Chapter 93: Digital Cruise (Part Six)

Chapter 93: Digital Cruise (Part Six)

Xie Fangcheng was genuinely perplexed, how could the astute young man Zhong Daoan have such a strange perception of him?

Peaceful? Annihilation by nuclear weapons would be more accurate, wouldn't it?

The underworld is now fully promoting modernization, aiming to keep pace with the developments of the era. Xie Fangcheng had gone to learn about it, deeply inspired by a certain school's principle of "not giving up on any student," he wrote the stirring phrase "not letting any fierce ghost off" on the wall.

Who knows why Zhong Daoan, who always seemed cunning, had such a profound misunderstanding of him?

Zhong Daoan didn't refute, but only nodded calmly, "Is that so?"

Saying so, Zhong Daoan directly knocked on the adjacent door.

Nie Shuangshuang opened the door, and Wei Yuan, who had just returned to the neighboring room, also poked his head out.

The two looked at Zhong Daoan, Nie Shuangshuang asked cautiously, "What's the matter?"

Zhong Daoan's expression remained calm, "I am going to kill you."

Damn it!

Nie Shuangshuang looked at him, visibly alarmed and incredulous, finding it utterly absurd yet feeling, given Zhong Daoan's calm demeanor, this seemed like something he could do, "Why? You're joking, right?"

Even Wei Yuan from next door was watching him on guard, his hand resting on his wrist, ready to assist Nie Shuangshuang at a moment's notice.

Zhong Daoan pointed at Xie Fangcheng: "He said it."

Xie Fangcheng also put on a killer-like expression, coldly staring at Nie Shuangshuang.

Nie Shuangshuang: "…"

Wei Yuan promptly closed the door.

Nie Shuangshuang's eyelids drooped down, her eyes forming an inverted triangle, her face clearly indicating her speechlessness: "Brother, aren't you sleepy anymore? What are you up to now?"

Xie Fangcheng grumbled, "Yes, yes, I am. Go back to your sleep."

Nie Shuangshuang rolled her eyes at him before finally closing the door to go back to sleep.

Xie Fangcheng swiftly pulled out his stick from the bag: "Such disrespect! I'm going to beat her to death right now!"

Before he could finish, Qi Chanyang, who heard the noise, also opened his door and peeped out. Seeing Xie Fangcheng holding a stick, although surprised, he immediately prepared for battle, his head swiveling frantically.

"What's going on? Where is the enemy?"

Xie Fangcheng sighed, visibly losing interest, and sheathed his stick with a dismissive wave, "No enemies, forget it, forget it. Go back, go back, it's nothing."

Qi Chanyang was confused but yawned and went back to sleep anyway.

When the corridor was left with just the two of them again, Xie Fangcheng finally snapped back to reality.

"This isn't right. When you said you wanted to kill Shuangshuang, she reacted that way because she believed you. When I said I wanted to kill her, she clearly knew I was joking with her. Is this a matter of personal style?"

Zhong Daoan looked at him, responding calmly, "What if one day it isn't a joke?"

Xie Fangcheng was taken aback.

Zhong Daoan's expression remained tranquil.

"Nie Shuangshuang is a special case. This girl survived in the game because she was accepted by the Ronghua Guild shortly after entering the game. She doesn't have a strong desire to return to the real world; she simply wants to live with her friends. But now that Ronghua is gone, her attitude towards the game is quite indifferent. But what about others? For instance... Qi Chanyang?"

"Qi Chanyang dared to venture into a level three instance after clearing side dungeons six times. It's impossible without a goal. If one day he learns that Manager Xie, both your and my objective is to dismantle this game, what would be his reaction as someone who wishes to return to the real world? Even if you tell him that the game is deceiving him, and that clearing the 'Reincarnation Trials' wouldn't actually allow him to return, would he believe it?"

"Not to mention those wanting to return to the real world, there are also those who consider this game as a second life, like Wei Yuan. He found a girlfriend in the game and prefers not to return, aligning more with his wishes. Although he has to clear a national dungeon annually, having hope is better than none. If he found out the truth, what would be his reaction?"

Xie Fangcheng frowned, "What are you trying to say exactly?"

"Manager Xie, you will meet more 'friends'," Zhong Daoan looked at him.

Xie Fangcheng realized, "Are you afraid that they might turn against me one day? That I won't be able to retaliate due to my soft-heartedness?"

"Yes."

Xie Fangcheng couldn't help but chuckle sadly, "Not to mention Nie Shuangshuang, even if you dared to raise a hand against me, I'd cut you down on the spot!"

Zhang Daoan paused for a moment.

Xie Fangcheng stood there having spoken so much to him, then yawned at this moment, patting him on the shoulder.

"Don't assume that we are a service-oriented underworld just because we are embracing modernization now. At most, we are seeking modernization to enhance office efficiency and strive for holidays. Don't have any weird views on me!"

Having said that, Xie Fangcheng turned around and left.

Zhang Daoan adjusted his glasses slightly, seemingly with a smile, looking as if he was in a good mood.

He murmured softly, "So, is being soft-hearted a rare trait?"

.

At seven o'clock the next morning, the NPCs seen in the hall yesterday went around knocking on the players' doors one by one, informing them to head to the hall.

Xie Fangcheng was sleeping soundly, infuriated when his door was knocked, but upon opening it, a timid NPC dressed in a maid outfit stood at the door, looking quite nervous.

"Hello... please head to the hall for today's accommodation procedures," she stammered through her sentence.

If it were a terribly unsightly NPC, Xie Fangcheng would have killed her on the spot.

At this moment, all he could do was sigh, "Alright, alright, I got it."

Saying so, he actually followed the people around him leisurely towards the hall.

Nie Shuangshuang couldn't help but say, "You actually got up? You are actually complying with the rules of this crappy game?"

Xie Fangcheng revealed his true intention: "The sooner I finish, the sooner I can go home."

After everyone had arrived at the hall, the butler-like NPC appeared again.

He maintained his polite demeanor, standing in front of the microphone and bowing slightly to the players, at a leisurely pace.

"Good morning, dear guests. On behalf of all the staff on the cruise, I extend my greetings and wish you a perfect day. Before that, please proceed to the front desk to pay the ship fare."

Aside from Gu Zailai who died yesterday, all ninety-nine people present were there, still grouped in their small factions.

At that moment, a crisp female voice rang out from the crowd.

"What if we can't afford the ship fare?"

Everyone turned their heads in unison, then expressed surprise.

The famed "Golden Leopard" team seemed to have fallen apart at this moment, with Ning Suisui and one of the twins standing together, while the other twin and the remaining four team members stood separately, quite far from each other.

Whispers immediately filled the hall.

The butler NPC on the second-floor platform spoke, "If you cannot afford the fare, we will have to ask you to leave our cruise."

"Can only the individual pay? Or is it possible for someone else to pay on their behalf?" Ning Suisui asked.

The butler nodded.

The crowd burst into murmurs.

After the rules were established yesterday, many close-knit small teams were busy devising ways to accumulate points for every member, their heads almost bursting from all the addition and subtraction. Who would have thought there was this loophole?

If proxy payments are allowed, why bother solving those problems at all? The players leading in the points ranking are truly something else.

Ning Suisu continued to inquire, "Are there any restrictions on these proxy payments?"

"Yes," replied the butler with a gentle expression, "If a guest cannot afford it, and your friend is willing to help, please note that here on the cruise, you will become a dependent of your benefactor. The dependent's accommodation and meal charges would be slightly higher than that of the regular guests, and the dependent must fulfill all the requests of the person covering their costs. Failure to comply is considered disobedience, and the benefactor has the right to call security to remove the dependent."

The players exchanged uneasy glances.

Without any hesitation, Ning Suisu raised her hand and asked, "Is there anyone willing to cover my friend's cruise fare for these three days? I can immediately offer a rare item worth over three hundred million in the market."

The girl beside her had tear-rimmed eyes as she looked at her, while the rest of the "Golden Leopard" team stood at a distance, with some showing hesitancy in their expressions. One of them began, "Xiaotong..."

"If you want to, go ahead," Yan Xiaotong responded with a cold glare, "We can barely save ourselves, I'm not willing to spare points for her. It was the team leader who insisted on this choice, who can she blame?"

Players within earshot of her words exchanged knowing looks.

Would the high-ranking "Golden Leopard" really disband so easily? That has to be a joke, right?

In the end, someone hesitated for a moment before raising their hand.

"Captain Ning, I am willing to cover the costs for your friend."

All heads turned in unison.

It was a group of five inconspicuous players, with the one who raised his hand introducing himself, "I am Zhou Heqi, the guild leader of 'Dreamland'."

Dreamland? What kind of guild is that? Doesn't seem like it's even in the top hundred, right?

The name Zhou Heqi was also unfamiliar, this must be one of those small guilds who gathered enough courage to try their luck in a level five dungeon, only to realize that they were clearly out of their depth.

Offering ninety points was not just for Ning Suisu's item. As the butler had made clear earlier, it was essentially exchanging points for the assistance of two capable fighters.

After Zhou Heqi finished speaking, Ning Suisu walked over to him, and without a word, handed over a trident emanating a gentle blue glow, with faint illusions of waves and swimming fishes beside the prongs, directly into Zhou Heqi's hands.

"The Trident of Poseidon!" someone exclaimed.

This item was worth far more than three hundred million. It was a weapon that had topped the charts a long time ago. However, as the game progressed and players acquired an increasing variety of weapons from dungeons, the trident gradually lost its renown, slipping out of the top ten rankings more than a decade ago.

Yet, it was said that the trident possessed a skill that allowed control over marine species, making it practically divine in this dungeon, with an actual value that could easily exceed six hundred million.

Ning Suisu, notorious as the "Gold Hoarding Mouse," was even willing to part with this weapon. It seemed that her relationship with her team had indeed broken down.

Zhou Heqi, with a face flushed in excitement, received the Trident of Poseidon and promptly assured, "Don't worry, I'll cover the entire three days' cruise fare!"

Ning Suisui nodded impassively.

Nie Shuangshuang watched the scene unfold, her expression perplexed, "This isn't right."

Xie Fangcheng yawned, "What's the matter?"

Nie Shuangshuang furrowed her brows, "Don't you know? Suisui and her group of seven have been through many dungeons, many of which were competitive amongst players. They never had disputes before, so how could they possibly have a fallout in this dungeon? Something is off."

Zhang Dao'an calmly chimed in from the side, "It doesn't matter, as long as Zhou Heqi and his group don't find anything amiss, it's fine."

At that moment, the butler NPC on the second-floor platform spoke up again, "Next, please proceed to the front desk to complete the necessary procedures. Make sure to finish before nine o'clock. Do our esteemed guests have any questions?"

The players in the hall were deep in thought.

Those with high scores began to regret not approaching Ning Suisui for points earlier. The method to clear this dungeon was not yet clear to everyone, but evidently, players with higher scores held a significant advantage.

Many had already conceived methods like that of Gu Zailai's, but their limitations prevented them from implementing them.

If they had expressed their willingness to offset the points for Ning Suisui and her friend on the spot, considering Ning Suisui even parted with the "Trident of Poseidon" for her friend and the restrictions on the offsetting rule, what a great opportunity to secure powerful allies! Even if they could offset points for Ning Suisui…

Over there, Zhou Heqi had already considered this.

He even whispered, "Uhm... Captain Ning, do you need someone to offset points for you?"

Ning Suisui merely gave him a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Meanwhile, those with lower scores pondered what they could offer in exchange for the three days of ship fees.

The more capable ones started seeking partners, while the less capable ones were bowing their heads, sifting through the items in their backpacks.

On the field, Ning Suisui's team was discreetly assessing everyone, trying to discern if the expressions on their faces reflected the perspective of high-scoring selectors or low-scoring seekers of cooperation.

At that moment, Ning Suisui's gaze met Rong Hua's.

Zhang Dao'an caught her eye and glanced at "Yan Xiaoqian" beside her, then shifted his gaze to "Yan Xiaotong" and made a swapping gesture.

Ning Suisui felt a chill in her heart,

She had been found out.

This person… So what if he found out, what did he mean by exposing her?

Ning Suisui furrowed her brows, shifting her gaze back to his side.

Next to him, Xie Fangcheng raised his hand.

"I have a question."

His voice wasn't loud; several players had already begun conversing with others, resulting in very few people in the hall noticing.

The butler remained as amiable and courteous as before, "Dear guest, what question do you have?"

"Why would you have me wait here since seven if we are just to pay the ship fee at the front desk? Are you playing tricks on me?" Xie Fangcheng had already drawn out his staff.

The steward froze momentarily, evidently, no one had questioned him on this matter in all these years, causing his expression to blank briefly before he explained, "Esteemed guest, the gathering here is to facilitate any queries that the guests may have."

"So, if I don't have any questions, I can just head to the front desk to pay the ship fee before nine, right? There's no need to come over at seven?"

"Uh... yes," the steward nodded.

Xie Fangcheng's expression slightly softened, but soon hardened as another thought struck him, "Nine is too early. How about eleven?"

The steward's brow furrowed, his previously cordial demeanour now slightly crumbling, "Guest, since you have boarded our cruise, it is necessary to adhere to its rules!"

His voice escalated, drawing the attention of the conversing players who now turned to look at him.

Holding onto his staff, Xie Fangcheng retorted, "And what if I don't comply?"

The steward snorted coldly, "Guards!"

At his call, two nearly two-metre tall bodyguards dressed in suits and wearing sunglasses descended instantly from the third floor.

Xie Fangcheng exclaimed in mild surprise, "I thought it would be another octopus type, they've switched to humanoid forms this time, huh?"

Losing his patience, the steward issued a final warning, "Esteemed guest, it's courteous and appropriate to follow the local rules wherever you are!"

"You've got a point," Xie Fangcheng admitted, hoisting his staff onto his shoulder, "But I'm just not a courteous person."

Without another word, he charged forward aggressively.

With a swift motion, the steward commanded, "Seize him!"

The two bodyguards leaped down from the second floor with astonishing speed, causing the surrounding players to swiftly dodge, their faces showing anticipation for the unfolding drama.

Just what kind of brash character had Rong Hua brought forth this time...?

Meeting the charge head-on, Xie Fangcheng's staff suddenly extended, striking both guards swiftly and forcefully. As quickly as they approached, they were sent flying back at the same speed.

The two NPCs crashed into a pillar, emitting two unhumanly shrieks before limping away and vanishing rapidly.

The steward on the platform was momentarily stunned before realizing that the guest standing before him indeed lacked any semblance of courtesy.

As Xie Fangcheng took a step forward, the ground beneath him crackled ominously.

Lacking in physical prowess, the steward retreated hastily in terror.

"What are you trying to do?!" he cried out.

"Time," Xie Fangcheng reminded him tersely.

The steward: "..."

The steward inquired, "But, but the rules aboard this ship are all established by the captain! They cannot be altered!!"

"Where is your captain?" Xie Fangcheng asked.

With trembling hands, the steward pointed upwards.

"Upstairs?"

"Fifth floor..."

"Look at you, why can't you provide a complete answer? Must I prompt you with another question? Are you intentionally wasting my time?" After finding an excuse, Xie Fangcheng grabbed him, "Your subordinates have been beaten, it would only be fair for you to share the same fate, wouldn't it?"

Having said that, he swung the staff in his hand.

Although the steward was not particularly powerful, at this moment he demonstrated agility that was beyond any ordinary person's imagination.

He twisted his body violently, morphing into a creature resembling a slick fish - no, he truly became a long eel covered in mucus, swiftly swinging its tail as it contorted its body.

Xie Fangcheng hurriedly released it and stepped back, and in the blink of an eye, the eel had disappeared into some unknown place.

"Damn it!" Xie Fangcheng exclaimed, his face showing clear frustration.

As he descended, the surrounding players stared in shock, parting to create a path for him.

Nie Shuangshuang was also dumbfounded.

"That steward wasn't human? And this NPC has such strong abilities? It actually managed to escape from your grasp?"

Xie Fangcheng extended his hand.

Nie Shuangshuang was confused, "What happened?"

"Not very powerful."

“？”

"But incredibly disgusting to touch."

Nie Shuangshuang: "…"

The players around had not anticipated that their group harboured such a character, let alone that the steward NPC was not a human but a marine creature.

If the steward turned out to be a marine creature, wouldn't it imply that the other NPCs might not be human either?

Ning Suisui exchanged a glance with the girl beside her.

This Xie Fangcheng was peculiar; they would temporarily leave the matter with Rong Hua aside. Seeking cooperation at the end wouldn't be too late.

"Let's go," Ning Suisui suggested, her demeanor gentle, resembling the ideal, most compliant collaborator, "We should head to the front desk first and inquire about this payment situation."

"Alright, alright," Zhou Heqi said excitedly, holding the trident in his hand, unwilling to place it back in his backpack.

Upon their arrival at the front desk, the NPC greeted them with a smile, "Please take out your digital watches. We will deduct points based on the numbers displayed on your watches."

Zhou Heqi maintained a smile on his face and casually asked Ning Suisui, "I hope it's not too impertinent to inquire about your scores? After all, we are collaborators now, I think it would be only fair to know each other's basic statistics, right?"

Ning Suisui and her companion were forthright, promptly showing him their watches.

One had thirty-seven points, the other six.

So low!

Zhou Heqi felt even more at ease.

The scores of the players in their guild were quite high, none under a hundred points, and he himself boasted an exceptionally high score of three hundred and forty points.

This high score was key to his confidence in acquiring Ning Suisui without any hesitation.

Once at the front desk, Zhou Heqi offered gallantly, "Captain Ning, are you sure you don't need my assistance? If you're concerned, I can have our team transfer some points to you directly. You can also pay yourself, you know..."

Ning Suisui simply shook her head, "We can discuss this tomorrow. If I find myself short on fare, I'll seek you out then."

"Hahahaha, alright." Only then did Zhou Heqi proceed to pay the ship fare with the members of his guild.

After they completed the payment, Zhou Heqi signaled to a player beside him.

"Xiao Ba, could you assist Ms. Yan in paying her ship fare?" Saying this, Zhou Heqi inquired, "Although, I'm not certain who this is?"

The twins looked identical, but rumors had it that the older sister, Yan Xiaotong, was more vivacious, while Yan Xiaoqian was comparatively reserved.

"Yan Xiaoqian," Ning Suisui introduced.

True to the rumors, Yan Xiaoqian shyly nodded at him, refraining from further conversation.

The player referred to as "Xiao Ba" seemed to have no objections, leaning over the counter to hand over his watch once again.

Yan Xiaoqian also handed over her watch from where she stood.

The front desk NPC maintained her smile as she took the watches and asked, "May I confirm that you are assisting this lady with her ship fare payment?"

"Yes," Xiao Ba nodded.

The NPC swiped away thirty points with a "beep", announcing, "Congratulations, you have successfully covered Ms. Yan Xiaoqian's ship fare, and she has now become your affiliate."

Zhou Heqi had been listening intently and finally felt a sense of relief upon hearing this.

He breathed a sigh of relief, followed by a surge of joy.

It seemed that Ning Suisui and Yan Xiaoqian were indeed at a dead end. Since both were so candid and their words rang true, he could indeed trust them.

This was truly a windfall. He had secured two formidable allies for a mere ninety points; how could he not take full advantage of this?

Zhou Heqi's smile deepened: "Apart from the ship fare, the costs for meals and accommodation here are also quite significant. I wonder, Captain Ning, do you have any thoughts on this?"

Ning Suisui looked at him: "President Zhou, do you have any plans?"

"Come, come, I have an idea that can ensure your safety, Captain Ning, and also allow us to accumulate many points," Zhou Heqi couldn't help but invite with a smile, "Let's move, I've become quite hungry with all this delay. We can discuss as we walk!"

Ning Suisui joined them as they walked outside.

Just then, a large group of people entered from the opposite side, easily numbering around twenty.

The twenty players didn't seem to be here to tackle a dungeon; instead, they resembled tourists, chattering animatedly around one individual.

"Jie Ge, how did you manage that just now? You're really too powerful!"

"Wow, how did you knock them down with just two strikes? What kind of strength is this! Old Wei, do you possess this kind of power?"

"Get lost, if I had that strength, I wouldn't be here now!"

"Damn, what kind of dark joke is this, huh? That's really hurtful!"

"Jie Ge, we'll need to pay the ship fare soon. Do you have any thoughts?"

Xie Fangcheng modestly replied: "No worries, no worries, it's just average, no one needs to pay, no one."

"Huh? Then why did we come to the front desk?"

Xie Fangcheng remained composed: "Just checking to see if it's worth giving it a shot, perhaps we can knock some more points out of them."

Whether he fights or not depends on whether the NPC is worth the beating.

"Damn! Jie Ge really lives up to his reputation!" The crowd exclaimed in unison.

As the two groups crossed paths, Ning Suisui's gaze met with Zhang Dao'an once again.

Zhang Dao'an turned his gaze towards "Yan Xiaoqian," the girl seemed to be shy and hid behind Ning Suisui, peeking out at him with just one eye.

Xie Fangcheng also followed suit and looked over.

"What are you looking at?"

Zhang Dao'an turned his head, stating loud enough for both groups to hear: "Nothing much, just comparing the nuances between two shades of red."