My ‘Healing’ Game
Chapter 623: One in Ten Thousand Odds

Chapter 623: Chapter 623: One in Ten Thousand Odds

Establishing a positive image in the minds of the police and the public is extremely important, especially for someone like Han Fei. The protection of the police could spare him a lot of trouble, and some big companies wouldn’t dare to bypass procedural justice and do something too excessive directly to him.

Every small thing Han Fei did was adding chips for himself, waiting for the moment he could finally strike back.

When he arrived at the city sub-bureau, Li Xue’s superior met with Han Fei and personally explained the situation of some of the victims’ families. He also subtly told Han Fei that it wasn’t necessary to turn to the Xinhu Police every time he did a good deed, as many charitable organizations are open and transparent nowadays.

Han Fei also argued his case, wanting to help those who truly needed assistance, those families that had been destroyed by others’ actions. With the police involved, he could ensure that the money would actually end up in the pockets of the victims’ families.

Only after truly helping those in need could Han Fei’s money be transformed into Hidden Virtue.

Li Xue’s leader, who had been investigating cases for over two decades, had seen all sorts of people, but it was his first time encountering someone like Han Fei.

At first, some in the bureau suspected Han Fei was Butterfly, but as they spent more time with him, they didn’t know when it happened, but they started to consider Han Fei one of their own.

Indeed, even the gatekeeper of the city sub-bureau would smile and greet Han Fei, which truly indicated a certain level of familiarity.

After completing all his donations, Han Fei was ready to hitch a ride home in a police car, but he didn’t expect to receive a call from Huang Ying at this time.

The number one player from the Shallow World had some matters he wanted to discuss with him in person.

Considering it was still early, Han Fei took a car alone and headed for the Smart District.

Around one in the afternoon, Han Fei arrived at the Street Corner Cafe owned by Huang Ying. After verifying his identity, he went upstairs.

As he pushed open the door, a faint scent wafted out. Han Fei looked inside, and beside the coffee table on the second floor sat three men.

Dressed in a white lab coat, Huang Ying seriously grinded coffee like a doctor preparing medicine. Bai Xian, wrapped up tightly, sniffed the white liquor in his glass. Jin Jun, who dressed the most ordinarily, sat in the corner with a cup of strong tea in front of him.

"You three are all here?" Han Fei had saved these three men before, and they all knew about the existence of the Deep World. They were the people Han Fei trusted the most, and they were also members of the Happiness Residential Community Homeowners’ Committee.

"Would you like something to drink? My coffee is almost ready," Huang Ying stood up and fetched a chair for Han Fei.

"I’ll just have water," Han Fei also sat at the table, four men with different personalities each drinking a different "beverage."

Liuli Cat is going to participate in the Virtual Idol Singing Competition, and that lady hasn’t recovered from her illness, so neither of them came today," Huang Ying sipped his freshly brewed coffee, his expression turning a bit unsightly: "This coffee is exactly like my previous life."

"How come you’ve become so artistic in just a few days?" Han Fei glanced at the three men: "If there’s something important, just say it."

"The first thing is good news." Huang Ying put his phone on the table and pressed the projection key—a constantly rotating pure white box appeared in the projection: "During the first major event in ’Perfect Life,’ I had the lowest minimum happiness value, which allowed me to become the player with the most increased happiness sense during the event, earning me an extremely precious chance to draw a prize."

"And then you drew a blank box?" Han Fei didn’t have much hope for Huang Ying’s luck value. It was quite remarkable for a player who was favored by Li Zai to just remain alive.

"I had Bai Xian draw it for me; don’t underestimate this box. It’s currently the most precious and unique game item," Huang Ying didn’t keep any suspense and enlarged the projection: "This white box is called ’Inevitable Truth,’ a levelless special item. I never heard about it during the internal test; the odds of drawing it were one in a hundred thousand."

"What’s its use?" Han Fei also became curious.

The box can bring a non-essential plot NPC from ’Perfect Life’ into reality." After Huang Ying said this, Han Fei’s pupils shrunk momentarily as he realized the specialty of this item. If this item were brought into the Deep World, could it possibly bring Xu Qin out of the Deep World? Could it allow Wei Youfu to accompany his father in another form?

The Deep World was filled with too many regrets. If Han Fei’s conjecture were successful, at least one of those regrets should be able to be mended.

"I know what you’re thinking, but this box has very strict usage restrictions. First, you must have the highest level of friendship with that NPC; you can’t force the NPC to obey your orders. Secondly, the NPC can’t be responsible for any key plotlines in the game, and there are also certain level restrictions. Even if you manage to bring someone out of ’Perfect Life,’ for that NPC, it’s just moving from one prison to another, which is why this item is called ’Inevitable Truth.’

Huang Ying placed his phone in front of Han Fei: "This item must be meant for those top-level rich people. If they find true love in the game, or they really want a person, they can use this item to bring them out of the game and then load the NPC’s consciousness into a smart housekeeper or a smart lover’s body, keeping them for themselves."

"I can’t believe a game that’s supposed to be healing like ’Perfect Life’ would have such a thing."

"You haven’t seen the players who have broken down in ’Perfect Life.’ They treat NPCs like objects to vent their negative emotions. If Smart Brain weren’t protecting NPCs, ’Perfect Life’ might turn into a post-apocalyptic survival game," Huang Ying had been through several internal tests and knew many things: "So sometimes I think that dark world also has its reason to exist."

Huang Ying’s thoughts matched Han Fei’s in some ways; they could be considered the most in-sync friends.

"Let’s not talk about other things. Without your help, Bai Xian and I would never have had the chance to get all of this, so we’ve decided to give you this item," Huang Ying glanced at Bai Xian and continued: "But if this item doesn’t work there, or if you don’t have a suitable candidate, you must remember to keep it for Bai Xian. He married a Female Sheriff in the game, and this box might help him to bring his wife out."

To hide his emotions, Bai Xian lowered his head and drank, speaking in a low voice, "I know that where you are, there is a separation between yin and yang, a crossing between life and death, so you should think about yourself first. Anyway, I can see her every day, and most importantly, she seems unwilling to leave."

"This white box is very crucial, I will take good care of it and consider it cautiously," Han Fei nodded.

"I will go down to deliver it to you tonight," Huang Ying turned off the projection and then brought up another matter, "That was the good news, now for some not so good news."

Sliding the smartphone screen, a new projection appeared on the tabletop, "Eighteen top players have gone missing in the Paradise Maze, and it’s almost impossible for Inevitable Truth to keep it under wraps any longer. I thought they would delay for a while, but within twenty-four hours they’ve assembled twelve players above level twenty and formed two teams ready to enter the Paradise Maze tonight to investigate."

"Two teams at once?"

"These twelve players are the top players that Inevitable Truth could contact, and to my knowledge, one of them possesses an A-level talent; he is Inevitable Truth’s most deeply hidden trump card," Huang Ying said with a bitter smile, "The major patron Boss has gone missing, and Inevitable Truth is truly panicking now. They even reached out to me, offering an outrageous sum of money in hopes of hiring me to join them."

"Did you agree?"

"Of course not. What’s unattainable is always in turmoil; a true number one cannot have any weaknesses, and rejecting the lure of money is just the most basic," said Huang Ying, who indeed was not short of money.

"You did the right thing," Han Fei massaged his temples, "What exactly is going on with that Paradise? Can there really be an entrance and exit there?"

"This issue needs to be resolved quickly. In ’Perfect Life,’ a small fraction of extreme players are aiming to find the Black Box, and anything related to hidden maps drives them mad. Now the number of players near the Paradise Maze is increasing. If not for Inevitable Truth blocking the maze, I’m afraid more players would enter," Huang Ying felt some pressure, "Once certain things spiral out of control, they’re like opening Pandora’s box; who knows what might come out."

"I will go and take a look tonight."

"You also need to be careful. If it comes down to it... just abandon them," Huang Ying had been to the Deep World and knew how terrifying that place could be, "Han Fei, you’ve been there a long time, have you figured out what exactly that place is?"

"Once I walk out of the Paradise, I should be able to find an answer," Han Fei felt he could no longer delay.

"Actually, we might be able to help you a bit now."

Jin Jun and Bai Xian spoke at the same time, but it was the strongest among them, Huang Ying, who gently shook his head, "You two better just stay in ’Perfect Life’ and help me for now. At this stage, players will have trouble getting involved with that nightmare. I estimate that they’ll need to reach at least level forty and unlock all the talents of their primary profession before they can assist Han Fei."

"Level forty?" Bai Xian and Jin Jun looked at each other, for them, level forty was too far away.

"Don’t think too much, just do what you are supposed to, and leave the things in the dark to me," Han Fei discussed future plans for the player community with Huang Ying and others, uncertain what would happen in the future, but it’s always good to plan ahead.

If one day something from the Deep World came out, Huang Ying and the others could also help Han Fei within the Shallow World of ’Perfect Life.’

The four of them chatted and ate until past two in the afternoon when Han Fei suddenly received a call from Li Xue.

"What happened? Didn’t I just leave the station this morning?"

"You might have to come back again," came the response.

"Hmm?"

"Xia Yilan is missing. After last night’s live broadcast ended, her manager sent her home, and when the manager tried to contact her this afternoon, they found her phone was turned off. Worried about Xia Yilan’s safety, the manager went to check on her personally, only to discover that Xia Yilan was not at home," Li Xue spoke very calmly.

"Didn’t the surveillance cameras capture where she went?"

"The cameras only captured footage of her returning home, not how she left. It’s as if that woman just vanished into thin air from her room," there was a lot of background noise on Li Xue’s side, the police station was bustling with activity, "Last night you had the most one-on-one contact with Xia Yilan, we want to ask you some questions. Just give me an address, I’ll come to pick you up now."

"I’m at Smart New City." To avoid discovery of the cafe, Han Fei decisively bid farewell to Huang Ying and the others and walked outside.

As a second-tier celebrity, Xia Yilan’s sudden disappearance would be terribly impactful, and Han Fei was aware of the severity of the situation, so he quickly left Street Corner Cafe.

Hearing the door close, Huang Ying withdrew his gaze and looked at the slightly tipsy Bai Xian, "Are you actors always this busy?"

"Yes, it’s pretty hectic, but his busyness is different from ours," Bai Xian leaned on the table, "Do you have any more of this alcohol?"

"Drink less, you’re better off spending time playing the game to level up," Huang Ying shook his head and took out two more bottles of alcohol from under the counter and placed them on the table.