Chapter 99: Digital Cruise (Part Twelve)

Chapter 99: Digital Cruise (Part Twelve)

A moment of silence ensued.

Only the rustling of the waves and the sound of rushing water could be heard.

If before this, Ning Suisui, a player with vast experience and understanding, was the most empathic and convinced of Jie Fangcheng's surpassing strength over the current players, then this display of force that punctured through the ship was a direct challenge to the ordinary players' perception.

Are the Instance BOSSes powerful?

Yes, they are.

What surpasses the power of an Instance BOSS?

The realm that accommodates the BOSS—the instance itself.

Concreteness means every brick and blade of grass in the surroundings, no matter how inconspicuous, is made robust to prevent the BOSS from easily destroying the instance; the more fundamental the structure of the instance, the more solid it is.

In instances like this cruise ship, the primary area of activity for both the BOSS and the players is on the ship itself, indicating the considerable sturdiness of the vessel.

Now, however, Jie Fangcheng has smashed a hole in the ship with a single blow, allowing small streams of icy sea water to gush in, rapidly wetting everyone's feet.

A bone-chilling coldness spread from their feet throughout their bodies.

The players from the Chaoyang Guild stared at him in horror: "What are you?"

"An Underworld official."

"What kind of official?"

Jie Fangcheng turned to Wei Yuan: "Is this your brother?"

Wei Yuan and Nie Shuangshuang both had stupefied expressions on their faces.

Nie Shuangshuang's expression was even more complex, her address for him changing: "You... Sir, are you really from the Underworld?"

Jie Fangcheng always felt that this description sounded incredibly odd.

Meanwhile, the voice of Zhong Dao'an steadily continued: "Since we have established these points, let's return to the earlier topic. I have no interest in the future developments of Ronghua..."

"Wait!" Even "Yan Xiaotong" couldn't sit still, hastily interrupting, "Established what now??"

What was going on with this person? This was earth-shattering news! How could he switch topics after briefly mentioning it?

An official from the Underworld... What's the deal with the Underworld? What was the purpose of this official? How could one prove that Jie Fangcheng was an Underworld official instead of a visitor from an extraterrestrial civilization?

This was a massive revelation! How could Zhong Dao'an shift the topic back to the development of Ronghua?

Strictly speaking, they, as players, were essentially lost souls. The term "Underworld" was too staggering - wasn't this information more noteworthy than anything regarding Ronghua???

Look at the other players present, including those from Ronghua; they all seemed utterly soul-shocked. Did he not understand what needed to be addressed at this moment??

Zhong Dao'an seemed quite patient as he explained, "We have ascertained that Ji Chaoyang of the Chaoyang Guild is the actual mastermind behind this game at present, the ultimate BOSS, manipulating everyone like puppets. It has been confirmed that the Underworld is aware of this and will be sending representatives to gradually cleanse this game and fix the bugs. Is there an issue?"

"Yan Xiaotong": "..."

Her expression turned blank: "Do you... have any evidence to prove that Mr. Jie is from the Underworld? The incident just now doesn't count! Perhaps..."

Yan Xiaotong quickly pivoted her thinking: "Perhaps he is the one controlling the game! As the controller, of course, he could smash through the hull!"

Everyone started nodding in agreement.

Zhong Dao'an seemed momentarily stunned, as if he hadn't expected her to pose this question, then he chuckled, "Why do I need to provide evidence to you all?"

"What?"

"Whether it's a 'netherworld public servant' or a 'game controller,' neither is something we, the average players, can contend with. If he wishes, he could easily smash this ship to smithereens. Do you think any of the players aboard could survive then? Or let me pose another question..."

Zhong Daoan looked at "Yan Xiaotong" and said, "The prowess of the 'Golden Leopard' squad is evident to all. In your opinion, if Mr. Jie harbors malicious intentions towards the player community, who, even in the lobby, let alone any dungeon, would be capable of challenging him?"

"Yan Xiaotong's" expression changed abruptly.

Even if Ji Ge is underperforming, he's still at the top of the leaderboard. If Jie Fangcheng could batter him to such a state with a single strike, would a coalition of top-ranked players genuinely pose any threat to him?

Especially considering what Zhong Daoan implied, this is just the beginning. The netherworld will send more personnel incrementally.

Is this game... truly coming to an end?

Zhong Daoan looked rather frustrated, "I must ask... have you not grasped the gravity of the current situation?"

"Wha... what?"

Zhong Daoan cast a glance at the people beside Ronghua.

Everyone still had a stupefied expression, seemingly experiencing a mental overload.

"I have no intention to interfere with Ronghua's future developments. Whether to continue this way or make a different choice is up to the internal decisions of the Ronghua guild. Even though I am Zhong Dawu's brother, I believe I hold no responsibility towards Ronghua. Given this premise... I am negotiating an opportunity for all of you."

Without him mentioning what kind of "opportunity," everyone's gaze involuntarily drifted to Jie Fangcheng's face.

Jie Fangcheng stood there calmly. To those like Nie Shuangshuang who knew him better, after making eye contact at this moment, they felt that he seemed to be in a state of "mind emptiness due to incomprehension," just like themselves.

...Is this really a person from the netherworld?

Nie Shuangshuang was bewildered but also vaguely felt that this answer seemed correct.

Not to mention Jie Fangcheng's capabilities, during the previous dungeon at the "Fulai Inn," this guy... this big shot had displayed an unusual familiarity with the death of a companion, as if he had experienced countless scenes of life and death, witnessing numerous tales of good people dying.

Yet to say he was indifferent to life would be incorrect. At the end, he held the real child of the terrifying city lord's wife, a creature that made Nie Shuangshuang feel creepy with just a glance, gently in his arms, bidding farewell to such a terrifying little creature.

If he truly is someone from the netherworld, everything seems to add up.

The netherworld?

After entering this crappy game, Nie Shuangshuang initially thought it was all a myth. So, such a place truly exists, huh?

Wei Yuan was the first to regain his composure, initiating the query, "I want to know, if the netherworld is going to clean up this game, what do we count as? Wandering souls? The undead? Victims? What kind of treatment will we receive?"

Jie Fangcheng shook his head honestly, "I don't know; it falls beyond the scope of my duties."

"Huh?" Wei Yuan opened his mouth, proceeding cautiously, "May I ask, what is your...?"

"I manage the finances," Jie Fangcheng replied, leaning on his staff, "I am the finance department manager."

The words "netherworld" and "public servant" already sounded strange enough combined, but why would a title like "finance department manager" appear at this juncture?

Is this some kind of illusion?

Wei Yuan's rarely engaged brain had crashed once again.

The scene was profoundly silent.

At that moment, Nie Shuangshuang, holding back repeatedly, couldn't restrain herself anymore and raised her hand discreetly, "I have a question."

Xie Fangcheng gestured towards her with a nod of his chin, "Speak."

"..." This brat! ... This respected underworld manager, how does he manage to be so irritating despite evidently holding a higher status than everyone else here?

Nie Shuangshuang muttered to herself inwardly, but verbally responded with utmost sincerity, "Shouldn't we consider finding someone to repair the ship...?"

During the conversation, the water level had already reached their shins. If they delayed any longer, the ship was at risk of sinking.

"Hmm." Zhong Daoan nodded, "Let's move then, we'll continue discussing this back in the room."

His mention of 'returning to the room' clearly included only members of the Ronghua Guild, leaving "Yan Xiaotong" and a few others scratching their heads in bewilderment. They had too many questions cropping up all at once, making them itch with curiosity.

"Wait!" "Yan Xiaotong" was the first to snap back to reality.

Although she didn't dare to offend, she was still not quite convinced.

"May I ask... if Mr. Xie is indeed an official from the underworld, there's even less reason for him to take things from the players, right? Why is he collecting 'protection fees'? We're just ordinary people dragged into this game, shouldn't an official like Mr. Xie treat us impartially?"

Zhong Daoan looked at her, "I am not particularly strong, Manager Xie takes care of me, is there a problem?"

"Yan Xiaotong": "..."

.

A heavy silence settled among the group.

Once they reached the third floor — which was actively arranged by the NPC — they realized the rooms here were noticeably larger than those on the second floor, though still insufficient to accommodate over twenty people.

The group gallantly occupied the entertainment room which required points for entry, not paying attention to the NPC hinting at the fees, as no one was in the mood to notice the subtle indication that they would be charged for the room's usage, a cost shared among all the players.

Paying with points, do they even know who is leading the group with a staff in hand? This is a manager from the underworld!

Everyone's understanding of the "underworld" primarily stemmed from artistic works, none had witnessed it in reality.

Upon entering the entertainment room, everyone remained silent. Only Xie Fangcheng sat down with his usual demeanor, exuding a vibe of someone prepared to zone out during a meeting.

Zhong Daoan began quite confidently, stating, "Everyone is now aware of the situation."

Aware? Who's aware? What is even happening?

Once again, Nie Shuangshuang, being straightforward and outspoken, raised her hand, "May I ask a question? Brother Xie, you... ahem, are you really someone from the underworld?"

"Yes, I am."

Nie Shuangshuang held back for a moment before asking, "What is the Underworld like?"

Xie Fangcheng described nonchalantly, "It's decent. You'll know once you get there, anyway."

Oh come on!

Isn't this essentially saying "you'll know when you die"?

As if he knew what she was thinking, Xie Fangcheng added with an airy tone, "Everyone has been dead for a while. This game deceived you; there is no such thing as resurrection."

People exchanged uneasy glances, with someone quietly rebutting, "That can't be possible, right? I remember there was a celebrity who returned to the real world through 'Reincarnation Trials'."

"Zhang De'ao." Clearly, a famous star, Wei Yuan began explaining, "He entered the game over thirty years ago. He was fortunate to quickly acquire his core skills after joining, and within a decade, he had amassed enough resources to enter the 'Reincarnation Trials'. He defeated the remaining ninety-nine players that time and returned to the real world. The new players who joined during that period confirmed that Zhang De'ao attended several events post 'resurrection', making a fortune before retiring and moving abroad."

This is why everyone had immense faith in this game.

Because over the years, newcomers who joined had affirmed to them that players who underwent the 'Reincarnation Trials' indeed reappeared in the real world.

Xie Fangcheng remained silent, only snapping his fingers in front of Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan experienced a brief blur before his vision, feeling as if something had been extracted from his being.

This was followed by a series of sharp intakes of breath resounding around him.

Wei Yuan quickly turned his head, only to find himself staring dumbfoundedly at another "Wei Yuan" who had suddenly appeared seated next to him.

"What...what is this?"

The other "Wei Yuan" beside him seemed like an empty shell possessing basic cognitive functions but devoid of conscious thought.

"This is what returns to reality," Xie Fangcheng said, "Death is irreversible; it's a rule that nobody can defy."

A stifling silence engulfed the room.

Although everyone knew they had died before coming to this game, nobody in this realm had a genuine sensation of having "already died."

See, I can still think, I can still cry and laugh, and I have an opportunity to return to reality. How can this be considered as being dead?

At this moment, Xie Fangcheng's words felt like a muffled blow wrapped in thick cotton, landing heavily on everyone's head.

Everyone belatedly became aware of the essence of "death."

Amidst the engulfing silence, Zhong Daoan continued as if nothing had transpired, speaking calmly.

"Although we have joined Ronghua, if Ronghua is not well-prepared, I believe it would be best to part ways as soon as we exit this instance."

Wei Yuan pressed his temples with a headache setting in, "Hold on...can you just tell me directly, what exactly do you need us to do?"

"I need you to align yourselves with the Underworld."

Wei Yuan furrowed his brows, "Are you suggesting turning Ronghua into an agency of the Underworld?"

Zhong Daoan looked at him with a subtly expressive face: "Friend, you seem to be harboring rather fanciful thoughts."

"Ah?"

"Now it's not about the officials from the Underworld asking for our help, but about us clearly stating our position and seeking understanding and support from the public servants of the Underworld in the game. This is to secure as much representation as possible for the players in the judgment that may occur after the game ends."

"Why strive for a voice? Judgment? What does that mean?"

Zhong Daoan asked directly, "Haven't any of you killed before?"

The crowd instantly felt their hairs stand on end in shock.

No veteran player who had survived up to this point had clean hands, untouched by blood.

This included the players from Ronghua.

Although they advocated for mutual assistance and a community sharing a common human destiny, once inside the instances, facing blades swung at them, wouldn't they fight back? Confronted by morally corrupt actions, wouldn't they intervene?

Sometimes the instance rules even required the elimination of players; the people of Ronghua were not naive enough to sacrifice themselves willingly. When the time came to act, no one hesitated.

The higher a player ranked on the leaderboard, the more blood they had on their hands.

Even Nie Shuangshuang couldn't help but widen her eyes as she turned to Xie Fangcheng: "Big Brother, considering my situation, am I going to be consigned to the eighteenth level of hell when the judgment comes???"

She wasn't someone who had committed murder, but considering Nie Shuangshuang had cleared so many instances, how could she possibly not have killed someone?

Xie Fangcheng didn't deceive her: "Going by the rules, estimating the eighteenth level might be a bit conservative."

Nie Shuangshuang was on the verge of tears: "But we had no choice! The game's rules are just like this, we couldn't just stand by and await death, right?"

Xie Fangcheng spoke honestly, "From what I understand of them, they prioritize outcomes over processes and reasons."

A palpable gloom settled over the crowd.

Only then did Zhong Daoan speak: "This is the current state of all players. Even if everyone feels they had no choice, in the eyes of the judges, these compulsions are not excuses for killing."

Wei Yuan also realized, "You mean that Manager Xie won't be the first person from the Underworld to come into the game. We need to seek the understanding of those who will come later to garner support during future judgements?"

"Yes." Zhong Daoan said, before rising from his seat without urging others. "Aligning with the Underworld might place you at odds with a majority of the players. I'm just offering everyone an opportunity. Whether or not you seize it is your own decision."

Having said this, he gestured towards Xie Fangcheng.

Xie Fangcheng then stood up as well.

After the two left the silent lounge, the moment they stepped onto the corridor, Zhong Daoan apologized in a low voice.

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?" Xie Fangcheng paused for a moment, taken aback.

Zhong Daoan looked at him.

"What I told you earlier, the method that can command the Book of Life and Death, I indeed harbored ulterior motives," he admitted.

"Oh!" Xie Fangcheng realized, "No worries, I didn't feel it anyway."

After saying this, Xie Fangcheng couldn't help but add, "But with all the effort you're putting in, it might all be in vain."

"I am aware."

Xie Fangcheng was surprised, "You do?"

Zhong Daoan remained stoic, "Earlier, when I mentioned that the other Underworld public servants might not have moments of soft-heartedness like you, Manager Xie, you didn't argue. That's when I understood. It might be hard to move those who come, and even if we do, it might not influence the final judgment."

Xie Fangcheng agreed, "Yes. Knowing all this, why would you still go through such great lengths to do this?"

Zhong Daoan just glanced back at the entertainment hall behind him.

"Manager Xie, are there many public servants in the Underworld?"

"Not many, three thousand."

"How many players are trapped in this game? Are there three hundred thousand?" Zhong Daoan asked.

Xie Fangcheng paused momentarily.

Zhong Daoan gazed at him, his expression still serene.

"If there are three hundred thousand players united as one, could they possibly storm... no, forcibly entering is not possible due to power dynamics. I mean, with so many wandering souls, so many tragic or pitiable souls, combined with a fraction of sympathetic Underworld public servants siding with the players, could we possibly force the Underworld to reform?"

Xie Fangcheng stared at him, and after a moment, burst into sudden laughter.

"This idea was harbored by someone many years ago, but he failed."

With that, Xie Fangcheng patted his shoulder, "Kid, you've got potential, truly grasping the essence of revolution! I have high hopes for you!"

In the midst of their conversation, the door to the entertainment hall suddenly swung open, and Nie Shuangshuang poked her head out.

"We have come to a consensus."

Nie Shuangshuang first looked at Zhong Daoan, then turned to Xie Fangcheng.

She cleared her throat, "We've all decided to give our utmost to avoid the frying pan in the future. When we get out, we will give the guild leader to Manager Xie. Is that alright, manager?"

Normally quick to roar, she now looked at Xie Fangcheng with a somewhat tentative expression, making him quite uncomfortable. He waved his hands repeatedly, "No need for the guild leader."

Nie Shuangshuang groveled, "Manager Xie, please don't decline! This is a token of our admiration!"

Xie Fangcheng looked somewhat at a loss for words, "Shuangshuang..."

Nie Shuangshuang immediately responded, "Yes, yes, go on."

"I am the manager of the finance department."

"Yes, yes."

Xie Fangcheng earnestly stated, "Even if you cling to my leg, crying and begging, I don't have the authority to lessen your frying pan punishment even by a single degree!"

Nie Shuangshuang: "..."