Got It

Ten minutes later.

An Xuyin lowered his head and read through the densely packed notes on his phone, reciting them to Zhu Yan as if checking their answers.

“An advanced puppet without a face that can be controlled. Advanced puppets possess a function called [Essence Transference], which allows them to obtain everything a person possesses by receiving part of that person’s life force. It’s similar to creating a lesser duplicate.”

This was better than Zhu Yan had expected. It amounted to nothing more than adding one step: extracting Qiu Lingfeng’s life force.

That step would not be difficult. His ability, [Affair], combined with the [Demon] item—the Straw Bottle—could accomplish it. He could also use the Straw Bottle by itself.

“Three bottles of advanced disguise potion that can temporarily alter one’s appearance. Colorless and odorless. Before use, simply place the target’s hair, tissue, or other biological material into the potion. Note: To transform into someone, put that person’s material inside.”

The description was rudimentary, but easy enough to understand.

For example, “Zhu Zeyu” was actually a puppet. All they needed to do was cut off a tuft of the puppet’s hair and put it into the potion. After that, everything would be taken care of.

“One [Deceive Heaven and Cross the Sea] Talisman.”

The Art Student continued reading expressionlessly.

“Heaven and sea both refer specifically to [Carnival Paradise]. Members must carry this talisman when entering an instance.”

“The [Deceive Heaven and Cross the Sea] Talisman can be activated three times. Each activation can block the instance’s signal for fifteen minutes. During those fifteen minutes, [Carnival Paradise] will be unable to learn anything about what happens inside the instance.”

“However, you must be extremely careful when using this talisman, because the power system within it is completely opposed to [Carnival Paradise]’s power system.”

“Although we’ve disguised it, there’s no guarantee that it won’t arouse [Carnival Paradise]’s suspicions…”

At this point, The Art Student raised his eyes and gave Zhu Yan an especially meaningful look.

“Are you listening? Do you understand what I mean?”

Of course Zhu Yan understood.

“It’s easy for it to notice that something’s wrong, start getting suspicious, and then test me in all sorts of ways?”

“Exactly,” An Xuyin said. “Right now, you’re… What’s the phrase? In Cao Cao’s camp but serving another lord? Anyway, you need to be especially careful around this Paradise!”

Zhu Yan nodded to show that he understood.

It didn’t matter. He was about to acquire a new identity, and one that was a [Hunter] at that.

If things really went wrong and he was exposed, he could simply let this new identity take the blame. Then, using his identity as Hunter No. 1, he could openly inherit certain things.

Still, he would do his best not to expose himself.

“That’s everything.” An Xuyin finished reading. “These things should be enough, right?”

Zhu Yan went over everything in his head.

“They’re enough,” he said. “I still have one day of leave left. If I find that anything’s missing, I’ll contact you tomorrow.”

An Xuyin added Zhu Yan’s contact information using his phone.

“None of these things need to be specially made. They should already be in the storeroom. Wait a moment—I’ll send them over to you.”

He ran over to a table and sat down.

The table had originally been a four-person coffee table for guests. An Xuyin had placed his printer, typewriter, and a heap of other miscellaneous treasures on it.

Zhu Yan watched as the man began hammering away at the typewriter with a clatter of banging keys. At last, he relaxed and lay back on the sofa.

From the other side of the room, An Xuyin shouted over the noise, “Don’t use your phone to discuss anything important! Phones are for doing abstract nonsense!”

“Got it!” Zhu Yan shouted back.

He contentedly stroked the thick, soft fur of the cow-patterned cat. It was sleek and dense, as smooth as a velvet carpet.

Not long afterward, The Art Student stood up again and jogged over to the decorative fireplace. He reached inside and rummaged around.

“Done. Here are your things.”

An Xuyin walked over to the sofa and stuffed a storage-space card into Zhu Yan’s arms.

“One puppet, three bottles of potion, and one talisman. Check them yourself.”

Zhu Yan inspected everything and confirmed that nothing was missing.

He sprawled on the soft sofa for a while longer before lazily getting to his feet and bidding The Art Student farewell.

“See you around.”

“By the way,” The Art Student said, “if it’s convenient, could you bring a phone to Vine Cage Girl? I need to go over the details of its commission.”

It was no big deal.

He could even take the opportunity to bribe Vine Cage Girl a little more.

Zhu Yan nodded in agreement. Taking the cow-patterned cat with him, he silently passed through the residential complex in the form of [Mist] and found the nearest fast-travel passage.

He still had to go to Feining to commission a new “Zhu Zeyu” puppet.

This puppet would not be put into use for the time being. It was merely meant to establish a clear record under [Carnival Paradise]’s watchful eyes.

After all, Zhu Yan planned to deceive [Carnival Paradise] by claiming that the puppet he had handed over to the [Eye of the Abyss] was one of his own puppets.

If the puppet had come from an unknown source, with [Carnival Paradise] unable to find any record of its purchase or acquisition, then the problem would truly be serious.

Compared with the risk of exposing his identity, Zhu Yan would rather spend a little more money and time!

……

“We’re here.”

Yang Zhanbai slowed the vehicle.

“Silver Bay City… This is the place.”

They should be in the outskirts of Silver Bay City. Just now, their military vehicles had passed through several checkpoints.

Zhu Zeyu straightened up and looked outside. All around them stretched an expanse of concrete that seemed almost endless.

The area was empty and flat. Only at the edge was there a small raised section, perhaps ten meters high, that looked like an entrance.

Two lights shone in front of the entrance. From a distance, several figures could be seen standing beneath them.

Once all three vehicles had come to a stop, the players inside jumped out one after another. The figures came over to greet them.

“Director Jin, good to see you. Captains, good to see you. Comrades, good to see you.”

One of them saluted.

“The situation is severe. Please come down with me first. How much rest time do you have left?”

Behind him, the enormous steel gate slowly opened, leaving a gap just large enough for the group to pass through.

Inside was a testing hall similar to the one at the Western Suburbs Shelter. Zhu Zeyu proceeded through the inspection in an orderly manner and smoothly continued downward until they reached the elevators.

“We have less than twenty hours of rest time left,” Yang Zhanbai said. “But we had some leave that we never got the chance to use. What’s the matter?”

“Run an instance.” The man smiled. “We’ve found a way to conduct targeted detection and enter specific instances. Certain players with special abilities have provided us with the possibility of researching the method. Depending on your ability level, you can compete for the instances currently known to us. The location is the Archives Hall.”

“We encourage outstanding players like you to form teams and run instances together. This is also the general direction of the Human Alliance’s latest policy.”

The man explained as the elevator sped downward. Zhu Yan had no way of judging how deep underground they were.

“The laws of the human world have changed,” the man continued. “It’s the law of the jungle now, just like among animals: survival of the fittest, with the strong prevailing over the weak. By the way, if you encounter anyone in an instance who is practicing some kind of evil religion, worshiping [Carnival Paradise], or trying to become a [Hunter], be sure to execute them on the spot.”

The elevator doors opened.

“Come on. This isn’t an underground city, so dormitory space is limited. You have ranks, so your accommodations should be fairly decent…”

As he spoke, the man suddenly seemed to remember something and turned around.

“I almost forgot. Captain Jin, our Commander Qiu would like to meet with you and a few of your team members for a chat.”

After a moment’s thought, he added, “General Qiu will be there too.”