Public rest area 2

When he looked back, a stubbly, blood-soaked middle-aged man came stumbling out of the exit and, not watching his step, tumbled down the stairs.

I almost got hit. That guard's warning came just in time, Lu Mi thought. Sure enough, more players have come out.

The announcement sounded as usual, but the man was too caught up in his joy to listen.

Several more people emerged from the exit in succession. Every one of them was wounded, though the severity varied.

A blonde woman walked down the steps and helped the man up. "Get up. This still isn't the real world."

"Wh-what?"

The man looked around in disbelief. "Then where is this? Didn't we get out?"

"This is the public rest area. You don't know because you're new." The woman smiled. "Within twenty-four to seventy-two hours, you'll enter another instance."

The lingering ecstasy on the man's face froze instantly.

His anguished wails echoed across the entire central plaza.

The young man who had emerged right behind the woman said impatiently, "Why waste your breath on a brainless loser like him? He followed us the whole time and still dragged us down."

"Without someone to guide him, he wouldn't last half a day in an instance. Come on, let's go to the healing area. If we wait too long, our wounds won't heal properly."

The man had only been standing there crying for a short while when a guard came over to warn him, "Player, please do not make a scene here and disrupt order."

Seeing that someone had come to deal with him, Lu Mi walked away to familiarize himself with the surroundings.

The instance exit stood at the center of the plaza, where fountains and benches of all kinds appeared every few steps.

Buildings surrounded the edges of the plaza, forming an enormous circle.

A moderately long line stood outside one of the buildings. The woman and the young man from earlier had already joined its end.

A sign hung at the top of the building, bearing three prominent characters: healing area.

People constantly streamed in and out of another building, whose sign read: shopping center.

This place stood in stark contrast to the darkness and chaos of the instance world.

Lu Mi was about to check out the next building when he heard someone call to him. "Hey, Lu Mi. Long time no see."

He turned, and Xu Zhi's face loomed before him.

He must have just come out of the healing area. He looked completely refreshed, and even his clothes were as spotless as new.

"Get lost right now, or I might not be able to stop myself from smashing your face in," Lu Mi said calmly.

"Oh, how scary." Xu Zhi hugged himself, then flashed a smile that said he knew Lu Mi wouldn't dare touch him. "Go ahead and try. Let me tell you, this place takes order very seriously. The consequences for deliberately causing trouble are severe."

Lu Mi frowned as a bloodcurdling scream came from the center of the plaza.

Xu Zhi stepped aside with a smile. "Allow me to show you~"

Two guards in aqua-blue uniforms surrounded the man who had just suffered a breakdown.

They plunged their knives into his chest, again and again.

The man soon fell silent and was dragged away.

Four middle-aged women in white uniforms and face masks immediately stepped forward, their faces expressionless.

Using pressure washers and other equipment, they cleaned the ground stained with blood and splattered organs.

Before long, everything was clean and beautiful again.

Lu Mi looked around. Those uniformed people were everywhere.

They stood with perfect posture, their faces blank, silently monitoring everyone's every move.

The lighting shone as brightly as real sunlight, yet the sight sent a chill down his spine.

"If you cause trouble, the guards and cleaners will dispose of you as a destabilizing element."

"Look at the people in the plaza. They don't even bat an eye. You're remarkably strong-minded. Plenty of newcomers die in their first instance without ever getting a chance to enter the public rest area."

Xu Zhi smiled in approval and reached out to pat Lu Mi's shoulder.

He had seen Lu Mi control flames in the instance.

If he could win him over and put him to use...

Before his hand could touch Lu Mi's shoulder, something invisible knocked it away.

Confusion flashed across Xu Zhi's face, but he quickly decided this might be another of Lu Mi's secret weapons.

Lu Mi hadn't been lying. He really was afraid he might lose control and punch this hypocrite in the face, and he wanted to leave as soon as possible.

He said bluntly, "I'm never going to team up with you. Give it up."

Xu Zhi's face darkened at once, but with people constantly passing around them, he merely spat out, "Just you wait," and left.

Roman followed beside Lu Mi. "The big screen says it's two o'clock. You can go handle the paperwork now."

"I know." Lu Mi was already looking for the administrative hall. Something occurred to him, and he asked, "You're not a player. How did you get out too?"

Roman fell silent for a moment before saying, "You don't need to worry about that. I told you I wouldn't let you die. Until you leave the game for good, I'll stay with you."

Following the signs, Lu Mi entered the administrative office and joined the line. Unimpressed, he said, "Don't make promises that serious so casually."

Roman was about to say something else when the crowd began shifting, seemingly making way for someone.

Two guards walked in, wearing practiced smiles. Nothing about them suggested they would use extreme measures to stop players from disrupting order.

After they flanked Roman, a young man in a suit appeared in Lu Mi's field of vision.

The man's name badge read: deputy administrator, number 2044.

The two guards and the nearby players seemed to respect him greatly. The path had been cleared for him.

2044 made an inviting gesture toward Roman.

"Sir, please come with us."

The people around them couldn't see Roman and all looked over curiously.

Roman was in no hurry to respond. Instead, he turned his head slightly toward Lu Mi.

Lu Mi asked politely, "May I ask what this is about?"

One of the guards said, "This does not concern you. Please do not interfere with official business."

When 2044 saw Lu Mi, a trace of unease crossed his face. But he turned away so quickly that no one noticed.

He waved a hand, his tone carrying unquestionable authority. "Take him away."

Roman's gaze lingered on Lu Mi for a moment. Then, leaving him with a "Don't worry," he obediently followed them away.

Yet Lu Mi kept feeling there had been a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Next."

Before he could figure out what it meant, it was his turn.

Meanwhile, Roman walked alongside 2044, humming a tune, looking nothing like someone who had been taken there against his will.

A guard wanted to remind him of his position, but 2044 raised a hand to stop him. "Don't provoke him yet. The trouble is still to come."