopters, drones—none could leave, nor could they establish contact with the outside world.

"I’m really cursed!" Chief Liao exclaimed in frustration. "Could it be that Mist Area from yesterday has come back?"

Chief Wu had instantly lost most of his command over the Special Defense Department and, anxious, he started heading out. "Quick, go find Professor Lan!"

"Wait a second, it’s best not to wander around at this time!" Chief Song called after him while trying to dial Dai Wenqian’s phone, but no one answered the call.

In the meantime, several people had already exited the conference room. The corridor was pitch black; the Special Defense Department personnel who were moving around outside just a moment ago had all disappeared. The vast hospital became completely silent.

Chief Song called out twice into the darkness, but there was no response.

"Can’t get through on the phone either." Chief Liao held his phone.

There was a faint light outside that couldn’t penetrate into the hospital. Chief Wu turned on his phone’s flashlight and hurried towards the warehouse.

Chiefs Song and Liao followed, along with a few Special Defense Department members. When they arrived at the warehouse, they found it completely empty—not a soul to be found, not even the carts that had been there before.

"Could they have left after the power outage?" Chief Song speculated.

Chief Wu, however, was still observant. "Absolutely not, this warehouse looks exactly like it did when Xu Huo was brought in. Hospital beds and some medical equipment have also disappeared."

"Are you saying they also vanished into thin air?" Chief Liao looked desperate.

"Calm down, calm down," Chief Wu comforted himself and also sought to reassure the others. "The current situation might be similar to the previous Mist Area, where the game space overlapped with Zone 014. Disappearances don’t mean death. They could, like before, have been taken to the game space. Whether or not it’s a copy, it’s good that players vanished with them—they still have a chance to get out."

"What we need to do now is to secure the hospital and search for survivors."

"Chief!" Sima Xiao’er’s voice came from around the corner. He approached with a few other players who had been hospitalized for treatment. "What happened? As soon as the power went out, many people disappeared. I only found these few in the nearby wards."

"The situation is unclear; let’s secure the hospital first, we’ll talk about other things later," Chief Wu said.

Chief Song was already contacting anyone who could be reached by phone to have Special Defense Department personnel return to the vicinity of the hospital.

"I’m worried other players might take this opportunity to make a move, even though Xu Huo has also disappeared..." Chief Liao said.

"Create a couple of false targets to attract their attention. At a time like this, don’t be polite with anyone who dares to break into the hospital," Chief Song decided on the spot.

Communication wasn’t completely cut off, so the Special Defense Department’s response was still quick. But once they withdrew from the scattered crowd, the players were bound to notice.

Among the players who had retreated into the designated circular zone, some also vanished without a trace. Those who remained immediately realized there must be a problem at the hospital.

In the group chat established by core members, a player mentioned noticing people breaking away from the evacuation area and heading towards the hospital after the blackout.

"The Special Defense Department and people from the Iron Triangle are all falling back to defend the hospital. Once the fight breaks out, the hospital will be the most dangerous place." Inside a large building in the ring-shaped area, a man wearing a hoodie and a black mask peered at the hospital’s surroundings through a white telescope, "No one’s coming out. Xu Huo is still inside."

"We’ve reached out to the Iron Triangle several times and they’ve ignored us every time. It’s clear they’re targeting Xu Huo." A woman in a similar hoodie and mask spoke from behind him: "Half a month ago, those guys were chased by the Special Defense Department like dogs everywhere, but today they’ve brought over a dozen players. They probably have ulterior motives. Xu Huo can’t fall into their hands!"

Another man dressed the same approached, scars barely visible on the uncovered parts of his face, "What do we do next? Are we going to rescue him? If we go, our agreement with the Special Defense Department will be nullified."

"Forget the Special Defense Department. Our target is Xu Huo." The man in the black hoodie put away his gear and said to those reaching out their hands, "Remember, Xu Huo’s life is the priority at all times."

Having said that, he led the way by jumping out of the window, followed by over twenty players leaping from the building, heading straight towards the hospital.

Not far from them, inside a hidden building, Dai Wenqian watched this scene and couldn’t help saying, "Like dumplings in a pot, these motley troops still have some skills."

As he spoke, he tossed aside the constantly vibrating phone and turned to Zheng Ke and the other eight, "You guys follow them and help out, and also try to create an opportunity for the Iron Triangle."

"But it’s not very good to let Xu Huo be taken away by the forces behind the Iron Triangle, whose backing is unclear," Zheng Ke said.

"They’re not here to capture him, they’re here to kill." Dai Wenqian responded, "Do as I say. Whether or not we can pull over the people in hoodies depends on this."

Zheng Ke nodded, donned his mask, and was about to leave when his gaze suddenly fixated on something outside the window, exclaiming in surprise, "Xu Huo!"

Dai Wenqian turned around but only caught a glimpse of a figure flashing by the trees, looking indeed like Xu Huo.

"Wang Ya, the four of you go as planned. Zheng Ke and the rest, follow me."

Two groups emerged from the building, one heading toward the hospital, the other in pursuit of Xu Huo. After regaining its tranquility, Zhou Ning and her group emerged from the stairwell.

"Didn’t Dai Wenqian join the Special Defense Department? Why is he here?" Shen Xin expressed her confusion.

"I read their lips," Liu Jia said, "He wants to create an opportunity for those who are here to kill Xu Huo. It seems he wants to stir up conflict between the Special Defense Department and the players, playing both sides."

After listening, Shen Xin added, "I was in Jing City for a while. Dai Wenqian is good at winning people over. When he switched from the Player Organization to the Special Defense Department, he took quite a few people with him. He’s probably up to his old tricks again."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s hurry up and help," said Hu Wenhao. "Yuan Yao mentioned that Brother Xu is out of it right now. Should we let these bastards just butcher him?"

Zhou Ning, who had been silent, fixed her gaze on a shadow in the corner and suddenly shouted, "Who’s there? Come out!"

The other three immediately assumed a combat stance, intently watching as a figure emerged from the shadows. Liu Jia was the first to recognize him, exclaiming in surprise, "Xu Huo!"

Hu Wenhao quickly lit up his phone screen and sure enough, it was Xu Huo.

Xu Huo looked around the group, "How did you all wind up together?"

"Liu Jia and I are friends. I only knew you knew each other when Yuan Yao asked for help," Shen Xin explained, "I said I would join Gu Yu before, but it felt inappropriate, so I left again."

Xu Huo nodded. Shen Xin was a player he had met in Fenbei Town. Gu Yu had briefly mentioned her departure from the Player Organization the last time they met in Jing City.

"Shouldn’t you be in the hospital?" Zhou Ning asked, puzzled.