Chase Game

oi?

A big question mark appeared in everyone's mind as they looked at Zhang Haiping.

"Hehehe, this is the vice president of our Beiguan City Fugitive Chase Game Association."

Zhang Haiping smiled at this moment, not as if he was used to it, but more as if he was complying.

The bearded man chimed in, striking a "son of Zeus" gym pose, and said:

"Hey kid, state your names!"

No, sir, you can surf the internet in real life, but please stop surfing online, okay?

Ling Yi turned his head abruptly, trying to find some common ground in his friend Zhang Qiang's eyes.

But why are there stars in this guy's eyes?

To ease the awkwardness of the silence, Meng Dong was the first to respond:

"Um...hehe, my name is Meng Dong."

"Yuan Xiangqing".

"Ling Yi".

"My name is Zhang Qiang!"

Qiangzi, why are you so agitated?

Ling Yi turned her head and looked at her friend Zhang Qiang with some disbelief.

He knew his friend was a bit of a chuunibyou (a person with delusions of grandeur), but he wouldn't use such a tired trope as "oi" all the time!

The bearded man laughed heartily:

"Haha, since that's the case, I'll also give you my name. You all better remember it!"

"I am Xiang Yu, the Prince of Beiguan!"

King of Beiguan, Xiang Yu?

Wow, that's so badass!

Zhang Qiang gasped, wondering if he should change his self-introduction to:

I am Zhang Qiang, the King of Beiguan!

Fortunately, Wang Xiangyu then explained:

"The king is the only king who is supreme!"

Xiang Yu is a Xiang Yu whose heart is set on the universe, unconstrained by heaven and earth!

Ah...it's Wang Xiangyu...

Wait, that's not right!

"I am the only one who matters, my heart is set on the universe, and I am not bound by heaven and earth"—that's incredibly cool!

Upon seeing Wang Xiangyu, it was as if a switch had suddenly been flipped on in Zhang Qiang.

Ling Yi felt that her friend was probably about to embark on a path of no return.

"Hehe, President Wang, let's hurry up and get them into the game."

Seeing that the four, or rather, three, people were starting to feel the strain, Zhang Haiping quickly spoke up.

"Ah~ In that case, I'll lend you a hand!"

Player Wang Xiangyu has unlocked the dungeon "Story Mode - Mission Gameplay - Stolen Items," with a difficulty level of D.

You will form a temporary team with players Zhang Qiang, Meng Dong, and Yuan Xiangqing, and enter the game as the pursuers.

Do you agree?

"To save time, the four of you will form a team. If one person completes the task, the whole team will pass. The score will be based on your own performance."

Wang Xiangyu explained.

Originally, the four of them would have achieved their goal by entering the game and unlocking the hunter's exclusive skills; doing the mission was just a side effect.

【agree】

The "Stolen Items" instance is now open. Player Ling Yi, please complete the designated tasks as the pursuer.

[Because you are a new player, we will draw your exclusive skills for the Hunter identity. Drawing is in progress...]

[Draw successful! Your unique skill for the Hunter is—]

[Instantaneous Karmic Results!]

[Ling Yi, the pursuer, begin your hunt!]

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ling Miaomiao—

This item is called "White Jade Bracelet," and it's associated with the dungeon "Stolen Items," which is now open. Do you wish to enter?

"Oh? Some players have already opened this dungeon. That's good, saves me the trouble."

【Enter】

【Chosen One Ling Miaomiao wishes you a pleasant gaming experience.】

……

After a flash of white light, Ling Yi's vision returned.

He was kneeling on one knee, and apart from his eyes, he had no control over the rest of his body; the other three were in the same situation.

Before he could examine his skill [Instant Karma] closely, he heard a loud voice from the head of the table.

"You guys—are you the most famous detectives in the Eastern Continent?"

Now it's a forced scene, and none of the four can speak, but someone else is speaking for them.

He couldn't look up, but he knew who it was from the voice.

"Heh, King Or, you say your treasure has been stolen, so I've sent you my most famous detective. Are you perhaps doubting me?"

"Oh no, King Xiangyu, I naturally have no doubt about you. You are far away in the Eastern Continent, and after learning about my affairs, you still sent me the most famous detective. I am very grateful."

When Ling heard this, his eyelids twitched, because this was the only part of his body he could move.

As a high-ranking official in a local government organization, it's one thing if you're not a righteous and awe-inspiring hero, but at least you should be a normal person, right?

What's going on with this middle-aged man who likes to use overused memes, exudes a strong sense of adolescent chuunibyou, and is even doing cosplay?

Moreover, Wang Xiangyu is someone who refuses to be subordinate to anyone, and even when playing a role, he insists on playing the role of "King".

"Four renowned detectives, please rise. I will now recount the events in detail."

King Or gave the order, and everyone's bodies stood up uncontrollably.

Ling Yi also observed that this was a spacious hall with three hourglasses standing on the left.

On the tall throne directly in front of him, King Or, with his white hair and beard, looked very worried.

As for Wang Xiangyu... well, never mind, let's just call him Xiangyu Wang. He wasn't there in person; he was projected onto a crystal ball.

He looked at the four of them and said:

"Detectives, I am unable to visit King Orl's territory in person, so you will take my place to solve his problems."

King Orr sat on his throne, his hand supporting his forehead, and said with a troubled expression:

"Well, things are just as I said before."

"One of my treasures has been stolen; to be precise, it is my queen's beloved 'white jade bracelet' that has been stolen."

"For many days, I have searched far and wide for detectives and warriors, but to no avail."

After the treasure was stolen, the queen lost her appetite and grew increasingly thin.

"I only hope that all the famous detectives can find the treasure soon and relieve the Queen's worries."

The system controlled the mouths of the four people, who simultaneously swore an oath:

"Your Majesty, finding lost items is our duty, please do not worry."

"Very well, in that case, I will grant you the highest authority, allowing you to move freely within the palace. My only hope is that you will provide me with an answer before these three hourglasses run out!"

The four of them left the main hall together. Once outside, the forced storyline ended, and they were finally free to move around.

The three men and one woman fell into a brief silence before Meng Dong spoke first.

"So, what you just did was essentially setting time and boundaries for us?"

Ling Yi affirmed:

"Yes, the scope is within the palace, and the time is three hourglasses, um... I checked, one is about an hour."

"Three hours? Including the back hills and gardens, it would take at least four or five hours to just walk around the entire palace grounds, wouldn't it?"

Zhang Qiang had a headache.

"Heh, so we'll have to outsmart you. I just hope you don't hold me back."

Yuan Xiangqing sneered twice, then left after saying that.

Ling Yi withdrew his gaze from Yuan Xiangqing and addressed the two of them:

"She's right. We need to use our wits. Let's think about how our newly acquired skills can be put to good use."

This is tantamount to saying it openly to the two of them:

We should all work together and share our acquired skills with each other;

Or should they act independently, without affecting each other?