This Game Is Too Real
Chapter 223: Raid! Mobilize!

Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Raid! Mobilize!

"It’s too peaceful here."

North of Changjiu Farm.

On the dark and silent abandoned town,

the man, exhaling white mist, carrying a rifle, glanced out the window, dangerous light flickering in his squinted eyes.

A lantern was placed beside his boots, and a black hyena crouched at his feet, making a purring sound.

The man’s name was Gray Wolf.

Though his name contained the word ’wolf,’ it had no relation to one of the three major clans of the Chewing Bone Tribe, the "Wolf" clan—he was merely a centurion under Lord Lion Tooth.

Unlike other native centurions, before joining the Chewing Bone Tribe, he was just a wandering mercenary, who had fought for armies and beaten up old bosses for the people of the Grand Canyon, depending on who paid him.

Later, when the Chewing Bone Tribe recruited troops far and wide, various Looter powers joined them, and he took the opportunity to bring his brothers in as well.

It proved to be an exceedingly correct decision.

Life as a Looter was much better than as a mercenary.

Here, the law of the jungle reigned supreme—the strong were revered, and fists and bullets were the law. As long as one was strong enough, they could earn respect, and as long as one was ruthless enough, they could become the leader of a group.

Following the banner of Lord Lion Tooth, from the central part of River Valley Province all the way to the south, in his tent, heads big and small totaled in the hundreds. His reputation had grown from a mere centurion to a centurion in charge of a hundred.

However, as a foreigner, being a centurion was basically the limit he could achieve through his personal capabilities.

Even though the Looters’ sense of lineage was weak and their organization and discipline entirely depended on violence and plunder, entering their core power circle wasn’t something just anyone could do.

He had to prove his bravery.

With a resounding victory, he would demonstrate his value.

And now, the opportunity had finally come.

About a month ago, the Black Snake Tribe stationed in the east refused to join them, seemingly intent on monopolizing the prey in the northern suburbs of Qingquan city.

Lord Lion Tooth was furious, but a heavy snowstorm had blocked the roads, and despite his reluctance, he couldn’t possibly send his troops out into the snow.

However, a turning point had recently emerged.

The month-long blizzard had finally begun to subside.

Seizing the opportunity, Gray Wolf immediately volunteered to lead the vanguard, to attack Changjiu Farm in the northern suburbs of Qingquan city and clear the obstacles for the main force.

After consulting with his strategists, Lord Lion Tooth immediately agreed to his request.

Far Creek Town was too distant from the northern suburbs of Qingquan City.

If they could take over Changjiu Farm, their main force could take advantage of winter’s end and push at least twenty kilometers further south, completely distancing themselves from the Black Snake Tribe in the southern suburbs of Tianshui City.

Lord Lion Tooth highly commended his bravery and, to enhance the impact of this battle, even gave him an additional fifty foreign Looters and weapons, instructing him to definitely remove this thorn in the northern suburbs of Qingquan City.

After incorporating these fifty foreign Looters under his command, Gray Wolf immediately gathered over one hundred and fifty tribespeople, took ten days’ supply and ammunition, and set out for the northern suburbs of Qingquan city.

Marching in blizzard weather was a bold decision, but the extremely low visibility also provided cover.

Gray Wolf was not a reckless person.

Although unclear about the opponent’s strength, the fact that they had held back their allied troops and forced the Black Snake’s forces to halt in the southern suburbs of Tianshui City meant these people were not as easy to deal with as anticipated.

Taking advantage of the last blizzard in December, he and his tribe arrived at an abandoned town ten kilometers north of Changjiu Farm and hid there.

He didn’t immediately launch an attack, but first sent out scouts to observe and allowed the others to rest in the houses to gather their strength until nighttime.

The snow outside the window had paused slightly.

As he noticed a figure gradually approaching, Gray Wolf gently kicked the sleeping hyena beside him.

"Get up."

"It’s time to work."

The hyena made a purring sound and lifted its head, seeing its master picking up the lantern and getting up from the chair to head towards the door; it also tiptoed its paws and followed.

In the living room on the first floor, with a wall half collapsed, a man wrapped in white cloth shook off the snow on his body at the entrance and walked up to Gray Wolf, respectfully bowing his head.

"Boss."

Gray Wolf sat on the sofa and looked at him.

"Tell me what you saw."

The scout respectfully said,

"The east gate is in ruins, the Refugee Camp that should’ve been there was completely destroyed by the blizzard, it’s just trash everywhere. It seems the survivors are also having a tough time; this blizzard has hit them hard."

Gray Wolf continued to ask,

"Where did the people go?"

The scout shook his head.

"I’m not sure, but they’re definitely not inside the wall, I observed for a whole day, they made food twice, and the smoke that rose was enough for maybe seventy or eighty people."

The survivor base at Changjiu Farm had a high wall with no significant vantage points around, just a few gentle slopes—it was very difficult to see clearly what was inside from the outside.

Gray Wolf’s eyebrows raised slightly.

Seventy or eighty people?

"Are you sure?"

The scout nodded confidently.

"I’m sure!"

Gray Wolf’s brow gradually furrowed.

A survivor base of only seventy or eighty people.

To be honest, this number seemed a bit off.

He didn’t believe that those survivors couldn’t see the strategic value of this fortress in the wilderness, which had effectively become the gateway to the northern suburbs of Qingquan city.

As long as they took that place, it would be the equivalent of knocking on all the doors of the survivors in the "North Suburb."

Or did they naively think,

With the cover of heavy snow, they could rest easy?

However, the opponent’s naivety was a good thing for him.

A smile curled up at the corners of Gray Wolf’s mouth, much like the hyena crouched at his feet.

"Go back and keep watching."

"We’ll be there shortly."

The scout perked up, excitedly saying,

"Yes!"

The night deepened.

Small flakes of snow began to drift from the sky.

On the enclosing wall of Changjiu Farm,

Lu Bei, wearing a black coat, looked towards the north tightening the strap of his rifle slightly and moved his numb feet a bit to get the frozen blood circulating.

Today was the last day of the Wasteland Era Year 211.

Ten kilometers away, the Outpost Base seemed to be celebrating the arrival of the New Year, but it had nothing to do with those on duty here.

The threat from the north was approaching.

And this was the front line.

Those standing here couldn’t relax for a moment.

Carrying a lamp, an older guard walked to the enclosing wall and patted Lu Bei on the shoulder with a smile,

"Young man, are you alright? If not, let me take over for a while. It’s about time for a shift change anyway."

Lu Bei glanced at his VM and stubbornly shook his head.

"Ten more minutes."

"Ah, seems I came a bit early," the old man laughed and set the lamp on the parapet, "I’ll keep you company for a bit."

This senior guard, named Ji Xiang, was the oldest in the entire guard unit, reportedly turning forty next year.

People affectionately called him "old man," although he always argued that forty wasn’t old. But with his arthritis worsening, he had started to feel the merciless march of time.

Lu Bei had heard his story; he was once a city dweller in Giant Stone City, later became a mercenary, and somehow ended up captured by the Blood Hand Clan, thrown into their dungeon.

There was a scar on his chest that he claimed was left by a Dead Claw, but no one believed it, thinking that he exaggerated.

How could someone who escaped from the jaws of a Dead Claw get captured by a mere Looter of the Blood Hand Clan?

Whenever this was brought up, the old man would become agitated, arguing about how perilous it had been and how he had been captured while covering for his comrades’ retreat.

And at this point, someone would inevitably deflate his story by asking,

"What about your teammates? Blood Hand has been cold for a while; someone should have come to take you back by now."

At the mention, the old man would fall silent, muttering that he quite liked it here, that even if his comrades did come, he had no plans of going back with them; better that they didn’t show up.

It was a well-trod tale among the guards.

Although everyone doubted his encounter with Dead Claw (except for the one kept by the Manager), Lu Bei believed him.

After all, that scar didn’t look like it was made by a knife.

Just then, excited shouting came from the direction of the stairs, and a young man dashed up.

"The vehicles are coming from the south."

"The Manager is sending us food!"

His name was Xu Xun, a year older than Lu Bei, also a young man who had just come of age, and they were close friends.

"What food?" asked Lu Bei excitedly.

It wasn’t that he was a foodie, but the food made by those "Blue Jackets" was just too delicious. His mind immediately filled with images of skewers, heaps of steamed buns, dumplings, noodles, and more.

Xu Xun bubbled with enthusiasm, "Dough drops! And meat! I tasted it; it’s a bit spicy, but it warms you up."

Saliva uncooperatively edged towards his lips, and Lu Bei swallowed.

Seeing the young man’s eager face, Ji Xiang smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Go on, it’s time for the shift change."

"Yes!" Lu Bei nodded excitedly, "I’ll bring some up for you later!"

The old man waved him off.

"No hurry, I’ll go drink it once I finish my shift."

The two young men went down the city wall, and Ji Xiang sighed with a smile about the joys of youth, gazing out at the vast expanse of white snow outside the wall.

The snow was really heavy this year.

Maybe next year would be a bountiful one.

He was planning to save up to buy some land, try growing something, take another wife, and settle down here when he retired from service.

As for going back to Giant Stone City, he had no such plans.

Life here was just as good, and it was only here that he truly felt a dignity he had never known before.

The Manager had said they would never have to kneel to anyone ever again.

No one could strip away their freedom anymore.

The howling north wind was chilling, and the sporadic snowflakes halted momentarily; behind the dispersing clouds, the bright moonlight appeared, and small animals sneaking out to forage quickly retreated back to their dens.

Ji Xiang exhaled a white breath, suddenly feeling cold, so he reached for the oil lamp on the parapet to warm his hands.

The result was unexpected as his hand shook and knocked the oil lamp down.

The lamp fell into the snow; it didn’t break, but the flame extinguished.

Ji Xiang cursed under his breath about his rotten luck and planned to pick it up after the guard change.

However, at that moment, his expression froze; he quickly grabbed the binoculars and glanced in the northern direction.

Through the moonlit snow, several figures were accelerating towards them under the cover of darkness.

A pair of fierce eyes shot towards him like arrows.

The overwhelming killing intent—

was exactly like that of the Blood Hand Clan!

Ji Xiang’s complexion changed drastically, he didn’t say a second word, immediately grabbed the whistle hanging around his neck, stuffed it in his mouth, blew with all his might, and fired a shot outside.

"Enemy attack!"

...

"Hmm hmm..."

"The iron hammer of order sounds the war drums."

"The faith of steel emerges from the soil."

"White bear knights charge out."

"Capturing evil and barbarism."

...

The truck’s engine roared loudly.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Tail, with his arm on the window, hummed a song from who knows where while enjoying the cool breeze outside.

Sisi glanced at him while holding the steering wheel.

"When you don’t know, just ask, is this a nursery rhyme?"

Tail protested,

"What nursery rhyme! This is BGM!"

Really envy this guy’s boundless energy, not even a bit tired.

Is it almost time for the Awakening?

Sisi sighed.

"Mmm, indeed."

Inside the truck’s cabin.

Two pairs of eyes, big and small, stared at each other.

Finally, the Rat-man couldn’t hold on any longer, cleared his throat, and said,

"You staring at me like this is a bit unsettling."

Holding his knees, the bewildered Sesame Paste picked up his fallen warm hat again, quickly reaching to grab it.

"Eh? No, I’m just curious... What’s it like being a rat?"

How many people had asked him this question already?

Difficult for the strong sighed helplessly and said,

"Well, saying hello to friends is a bit of a hassle, have to lift my head really high. But it’s quite convenient shuttling through ruins, and accidentally diving into a rat nest doesn’t get you beat up, you just have to get out."

"Also unlike other Variants, my fingers aren’t uncoordinated. I can use tools without any obstacles. There’s no slow experience gain debuff either. Overall, it’s a sequence with unlimited potential."

Sesame Paste nodded, half understanding.

This was entirely a discussion from the perspective of strength...

"I thought being a Variant would be distressing."

The big rat on its back looked at her strangely.

"Why would it be distressing?"

"Because... it’s not good-looking?"

...

MMP!

Wasn’t distressed before, now seriously distressed!

Difficult for the strong couldn’t help but curse inwardly.

All furry things; where exactly are rats worse than cats?

Human nonsense!

Die! Die!

...

The truck arrived.

Two guards in the cabin jumped out first, calling the camp members to come and pick up deliveries.

Having more experience than the refugees, the guards had seen lizards and bears, so a one-meter-tall rat didn’t surprise them too much; they didn’t take much notice.

Difficult for the strong stretched lazily, just about to slip off the truck for a stroll, when suddenly a piercing whistle came from ahead.

Immediately after, the sound of gunfire and explosions erupted, startling the Sesame Paste who was about to jump down; the hat he had not worn for long fell off again.

"What, what’s happening?!"

"Not sure..."

Big Rat swallowed his saliva.

Gunshots resounded loudly from the north, like firecrackers, intermittently accompanied by the flash of explosions.

The camp was in chaos. The two guards who went down earlier were nowhere to be found and had probably run to reinforce the north gate.

Standing beside the truck, Si Si looked towards the north wind and furrowed her brows.

"Gunshots, at least fifty... no, maybe a hundred?"

Maybe even more?

Si Si couldn’t differentiate the guards’ gunfire from the attackers’ gunfire.

Big Rat said nervously,

"Your margin of error is too big!"

"After all, the gunshots in this game aren’t as regular as in ’chicken-eating’... Tail, what do you think?"

While speaking, Si Si turned to the side.

Yet she saw Tail had already taken out his Sickle Assault Rifle, with eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Si Si! Charge!"

That look was easy to understand at a glance.

Si Si blinked slightly, then a smile appeared on her face, and she energetically gave a thumbs up.

"Oh!"

"Looks like Ah Wei’s chance to show off has come!"

This time the score cannot be at the bottom again!

Seeing the two running towards the north, what was left, a cat and a rat, were dumbfounded.

"What, what should we do now?"

Sesame Paste looked helplessly towards the side at Old Rat, but he, too, was clueless and didn’t know what to do.

He had been to the battlefield once before.

But that was just tagging along behind Mosquito, and all he heard was the noise.

"In any case, I’ll go help first."

Damn!

Wasn’t this supposed to be an errand mission?

The mission briefing didn’t say anything about fighting!

Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have even brought a weapon?

After dropping that line, Difficult for the Strong gritted his teeth and charged following Tail and Si Si, leaving Sesame Paste alone beside the truck.

"Eh! Wait, don’t go yet..."

But it was already too late.

As she shouted, that big rat had already run off without a trace.

Sesame Paste had a wry smile on her face, anxiously looking around, not knowing what to do.

Just then, her eyes suddenly lit up, her gaze landing on a building inside the farm, closest to the southern gate.

That was a save point!

She, who frequently ran delivery missions, remembered that there were a hundred Sleep Cabins there where players who were too lazy to go back to the Outpost Base would log off!

"In any case... first, find a way to notify the others."

No sooner thought than done.

Sesame Paste immediately ran over, rushed into the door, and found an open Sleep Cabin to lie down in.

As the cabin door closed and the connection cut off,

She logged off at the speed of light, immediately removed her helmet, opened her laptop, logged onto the official forum, and quickly posted a message.

"Big trouble! Changjiu Farm has erupted in battle."

Not even a few seconds after the post was made, it immediately grabbed everyone’s attention.

"Started fighting??"

"What the hell, what’s happening?"

"Weren’t you guys holding a celebration?"

"Damn! Dog Planner taking advantage of me not being online again!"

Almost simultaneously with the post, an announcement suddenly popped up on the official site.

[Worldwide Announcement: Looters from the north have attacked Changjiu Farm, triggering an emergency mission.]

[Dawn: A group of bloodthirsty bandits took advantage of our New Year celebration to launch a despicable surprise attack! We will make them understand that this was a foolish idea!]

[Defeat Condition: Respawn point destroyed. (All characters at Changjiu Farm will enter a respawn CD state)]

[Victory Condition: Repel the invaders!]

The moment the announcement came out, the forum exploded.

"Damn?!"

"A surprise attack?!"

"No way, can you be killed while logged off?!"

"Did Dog Planner finally decide to stop being human?"

"Brothers, log in! Let’s grab our weapons and fight these bastards!"

"Want to raid my God Equip? I’ll fight you all!"

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