Serial Player
Chapter 453 - 129: Emoticons

Chapter 453: Chapter 129: Emoticons

"Major fires have broken out at the World Trade Center and Carmen Heavy Industries, causing extensive glass panel breakage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation. As the clean-up is still ongoing, nearby residents are advised to be cautious. The incidents are suspected to be cases of arson, and whether the two are linked is also under investigation. Vehicles are advised to divert to avoid blocking emergency routes," an emergency news broadcast blared from a portable radio.

Meanwhile, a low-frequency electrical hum was detected. Unless one paid close attention, it would be mistaken as a poor signal static.

This was a secret signal used by the magical organization to covertly notify other wizards through the news.

This was also one of the primary methods the organization uses to contact other wizards.

This technique was even more effective than magic. With its high level of secrecy, wizards could receive information unknown to outsiders while watching the news.

Luca fiddled with the radio for a bit and said, "The organization has already covered up this incident. If you had left a bit later, they might have discovered you. While there is a rule against intervening in the Seven Kings War, you never know if someone might have other plans. For instance, during the tenth iteration, a Contractor used his position as the head of the organization to command several powerful wizards, nearly killing an opposing heroic spirit."

"I’ve looked over your ancestral records, I’m aware of that," Li Changhe replied.

Although they are referred to as heroic spirits, in the eyes of the wizards, they’re just particularly powerful familiars and can be challenged.

During the recent battle, Li Changhe had noted vehicles racing towards them in the distance, and figures moving quickly on rooftops.

Judging by their speed, they were not slower than him when he was using [Breath of Thunder].

This showed that the wizards of this world weren’t like those in RPG games - hiding behind allies while exerting their long-range abilities.

With the long-term development of their Extraordinary system, they had evolved to be very comprehensive.

Anyone who thought they could counter them by simply sticking close is probably set for a miserable defeat.

In previous Seven Kings War, [Players] had already tested their combat prowess.

Remembering the [Players] who had nearly been killed by characters in the story, Li Changhe carefully avoided their detection.

He slipped into an alleyway, shed his leather armour, and used [Shadow Step] to avoid the gaze of security cameras.

"Did they find any bodies?"

"The report says they found dozens of bodies controlled by unknown technology. All of them have been captured. So far, no heroic spirit bodies have been detected." Luca looked a bit lost. He could still clearly visualize the horrifying scene of the Corpse Puppets climbing the building. It was a scene straight out of Hell. The worldview and values of wizards like him were not that different from ordinary people.

The use of such forbidden techniques had given him a big shock.

"While you were with the organization, did you hear anything about missing people recently?" asked Li Changhe, remembering the Corpse Puppets he had seen earlier. Even Norton, insane as he was, wouldn’t dare to kidnap live people at the risk of being discovered by the story forces.

"There were cases a long time ago where people from villages and towns near the city disappeared. The organization suspected that some wizard was causing it and launched an investigation. But because the disappearances were spread out over a wide area, the organization wasn’t able to gather any useful information."

"You’re speculating about the source of those bodies?" Yun Ting asked from his mind. "Even if his Contractor, a wizard, is ruthless, a large-scale disappearance of people would inevitably attract the attention of the organization. His Contractor probably wouldn’t agree."

To get the materials for wielding title abilities, killing living people just wouldn’t be possible in a world governed by laws or even an orderly real world.

In the former case, official forces wouldn’t let him get away with it. In the latter case, the forces of the plot wouldn’t be idle either.

Li Changhe pondered: if the other party’s ability could be used on corpses, then there were only a few ways to quickly get corpses.

If the number of missing people was only a few, and there were hundreds of Corpse Puppets, there must be another source apart from the ’materials’ he had stored in his [Backpack].

Graveyards? Hospital morgues? If any of these places were targeted, traces should have been found. As long as they found him, his level of danger would greatly decrease.

However, there was not enough time.

In about twenty hours, it would be time for the Gunner to enter this world. That would also be the most intense moment of the fight.

The ’King’... or the person behind the scenes, would definitely not allow the [Players] to investigate any more clues.

From the fact that the Cavalry was suddenly summoned back to Carmen Heavy Industries, it was clear that they had discovered Li Changhe’s alliance with him.

"It’s normal, after all, the Contractors are chosen by him." Yun Ting speculated, "Choosing those wizards who were deeply attached to the position of the King, was enough to bring the Seven Kings War to a climax."

"So, in this task, the cooperation between [Players] can’t be relied upon. The will of the Contractor is of utmost importance." Thinking of this, Li Changhe glanced at Luca by his side.

If his acting skills were good enough to deceive Li Changhe’s Cold Reading Skill.

In a certain situation, he might suddenly play the Mark of the King, forcing Li Changhe to fight his allies.

Or even worse, completely ignore the victory of the Seven Kings War, and straight up order: "Commit suicide, Archer!"

Although Li Changhe wasn’t a Gunner, he felt rather uneasy.

"However, considering the [Evolution Game] never assigns missions where death is certain, the possibility of Luca being compromised is small. Or perhaps... the other party also has certain restrictions when choosing Contractors. After all, if he could control the Contractors, it would be like controlling the life and death of the [Players]. That would be a certain death." After analyzing for a while, Li Changhe decided, "Nevermind, let’s find Swordsman first and discuss."

In this situation, consulting with a [Player] is the best option. The situation with the Cavalry is still unknown, so there’s no need to go there yet.

On the Swordsman’s side, Li Changhe had saved her once before, so even if she doesn’t agree to an alliance, she shouldn’t attack him in her wounded state, right?

If she does, there’s nothing he could do but capitalize on her vulnerability.

After winding through numerous alleyways with Luca, they finally spotted them deep in one, next to a pile of debris.

Earlier, Li Changhe had used Black Hawk as a guide to lead them to a less frequented street quite far from the World Trade Center. This area had incomplete surveillance systems and was a dark corner of the city where crimes frequently took place.

Leaving a Lv.9 [Player] there would neither put her in danger nor draw attention.

So when Li Changhe and Luca turned into the alley, they saw a petite girl sitting on top of a pile of junk, sounding dismayed.

"Women, they only slow down my sword strikes." If "out of control" was added, it would make a great meme.

Her Contractor was hugging a piece of cake, eating it ferociously while nodding along.

Li Changhe fell silent for a moment, wondering if he should go find the one who took an arrow to his knee instead.