Chapter 1626: Chapter 1626: Unstable Elements
The situation was not complicated; the reason was that the station master at the main station had used connections during the construction of the tracks. After the tracks were built, it didn’t take long for problems to arise. The station master was afraid to publicly disclose the reason, and since there weren’t many scheduled services on this route, he temporarily closed the tracks and announced internally that it was normal reinforcement, and arranged for a group of people to repair it.
But in fact, the section of the track passing through the tunnel had not only issues with the road but also problems with the tunnel itself. The workers responsible for clearing and repairing reported this matter, but after the station master arranged for a “professional” to inspect it, he switched to another group.
This group belonged to a small company, lacked experience, and failed to notice the issues inside the tunnel, resulting in three people being killed on the spot—the six people lying on the tracks were relatives of these three.
However, this matter was cleverly covered up, and the deaths of these three people were eventually categorized as “accidentally deceased”. Allegedly, a relevant institution provided proof stating that they drowned; they simply hit the river bed’s stone, which led to their bones fracturing and bodies deforming.
Later, an earthquake caused the ground to crack, conveniently resolving the station master’s worries.
Ignoring how illogical the whole thing was, this was the reason for the six people lying on the tracks.
They knew their relatives had an accident in the tunnel but couldn’t prove it. Reporting to the police led to no results, and repeated attempts to reach the responsible officials resulted in their detention for a few days for “harassment”.
The public voice seemed silent; no one was willing to help them, and after going many times, they were driven away violently.
With no way to appeal, these two families decided to lie on the tracks together and die on this newly opened route.
After obtaining this information, everything ended again.
Xu Huo sensed that after understanding the course of events, attempting to return the main station tickets would definitely restart, so he still boarded the train according to his original plan and promised to help them seek justice after the train made a thrilling stop.
This time, no one committed suicide, but those thugs emerged again. They now seemed to have a new identity, which was to keep close watch on the two families as a criminal force.
The final outcome was the same as before.
This was just an attempt. Subsequently, Xu Huo tackled it from different angles, trying to interfere with the result, but all efforts failed without exception. Moreover, due to broadening the story interface, he inadvertently attracted some more complex uncontrollable factors.
On the morning of the fifth day, he woke up again.
This time after waking up, he wasn’t in a good mood. His dream state was distinctly different from others because of the super evolution; he didn’t have many aftereffects upon waking, which made him start to doubt whether staying awake could truly meet Dr. Wu, and this dream seemed to imply endless expansion, with unstable factors increasing.
Putting away the phone booth, he glanced at the obviously more agitated crowd; fewer people remained.
The Buzz Cut players went missing, and another person from Zone 013 slept to death; the ship nightmare, Planting Trees, and Repeat Past three players appeared fatigued more obviously than others.
It was the fifth day, and starting today, players didn’t need to sleep anymore.
“Several people have left secretly.” Chi Xian whispered, “The city is not small, and we don’t have many people left without new players coming in. We can find a place to hide.”
His intention was also to remind Xu Huo that venue props couldn’t guarantee absolute safety; falling asleep among a group of players, even Rank-A Player would feel as if sitting on pins and needles.
“At least stay a week.” Xu Huo agreed with his statement, the longer the time dragged on, the greater the chance of players uniting. Whether they have special items is hard to say, even if they don’t, dozens of players might be able to buy a good item.
“Time waits for no one.” Chi Xian had no intention of staying further, packed up his mushroom house and laughed, “See you later if fate allows.”
Accompanying him were the beautiful female players and seven black-faced players who needed to borrow Chi Xian’s venue prop.
Xu Huo moved to rest by the People of Zone 013.
If the direction was correct, the next one most likely to disappear would be among the three encountering strange dreams.
Unlike the Cannibal Player eager to show off his history, the man who has been chased by the ship’s killer stared blankly, compared to his physical condition, his mental state was worse.
“Are you alright?” Tong Qi asked as he tapped him. The man strained to turn his eyeball to glance at him, saying nothing.
“Don’t be so pessimistic, you might see the ‘Midsummer Night’s Galaxy’.” Tong Qi consoled him, sat beside him, and without any protection removed his mask to eat.
Having endured five days, some players already laid flat, judged that city fungi weren’t threatening their lives, and simply took off their protective suits.
“You should breathe a little too.” Tong Qi said to the tightly wrapped Xu Huo.
Xu Huo waved his hand, paused, and asked, “What method can change something that has already happened?”
Tong Qi looked at him in shock, “You really dare to think; even if it’s something that will happen in the future, it might not necessarily be changed. How can something that has already happened be altered?”
Xu Huo pondered, “Changing the past is also changing the future.”
The train incident seemed to want to change something that had already happened, but it actually returned to the time the accident was to happen and hoped to change that future event. However, time travel is a paradox; any change made by those on the event trajectory shouldn’t be valid, unless this is a completely new parallel world. If parallel worlds truly exist, they still wouldn’t achieve the “changing the facts” purpose.
As someone who shouldn’t have appeared in the train incident at all, he was a complete outsider—could guiding external forces to break through be what Dr. Wu wanted?
The train of thought stuck at this point, as Xu Huo’s knowledge and cognitive level were insufficient to support him thinking of viable ways to break through.
The man from Zone 013 beside him fell asleep again.
Xu Huo took out a rope and tied his hand to his.
Seeing him do this, the people nearby didn’t speak but followed suit.
Tong Qi also hurriedly wiped the grease off his hands, took out a rope, and tied his foot to the Zone 013 man’s, then smiled at Xu Huo, “You don’t mind, right?”
Xu Huo didn’t say anything, as he couldn’t guarantee the missing person could bring others in, nor could he guarantee another space was very safe.
For the entire day that followed, he didn’t sleep. As it was nearing nightfall, the twenty-plus players still staying in the mall exchanged states one after another. Since everyone began to feel fatigue, the scene was even more silent, until late at night when the Cannibal Player suddenly erupted into violence, breaking this atmosphere.
The man who was boasting during the day stared at the surrounding people with wide-open eyes, swung a short knife and shouted, “Nobody gets close, or I’ll kill you!”