Chapter 100: Digital Cruise (Part Thirteen)

Chapter 100: Digital Cruise (Part Thirteen)

If she wasn't truly unable to win, Nie Shuangshuang would have punched him by now.

But the mature veteran player not only refrained from attempting to punch him but also kept her composure, not even changing her expression.

"We've discussed it, and you are undoubtedly the best choice for the guild leader position, Manager Xie!" Nie Shuangshuang lied with eyes wide open, "Just look at your demeanor, your capabilities, your outfit... By the way, when are you returning my wizard robe?"

Nie Shuangshuang truly couldn't hold back anymore.

Just now, Xie Fangcheng looked quite suave smashing with his staff, standing beside the broken hole, the first to be swept by the waves.

At this moment, half of his wizard robe was soaked, with suspicious stains on the sleeves, either from the battle with the octopus in the sea a few days ago or from breakfast this morning.

If it weren't for the fact that clothing could be automatically refreshed when exiting the instance, Nie Shuangshuang would have fought with him the first time he damaged this robe.

Xie Fangcheng feigned innocence, "But I have nothing else to wear."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhong Daoan handed him a set of T-shirt and jeans from his hands.

As Xie Fangcheng accepted it, he questioned, "Where did this come from? It's not from within this instance, right? If I clear this instance wearing clothes from inside, since we can't bring items from the instance out, wouldn't I be left naked? Eh?"

[Item: Simple and Generous Three-piece Set]

[Description: A classic style that has been a bestseller in the mall for fifty years! Highly praised by customers over the years! Generously and decently cut, suitable for all age groups! What are you waiting for? Hurry and grab yours!]

[Tip: What tip do you need? Don't you know how to wear clothes?]

[Function: What function do you expect? Isn't it enough to prevent indecent exposure?]

Xie Fangcheng was surprised, "You actually have quite a lot of clothes!"

"It's alright," Zhong Daoan replied calmly, "But I don't have many points. Once we get out of this instance and I accumulate more points, I can buy other items."

Nie Shuangshuang chimed in, "The clothes from the system mall, apart from a few limited editions, have a rather low cost-performance ratio. This set must have cost over a hundred thousand, right? You might as well get a custom set made by a professional player. I know someone who creates trendy brands, the most expensive item is just over thirty thousand, and it's not only stylish and affordable but also unique, tailor-made, and handcrafted! This jacket I'm wearing was made by him, I can introduce you guys when we get out!"

Xie Fangcheng honestly admitted, "But I don't have any points."

Nie Shuangshuang grandly declared, "That's not an issue, I'll cover it!"

Zhong Daoan inquired, "Did you come out just to discuss this?"

"Ah," Nie Shuangshuang paused for a moment, regaining her composure, "No, not exactly, it's about the guild leader matter, and also..."

Hesitating slightly, Nie Shuangshuang eventually asked, "If we die now, would we be able to enter the underworld? Ever since the nationwide dungeon event last year, many people are unwilling to keep going."

She looked at Xie Fangcheng, and the usually nonchalant Nie Shuangshuang now bore an expression tinged with the traces of time and hardship.

"Everyone understands that we might face punishment once we get there, but some of my friends prefer that to staying in this game any longer."

Players who enter Ronghua are generally sick of the deceitful and cutthroat atmosphere of the game, but since they've come this far and there's a chance to return to the real world, supported by the philosophy of Ronghua, they persevere, bearing the brunt for the sake of the guild.

But now, realizing that the promise of returning to the real world is a lie—although Zhang Dao'an didn't state it explicitly, his few words allowed everyone to infer—the underworld likely considers the players as sinners due for judgement.

Xie Fangcheng has a good relationship with them and is also even-tempered, which makes him quite a rare person here.

The members of Ronghua don't require any proof to believe Zhang Dao'an’s words, because he is the guild leader's brother.

They believe, whereas the majority of other players probably won't.

If Ronghua decides to side with the underworld in the future, it is anticipated that they will become adversaries with the majority of the players.

It's exhausting.

After years of persistence, to discover it's all been in vain, and that in the end, the destination is still the underworld, is disheartening.

As for the trials and punishments, could they be any worse than the constant intrigues and battles within the game?

Many players have already found it difficult to continue, and there are others who...

Nie Shuangshuang turned to Zhang Dao'an: "Is Ji Chaoyang truly the murderer responsible for the guild leader's death? Were your earlier statements true? Did the guild leader send you any messages?"

"No, they were just speculations."

Nie Shuangshuang furrowed her brows but quickly nodded in agreement.

"But Wei Yuan also mentioned that Ji Chaoyang blocked him as soon as he learned about your arrival, clearly harboring a guilty conscience. He has been indulging his brother for years, he's not any good," she said with a smile. "Honestly, I'm somewhat inclined to just move on, but I can only rest easy after witnessing that idiot Ji meet his end! With his numerous completions, he must have killed many, right? If he ends up frying in the same pan as me in hell, it would be hilariously satisfying!"

Xie Fangcheng interjected: "That's unlikely, at the moment it's one person per pan."

Damn it!

Nie Shuangshuang, with her temperament, could only hold back for a maximum of five minutes before she couldn't help but glare at him.

The three of them had been chatting at the door for quite a while when the door to the recreation room opened again, and Wei Yuan stepped out.

Finally, Xie Fangcheng understood why Nie Shuangshuang came out alone.

Wei Yuan's eyes were red, clearly having just cried, and as the door opened, faint sobbing sounds could be heard from inside the recreation room.

The guild leaders died in unclear circumstances, and everyone is still unsure about what exactly happened back then. Since their deaths, the guild has been like a crumbling edifice, with many leaving Ronghua harboring grievances.

There are several like Wei Yuan who have investigated the matter, and just as Wei Yuan deduced that Zhang Daowu and the others didn't livestream or use summoning items due to participating in the "Reincarnation Trials", others could make the same inference.

Everyone is aware that the difficulty of the dungeons was lowered during the National Dungeon period, which inevitably leads some to speculate that Zhang Daowu and his team didn't enter the level five dungeon as agreed, but opted for the "Reincarnation Trial" because of this.

If they hadn't entered the "Reincarnation Trial", then why haven't they sent out a single message despite everyone tirelessly refining their skills and items, compromising their future prospects, to increase their survival rate? Not even a farewell message?

Unable to understand and with no one to ask, morale quickly dwindled. In the end, only a bit over a hundred players remained in Ronghua.

Those who stayed harbor doubts, and even while standing amidst these ruins, they no longer enthusiastically discuss the next dungeon strategy and write guides as they did before.

Many haven't ventured into dungeons for a long time now. While insufficient strength is one reason, the lack of a reason to continue is more prominent.

Quite a few have transitioned to professional players, too indifferent to die but also reluctant to live, just waiting for a glorious moment in the final phase of the National Dungeon.

Zhang Daowu's death resembles a festering wound, incapable of healing, and has become a pain too unbearable to even mention.

Up until now, they have finally identified their nemesis.

Those unable to persevere any longer choose to leave, while those who can opt for revenge. Inside the entertainment hall, farewells are bid, tears are shed, and memories cherished. Nie Shuangshuang couldn't bear this atmosphere and slipped away, coincidentally finding that Jie Fangcheng and the others hadn't left yet.

Now, Wei Yuan, a towering man with a bearded face, had tears brimming in his eyes. Upon seeing Jie Fangcheng and Zhang Daoan, he paused before tearfully addressing them, "Brother Jie, Brother Zhang..."

Jie Fangcheng felt a chill down his spine and hastily turned around, "I need to change my clothes first!"

Saying this, he hurriedly walked away and upon reaching the corner, he looked back to see Wei Yuan, Nie Shuangshuang, and Zhang Daoan standing still, with Nie Shuangshuang seemingly unable to hold back her tears. Against their sorrowful expressions, Zhang Daoan's stoic face seemed utterly inhuman.

Seeing Jie Fangcheng turn his head, Zhang Daoan spoke up, "Manager Jie, please return quickly after changing."

"Huh?"

Zhang Daoan's voice remained steady, "The news might have spread by now. The players on the ship might have different thoughts, and the NPCs only refrain from attacking us due to your strength. I fear there might be unexpected troubles in your absence, especially since Ronghua's members are quite weak now."

Wei Yuan and Nie Shuangshuang: "…"

.

Just as Zhang Daoan predicted, the news that "Jie Fangcheng of Ronghua is an official from the underworld" spread at an unprecedented pace.

At that time, the noise created by Jie Fangcheng and others on the first floor, collecting protection money and damaging the ship, was quite noticeable. Apart from the Golden Leopard squad and a few players who didn't pay the fare, several pairs of eyes were secretly watching from the shadows.

"The underworld?" Liu Guangming chuckled dismissively.

During the fare collection, he had organized four guilds, attempting to establish themselves as the third strongest force in this dungeon.

The strongest force, of course, was Ning Suisui's "Golden Leopard" squad – albeit later disbanding, turning this claim into a joke.

The second strongest was the Ronghua Guild – initially not taken seriously by others, yet their sheer numbers gave them a noticeable presence. Even with a decline in strength, no one knew if they had any peculiar items up their sleeves. Moreover, with the emergence of Jie Fangcheng who could fight NPCs, their power could not be underestimated.

The third strongest, or in Liu Guangming's view, the most powerful, was the group of twenty-three individuals he had rallied.

But this morning, this "Yan Xiaotong" showed no understanding of the situation, resulting in their embarrassing defeat.

Liu Guangming kept this incident in mind.

He had a highly covert scouting skill, which he utilized on this Golden Leopard squad.

At this moment, he and twenty-two other players were at the first-floor restaurant, a dim and greasy place with an unpleasant odor, yet it served as a great meeting point.

Mainly because it was inexpensive, a single meal only cost sixteen points, and the NPC even claimed that only the first sixty-six players would be charged sixteen points.

In fact, if it weren't for the NPC's remark, everyone would have been reluctant to dine there, considering it to be too costly.

However, the phrase "only" hinted that this meal set might have originally been priced much higher, and missing this opportunity could mean missing out on a great deal. Who knows how many points it will cost once it reverts to its original price!

Although it hurt their wallets, they had earlier inquired on the second floor, where the restaurant's pricing was twenty points.

Expensive! Too expensive!

Although it was just a four-point difference, everyone had just paid an extra fifteen points each, leaving them all quite financially strained now.

The portion of a single meal was not large, everyone ordered one each, fortunately, the food was terribly unpalatable, and one serving seemed enough to last a day.

This was a privilege "only for the first sixty-six players", and it was uncertain what the pricing would be after the sixty-sixth player.

Would it directly exceed twenty points?

Everyone was quite apprehensive, feeling that this was far more brutal than they had imagined!

It seemed that they needed to swiftly eliminate nearby players, rapidly scoring points, otherwise, they won't be able to afford even the basic daily expenses.

As Liu Guangming was eating, he was relaying the events occurring at “Yan Xiaotong's” end, and couldn't help but laugh when he heard about the “underworld public servant” identity.

"What kind of adolescent fantasy is this?"

However, after speaking, his scouting skill "saw" the sight of Jie Fangcheng smashing through the ship's hull.

Liu Guangming and a few other players who were also scouting at that time had their expressions suddenly turn grave.

"This can't be possible!" someone exclaimed on the spot.

Among the numerous individuals in the restaurant, most players either lacked scouting skills or dared not use them indiscriminately, fearing they might be noticed and marked by the members of the Golden Leopard squad.

The restaurant was suddenly abuzz with people inquiring about what had just happened, with members of Liu Guangming's guild also asking around.

"What happened?"

Liu Guangming recounted the events quickly with a furrowed brow, everyone exchanged glances, feeling both absurd and strangely plausible at the same time.

"Is this... possible?" someone asked, "Can they really smash through the ship??"

"I don't know, eat up quickly! We'll go check it out after we're done eating!"

Just then, the doors of the restaurant swung open once again.

It was Ning Suisui and Zhou Heqi.

Liu Guangming perceived himself as the leader of this group of twenty-three individuals, now seated at a table right in the center of the restaurant. Due to the noisy environment surrounding him, he didn't hear the sound of the restaurant door opening.

Someone next to him nudged him attentively.

"Old Liu, Ning Suisui is here."

Only then did Liu Guangming look up.

Ning Suisui was in an extremely foul mood.

Zhou Heqi was quite adamant, boasting about how formidable his brother's abilities were and how infallible his scores were. Not only were the scores accurate, but this player who could forecast scores also possessed a "live map" specialty, able to pinpoint the exact location of targeted individuals with utmost precision.

The result of the forecast was finally revealed: the fourth floor.

"The fourth floor?? What's on the fourth floor??"

Zhou Heqi had no idea, yet he remained incredibly composed: "I don't know, but if Liu Guangming can go to the fourth floor, so can we."

Ning Suisui followed him to the fourth floor with suspicion, only to encounter two NPCs at the staircase entrance, dressed in suits and wearing sunglasses. They immediately pursued them as soon as they saw them.

"Who allowed you to come up to the fourth floor? Seeking death!"

Had it not been for Ning Suisui's remarkable strength, she would have been done for right there and then.

"Damn it! Are you messing with me??" Ning Suisui was livid.

The forecasting player shook his head frantically: "It was just an accident earlier, this time the forecast will definitely be accurate! They are on the second floor!"

Ning Suisui turned around and left, starting her search from the first floor using her own methods.

In just a few minutes, she arrived at the bustling restaurant.

With so many people there, Ning Suisui, standing at the entrance, was unsure about who was who, and could only tiptoe to peer inside.

Just at that moment, alerted by someone beside him, Liu Guangming also raised his head, his gaze coincidentally meeting Ning Suisui's.

He was startled.

Everyone knew that Ning Suisui had already joined Zhou Heqi's squad with her friends.

But joining them didn't mean there were no opportunities for reconciliation, right?

Zhou Heqi was just an average player and their group only consisted of five individuals. If they could be incorporated into his twenty-three-member group, it would be a significant augmentation to their strength!

"Captain Ning!" Liu Guangming greeted her warmly.

In reality, knowing Ning Suisui's name was of no use, as she had never seen what Liu Guangming looked like.

Now as Liu Guangming greeted her, Ning Suisui noticed that he seemed to be a person of authority. She responded with a polite nod, while continuing to walk inward and surveying her surroundings, she inquired, "Hello, I am looking for Liu Guangming."

Liu Guangming paused momentarily before standing up enthusiastically, "Captain Ning, what brings you to me?"

Ning Suisui was also taken aback; she hadn't expected her luck to be this good, finding her target with the first person she approached.

"You are Liu Guangming?"

"Yes."

As he spoke, Liu Guangming extended his hand with a smile, eager to establish a connection with this figure who ranked seventh on the leaderboard.

Ning Suisui also extended her hand— in which she firmly held her golden battle-axe.

With a thunderous crash, the massive axe slammed vehemently onto the table.

Fortunately, both the table and the dishes on it were system-generated. Ning Suisui didn't intend to slay him with this strike; Liu Guangming twisted his body abruptly, resulting in a deep gash appearing on his wrist, from which blood spurted out profusely.

"Damn!!" Liu Guangming retreated quickly, pressing down on his wound.

Although the surrounding players were unsure why a fight had suddenly erupted, being experienced gamers, those close to the scene instinctively backed away while others further away crowded in closer to witness the commotion.

Liu Guangming couldn't have imagined that Ning Suisui would attack without any preamble.

"What are you doing?!" In Liu Guangming's anger, there was also a hint of fear.

This Ning Suisui was the player ranked seventh on the scoreboard! He hadn't harbored any grievances against her, had he?

Could it be because he offended "Yan Xiaotong" at the front desk this morning? It shouldn't be! Hadn't the Golden Leopard squad already disintegrated, becoming enemies?

Ning Suisui in front of him offered no explanation, merely whispering an "I'm sorry."

This apology seemed to make things clear for Liu Guangming.

He looked towards Zhou Heqi, who was standing behind Ning Suisui.

Ning Suisui and her friend had very low scores; it seemed Zhou Heqi was threatening her with her friend's life.

"Zhou Heqi! What is the meaning of this? Are you forcing Captain Ning to kill me??"

Zhou Heqi, standing at the door, responded with a cheeky grin, "Oh come now, don't put it like that! It's just the rules of the instance, we are helpless too!"

Ning Suisui's expression seemed to be a mix of frustration and helplessness; it appeared attacking Liu Guangming was not her intention.

Liu Guangming fixed his gaze on Ning Suisui, his mind working at a furious pace, "Captain Ning, I know this isn't what you want! Wait here, I'll have everyone kill that bastard to free you!"

Ning Suisui simply shook her head, her voice still very low, "There's also Qianqian."

"Despicable!"

This was Yan Xiaoxi being held hostage; Zhou Heqi was coercing Ning Suisui, forcing her to fight against them to earn points!

In reality, if it had been Liu Guangming in her place, he would have undoubtedly made the same choice.

However, verbal condemnation was necessary: "Zhou Heqi! If you are a man, come and fight me! If I win, you have to release Miss Yan!"

Zhou Heqi found this all rather absurd: "What are you blabbering about? Who plays the game like this? Captain Ning, don't waste your time talking to them, take action!"

With a resigned sigh, Ning Suisui charged forward, wielding her massive axe.

Liu Guangming was no match for her; he lasted less than ten moves before meeting her demand.

"I command you... to stop!"

In his heart, he still harbored the intention to appease Ning Suisui, with hopes to recruit her to his side in the future.

Liu Guangming was well aware that Zhou Heqi bringing Ning Suisui along implied that their scores would not be low. His command's sole purpose was to relinquish the points he had on him.

As expected, following the system's notification, Liu Guangming stared blankly at his zero score.

Ning Suisui genuinely stopped her attack, her expression somewhat stunned.

Unable to contain his curiosity, Zhou Heqi tiptoed at the door, "What happened?"

"I got them," Ning Suisui simply stated.

"How many points?"

"Sixty."

"How can it be so low??" Zhou Heqi exclaimed in surprise.

Liu Guangming should have had one hundred and twenty-one points!

Ning Suisui frowned deeply: "Your friend's divination skills are lacking; the discrepancy is too significant. Let's go back and discuss this."

She currently held three hundred points. Apart from the sixty contributed by Liu Guangming, the rest had been pooled by Zhou Heqi and other team members.

This score was already quite high, and coupled with Ning Suisui's innate strength, she had dared to come here.

Zhou Heqi nodded in agreement.

As he turned his head for a moment, his gaze swept across the bar, followed by a startled pause.

"Sixteen points for a single meal?? So expensive??"

Even Ning Suisui couldn't help but look towards the bar.

On the small blackboard at the bar, what used to be "Single Meal: 1 point" had now escalated to "Single Meal: 16 points", a rapid rate of inflation.

Liu Guangming had lost sixty points, but at this moment, he mustered his spirit again.

He forced a smile, maintaining his poise and clinging to the beautiful wish of "winning Ning Suisui over to his side".

"Don't think that sixteen points are too expensive; the second floor requires twenty! Although it's only a four-point difference, it accumulates to a substantial expense daily."

Speaking further, Liu Guangming advised, "Captain Ning, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Buy some food now! This offer is only available to the first sixty-six customers, and we don't know how much it will be after that!"

Ning Suisui's expression turned somewhat peculiar, with a hint of sympathy mingling in her features.

She asked, "Didn't you inquire about the price after the sixty-sixth customer?"

Liu Guangming paused, a faint sense of foreboding surging within him.

"We did ask, they said it would revert to the original price... original price... isn't it supposed to be much higher than sixteen points?"

Ning Suisui had already asked for him.

She walked up to the bar, tapping on the counter.

"Hello, could you please tell me the price for customers after the sixty-sixth?"

The NPC behind the bar glanced at her.

"Back to the original price."

"And what is the original price?"

The NPC promptly retrieved the blackboard that had been placed below earlier.

"Single Meal: 1 point".

The restaurant fell into an eerie silence.

At that moment, a familiar voice echoed from behind Zhou Heqi.

"Eh? Why are there so many people here?"

Xie Fangcheng appeared at the entrance, now dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, flip-flops on his feet, and carrying his staff over his shoulder.

Seeing Xie Fangcheng, Liu Guangming was reminded of the morning's events.

Forty-four... sixty-six...

An unknowable amount of points added...

Liu Guangming understood now.

Why had the originally 1-point single meal soared to sixteen points? It was probably because the affluent individuals were dining upstairs and enjoying the finer things! But those affluent ones weren't paying with points, forcing the NPC to collect points from regular players like them!

At this moment, with Xie Fangcheng appearing at the entrance, Liu Guangming felt a surge of rage that made his head throb, and he questioned fiercely, "What are you here for?"

Xie Fangcheng was succinct: "To rob. Everyone, prepare to hand over your points."