Players, Please Board the Train Chapter 61

"Unfortunately, that's another type of mutant toxin. The current antidote has limited effectiveness." Team Leader Wu shook his head.

Did Professor Han survive or not? Xu Huo thought he'd ask Liu Jia next time.

"Mr. Xu, besides bringing these items, I came to formally invite you to join us. The country has established Vanguard Player squads in various cities, and we're precisely lacking talents like you. If you join, you'll receive first-hand information about the latest research on Dimensional Rifts, and you can apply for high-level props when necessary."

"Your family can be relocated to safety zones established by the state, eliminating the risk of being drawn into Random Dungeons."

Last time Nie Xuan said they could strive for the best conditions; this time Team Leader Wu directly laid out the terms. Xu Huo wasn't interested in the other offers but was very curious about the method to avoid Random Dungeons.

"Actually, just within our country's borders, over twenty Random Dungeons have already appeared, not including those suspected but unconfirmed locations. Through international communication, we've grasped some patterns of dungeon appearances. With current technological means, we can only build avoidance facilities in some key areas - this already represents our nation's maximum effort."

Team Leader Wu's gaze sharpened as he said solemnly: "This isn't about insufficient manpower, but rather the lack of existing rare materials."

"So having your family members enter safety zones is already the maximum benefit the research institute can secure for you. I hope you understand."

Xu Huo understood perfectly - if the country was experimenting with Player-Eater Evolvers, these safety zone tests had probably cost numerous lives. But to truly master the patterns of dungeon appearances and completely avoid them? Impossible. Their understanding of the game remained superficial, far from comprehending its underlying principles.

"I can cooperate with you, but I won't accept assignments from the research institute." Xu Huo looked at the two men across from him. "I can exchange information I know for whatever data you need. Additionally, if I discover any special metallic substances in the game, I can find ways to bring them out and hand them over to you."

Team Leader Wu's expression turned complex. Actually, Vanguard Players had another mission when entering the game - collecting soil, plants, metals, and fossils, especially metallic materials. Many props contained traces of them. Of course, special materials alone couldn't explain the props' peculiar nature, but since players couldn't bring thermal weapons into the game, these became indispensable for creating defensive tools.

That the game world connected to an advanced civilization was already an accepted fact.

That the country lacked information and materials in all aspects was also fact.

"If that's the case, then relocating family members to safety zones might not be possible," he said.

Xu Huo nodded. The so-called safety zones weren't actually that safe. With super players emerging from other game zones, and wormhole points not completely isolated, there was no guarantee other players wouldn't enter. The country's true core could be hidden, but ordinary people absolutely couldn't enter those places. Other safety zones would stand out like lighthouses on the sea.

Having failed to persuade, Team Leader Wu didn't linger long, leaving the items behind before departing.

The moment the door closed, the painting pasted in the hallway slid down. The thin sheet of paper landed and transformed into a person, still wearing Xu Huo's short-sleeved shirt, smiling at him with an unfamiliar face.

Clothes worn could also become paperized.

Xu Huo quickly made this judgment internally, then pretended not to see it, turning to store the antidotes.

Antidotes could also be stored in the medicine slot, though without specific usage instructions - only the words "unknown potion" appeared.

Previously he'd tried storing weapons and tools in the prop slot, but nothing succeeded. It seemed except for game-given rewards, other items couldn't be stored. The antidotes might be improved game potions, but this also proved items from outside the game could be stored.

Xu Huo glanced at the woman, then stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.

The game didn't display her information.

"You don't belong to anyone?"

The woman nodded.

An ownerless prop - neither displaying information nor able to be forcibly stored. Could it be that after developing consciousness, props were no longer simple inanimate objects but could decide their own comings and goings like people?

Looking at the woman pouting and leaning against him, Xu Huo showed a friendly smile. "Want the medal?"

The woman nodded vigorously.

"Get in the prop slot and I'll let you play with it."

The woman shook her head vigorously again.

Xu Huo pushed her away and turned into the bathroom, saying as he closed the door: "There's change in the drawer. Buy soybean milk and fried dough sticks at seven tomorrow morning, and wash my clothes while you're at it."

The woman returned to the wall with an angry huff.

Early next morning, Xu Huo looked at the large bag of fried dough sticks on the table and paused. "You want to eat too?"

The woman hanging clothes with bare legs ran over excitedly to claim credit, pulling out two one-yuan bills and pointing at the things on the table.

"You bought this much with two yuan." Xu Huo glanced at the shape of her chest and the shirt hem that barely covered her bottom. "Go get some pants to wear. I'll take you out to buy clothes later."

The woman gave him a flying kiss with a radiant smile, immediately rummaged through his backpack for shorts to put on, then sat opposite him, cheeks propped in hands, staring directly at him.

Eyes meeting, Xu Huo ate the fried dough sticks leisurely and took a sip of soybean milk. "Do you have a name?"

The woman nodded, lifted her foot, and spread her toes apart. Next to her big toe were written several very small characters:

"Female·Painted on Spring Begins."

The painting woman pointed at the first two characters, mouthing: Painting Woman, Painting Woman.

A painting had become a prop.

If players could turn paper into props, a painted picture becoming a prop wasn't surprising either.

"Painting Woman sounds strange. I'll call you Spring Begins." Xu Huo decided directly.

The painting woman reluctantly accepted. Seeing he'd finished eating, she efficiently put the leftovers in the refrigerator, then linked arms with him preparing to go out.

Pressing the back of her neck to pull her half a meter away, Xu Huo locked the door and went downstairs.

He first went to the police station to turn in the wallet he'd found earlier. At the entrance, he encountered Zhao Biao seeing off several police family members.

"Xu Huo!" Zhao Biao waved to him, said a few words to the people beside him, then walked over. "Is this your girlfriend?"

"Distant relative." Xu Huo paused. "Were any of your colleagues among those sacrificed this time?"

"They weren't as lucky as me." Zhao Biao sighed and patted his shoulder. "I heard from the research institute people that we owe you thanks this time. You're a capable person. Good luck to you."

After leaving the police station, Xu Huo grew somewhat silent.

The people coming and going here were either identifying bodies or reporting cases. The prosperous and stable Ting City from a month ago had completely vanished.

The painting woman suddenly tugged his sleeve, pointing at a women's clothing store by the street, mouthing: I want a dress.

Xu Huo coldly pulled out his balance text message: "You only have a five hundred yuan budget."