Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!

Xu Huo didn’t mention the Cultural Street instance, only saying he wanted to discuss some book-related matters with Jing Shi, and it would be more convenient to stay here.

The You sisters didn’t ask more questions and moved into the guest room as arranged by the butler.

Perhaps because the previous topic was unpleasant, Jing Shi didn’t leave the study the entire afternoon. As night fell, she suddenly hurried downstairs, telling the butler to prepare a car as she had to go to the Enforcement Department.

"What happened?" Xu Huo asked with concern.

Jing Shi replied uneasily, "Xiao Chuan is missing, and the two players following him can’t find him. It’s already been reported to the Enforcement Department."

Xu Huo suggested going with her to see if there was any help he could offer.

Jing Shi agreed without much thought and nodded. Besides them, the butler also called two Rank-B players. After the flying vehicle entered the crowded urban area, they realized many parts of the city had problems. Although Cultural Street almost had night tour activities every night, most city residents still followed an early to bed, early to rise schedule, avoiding outdoor activities after dark. But something unknown was happening, with crowds suddenly gathering in some streets or residential areas.

"It should be the Cultural Street instance," You Zhi had already learned some details from friends, "the Cultural Street instance venue at least covers this city. More than ten places have people wearing ghost headgear killing indiscriminately. Those controlled murderers are all ordinary people. It seems putting on the headgear causes them to lose their minds, and it’s hard to wake them."

"The local government’s official announcement is also out," You Xin said, "this instance not only involves ordinary people, but in some places, there are also dungeon restricted areas."

"Dungeon restricted areas?" Xu Huo asked, "Is this a special term from District 001?"

"Something like that," You Xin replied, "In some space-type instances, unique locations appear; these are generally points where the instance has strong control, and certain conditions must be met to exit."

"Different districts have different terms for these places; our district calls them dungeon restricted areas. Even players who have cleared the instance should avoid them."

"The local government has published the missing persons count. It’s not many, but they’re likely in the restricted areas..."

She paused here because Jing Shi’s grandson also suddenly disappeared.

"Dungeon restricted areas," in Xu Huo’s view, should be named "Folded Space" or "Overlapping Space." After upgrading, The Seventeenth Hospital’s venue had spatial cracks pulling people in, alongside an overlapped space in the hospital which didn’t interfere with the original. However, The Seventeenth Hospital is a spiritual dungeon; overlapping people in the same space without interference through Psychic Power is achievable, and the new upgrade likely brings folded space due to dual effects of statues and venue props. In a spiritual dungeon like this, such folded space increases difficulty, but the situation with the Cultural Street instance’s overlapping space remains uncertain.

The player piloting the flying vehicle circled around a brightly lit building ahead. "The government has issued an emergency notice: Yangming Building is confirmed as a dungeon restricted area."

Jing Shi’s face immediately changed, "Xiao Chuan went to Yangming Building!"

"The instance has just begun; it should still be manageable. We’ll confirm rescue plans after consulting the Enforcement Department," the player ahead said.

Xu Huo looked down at the street, where people continuously emerged from Yangming Building, and the streets were crowded. Many couldn’t wait to leave through the teleport station. Those with props used them, while others simply piloted flying vehicles out of the city overhead—these were the ones who reacted swiftly. While District 001’s economy is decent, it’s not yet to the point where everyone owns a flying vehicle. The city’s automatic flying vehicles have been requisitioned by the government to start evacuating people from different parts of the city.

"The situation has escalated to needing citizen evacuation," You Zhi said grimly. "Wasn’t Cultural Street a fixed instance? How has it spread throughout the city?"

At this point, everyone’s communicators beeped; it was a notification from the local government via the Collection of Information Terminal. Thirty-three hours earlier, "Night Tour," which had been designated a Rank-B fixed instance, suddenly upgraded five hours ago and is now officially classified as Rank-A.

Apart from the level, players from the local government have already entered the new Rank-A instance with tickets, and the instance’s background and completion requirements have been made public, as well as an open call for clearing suggestions.

Advanced instances, especially those Rank-B and above, can span several cities or even a district. Therefore, many advanced instance venues in the same district overlap, allowing different instance players to interact within the same venue without interference. Such instances also typically don’t involve ordinary people.

However, instances with "dungeon restricted areas" are different, effectively also functioning like random instances, where in specific places, ordinary or non-dungeon players may get involved. Besides the "dungeon restricted area" range, random instances might still appear elsewhere. Now, with citizens evacuating, avoiding random city instances entirely is unlikely. Over time, numerous ordinary citizens might find themselves in random instances.

Protecting Jing Shi, the player suggested sending her away first, but Jing Shi insisted on going to the Enforcement Department, even proposing the accompanying players leave first. "You all know the difficulty of a Rank-A instance. This might cover more than one city. As players, it’s easy for you to get out of harm’s way without taking unnecessary risks. This isn’t your duty. Once I reach the Enforcement Department, the Law Enforcement Team will arrange for Xiao Chuan’s rescue. The higher government should also assign Rank-A players for support."

With a suddenly upgraded Rank-A instance showing overlapping space, the district government will undoubtedly take it seriously. At this time, it’s crucial to have experienced advanced players handle the rescue and clearance, minimizing losses.

However, the two players with Jing Shi refused and insisted on accompanying her.

Xu Huo already released the You sisters from their contract, advising them to first move to a safer place.

The You sisters, one Rank-C and one Rank-B, had long purchased clearance guides to make a living, only going to safer instances. Such a sudden Rank-A instance was too daunting for them.

"I’m really sorry, Mr. Xu." You Xin apologetically refunded the money, then she and You Zhi used a teleportation prop to leave the car.

Jing Shi initially wanted to persuade Xu Huo to leave, but he declined, "Perhaps there’s something I can help with. Evacuating an entire city might leave the Enforcement Department shorthanded."