Chapter 247
Technology itself is a form of combat power, but the technology here isn't as advanced as one might imagine.
He infused energy into the blade, and this time he cut through the force field without much effort.
"High physical defense, but almost no energy defense?" Yuki wasn't disappointed. He took out the alloy shield to test it, and the results showed that the defensive power was about the same. This should be the strongest individual defensive equipment besides the Psychic Warrior mechs.
It's similar to a Transcendental Grade (level 4) item. Considering it's practically free, what more could you ask for? Besides, this kind of thing—
Concept Enhancement. Steelflesh.
The Reinforcement Magecraft made the alloy shield even stronger, which made him nod in satisfaction.
I possess this Transcendental Grade skill, and its uses are extremely wide-ranging.
Da da da da.
The continuous gunfire from the nearby firing range made Yuuki, who was about to stab himself to test the rapid clotting agent, turn his Yuki and see Johnny Silverhand with a large amount of weaponry, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, firing with one hand.
He looked really cool firing that gun. The electromagnetic rifle had an extremely high rate of fire, and the two hundred bullets in the magazine were quickly emptied. He then picked up a grenade launcher-like device and fired a molten lava grenade.
"That's impressive. You should get some new weapons; it'll be even more satisfying that way." Johnny Silverhand was fixed on the target; he had already noticed Yuki's spying.
"I have almost no shooting skills, so a knife is much more satisfying," Yuki replied casually, glancing at the large pile of weapons next to the man. "You traded all of these for yourself?"
"I switched it for my teammate. I was prepared in advance, because I might not need to do the bio-binding myself."
Yuki was taken aback, but then he understood. Binding only required biometric information. Johnny Silverhand had clearly made preparations and was about to turn and leave when he was called back.
"Friend, I have a deal to make, interested in discussing it? Don't worry, I've already hacked the security cameras here."
Trying to fish me out?
Yuki glanced around, remaining silent, but still interested in listening.
Why are you talking to me?
"Because you're tough enough." Johnny Silverhand lowered his gun and flicked a cigarette. "I've accessed the shallow data and found your information. The probability of you being a 'lurker' is extremely low; you've spent a week silently fighting alongside a low-level squad."
Geese leave their traces as they fly by; Yuki's behavior is highly unusual, because the first thing players do when entering a dungeon is always to explore the map and try to find as many clues as possible. Who would waste a week on the front lines?
Only Yuki dared to play this way, because he had two factions and one squad.
Accessing shallow data? It seems the surveillance shielding is real; otherwise, the Defense Force wouldn't have let him off the hook.
"You don't seem surprised." Silver Hand became suspicious.
Because I know what kind of person you are, you must have similar Transcendental Grade skills, so why bother arguing about which technology is stronger, 2077 or Emerald Star?
Yuki muttered to himself, if Hayasaka Ai could transform her 'hacking skills' into Transcendental Grade, even a high school girl could hack into the computers of an advanced civilization.
"You are 'Mechanical Believers,' which perfectly corresponds to this instance. The rules of the Reincarnation Game are always above the instance. As long as you have the relevant skills, even a primitive man can control a starship."
The explanation is not very convincing, but it's barely acceptable.
"Yes, this instance is the easiest for us, otherwise the other players wouldn't have chosen me as their representative. To put it bluntly, I discovered your data four days ago, including the Interior Ministry's surveillance records and final evaluation. Statistically speaking, you have the lowest probability of being an infiltrator, even lower than those Hunters."
Johnny Silverhand has a roguish charm, but he's also very scientific. Because of the existence of clue 3, without special means, he can only rely on probability.
This was an investigation of players using the Defense Force, but I didn't expect that Captain Kudus, who was usually so serious, to have such a high opinion of me.
But congratulations, you guessed wrong.
Yuki saying goes, the greatest villains appear to be loyal. He was indeed the most honest player. He didn't try to trick Chris into revealing anything, never cared about the secrets of the Defense Force, and certainly wouldn't try to find out any weapon parameters.
That's not all; when the players met up earlier, he was the only one who didn't go around exchanging information.
'Because all I need to do is be an honest person; I can get all the information indirectly from Hiyori, without having to pay a single point.'
Yuki didn't look down on Johnny Silverhand's intelligence. It was counterintuitive, because it was almost impossible for the two factions to trust each other, and Shiina Hiyori didn't seem to be on the same side as him at all.
"I'm just an executioner; when I'm killing, I have to be focused. But how can you prove you're not an 'insider'?"
"Because I also pledged my allegiance, and my hands are stained with the blood of other players."
"That's not enough. You can use a self-inflicted injury ruse, or you can turn the tables on me. Besides, I don't have your abilities to prove whether you were attacking proactively or defending passively."
Yuki remained calm. Since Johnny Silverhand had found his information, he must know the difference.
He was approached by the 'Aether Particles', which had been identified as infiltrators and wanted by the Defense Force. With their endorsement, his identity was the most credible.
"You're smarter than I thought." Johnny Silverhand gave Yuki a deep look and snapped his fingers lightly.
You can trust him, just like you trust me.
Yuki turned his head and saw the blonde beauty walk in Lightness; it was the Smiling Lady.
"The Hunters and the Mechanical Believers forged an alliance on the spaceship, and will advance and retreat together under the witness of the Reincarnation Game." The Smiling Lady held a thin chain in her palm and sighed softly, "Unfortunately, this chain can only bind two factions."
Cross-faction contract items?
Yuki frowned immediately. He had heard Fei Lun mention that this kind of item was extremely expensive, costing thousands of points at a time, which would instantly increase the Hunters's strength by several orders of magnitude.
With the Reincarnation Game as a guarantee, the alliance will be unbreakable. Of course, there is another possibility:
Both factions are entirely composed of infiltrators, or one of them is an infiltrator. No, the possibility of them having two distinct identities is extremely low. They cannot completely trust each other. If their identities are different, what if one of them is used as a pawn to kill the other?
He had seen a similar tactic back in the Demon Hospital. Players could be prohibited from attacking each other, but characters in the instance were not restricted. Moreover, the 'Global Insect Calamity' was clearly a case of irreconcilable conflict; who else but him would dare to play like this?
"You may all be undercover agents."
Yuki made a unique, and rather idiotic, question, which made Teresa and Johnny Silverhand exchange a glance, thinking that this guy was being far too cautious.
"That only proves that the Defense Force are all idiots. Our two factions may not be the strongest, but we are at least among the top forces in this instance. If we really are 'lurkers,' shouldn't you have changed your strategy and sought a chance to survive?"
The words may be crude, but the principle is sound. If the two strongest groups of players are the infiltrators and become loyal defenders, then the Defense Force is just a bunch of pigs, and associating with pigs will not end well.
They are most likely the Guardians, which is not good news for me.
Yuki's heart tightened. He didn't know the specifics of the 'Guardians' main storyline, but his attitude towards the key item 'Fire Seed' was completely different.
To be precise, the defenders are the enemy; even if one had three heads and six arms, it would be impossible to defeat two opposing camps.
'Deceive them, get close to them, keep my identity secret, and firmly grasp control; my 'loyalty' is my greatest advantage.'
Yuki was attracted to something else, and his cold expression softened.
Why are you looking for me?
"I've already said it, because you're tough enough, trustworthy enough, and all alone, you won't cause trouble." Johnny Silverhand, said nonchalantly, "Our approach could easily lead to misunderstandings. In the worst-case scenario, you're the most suitable."
The other players are hostages to each other, and now that communication has been cut off and the Command Headquarters has been exposed, their comrades left on the front lines will inevitably be implicated. Only Yuki is not afraid; he is all alone, and if something happens, he can simply walk away.
"Why not use hint 7? That would significantly increase reputation, enough to get close to the key area."
"It will be a short time, and there will be video footage. Once the reputation is restored to normal, won't the Defense Force settle scores later?"
That's true. Hint 7 is too precious; even if you're going to use it, you should only use it when you're heavily surrounded and trying to escape.
Yuki understood this concern, and deliberately made his tone unpleasant. "You're asking me to pay the price."
"I told you it was the worst-case scenario. You've seen the situation now. We don't have time to play war games with these natives. If this drags on any longer, we might all be wiped out by the bugs." Johnny Silverhand spoke calmly, but he was actually using his power to intimidate others.
Humanity's defenses are becoming increasingly leaky. Once the swarm breaks through, the Lurker players might survive, but the Defenders are doomed.
"Why the rush? Even if the goal is to protect the Fire Seed, wouldn't it be better to leave it in their hands?" Yuki still couldn't figure it out, and in doing so, he revealed some information.
If the previous guesses were based on probability, then the word 'protection' is more like a definitive statement. Unless Yuki is fighting as a teacher while also battling the Lurker players, and still manages to extract information from the Guardian players, it's impossible for him to know about the main quest.
"Because the player is always the protagonist, no matter how powerful the plot forces are or how tight the defenses are, problems will inevitably arise. That's the nature of the Reincarnation Game." The Smiling Lady explained personally, and as a fellow veteran, she believed that Yuki would understand her words.
Players are the variable; they can never just drift along and get through the dungeon. So everyone is panicking, knowing that the Defense Force, which are supposed to be impregnable, will definitely have major problems within the next month.
It will be too late to figure out a solution by then; the main quest must be under the player's control.
Yuki nodded, understanding why these two had gone to such lengths to find him.
The fact that the Reincarnation Game doesn't allow players to just coast through Repulsion that the situation is worse than the Defense Force imagined, and players must plan ahead.
The challenge lies in the fact that the Defense Force are always on guard against players. Players either need to raise their reputation to 'Exalted' to enter the inner circle, or they need to find another way and take the initiative.
The former requires a lot of time, and this conventional method usually harbors hidden dangers, like a normal arena fight in 'Calamity of Blood'.
The latter, however, comes with great risks. Besides being misunderstood, the infiltrator players will not sit idly by and wait to be killed.
"If I had to choose, I would choose the second option. Considering the safety of my seniors, I would also find a lone wolf who is strong and independent to be my partner."
The logic forms a closed loop: if the Defense Force can't hold it—no, the players don't believe they can protect the 'Fire Seed' —whether they intervene at a crucial moment or leave it in the players' hands for protection, they all need to know where the Fire Seed is and what it is.
What a coincidence! I also want to know about the 'Fire Seed'; only by destroying it can we return.
Yuki didn't hide his inner struggle, and it took him a while to raise his head. "What can I get? Be specific."
Johnny Silverhand and the Smiling Lady both breathed a sigh of relief. They had other plans, but none were as suitable as Yuki's, so they quickly revised them after meeting him.
As for the risks involved?
Without taking any risks, and since we're not related, why should I guide you through the main storyline?
"You're a brave and rational player." Johnny Silverhand took a few steps forward, flames flickering from his fingertips, and lit a cigarette for Yuki.
"Alright, I'll tell you what 'Fire Seed' is first, as a sign of sincerity."
The automatic door closed, Yuki left, having obtained crucial information that no amount of points could buy.
Johnny Silverhand and Teresa did not leave. Just as Yuki was taking a risk, so were they. Coercion and enticement were far less reliable than a contract, so the selection of a third partner had to be very careful.
At least for now, of all the known players, this lone wolf is the most reliable and the most suitable.
"Can he be completely trusted? It would be troublesome if we let a wolf into the house." The Smiling Lady muttered to herself. She could only Repulsion the 'Infiltrator's' main quest. If she was deceived by the alliance, it wouldn't just be a matter of shooting herself in the foot.
"It's at least 90% credible. There's an investigation report from the Ministry of the Interior Ministry. They've been ambushed by lurking players, know the main quest content of 'Guardians,' and there are no loopholes in their micro-expressions."
Johnny Silverhand wasn't stupid; Yuki was observing, and so was he.
"It's possible to meet one or two of these conditions, but to meet them all... is he some kind of favorite in the Reincarnation Game?"
"That's true, but what about that 10%?"
"He wasn't hunted by the Puppet Bug. Logically, given his active presence on the front lines, his reputation should be at least at the 'dislike' level."
This is indeed a loophole. The reason why the two factions trust each other is not only because of the chains, but also because their pledge of allegiance is the Puppet Bug. And this is a piece of information that no player who has come into contact with them will easily reveal.
Fortunately, this reason is not absolute; it's possible that Yuki's entry into the dungeon was too rushed, and the Puppet Bug didn't get a chance to attack.
"Let him participate in the plan first. Once he clears up the last remaining doubts, we'll let him access the core secrets." Johnny Silverhand stubbed out his cigarette, his face showing signs of weariness. "Also, our main mission only targets the Zerg swarm; we can't guarantee that the players won't have designs on us."
"The same applies to you; that main quest has a specific target," Teresa said quietly.
"Haha, so you have to trust me. We've worked together before, so I'm more reliable than some player with unknown origins, right?"
Amidst the laughter, Teresa glanced at her player panel, the description of which was both simpler and more complex than Yuki had imagined.
Guardian Main Quest 1: Protect the 'Fire Seed' from being devoured by the swarm of insects.
The key words are devouring and swarming; there are many ways to achieve this protection, such as --
Placed into a player's inventory.
Chapter Fourteen: How Long Will You Remain in the Shadows? (5K)
Making a fortune without any investment.
Yuki really fooled both sides. This had nothing to do with intelligence; no one would have thought that there was such a thing as a 'nothingness' faction.
This is a game bug; normal players would never think of this.
So they let a wolf into the house, allowing an 'infiltrator' to join the core plan. Yuki didn't even have to do anything, yet he obtained an important piece of intelligence.
"The 'Fire Seed' is so complex; no wonder the main storyline revolves around it."
The next day, Yuki got up early and sat at the small table with a smile.
This level of secrecy is impossible to obtain through casual conversation; anyone who dares to mention it will immediately be placed under close surveillance by the Defense Force.
It's so important that it can be used as a source of energy. According to the information Johnny Silverhand found in the Sea of Data, it's the foundation for maintaining the 'Wall of Sighs'.
Because of the Fire Seed, the insect swarm could not cross the mountains or burrow into their surface; they could only painstakingly find a way to get around them from underground.
Another question arises: what exactly is this Fire Seed, and how can it sustain the operation of an entire mountain range? Is it continuously emitting some kind of energy wave?
Probably not. Based on what we've found so far, the energy core of this instance is 'Emerald Stone,' and the Wall of Sighs seems to have energy nodes that need to have their batteries replaced periodically.
Yuki doesn't understand high technology, but he understands something else:
"No wonder the Lurkers are so dangerous. If I complete the main quest, this world will probably be destroyed by then."