All the bodies were washed and prepared for burial, then loaded onto the refrigerated truck and secured.

Only then did the gray-robed person come over to ask if anything was abnormal. The black-cloaked man who answered mentioned the shorted electric light, but the gray-robed person didn’t care, “After today, this place won’t be used anymore. Has the headcount been taken?”

“Twenty people in total,” the black-cloaked man replied. “They’ll leave in three trucks.”

The gray-robed person nodded, “The Special Defense Department has been watching closely lately. Be careful when you go out.”

Some of the black-cloaked men took off their outer robes and masks, dressed as ordinary transport workers, and drove the trucks out of the warehouse.

After the trucks left, the remaining men also departed. Zhou Ning, who had been hiding among the piles of supplies, came to the door and only returned to the depths after hearing no movement outside. She used an item to open a door in the wall.

Before anyone could get out, a shadow suddenly fell over them. She instantly recoiled, and her hair—turning into black snakes—struck forward!

Xu Huo grabbed the hair-snakes, twisted them together with a reverse grip, and then headed into the warehouse.

The moment Zhou Ning saw him clearly, she relaxed and hurriedly said, “Lichun was taken away!”

“She’ll be fine.” Xu Huo took the Painting Woman’s phone from her and played the video she’d shot.

“It looks like they’re sending the bodies to different places,” Zhou Ning said. “This batch are the Number Four players from before. Of the twenty-some, more than half are Double Snake members. How are things on your side?”

“About the same, and some people are missing.” After watching the video, Xu Huo looked up. “They’ve got many hideouts. With so many Double Snake players, there won’t be just one base. Do you remember which truck Lichun got on?”

Zhou Ning immediately understood. “I made a mark on one of the trucks. It should be traceable.”

“I can’t leave for now. If you can, tail the truck and find out where it’s headed. Don’t risk yourself. If things go wrong and I can’t be reached, try to contact the Special Defense Department some other way.” Xu Huo said, “The local Special Defense Department in Water City may have Double Snake infiltration. They’re not to be trusted. Be careful.”

He gave her Team Leader Wu’s number. “This number will definitely connect. Send him the video. You don’t need to say much; once the Special Defense Department sees it, they’ll take it seriously.”

Zhou Ning nodded earnestly, then asked, “Do you have a plan?”

“Apart from the dead bodies, Double Snake intends to take a group of living players.” Xu Huo said. “Sima Xiao Er and Huang Junjie are among them.”

Zhou Ning knew Huang Junjie; the two had met before. “So the First Association is involved too.”

“That’s why it’s suspicious.” Xu Huo pocketed Lichun’s phone. “I’ll head over first.”

Zhou Ning nodded. “I’ll leave after the Double Snake people are gone.”

“Be careful. There might be Random Dungeon entrances nearby.”

Xu Huo added the warning, then left the warehouse and returned to the small building where they were resting. Just as his hand touched the doorknob, he turned to the right and saw someone standing there.

“Can we get out now?” The Buddhist Prayer Beads player’s accent was still strange. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”

“People can look alike. Maybe you’re mistaken.” Xu Huo opened the door and went back to his room, but the man followed a few steps, “What do you think Double Snake’s real goal is? They talk about a future opportunity and claim they’re unrelated to the Special Defense Department, yet they didn’t even know Sima Xiao Er is from the Special Defense Department. Can you contact them? You should prepare for both outcomes.”

Xu Huo gave him a half-smile. “Why don’t you contact the Special Defense Department yourself?”

The Buddhist Prayer Beads player froze, then replied helplessly, “Because I’m a foreigner. Different nationality—during times like this I’m not trusted. I really want to join the Special Defense Department, but they won’t accept me. Do you have any connections?”

Xu Huo was now certain Abel had recognized him. How coincidental—those who had shared the Headhunter Demon dungeon experience had gathered again.

Abel, the Buddhist Prayer Beads player, didn’t get discouraged when Xu Huo ignored him. Instead he said, “If you need anything, just ask.”

“Fine.” Xu Huo shut the door efficiently.

They rested in the room until dawn. Then the black-cloaked men came to call them, saying they had to attend an initiation ceremony and formally join Double Snake before they could be taken along. Otherwise they wouldn’t be allowed to go.

The few players who had rested had nearly all decided to join Double Snake already, so when they heard about a ceremony they didn’t object and obediently followed.

Including Sima Xiao Er, the gray-robed person ordered them to bathe together in a large pool for a purification rite. The ceremony itself wasn’t special—mainly psychological, meant to wash away distracting thoughts so that from then on they would contribute to Zone 014’s future, become pure-hearted people and heroes.

The pool was tested in front of them and confirmed clean.

Of course, whether they went in now or later, they had to go in.

Ten people entered the pool one after another. A gray-robed man recited the oath by the side. By the time he finished, the ten in the pool were already dozing. Then the gray-robed man placed a toy cradle into the water, and the standing people immediately fell backward.

Black-cloaked men waiting nearby caught them and dragged them up. One by one they were carried and placed into glass cabinets. The gray-robed man said, “Split them into two batches. Send five to Yang City’s Huimei Health Club, the other five to the Taole Club.”

Both places were in Yang City. Lying in the glass cabinet, Xu Huo felt the vehicle leave the small town and switch vehicles twice en route. Nearing Yang City, the truck met up with people being delivered from other locations.

“...That Tan fellow really has no shame. Not only did he refuse to join Double Snake, he injured a few of us!”

“...So what? Now they’re all in the Gray Emissary’s hands. Once they reach the club, the chairman will decide if they live or die... I wonder how those two are faring...”

Their conversation trailed off. After two suggestive chuckles, the truck started again.

Xu Huo sat up from the glass cabinet and roused the few people beside him.

At this point his phone could get a signal. He checked the two places the gray-robed person mentioned. Both the health club and the club were upscale venues in Yang City, member-only; only families with some money could join. During this special period many leisure venues had closed, but those two were still operating and holding regular member gatherings.

He switched pages and messaged Zhou Ning. She replied quickly. The truck she had followed had gone to a suburban hotel in Water City, where many players were staying—like they were about to hold some event.

“Any Player-Eaters?” he asked.

“Yes.” Zhou Ning replied succinctly.

By now Xu Huo basically understood what Double Snake was up to behind the scenes. He kicked open the rear door, flipped up onto the roof, took a few strides to the locomotive, and shot the player in the passenger seat. After pulling that person out he jumped back into the vehicle, used a wooden effigy to force-control the driver who tried to fight him, and with a twist of both hands snapped the driver’s neck.