Chapter 103 The Living Dead - Busy City

Faced with the choice, Bai Xiao did not hesitate to select 'Yes'.

[Welcome to Hunting Ground No. 83. Player qualification authenticating... Game ID 526, qualification confirmed. Game is loading. Please prepare yourself, player. Countdown: Ten seconds, 9, 8, 7... 3, 2, 1.]

Ding—

[Welcome players to the Global Game. The theme for this round is 'Living Dead'.]

[Game Mission: Reach the transfer point within five days.]

[Game Hint: Players who fail to reach the transfer point within the allotted time will lose the opportunity to leave.]

As the game announcement faded, everyone's vision gradually blurred. After a brief moment of dizziness, they were deployed to various corners of an unfamiliar city.

"How can you come to work dressed like that? Do you not want this job anymore?!"

When Bai Xiao's consciousness and vision refocused, she was immediately interrogated by a male voice before she could even take in her surroundings.

A man wearing a suit uniform was standing in front of her, pointing at her nose and scolding her.

Behind him was a large television wall covered in LCD TVs of various sizes, broadcasting the midday news.

"The new weight-loss drug developed by Anhe Company has achieved a breakthrough success in human clinical trials. To ensure an early market release, recruitment for the final batch of human clinical trial volunteers has begun.

This project will provide volunteers with generous compensation and comprehensive health security. We sincerely invite citizens troubled by weight loss to participate in this significant medical exploration."

"The second phase of the Chuanhai International Airport project has successfully passed its completion inspection and is officially in use as of today. The opening of the new terminal and runways will significantly enhance passenger and cargo capacity, injecting powerful momentum into Chuanhai City's transportation infrastructure..."

"Breaking News: A major multi-vehicle pile-up occurred on South Tongnan Road in the city center. It is reported that the accident was caused by an ambulance running a red light..."

"The world's largest cruise ship, the Heye, will soon set sail on its maiden voyage from Chuanhai Bay. It is understood that the theme of this voyage is a World Culture Tour. The ship is expected to carry over ten thousand tourists to various parts of the world for an in-depth cultural experience..."

Seeing that Bai Xiao not only failed to respond or admit her mistake but instead kept looking around and even watched the news on TV, the man felt his dignity as a leader was being severely challenged.

"You're still in the mood to watch the news? I think you're looking to pack your bags and leave!"

This was clearly a shopping mall. Her current identity was likely a sales assistant in the home appliance section, and the man before her was undoubtedly her superior.

In an unfamiliar city and an unfamiliar location with everything unclear, Bai Xiao did not act rashly: "I'm sorry, Manager."

"Look at what you're wearing! An outdoor jacket and cargo pants? What kind of work is this for? You might as well go mountain climbing. Honestly!"

The man raged repeatedly like someone going through menopause, venting his temper for several rounds before finally calming down. He then said with an air of magnanimity, "If it weren't for the recent labor shortage that forced us to hire this batch of temporary workers, plus the mall's events these past few days, I would have fired you long ago. What are you standing there for? Hurry back and change into your uniform!"

Bai Xiao nodded in agreement. She hadn't decided whether to stay or leave yet, and now she had a legitimate chance to go out and observe before making a judgment, so why would she refuse?

The home appliance section was on the Third Floor of the mall. She took the escalator downstairs.

In this game, her identity was a college student working a part-time summer job, living in a collective dormitory a few kilometers away from the mall.

"Wife? Who is your wife? I don't know you at all, don't touch me!"

On the First Floor, a woman suddenly screamed loudly. She pushed the man beside her with force, as if he were someone terrifying.

The man was dumbfounded. He didn't understand why his wife, who had been shopping normally just a moment ago, would suddenly explode and say such hurtful things.

"Wife, what nonsense are you talking about? Why are you acting so crazy all of a sudden?"

The woman couldn't hear what he was saying at all, trapped in her own emotions: "Where is this? Why am I suddenly here? I really don't know you... no, I seem to know you, but, but, what on earth is going on? Help me call the police, I want to call the police."

The woman spoke incoherently and then sat on the floor, wailing.

Similar situations were playing out in several parts of the mall. Bai Xiao knew this was what happened to people entering the game for the first time.

First-timers either quickly accepted reality and calmed down or caused a scene until they were forced to accept it. In any case, they couldn't leave the current environment except through death.

She had no interest in explaining the game to newcomers. She didn't stop for a single step as she passed by, heading straight for the mall's main entrance.

Outside, the streets were bustling with traffic—a scene of a prosperous city center.

To get back to the dormitory, she needed to take the No. 16 Bus. This was what her memory told her.

"Where is this? Am I dreaming? Has our city returned to normal? No, wait, why haven't I seen these buildings before?"

A passing man muttered to himself, his brow furrowed, unable to make sense of the current situation.

Bai Xiao glanced at him; another player entering the game for the first time.

She thought to herself that the map for this game seemed larger, and the number of players was quite high. She had already encountered five or six in just this short time.

The bus stop was very close to the mall, just a few steps away. Bai Xiao sat quietly on a bench at the station and waited.

While waiting, a problem suddenly occurred to her—she had no money.

Thinking of this, Bai Xiao instinctively felt the pockets of her clothes. She discovered a wallet in her jacket pocket. It wasn't large and didn't weigh much, so she hadn't noticed it when she first entered the game.

Items from the real world could not be brought into the game. This small wallet, like in previous games, was issued by the system.

There was roughly five hundred yuan in the wallet. The currency still looked like something she had never seen before; she could only confirm the denominations by the numbers on them.

Now the problem of taking the bus was solved.

It was currently the morning rush hour. The mall was in the city center, and the surrounding roads were completely gridlocked. The sounds of honking and voices rose and fell in succession.

Bai Xiao hadn't seen such an everyday city scene in a long time, and it felt somewhat like a lifetime ago.

She wasn't the only one thinking this; every player who entered the game had a moment where they forgot the game, staring blankly at the magnificent city scenery before them with nostalgia.

Beep—

A loud, piercing blast of a car horn sounded, followed by the even more urgent wailing of an ambulance.

Bai Xiao looked up toward the source of the sound in the distance. Early in the morning, several ambulances were actually stuck in the traffic flow on the opposite side. To save every second for the people inside, the ambulances emitted high-pitched sirens repeatedly.

However, the road was too congested. Even if the surrounding vehicles wanted to give way, there was no space to move their cars.

Just then, the No. 16 Bus drove around the corner, blocking the view of the ambulances on the other side of the road.

When she had boarded and sat down, she happened to look back and saw the rear door of an ambulance swing wide open. A doctor in blood-stained white clothes tumbled out of the vehicle.