Stay or Go

I finally obtained the S-class Automatic Loading Mini-Robot, but I also lost Lu Xiaobei.

Sitting on the sofa, I don't know why this melancholy feeling arose, but it's clear that this feeling is a bit self-destructive.

"Empty magazine detected. S-1 class Automatic Loading Mini-Robot is on standby!"

The voice of the miniature robot demanding work came from beside my ear.

I couldn't help but laugh; what a dutiful servant!

"Prioritize loading Armor-piercing Round into the Hellfire magazines."

"Yes!"

The little robot stood ramrod straight and bowed, saying, "Begin executing the orders immediately!"

As it spoke, it quickly transformed, its half-body turning into chains that tightly wrapped around an empty magazine. Then, its upper body transformed into several mechanical arms that rapidly peeled off the packaging paper and quickly loaded armor-piercing bullets into the magazine.

I'm no longer paying attention to the mini-robots.

I took out my phone, opened the player Dark Web, and entered the Creek City section. I immediately saw a scene of widespread panic, with many players discussing when the Gray Bug Regiment would invade the city.

Furthermore, in the past two days, Creek City has been organizing a large number of people to leave the city. Government personnel left first, followed by the civilians, to the point that the roads leading to the Crimson Dragon Country are almost completely blocked.

"Drop!"

Suddenly, a WeChat message arrived, surprisingly from the leader of the Crimson Firmament Alliance, Gun Like a Dragon: "Ding Han, there's a meeting at 2 PM this afternoon in the Martial Arts Hall of the Player Black Market. We've invited the top 50 players on the Creek City leaderboard to participate, and we hope you can attend. This meeting is very important; it will determine the future of Creek City players."

"Okay, I got it, I'll go."

"Good!"

The Gun Like a Dragon, and he said no more.

Not long after, another WeChat message arrived, this time from Zhang Ruolin: "Ding Han, did you receive the message? We're going to the Martial Arts Hall this afternoon for a meeting to discuss the players' decision to stay or leave."

"I received it, I will go."

"How about I come to your place now, we can have lunch together later, and then we can go over together?"

"Alright."

My mind was in turmoil because of Lu Xiaobei's situation, so it's good that Zhang Ruolin came over.

Shortly after, Zhang Ruolin entered the living room, dressed as stylishly and beautifully as ever. This made me wonder if she spent half of the money she earned in <Star Abyss> on clothes. What's the difference between that and buying in-game skins?

That spendthrift woman!

"How have you been lately?" She sat down without ceremony and crossed her legs.

"Good."

"What a load of rubbish..."

She said speechlessly, "I already know about Lu Xiaobei."

"Holy crap, how did you know?"

A second later, it dawned on me. "It's that big-mouthed Milo?"

"Um."

Zhang Ruolin said, "Milo said you must be feeling down right now, so he asked me to come and keep you company. I never imagined that things would end like this with my My 23-Year-Old Beautiful Boss..."

I'm speechless.

"Ding Han."

She smiled and said, "Let me ask you a question: what are your feelings for Lu Xiaobei? Do you like her? Or rather, do you want her to be your girlfriend? Please answer me honestly."

"Whether you like it or not..."

I looked out the window and said, "To be honest, Lu Xiaobei is so beautiful and cheerful, it's hard for anyone not to like her, and I'm no exception. But I think this liking is based on her appearance, and it's just liking, at least not in the short term."

"Is it because she has a fiancé named A'ken?"

Zhang Ruolin always gets straight to the point when she looks at a problem.

"I don't know..."

I crossed my legs and said, "Ruolin, we're on the same side, so there's no need to hide anything. Let's just say this: I think we're all players, so we shouldn't have any romantic entanglements in the Star Abyss World. After all, we'll all return to our original world once we have the chance. Are we going to leave our significant other behind and suffer for the rest of their lives?"

"That is indeed a problem."

Zhang Ruolin looked thoughtful. "Now that you mention it, I don't even want to be in a relationship anymore."

I sighed and said, "Since you're here, help me figure out another problem."

"You have so many questions, go ahead and ask?" She smiled.

So I told them about how I got drunk at the barbecue restaurant last night and was then taken to Love Hotel upstairs from the restaurant, saying, "I still don't know who took me to the hotel. Can you help me figure it out?"

Zhang Ruolin thought for a moment and said, "There are two possibilities. One is what you said, that guy who's been pestering you lately, hoping you'll join the Great Wall Watch, did it. The other one, well, you already know the answer in your heart..."

Could it be her?

I frowned. If Lu Xiaobei secretly escorted me upstairs to Love Hotel, that would make sense. Perhaps she left with my father and A'ken after watching me fall asleep.

Zhang Ruolin smiled but remained silent.

At noon, they ordered a few dishes at a small restaurant downstairs, and after eating, the two went to the Player Black Market together.

In any case, I should always put my career as a player first. Otherwise, if I come to the Star Abyss World, meet a few nice women, and fall head over heels in love with them, that would be so pathetic and a complete waste of my identity as a player!

Player Black Market, Martial Arts Hall.

This hall, which usually serves as a warehouse, has unfortunately been emptied of ammunition, leaving the space free. Many players are already standing there, all tacitly displaying their Combat Form, revealing their health bars and game IDs, rather than appearing as ordinary people.

"Brother Han!"

Cai Cai strode over and asked with a smile, "How have you been lately?"

"It was quite fulfilling..."

Zhang Ruolin, who was standing nearby, almost burst out laughing after hearing what I said.

"Ding Han."

People from the Crimson Firmament Alliance came over to greet them, Gun Like a Dragon, Xu Tian, and the others nodded in agreement.

I nodded in acknowledgment, and then we all waited for the rest of the group.

Soon, another group of people entered the martial arts hall. It was the group from Ragnarok. The highest-ranking member, One Blade Into Soul, walked at the front with a faint fierceness on his face. The beautiful girl following behind him was his younger sister, the Firepower Specialist Bunny Critical Hit.

The Zu'an Liberal Arts Top Scholar and the Mid Lane Killing God appeared. The two of them glared at me fiercely in perfect unison. It seems that the memory of killing "Ah Dui Dui Dui" is still fresh in their minds.

It was exactly 2 PM.

More than 50 players gathered in the martial arts hall. Almost everyone on the leaderboard was there, since the matter to be discussed concerned their very survival, so everyone had to come and there was no reason to be absent.

"Alliance Leader Long, everyone's here. Shall we begin?" said One Blade Into Soul.

"Um."

As the number one figure in Creek City, Gun Like a Dragon slowly walked into the crowd and said, "Brothers and sisters, please be quiet. We're about to begin our discussion. This matter is closely related to everyone, and I'd like to hear everyone's opinions."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Xu Tian said from the side, "The news coming in from outside the city recently is not optimistic. Dulin, the commander of the Flame Wielder Regiment, met with Gray Bug Regiment Commander Vega, outside the city. It is said that the two had a very unpleasant talk and even cursed each other. And this morning, the Gray Bug Regiment redeployed its forces, concentrating a large amount of Heavy Firepower in the east of the city. It seems that they intend to use Heavy Firepower directly blast open the city walls of Creek City and enter Creek City from the south in a flat and easy way."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's expression became much more serious.

"So, the time for us to make a choice has come."

"We've received information that the Crimson Dragon Country has deployed three battle groups in the wilderness north of Creek City. Once the Dark Tide forces launch an attack on Creek City, these three battle groups will most likely head south. However, Gun Like a Dragon long as the Dark Tide doesn't make a move, they probably won't either. Therefore, the battle for Creek City is inevitable."

He looked at everyone. "We now have two choices. First, before the war begins, all players can evacuate Creek City and head to nearby Crimson Dragon Country cities. Jiangning City and Huaining City in Jiangning Province are both large cities and our best options. Second, we can't leave like cowards. We have to stay and Gray Bug Regiment to avenge our fallen brothers. What is your attitude?!"

"Fuck it! We have to do it! Damn it!"

A level 23 Psionicist with a fierce appearance said, "Dark Tide is a bunch of bastards. They killed so many of us. What would we be if we just ran away? Besides, this time it's not just the Stream City Garrison; the Crimson Dragon Country's army will also be involved. We have backup. Would we be men if we didn't take this opportunity to take down Dark Tide?"

Immediately, players who supported this viewpoint responded enthusiastically.

"Brothers, are you guys getting too excited?"

At this moment, One Blade Into Soul coughed and said, "We Chinese have an old saying: 'Those who understand the times are heroes.' I think everyone has already seen the strength of the Gray Bug Regiment. Moreover, the Gray Bug Regiment's commander, Vega, is wearing the Undercurrent-class Third Generation Power Armor, which is almost flawless. How can we, a group of people with flesh and blood, fight against that? Who can we rely on?"

He frowned. "Having passion is good, and I'm willing to One Blade Into Soul alongside my brothers even if it means my own death, but can we analyze the enemy and our own forces before we fight? The Gray Bug Regiment's strength far surpasses that of the Stream City Garrison. If we really fight... we don't even have a 20% chance of winning. How can we fight like this?"

"Is that possible?"

Xu Tian said calmly, "Although the Gray Bug Regiment is strong, it also has weaknesses. For example, they are completely unfamiliar with the terrain of Creek City, which is our advantage. In urban warfare in Creek City, even Third-Generation Power Armor may not be able to exert 100% of its combat power. We may still have a chance."

"Xu Tian, if you're so brave, why don't you go first?" One Blade Into Soul retorted sarcastically.

"You..."

Xu Tian gritted his teeth.

"What about the others?"

The Gun Like a Dragon, turned to me and said, "Shadow Chaser, your combat strength is the pinnacle of our Creek City. Your attitude will be extremely important. What will your decision be? Revenge, or retreat?"

I frowned and said in a deep voice, "In the last battle outside the city, so many of our players died. Are we just going to walk away like this? Are we just going to let it go like this? Regardless of what others think, I've decided to stay and kill Vega at all costs!"