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墨書 Inktalez
Xu Nuan was the person with the most secrets in this game, making her the one most likely to be in danger.
Aside from those players who were genuinely focused on clearing the challenges, everyone else had their sights set on Xu Nuan. To them, she was a tempting prize, someone who could be used and then discarded without a second thought. Through countless dangers in the past, Xu Nuan had managed to navigate through them safely, thanks to her own abilities and the help of others. However, Gu Ze had a feeling that as Xu Nuan progressed further into the game, those lurking in the shadows would no longer be able to hold back, especially as they were about to reach the Forest of Hatred. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that everyone wanted to seize.
Being near Xu Nuan inherently meant being in danger. At this point, Gu Ze had to admit that if Qin Yaojie hadn't secretly drugged Xu Nuan before, she would not have been able to keep those secrets hidden for so long. Not being able to conceal them meant being abandoned; to some extent, Xu Nuan had survived this long thanks to Qin Yaojie’s assistance and might continue to receive help from the deceased Qin Yaojie in the future.
Even though he was reluctant, Gu Ze felt grateful for this fact. What concerned him more was how Xu Nuan felt about it.
“Ze?”
Gu Ze had been silent for too long, and a hint of sadness flashed in Xu Nuan's eyes. Her trust and respect prevented her from pressing for answers, but she was still an ordinary person; it was impossible for her not to mind being kept in the dark.
“This situation arose purely by coincidence.”
Gu Ze didn’t want to avoid explaining; he just didn’t know where to start. Or perhaps he was worried that Xu Nuan would lose control again like before when faced with the truth within reach—no one could remain composed under such circumstances.
Chi Ming’s head looked gruesome from the gunshot wound, and the injuries on his body were equally terrifying. Yet he was already a corpse now, taken away by snow and blood. The occasional gust of wind only hastened the loss of warmth from the body. Meanwhile, the two people beside the corpse were forced to face each other.
Compared to troublesome enemies, their own feelings were harder to control and thus became even more significant.
Xu Nuan and Gu Ze locked eyes, seemingly seeing only each other, yet both were subtly aware of their surroundings. The distant rocks, a bit further away the snow-capped mountains, and a corner of the glacier—none of them relaxed their vigilance.
“Do you remember the traps we encountered in these levels?”
After pondering for a moment, Gu Ze organized his thoughts and chose a starting point to explain everything to Xu Nuan. Faced with her intense gaze, he found it impossible to keep hiding things from her, even though there were many secrets he still held back.
“I do.”
This matter had been troubling Xu Nuan as well.
"Several times it has been confirmed that those traps are aimed at us, but," Xu Nuan pondered for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly as a sudden sharp pain shot through her head. Once the pain subsided, her expression returned to normal. "I'm not clear on the conflict between our team and those people. Is it the reward? Or is it because of me? Or is it aimed at you, Third Batch of Players?"
With insufficient clues, Xu Nuan couldn't analyze further. Before another wave of pain hit, Gu Ze had already taken over the conversation.
"It should be because of the Third Batch of Players."
Gu Ze reached out to smooth the creases that had formed on Xu Nuan's forehead and explained calmly.
"This is also a coincidence. When I was designing Ning Han, I inadvertently encountered several Players and observed their actions. After subduing them by force, they had no choice but to confess this matter to me."
Gu Ze spoke lightly, but having witnessed his skills, Xu Nuan could imagine the unfortunate fate of those Players.
"It seems that ordinary Players in this game have heard a rumor," Gu Ze's eyes deepened as he recalled his feelings upon learning this information; the smile on his lips faded slightly. "The rumor is that the Third Batch of Players possesses an important item that can allow them to leave this game. Since it's just a rumor and they don't know what the item is, they only dare to set traps instead of confronting us directly."
Upon hearing this, Xu Nuan's gaze sharpened. Thinking back to those who had interacted with the Third Batch of Players and were still alive, she could guess who was behind it all.
So this time, was it actually Gu Ze's first confrontation with Zhang Xiao?
"I think he is using those Players to trip us up while also reminding us that he knows about this matter and intends to use it as leverage against us."
The memory of past pain surged back as her previously injured arm began to ache again. Xu Nuan felt uncomfortable and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, everything seemed a bit blurry, causing her heart to race. She anxiously grabbed Gu Ze's arm, and when he softly asked what she intended to do, she found her vision clear once more; the earlier oddity seemed like a mere illusion.
"It's nothing."
Xu Nuan shook her head, suppressing her unease as she met Gu Ze's concerned gaze.
"He will definitely use this matter at an opportune moment to manipulate other Players for his own benefit. In this regard, we are at a disadvantage."
"That's not a problem," Gu Ze replied without distress over the situation. Zhang Xiao wouldn't dare confront them openly due to certain concerns; no one in this game could act recklessly, including the Mastermind. "Players who have made it halfway through the game are certainly not fools; they won't be so easily manipulated unless he has something more substantial in hand. If he truly possesses such leverage, his identity must be significant. By doing so, he inadvertently exposes himself."
Gu Ze was very subtle, but Xu Nuan, who knew more, quickly understood and hurriedly brought the distant topic back. However, she was worried about Chi Xiaoming, who had yet to return.
"You wouldn't let those Players go without a fight. What did you do to allow Chi Ming and Chi Xiaoming to meet?"
"Those who obtain information can also spread it in return."
At this moment, Gu Ze revealed a confident demeanor that was not unpleasantly sharp.
"They came to us because of the rumors; I can also let them spread some news to lure certain people in."
Gu Ze did not clarify what he had told those he considered pawns, and Xu Nuan did not press further on that point.
"So, you used those people to draw out Chi Ming and collaborated with Chi Xiaoming to get them together?"
Xu Nuan understood that Gu Ze was more interested in drawing out Zhang Xiao. She had vaguely guessed before that Gu Ze's collaboration with Chi Xiaoming was because of her. The biggest surprise for her at the moment was Zhang Xiao's appearance. Realizing this without embarrassment warmed Xu Nuan's heart, but soon an unknown panic surged within her. At that moment, she did not realize what this panic represented.
"It's just a pity," Gu Ze turned his gaze back to the now silent Chi Ming, his head slightly bowed, his expression somewhat obscure. "He has already been killed. It seems the Mastermind has arranged for surveillance around all the important pieces."
Xu Nuan nodded initially but then thought of something and raised a question.
"But isn't it only Zhang Xiao's faction that has guns? Does that Mastermind's person also have a gun? Or perhaps...?"
Xu Nuan found herself confused.
"Is Zhang Xiao the Mastermind?"
"No," Xu Nuan quickly dismissed this speculation herself. "Zhang Xiao does not have the highest game authority, and he is not favored by Chairman Rao. He doesn't have the qualifications to enter the core company and touch core resources, right?"
The more anxious she became to know the true identities of these people, the more confused Xu Nuan felt. This was partly due to her limited clues, partly because those watching her were divided into several groups with different purposes—some were clear while others were elusive—and partly because there were too few people she could ask, and the truthfulness of their words was uncertain.
"Don't overthink it."
Gu Ze repeated this phrase as usual. He had already noticed Xu Nuan's discomfort and sighed inwardly. It seemed that Xu Nuan's mind couldn't handle the current situation. Although her thought process was normal for a human, it always encountered problems with her. He had already guessed the reason.
"Before I caught Ning Han, his gun had disappeared," Gu Ze thought of more than Xu Nuan. "I suspect that his gun was gone long before, otherwise he wouldn't have become increasingly cautious, giving me an opportunity."
Xu Nuan let go of her own thoughts and followed Gu Ze's analysis.
"If this possibility holds true, it means that Zhang Xiao and one of the game founders are from two different factions. There are three groups hidden in the shadows, and each of them has their own people."
A chill ran through Xu Nuan's heart; she seemed to have figured out whose side Dong Keyong was on.
Zhang Xiao wanted to know where the secret passage was, not just to escape the game but seemingly to reach an obsession. Only by capturing him would she know what it specifically was. The game founder had sent someone like Dong Keyong to find out what Su Zihang had left behind, and Su Zihang happened to be a designer close to Qin Yaojie. So, she could guess what that so-called important thing was. Lastly, there was another group, similar to Guo Xu, who wanted to kill her. However, this group's numbers seemed small, and they acted cautiously as if afraid of being discovered.
"Don't think too much for now," Gu Ze said with a sigh when he saw Xu Nuan unconsciously furrowing her brow. He tried to reassure her. "No matter how many people there are, I will root them out; it's just a matter of time."
Gu Ze had intended to say more, but as he reached out to touch Xu Nuan's face, his hand suddenly withdrew. He stood up alertly, shielding Xu Nuan behind him while drawing a short knife with his right hand.
Xu Nuan felt tense as well; she stood up and drew her own short knife, following Gu Ze's gaze. All she saw was a vast expanse of white snow, with sparse trees and rocky outcrops looking desolate in the snowfield—no sign of any person.
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