Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!
Chapter 413: The Hidden Danger of Stagnant Evolution Rate

Chapter 413: Chapter 413: The Hidden Danger of Stagnant Evolution Rate

Xu Huo left some food for the two children before leaving the Lower City district. The welfare system in Zone 011 was fairly complete; orphanages could provide basic living security for orphans, and in order to showcase the generosity of the upper-class, they would also receive targeted sponsorships.

The so-called targeted sponsorship meant that a sponsor, without taking on an adoption relationship, would provide for all the needs of an orphan, from living expenses to schooling, and if the child was found suitable to become a player after starting school, they would also be given Potion support. Usually, such a child would end up working for their sponsor as they grew up.

If the sponsored child was of average aptitude, they would be subsequently abandoned.

Not every orphanage was pure, but this was still the best place for orphans in the Lower City district.

When Xu Huo returned to Rose Castle, Madame Butterfly had just come back as well.

Madame Butterfly’s channels for obtaining information were different from his, and made it easier for her to gather intel.

"This time, the matter is simply an internal struggle within the city hall," she said. "A faction within the city hall was hit by a leak from one of the officials’ subordinates, which in turn affected the Bai Jianzhang subgroup. Aside from those who were playing the game, the only one who benefited from this incident is the Black Epaulette."

"There will be a substantial personnel shift in the Enforcement Department in ten days. Just before it happened, the channel for the advancement of Bai Jianzhang was blocked by Black Epaulette."

Xu Huo was not surprised. Where there were power struggles, there would be people hitching a ride. Logically, several leakers from the Rongxin Group, led by Zheng An, should have made contact with Zhao He from the city hall. But Zhao He reaching out to outsiders didn’t necessarily mean he was trying to make a quick buck; he could also be acting on someone’s orders with a promise of a share of the spoils afterward.

Of course, he didn’t succeed, and before the materials were finalized and delivered, Rongxin Group had already dealt with Zheng An and the others. Wouldn’t this have caught the attention of Zhao He and his associates?

Rongxin Group had received a warning ahead of time, but they only cleaned up their internal personnel, which was normal. They had no need to go after the buyers. There were always people eyeing the weapons, so they didn’t wait for the handover of materials at the sea station.

Or rather, they were confident that they wouldn’t startle the snake. Those working inside the city hall might not be so obtuse. At least someone in Zhao He’s team had intercepted this message.

The Black Epaulette wouldn’t just reap benefits for nothing; they must have played a key role internally.

The subsequent sweeping up and closing operations were merely to present their merits openly.

"Initially, the ones who snuck onto the ship and in the flying vehicle teams were mostly players from the Lower City district. Those who came later in the transport aircraft were from a Player Organization in another city. They thought they could take advantage easily, but instead, they lost their wife and troops, as a third of them were killed by the Black Epaulette," Madame Butterfly said, twirling her small fan. "This time the Black Epaulette has made quite a big splash, and there will surely be celebration banquets everywhere for the next half month."

Feigning ignorance of the hint hidden in those purple pupils, Xu Huo asked, "Were there any other high-level players who showed up?"

"Maybe one or two, but those who live to become high-level players are no fools. The weapon and personnel movements of the Black Epaulette and the city hall couldn’t possibly leave no trace," Madame Butterfly replied. "Only outsiders who are fools would rush over there."

Xu Huo glanced at her, "Are you insulting me, or yourself?"

Madame Butterfly chuckled with a hum, her eyes flashing. "Aren’t you going to go find your old flame?"

Xu Huo smiled, "Even if you don’t like me, is there really a need to set me up like this?"

He had been in Zone 011 for some time now, yet his evolution rate hadn’t increased. Was it because he couldn’t afford the Evolution Potion?

Those who were careful would inevitably think more deeply.

Mr. He Pu studied potions due to illness; did he really not know about the Perfect Evolution Potion? If he knew, then the woman before him might know as well and could see why his evolution rate had never increased.

Madame Butterfly covered her mouth with a light laugh, "Oh dear, I almost forgot to remind you, if your evolution rate doesn’t increase, it might lead to suspicion."

"Thanks for the reminder," Xu Huo prepared to go upstairs to rest.

"By the way, do you have any relation to those two children?" Madame Butterfly asked from behind him.

"No relation."

"So, it was purely out of kindness?" Madame Butterfly seemed to taunt him, "Forget it, the internal struggles of Zone 011 don’t really concern us."

Xu Huo’s mouth flattened, and he said no more.

In the following days, both had their own businesses to attend to, generally leaving early and returning late, and then they would engage in spiritual sparring.

When Madame Butterfly was in a good mood, Xu Huo had it easier. If she was not, he would suffer a beating inside.

It wasn’t a literal beating, but rather spiritual damage. After leaving her spiritual world, Xu Huo had nosebleeds on two occasions.

Therefore, five days later, Madame Butterfly told him, "I can’t take you into the spiritual world for a short while. Come back when you’ve rested properly."

"Do you have any other items that can bring someone into the spiritual world?" Xu Huo asked, "I’m preparing to enter the next copy."

"No," Madame Butterfly cautioned. "Don’t think about flying before you can walk steadily. You might cause chaos with peers of the same level, but when it comes to a real fight, it’s going to be a bare-knuckle battle. Facing more advanced players, your advantage might turn into a disadvantage. You don’t believe that only those who’ve undergone spirit evolution know about the manifestation objects in the spiritual world that symbolize their mental state, do you?"

"Maintaining an advantage is just being cautious," replied Xu Huo, who had made considerable progress in recent days, at least his spiritual world had evolved once again.

After a moment’s hesitation, Madame Butterfly handed him a hollow copper sphere that resembled a scented ball.

"This is the Star-binding Sphere, an item I used at the beginning of my spirit evolution. It can create an environment within a three-and-a-half-meter radius that disorients people mentally, but it only lasts for five minutes," she said. "Whether or not you can make use of your spiritual world is up to you."

"Thank you. I’ll return it when I’m back," Xu Huo accepted; it was a Rank-C item.

"No need," Madame Butterfly waved her hand dismissively, "I have no use for it anyway... Have you bought your tickets for Zone 011 yet?"

Xu Huo smiled, "Don’t worry, I’ll be back."

Madame Butterfly glared at him, "What? Do you think I care about you?"

"Not at all. I’m just reminding you that you can’t take over Rose Castle until after I’m gone," replied Xu Huo.

Madame Butterfly turned away, paused as if she wanted to say something else, then turned back, only to find that where Xu Huo had just been standing was now empty. She shook her fan and removed the hairpin from her head; a warm light descended from above her head, burning away her previously womanly attire like a faint fire.

The elaborate and complex red gown turned into a smart, black shirt and pants; her golden, shoulder-length curly hair became long black hair that reached her waist, and her facial features were completely different, except for her purple eyes. Instead of appearing alluring, she now seemed cold and detached.

Brushing her long black hair, she said to Mr. Dong, "You must have hidden Uncle Fan Xiao’s body. Take me to him; I want to see him."

"I’m not aware of Mr. He Pu’s whereabouts," Mr. Dong replied to Miss Bai Kou.