Players, Please Board the Train

Chapter 325: Preparations Before Entering the Dungeon

"Director He, don't be so agitated. The state having public credibility is a good thing," Team Leader Wu said while looking over the list.

Director He smoothed his somewhat greasy hair, his face dark. "What good thing? Have you even thought about how I, as the head of the Finance Department, am supposed to do the accounting? Currently, the quota allocated to each branch by the state is fixed. What do we have to support other players with?"

"Besides, these people are basically just here to freeload;

there won't be any return at all!"

"Players who meet our requirements can apply upwards for additional quotas," Nie Xuan said. "It's not worth delaying the progress of some excellent players over a few vials of evolution agent."

"If they are excellent players, then they should be absorbed into the Special Defense Department. Do they really think they can take the benefits without contributing?" Director He pointed at his own head. "Look at me! Look how much hair I've lost over the institute's messy accounts! If you keep messing around like this, we won't even be able to pay out salaries next month!"

Nie Xuan's expression darkened;

he really didn't want to get into another war of words with him. However, Team Leader Wu chuckled and said, "For the sake of the nation, what's losing a few strands of hair? Shave me bald and I'd be fine with it."

"That's easy for you to say, but you have to understand my difficulties," Director He said. "The quota allocated here is reserved for our own players. The state can't mass-produce and deliver evolution agents in a short time. Giving away one bottle means one less bottle for our players. The Special Defense Department is the cornerstone of the nation's future."

Director He spoke with earnest gravity, but he failed to notice the look Nie Xuan was giving him from the side.

"There are also very capable players who haven't joined the Special Defense Department. Not joining doesn't mean they won't work for Zone 014. Don't just fixate on that little quota. Everything we do is for the future;

otherwise, the authorities in Capital City wouldn't have approved it," Team Leader Wu said seriously.

Director He fell silent for a moment before speaking again. "Fine, whatever. Do as you please. When the institute runs short on supplies later, don't come blaming me."After he finished speaking, he hugged the account book and left. Only after the door closed did Team Leader Wu say, "That old He can only see the little plot of land right in front of him. He can't even distinguish between major and minor matters."

"He's not incapable of distinguishing. He's just like others in the Special Defense Department, intentionally or unintentionally squeezing the living space of civilian players," Nie Xuan replied coldly. "No wonder some players absolutely refuse to join the Special Defense Department. With people like him around, how can the nation have a future?"

Team Leader Wu frowned and looked at him. "What's wrong with you lately? Did your injuries affect your mood? Do you need to go see a psychologist?"

"I'm fine," Nie Xuan said calmly. "How do you plan to handle the people on the list?"

"Persuade them to unite," Team Leader Wu said. "Having too few people really doesn't look good. There needs to be at least a minimum number requirement. We genuinely can't support the evolution of this many players. Diluting resources will only slow down the progress of more players."

Nie Xuan's expression softened slightly. "This situation will improve. D-level players can purchase evolution agents in large quantities through the game backend and dungeon worlds."

Team Leader Wu nodded slightly. "Let's hope the nation's efforts behind the scenes yield results."

*

Finding a house wasn't as easy as imagined. Although Yuan Yao had patted his chest and guaranteed he could buy one, he spent the next few days running around outside, looking for agents and sellers everywhere.

Yan Jiayu saw a post on the Pioneer Forum about a Random Dungeon appearing in a certain city and made plans with Zhou Ning and Hu Wenhu to go find it.

Liu Jia had to return to the Special Defense Department in her own city to continue special training. Shen Xin also planned to join, so the two of them left together.

After the drunken bold talk at the restaurant, it seemed everyone's state had changed somewhat.

Xu Huo remained the same as before. Apart from his daily chats with Brother Tu and using candy to coax the Little Girl from the Amusement Park out to play, he spent most of his time researching items and preparing to enter a dungeon.

D-level players gained a luggage compartment, but the luggage compartment had limited capacity. Things like homemade explosives and firearms couldn't be stored in it. Neither the luggage compartment nor item slots could store highly lethal thermal weapons. So, even if purchased later within a dungeon world, the amount one could carry personally was extremely limited. If they encountered a dungeon with particularly harsh restrictions, they might not even have the qualification to use them.

Therefore, he had to compromise by putting in some raw materials.

But even this triggered a game warning: 【This item is highly dangerous and cannot be retrieved upon entering a dungeon.】

This wasn't hard to understand. He hadn't been to high-level dungeons, but low-level ones might be confined to a small area like a single house. If explosives could be freely concocted, one wouldn't need to do anything after entering, just blow up the venue directly.

He also tried gasoline, diesel, and alcohol. These couldn't be stored, but cooking oil, small strings of firecrackers, and alcohol with a not-too-high concentration could be placed inside.

However, the luggage compartment space was limited, mostly used for storing food and water. Other things could only be placed sparingly.

"Are you going to a dungeon?" Painting Woman asked hesitantly.

"You've been circling me for days just to ask this?" Xu Huo raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you want to go too?"

Painting Woman quickly shook her head. "It's more fun here."

"Then stay here," Xu Huo said with a slight smile. "You're not my item. You decide what you want to do."

Painting Woman's smile blossomed like a flower, her eyes curving into slits. She then raised her phone. "Then can you tell me your bank card PIN?"

"Don't push your luck," Xu Huo said, withdrawing his smile.

The long pants on Painting Woman's body instantly transformed into a tight mini-skirt. She squatted down beside the sofa, half-leaning against it, and looked up at him with pleading eyes.

Xu Huo glanced at her arms, which were constantly squeezing together towards the middle. "You're just a piece of paper."

After saying that, he didn't even spare her another glance.

After batting her eyelashes for a while without getting a response, Painting Woman's expression flipped in an instant. Pouting angrily, she typed: "I'm going on strike! I won't sweep or wipe tables for you, and I won't wash your clothes either!"

"Knowing how to negotiate terms shows you've made progress," Xu Huo said, patting the top of her head. "I'll tell Yuan Yao later that he's not allowed to give you pocket money."

Painting Woman instantly abandoned all backbone, covering her face with one hand. "I'll be diligent."

Only then did Xu Huo take out a bank card and hand it to her. "I might be gone for a long time this trip. Don't spend it too quickly. Change your clothes."

Painting Woman happily took it, bouncing a couple of times without a care in the world, then changed back into her previous set of home clothes before gleefully picking up the broom.

After preparing everything he needed, Xu Huo informed Yuan Yao, then took out the train ticket for Garden Castle Station and entered the game.

He had obtained this Garden Castle Station ticket right after getting off the Preliminary Trial Train. The dungeon difficulty should be simpler compared to the D-level tickets he got later, so he chose this one first to get accustomed to D-level dungeons.

His vision flashed, and he entered the station.

A heavy smell of blood assaulted his nostrils. In a corner, two emaciated individuals were gnawing on an equally gaunt corpse.