You were told to search and attack, but you're supporting Asara?

Overnight, the ratio of real currency to HAF coins surged to 1:30. The sudden increase caused the news to spread like wildfire. The next day, at Dam Zero, there were more GTI agents sneaking around behind bunkers, following the Asara Guard soldiers.

"Come out!" a guard shouted at the three heads peeking out from behind the house. The three heads were startled and disappeared in a flash.

The three of them finally stopped, panting heavily, after exhausting themselves: "I can't take it anymore. Carrying thousands of dollars of HAF coins on me is too much pressure."

"Yeah, that's real money!" the three players complained. One of them rolled his eyes and said, "Why don't you give me the Haff coins you're carrying, and then you go try it out? Don't worry, I'll definitely pay you back when we get out."

"Why aren't you going!"

"Do I give you the money just because I know you?"

"Then I know you?"

The group was arguing amongst themselves as they lay on the grass, when they heard several rhythmic gunshots coming from not far away.

"Bang, bang, bang bang bang."

The three listened intently for a while: "I'm going to hear someone giving a signal!"

"Let's go take a look."

······

"Boss, can we trust that kid?" Karim scratched his head. "If we keep firing like this, will someone from the GTI really come out?"

"Stop talking nonsense, keep fighting!" Said, wearing a crimson mask, spoke impatiently, and the PKM in his hand fired its signature shot.

"Bang, bang, bang bang bang."

Immediately afterwards, the sound of bison echoed from behind the wall not far away:

"Bang, bang, bang bang bang."

Three heads wearing berets peeked out furtively, their faces meeting Saeed's red mask, whose expression was obscured.

"Holy crap, this is terrible! They're using a secret signal!"

"There's a mole, there definitely is a mole, there are bad people among the crowd!!"

"Get out of here!!"

The group turned to run, but when they looked back, they saw a large rotary machine gun and a dark rocket launcher pointed at them.

One of them was about to fight Hakim and Farid to the death when he turned around and saw that his two teammates had already thrown their headgear, armor, guns, chest armor, and backpacks all over the ground, lying on the ground with their eyes darting around as they stared at the guards who were hesitant to fire.

"Brother, I know the rules, just spare my life!"

Said looked at the two men lying on the ground with disgust, unable to connect them with the fearless warriors Chen Xiao had described.

"Put your gear on, follow me, and don't try anything funny!"

The group looked at each other, and under Karim's urging, they slowly put on their gear and headed south under Said's escort.

"Isn't this the road to the visitor center?" A few young players whispered nervously. "Could this prison be set up by players? I remember there was an event called something like 'Crimson Owl Hunt'?"

Before they could finish speaking, they saw another group of players with their hands raised coming out from the direction of the substation, being escorted by several Asara Guard soldiers with guns.

The group instantly felt better, and looking at Said beside them, they even felt a little smug.

When the two groups arrived at the visitor center, it was noisy inside. Asara people and scattered players formed a circle as onlookers, and the sound of heavy objects falling to the ground could be heard repeatedly.

Sayid grabbed Chen Xiao, who was hiding in the crowd watching the commotion, and asked, "What happened?"

"See for yourself." Chen Xiao stared intently at the arena, clicking his tongue in amazement: "I think your Crimson Owl Guards are mediocre at best; they can't even beat the extras on GTI's side."

"Bullshit!" Said frowned and looked into the arena, where a young man with an Asian face was hunched over, panting heavily, his face covered in bruises.

Another familiar figure was lying on the ground, his face bruised and swollen, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth, and half a tooth lying forlornly on the ground.

"Hassan?" Said said, exasperated. "Who told you to fight here?!"

Saeed's somber voice startled Ismail Hassan.

"Boss..." Hassan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and shrank back, "This kid's too much of a show-off..."

"I started it, so what?" The Asian-looking, crew-cut youth retorted, "Didn't we agree to cooperate? Why did you disarm me? Am I supposed to be playing a game and get this bullshit?"

"A game?" Said glanced at Chen Xiao, who remained calm and didn't seem inclined to speak, then waved to Hassan: "Go practice some more!"

Hassan dejectedly pushed his way through the crowd and left. Another bespectacled, well-mannered young man came out, grabbed the arm of the crew-cut man, and smiled at Said: "Sorry, my brother's head got a bit fuzzy from being hit by an old lady at the space center."

"Who is the old lady?" Said glanced at Chen Xiao cryptically.

Chen Xiao shrugged: "Demoulins, I guess."

"This GTI kid survived Demulan's clutches?" Said was clearly taken aback, gave the two of them a deep look, and said nothing more, only winking at Chen Xiao.

Chen Xiao cleared his throat, took the megaphone from Karim, and shouted to the players, "Gentlemen, GTI has reached an agreement with Mr. Said. He will provide a road to Longbow Valley. What we need to do, besides maintaining friendly relations with the people of Asara, is to head to the radar station and the Diamond Queen Hotel to carry out our... operation!"

Chen Xiao glanced at the eager players around him with a knowing look, and continued, "Don't worry about not being familiar with Longbow Valley. The three-person teams can be broken up and regrouped. Mr. Said has thoughtfully prepared a guide for each of our teams—a member of the Asara Guard."

"We can conduct an investigation in Longbow Valley under his guidance."

"In addition, Mr. Said has issued a task."

"Hellish Black Shark Reis has kidnapped Mr. Said's brother's friend, Farid's family. If anyone can find clues about his family, our Mr. Red Owl is willing to reward the informant with one million Haf coins!"

The audience erupted in uproar.

"One million Haff coins!" The bespectacled military officer nudged the two gun-wielding men beside him who were grinning and looking in the mirror, his eyes gleaming with barely concealed fervor.

"Only 250,000, not even as much as my demobilization pay." The two men holding guns curled their lips, pulled at the bruises on their faces, and hissed as they gasped.

"You got those hundreds of thousands because you made contributions!" The military officer said helplessly, "Who would complain about having too much money? Just be more careful when you're on a mission."

"Fine, whatever you say." The two men with buzz cuts and guns said nonchalantly, "Anyway, you're smart."

Seeing that the more than 300 players had quickly assigned guards to lead the way, Chen Xiao frowned as he looked at the general and the two men holding guns who were still being ignored.

"Is Lao Sai holding a grudge?"

Before he could even speak, Said picked up his PKM and came to his side: "What, aren't you going to find yourself a companion?"

"Well, I still have some things to take care of." Chen Xiao glanced at the communication request sent by Zoya and grinned.

Said nodded, walked towards the general and the two men holding guns, and raised his chin at the two dumbfounded men: "Kid, come with me."