Chapter 5: The train safety officer on Train Zero likes children who admit their mistakes and correct them...
"It's bright outside now."
Jiang Yang opened the door a crack. The pitch-black night outside had faded, and the carriage had returned to its original tranquility, with the faint whispers of the players still audible.
Back on the lower bunk, Xiaomei's ID card was on the table. The name was rather random, but she was the only person on this train, besides the players, with a specific appearance.
"Well... how should I put it?" Jiang Yang asked with a smile, staring at Nan Ke.
After all, they entered D4 together. Regardless of Jiang Yang's strength, his emotional value along the way was at least maximum. Nan Ke wouldn't be so ungrateful, but he still wouldn't let his guard down, saying, "You know the answer already."
“However, I only did this because of Huang Er. If we want to achieve closer cooperation, I think we should share some information with each other, how about that?” Of course, Nan Ke was not as harmless as he appeared.
“Okay, go ahead and ask.” Jiang Yang had originally planned to be open and honest just to be on the safe side, but she was surprised that Nan Ke brought it up first.
"Do you want to be an agent?"
? ? ?
You're going to be this direct right from the start, aren't you?
Jiang Yang's inner defenses crumbled, but she maintained a calm demeanor on the surface.
"Isn't this your purpose in entering the assessment competition?"
"no."
"That is..."
“Go ahead and play,” Nan Ke said confidently, then shook his head and earnestly explained, “But I think that although you have a little bit of cleverness, your chances of winning are definitely not high compared to others.”
Jiang Yang was speechless, and replied stiffly, "I think so too."
"Right? Then you should listen to my advice," Nan Ke said with an expression that suggested he was a promising student.
“Okay, okay, I’ll take your advice. I don’t want to be an agent anymore,” Jiang Yang said, getting straight to the point.
"Then let's stir things up together," Nan Ke said excitedly, his eyes sparkling. This was his ultimate goal.
The idea was crazy. Jiang Yang subconsciously swallowed, and after a few seconds of hesitation, he finally found his voice, "How do I stir it?"
"Haven't decided yet..." The End.
Jiang Yang's fingers tapped haphazardly on the table, producing a soft, crisp sound.
Suddenly he tilted his head, a slight smile playing on his lips, "Because of Xiong Bingxin? You completed the mission?"
Nan Ke stared wide-eyed in disbelief. "How did you know? Cough cough," the fake cough was blatantly obvious and only served to confuse him.
"I never intended to be an agent, it's just boring, but right now, I'm not happy!" Nan Ke was as angry as a guinea pig.
“Okay, but…” Jiang Yang’s gaze shifted to Xie Lu beside him, a sly smile on his face, “How did you hire him? You paid half the commission to hire me, how about that?”
[Zero Train Observation Room - Jiang Yang's Perspective]
"No...wait...how did he know?!"
"Is he really a newcomer? His intuition is even stronger than Nan Ke's..."
"I feel like Nan Ke is going to be led into a trap by him, help!!"
A chorus of wails filled the observation room.
Jiang Yang had doubts about Xie Lu's identity from the beginning. At first, he thought Xie Lu was just quiet and reserved, but when Nan Ke suggested stirring things up, he didn't react much, so they weren't in a cooperative relationship.
Command and Obedience...
"make a deal!"
Jiang Yang guessed correctly.
Xie Lu runs a mercenary business in the no man's land. Besides attending the trials he is required to attend, he also takes on private jobs to earn extra money.
Nan Ke was Xie Lu's former employer. He was flamboyant but extremely generous, and the two were almost always partners.
After much back and forth, Jiang Yang and Nan Ke finally reached an agreement to cooperate, although it was slightly different from the frank meeting Jiang Yang had imagined.
Jiang Yang also agreed with Nan Ke that they should follow his arrangements as much as possible in the next operation. After all, Huang Er's disappearance in the hard sleeper car was a lesson learned from the past. It was impossible to overtake Xiong Bingxin by taking a shortcut. They would have to search each carriage one by one.
"Then what do you suggest?" Nan Ke reluctantly agreed, because if Jiang Yang hadn't mentioned it, he might have actually searched the place.
"This is the third stop. According to the rules, we need to make a purchase every two stops. If I remember correctly, you didn't buy anything. So, should we go to train 02 to find the train attendant or go to the dining car?"
"My SAN value hasn't dropped."
Nan Ke is still in full swing, while Jiang Yang gleaned the effects of the food from his words.
"The price over there is 15. You two go to 02, I'll go to the dining car."
Xie Lu always spoke simply and clearly, but Jiang Yang's eyes showed a hint of inquiry. "Then we'll come find you after we buy it. If you're not here in twenty minutes, go to 02."
Xie Lu stood up and nodded slightly. Nan Ke picked up her ID card. "Then let's go!"
[Zero Train Observation Room - Jiang Yang's Perspective]
"I've seen the look in his eyes, and it's clear that little brother Nan Ke has really gotten himself on the wrong path!"
"Doesn't anyone think Xie Lu is acting strangely?"
"It's fine with other people, but I wouldn't recommend those three go to 02."
What does the preceding part mean?
Nan Ke took the first step, opened the door and walked out of the room, followed closely by Jiang Yang, and they walked out together.
Before leaving, Jiang Yang paused, turned her head to look at Xie Lu again, and looked at him with a question in her eyes.
Xie Lu slowly shook his head, silently signaling that no one should make a fuss.
Jiang Yang thoughtfully closed the door, and Xie Lu collapsed as if he couldn't support himself anymore, one hand tightly gripping his collar, the veins bulging from the force.
The black marks from the injury on his ankle kept climbing up to his waist. His remaining consciousness made him open the panel and take out two bottles of medicine.
He drank one bottle directly, and poured the other over the mark by lifting his shirt. It took nearly half a bottle to stop its spread, and his reason gradually returned.
Player Xie Lu used the rare item "Negative Inhibitor," whose effect lasts for 1 hour.
"Xie Lu should be alright, right..." Nan Ke suddenly muttered to himself, his tone tinged with uncertainty and worry.
Xingxing's talent made him more sensitive than anyone else. Xie Lu didn't say anything, but that didn't mean he didn't notice; he just couldn't completely put his mind at ease.
Jiang Yang opened and closed his mouth, "He has an idea..." Maybe everything will be alright...
Before they could finish speaking, the train attendant pushed a cart into carriage 03, less than a few dozen steps away from them.
He patted Nan Ke on the shoulder to comfort him, "Let's buy things first."
They had already discussed it before they arrived: Nan Ke would buy food, and Jiang Yang would buy fruit.
But as the cart approached, the price that was originally written on the sign had been crossed out with a black line, and the new price...
Food: 20 (crossed out) 30
[Fruit: 30 (crossed out) 20]
They exchanged a glance, and the plan remained the same.
The food consisted of two steamed buns, one black and one white, and two apples, one red and one green.
The train conductor's expression grew even more gloomy, with a distinctly sarcastic smirk playing on his lips.
Jiang Yang looked at him, a sense of unease rising in her heart. She feared that it wouldn't be long before the train conductor would tear off the outer shell and reveal "its" true nature.
It was still early, and Jiang Yang, seeing through Nan Ke's eagerness, suggested taking a stroll next door.
It looked like a major battle had taken place; a black, viscous substance mixed with blood splattered all over the carriage.
Nan Ke ran his fingers across the back of the chair, then brought them to his nose to sniff, his features contorting. "It smells a bit like grass..."
Jiang Yang had already walked to the front of the curtain.
The smell of grass...
In an instant, a sharp gust of wind erupted in the air and rushed towards Jiang Yang's face.
Nan Ke reacted quickly, flicking out a white thread that wrapped around Jiang Yang and pulled her back to his side.
It passed through the hanging curtain and slammed into the chair next to it with tremendous force, making a loud bang.
"Are you stupid?" Nan Ke said irritably. Jiang Yang didn't say anything, staring blankly at the wide chain on the ground.
The chain slowly retracted, as if gathering momentum. Nan Ke shoved Jiang Yang and shouted, "What are you standing there for? Run!"
"wrong..."
The shadowy figure was attacked because it boarded the vehicle before the scheduled time.
Nan Ke was attacked because he had an argument with someone in the car.
Now...
What was the reason for the violation?
Jiang Yang stood there motionless, a fierce storm raging in his mind.
"Hello, we're here to buy tickets!" The voice was loud but lacked confidence, and beads of sweat were already dripping down his cheeks.
The curtain was lifted, and the safety officer's black figure was gradually revealed.
The train safety officer likes children who admit their mistakes and correct them, so he has decided to give you a chance to reform.
[Chase Scene Initiated]
[Mission: Go to the train conductor's rest room to buy a sleeper ticket]
[Countdown: 10 minutes]
It's time to really run away.
With the safety officer still blocking the way in front of the train, the two turned around and ran back in tacit agreement. Just as they were about to step into carriage 03, they barely stopped by clinging to the edge of the connecting area.
"Holy crap!"
The sight before them made the two gasp in surprise. The original silver-white metal surface of the carriage had turned dark red, and there were traces of corrosion everywhere.
All the original seating and facilities have disappeared, replaced by an empty workshop. White fog fills the air, obscuring the view and making it impossible to see the end of the workshop.
The train carriages were noticeably bumpy, feeling like wriggling intestines.
Black liquid, which Nan Ke had just touched, dripped from the top, and a strong, grassy smell wafted over, instantly filling the entire carriage.
Jiang Yang's SAN value -10
[Nanke SAN value -20]
Nan Ke was naturally not afraid.
"My SAN value dropped by 10, how about yours?"
20.
"How did you drop so much?" Jiang Yang asked in surprise.
"Because I really feel disgusted!" Nan Ke broke down.
The safety officer was still closing in from behind, and despite feeling nauseous, I had to keep moving forward.
"Be careful to avoid overhead," Jiang Yang reminded him, not forgetting the bloodstains in car 02.
Train K0027 was traveling at high speed when the huge impact tore a gash in the front of the train. The gash was then torn open along the lower surface of the carriage, revealing a snake's head as wide as the train itself, with its eyes tightly closed as if it had not yet woken up.
The window clearly reflected the situation inside.
Xiong Bingxin was attacked for forcibly entering the train crew rest room. She was then judged to have violated the rules by the security officer. Chains were fastened to everyone's shoulders, and they were pulled forward by the leader.
Jiang Yang and Nan Ke ran as fast as they could, but the sticky liquid still inevitably dripped onto their clothes.
Xie Lu bought water from the dining car, and after drinking it, her condition improved slightly. She quietly watched the time and waited.
Huang Er, along with the recovered Huang Si, is plunged into darkness, and they may be about to lose their way.
Further on, until the very last window, a large hat covered his head, and he hung his head so that his appearance was obscured.
A soft voice drifted on the wind, "It has begun."
A note from the author:
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