Chapter 109
The moment Xie Xubai held the remote control in his hand, he knew it was an item. Normally, NPCs suffer from cognitive interference and cannot use items even if they obtain them.
It cannot be ruled out that there are special cases like his. When Fu Zong first met the stranger, his eyes were just that he hadn't realized what was happening. But Xie Xubai always managed to act with a degree of certainty, even with a hint of suspicion.
Back then, his casual glance and the question "Player?" were enough to terrify the top five magicians on the leaderboard. Now, Fu Zong was no less formidable, breaking out in a cold sweat and missing the best time to counterattack. He was pinned to the spot by Jin Guang's arm.
Fu Zong looked around in a panic and found that no one else, including Pei Yuheng, reacted to the two words. Suddenly realizing that there was still a chance, he hurriedly shouted, "You're a player too? Don't kill me, we can cooperate!"
Looking back on everything that had happened, [Fu Zong] still didn't know where he had slipped up. Feeling quite pressured, he said, "Haven't you noticed? We're supposed to pass the level if we survive for twenty days, but several months have passed and there's not a single step forward! This S-rank trial is different from anything we've encountered before. If we don't come up with a solution soon, we'll all be trapped here and die!"
"Isn't your role also designed to be like Pei Yuheng's? We have the same goal, so why not cooperate? More help means more security, right?"
Xie Xubai squatted down expressionlessly, looking directly at Fu Zong, who was pinned to the ground. Even though they were at the same height, the gaze that felt like being dissected from head to toe still made Fu Zong panic.
"Cooperation? Of course." Xie Xubai said slowly and deliberately. "What exactly is the vaccine? Is Zhou Chaosheng safe and sound? As long as you answer these two questions truthfully, I will consider letting you go and cooperating with you."
[Fu Zong]: "Let me go first." He was quick-witted; these two things were his trump cards, so how could he tell Xie Xubai directly? He had to devise a plan to create an opportunity for himself.
Xie Xubai took in the calculation in his eyes, suddenly chuckled, turned to look at the Fu Group employees, and held up the remote control in his hand: "You've been following Young Master Fu around all this time, can you recognize what this is?"
The young master had been kidnapped, and the Fu family employees were indignant. However, since [Fu Zong] was in Xie Xubai's hands, they had no choice but to swallow their anger and honestly answer, "We don't know him."
"Don't you recognize it? Well, I have seen other people use similar things, a bunch of people who like to steal other people's identities..."
Fu Zong became increasingly uneasy as he listened, his face turning deathly pale: "Shut up!"
The pain lingered, and some people were still in shock and doubt about the killing move that [Fu Zong] had just used. The main point was that ordinary people could not control a hurricane, and they looked suspicious, wondering if he was not human.
Originally, Fu Zong planned to kill the cannon fodder since the main characters were not around, and then take a few hostages to threaten Xie Xubai and the other man. By then, everyone would be dead, and who could question his identity? Who would have thought that his plan would backfire and he would become the sitting duck?
There's a lot of speculation about his identity right now, and the main problem is that all the Fu Group employees are here. What if they ask him about a few details of his identity and he can't answer them? Wouldn't that mean...
[Fu Zong] stared at Xie Xubai in fear, his eyes bloodshot, knowing that if he didn't reveal something, he wouldn't be able to shut this man up: "The vaccine is blood, the blood of humans who have mutated into monsters!"
He thought this matter would cause a huge uproar, but to his surprise, Dr. Li and the others frowned but their expressions didn't change at all: "Anything else?"
Seriously, you guys are so calm??
[Fu Zong] was unaware that they had already researched this area. Faced with repeated questioning from the crowd, he gritted his teeth and said, "One time is not enough. It needs to be diluted in the human body multiple times before the immune system can barely resist the toxicity and produce antibodies."
He stated that research by the Fu Group revealed that pollutants spontaneously reduce their activity within the first few minutes after entering the human body, exhibiting a process of fission and reproduction; this is also when they are at their weakest. Extracting this substance and injecting it into another person significantly prolongs the time it takes for the latter to transform into a monster, confirming that the pollutant is being diluted.
But secondary refinement is not enough. It is a completely new virus with extremely strong attack capabilities. The immune system can still be completely destroyed in an instant. It needs to be refined continuously, and people need to be used as culture medium to dilute it repeatedly in order to obtain a stable vaccine.
In other words, a vaccine is made at the cost of countless lives.
After hearing what [Fu Zong] said, the air seemed to be sucked out, and a deathly silence fell.
Dr. Li's still hopeful eyes instantly dimmed, and the others fell silent, stunned by this inhuman truth. It turned out it wasn't that they hadn't found a way, but rather that their hearts weren't ruthless enough.
The executive stammered, his expression practically frantic: "Young Master Fu, how could the Fu Group do such a thing? Those were living, breathing human lives!"
[Fu Zong] forced himself to remain calm: "Which drug doesn't go through clinical trials? We didn't coerce anyone; all participants were volunteers. Rather than mourning the world, we should remember their sacrifices. Without their volunteering, there would be no vaccine. If I weren't in charge of the experiments, I would want to be a part of them and contribute my own strength, no matter how small."
"I understand." Before anyone could show their grief, Xie Xubai said in a deep voice, "There are ready-made pollutants in the base laboratory. Since Young Master Fu is so aware of this, why don't we start developing a vaccine now to see if it's real or fake?"
[Fu Zong] was just saying it casually, but who would have thought that Xie Xubai would seize the opportunity to use him as a guinea pig? His expression immediately changed.
Upon seeing this, everyone's moved faces immediately darkened, realizing that [Fu Zong] was just spouting empty words and feigning benevolence, completely losing their original positive impression.
Fu Zong stared at Xie Xubai with gritted teeth. Pei Yuheng struggled to process the source of the vaccine, let out a deep breath, and asked coldly, "You still haven't answered how my teacher is doing."
"Your teacher is perfectly fine. He voluntarily stayed with the Fu family because of the vaccine. In fact, the vaccine's development owes a lot to his contribution. You'll see him when you come with me to Fu's Pharmaceutical Company." [Fu Zong] seemed to be very open about everything.
How could a mentor possibly assist the Fu Group? Pei Yuheng's first reaction was disbelief.
However, he couldn't verify the truthfulness of [Fu Zong's] words unless the group went to Fu's Pharmaceutical Company to investigate. The problem was that [Fu Zong] had initially intended to lure them to the Fu family's residence, where there was a high possibility of an ambush or trap. Wouldn't it be suicidal to just walk right in?
Once again, everyone found themselves in a predicament. Fu Zong, realizing they still needed him as a hostage, felt emboldened. The tension and panic on his face gradually faded, and he stared intently at Pei Yuheng. His eyes, seemingly overflowing with malice, betrayed his inner turmoil.
Xie Xubai glanced at him: "I'll ask you a few more questions, and you must answer them truthfully."
His kind words further convinced [Fu Zong] that he had a life-saving charm: "Ask away."
"Are you truly interested in cooperating with me?"
This collaboration deliberately emphasizes "I," meaning cooperation between players. [Fu Zong] nodded without hesitation: "That's for sure, otherwise why would I reveal so many clues?"
He was clearly forced to speak, yet he acted as if he were truly sincere. Xie Xubai then asked, "When was you assigned to be Fu Zong by the system?"
The phrase "system" is inserted into the conversation, implying that it will block the perception of NPCs. Isn't this just a private conversation between insiders? [Fu Zong] replied with a smile: "I don't know. I can't see the trial date either. Anyway, when I open my eyes and look in the mirror, I find that I look different."
Xie Xubai's expression remained unchanged as he leaned closer and asked in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Alright, one last question."
Where are your accomplices?
Fu Zong's smile suddenly froze on his face.
He stared wide-eyed at Xie Xubai, completely unprepared for such a remark. Those indifferent eyes tormented him, leaving him speechless and drenched in cold sweat: "What do you mean by that?"
"If you hadn't contacted other players and shared clues, how could you be so sure that the problem was with the trial date, rather than that you couldn't see the date? You firmly believe in the importance of cooperation, yet you don't have a single teammate by your side. Isn't that strange?"
Most importantly, [Fu Zong] is not strong and has no power to fight back after being subdued. His temperament is also average; Xie Xubai can trick him out of his true feelings with just a glance.
The trials are ruthless in their treatment of every challenger; a player's luck can even plummet into negative territory, leaving no room for luck.
Every time they meet, the magician can't help but complain about how demanding the roles are; the more important the role in the trial, the more difficult it is to play. [Fu Zong] alone, without the help of others, wouldn't have survived this long.
[Fu Zong] stammered: "That's because..."
Xie Xubai shut him down with a single sentence: "Only 'Fu Zong' can be repeatedly impersonated, or have you found a way to steal NPC identities?"
[Fu Zong]: "..."
Xie Xubai: "Don't try to fool me. I've seen the real Fu Zong, back when he hadn't been replaced by any player. You only became Fu Zong midway through, didn't you?"
Fu Zong's breath caught in his throat. As one trump card after another was ruthlessly revealed, Xie Xubai became a monster in his eyes.
The next second, the blade of light pressed against his neck. The slight stinging pain from cutting his skin made his heart race. Xie Xubai's barrage of questions followed: "You're afraid, you dare not speak? Is your accomplice watching your every move nearby? Where is he? East, west, south, or north? Is he in the south? There are two buildings there, is it the one near the woods or the other? The one near the woods? On which floor exactly?..."
Fu Zong swore he hadn't uttered a sound, but Xie Xubai seemed to read his mind, pinpointing the answer precisely. He grew increasingly terrified, roaring hysterically, "Stop talking! Stop talking! Ahhhhhh—"
Unbeknownst to him, intricate crimson lines crept up Fu Zong's cheeks, like a venomous snake baring its fangs, ready to tear him apart. If Yan Yue and the others were here, they would immediately recognize this as the sign that appeared before the traitorous player was controlled and killed by the organization behind the scenes.
Fu Zong, in his anguish, foresaw his impending death and glared resentfully at Xie Xubai, only to be met with complete silence. Did the other party know he was to be silenced? Impossible. Did he not intend to go to Fu's Pharmaceuticals to uncover the truth?
"No... my assistance, you, you all..."
He uttered the threat hoarsely, but still couldn't see Xie Xubai's remorse or pain. He could only close his eyes with resentment and unwillingness.
"Young Master Fu!" The crowd erupted in commotion, and Fu's employees screamed. Just as they were about to rush forward and make a scene, Xie Xubai stopped them: "He is not your young master; he is a monster in disguise."
"What nonsense are you spouting?!" The Fu Group employee's face turned ashen.
But when they turned around again, they were almost scared out of their wits. Where was Fu Zong's body on the ground? Instead, they saw a monstrous creature covered in pustules lying on the ground. More and more blood patterns appeared on its body, and suddenly it burst into flames, burning it to ashes.
The fantastical and bizarre scene stunned everyone.
Xie Xubai watched all this, his thoughts racing.
After he had the thought of killing, the [rules] did not appear to stop him. He immediately realized that [Fu Zong]'s death would not affect history, thus concluding that NPCs might be played by different people. However, he could not be sure whether this was a characteristic of [Fu Zong] or whether every NPC could be replaced. If it was the latter, then the trouble would be much greater.
He had initially considered whether to let Fu Zong go, either by taking him hostage or keeping him under strict guard, or by developing him into an ally like the Magician. However, when Fu Zong didn't utter a single truthful word and stared at Pei Yuheng with malicious intent, Xie Xubai knew that this man was a menace and could not be allowed to live. Even if things calmed down for the time being, he would find opportunities to trip them up later.
Xie Xubai turned south towards the building near the woods. A slight fluctuation of mental energy had leaked out when Fu Zong was being interrogated, but it had now vanished without a trace. That must have been Fu Zong's accomplice. Although he had guessed that Fu Zong was a pawn used to test the waters, he hadn't expected these people to be so ruthless and decisive. Killing him wasn't enough; they even burned him to ashes to destroy the evidence.
Those people will likely make a comeback.
Using the pretext of [Fu Zong] transforming into a monster, Xie Xubai turned to the dumbfounded executors: "I suspect that Young Master Fu was switched before he came in. The real Young Master Fu is still in the real world. Someone needs to cross space to transmit the message from here to the outside world."
That's right, the Fu family in the underworld has set up a trap, waiting for them to walk right into it. Xie Xubai doesn't want to step on a landmine, so he decisively decides to leave this mess to the Alliance's political situation.
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