Chapter 178

Chapter 178

In the game.

After a brief rest, Ji Xinghai went downstairs to the front desk to check out, as usual, presenting a card with his contact information and some money. He then proceeded to the nearby Special Operations Group restaurant, repeating the same process.

To his surprise, he wasn't alone in doing this; the restaurant staff informed him that he was the third person to pay for this service.

Other academies have started too, Ji Xinghai thought, feeling a sense of urgency.

He made another trip to the Special Operations Group branch office, entering the inner room as a formal member.

After inspection, the branch staff confirmed that the fish skin could be used to make two full-body protective suits or thirteen protective vests, requiring twenty contribution points for processing. The fish bones could be crafted into ten long swords or thirty short knives, needing ten contribution points for processing.

He chose to have the protective suits made and paid twenty contribution points for the processing fee.

"The suits will be ready in three days. Please collect them within the next month and remember to leave your delivery address on the website."

With the remaining 280 contribution points, he spent 120 on a guided rocket launcher that could fire ten rounds per second and required 24 hours to recharge automatically.

He then spent eighty contribution points on a triangular electromagnetic lasso, which could control D-level monsters for at least one minute and C-level monsters for at least five seconds, provided it wasn't damaged and could be reused.

Finally, he used the last eighty contribution points to upgrade his map, which now updated five seconds earlier than before and allowed him to gather monster information without being on-site. The monster information would also be more detailed.

These were quite useful items.

Stepping outside, Ji Xinghai wanted to check his unlocked permissions on the Special Operations Group website but found five new verification messages on his phone.

They were from Hungry Academy students, each with a name and a photo. One student had even left a message akin to a final testament.

"What academy?"

"Hungry Academy."

"Which batch?"

"The fourth batch."

The password was correct, and Ji Xinghai approved their requests and quickly added them to a group chat:

"This is a collective instance. If you find other students from our academy, add them to the group or leave my contact information. Additionally, if any of you haven't yet become official members, are there any low-level monsters nearby that haven't been defeated? I'll hold the fort while you fight, helping you become an official member faster. The battle pet energy blocks and teleportation cards from defeated monsters can serve as payment.

"Three slots per day, act fast."

"Ji, I've changed my profession to a life skills type. I just need to craft a one-star item to become an official member. Wait for my good news, and once I level up, I'll make equipment for everyone."

Ji Xinghai learned that there were life skill professions in the game. Before he could respond, another student sent a lengthy message: "Ji, students from other academies are eliminating competitors. They're stationed at the branch offices, killing lone students. Everyone, please be careful when entering or leaving the branch offices."

"Did you encounter them? Coordinates," Ji Xinghai immediately responded.

There was a pause: "Don't come here. I still have my revival slot."

Ignoring the warning, Ji Xinghai messaged the student privately: "I'm already an official member, so safety isn't an issue. Send me the coordinates and your location."

Ji Xinghai was now the planet's greatest hope, but the student didn't want to involve him in trouble. However, Ji Xinghai had his own thoughts.

These individuals wouldn't be engaging in such unjust internal eliminations for the first time. If not dealt with now, they would pose a threat later. Since it was inevitable, better to face them sooner rather than later.

Moreover, this game's format differed from previous ones, making teamwork more beneficial.

Ji Xinghai believed that eventually, students from other academies would trade their contribution points to the leader to help them reach the top. At that point, the number of survivors from each academy would matter.

With fewer than three hundred students from Hungry Academy, every loss mattered.

"I'm worried about getting a red name and being targeted by the authorities," the student continued to persuade Ji Xinghai. "They haven't found me yet, and they might leave soon."

"It's fine. In this game, killing is unavoidable, and understanding it early is beneficial," Ji Xinghai replied, knowing that a red name meant being discovered and hunted in this highly realistic game world.

If undetected, it wouldn't matter much. Even if caught, the penalty likely wouldn't be severe—perhaps just being unable to use official resources or trade. But this situation wouldn't last long, maybe just a few days until the name could be cleared. So why not try?

Ultimately, the student hiding in the stairwell was convinced by Ji Xinghai and provided the coordinates and descriptions of those he had seen.

"Stay put and wait for my signal."

"Okay, please prioritize your safety." Leave immediately if there's danger.

"This residential area is too rundown. Have you found that little rat?"

"Hmph, does he think hiding will keep us from finding him?"

Student Bill's awakened ability was 'hearing,' and his innate skill in the game was 'listening,' allowing him to hear faint sounds from over a hundred meters away.

He was currently hiding in a residential area near the branch office.

Upon sensing something amiss, he immediately entered this old residential area, where the security doors were often open for easy access. He hid under the stairs of one of the buildings. Now, he couldn't determine the exact situation outside and couldn't provide Ji Xinghai with any assistance.

"Please, Ji, stay safe," he silently prayed.

"Bang!"

After an unknown amount of time, a short but clear gunshot echoed outside, causing Bill's muscles to instinctively tense. He almost wanted to peek out but suppressed his curiosity. Despite being a random student, Bill had gained extensive experience in self-preservation through numerous exams.

Has Ji Xinghai arrived?

"Murder! Murder!" The NPCs living nearby rushed in, slamming and locking the door behind them.

Bill heard the stairs shake as cement dust fell on him. He tightly covered his nose to prevent sneezing.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

After several gunshots, everything outside became quiet. Bill cowered under the stairs, not daring to move. After a long wait, he heard the NPCs discussing—the ones who hadn't heard the gunshots had actually come out of their houses.

"There's blood here, but the body is gone."

"Covering up the crime?"

"Creak." The security door opened from the outside, casting a tall shadow on the wall. Bill stared at the shadow as it approached, his hand reaching for the light source gun.

"Ding." At this crucial moment, his phone rang, showing a notification: It's me.

Ji Xinghai?

Bill peeked out and saw a young man standing at the door, looking like a high school student with fresh, youthful skin. He waved at Bill, bathed in a red glow that seemed almost blood-like.

"Ji!" Bill felt like he had seen a long-lost family member. He emerged from the small stairwell, brushing off the dust.

"What's that on you?"

"You mean this red glow? I killed someone and got a red name," Ji Xinghai said with a smile. He wore a t-shirt and jeans, a cap, and carried a backpack, looking like a student just out of school, except for the ominous red glow around him.

"Red name?"

"It seems the more people you kill, the redder your name becomes. The mission notification says I'm in a red name state now, unable to trade at branch offices or stay at Special Operations Group inns and restaurants. My website account is also locked. Theoretically, it takes five days to dissipate, but killing monsters can expedite the process."

Ji Xinghai found this acceptable as long as his actions weren't restricted.

"Weren't the people outside aware?"

Curious, Bill stepped outside. Many NPCs were gathered, discussing the recent murder and the missing body, but none seemed to notice the red glow around Ji Xinghai or suspect him as the murderer.

Ji Xinghai understood his confusion and smiled. "Come with me."

They walked out in front of the residents, heading to another commercial street and entering a fast-food restaurant.

After ordering, Ji Xinghai sat down and started typing on his phone. Bill also looked at his phone, and they communicated via text while sitting face-to-face.

During this time, another student joined the group chat. Ji Xinghai reviewed the new member and then discussed the recent events.

"Billing has been successfully rescued. Fellow students, there are others from other colleges near the Special Operations Group facilities, ambushing students. They work in groups, with one or two responsible for killing, while the rest track and intercept.

"In the future, ensure safety when entering or leaving, preferably in groups. Be discreet during transactions or choose times when no one is around."

This was the first message sent to a group of over ten people.

"Killing a red-name player won't make you red-named, but killing a non-red-name student will. The brighter the red glow, the more people you've killed. During the red-name period, you cannot transact with any Special Operations Group facilities, including branch offices, inns, and restaurants. Additionally, your website account will be locked.

"To wash away the red name, it takes one day per person killed. To speed up the process, you can kill monsters.

"There's an unmentioned rule: being killed while red-named results in dropping more items."

Why did Ji Xinghai know this? Because he killed seven students, two of whom were red-named and dropped five or six cards, while the other five, who didn't directly kill anyone, only dropped two items.

He even clicked the 'Complaint' button on his mission watch, reporting a bug where the entire team should turn red after a kill. If the system doesn't fix this bug, he suspected it might be encouraging students to kill each other, violating the college's principles.

(Thank you, Mr. Mole, who isn't here.)

"If you must kill someone, remember that full-immersion game players and Special Operations Group members operate on parallel lines. Players aren't punished for killing, but Special Operations Group members still are.

"When killing other students, ensure you're not caught in the act or leave obvious traces.

"Since bodies disappear upon death, there's no evidence to file a case. However, if caught, even without a body, it could lead to trouble—ranging from wasting time in detention to facing charges."

Reading this, the rescued Bill's eyes widened.

Although he didn't see it, Ji Xinghai must have disguised himself, hiding his face and body. Even the gun he used might not have been his own.

Only this could explain why the NPCs discussing the murder ignored him.

"Ji, you can't trade now, right? This morning, there were monsters here. I hit its wound a few times, contributing 1.3%. These contribution points can't express my gratitude..." Bill messaged Ji Xinghai, sending several messages in quick succession, indicating his excitement.

"I came prepared, so don't worry about accommodation and food. I'll use regular currency at regular stores. If you feel indebted, focus on getting promoted; I need more help."

Seeing Ji Xinghai mention needing help, Bill immediately perked up. "I haven't used my teleportation today. If there are new low-level monsters, I can teleport there instantly."

"I need to know your talent ability. Do you trust me..."

"I trust you!" Bill emphatically typed these words, looking up at Ji Xinghai.

"Do you remember that exam where someone triggered the Crying Angel Cemetery and couldn't get out?"

That was me, Bill thought to himself.