Chapter 317: Exceeding Expectations

"Can't compare to the Special Defense Department." Xu Huo fastened the last button on his jacket. "I heard you've made some new friends. Congratulations."Team Leader Song and Dai Wenqian behind him simultaneously fixed their gazes on him.

"Xu Huo, how could you know about this? Did you hear it?" Compared to the wariness of Song and Dai, Team Leader Wu was more concerned about Xu Huo's secondary evolution. "Can brain evolution achieve this effect?"

Indeed, someone from the Players Association had come to negotiate with them five minutes ago, but this happened on the first floor.

"I'm not clairvoyant or possessing super hearing. How could I hear it?" Xu Huo said. "I heard from Yuan Yao that the Players Association people didn't kill a single Special Defense Department member. That's enough to show their sincerity."

Yuan Yao quickly added, "Right, right! And you guys even captured people from the Players Association."

"This is the price for disrupting the Special Defense Department's operation." Team Leader Song said with a grim face. "Coming to play games with the Special Defense Department to save their own companions, I will absolutely not tolerate such players!"

"No need for indirect accusations," Xu Huo continued. "I'm heading back to Ting City now. Team Leader Wu, can I catch a ride?"

"Of course, no problem." Team Leader Wu glanced at Team Leader Song. "But Team Leader Song has something to say to you."

Team Leader Song pulled a chair over and sat facing Xu Huo for a talk. The general idea was that this big trouble was caused by him. The Special Defense Department had lost quite a few people, and several players had died. Cleaning up after him was fine, but Xu Huo also needed to show some sincerity.

"Was our sincerity not enough?" Yuan Yao squatted nearby. "Who do you think reported that Iron Triangle? It was all done because my Brother Xu told me to. He was colluding with foreigners. If you follow the leads, you might uproot something big. Isn't that credit enough?"

Team Leader Song was stunned. At this moment, Dai Wenqian asked, "Weren't you gone with the people from the hospital? Xu Huo was still unconscious at the time."

Yuan Yao, brimming with confidence, wore an expression that said 'none of your business'. "Just know we did it. Why ask so many questions?"

Team Leader Song was half-convinced, half-doubting. "I'll verify this matter later. If it's true, I'll consider it a merit for you."

After saying this, he stood up and left the room. Dai Wenqian trailed behind. As he rested his hand on the half-open door, he turned his head back.

He was different from Team Leader Song. Because he had indeed seen Xu Huo's figure outside, he didn't doubt the truth of these words. But he doubted Xu Huo's intentions.

He had taken Zheng Ke and the others to chase after someone, running in circles for a while before realizing the other party was just toying with him. But when he returned to the hospital, he found out Wang Ya and the others were all dead. Although the Special Defense Department's investigation concluded it was the triangle mask group who killed them, and Huang Junjie, who just came to talk, said it was the Players Association who took out those people... the story was patched up, but he couldn't believe Xu Huo had no hand in it!

Connecting with the Players Association, teaming up with them to kill the Iron Triangle and others, then deliberately luring him away to kill his people—not only cutting off his wings but also letting the Players Association initiate talks with the Special Defense Department, causing him to lose a great opportunity. Xu Huo was deliberately targeting him!

Originally, he wanted to give him a warning. However, when he looked at Xu Huo, the other party was also looking at him.

Their eyes met. The hairs on Dai Wenqian's body instantly stood on end. Almost a conditioned reflex, he took a step back and closed the door.

"Bang!" The door slammed shut with a loud sound. Team Leader Wu's eyelids twitched. "Utterly disgraceful!"

"Team Leader Wu," Xu Huo withdrew his gaze, "I'll exchange something else for those two syringes from the Special Defense Department."

"Don't mention it," Team Leader Wu said cheerfully. "The country is never stingy with talent. Besides, you helped the Special Defense Department this time. I'll definitely file a report to commend you."

Xu Huo wasn't very concerned about this and instead brought up another matter. "That sudden darkness in Flower City, do you have any leads?"

"Not for now. But it should be similar to the fog city that appeared the first day. I'll tell you if the experts reach a conclusion." Team Leader Wu said.

Team Leader Wu couldn't leave now, so he specially arranged a car to send Xu Huo and the others back. Sima Xiao Er and the others went with them.

"The Special Defense Department is just letting us go that easily?" Hu Wenhu scratched his head, finding it unbelievable. "That Team Leader Song was clearly looking for trouble. Could there be a follow-up move?"

"Where would he have the time to bother with you guys," Sima Xiao Er looked up from his game. "He's busy catching the big fish to claim credit. He even pushed the Players Association liaison work onto our team leader."

Zhou Ning glanced at him, wanting to say something but held back.

"But even if he really wants to do something, we're not afraid," Yuan Yao said. "At worst, we can just escape into a dungeon."

"The Special Defense Department has major team leaders and minor team leaders. Team Leader Song seems to be responsible for several provinces," Shen Xin said. "With his status, he wouldn't fixate on a single player. It's Dai Wenqian... he's not a good person."

"No past grudges, no recent conflicts. He has no reason to target us." Liu Jia said, uttering a blatant lie.

Zhou Ning and the others understood perfectly—Dai Wenqian's people died by their hands. However, they had already carefully checked and confirmed they left no traces, so they wouldn't be caught.

Everyone tacitly understood. Sima Xiao Er didn't catch their meaningful glances and pulled them to play games. Painting Woman and Yan Jiayu joined in enthusiastically.

Xu Huo sat in the front, resting with his eyes closed, pondering the events that happened in Flower City.

Stumbling into the Fog Zone hospital for secondary evolution, also known as Super Evolution. But after evolving, his physique couldn't keep up, leading to the aftereffect of severe brain pain after coming out. However, this symptom eased after the dark space descended and his mental power was released.

How useful those two syringes from the Special Defense Department were remained unclear for now. The appearance of the dark space was too coincidental. It wasn't a dungeon, didn't kill anyone, and the disappeared people all returned intact.

Although the possibility of such a bizarre moving space existing in the game couldn't be ruled out, it coincidentally solved his immediate trouble. This was just too much of a coincidence.

Tang Guangbo... Chewing on this name a few times, Xu Huo finally let it go. Testing him would come at too great a cost. Even if a result was found, it might not be what he wanted.

The gains from this trip to Flower City exceeded his expectations. Obtaining a movable dungeon entrance was equivalent to gaining an additional special escape route. Following that was secondary evolution, successfully passing the risk period and completing Super Evolution. Additionally, he obtained a Dungeon Authorization Document, adding another layer of security for entering and exiting dungeons.

There were also other item rewards from hunting players, but compared to Super Evolution and the Dungeon Authorization Document, they were insignificant.

As for the fleeting dark space, it depended on whether the Special Defense Department would provide an explanation.

"Drive into the woods ahead." Xu Huo opened his eyes and said to the driver.

The driver glanced at the navigation. "There's no road in there."

"Drive in first." After saying this, Xu Huo turned back to the people in the back seat. "Stop playing. Something's up."