The King of Black Fog

"Have you considered it?" Zheng Qing sized up the two of them.

Li Changzhou withdrew his gaze from Yang Qinglan's face, which made one want to smell, and thought seriously.

"Forget it, it's too dangerous, and we've just come back from the gunfire and bullets of Prague. We just want to spend a few peaceful days in Xia Country."

"It's not about the three of you going alone!"

Zheng Qing, afraid that they had misunderstood, hurried to explain.

"I, along with a small team of Player Soldiers from the Special Warfare Bureau, will be with you! After all, this is a matter of national concern, how can we let you go alone?"

"Officer Zheng," Li Changzhou sat up, "I'm not going to beat around the bush, I'll tell you the truth, whatever 'witch' and 'doctor' you're talking about have no appeal to me."

(The other party might have healing-related skills or items.)

"What about the lecture?" Zheng Qing asked, "Isn't it important to know the road ahead? You should understand the importance of intelligence."

"That's even less valuable."

"Why?"

(The other party may have similar intelligence, having encountered players who can break through limits.)

Li Changzhou picked up his glass of water and took a sip, saying, "A lecture from some expert on breaking limits? Paths are made by walking. Others can walk them, can't I? Besides, going to an isolated island for rescue, with other forces intervening, is also a difficult path to take."

Zheng Qing fell silent.

Indeed, why risk one's life in a rescue mission when you can risk it playing the game instead? The latter might even be safer.

(Cat Head, the mission failed, next is to curry favor, offer free tickets, pay attention to fostering affection, and show the country's attitude towards potential players.)

Zheng Qing sighed silently in her heart, just as she was about to speak.

"However," Li Changzhou put down his glass, his eyes on Zheng Qing, "as long as you're willing to pay more, we can talk."

"Pay more?" Zheng Qing was taken aback, then she realized that this money was definitely not Daxia Currency.

"Yes. On top of what you've already mentioned, add one more condition."

"Let's hear it!"

"I need an item or skill that can enhance Charm or Intelligence. The state surely has made progress in this aspect."

Zheng Qing opened her mouth but before she could speak, Li Changzhou continued.

"You probably wouldn't want to part with items, so information about skills or instincts would do, but it has to be three, and the information must be reliable, preferably give me an Identity Card, with everything written clearly in black and white."

"...That will need to be reported."

"Of course. However, I'm only accepting this condition; anything else is off the table." Li Changzhou lay back down, "The amount of money determines the amount of effort I'll put in; only with such intelligence is it worth my full effort."

Zheng Qing looked at Li Qianxia and Yang Qinglan.

"What about you two? Do you have any special requests?" she asked.

"Whatever my brother requests is what I request!" Li Qianxia said.

Yang Qinglan thought for a moment and said, "Give me the information of all the players who own shops in Ming City."

"Impossible!" Zheng Qing rejected outright, more resolutely than she had with Li Changzhou's request.

She then gave a bitter smile and dropped her tough stance.

"Qing Lan," she said helplessly, "I won't deceive you, the country is not in the business of charity. It's not possible to give those shop-owning players introductions to safe, guaranteed player customers, nor is it possible to give all the shop-owning players' information to customers—whether it's shop-owning players or customer players, they're all resources for us. Of course, in essence, everyone is actually helping each other out."

Li Qianxia held her phone and muttered, "No wonder I couldn't find the shop-owning players on the forums."

Apart from large organizations and items that could be traded online, few would dare to open shops on the forum.

Who knows if the person who comes knocking is a customer coming to spend or a criminal coming to kill and rob?

The clients introduced by the state aren't 100% safe, but at least they are guaranteed.

"Then add ten more shop-owning players," Yang Qinglan said.

"No way, three, including the 'witch' and 'doctor', making it three in total. More than three, and there will be a referral fee, but a discount could be arranged for you."

"The country is not easy either, having started to do this kind of business," Li Changzhou laughed.

"The country has many people and great strength, but because of the large population, consumption is also great; I hope you can understand." Zheng Qing said.

"Understood." Yang Qinglan nodded, "Then just three, we are patriotic youths too, but going to the isolated island is too dangerous, we really can't help it."

"Absolutely, absolutely." Li Changzhou echoed like a loyal dog, "Actually, if it's something in Ming City, our demands wouldn't be so high, as long as it's not for nothing, we'd agree."

"Good!" Zheng Qing stood up, "I'm going back to report to my superiors now, time is pressing."

"Go ahead. Just bring me the information I need, and I'll risk my life for one trip with you."

After Zheng Qing left, the tranquil atmosphere of the courtyard returned.

"Are we really going to some island in the Indian Ocean?" Li Qianxia played with her phone in one hand and fiddled with her tender toes.

"If they really bring over the Identity Cards." Li Changzhou said with a teasing smile, then he opened his eyes, "What are you afraid of? With my Teleportation and Small World abilities, could I really let anything happen to us? One second in the Indian Ocean, and in the next, I'll have you back in Ming City drinking bubble tea."

"I forgot about that!" Li Qianxia exclaimed suddenly, then got excited, "So then, this is another overseas island trip? Maybe we can even grab some national team Identity Cards! They must have loads of useful skills!"

"But only if you can fight," he said.

At this moment, Li Changzhou, who had been paying attention to Yang Qinglan, noticed she hadn't spoken for a while.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Yang Qinglan looked up, "You just mentioned the Honey Pot World, and it made me realize something—we can't buy bees or milk cows within the country."