Chapter 6: Rules

Just as he pulled the door open, Xu Huo suddenly asked, "Is it possible to buy on credit if I don't have white banknotes?"

The attendant replied amiably, "Of course, credit is welcome."

Xu Huo pocketed the three hundred white banknotes and, under the gaze of the others, pressed the doorbell for the first-class carriage.

This time, Nie Xuan opened the door. He had anticipated that Xu Huo would return to the first-class carriage, so he had been waiting by the door.

Seeing the identical coaster paper, he smiled and said, "Selling information?"

Unfortunately, there were many wealthy and clever people in the first-class carriage; several had already obtained the inside information provided by the attendant.

"Two hundred white banknotes for the information in my hand, or you can trade with your own information."

"Three hundred white banknotes for a hidden rule; you can also trade with a hidden rule."

Nie Xuan wasn't very interested in the information on the slip. He had also received a napkin from the attendant earlier, but it was just a piece of useless information.

Nie Xuan quickly made a decision, closed the carriage door, and spoke with Xu Huo alone in the transition carriage.

"How many hidden rules have you found?"

"Two." Xu Huo exchanged papers with him to look at what the other had, then raised an eyebrow. "How much did you pay for this piece of information?"

"Three hundred white banknotes." Nie Xuan folded the "stay awake at night" slip and returned it to Xu Huo. "How about yours?"

"One hundred." Xu Huo handed over the "do not turn on the lights" slip.

Nie Xuan paid him five hundred white banknotes. "A discount, to buy both of your pieces of information."

Xu Huo readily accepted the money. Using the gesture of lighting a cigarette to cover his mouth and nose, he lowered his voice and said, "Lower-class carriages cannot enter higher-class carriages unless someone opens the door."

Nie Xuan understood instantly. In this transition carriage, the second-class carriage door had no doorbell, but the first-class one did; Xu Huo had pressed the doorbell earlier.

"Are you sure?"

"Third-class carriages have no doorbells, but second-class carriages have them on the back door." Xu Huo raised his cigarette again. "The second piece of information: you can buy meals on the train on credit."

First-class players were not short on white banknotes; they had more than enough to last three days. If people in second and third class were buying on credit, it meant they had no white banknotes. What would they use to settle the bill after three days?

The broadcast had stated that players would be graded and categorized based on their performance. It was highly likely that credit would be deducted from this, making it the worst possible strategy.

Furthermore, most people boarded the train on empty stomachs. If everyone was fed and satiated, what would be the standard for grading? What would be the point of the preliminary screening?

This information was crucial; it implied other potential rules.

Nie Xuan also understood the implications. He looked at Xu Huo, who remained indifferent, and reminded him, "The train is relatively safe for players."

Xu Huo turned his head to look at the scenery outside, once again feeling wary of the scene that seemed to be laid out in full view. The attendant had the right to expel players—did this mean that leaving the train was a death sentence?

"Don't sell the first piece of information to anyone else," Nie Xuan added.

If there were no restrictions on higher-class carriages entering lower-class ones, didn't that mean people in first class could attack those in second class at will?

Xu Huo didn't take the bait. Players were assigned carriages based on assets; a higher-class carriage did not necessarily mean greater ability.

Ability might not be higher, but punishments could exist. Rational people would hesitate, but for those without brains, knowing or not knowing wouldn't change their instincts.

After the exchange, Xu Huo didn't leave. Soon, another person came out of the first-class carriage. "I want to buy the information you have."

Although the people in first class had plenty of money, few came out to buy information, but this was enough.

Returning to the second-class carriage, he already had two thousand seven hundred white banknotes in his pocket. The meal time hadn't passed yet, so he called the attendant and ordered two extra bowls of noodles—one for himself and one for the old man.

The old man thanked him hesitantly and called Yan Jiayu over to eat.

"Good people are rewarded." Yan Jiayu ate the noodles greedily and said to Xu Huo, "Benefactor, you are a good person too."

Xu Huo finished his noodles quickly, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes to rest, slowly sorting through the information he had obtained.

One hundred white banknotes had bought the reminder to "stay awake at night," and the three-hundred-banknote tip was "do not turn on the lights." The "lights out at 8:00 PM" rule was written in the passenger regulations, which meant the consequences of turning on the lights at night were at least more serious than falling asleep.

The light switch in the carriage was a trap.

The purchasing power of players in the first-class carriage was generally stronger than those in the second class. What the heavily made-up woman said was likely true—players were assigned carriages based on assets—but she probably didn't have any more information than that.

She didn't care about the information bought from the attendant; it could be a bluff, or she could be confident of victory.

But the preliminary screening train was clearly a survival game with hidden traps. An extra layer of protection meant less risk. There were also "bloody players" on the train, and there were too many uncertain factors; the latter possibility was unlikely.

When the third-class carriage was in chaos, she was the first to go and hold the door. Was she unaware of the rules, or was it intentional?

Xu Huo's thoughts paused briefly before moving on to the next piece of information.

The seemingly hidden but actually obvious setting that higher-class carriages could enter lower-class ones was also a trap. The passenger regulations stated that one could not enter other carriages. On the surface, it seemed to imply that players in higher-class carriages were more capable than those in lower-class ones, but in reality, the disparity in strength was not significant.

In this situation, entering other carriages was absolutely unwise unless all the players in one's own carriage were dead, or only bloody players remained.

Bloody players were the currently known threat.

Judging from the information revealed by the courier girl, the preliminary screening train would definitely separate bloody players, but that didn't mean ordinary players wouldn't be tempted. If they couldn't get the food on the train, players who hadn't eaten before might also fall.

But players could buy on credit. If all players were not hungry, it would be impossible to grade or categorize them. Therefore, the effect of the food would likely not last twenty-four hours.

The difference was whether the effect of the food on ordinary players was the same as it was on bloody players.

In this way, the first day's incident would likely happen after the lights went out.

Xu Huo squinted, observing everyone in the carriage.

Without the distraction of gluttonous desires, the carriage was not as tense as before. The woman with the melon-shaped face and Li Fei were flirting, Chen Yi was fiddling with a toothbrush, and the square-faced man had his hands in his pockets.

He Yang was playing a mobile game with the ponytail student, Professor Han was typing on his phone, the middle-aged woman sat with her hands folded on her abdomen, the heavily made-up woman was resting with her eyes closed, and Yan Jiayu was chatting with the old man.

Until 3:00 PM, there were no announcements on the train.

The four people at Li Fei's table whispered for a while, then he stood up, looked around at everyone, cleared his throat, and said, "We are all in the same boat now. Whether you believe me or not, if we have internal strife, we will definitely die faster. Tonight, let's take turns guarding the door... Does anyone have any objections to that?"

Without the distraction of gluttonous desires, it was time to think about practical matters.

Seeing that no one objected, he continued, "The rest of us don't know anything about the preliminary screening train. I suggest we share information so it's easier to deal with emergencies."

Eyes turned toward the heavily made-up woman and Xu Huo.