Chapter 2409: Chapter 2409: They Can Be Considered Good People
"No one is in charge?" Xu Huo asked, "I think Chunyi City’s atmosphere isn’t bad."
Before he entered the Fish Banquet, the commercial street was still holding a celebration.
"Can it be managed?" Wu Xing said, "First, most of those taken are ordinary people, and it’s hard to even find out how they disappeared, so it’s impossible to dig deeper. Second, the background of the Fish Banquet is complex. Even the government would hesitate to get involved."
She said somewhat awkwardly, "They were beaten before and are too scared now."
A single war can render a district lifeless for decades. If the people behind the Fish Banquet focus on District 001, it could spell disaster for the district. For those with connections and resources, destroying a district might not be that hard; it depends on whether it’s worth it or if they’re in the mood.
The cheapest way to occupy a district is at the start of its evolution. Although there are entry restrictions, these are mostly for ordinary players. It’s not easy for them to get a cross-space teleportation prop to enter a non-fully integrated district. One way to get such a device is as a game reward, like the "doorbell" Xu Huo obtained. Another way is to buy from elsewhere, but not every spatial teleportation device or instrument provides such strong targeting; it’s rare to find one that lets you directly enter an unintegrated district upon activation. Most require precise positioning when crossing districts or wormhole points, and that’s a high threshold to meet.
If you miss this timing, as the number of players in the new district increases and their levels improve, occupying the district becomes less viable, because conflicts will inevitably arise, and the more players escape, the more trouble there will be later.
Of course, Rank-A Wormhole Points with absolute advantages can afford not to be picky about timing, but the evolution of a district’s resources is also related to the evolution time and overall strength. For example, instances and props that rely on civilization and population will lose value if the district’s population experiences mass death or if players are no longer present, eventually disappearing altogether.
For forces at the level of Rank-A Wormhole Points, forcibly controlling a district or a wormhole point is somewhat of a waste of effort; they can just let the district evolve freely. The ensuing wormhole points and districts become fodder for the game and possibly for them as well.
There must have been enough reasons for the near-disastrous war in District 001, whether for the defenders or the invaders.
District 001 still hasn’t recovered, suggesting heavy player casualties and a decline in the quality of subsequent players. It’s in an awkward stage; in other words, it’s like a bone with little meat, tough to chew, but it can be gnawed off.
This forces the district government to consider various factors. The Fish Banquet is a sensitive location. For the Rank-C Wormhole Point, it’s likely already known that there are backdoors in the game. The farming zones in this game world are always shifting. If someone designates District 001 as a farming zone, then this district might really have no future.
"Let’s not talk about this anymore." Wu Xing brushed off the disappointment and helplessness on his face and talked about those ordinary people who had been rescued, "Like me, players here are vulnerable; staying here won’t end well for them, and moving recklessly to other districts isn’t easy. They can only rely on those with connections."
Xu Huo was slightly surprised, "There are people specifically sending people out of District 001?"
"It’s not specifically about sending people." Wu Xing hesitated and said, "You could say they’re kind people."
Soon, Xu Huo met these so-called kind people she spoke of.
In a low building on the edge of the city, dozens of people had already gathered, waiting silently and devoutly in front of a mottled black door.
Above the door hung withered flower wreaths, grass-woven animals, and some rather interesting nutshells or stones, clearly crafted by different hands. In the middle of these items stood a silver vase, polished bright, engraved with intricate text and patterns, suggesting additional meanings, though its mouth faced a drain pipe, continuously catching dripping water.
"They are believers," Wu Xing whispered, "but the ones living inside are doctors."
Before she could explain the combination, the black door opened, and a white-haired old man in a brown robe came out, smiling as he accepted food and small gifts from the "believers" and then invited them inside to rest.
Inside was a very small hall, which appeared to have been a religious gathering place from the decor, although some symbolic items had been taken down, either piled in corners or dismantled to make tables, chairs, or mats. Up front was a platform where the white-haired old man sat. Once inside, people began forming a line voluntarily.
Xu Huo found a place to sit and watched the old man treat patients.
The treatments included regular consultations, simple examinations, prescribing medication, and psychological counseling. Some had physical ailments, some mental illnesses, and some were merely believers seeking to express their reverence and fervor for the old man.
For those needing medical treatment, the old man responded normally. For the believers needing to vent their feelings, he mainly listened, occasionally adding, "I haven’t established a sect, and I don’t intend to establish one. I have no religious belief, nor do I want to believe in the god you created."
This is probably what Wu Xing referred to as kind people.
But the old man wasn’t the only one working here. Four others were responsible for cleaning, dispensing medicine, and cooking, with one player specifically handing out medicine to patients.
It wasn’t long before it was Xu Huo’s turn. Wu Xing sat across from the white-haired old man, "I heard you can save people. I want to ask you to help some pitiable folks leave."
The white-haired old man laughed at these words, "Young one, I have no religion, nor do I have such great belief power—you’ve come to the wrong place."
"No," Wu Xing said in a low voice, "I know who you really are... I had a conflict with your people before, but since then we’ve kept out of each other’s way. This time, I’m here to save people, not to deceive."
The white-haired old man shook his head, "If you’re not sick, you should leave now."
Wu Xing held the prop in her grip, pondering whether to release it directly, but Xu Huo stopped her, "Let’s wait until the old gentleman finishes his work."
Wu Xing was a bit anxious and wanted to say more, but the next patient had already arrived, forcing her to stand and quickly leave the hall.
Once outside, she said, "In hindsight, I should have let you guys come. I hold a grudge with them; seeing me, they likely won’t help."
"How could that be," Xu Huo replied, "Didn’t you just say they’re kind people? They have a grudge against you, not others."
