Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!
Chapter 344: The Gamer’s Banquet

Chapter 344: Chapter 344: The Gamer’s Banquet

Mrs. Ma wasn’t annoyed, she blew him a kiss before sashaying away.

Back in her room, she couldn’t wait to tell Mr. Ma about the incident. She added, "That Xu fellow must be a Cannibal Player beyond a shadow of a doubt, but it’s unknown whether the invitation came from He Pu or not. If it’s him, he should be on our side."

However, Mr. Ma shook his head, "Not necessarily. If He Pu had sent out the invitations, he wouldn’t have kept silent when he met us yesterday."

"Could it be the butler?" Mrs. Ma speculated, "That mute looks somewhat formidable; a trap from him would be bad news."

"He’s just a butler. If his views aren’t aligned with He Pu’s, and he’s powerful enough to kill invited guests without the master’s interference, then he should be the master here, not He Pu—who would still be alive," Mr. Ma said.

"So, are they working together or on their own?" Mrs. Ma was somewhat confused, "When we bought the invites, they said there would be good opportunities here, but now it looks nothing like it. Shall we leave and find another way to get tickets?"

Mr. Ma’s face darkened, "We’ve already missed one Copy. If we don’t get tickets now, the danger level of the compulsory transfer to the next Copy in two months will be higher. What’s the difference between that and suicide? Compared to those high-danger Copies, this is just a Level D Copy—it’s nothing!"

"Besides, entering any Copy comes with risks. Even if everyone in this castle is a Cannibal Player, that doesn’t mean they will help us. Don’t trust anyone and adapt according to the situation."

The Ma Family Couple, troubled by Xu Huo’s ambiguous hint, stayed hidden all afternoon, and Xu Huo also locked himself in, thoroughly inspecting every inch of his room.

He found no secret passages, surveillance, or hidden compartments, though the electrical wiring was severely aged with signs of repairs. Nevertheless, everything was clean and well preserved, showing great care.

Despite the castle’s size, there weren’t many places where one could hide a body.

The garden was tended daily, and this morning, a servant had contacted the Gardener for a pruning session a week later. With outsiders coming regularly, it wouldn’t be a suitable place to hide a corpse.

The same applied to the conservatory.

That left the upper floors of the main building beyond the third floor, the Garden Maze, and the pavilion behind the maze.

Of those places, the third floor was occupied by He Pu, while the maze and the castle ruins were, according to the servants, only accessed by Mr. Dong.

The servants mentioned that the butler couldn’t issue invitations without the master’s consent; however, this information was unverified. Invitations came in two formats; outwardly, the butler had no right to issue them, but privately it may be different. The butler hosted the guests and was the one who saw the invitations.

Of course, this didn’t mean He Pu was clear of suspicion. Whether he had issued the invitations or intended to cause trouble for the players, he clearly took an active role in the Copy.

Remembering the eyes that had spied on him outside his window last night, Xu Huo picked up the Umbrella of Justice and released the body of the woman in the cheongsam, pulling off half the skin she was wearing and casually stuffing it into a closet.

"Mr. Xu," the servant knocked at his door, "Mr. Dong has asked me to deliver your dinner attire."

Xu Huo opened the door, and just as he did, Wei Landeng from the next room also came out to get her attire. He greeted her with a smile, while Wei Landeng looked pale and listless, returning the greeting half-heartedly before going back into her room.

The dinner party soon began. Xu Huo, in his new attire, holding the umbrella, made his way to the first-floor dining room where all the other players had already arrived, each dressed appropriately, the men in suits and the ladies in long gowns.

He took the first seat on the right, with the long-haired woman Wei Landeng beside him, and opposite them were the Ma Family Couple, closest to the empty master’s seat.

To the right of Wei Landeng sat, in order, the dark-faced man You Qiwen, the handsome youth Liu Zhengping, the twin brothers Chen Tu and Chen Nan, and to the left of Mrs. Ma were, in order, the baby-faced Yu Shuai, the muscular Li Chao, the refined-looking female player Fang Min, and the tall and lean middle-aged man Flay.

"Who needs a bath and a change of clothes for dinner, are we going to a tomb?" Liu Zhengping tugged at his necktie with impatience, his actions incongruent with his appearance.

"Liu Zhengping, have you ever watched a TV show? Someone like you wouldn’t survive past the second episode," Fang Min joked.

"None of your business!" Liu Zhengping was in a foul mood.

"It’s just dinner, let’s not all be so tense," Yu Shuai said with a smile on his baby face, "I’ve never had a genuine European-style dinner before."

"I’m afraid you might not be able to stomach it," Liu Zhengping said coolly.

The others, scenting the rich aroma of meat, had their expressions subtly change, losing the enthusiasm they had seconds before.

"But I suppose there will be those who will enjoy it very much," Fang Min glanced towards Xu Huo and the Ma family couple.

Mrs. Ma and Mr. Ma had completely lost the relaxed air they had at breakfast, their gazes sweeping over her coldly, while Xu Huo was not looking at them but rather at Mr. Dong, who was scolding a servant.

A servant had broken a crystal glass.

Though Mr. Dong’s voice was soft, everyone at the dining table could hear him, and the players, speechless, quickly turned their attention to that scene. Li Chao, who never seemed to be without a drink, slammed his glass onto the table with a "snap." "It’s just a glass, what of it?"

Mr. Dong looked at him expressionlessly, "Please do not damage the castle’s antiques."

"What, you want me to pay for it?" Li Chao sneered.

"Shh!" The lights on the wall flickered and then a few went out, plunging the dining room into darkness. Mr. Dong stood in front of one extinguished light, slowly opening his mouth... but he was interrupted by a cough coming from the direction of the staircase.

Mr. Dong immediately directed the servants to check the wiring and replace the lights, and they were quick to do so. By the time the dining room was brightly lit again, the elderly host, He Pu, had finally walked down from the third floor with the help of the maid, Hu Shan.

"Thank you for waiting, please sit," He Pu looked older and more gaunt than the portraits in the hallways, and he breathed heavily as he spoke. After inviting his guests to sit, he took a moment before continuing, "I haven’t been in good health in recent years and seldom go out. Thank you all for taking the trouble to come."

Flay politely offered a few words and then said, "I’ve heard Mr. He has a collection of many rare and exotic items. Might we have the privilege to see them?"

He Pu smiled, "Of course, you may. This time, in addition to inviting everyone to a music concert, it was also my intention to show a recent addition to my collection to you all."

"However, the third floor has just been repainted and the smell of paint hasn’t quite dissipated. You can enjoy the scenery of the castle first, and it won’t be too late to see the rest tomorrow."

The players were a bit surprised by He Pu’s candid demeanor, but having the opportunity to go upstairs openly was even better.

The dinner officially began, and after He Pu gave a toast, everyone sat down to eat.

Everyone was on high alert during this meal, and except for He Pu occasionally commenting on the taste of the dishes, there was almost no conversation.

"Bang!" Suddenly, Xu Huo knocked over a crystal wine glass, which rolled off the table and smashed on the floor.