Bullethead didn’t understand what Lu Qingjia meant by ‘ending the Game early.’
Wasn’t the competition format determined by the organizing committee? How could a Player influence it?
However, Lu Qingjia assigned him a task: “You’re fast on your feet. Help me invite these six people to the meeting room on the second floor.”
“If they refuse to come, tell them they’ll bear the consequences.”
Bullethead muttered, “I’m not an errand boy, and won’t this offend people?”
Lu Qingjia smiled, “Your appearance and demeanor are suited for this important task.”
As Bullethead left, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Later, he realized—why was he suited for such a toadying task? His looks weren’t criminal.
Regardless, the six Heroes Lu Qingjia named surprisingly cooperated.
They had no choice. In Infinite City, any Player with decent connections knew about the God Envoy’s identity.
Even those who didn’t know would quickly find out by exchanging information with others in the Game. Moreover, the God Envoy’s strength was formidable.
But then the exchange student from the Horror Game arrived and took down the God Envoy, causing panic among the Infinite Game Players.
They wondered if this Horror Player would declare war on all Infinite Players. Some even considered fleeing the castle, abandoning the mission, and surviving until the end.
However, this seemed illogical. Mudslide had displayed high intelligence and emotional quotient, maintaining strong control over the entire Game. From entering the instance world until now, he hadn’t specifically targeted any Players.
Moreover, after the mission ended, they would return to Infinite City. It made no sense for Mudslide to completely antagonize the Infinite Game when his advantage was so clear.
After all, Intermediate Level Players often had intricate connections. If only one Horror Player survived the mission, it would be too conspicuous. Given Mudslide’s ability to casually spend money to acquire Constellation and become a capital party, the mere 1000 Points from harvesting Players probably meant nothing to him.
The God Envoy’s current status was unknown, and they realized they had underestimated the exchange student’s capabilities. Having already lived together, fleeing now might not succeed. If the other party truly intended to strike, staying under surveillance would be the safest option.
After weighing the pros and cons, the six accepted Mudslide’s invitation without much hesitation.
Arriving at the small meeting room on the second floor, they found Sweet Chocolate there as well, sticking close to Mudslide since the God Envoy’s disappearance.
They couldn’t help but ponder the reason, though they greeted Mudslide as usual.
Just as they were about to exchange pleasantries, Mudslide cut straight to the point: “All Infinite Players except you have been confirmed dead.”
“The God Envoy did it.”
Lu Qingjia tossed out a stack of documents detailing the disappearance of previously identified Players.
The God Envoy had hunted so many Players. To avoid disrupting the competition, the bodies had to be disposed of. With his Items and Abilities, it was simple, so these people were currently listed as missing.
Lu Qingjia said, “Some of these were your external collaborators, right? Here’s a phone; you can contact the outside world to confirm.”
“No need,” one Player took a deep breath and put down the documents.
Although the Infinite Game had rules restricting team entries into instances, people living in the same space naturally found more ways than the Horror Game.
Among the external collaborators and the six Players present, not all were temporary alliances of interest; some had pre-existing friendships in Infinite City.
A female Player asked, “The God Envoy is capable of this. Does that mean only eight Players remain?”
Not quite. It seemed not every Player knew about the opposing Player faction with conflicting missions.
However, Lu Qingjia had no intention of informing them and nodded, “This instance has seen heavy casualties. I don’t want the remaining mission to be spent in meaningless slaughter.”
“With so few left, we should be able to sit down calmly and discuss the Game’s direction.”
A middle-aged male Player said, “You have the strongest fist now. What do you propose?”
The remaining six Players were actually quite formidable in the Intermediate Level Game. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have dared to step forward. But the pressure from the God Envoy’s hunting spree hadn’t dissipated, and now there was the even more troublesome Mudslide.
Honestly, they weren’t confident about winning the championship and only aimed for higher rankings, reaping as many benefits as possible from the instance. With low initial expectations, compromising now wasn’t a hurdle.
They said, “You want the championship? That’s fine. We know our limits and won’t compete with you.”
“The six of us together can basically control the Game’s rankings. Discussing it in this room and peacefully completing the instance is, of course, a good thing.”
Lu Qingjia smiled, clearly unsatisfied, “No, I demand that you fully follow my commands from now on. Whatever I ask, you must execute without question.”
He then turned to Sweet Chocolate, “That includes you.”
The six Players’ expressions changed, but they didn’t rush to speak, as the stronger Sweet Chocolate hadn’t responded yet.
Sweet Chocolate looked at Lu Qingjia for a while, somewhat puzzled, “Why? You’re a dead man walking. Why are you still so arrogant?”
Lu Qingjia smiled, “That’s for after we return to Infinite City. But in this instance, the situation is that all of you are at my mercy.”
“If you want to survive, listen to me. If you want the instance rewards, listen to me. If you don’t want to be held accountable after leaving, listen to me.”
Sweet Chocolate said, “I noticed earlier that you’re not entirely ignorant of the Infinite Game’s rules.”
“Perhaps you’re relying on the rule that private fights are prohibited in Infinite City, thinking you’ll be safe there.”
“But you’re wrong. Rules are for ordinary Players. Although private fights deduct a large number of Points based on damage, for the people behind the God Envoy, it’s a drop in the bucket.”
“Previously, due to certain incidents, this rule was modified. If a Player from another Game enters Infinite City, private fights will reflect the damage. If someone kills you, that person will also die.”
“On the surface, it seems you can rest easy, but you don’t understand Infinite City,” Sweet Chocolate’s voice was low, his tone calm.
“For high-ranking Players in the Infinite Game, arranging a life-for-life exchange is too easy.”
“So, in reality, the protection you think you have under the rules is meaningless.”
After speaking, Sweet Chocolate stared directly at Lu Qingjia.
But Lu Qingjia showed no sign of surprise or panic.
Instead, he chuckled, “I recall the safety rules for Players from other Games were added just a few years ago.”
“That is to say, due to the Infinite Game’s unified management of Players, many rules change with time and circumstances.”
“Of course, I must thank you for the reminder. But since I dared to act, I’ve already planned my exit. So, you needn’t worry.”
The others didn’t quite believe him, thinking he was still putting on a brave front. After all, no matter how impressive Mudslide’s qualifications seemed, he was still just an Intermediate Level Player. The gap between him and the people behind the God Envoy was more than a chasm.
But his performance so far didn’t suggest he was reckless or indifferent to consequences.
Lu Qingjia didn’t give them time to ponder further, saying, “My situation is none of your concern for now.”
“But the situation you’re facing is severe.”
Lu Qingjia looked at them, “First, you must ensure the God Envoy leaves the Game alive. Otherwise, living in Infinite City, you’ll likely face retaliation.”
Their expressions turned grim, which was why they had been cautious with Mudslide.
Although the God Envoy’s wanton hunting of Players had infuriated them, given that big shot’s protectiveness, if the God Envoy died in the instance, none of the Players who entered with him would survive.
Lu Qingjia continued, “Secondly, the God Envoy is now under my control. Most of his previous competitive resources will be inherited by me. Plus, I have my own company’s trusted aides. In terms of the competition alone, I don’t need you to do anything.”
“So, the current situation is that your lives are indirectly in my hands.”
“If you obey, I won’t kill the God Envoy in the Game, ensuring you won’t be implicated later. As for the Hero King Cup rankings, I don’t care about anything below first place. You can form alliances and compete, as long as you prioritize my commands. I won’t interfere with the rest.”
“So, the God Envoy is still under your control?” they asked.
But they didn’t really need Lu Qingjia’s answer. Otherwise, why would Sweet Chocolate stick so closely to him? It was because rescuing the God Envoy was impossible, and they could only ensure his survival.
Initially, Mudslide’s subtle words had given them the illusion that he was merely being arrogant.
In reality, they were being strangled and had no choice but to compromise.
They realized Mudslide’s ambitions likely extended beyond the Hero King Cup. After all, if it were just about winning the championship, the initial negotiation would have sufficed.
Leaving the meeting room, they could only curse their misfortune. The God Envoy was truly a jinx.
Being in the same instance as him was never a good experience. Not only did they risk being hunted, but they also had to constantly watch over his worthless life.
After reaching a consensus with the remaining Infinite Players, Lu Qingjia returned to his room to pack and prepare to leave the castle.
He didn’t have much—just a suitcase and a cat. After the organizing committee lifted the functional restrictions on his terminal, Lu Qingjia took a car back to his rented apartment.
Of course, Sweet Chocolate followed behind.
As Lu Qingjia stroked the cat, he asked, “I’m curious. How did someone like you get assigned as the God Envoy’s babysitter?”
Sweet Chocolate was clearly a man of few words, but he still answered, “There’s no set rule. It’s my first time.”
“Who’s your boss?”
Sweet Chocolate didn’t know what had happened before he arrived, nor did he know that Lu Qingjia’s target had never been the God Envoy.
By normal logic, although the God Envoy needed to be disciplined, Mudslide was clearly no slouch in his own Game, evidently one of the top Intermediate Level Players.
Two arrogant people colliding might have led to this standoff.
But if Players didn’t have deep-seated grudges, many issues could be easily resolved, especially with the God Envoy’s powerful and wealthy backing.
Thus, Sweet Chocolate and the other Players, though aware they were now at someone’s mercy, didn’t grasp the true severity of the situation.
When Lu Qingjia asked, Sweet Chocolate, considering it no big secret, replied, “The Trickster.”
Lu Qingjia’s eyes flickered, a sense of absurdity and irony spreading within him.
The Trickster.
He smiled, a smile that Sweet Chocolate saw as nothing special. But the atmosphere in the car instantly made him tense, instinctively shifting into high alert.
Then, just as quickly, the feeling vanished.
Lu Qingjia said indifferently, “That’s a good title.”
The cat nestled in his arms, licking its paws, almost seemed to catch Lu Qingjia’s subtext.
That’s a good title. It’s mine now.
But Sweet Chocolate didn’t understand, a vague thought forming in his mind yet remaining elusive.
Fortunately, Lu Qingjia’s rented apartment was spacious enough that an extra person didn’t cause any inconvenience. Sweet Chocolate’s silent, low-key presence wasn’t a bother.
At night, after Lu Qingjia finished washing up and lay down, Char Siu wasn’t having it.
It kept kneading the bruise on his face with its paw. Lu Qingjia moved its paw away, but it broke free and put it back, accompanied by anxious meows.
Lu Qingjia sighed, “You want me to apply medicine?”
“Meow~~”
“It’ll heal after sleeping.”
“Meow meow meow?” Char Siu wouldn’t let him sleep, its body constantly nudging him.
Lu Qingjia had no choice but to dig out the first aid kit his assistant had prepared. With the rise of Heroes, genetic engineering had advanced rapidly, benefiting medical and pharmaceutical development. Many drugs in this world were more effective and had fewer side effects than in reality.
Lu Qingjia had purchased some, planning to bring them back for research. Although the Game’s rules prohibited using high-tech or out-of-reality items from Game instances for profit, some technologies not requiring special development conditions or historical trajectories could be brought back to create benefits.
For example, some improved pharmaceutical formulations, with common ingredients and no technical difficulty in reality, just different combinations and proportions, were indeed much more effective.
If they could be brought back to reality, it would be a good deed.
Under Char Siu’s supervision, Lu Qingjia applied the medicine to himself, then buried his medicine-scented face in its fur, “Happy now?”
Char Siu: “…”
The next morning, Sweet Chocolate saw Mudslide working during breakfast.
The assistant had prepared breakfast, including his portion. Sweet Chocolate sat down, listening to a morning full of incomprehensible yet impressive business maneuvers.
Other Players entered instances purely to clear them, but Mudslide genuinely acted as a boss in the instance.
All morning, he heard Lu Qingjia manipulating funds, gambling on the competition, acquiring media companies, and retaliating against the two companies that had targeted him. It sounded like a life where every second involved millions.
Sweet Chocolate felt every second of this breakfast was filled with the aroma of money.
After eating, Lu Qingjia stopped working, saying he was going out. Sweet Chocolate naturally followed.
He thought Lu Qingjia was heading to his company or the Hero headquarters, as Mudslide seemed to have much to do and much money to earn.
But he never expected Lu Qingjia to take a taxi to a remote, abandoned factory. Inside, he saw someone commonly seen among Extreme Game Players—Poison Skin.
Sweet Chocolate immediately became wary, suspecting this was Mudslide’s setup to eliminate him.
But Poison Skin didn’t seem tense, saying, “You brought an Infinite Player?”
Lu Qingjia greeted him, pointing at Sweet Chocolate, “He’s strong, efficient, and not too curious. Very useful.”
Sweet Chocolate: “…”
Mudslide really didn’t hesitate to treat him as a thug.
Poison Skin didn’t question it, waving them over, “Let’s go.”
The abandoned factory was just a facade. Below was a massive underground space with a distinct steampunk style. Around a cluttered workbench, several people were pointing at a pile of blueprints, discussing something.
Sweet Chocolate saw that there was more than one Extreme Player there.
Seeing Poison Skin bring Lu Qingjia and Sweet Chocolate down, one of them said, half-praising, half-mocking, “Mudslide and Sweet Chocolate? Long time no see.”
“Especially Mudslide. Your brilliant performance yesterday was thrilling. When Poison Skin told us earlier, we thought he was boasting.”
“Never expected you to climb so quickly to a position where you can formally establish transactions with us. But as a hot favorite for the championship, is there still something you need from us?”
“Poison Skin, you better stay alert. Don’t believe everything anyone says.”
Lu Qingjia ignored their sarcasm, glancing at the blueprints on the table—layouts of the final venue, water and electricity diagrams, spatial construction plans, and some secret passage networks unknown to outsiders.
He smiled, “Quite thorough preparations.”
The Player who had spoken earlier quickly rolled up the blueprints and flipped over the planning ideas on the whiteboard.
Looking at Lu Qingjia with a half-smile, he said, “Don’t blame us for being stingy. The two of you are almost through the Game’s rules now. I really can’t see the necessity or sincerity in cooperating with us.”
Turning to Poison Skin, he added, “I’m more inclined to believe that what he initially gave you has now become a liability, and he’s looking for a way to take it back to avoid disqualification.”
Lu Qingjia shrugged, ignoring their hostile stares, and said directly, “Anyway, a failing action—seeing or not seeing it doesn’t matter.”
“What do you mean?” Someone even entered a combat-ready stance.
They weren’t sure if Lu Qingjia meant their plan had major flaws or if he intended to eliminate them from the start.
Lu Qingjia asked, “Who have you contacted?”
To sabotage the Hero King Cup, just a few Extreme Game Players wouldn’t suffice, given the numerous Heroes on-site and strict security.
Extreme Players’ tasks were simpler—after all, sabotaging something was easier than achieving it.
But their numbers were far fewer compared to the opposing faction’s Players. Thus, the Game must have given them advantages to balance this disparity.
“Your numbers are small, unsuitable for rash actions. After the initial competition’s Players thin each other out, the two sides’ strengths will balance.”
“But the Heroes’ side also has associations, talent agencies, and the entire light faction. In this world, NPCs can influence Players’ mission progress, directly competing with Players based on strength. Your interests oppose the entire Hero industry chain. Just waiting for the competition’s Players to thin out doesn’t change your disadvantage.”
“The Game wouldn’t set such an unbalanced rule. So, even though only a few of you are before me, in reality, from the Game’s start, your identities must have had natural allies.”
The Extreme Players’ expressions changed, looking at Poison Skin. Although Poison Skin wasn’t as surprised, his expression was grave.
He shook his head, indicating he hadn’t told Lu Qingjia these things.
Clearly, someone who could discern the instance’s two factions within a day of entering the Game and find Poison Skin to propose a transaction wasn’t fazed by such deductions.
A Player with skin resembling granite sneered, “As expected of someone who took down the God Envoy. Not easy to deal with.”
“So, what’s next? Trying to uncover our organization to wipe us out, adding glory to your Game evaluation?”
“Can’t you find that on a computer? Do you need to extract it from us?” Lu Qingjia retorted, “Do you think the opposition is too pure to use the internet?”
“There are three factions: one profits from chaos and violence, merely muddying the waters; two, those oppressed by the system or who hate Heroes; three, idealists deeply aware of the Hero industry’s distortions, with some foreign forces playing the role of troublemakers.”
“These are roughly the main categories, and your identities upon entering the Game should still be people within different organizations who can directly determine action plans.”
“But I’m telling you now, your actions will end in failure, with no possibility of a comeback,” Lu Qingjia stated with certainty.
This not only made the Rock Men uneasy, but even Poison Skin, who had direct contact with Lu Qingjia, had a grim expression.
Since Lu Qingjia could so easily reveal their trump cards, he must know that with careful planning, such a lineup actually had a decent chance of winning, especially when all the Heroes and Players were exhausted from competing until the end.
Lu Qingjia smiled, “Since you’ve become exchange students, your strategies for clearing the Game must be meticulous and bold. You won’t be satisfied with just the basic tasks.”
To be honest, if the basic instance tasks were the upper limit of their goals, it would take countless rounds to become intermediate Players, let alone stand out among their peers to come to other Games.
Lu Qingjia continued, “Similarly, becoming the champion is not the end of my plan. We’re all selected from this batch, and we’ll probably meet again in competitive matches. There’s really no need to hide our abilities.”
“Save the deliberately foolish remarks.”
Then Lu Qingjia gestured towards Sweet Chocolate, who was momentarily confused before realizing he was being asked to hand over something.
Lu Qingjia had brought a briefcase when he went out, filled with many documents, which he had thrown to Sweet Chocolate to carry, so Sweet Chocolate initially thought he was going to the company.
The documents were handed to Lu Qingjia, who slapped them onto the table—
“The direction for scoring points and raising evaluation levels in this world, I presume I don’t need to tell you.”
“After reading the materials I’ve gathered, about the formation of the current Hero industry model, who was behind it, the root causes, how Heroes with faith and ideals were abandoned by the times, what dirty deeds they did to hinder the correction of this distortion, and how to solve the problem from its root?”
“After reading these, you can decide whether to sit down and cooperate with sincerity, rather than mutual suspicion.”
The Players from Extreme Players hesitantly picked up the materials on the table. Lu Qingjia’s summary was concise and to the point, without a single wasted word, yet even so, the summarized content spanned several pages.
Their expressions changed just from reading the first line. Seeing this, Sweet Chocolate also took a copy and had the same reaction.
He didn’t even know how Lu Qingjia had obtained these materials. A few flimsy sheets of paper, but if even a sentence or two were leaked, it would cause a social uproar.
After a while, the Extreme Players finished reading and looked at Lu Qingjia with complex expressions.
It wasn’t that such situations hadn’t occurred before. As top performers of their batch, they had always been one step ahead in instances, the envy of other Players. But now they could suddenly understand the feelings of those mediocre Players.
Poison Skin placed the materials on the table and looked at Lu Qingjia seriously, saying with sincerity—
“We’ve always been smug about uncovering more truths, thinking that you participating Players were all attracted by the Hero King Cup and blinded by your positions. We were wrong.”
“These things, even with our convenient positions, we haven’t gathered as thoroughly as you have, and your advantages are indispensable to our plans.”
“Perhaps this is the malicious intent of the Game?” Rock Man shook his head, “Setting up a competitive relationship between both sides, but to achieve a complete victory, it requires cooperation from both Players.”
That’s why fools like the God Envoy, who immediately started hunting other Players upon entry for fear of diluting the instance’s benefits, would never touch the Game’s highest rewards.
Poison Skin and the others stood firm, expressing with the most serious and sincere attitude, “We agree to cooperate with you.”
“No, thank you for being willing to cooperate with us.”
