I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 56: Malice in the Sewers

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Malice in the Sewers

Gu Shanhai didn’t pay too much attention to He Lingyun, whom he had met once. At present, He Lingyun was nothing more than a youngster just stepping into society.

Whether He Lingyun had awakened abilities or not was a separate matter. There was no need for early contact since Gu Shanhai wasn’t likely to visit the Holy Federation World a second time.

Once his abilities were in hand, the second and third higher-order worlds should also be unlocked.

The opening speed of the higher-order worlds was terrifyingly fast, initially starting with just the Holy Federation and then it doubled and doubled again, splitting incessantly.

Of course, each change happened over some interval of time.

So Gu Shanhai was not going to focus on the Holy Federation alone; for him, the only point of interest was his ability.

As for the belief that his abilities couldn’t advance if he left the Holy Federation? That was not possible. Although his ability seemed similar to those in the Holy Federation, there was a significant difference; his was not a native ability but one he had modified into something new.

Even without going through "The First Epoch," he could use it in the modern city he had lived in before.

It was just that the original world lacked the raw materials and ability radiation. If integrated, the era of abilities could emerge in his former modern world too.

As the sky grew dark and he glanced at the time, Gu Shanhai put the book back on the shelf, realizing it was almost closing time for the library.

Waiting to be reminded to leave wasn’t ideal, so he took his leave first.

After leaving the library, his next step was naturally to return to his rented room. Honestly, living in a modern city without an ID was not easy.

With surveillance devices everywhere, the actions of the players were crystal clear. Recently, the Holy Federation seemed to have recruited a large number of players and established a special department.

They discovered that players could be quite extreme. Some endured hardship and were willing to do anything, while others took advantage of their ability to revive, committing heinous acts.

Naturally, a recent dramatic drop in the player count gave the Holy Federation a sense of crisis.

They had figured out some details about the players, like the hardworking ones had tasks, while those who misbehaved did so just for kicks.

The situation with players was labeled by the Holy Federation as high-dimensional interference, and a lot of experimentation followed.

Mainly, the ability of players to resurrect was highly coveted by the upper echelons of the Holy Federation – who wouldn’t want an immortal life.

Unfortunately, they failed to uncover any clues to this ability, even resorting to imprisonment, but the players could still forcibly exit this world.

To this behavior, the players simply stopped coming, and they exposed what was happening on forums, leading to a less-than-stellar reputation for the Holy Federation among them.

Some experiments caused players to permanently lose attributes or gain a passive skill full of negative effects, perpetuating a state of detriment that not even death could erase. It was no wonder the players could hardly accept this.

They were there to play the game, not be played by it. With so many instances available, they didn’t lack worlds without a Transcendent system.

This was also why the number of players plummeted.

The Holy Federation then became more restrained, which led to the recruitment and construction of a special department. It seemed they planned to figure out the secret to the player’s immortality while using them to clear various threats and perform dirty work.

Gu Shanhai didn’t give it much thought. The players had their benefits, gaining tasks and resources, and the chance to earn experience by killing monsters. Why not?

As for those who couldn’t accept these affairs, they could just leave, or even wreak havoc on the Holy Federation if they felt like it. Being capricious was part of being a player, after all.

However, most people actually detested players – probably a result of the Holy Federation’s deliberate influence. They wanted to prevent the players, a unique group, from gaining too much clout among the public which could potentially lead to an overthrow of the Holy Federation, something they had considered.

But they failed to take into account that if players really wanted to do that, it would come from major guilds or professional clubs. These entities didn’t need public support, and while the Holy Federation knew about players, they underestimated just how bold they could be.

On his way back, Gu Shanhai sensed a malicious gaze that had briefly passed over him.

With his current level of perception, there was no chance of a delusion. If it were a delusion, it would further prove someone was plotting against him – otherwise, how could he be mistaken?

However, the malice wasn’t directed solely at him; it targeted everyone.

’A sewer?’ Gu Shanhai quickly identified the problem—the source of the malice had come from beneath a manhole cover.

He wondered if it could be a homeless person.

Otherwise, why would someone hide in the sewer? If it were a maintenance worker, it would be even less plausible because such tasks were not done alone, and the manhole cover hadn’t even been opened.

He took a glance but didn’t concern himself too much. Non-specific malice implied antisocial behavior, so as long as he kept his distance, he wasn’t interested in intervening.

Open the cover to check? He wasn’t foolish. It was better to avoid trouble when possible, and there was no reason to draw unnecessary attention.

’Could it be an awakening of abilities?’ As he continued his journey, Gu Shanhai pondered this possibility.

It could be someone with a tragic past experiencing an unexpected awakening, preparing to let the world feel their pain – the perfect protagonist template. If it weren’t for He Lingyun, he would be a likely candidate.

’Luckily, my rented place is quite far from here, so the chances of being affected are low.’ Gu Shanhai wasn’t too worried. If it did affect him... well, he’d just have to cut it down and use it as fertilizer.

As a temporary worker player, he was least afraid of being blamed.

’Still, I can’t be careless, to avoid capsizing in a gutter. Should I move?’

’That wouldn’t be good. Moving would mean being farther from the library and wasting more time every day. It’s a trivial issue that doesn’t need running away from, especially not when I haven’t crossed the Holy Federation.’

It would be prudent to leave, but then again, why should he run? Fleeing at the slightest hint of trouble didn’t fit his style. After all, it was better to encounter the problem and know for sure he couldn’t handle it before retreating. Otherwise, he might as well never leave his home, given the risks even stepping outside can bring.