Plague

Cheng Shuili curled the corners of her mouth after hearing this, unable to resist saying, "It's good that he has this kind of confidence."

This counted as an agreement.

As soon as these words came out, the core members around her grew excited. Even Zhou Zhuxing, who usually didn't show much expression, adjusted his glasses, clearly full of anticipation.

Cheng Shuili was also happy. Just as the group was bustling with preparations to go eat, 001 suddenly appeared to remind her:

"Boss, the cooldown for the Gift of the Great God of Prophecy is over, and it can be used!"

That was right, today was Saturday.

Tomorrow was the last day of the week.

But... this guy 001 actually read out the full name without changing its expression; it truly lived up to being a robot.

Cheng Shuili gave a brief explanation to Xinxue and the others before returning to her vehicle alone.

In truth, this item could be used inside the territory, but its appearance was just too similar to a magical girl's transformation wand. Holding something like this in front of her subordinates...

Cheng Shuili considered her current image to be quite dignified, but that might not be the case after using this thing.

Back in the vehicle, Cheng Shuili first looked out the window. The sky had indeed not turned completely dark yet, and Su Rui...

She was actually still driving.

Cheng Shuili curled her lips, intending to call her to eat together, but then remembered it wasn't a day off. Since this person had no sense of taste right now, she probably wouldn't enjoy the meal even if she went.

She paused, took a bottle of beverage from the refrigerator, and placed it at the entrance of the driver's cab.

So, next, she could use the prediction.

Cheng Shuili took the item out. After completing the process, she saw the disaster information for the following week.

【Plague.】

Plague?

Cheng Shuili's pupils constricted slightly. How would this disaster manifest itself?

It was different from any natural disaster in the past; it was not a threat that could be withstood by sturdy defenses or powerful firepower.

It was invisible, pervasive, and targeted the most fragile parts of a living body.

Cheng Shuili immediately realized that the Black Feather safe zone, which had just gotten on the right track, was about to face an unprecedentedly severe test.

Crowded populations were the best petri dishes for a plague.

And what Cheng Shuili could do now was to prepare enough medical supplies in advance.

Fortunately, that batch of goods from the beastman town had already been retrieved. Although the safe zone's hospital hadn't opened yet, the faction's medical station had already been formalized and still had a certain ability to respond.

Cheng Shuili did not send out the news.

Talking about it now would only increase anxiety unnecessarily. It was better to eat first, finish being happy, and then discuss the following matters.

As dusk gathered, the Black Feather territory did not fall into silence.

Bonfires crackled and burned in the central plaza, reflecting the excited expressions on the faces of the people coming and going.

Cheng Shuili walked down the steps of the main building, and the aroma of food wafted toward her.

Old Chencu was sweating profusely in front of the temporarily built stove, the collision of the spatula and the iron wok creating a clanging rhythm.

"Boss, come quickly!" Wanyi looked up and saw her, waving her hands hurriedly. "Master Chen's craft is truly superb!"

Cheng Shuili walked over and sat down beside the bonfire.

The dancing flames reflected two swaying lights in her eyes. Cheng Shuili curled her lips into a smile and sat in the middle of the crowd.

She didn't know when it started, but this was the only position that allowed her to sit down.

The aroma of food mixed with the unique scent of burning wood, diffusing into the cool night breeze, bringing a comforting warmth.

Since they were eating among their own people, there weren't so many formalities. Dish after dish, full of color, aroma, and taste, was brought to the long table, and the few began to use their chopsticks.

Xinxue was the first to pick up a piece of bright red braised pork and put it into her mouth. Her eyes lit up instantly, and she praised incoherently, "Mm! Too delicious! Master Chen, your craft is superb!"

Echoes immediately rang out from the surroundings. Even the usually reticent Zhou Zhuxing silently accelerated the speed of picking up food, clearly also approving of Old Chencu's culinary skills.

Cheng Shuili sat in the main seat, watching the lively scene before her, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She picked up her chopsticks and tasted a bite of stir-fried wild vegetables of unknown name. The texture was crisp, carrying a trace of just the right amount of bitterness and aftertaste, and the heat control was mastered extremely well.

She looked at Old Chencu, who was busy by the stove—that slightly thin but spirited middle-aged man—and nodded. "Master Chen, your shop will open in the most central position of our safe zone. Your craft is worth it."

Old Chencu wiped the sweat from his forehead, flattered, and waved his hands repeatedly. "Crow-dazhuang, you overpraise me. I am satisfied as long as I can make everyone feel satisfied!"

This person seemed quite good too. Cheng Shuili was even more satisfied. Just as she was pondering the planning of the safe zone, Wanyi beside her suddenly tugged at her. "Boss, someone is looking for trouble."

Cheng Shuili paused, swallowed the food in her mouth, and looked in the direction of the voice.

Wanyi was looking at the regional channel, clearly having seen something uncomfortable, her brows tightly locked.

Cheng Shuili thought for a moment and simply leaned over to look at her page.

The person speaking was a player with the ID "Leaping Hamster".

【Leaping Hamster】: Isn't Crow supposed to be awesome? Come out and speak?! We've been shouting here for so long, what does it mean to be silent? Usually, everyone holds you up high, and now that there's a benefit, you're thinking of earning it alone?! How can there be such a selfish person!

Below, some were kissing up to him, while others were just watching the fun:

"They just created the safe zone today; maybe tonight is a celebration banquet! If you have the ability, go inside the safe zone and find her!"

"Exactly, exactly. If you want to find someone, just go in and find her. Using a Designated Player Duel Card is fine too, why don't you use one... Haha, I presume everyone knows in their hearts."

This situation had happened too many times. Cheng Shuili was a bit puzzled and looked at Wanyi to ask, "What's wrong?"

Wanyi was also puzzled. Realizing that the boss's angle couldn't see the full content, she immediately understood, leaned a bit closer to Cheng Shuili, and raised her finger to show her. "Boss, this."

Cheng Shuili didn't understand why Wanyi had to show her this at this moment. After all, there were too many such people, and she could just ask Ailin to sanction them; there was no need for her to do it herself. But after reading that message, she subconsciously frowned.

【Leaping Hamster】: Who doesn't dare?! I am currently inside the Black Feather safe zone! Angry Crow Takes Flight, do you dare to show your face? Do you dare to come out and face everyone?

Huh?

Cheng Shuili was truly a bit speechless.

If one said this person was mentally ill, he actually came to the door. If one said he wasn't mentally ill, he came to the door again.

Cheng Shuili frowned and watched for a moment, then sneered and remarked, "I've seen many people looking for death. This is the first time I've seen one who is so afraid of not dying that they actively deliver themselves to the door."

She put down her chopsticks and wiped the corners of her mouth leisurely with a napkin.

The light of the bonfire jumped in her eyes, but it carried a hint of coldness.

"001, find out where they are."

Her voice was calm, and one couldn't tell if she was angry or happy.

001 immediately began to search.

Cheng Shuili now had to admit that 001 was indeed worth 60 energy stones.

It could not only connect to the vehicle and private chats but also connect to the faction, and now it could even monitor the entire safe zone.

Its usefulness was self-evident.

A moment later, 001 reported: "At the east entrance, about a dozen people have gathered. The one leading is this Leaping Hamster, who is shouting there."

Cheng Shuili stood up and smiled at everyone sitting around the bonfire. "You all continue; I'll go see this... enthusiastic visitor."

Xinxue was a bit worried. "Boss, should we bring a few more people? It might be a deliberate attempt to lure you out."

"In my own territory, do I still need to fear a few fleas?" Cheng Shuili's tone was indifferent. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon."

She didn't bring any weapons, just walking empty-handed, moving at a leisurely pace toward the east entrance.

The closer she got to that side, the clearer the noisy sounds became.

"...Everyone judge for yourselves! Why does Angry Crow Takes Flight get to monopolize the loophole? The system is our common enemy! Share the blessings and bear the hardships together! She must give us an explanation today!"

A shrill voice was shouting loudly, and there were scattered echoes in the surroundings.

When Cheng Shuili approached, she saw about a dozen people surrounding the area. Leading them was a thin, dry man, who was likely Leaping Hamster.

He was followed by a few other players with equally excited or greedy expressions. Further out, there were some tourists attracted to watch the fun, their expressions varied—curiosity, disdain, and indifference as if it were none of their business.

Leaping Hamster was spitting while talking. Catching sight of Cheng Shuili walking over, his voice stopped abruptly, and a hint of panic flashed across his face, but it was immediately replaced by a kind of reckless excitement.

"An, Angry Crow Takes Flight! You finally dare to come out?!"

Strange.

Cheng Shuili considered that few people knew her face. She hadn't interacted with this person before, yet upon just one look, he could recognize her.

She originally thought some fool was coming to cause trouble, but looking at it this way, there must be someone behind this person.

Saying they wouldn't release the method to find the loophole—did this guy actually care about that? It was just an excuse to cause trouble for Crow and for this new safe zone.

Leaping Hamster's shout attracted the attention of the surrounding tourists.

"Who? Crow has really appeared?"

"Is that Crow?!"

"I can't take it anymore, I can't breathe! I actually get to see my idol in person!"

...

Cheng Shuili ignored the noisy discussions, stood still at a distance of five steps from Leaping Hamster, and scanned everyone present with a calm gaze, finally landing on Leaping Hamster.

"I heard you're looking for me?"

Her voice was not loud, but it miraculously made the somewhat noisy scene quiet down.

Leaping Hamster swallowed his saliva and forced himself to stay calm. "That's right! I represent everyone to ask you, what is going on with that system loophole? How did you get so many game coins? You can't swallow the benefits alone; you must share it!"

"Represent everyone?" Cheng Shuili repeated lightly, a smile that wasn't quite a smile curling the corners of her lips. "Who elected you as the representative? These dozen people behind you? Or those in the regional channel who only dare to tap their keyboards?"

She turned her gaze to the onlookers on the periphery, her voice raised slightly, clearly reaching everyone around: "Among you, who agrees that he can represent you?"

The crowd of onlookers was in an uproar, most of them subconsciously shaking their heads or retreating, clearly indicating they wanted to draw a line.

Are you kidding? To face Angry Crow Takes Flight head-on for some ethereal benefit?

They hadn't lived enough yet.

Leaping Hamster's face turned from green to white, and he stuck his neck out and said: "Cut the crap! Just tell me, are you handing over the loophole or not?!"

Cheng Shuili looked at him: "First, you are not worthy of asking me for things."

"Second," she paused, her tone carrying undisguised mockery, "even if a fool like you knew, you couldn't do it."

"You!" Leaping Hamster was so angry his face turned red, pointing at Cheng Shuili, "Don't be too arrogant! This is a safe zone, you can't make a move! Everyone look! This is the so-called Crow-dazhuang! Selfish and profit-seeking, not caring about the life or death of us ordinary players at all!"

"You're right," Cheng Shuili suddenly smiled, that smile cold. "This is indeed a safe zone."

Her smile widened: "But have you forgotten that this safe zone is mine, and the rules are set by me? And of course, I, the maker, am not among those restricted by the rules."

"You, what do you want to do?!"

Leaping Hamster's voice carried an obvious tremor, and he subconsciously took a step back, shouting with a show of toughness:

"What do you mean by not being restricted by the rules? If you, the leader, don't follow the rules, who will follow your rules in the future?!"

Cheng Shuili laughed softly as if she had heard an interesting joke.

She didn't get any closer, just casually raised her hand.

In the next second, the solid ground beneath Leaping Hamster and his few most loudly shouting companions seemed to turn into thick, viscous swamp instantly. Their bodies began to sink uncontrollably, and their lower legs were swallowed in the blink of an eye.

"Ah!"

"What's going on?!"

"Help! Pull me up!"

Changing the terrain was also one of the rights of Cheng Shuili, the creator.

The few screamed in terror, struggling desperately, only to find that the more they struggled, the faster they sank. An invisible force bound them tightly, and soon everything below their waists was submerged in the ground.

This was the absolute authority of the safe zone leader!

The crowd of onlookers erupted in an uproar, their gazes toward Cheng Shuili filled with shock and fear.

They only truly realized at this moment what "my territory, my rules" meant, and suddenly, they also obscurely understood what Crow was laughing at.

Looking at it this way, the provocation of these few was truly laughable. It could even be said to be a literal delivery of death.

The gazes of the crowd were extremely complex. It was fine that these few deserved their punishment, but the means that Crow displayed...

Was this really something a human could do?

Among the crowd, a few people with golden hair and blue eyes looked at each other, seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

Could one possess such powerful ability just by having a safe zone?

Not just them; the hearts of all the players who saw this scene were burning. If the safe zone could change owners, or if they could also establish a safe zone...

People were just like this; no matter what happened, the first thing that appeared in their brains was what was most beneficial to themselves.

But the next moment, a basin of cold water was poured over their heads.

Cheng Shuili scanned her surroundings, taking in everyone's reactions. Her voice was calm, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears:

"The announcement didn't mention it, so I'll tell you now. The first rule of the Black Feather safe zone is that all rules only protect those who follow them, while those who do not follow them..."

Her gaze fell back onto Leaping Hamster, who was still struggling: "Take your little schemes and go reflect slowly underground."