Chapter 115: Artificial Souls - Part 42 |
Kui Xin was also taken aback for a moment.
She hadn’t anticipated that her nickname would hold such significant influence among players, leading He Kangshi to accept her invitation without hesitation.
His swift response could be considered as reaping good rewards from virtuous actions.
He Kangshi was relatively astute; he had moved his residence, placing it adjacent to the local police station in the city. Fearing unexpected incidents, he relocated nearby for safety.
Currently, his dwelling is in Yuzhong, over two hundred kilometers away from Kui Xin’s location. If Kui Xin were to provide him protection, He Kangshi couldn’t remain so distant. It would be best for him to stay closer to her.
Kui Xin got straight to the point in her message: “You need to change your place of residence.”
“Alright,” He Kangshi agreed instantly. “I also feel this area isn’t safe, mainly because superhuman abilities are unpredictable and seeking help might not always work—there’s even a risk of involving others… Where should I move to? How will the transfer happen?”
“Move to Jingchu, but don’t worry about the method yet.”
“Jingchu?” He Kangshi paused. “That’s where the Game System once issued a local quest, right?”
“The territory of that big shot is actually there!” He Kangshi exclaimed.
“Sort of,” Kui Xin replied succinctly.
“Sort of?” He Kangshi pondered, filling in the gaps with his imagination.
Even if this black snake’s sphere of influence wasn’t directly in Jingchu, it likely meant someone highly trusted by the black snake was present there. From what the black snake had said, it seemed as though this influential figure had gathered more than just one ally—Kui Xin was merely one among them. Once he reached Jingchu, someone would provide him protection; it might not necessarily be the black snake but possibly another individual.
“It appears Depriver No. 233’s territory is also in Jingchu,” He Kangshi cautiously remarked. “Could there be danger there? This player did kill Fang Zhi after all.”
“Currently, Depriver No. 233 is no longer a threat,” Kui Xin stated ambiguously.
He Kangshi stared at the phone screen, envisioning a grand drama unfolding in his mind.
Has the black snake taken control of Depriver No. 233?! There was no death notice for this player on the forum, so he definitely hasn’t died. Then why is the black snake so certain that Depriver No. 233 is no longer a threat? Taking an even wilder guess, could it be that Depriver No. 233 has been recruited as the black snake’s underling? Or perhaps the black snake knows Depriver No. 233’s real-world identity?
His thoughts raced for quite some time, yet he never considered the possibility that both “233”s were actually the same individual, as their styles differed greatly.
“Okay.” With difficulty, He Kangshi typed out this word and then asked, “How should I get to Jingchu? By purchasing a high-speed train ticket?”
“I’ll notify you once my arrangements are made,” Kui Xin replied.
She added, “There’s no need to be overly anxious. Most awakened beings’ abilities aren’t strong enough to rival conventional weaponry, let alone with such a limited number of players currently present.”
“You’re right.” Under her reassurance, He Kangshi felt less tense.
“Now, I need you to tell me about your situation in the Second World,” Kui Xin said. “But let me make it clear beforehand—in the Second World, I cannot provide the same level of protection as in the First World.”
He Kangshi understood. This influential figure possessed much knowledge, but the risks involved in obtaining information must inevitably be proportional. The black snake’s circumstances in the Second World likely weren’t favorable.
Every player’s situation in the Second World was dire, precisely why they needed to unite—both within each world and across them. The stronger ones would support the weaker, sharing intelligence unknown to others. Only by connecting everyone together was there a chance of overcoming this great calamity.
“My luck was both good and bad; I became an undocumented person upon entering the Second World, and as soon as I crossed over, my face was disfigured.” He Kangshi earnestly recounted his experiences. “Remember on the forum, there was a player who worked for the Federal Government? They mentioned that if you cross over to the Second World as an undocumented individual, the chances of being exposed actually decrease significantly. My status as an undocumented person made my initial situation quite challenging; I nearly got beaten to death on the streets. However, it also shielded my player identity from exposure. As for the disfigurement, it happened when some thugs assaulting me poured sulfuric acid on me.”
Kui Xin responded with mixed emotions: “It’s fortunate within misfortune, I suppose.”
“Indeed. In any case, I barely managed to cling to life. The future will be tough, but it’s not entirely without hope,” He Kangshi said. “I’ve had more interactions with the underground world. Initially, in the Second World War, my role was that of a novice bounty hunter. I used all the money saved from previous missions to treat my injuries, leaving me now destitute. I didn’t want to resort to killing for commissions, so I’ve been just scraping by.”
“How did the other player, who arrived at the same location as you, meet their demise?” Kui Xin asked.
“He worked as a waiter at a nightclub and was accidentally shot by some intoxicated patrons,” He Kangshi explained.
“How unfortunate,” Kui Xin said sympathetically.
He Kangshi didn’t elaborate further.
One never knows whether tomorrow or an unexpected event will come first, especially for residents at the bottom of society in the Second World.
Upon returning to the First World, He Kangshi transferred 100,000 yuan to the family of that player, claiming they were friends and he had borrowed money from him before, now repaying it.
“Tell me about the underground world,” Kui Xin requested.
“The rules of the underground world are simple: having money is all you need. With money, you can access medical services from black-market clinics without your information being disclosed. Money also allows you to purchase mechanical prosthetics; no matter how advanced, there’s always a way to obtain them,” He Kangshi said. “If you have enough money, they can even arrange a fake residency for you, help change your appearance, and give you a new identity. There, you can buy intelligence, drugs, human trafficking victims, firearms, ammunition… virtually any unimaginably filthy goods are available.”
Kui Xin appreciated straightforward and uncomplicated systems where payment is directly exchanged for goods, requiring minimal mental effort.
Dealing with the Investigation Department and Mechanical Dawn had truly drained her energy.
Once she breaks away from Mechanical Dawn and the Investigation Department in the future, perhaps considering becoming a bounty hunter in the underground world might be an option. If she wanted to shed her identity completely, she could also leverage the resources of the underground world.
However, these were just preliminary ideas; whether they can be realistically implemented would require careful assessment by Kui Xin.
“What city are you currently in?” Kui Xin asked.
“White Whale City, near the Polar Regions. It’s even colder than my hometown in the northeast.”
Kui Xin was momentarily speechless.
This guy truly had terrible luck. White Whale City housed a branch of the Mechanical Dawn; Night Cicada once had a business trip there; and Leini’er was captured in that very city.
Kui Xin cautioned him, “Be cautious; this city isn’t particularly safe.”
He Kangshi’s heart skipped a beat.
He was well aware that White Whale City wasn’t a peaceful place, but for a prominent figure like the black snake boss to specifically warn him about being careful, sounded deeply ominous.
“Do I need to do something specific?” He Kangshi typed fearfully, “Should I move again, even within the Second World?”
“You need to minimize your presence and avoid standing out. I can’t provide you with good relocation advice; you have no money or registered citizenship, so for now, you’ll have to hide within White Whale City,” Kui Xin said. “I cannot disclose too much about White Whale City’s affairs to you. Just continue being a novice bounty hunter—it’s safest to know as little as possible. Additionally, give me your contact information for the Second World.”
“I have a personal communicator; the number is…” He rattled off a string of digits.
Kui Xin memorized the communicator number and replied, “If necessary, I will contact you through this number.”
“Alright, understood,” He Kangshi said.
“What is your forum nickname?” Kui Xin continued with her next question.
He Kangshi hesitated, taking quite some time before sending his embarrassing anime-inspired handle—”Mai-chan Is Me”—in sheer mortification.
To his dismay, he saw the big black snake respond with three periods.
“It’s the name of the female protagonist from an anime I like,” He Kangshi struggled to explain, flustered. “At that moment, on impulse, I just went with it—how could I know this game would be like this?”
The black snake messaged back, “I understand. Same here.”
He Kangshi responded, “Even someone like you, a big shot, has these concerns? There’s absolutely no need; nowadays, ‘233’ already represents coolness in the forums!”
Black Snake responded, “Let’s get back to the main topic.”
He Kangshi straightened up.
“What is your player number?”
“Proxy 6811.”
“Hm, if you die in the Second World, I’ll see the news through the forum.”
He Kangshi had to ask a very practical question, “But what if something happens to you?”
Black Snake replied, “If within twelve hours after my return, you can’t contact me, it would mean I’m dead. However, the likelihood of that happening is quite low. Have you taken care of your family arrangements?”
“Yes, I provided them with some money and arranged for them to travel abroad; they won’t be back for at least half a year.” He Kangshi had meticulously planned his affairs: “I’ve also written my will.”
“That should suffice. Alright, we’ve covered everything needed,” Kui Xin concluded. “These past few days must have been exhausting. Rest well, and just wait for my notification regarding the transfer.”
He Kangshi agreed, “Alright.”
“This time, during the migration, there might be someone keeping an eye on you, so don’t panic,” Kui Xin said. “You’re likely the first player worldwide to expose your real-world identity, making it inevitable that someone would target you. However, they may not necessarily take action. Once you reach the area under my protection, you’ll be safe.”
“Alright,” He Kangshi replied.
He Kangshi put down his phone and stared blankly at the ceiling, suddenly feeling much calmer within himself.
Is this what it’s like to rely on a powerful ally for protection? Although he hadn’t yet reached the scope of Black Snake safeguarding, his inner turmoil miraculously subsided. If the Black Snake dared to promise his protection, their combat capabilities must be quite formidable, possibly even very strong.
On the other side, Kui Xin opened her phone, booked a ticket, and meticulously erased any traces of her travel plans. She prepared to personally oversee He Kangshi’s relocation to his city.
In truth, He Kangshi was a delectable bait.
Whether individuals harbored goodwill or ill intent towards him, they would all keep a watchful eye on him. For those with good will, there wouldn’t be significant issues. But if someone had malicious intentions, they might take action when faced with He Kangshi’s transfer.
Kui Xin prepared herself for potential confrontations.
The best outcome would be a safe and uneventful relocation. However, should any incidents occur, it would conveniently spare her the effort of identifying those with nefarious motives.
If trouble comes knocking, why not seize the opportunity?
Just as Kui Xin was preparing for potential conflict, He Kangshi suddenly contacted her again: “Help me, oh mighty one! Another hacker just reached out to me, saying I should join them.”
Kui Xin paused… Could this style suggest it’s possibly Yu Qiwen’s group?