Chapter 1364: Chapter 1365: Improving Players’ Living Standards

The instance time limit hasn’t expired yet; most players still have at least one-third of their time left. It doesn’t matter if they waste a few more days in Twin Cities. But if the instance disappears, or there’s a problem in any link where a new Dr. Duor won’t appear, then they’re completely out of luck.

Failing to clear the instance not only results in missing instance rewards but also lowers the player’s clearance rate, affecting their leveling up. Fortunately, this instance isn’t a limitless one; after fifteen days, they can leave.

Zone 023 is an obviously barren city. Frankly, if it weren’t for the instance, even if the place was given to players, no one would take it. So when the news of the Ya Clan’s retreat came, players who knew a bit of the inside story were already ready to return empty-handed. But then someone talked about doing something big, which is hard not to get tempted by.

As a result, more players came upon hearing the news. In just half an hour, this floor, left vacant due to player intrusion, had already gathered thirty players, each with their own thoughts.

During this time, Xu Huo had already checked the clearance rewards.

He initially thought this instance was just a standard clearance without anything special, and an A-level perfect rating should be fine. Unexpectedly, the outcome was an S-rank rating.

It wasn’t just because he successfully sent Dr. Duor to Dongfeng Laboratory and completed the instance’s apparent “New Hope,” but also because he unveiled the instance’s truth, leading to another form of “New Hope.”

The rewards for an S-rank rating are wonderful, including two Rank-B props and three Rank-C items. Moreover, under Accident-Triggering Physique, an extended characteristic was added, named “Reasonable Existence.”

[Considering that Passerby A actively and passively appears in various dangerous and non-dangerous scenarios, a universally accepted identity is necessary. Thus, when Passerby A uses this characteristic, he will have three minutes of legitimate identity, like a blade of grass on the field or a grain of rice on an ant’s back. To everyone, it’s reasonable without needing more questions.]

[It’s said this characteristic is suitable for dodging tickets, but it’s advisable not to impose extra work on ticket collectors by being cheap.]

[Note: Matching it with logical explanations can make it smoother, but be aware of those who initially don’t believe you—they might be the director. After all, only a director wouldn’t overlook Passerby A.]

Xu Huo found this characteristic very interesting. The characteristic “Forgetting Switch” can make players within a hundred meters temporarily forget his identity, but this doesn’t erase his existence. For example, if a group of people suddenly loses their goal during a heated fight, even a fool would feel something’s off, and the stranger in front becomes the best target.

If you stack “Reasonable Existence,” those who see him will actively rationalize his presence, effectively ignoring him. This is more convenient than simply making people forget or ignore him, since it’s impossible for a living person to disappear into thin air. But if he’s like a pen lying on the desk, it wouldn’t seem abrupt to anyone.

Of course, Passerby A’s characteristic usage depends on the scenario. Most of the time, it’s to lower presence, and Xu Huo often uses the defensive characteristic “Truth Above All.”

But the beauty of characteristics lies in their upgradeability, growing from small to large, and the range and intensity might eventually match a decent prop, making it a worthwhile investment.

Other items like potions and tickets can be briefly mentioned. Probably due to his repeated collection of mutant plant seeds in the instance, among this time’s rewards were some unknown plant seeds, commonly known as blind boxes, which could grow into anything depending on one’s luck.

These aren’t the main events; the highlight is the extra reward of a vehicle.

Yes, a motorhome.

[Simple Transport: With family considerations, Stellar Travels has thoughtfully developed this small motorhome suitable for three people’s daily life. Besides basic living facilities, it comes equipped with automatic repair skills, so if a mechanical failure occurs, you don’t need to learn repair basics; it can handle matters like changing tires, fixing energy cylinders, automatic route correction, etc., freeing you from worry and allowing you to fully focus on your travels.]

[Furthermore, you needn’t worry about travel safety issues. The motorhome’s shell is made from Rank-B weapon-grade metal, capable of withstanding natural disasters, alien attacks, and stranger assaults. It features automatic water storage equipment, so even when surrounded and unable to escape, you can rely on sufficient drinking water until rescue arrives.]

Though dubbed a simple transport, it’s more like a mobile lodging equipped with anti-explosion functions; it has all conceivable car features plus features a car shouldn’t have. Basic route correction, danger detection, and preemptive defense are all completed automatically, making it a real high-tech product.

Driving, of course, isn’t as convenient as using long-distance teleportation props, but having this vehicle will make things much easier—especially in instances with poor environments, where even with a cleansing potion, hygiene becomes an issue.

When the player level and instance rating improve, the game starts focusing on life-saving details beyond mere survival.

Besides instance rewards, there’s the relic of the fake player he killed earlier. The only remarkable item among his belongings is a container prop named “Staff Dormitory,” which had all those fake players stuffed inside. It housed many previously used, yet there’s still a lot left, indicating the space’s vastness.

However, controlling fake players should be that player’s characteristic. Xu Huo doesn’t have props with such effects, which is somewhat regrettable. Still, the “Staff Dormitory” space is much larger than the “World in the Painting” and is explicitly stated to accommodate living people for up to eight hours—in other words, enough for a nap.

Those who enter the “World in the Painting” can survive for a maximum of thirty days, after which they perish within the painting, while “Staff Dormitory” only allows for eight hours. However, the good part is, it can store other life-like objects such as dummy models, dolls, puppets… In the hands of a player who can control fake individuals, it was a perfect match. In Xu Huo’s hands, it became somewhat inferior, though it was worth trying to see if stuffing items into the dummy’s cavity could preserve them.

Now isn’t the right time.

Xu Huo opened his eyes, glancing towards the scarred-hand player gulping down water beside him. The player fanned himself, grinning as he spoke, “Sorry, I naturally sweat a lot. This place is hot, too; I stink several times over. I can’t be bothered to wash since it’ll stink right away again. I’ll move a bit further away.”

He symbolically shifted half an inch to the side; after all, everyone was in the same state of discomfort.

“I’m not picky about these things. Men don’t need to spray perfumes.” He subtly insulted the righteous man sitting not far away, “Smelling sweet and foul isn’t that much worse?”

The righteous man wasn’t offended at all, instead smiling warmly, “Though living in the game isn’t easy, you should still live with dignity.”