Chapter 47 Dispute

"What did you do to Peng Fengnian!" Tang Pei blurted out immediately. "We can never clear this instance without him. If you are also a player, you'd better let him go. Given the danger level of this instance, as long as one person completes the task, everyone else can clear it!"

"Calm down, he's not dead." Xu Huo glanced at the person beside him and continued, "We have already decided to cooperate. He asked you to bring the paper cellphone over here, by yourself."

Peng Fengnian's expression changed, and he hurriedly reached out to snatch the phone. However, Tang Pei on the other end automatically interpreted Xu Huo's words as a threat, said "I'll be right there," and abruptly cut off the communication.

"What on earth are you trying to do by tricking Tang Pei into coming over?" Peng Fengnian looked at him warily. "She won't come."

"This paper cellphone... apart from the person holding it, no third party can hear the conversation?" Xu Huo paused and asked.

"Of course," Peng Fengnian said. "This is a Grade B prop, which I obtained at a huge cost and through countless hardships. How could it possibly lack even this basic level of confidentiality?"

"However, don't get any funny ideas," Peng Fengnian warned. "With just a thought from me, the paper cellphone will self-destruct. It will be useless even if you get both phones."

Xu Huo's expression remained calm as his gaze fell on him. "Your suit looks nice. Lend it to me for a while."

The muscles in Peng Fengnian's face twitched. Just as he was about to speak, Xu Huo cut him off first: "Lend me your clothes and one cellphone in exchange for a chance to clear the instance tonight—deal or no deal?"

Peng Fengnian looked at him in disbelief. His mouth opened and closed several times, but he couldn't utter a word. He wanted to tell Xu Huo that he was talking utter nonsense, as even a Grade C player wouldn't dare claim they could clear the Skinner instance in a single day. Yet, seeing Xu Huo's composed and confident demeanor, it felt as though if he said he could do it, he actually might.

Where did he get such confidence?

Suddenly thinking of something, he asked tentatively, "Are you a Grade B player?"

Ticket-holding players almost always entered instances corresponding to their own grades. Few players would actively challenge higher-grade instances, and no high-grade player was willing to accompany low-grade ones for fun. However, things were different if someone was randomly sucked into one.

"Take a guess." Xu Huo did not answer the question directly.

Peng Fengnian pondered carefully for a moment and dismissed the idea. If he were a Grade B player, how could he possibly have never heard of a prop created by the super player Paper Puppeteer?

"You must be a Grade C player," he said with certainty. "I can tell you're very strong, but the Skinner is not that easy to deal with. If you try to take things by force, you will definitely not succeed."

Xu Huo's props and the familiarity with which he moved didn't resemble a novice just entering the game at all. Therefore, Peng Fengnian never considered him to be a player of a lower grade than himself; instead, he assumed Xu Huo was even stronger than him.

***

When Tang Pei arrived with the paper cellphone, Xu Huo had already left. Peng Fengnian was left sitting on the ground wearing an oversized T-shirt and large shorts.

"Why are you in this state?" Tang Pei asked, standing cautiously at a distance without coming closer.

Peng Fengnian beckoned to her. "Come over here and we'll talk."

Seeing that he didn't look like he was being coerced and sensing no other presence nearby, Tang Pei hurried over. "What on earth is going on? Did something go wrong? Qin An and the others are helping me cover for them. I don't have much time and need to get back before the Skinner finds out."

Peng Fengnian quickly recounted what had happened with Xu Huo. Tang Pei frowned and said, "You gave him the paper cellphone without even hearing his specific plan? What if he ditches us and clears the instance alone? Even though the tasks for random players and ticket-holding players are the same, just because he clears it doesn't mean we will."

"I don't have any other counterplans for now," Peng Fengnian said. "You know the situation in the collection room better than I do. Our original plan won't work. Xu Huo might be a Grade C player, which makes it worth taking the risk."

"Since you've put it that way, I'll trust you." Tang Pei handed her own paper cellphone to him. "Didn't he mention what we need to do?"

"No," Peng Fengnian replied. "He said he would let us know when he needs us."

Tang Pei frowned even deeper. "I have to go back. You were the one who agreed to cooperate, and I trust you, but the others might not. If Xu Huo turns out to be unreliable, not only them, but I will also take action."

Peng Fengnian nodded. "There is no absolute trust among players. Do whatever you think is best."

After urging him to be careful, Tang Pei returned to the factory. When she climbed back in through the pigpen and saw Qin An and the others still cleaning the workshop, she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"What's going on with Peng Fengnian?" Yang Can hurried forward to greet her.

"We are going to cooperate with that random player," Tang Pei said. "Peng Fengnian gave him the paper cellphone and told us to assist him."

"Has Peng Fengnian lost his mind?" Zou Weichang said with displeasure. "We let him lead the team because he has a Grade C player brother and knows more than we do. But that other random player—on what grounds?"

"That person might also be a Grade C player," Tang Pei said. "When the Skinner told us to feed the pigs, he mentioned there were forty-one large pigs. But when I went outside just now, I counted the pigpen, and there are only forty."

"If there are special props, it's possible for pig skin to shed on its own before it's fully grown," Qin An paused and asked, "What did Peng Fengnian say about the collection room?"

"He doesn't have a solution for now," Tang Pei replied. "That's why he asked us to wait and see if Xu Huo can make a breakthrough."

Zou Weichang sneered. "He can afford to wait, but I can't. It's Peng Fengnian's business if he wants to hand his props over to others, but I'm not foolish enough to believe whatever anyone says!"

"As long as the task is the same, we still have a chance." Qin An motioned for him to lower his voice, then asked, "When is he planning to come in? If it's after dark, we can find a way to stall the Skinner."

Before Tang Pei could speak, Zou Weichang cut in. "I disagree. I won't use my own life as a stepping stone for someone else. If you insist on doing this, then let's go our separate ways!"

Qin An's expression turned somewhat ugly. "Do you have the ability to deal with the Skinner on your own?"

"I don't have the ability, but dragging it out until the instance time expires is not impossible."

The game time limit for ticket-holding players was half a month. Even if they failed to clear the instance, as long as they survived until the time ran out, those with train tickets could directly move on to the next instance.

"Random players must complete the instance tasks to escape, and the mortality rate is ninety-nine percent. That random player named Xu faces a much higher risk than we do. Of course he wants us to help him. After all, once this instance ends, there's no telling when the next one will open, and dying at the hands of the Skinner is just a matter of time for him."

"You—" Qin An wanted to say more, but Xian Dazhi, who was keeping watch at the front door, let out a low shout: "Stop arguing, he's coming in through the front door!"

The few of them hurriedly ran over and saw a tall, handsome man with long hair standing at the entrance. He was wearing Peng Fengnian's suit, with a small wild flower tucked into his pocket. As soon as he stepped inside, he said to the Skinner, who was a head taller than him:

"Tax Bureau conducting an audit—call your boss out here!"