Kraken stripped all usable equipment from the VIP player.
Tactical suit, tactical knife, pistol, submachine gun, and several small items he didn't recognize that looked like special props.
He equipped the gear piece by piece, slinging the submachine gun across his back, holstering two pistols at his waist, and strapping the tactical knife to his thigh.
He was now armed to the teeth.
Any other participant would have laughed with joy at obtaining such fine equipment.
But Kraken couldn't bring himself to smile.
Leaning against the wall, he looked down at his brand-new gear, his expression even heavier than before.
He knew he had been targeted.
The appearance of that VIP player was no accident.
The man had come for him. His abnormal performance in the game had clearly been noticed.
From Kraken's perspective, the help the cheongsam girl provided was very discreet.
But what if someone looked at it from another angle?
Those outside the game could likely see that something was wrong.
Furthermore, that VIP player was dead, killed by his hand.
What would this lead to?
More VIP players? Direct intervention from the game organizers? Or... even more severe consequences?
He didn't know.
But he knew his performance must have drawn attention.
And those who noticed him might be somewhere right now, staring at him intently in a way he couldn't comprehend.
Silence reigned all around, broken only by the occasional whistle of the wind.
Kraken felt a sense of aimlessness; the investigation mission assigned by the Order Alliance was still completely without leads.
He had entered the game, killed a few participants, taken down some zombies, and even counter-killed a VIP player, but none of that was related to the investigation.
His progress was at zero. He had no idea where to even start.
Who were the game's organizers?
What was the truth behind this virtual space?
Would the final winner truly receive a reward?
He knew nothing, and a wave of frustration washed over him.
Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down.
At least he was still alive, and he had the help of the cheongsam girl.
He glanced at the system interface.
Within his field of vision, the girl had not sent any new text.
Kraken closed his eyes, intending to rest for a moment before moving again.
...
Meanwhile, inside a secret base of the Order Alliance.
The lighting was dim. The child-like leader sat in a chair before a massive display screen.
The screen was divided into over a dozen small grids showing different feeds.
Some were surveillance shots of Avenia's streets, some were of building interiors, and one was the real-time broadcast of the Killing Competition.
In the center of that screen was the figure of Participant Number 023, Kraken.
At that moment, an Alliance member in a gray uniform walked up to the leader and reported in a low voice.
“Chief. The game organizers' attention has indeed been drawn to Kraken. They even had a small argument in the entertainment hall just now.”
The leader’s lips curled upward. On a child's face, that smile looked exceptionally eerie.
“Very good. The plan is proceeding smoothly.”
The Alliance member hesitated for a moment before asking softly, “Chief, regarding Kraken... do we really not need to look out for him? What if he can't get out?”
“If he can't get out, he can't get out,” the leader said flatly.
The Alliance member was stunned.
The leader turned his head.
“Kraken has already fulfilled his greatest purpose.”
“Sending him into the Killing Competition was never for the sake of investigation.”
The Alliance member opened his mouth to speak but stopped. Although Kraken seemed a bit unusual, he was a decent person and had achieved many merits for the Alliance.
It was truly disheartening to see the upper echelons of the Alliance treat Kraken so harshly.
He only dared to grumble these thoughts in his heart, not out loud.
The leader seemed to sense his subordinate's thoughts. While continuing to watch Kraken's figure on the screen, he spoke:
“There is an ancient saying: ‘Repair the gallery roads openly while marching through Chencang in secret.’ Have you heard it?”
The Alliance member nodded.
The leader offered a brief explanation.
“The mission Kraken received was to enter the game and gather intelligence. But in reality, his greatest role is to attract everyone's attention.”
“The game organizers, the VIP players, and that Deep Blue Route representative will all be keeping a close eye on him.”
“And while everyone’s gaze is fixed on him, the Alliance’s true spy can begin their operation.”
The image on the screen switched.
It was no longer the real-time broadcast of the killing game, but a different perspective.
It appeared to be surreptitious footage, shaky and slightly blurred, showing the scene inside the entertainment hall.
The leader's voice was calm. “The true spy is hidden among those guests.”
“He will uncover the real inside story of the killing game, the purpose of the Deep Blue Route, and exactly what is hidden behind this so-called ‘virtual reality technology.’”
The Alliance member remained silent for a few seconds before asking, “And Kraken?”
“If he's lucky and makes it out alive, that’s for the best. If he doesn't...”
The leader didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear.
The Alliance member beside him wore a fake smile. The leader assumed he understood—that for the sake of the big picture, minor sacrifices had to be made.
The leader had explained so much just now to clarify the necessity of Kraken's sacrifice, hoping to keep his subordinate from losing heart and thus bolster the Alliance's cohesion.
He had provided a logically sound and justifiable reason. From any perspective, Kraken had to be the cannon fodder, and it was all for the greater good.
The leader believed the others would understand.
Unfortunately, the Alliance member didn't care about the reason at all. He only knew that Kraken had been discarded with a casual remark.
He felt as if he were seeing his own future in Kraken.
As for the so-called big picture?
He only wanted to say: ‘I only see as far as the height of the chair the Alliance gives me.’
Rate on N.U.
