Player Reload
Chapter 423 - 391: Forbidden Zone

Chapter 423: Chapter 391: Forbidden Zone

"Are you the ’White Horse Tombstone’? It’s an honor to meet you today, such a blessing in life."

"Not at all, the honor is mine to meet you. Shall we add each other as friends?"

Nearly a thousand players from different guilds gathered on the barren ground, the exaggerated commercial flattery even drowned out the roaring operation sounds of the heavy machinery nearby.

At the center of the open ground stood a teleportation gate, five meters wide and ten meters high.

Inside the gate, purple light flickered, with rippling waves slowly rotating around the center, drawing gazes like an abyss, filling one with both curiosity and dread.

"It’s busier than a market here, huh."

Gray Rain, holding a camera, hopped around excitedly. Ever since she got the floating engine, which allowed her to go out freely, she loved joining crowds, especially at marketplaces.

Once, she squatted at the market entrance with steaming buns for half a day, puzzled, asking the management, "Isn’t there a public execution to watch today? Or a beheading would do."

She almost scared the managers into calling the police.

"Don’t wander too far."

Li Cheng helplessly reminded, looking around until he found the World Nuclear House’s camp where Zhangsun Yao was.

"You’re here."

Zhangsun Yao and the guild members were busy adjusting the combat vehicle and reconnaissance drone. Seeing Li Cheng arrive, she tossed him a package.

The package contained a silver-colored windbreaker, accompanied by gloves and shoe covers. The collar had a hood that could zip up to cover the face.

Tie Gu, who previously came to the Star-casting Anvil for treatment, said, "This is an anti-load suit. The location behind that teleportation gate is random; sometimes it sends people into a wall. Wearing this suit can effectively prevent dying on the spot from getting your body filled with concrete."

"Alright."

Li Cheng took the anti-load suit, slightly curious, "Why do I see people from major guilds on-site?"

A look around revealed many familiar faces, like Fuding Hualong and Red Driver.

They stood with their companions, nodding to Li Cheng from afar as a form of greeting.

"They’re here for collaborative development."

Zhangsun Yao explained that above nations, there are no nations. Due to the lack of higher-level regulatory power, the international society is practically in an anarchic state, resolving global issues through international mechanisms, conflicts, and wars.

The killing field is similar. Every player is a Transcendent who violates laws through combat; the field itself does not take administrative responsibility, making magic contracts popular among players. They rely on the power of contracts to bind each other.

According to contract terms, the individual and guild discovering the teleportation gate first receive 10% of total earnings each, while the remaining 80% is divided by contribution.

Since the teleportation gate closes after 24 hours, missing the chance means never finding the post-gate location again.

With unanimous agreement from the guild alliance, they took 20% of future total earnings to hire Lone Wolf players, Mercenaries, and players under Level 30 from major guilds.

All participants signed contracts to prevent incidents like murdering for treasure or intentional harassment of teammates.

(The contract was jointly drafted by the most professional prosecutors, lawyers, judges, and underwriting specialists in the real world, with terms as vast as the sea)

"Originally, we were supposed to pay 30% to hire major guild members,"

Zhangsun Yao paused, "but unexpectedly, they voluntarily lowered their price and only took 20%."

"Oh."

Li Cheng immediately understood the situation. The major guilds above are all aware of the truth of the slum explosion case.

Previously, conflicts among guilds were considered internal to Earth, while otherworldly civilizations are external enemies.

Facing external foes, major guilds naturally set disputes aside, uniting powers they can unite. They also became friendlier to small and medium guilds.

"Mister Pifu knows any insider information?"

A round-faced youth with a green gourd at his waist, named Today I Didn’t Take Medicine, raised an eyebrow. Good at reading between the lines, he detected oddity merely from Li Cheng’s tone, "Could you share anything?"

Li Cheng shrugged, "Those who know, know. If you don’t, I can explain but you still won’t get it, so don’t ask. There’s too much at stake. It doesn’t benefit you to know; I can only say the situation is deep. Online material has been deleted, hence those who know, know, and those who don’t, don’t."

Members of World Nuclear House, including Zhangsun Yao, couldn’t help but roll their eyes.

As soon as he spoke, they realized he was an old riddler.

"Mm...do you not need any preparation?"

A youth swordsman named You Anjian, cosplaying as A Bing and wearing sunglasses, scratched his head. Nearly a thousand players were gearing up for battle at the scene.

Some were injecting their magical pets with slow-acting stimulants;

Some were building altars around tanks, devoutly praying to the machine spirit for protection;

Others were sitting cross-legged, lightly stroking swords laid across their knees, immersed in the realm of Sword and Man Unity;

Li Cheng, clad in casual attire and flip-flops, with Gray Rain sporting colorful sunglasses, holding an SLR camera snapping photos everywhere, appeared utterly relaxed.

"Preparation?"

Most of Li Cheng’s combat power was centered on the Magic Cannon Master profession, Assembly Puppet, and the insect form of the Liangyi Blade. There really wasn’t much for him to prepare.

However, since You Anjian mentioned it, Li Cheng pulled a stack of Suicide Notebook paper from his Backpack, yelled into the crowd, "Anyone want prophecy death paper, fifty Game Coins a piece? Accurately predicts future death methods; not buying is a loss, buying is a bargain, make way for me."

’Are you hawking beer, drinks, mineral water, peanuts, and eight-treasure porridge here?’

You Anjian’s face twitched. Yet despite this critical moment of exploring a forbidden zone, any item that could increase survival odds was invaluable, so many indeed purchased the Suicide Notebook paper.

’Is this even possible?’

You Anjian watched Li Cheng counting money, dumbfounded, wiping his sunglasses, ’Extracting every chance to make a profit.

He rose from a mere Lone Wolf player to owning a shop in a slum. Meanwhile, I’m still working for others. Is this truly the difference?!’

Setting aside You Anjian’s existential crisis, as players gradually arrived,.

the technical crew from Whale Song Guild set up a radio base station outside, providing remote communication technical support;

Gys Biotechnology’s medical team, all dressed in lab coats, stood by the tent. Inside were sterile surgery rooms and various medical equipment. As long as someone didn’t die on the spot, they could be saved;

Holy Temple Knights and priests, high monks, and Daoists from various religions held a water and land ceremony on site, buffing players, slightly increasing natural recovery speed of spiritual power;

With initial preparations concluded, the forbidden zone exploration officially began. Nearly a thousand players readied themselves, donned anti-load suits, and entered the teleportation gate in single file.