Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!
Chapter 554 Chaoyang Clown City

Chapter 554: Chapter 554 Chaoyang Clown City

"They used holographic glasses to track each warrior, ranking every killer, every fight, creating difficulties for the top-ranked players or providing them with equipment based on viewer preferences, and determining winners and losers by the final tally of kills, with the losing side having to give up ten percent of the game broadcast profits."

"So many people died, and in the end, it was just about whether two Clown Cities split their earnings sixty-forty or forty-sixty." On Xin Hui’s face mask, a watermark appeared, "It’s utterly detestable!"

Xu Huo fell silent for a moment, then said, "The fungal infection in the cleansing zone was overcome a long time ago, wasn’t it?"

"It could have been cured completely over a decade ago." Xin Hui took a deep breath, "But the higher echelons of the government didn’t clean it up; instead, they introduced a special potion into the water supply to promote fungal mutations. Those symptoms of blossoms growing on bodies and white-faced disfigurement only appeared later."

"What’s ridiculous is that the toxic potions they concocted can actually be purified by the fungi in the underground sanctuary."

"No wonder they keep contaminating the water supply." Xu Huo paused, considering the frequency and numbers of warriors dispatched by Clown City and the amount of potion they carried, which was enough to turn lakes and such into dead waters. However, these places continued to purify themselves, seemingly thanks to the fungi.

"So, does this mean that the underground sanctuary actually spreads throughout the entire cleansing zone?"

Xin Hui replied with slight hesitation, "I can’t be certain, but the fungi indeed grow in many places."

"Clown City has blocked game news from the lower levels; how did you find out?" Xu Huo asked. Xin Hui’s words still had questionable aspects, but the past events in the cleansing zone were just her own limited observations, and their veracity was still up for debate.

"I met an outsider, a high-level player," Xin Hui said. "The Clown City government hasn’t completely blocked this news from the upper levels; almost all government officials and some high-level players know about this game show. He told me all these insider details."

"If you despise this game so much, why do you participate in it?" Xu Huo lit a cigarette, "You keep saying that Clown City tramples on human lives, but your killing is no different, is it?"

After a few seconds of silence, Xin Hui responded, "Clown City is my home, and I don’t want to watch it continue to deteriorate. Only if I become stronger is there a chance to change this situation."

She wasn’t telling the whole truth, but Xu Huo didn’t press further, "Clown City interferes with game personnel, so the alien tide we encountered earlier could very well be an intervention. By the looks of it, you’ve killed many. Since hunting others can lead to a higher rank, your purpose must lie there too. Don’t tell me Clown City has a support program for lower-level players."

"Whether you believe it or not, this is the truth," Xin Hui said.

Xu Huo looked at her steadily, his tone neutral, "So, you’re willing to kill to protect this underground sanctuary, all for the future of Clown City?"

Xin Hui scoffed, "At least these fungi can save lives, while some people’s blood is filthy!"

Xu Huo tentatively believed her and changed the subject, "You’re just a Level E Player. How much time will it take before you become a high-level player? Not to mention changing the situation, from now on, you will kill so many who are just as deceived as you, even those passionately fighting for their homeland. Is it really worth it?"

Without a word from Xin Hui, Xu Huo did not continue to challenge her and withdrew his bowstring, ""You didn’t come here to beat the game; you can enter Clown City after the game is over. I’ll go with you, considering your current injuries, accompanying me is the only way you might survive until the end."

Xin Hui didn’t struggle uselessly, instead saying, "To go back inside, we’d have to cross the entire cleansing zone to the opposite Chaoyang Clown City. Once inside, it would be hard to leave, and even so, you can’t bring others with you."

Xu Huo seemed to have forgotten about the two kids waiting for him and nodded, "We’ll discuss this once I’ve planted the flag on the walls of Chaoyang Clown City."

Standing still, Xin Hui faced him, apparently looking at him intently for a while, "Are you going back for the other three?"

"No need," Xu Huo replied, "Don’t underestimate any player."

*

Chaoyang Clown City.

Inside the announcer’s studio, a beautiful woman removed her holographic glasses and stepped out of her work capsule. An assistant immediately offered her water and followed her, saying, "The mayor and the head director have sent invitations; they both want to have dinner with you."

After taking a sip of water and tapping on her wristwatch, a mechanical voice spoke for her, "I just want to rest today, decline them."

The assistant looked troubled, "But this is the third time the mayor has invited you, and if we decline again, wouldn’t he take issue with us?"

With her red lips curling into an enticing smile, the woman said, "The next time he calls, you can broadcast it directly to the main government office and let the chief official refuse him."

Blushing, the female assistant said, "I wouldn’t dare. Besides, didn’t the chief official go to another district? He shouldn’t be back so soon."

"He’ll definitely return today," the woman declared.

Realizing something, the assistant exclaimed, "It’s your birthday today, Lang Lang! The chief official is so good to you; he’ll surely come back to celebrate with you!"

Seemingly uninterested in the topic, the woman instead inquired, "Has the data on the fierce battle been released?"

The assistant nodded and displayed a data chart, "The top three are basically unchanged, ranked 227, 145, and 67, but currently, 227 has temporarily dropped out of the monitoring range, and the data isn’t being updated."

"A dark horse warrior has emerged among the top ten. He isn’t a player; he’s a retired military talent from the chief official’s department, skilled in using various cold and firearms. Lang Lang, this person is formidable; he’s doubled the firepower of the old weapons using just scrap materials from the abandoned city. Many viewers are rooting for him."

"The final champion might emerge from these few."

"What about the support data?"

Fetching another data chart, the assistant said, "Viewers still consistently hate players; 227 has encountered five more battles so far, which is more than anyone else. Additionally, the mayor really likes player 67 and has spent a lot of money to oust 227."

After hearing this, the woman asked, "What about 254 and 249?"

"These two didn’t make the kill list before taking off their glasses, so they’re just in the most-watched broadcasts now. According to feedback from the data team, they’ve figured out the standoff in the cleansing zone and spread the word. In the last night, without any major attacks, nearly fifty warriors have been eliminated; they probably removed their glasses and dropped out of the task."

The assistant’s fingers swiftly tapped on the transparent tablet, "But they’ve vanished near the Mist Forest Area, and haven’t appeared since."

Looking at the map, the woman commented, "What can knowing the truth do for them? Do they think they can escape Clown City?"

After a pause, she added, "Prepare a nice gown for me. After the champion is crowned, I want to receive them alongside the chief official."