Chapter 46-Game Descent: I Am the Sole Player
Chapter 46
From the diagonal corner, Qin Zhen accepted Bai Shan and Lin Huijun's scrutiny with perfect composure. She returned a courteous smile — the very definition of a "nodding acquaintance."
When Bai Shan had heard Qin Zhen's voice through the door, she was naturally surprised by the coincidence. Were they truly this fated, or was Qin Zhen deliberately tailing them? If the latter, Bai Shan felt she should have noticed.
Qin Zhen had appeared before her yet again. Whatever the woman's motive, Bai Shan did not consider it a bad thing. She had had her eye on Qin Zhen's ability back in Qianxi Town and had even felt a twinge of regret that Qin Zhen had slipped away so quickly.
So Bai Shan returned the smile.
Lin Huijun's gaze was far more intense and direct. Arms folded, she assumed a wary, defensive posture. Not only had Qin Zhen surfaced once more, she appeared to be on intimate terms with someone from the Xu family. Lin Huijun simply could not trust the woman's earlier claim of "no ill intentions."
The atmosphere in the lounge congealed. Xu Da, as the host, said nothing. Two dangerous elements had waltzed right up to her face. In her mind she raged at the useless corpses standing guard outside, but outwardly she could only try to shrink her presence as much as possible.
"Someone outside just told me that one Special-Class Mission is worth 2,000 Contribution Points, 3,000 Contribution Points can be exchanged for one item, and 30,000 Contribution Points earn you a Jade Badge."
Bai Shan leaned back into the sofa, chatting as if making small talk, her eyes sliding toward the silent Xu Da.
"He told me to wait here in the lounge and that someone would come to receive me and answer my questions."
"I recall you're Cheng Yue's... friend. Would you have time to help me with a few small questions?"
Xu Da slowly straightened her rigid body. She could not fathom it. Everything this person had done today was an open insult to the organisation. In the past, Nanzhou City had seen people provoke the organisation, but any sane person knew that after causing trouble, you laid low. These two had not only paraded through the streets — they had walked straight into the lion's den!
This was the Player Association Headquarters!
Was it only because Cheng Yue had not returned that they dared act so recklessly?
Xu Da wanted desperately to mock their stupidity. Yet she realised, with bitter clarity, that until Cheng Yue came back, the organisation truly could not touch them.
Not for lack of manpower. These two — especially the brazenly arrogant Bai Shan — were an extremely valuable experience package. Nanzhou City had almost no one like her left. All the high-level players belonged to the organisation and would never turn on each other, and powerful Mutated Creatures were growing scarcer by the day.
Even when Cheng Yue returned, this "premium experience package" would not necessarily go to her. The Xu family were greedy — whoever struck the killing blow reaped the rich experience, and unlocking a second Skill was a powerful temptation.
Xu Da had always been the family favourite. Not because her parents were especially capable within the group, but because she had known since childhood which people were worth flattering, which could be exploited, and which were beneath notice.
And so, her facial muscles strained to produce a smile, and her voice took on an eager warmth:
"What questions? I'll answer anything I can."
"Contribution Points can be exchanged for items — are those items crafted by the organisation, or are they game items?"
Bai Shan's question deflated the expression Xu Da had worked so hard to put on. Her eyelid twitched. Once this lunatic was gone, she was going to personally deal with the loose-lipped idiot outside.
"Items... items, well, they're game items... and they're not."
"They are and they aren't?"
Bai Shan leaned forward, eyes puzzled. Though a tea table still separated them, Xu Da felt an oppressive weight bearing down on her.
Qin Zhen looked over with curiosity as well. Although she had gotten close to the Xu heiress, many of the organisation's affairs remained closed to outsiders. Unwritten rules circulated almost exclusively among Xu family members, and she had not yet had time to dig deeper.
Lin Huijun said, puzzled: "Apart from being dropped by kills, game items can't be transferred."
"Reward items — could they be..." Lin Huijun's tone dropped, and her expression changed.
"No, no, no!" No secret was worth more than her own life. Xu Da rushed to explain: "It's a Talent ability! One that can create replicas of game items. The replicas can be freely exchanged like ordinary objects."
"Replicated Item Copies?"
Lin Huijun had not expected game items could be duplicated by a Talent ability. Items were exceedingly rare. Over the past dozen-plus days, she had killed countless Mutated Creatures and only obtained one B-tier item — [Frozen Tilapia] — and one A-tier item — [Light Feather].
If game items could be replicated and mass-produced for ordinary people, the overall safety level of Nanzhou City would rise yet another notch.
"I don't know the specifics beyond that. I'm just an ordinary person who tags along with Cheng Yue for a bit of experience. I've barely got a thousand Contribution Points — never exchanged for any items."
Xu Da tried hard to distance herself. Bai Shan's gaze grew more probing. Someone who could leech experience off Cheng Yue was obviously no ordinary person — and yet this person had never received a Replicated Item?
Bai Shan's eyes dropped to the Gold Badge on the young woman's chest, and things clicked into place. Judging by her age, this girl was probably a junior member of the Xu family. The people who actually held power would all be wearing Diamond Badges or Jade Badges.
Bai Shan pressed on: "What's the point of a Jade Badge earned with 30,000 Contribution Points?"
"It represents decision-making authority — the right to become one of the organisation's core members, with many privileges."
Xu Da answered honestly. "Though, to this day, nobody has actually obtained a Jade Badge through 30,000 Contribution Points."
A single Special-Class Mission was worth 2,000 Contribution Points. Nanzhou City's players typically tackled missions in teams; solo attempts were rare. Teaming up ensured safety but also meant Contribution Points could not be claimed in full — they were split based on individual performance or rank within the party.
And Special-Class Missions required approval from the organisation's leadership before anyone was allowed to attempt them. Under normal circumstances, a regular mission yielding 100 Contribution Points was already decent.
The 30,000-point Jade Badge was nothing but a carrot dangled before ordinary people — a display of clear upward mobility and opportunity. If you could not meet the bar, that just meant you were not strong enough. The organisation could not be blamed for not giving you a chance.
Bai Shan understood. She had zero interest in something like a Jade Badge.
"Whose Talent ability is it that creates the Replicated Items?"
Bai Shan abruptly circled back to the earlier topic. Xu Da had just picked up her cup for a sip of water to calm her nerves. At the question, her hand jerked and orange juice sloshed over the back of her hand.
She had no time to wipe it off. Her answer came out garbled: "It's my— one of the organisation's senior players."
Then Xu Da set the cup down, having lost even the will to take a drink.
Qin Zhen, seated beside her, drew a tissue and offered it. Xu Da took it and dabbed at her hand.
Bai Shan watched Qin Zhen's considerate gesture and raised an eyebrow slightly, as though struck by some kind of inspiration. She suddenly picked up an empty cup, lifted the water pitcher, and poured.
Xu Da naturally did not dare let any of Bai Shan's movements escape her notice, terrified the girl might snap and kill someone at any second, leaving her no time to flee. And so she watched, wide-eyed, as Bai Shan lifted the pitcher and poured, as Bai Shan set the pitcher down, as Bai Shan dropped a small something into the cup.
Then Bai Shan pushed the cup across the table toward her.
"Thank you for the information. Have some water — relax a little."
Xu Da shot to her feet, staring at the cup on the table in a mixture of fury and alarm, then at Bai Shan. "You — you — what did you put in there?"
"I'd advise you not to ask. Just drink it in one go. It won't endanger your life."
Bai Shan sat on the sofa, chin tilted upward, regarding the furious Xu Da. She raised a single finger and gave a slow flick. The cup, as though guided by magic, lifted smoothly off the table and floated to Xu Da, its rim nearly touching her lips.
"Please."
The cup had been "thoughtfully" delivered to her mouth. Xu Da's gaze dropped. She stared hard into the water. At the bottom of the nearly transparent tea sat a small lump of flesh.
She could not tell whether it was the rippling water distorting her vision or whether the lump was truly writhing...
Her hand rose slowly and closed around the cup. Her expression was stricken.
"I'm sorry — I need to use the restroom." Qin Zhen stood abruptly. She offered an apologetic smile, then shot Xu Da a look.
Bai Shan said nothing. She watched Qin Zhen leave the lounge.
A sly old fox, that one — she had guessed immediately what Bai Shan was about to do. Bai Shan felt it was a little unfair, though she still did not know what Qin Zhen's true purpose was in hovering around like this.
Xu Da heard the lounge door thud shut. She hesitated no longer, threw her head back, and drained the cup in one gulp.
The next instant — crack — the porcelain cup slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.
The lump of flesh lay quietly among the shards.
"It's my grandfather — Xu Hao!"
Xu Da had not dared swallow the thing. She chose to tell Bai Shan the truth outright.
The person who could replicate game items was none other than her grandfather — the Xu Group's chairman, the organisation's ruler.
In the corridor outside the lounge, Qin Zhen had not gone to the restroom. She followed the hallway all the way to the main lobby.
Expensive solid-wood tables and chairs had been shoved into a corner like refuse. The Player Association's signboard lay smashed on the floor. A few people were sweeping up the wreckage; many more stood in tense formation, guarding every passage and exit as though expecting a monster to come charging out.
When they saw it was only Qin Zhen emerging, the Silver Badge and Gold Badge wearers — most of whom did not recognise her — collectively exhaled in relief.
Surveying the devastation in the lobby, Qin Zhen could easily imagine what had happened. The two teenagers had undoubtedly made a spectacular entrance, sending the organisation a ruthless statement of intent the moment they walked in.
But until Cheng Yue returned, the organisation would not make a lethal move against Bai Shan. Not because they were afraid — on the contrary, it was precisely because they were arrogant enough.
Qin Zhen stepped out of the Player Association Headquarters. She turned for one last look at the gilded building. A cool grey-blue flickered through her eyes as she appraised it without a trace of emotion.
They had simply been lucky. Their first encounter had been with someone as pliable as Cheng Yue. Now, it seemed, their luck had run out.
Before long, Bai Shan and Lin Huijun came out as well.
Every person in the lobby fixed their eyes on the pair, yet not one made a move. The leadership still had not issued clear orders. Even though these two had turned the organisation upside down, the higher-ups appeared unmoved.
And so, the high-level players who had been summoned to the lobby could only stand like an honour guard, watching the two walk out, watching them leave.
"Bai Shan, weren't you going to exchange Contribution Points for items?" Lin Huijun asked. Having learned that the organisation possessed Replicated Items, she was eager to see one for herself.
Bai Shan looked indignant. "They're obviously giving us the cold shoulder. How rude — completely untrustworthy."
"We should find a way to go collect them ourselves."
This building was the Player Association Headquarters in name, but it was merely a hub for high-level players. The Xu family's core members were not based here.
Cheng Yue's [The Absolute Center]. Qin Zhen's [Priceless True Love]. And now a Talent that could replicate items.
Big cities really did offer more opportunities, Bai Shan mused.
By the time the two exited the building, night had fallen over Nanzhou City. Once in the car, Lin Huijun glanced at the clock on the dashboard — 6:30 p.m.
Cheng Yue and Camila's Position Swap Battle had been going on for four hours.
"How long do you think Cheng Yue's battle will last?" Lin Huijun asked with a touch of excitement. Entertainment options since the game's descent were pitifully scarce, and she was not immune to the fascination.
Bai Shan answered offhandedly: "I'd guess before the day's out."
Lin Huijun pressed: "And who do you think will win?"
"I hope it's Cheng Yue. But it's hard to say."
Cheng Yue's actual ability did not seem to match the tough exterior she projected. From a rational standpoint, Bai Shan thought the odds of Cheng Yue coming back were slim.
Bai Shan was not overly concerned. The result would come soon enough. Even if she missed out on one SS-tier Talent, she could look for the next one elsewhere.
Lin Huijun bet on Cheng Yue; Bai Shan bet on Camila. The loser would drive for a full day.
But neither of them expected that three days would pass and the bet still would not have a winner.
Comments
Post a Comment