Player Reload

"Seems like I've heard about it."

Li Cheng recalled that he'd indeed come across a first-person strategy video uploaded by a user named [Oracle] on the flying web.

The theme was quite novel, involving a card game against a massive alien creature with oceanic features, claiming to be an Ancient God, using one's blood as stakes, 200cc per round, with options to raise or call.

Due to the cards' rules set by the Ancient God, blending Texas Hold'em, battle cards, and auto chess,

Initially, Oracle was losing more than winning, and at the most dangerous time, her blood loss reached 60%, nearing shock.

But as she figured out the rules and uncovered the Ancient God's cheating tactics (the table itself was part of the Ancient God's body), she quickly turned the tide,

ultimately causing the previous player, who had been assimilated and possessed by the Ancient God, forgetting his own name, essentially also a victim, to die from blood loss, allowing him to die in human form.

Judging from the strategy video alone, this [Oracle] seems to be a puzzle-solving type Transcendent — which is slightly odd, as Oracle is currently paraplegic, and such system balance adjustments usually happen to berserker players.

"Let me unlock your shackles first."

Oracle took off the hairpin she wore, extracted a thin wire from it, fiddled with Li Cheng's foot shackles for a while, and unlocked them successfully, "Did you see any teammates in other cells?"

"No."

Li Cheng rubbed his ankle, "You probably also saw the special teleportation scene at the start of the task, right? There should be five other teammates besides us. They might be detained elsewhere."

"Not surprising, the system's heavy hand is like that."

Oracle wheeled herself out of the cell, her wheelchair powering forward, while the system prompt sounded anew.

[Stage One Task Objective Completed]

[Stage Two Task Objective: Locate and kill eight SVIP clients]

[Stage Two Task Time Limit: 8 hours]

[Task Reward 1: 1500 Experience Points, with 100 points for each additional VIP killed]

[Task Reward 2: 3000 Game Coins, with 300 coins for each additional VIP killed]

[Task Reward 3: Large Life Potion *1]

[Task Reward 4: After a solo player kills 15 VIPs, select a random item held by the player and upgrade it to Epic Quality]

[Stage Two Task Failure Penalty: Permanent be trapped in Script World]

Whoa.

Li Cheng and Oracle paused simultaneously, sensing a whiff of conspiracy in the air.

Despite the numerous shops selling magic potions, lizard gene self-repair injections, and consumption-type healing scrolls in the slum,

none can compare to the life potion produced by the system.

Micro Life Potion, clearing all conventional diseases, including limb loss, cancer, ALS, locked-in syndrome.

Medium Life Potion, literal regeneration of flesh and bones; as long as the head remains, one can regrow a body.

Reaching the Large Life Potion, already close to conceptual level, not only removes all debuffs but also allows for Blood Rebirth.

Even top-tier players routinely carry a bottle in their Backpack, just in case.

As for reward 4, there's no need to elaborate — Epic Quality items are always useful.

Such substantial rewards also indirectly prove how perilous this task is.

"Unlucky, unlucky, unlucky."

Oracle covered her forehead, instantly recognizing the traps and pitfalls the system laid within these few task descriptions.

Li Cheng took a deep breath, "Looks like we'll have to fight."

In 2024, a list involving over a hundred people, the "Epstein List," was publicly released, includes prominent figures visiting the island, such as the American Chain sect, Dong Wang, physicist Hawking, renowned lawyer Alan Dershowitz (also the spiritual idol most admired by an unnamed Aixinjueluo Xiang),

UK's Prince Andrew, Suarez, MJ, Beyoncé couple, Kevin Spacey, Great Director Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Quentin...

covering US politics, business, law, arts, and sports celebrities.

But importantly, not everyone visited the island for debauchery and pleasure.

Some celebrities were there to perform or give speeches for the influential — like MJ and Kissinger, yes, precisely Kissinger.

When Epstein bought the island in '98, Kissinger was already 76, likely past his prime physically, visiting the island perhaps to give motivational talks, encouraging the wealthy to be proper capitalist successors.

Some celebs visited to network with the influential, incidentally pulling investments for projects — e.g., certain fund managers, renowned directors, experts, and scholars.

Some celebrities, lacking in rank, even had to sell themselves — like certain models, actors, singers.

To say Epstein was a mere pimp is inaccurate rather than a political-commercial broker and organizer of a dark network.

The old money nobles at the pyramid's pinnacle need a venue breaking public order, testing compliance of rising nouveau riche, making them pledge allegiance.

Once pledged, mutually-held leverage solidifies belonging, setting grounds for discussing genuine "big deals."

From one perspective, the early days' Qi Gong master Wang Lin was an underpowered, youthful, minified low version of Epstein; mid-level officials, celebrities, and businessmen needed such a neither black nor white person to connect and mix interests.

If problems arise, they can kick him out.

In any case, those recognized as VIPs are certainly not the minor-league selling models, actors, singers.

At minimum, they are heirs of old money families or world-class directors and stars.

As for the top-tier SVIP ... they can only be super nobles.

Without exception, each of them has their fully armed security forces.

"At first glance, we have 8 hours of time, but the island is covered with security cameras, helicopter helipads, docks."

Li Cheng mused, "Once our assassination plan is exposed, all influential figures will quickly flee the island, or use satellite phones to call the Coast Guard, or Special Forces stationed at US Army bases overseas.

In other words, we can't be exposed and must capture all at once, clearing the table."

This is the hardest aspect, there are too many cameras on the island. In most equipment, item, and skill being unusable, two child-sized players would be spotted in no time, alerting the snake.

"I have a plan."

Oracle smoothed her hair, took a scalpel from the Backpack, and made an incision into ... the security guard's belly.

The scalpel is undoubtedly a Transcendent type of Equipment; from the cut, no blood poured out. Instead, like a plush toy, the internal organs, bones, fat, are easily removable.

Even considering Li Cheng and Gray Rain's strong-stomach, the sight was somewhat bizarre.

Oracle hollowed out most of the guard's torso, "creating" a space capable of accommodating two children stacked, promptly lying inside herself like wearing a skinsuit, "putting on" the guard's face.

"This should work."

Oracle spoke in a low voice like the guard, "Try laying inside too."

"... Alright."

Li Cheng laid inside the guard's abdominal cavity, unexpectedly finding the touch neither sticky nor hot. Instead, it felt cool and breathable — probably an added Special Effect of the scalpel.

"My lower limbs are paralyzed, you'll need to carry me. I retained part of the guard's skinsuit muscle; it shouldn't be too tiring."

Oracle spoke while draping her delicate, boneless legs over Li Cheng's neck, subsequently smoothing the guard's wound like a zipper.

The pair stood up shakily, as if beginners trying lion dance.

Oracle breathed out, "All's running smoothly — I can see the outside scene; how about you?"

"Somewhat alright."

Li Cheng peeled open the guard's navel, seeing outside light through it.

"Okay, let's go. Guard ship, depart!"

Oracle wrapped the extracted innards in white sheets, taking Li Cheng's cell blanket along. Nestled under both armpits.

After securing the cell door, the duo swayed their way to the stairs leading to the surface.