The Three Players
It wasn't just Yue Zhenqiao, the group of bodyguards, and the Fei Dao.
Li Nian and Lin Yu also looked at the doorway with the same sense of urgency.
Meanwhile, in Lin Yu's ears and mind, Li Nian's and Old Zheng's voices almost overlapped and rang out at the same time.
"All three are Player."
"Three Player, watch out!"
The [Fear Torch] silently appeared in Lin Yu's hand. He stood up and looked towards the doorway.
Compared to Li Nian and Old Zheng, Lin Yu didn't seem particularly alarmed.
Because...
Since these three "Player" have appeared in this stone house, they may not necessarily have come with hostility.
Based on Lin Yu's understanding of the [Confrontation Instance type, and based on all the experience gathered so far, there has never been a "Clearance Conditions" that requires killing all members of the opposing team in a fight to the death.
Generally speaking, [Confrontation Instance] usually just mean that the "Player" participating in them are divided into several factions, and the "Clearance Conditions" of different factions are different and have a certain degree of mutual exclusion.
For example, one group of Player needs to assassinate, while the other Player needs to protect.
Or it could be that several parties need to assist NPCs from absolutely irreconcilable factions in achieving the respective goals of those factions.
In short... although it is basically a "life or death" situation, this "life or death" situation is not directly stated, but rather deduced.
Therefore, a certain "advanced Player," the Founder of a certain "Player organization," once proposed a bold Conception...
Perhaps there is a possibility of cooperation and mutual benefit in [Confrontation Instance], allowing players to clear them together.
So, that "advanced Player" personally tested it out after leading his organization members through a certain [Confrontation Instance]—and, incredibly, it worked!
Although not everyone survived, both sides accomplished their mission objectives in a subtle way.
Lin Yu happened to have heard of this story before—because the protagonist and the organization in this story were "Carrot" Grandpa and "Player Mutual Aid Society," respectively.
This case and related theories were also included and recorded in "Order".
However, such conditions are extremely difficult to achieve.
After all, figuring out how to clear the [Confrontation Instance] by Clearance Conditions and finding a solution that allows both sides to achieve their goals is not as simple as just attacking the other side directly.
To achieve this win-win situation, it would most likely require going against the entire [Instance], which would be quite difficult.
Furthermore, the biggest challenge is actually trusting that the "Player" in the opposing camp will cooperate and not take the opportunity to stab you in the back.
Even the "Order" will not investigate acts of ruthlessly killing other Player in [Confrontation Instance]—otherwise, that would be too inhumane.
But...
Grandpa Radish has indeed set a completely unique precedent.
Even in what is likely a distinctly competitive [Confrontation Instance] scenario, both sides will often attempt to make contact, communicate, and negotiate first to assess the extent to which their "Clearance Conditions" are mutually exclusive and to evaluate whether the opposing Player is reliable.
Even though cooperation may not succeed eight or nine times out of ten, what if...?
Even if no agreement is reached, both sides can usually obtain the information they want.
This feels a bit like a "gentleman's contest".
So...
Those three "Player" most likely arrived at Chen Family Fortress after our group and the caravan. They probably already knew our whereabouts, so they headed straight for the stone house.
Perhaps the other party simply wants to have a talk.
As expected, the three "Player" who entered through the stone gate and into the sweltering heat were wary, but did not make a move immediately.
They were clearly Domination team; the three men, armed with swords and shields, staffs, and dual pistols, stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the room warily.
The tallest man was the one with the sword and shield, followed by the one with the staff, and the shortest was the one holding two pistols.
They stood in a row, all dressed in black armor or clothing, looking from a distance like the three-segment signal indicator on a mobile phone.
Yue Zhenqiao dared not be negligent, picked up his long sword and asked, "May I ask who you gentlemen are...?"
The man with the sword and shield spoke, "Looking for someone—but not you."
They looked around and quickly recognized Li Nian, Lin Yu, and Fei Dao, who stood out from the group of bodyguards Native.
"These three must be the people we're looking for!"
The man with the sword and shield spoke again, and Lin Yu nodded.
"Can't you tell just by looking at their clothes?"
The black-armored man with the sword and shield spoke again, "I see... Let me introduce myself, I am 'Little Fire Dragon' from the 'Mutual Aid Society'!"
The black-robed man with the staff spoke up as well, "I am Squirtle from the Mutual Aid Society!"
The last short, stout man in black, wielding two guns, spoke up, "I am... 'Deadshot' from the 'Mutual Aid Society'!"
"Wait a minute, one of your names is wrong," Fei Dao immediately complained. "My OCD is about to kick in."
The Little Fire Dragon, wielding a sword and shield, nodded. "You guessed right, Bulbasaur needs to 'Tier Advancement' in this [Instance], so it didn't come."
Dual-wielding "Deadshot" nodded coolly. "That's right, Bulbasaur is the strongest of the three. I was entrusted by Bulbasaur to take care of the other two."
Fei Dao stood in awe. "Such a deep brotherhood..."
Then, as if reminded of a painful memory, the Fei Dao sighed, "Back in my day, I also... alas!"
Li Nian patted the Fei Dao.
"Please accept my condolences, brother..."
Then, she looked at the three of them. "Hmm, the 'Mutual Aid Society's' 'O-Pokémon Trio,' I've heard of you."
The Little Fire Dragon was surprised. "You've actually heard of us, not bad—it seems you should know we have some strength..."
"Now it's your turn to state your names!"
The Little Fire Dragon spoke proudly, and Li Nian grinned, "'Master Thief' A Nian, from the 'Freedom Alliance,' ever heard of him?"
As Li Nian spoke, the Little Fire Dragon's expression changed slightly.
"Master Thief?! Oh no, brothers!"
He held his sword protectively in front of him, and Deadshot immediately drew his gun with his left hand and pointed it at Li Nian.
Squirtle shouted, "Leng Jing down! She might not even be the real Squirtle; she might just be trying to scare us!"
"No, this guy is the real deal!"
Deadshot spoke Leng Jing, raising his empty Right Hand.
He tried to draw the gun with both hands—but only his left hand managed to pull it out.
As for Little Fire Dragon... his shield had also vanished.
The destination of the two things is self-evident.
Li Nian brandished the pistol in his hand, sat on a round metal shield, and spoke with a grin.
"I knew you might not believe me, so I'm showing off my skills beforehand to prevent counterfeits."
"Don't worry, I'll return it to you in a bit. I mean you no harm!"