Xu Huo thanked him for his kindness, left the workshop, and returned to the hotel.
Several of the people stationed near the workshop naturally split off to follow him. Afterward, they remained nearby without leaving, apparently preparing to keep him under long-term surveillance.
Xu Huo contacted the person Sister Mo had introduced. They told him to arrive beneath a certain covered bridge in Nature Park at precisely two in the afternoon, and the goods would be delivered there.
He went to the park. Before long, a mechanical pigeon flew up to him with a tiny chip strapped to its ankle.
A very primitive way to conduct a transaction.
Just as Xu Huo removed the chip, the players who had been following him appeared in the park. At the same time, a containment barrier enclosed most of the grounds. They began clearing people out of the park while closing in on him.
Xu Huo stroked the mechanical pigeon's head, then raised his hand and let it fly. As the pigeon took flight, an opening appeared at the top of the containment barrier, allowing it to fly out unhindered. But the next instant, it struck another containment barrier that had suddenly appeared and exploded into fragments.
"You have violated District 009's joint laws. Please cooperate with our investigation immediately." One of them displayed his credentials. He belonged to an enforcement squad under the regional government.
The nations of District 009 had evolved into numerous regions of varying sizes, but almost all were controlled by player families or player factions. They generally kept to their own affairs. Although they called themselves regional governments, they were effectively no different from personnel maintained by the player factions themselves.
"I've read up on the joint legislation, too. In fact, I've been planning to get a lawyer's