Xu Huo had been hounded by Players, and things weren't much better in the capital. After all, more local Players were concerned about whether Lian Qingkong was really going to die.
On top of the rumors circulating earlier, the government had also taken some steps to confirm the news.
First, it had hidden some important government officials who served under Lian Qingkong, offering no explanation for their whereabouts. But anyone with sense knew this was to protect them and ensure that government affairs would be handled when the next Chief Executive took office.
Next, it had sent invitations to meet to several Player organizations, openly telling them that Lian Qingkong wanted to see them.
If Lian Qingkong really was going to die, then the Players under him wouldn't be enough to maintain the country's stability. Before he died, it would be wise to recruit a group of Players to contend with the other Player organizations. That much was understandable.
Finally, the government had let slip a vague message: Lian Qingkong wanted to recreate the government structure that had been in place when he first took office.
Lian Qingkong had replaced Gao Hui as Chief Executive for two reasons. First, many within the government had opposed Gao Hui. Second, Lian Qingkong had joined forces with a large number of Players. In the game world, nothing could be accomplished without Players' support, so it made sense to replace one Player organization with another. Lian Qingkong had governed for twenty years, but if he had a Player as capable as himself under his command, he wouldn't have remained Chief Executive until his death. So it was only natural that he wanted to choose someone to carry on his legacy.
Of course, most local Players believed Lian Qingkong had already made his choice. This