Chapter 2666: Truly, Old Age Has Come
"Is there any matter left for us after your vote?" A middle-aged man stood up from the crowd, projecting his terminal into the air. The screen showed a battle scene among several players, with the focus consistently on the two individuals dealing with the player’s attack, no matter how the angle switched.
The middle-aged man pointed to one of them, Dai He, and said, "These are government people, aren’t they? Didn’t you send them out to get the National Treasure?"
"Rumor has it that they have already obtained the National Treasure."
The players stranded in the Outer Zone no longer cared whether the National Treasure could help Lian Qingkong and the Yu Country Government through the crisis or what kind of forces or players the National Treasure could mobilize; they only cared if the National Treasure had truly been found.
Lian Qingkong withdrew his gaze from the screen, "If the government could find the National Treasure, they wouldn’t have waited until now."
"And what’s the matter with this person?" the middle-aged man continued, "He’s a government player!"
"Watch your attitude." The short-haired female player glared at him coldly.
The players standing beside Lian Qingkong were recognized as elites cultivated by the government. Moreover, the government had already reached agreements with most of the players present. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, it was not up to the stranded players in the Outer Zone to question them.
The middle-aged man smiled, "We just want to get the facts straight. After all, this concerns the lives and deaths of so many people. Although neither of us intends to spend a long time together, at this point, we should certainly choose a solution that’s good for both parties."
"In your opinion, what is a solution that’s good for both parties?" Lian Qingkong gestured for the short-haired woman to step back and patiently inquired.
"It would be good if the National Treasure remains lost," the middle-aged man said, turning to the other local players present. "As long as the National Treasure doesn’t appear, the instance won’t disappear, and Yu Country players won’t have to worry about someone suddenly showing up with the treasure claiming it’s the legitimate one. This benefits everyone."
"That seems to benefit you more," someone sneered, "No matter who finds the National Treasure, it’s still ours, the people of Yu Country!"
The middle-aged man remained unperturbed, "Pardon me for speaking bluntly, Mr. Lian is very capable, but why hasn’t Yu Country stabilized over the past twenty years? Isn’t it because there are always people trying to overthrow the government under various excuses?"
"Will the newly appointed core members of the government repeat the past twenty years after they’re formed?"
Several player organizations present had been prearranged to settle into the government, as the soon-to-be-power holders, they certainly did not want to deal with the same constant player-induced messes as Lian Qingkong.
"What he found might not be the real National Treasure," said an older local female player. "Over the years, there have been many incidents of scrambling and disputes over false information."
"But what if it’s real?" The middle-aged man’s face suddenly darkened, "If you all disregard the safety of us stranded players, don’t blame us for dragging people down with us!"
The stranded players had already shown their props. They were well-prepared and not intending to lengthen the conflict, so they had prepared high-damage explosive devices and equipment, one of which was enough to blow up the entire city center.
The Yu Country players understandably grew tense as well. Most stranded players were at least Rank-B, while Yu Country players were generally weaker, with only a few top players. If a fight truly broke out, they would undoubtedly suffer losses!
"Mr. Lian, what do you say?" The middle-aged man looked at Lian Qingkong.
"Yu Country has come this far, relying solely on the efforts of its people. The existence of the National Treasure cannot change the will of the nation." Lian Qingkong’s eyes, old but sharp, scanned the players surrounding him, nodding as if relieved, before continuing, "The government stopped seeking the National Treasure fifteen years ago, but if outsiders want to look, we are powerless."
"If you believe it’s the real National Treasure, you can kill that player and keep the object he found for yourself. The Yu Country Government will not interfere."
"Not interfere at all?" The middle-aged man sneered, projecting more footage into the air, all battle records from the past few days. Clearly, aside from Xu Huo and four others, many others were involved, and their combat styles were quite similar. Could they truly be stranded players?
"Whether they’re government-hired or the forces behind the National Treasure, you’d better deal with them quickly. Our people are spread throughout the Capital City. If that player named Xu sets foot in Capital City, today’s matter will not end peacefully!"
An uneasy atmosphere settled inside and outside the sanatorium, with everyone’s attention involuntarily focused on Lian Qingkong.
Lian Qingkong wasn’t dead yet, and unless absolutely necessary, other player organizations didn’t want to lead the charge. They also wanted to see if this dying Chief Governor had truly reached the end of his rope.
"In over ten years of governance, no player has dared to threaten me face to face, but over the last few days, I’ve encountered so many at once. Indeed, it’s because I’m getting old." The old man, leaning against the hospital bed, was clearly still very weak, but his aura suddenly changed, and his previously conceding attitude disappeared, replaced by intense killing intent.
As he spoke, several barriers suddenly sealed the sanatorium, not only isolating inside and outside but also rendering props and equipment instantly ineffective. Of the five players who had always stood by Lian Qingkong, four of them now stepped forward, drawing the lethal props they carried and leaping toward the stranded players!
There were quite a few stranded players. Though a considerable number were held off by the four, many could still move towards Lian Qingkong’s side of the sickbed.
The players originally in the sanatorium could not just watch Lian Qingkong die at the hands of stranded players, and some immediately went to intercept, as a chaotic battle was about to erupt. At this moment, however, someone shouted, "Mr. Lian, I will protect you," and charged toward the sickbed!
"Liu Feng, what are you doing!" Nearby local players were startled, but it was too late to turn back and intervene. They could only watch as that person closed in on Lian Qingkong.
No one knew whether Lian Qingkong still had self-preservation abilities, but with the player panels and equipment sealed, no one dared to take the risk. If Lian Qingkong were killed by local players in front of so many witnesses, it would inevitably lead to unimaginable disastrous consequences—a Chief Governor who served the country for twenty years, dying at the hands of his own people while delivering his final words. What authority would a future government hold!
But at that moment, the inconspicuous young man, who had quietly stood behind Lian Qingkong, moved. First, he adjusted his glasses, then brought his hands together and waved them at Liu Feng, instantly slicing the man into several pieces.
As blood and body parts splattered, the young player stepped in front of Lian Qingkong, methodically killing several nearby stranded players. Ignoring the body parts sliding to his feet, he looked at the remaining stranded players who had escaped harm and warned, "Anyone entering within twenty meters of the sickbed will be killed!"