Chapter 969: Traitor

The situation at the main hub was stabilizing on the surface, but the danger was approaching from the undercurrents.

"It feels like he has turned into a different person..."

The members of Absolute Truth looked at the dead Lee Teng. They had no idea why he would choose to side with Dream. Their former friend had been plotting to kill them. It was a bad feeling.

"I didn't expect that there'd be a traitor among our elite members." Xia Chong had the members seal up the lobby. This would affect the guild's reputation, so it was better to handle it in private.

"There should be quite a number of players who chose to side with Dream. Perhaps, some of them were its disciples already." Han Fei knelt beside Lee Teng. He looked through his inventory. "Do any of you know him in real life?"

"We've never asked about his real life. We know that he came from quite a rich background but was quite stingy. He wasn't the brightest player." The players at Absolute Truth didn't know more.

"Don't promote this incident. Happiness Neighborhood will rat out the traitors." Han Fei led Shen Luo away.

"You don't look too good. Did that player remind you of something bad?" Shen Luo saw the frown on Han Fei's face, and he asked.

"If Lee Teng were a crazed murderer in real life, then everything would be fine. But if he were just a normal player..." Han Fei took out two bags from his inventory. "I found these among Lee Teng's inventory."

"They are just two bags."

"Can't you see the hair and blood?" Han Fei went to a secluded place and opened the bags. They contained bloody scalps and organs. "Lee Teng not only attacked the players, but he also tortured them! If he were a normal player, then his personality changed overnight after he joined Dream!"

"Dream can change a person completely within a day?" Shen Luo was shocked. "But what about me? I didn't feel any changes."

"You're the exception." Han Fei destroyed the bags. "Killing other players can raise their levels and attributes. The rules at the main hub are slowly changing. Dream is replacing the supercomputer."

Thinking back to the grey cocoon he saw when logging off the game, Han Fei shivered. "I don't know what Dream's plan is, but I can't let it succeed!"

"What can I do for you?" Shen Luo's luck might be zero, but he was a good person.

"When you've rested, I need to explore the nightmare further. Take care of yourself. Whenever you clear a layer, contact me." Han Fei was the only person on Shen Luo's friend list.

"Okay. You can message me if you need anything. I'll find you after I leave the nightmare." Shen Luo returned to the nightmare. Han Fei returned to Happiness Neighborhood's base. Huang Yin soon arrived. Huang Yin was indeed impressive in the surface world. Even Han Fei felt a light threat from him. Of course, Huang Yin didn't mean to harm Han Fei. It just meant that Huang Yin could take on Han Fei in the surface world.

"I haven't entered the game, but you have already reached the eighth layer. If I didn't survive the earlier layers, I would lose so much face." Huang Yin felt at ease when he was around Han Fei. He took out a flesh-colored mask from his face. "The mask of an acting master. It's a Grade B rare item. I've been wearing it. By the way, the item rating here might be a bit different. Grade A item here might be Grade C at your place."

"No wonder your acting skill improves so fast." Han Fei updated Huang Yin on the Happiness Neighborhood.

Hearing that most of their neighbors were there, Huang Yin was confident. "With you around, our chance of winning has quadrupled."

"I saw Deep Space Tech release the latest news in the chatroom. They plan to use the backdoors in the game to send the players out. You are familiar with them. What are the backdoors?" Han Fei wanted to know the details to prevent conflict.

Huang Yin chuckled sadly. "There is no backdoor. It's a lie to raise morale."

"A lie?"

"Yes. A white lie." Huang Yin nodded helplessly. "Until now, Deep Space Tech still has no idea why the players can't leave the game. They also need someone to send info from inside the game out."

"Now, I am the only player who can leave Perfect Life. Get the people from Deep Space Tech to figure out the truth. Then, I'll carry the message out for them," Han Fei offered.

"But won't you be exposed?" Huang Yin wanted to save the players but he didn't want to put his friend's life in danger either.

"It's fine. I've already prepared to open the path to the cryptic world. The players will get to experience a new version of the game." Han Fei opened both sides of the box. He planned to walk a path different from Fu Sheng. "I need the players to bring positive emotions into the cryptic world. This is the best timing."

"The players trapped here can empathize with the residents of the cryptic world the most." Huang Yin thought. "But no matter whether you succeed or not, you'll be pushed to the eye of the storm. You might end up the enemy of both worlds."

"I know."

"You should think more about this." Huang Yin was older than Han Fei. "As a new order surfaces, it'll be resisted by forces who have been benefiting from the old orders. If you combine the two worlds, you'll break the rules of both worlds. The resistance will be unimaginable."

"Fu Sheng probably thought the same way, so he chose to destroy the cryptic world." Han Fei's eyes didn't change. "But I'm not him. I can't give up because it's difficult. I'm Fu Sheng's successor, but I'll not follow his path."

"The unknown ghosts of the cryptic world aside, it'll be hard for you to convince the leaders of the big companies in the real world. They are the biggest winners of the current situation. They will not allow you to do things the way you like." Huang Yin was very clear. "When you lose your value or threaten them, they will instantly turn on you! This era is crueler than any of them before it. We're living in a world curated by them, so we have the illusion that humanity is becoming more civilized."

"Brother Huang, I know." Han Fei had a professional smile on his face. "I'm not going for absolute salvation or pure destruction. I will decide whether it is a devil or an angel coming out of the abyss."

Huang Yin then realized the man before he wasn't a pushover. He crawled out of the mountain of dead bodies. He had experienced death more times than anyone alive. The sacrifice would be huge if one offended someone like Han Fei.

"I was born in the real world, but the real world didn't give me any love. My family is in the cryptic world. For me, the real world is like my birth parents, and the cryptic world is my adopted parents." Han Fei shrugged. "My birth parents abandoned me, and my adopted parents are crazy. I can choose to get my birth parents to heal my adopted parents. That is the best outcome. But if I lose my mind and become the devil, I'll kill all of them." Han Fei could choose to be a good guy but if he was the bad guy, he would be the worst.

"Please don't say something like that." Huang Yin was covered in a cold sweat.

"I was joking." Han Fei didn't sound like he was joking. "I wouldn't do something like that but I can't say what the other me would do."

"If all fails, we'll use Spiritfarer to summon the dissenting voices to the cryptic world. I'm sure they'll rethink everything." Huang Yin was more mature than Han Fei. To prevent the worst ending, he decided to start collecting info on all the company leaders.

"You're right. We're very good at persuasion." Han Fei didn't want to continue this conversation. "Brother Huang, I need you to do one more thing for me."

"What is it?"

"After clearing the nightmare beyond the fifth layer, there's a chance for black-and-white pieces to drop. They are very important to me and the safety of all the players. If possible, I wish for you to talk to all the guilds to sell the pieces to me." Han Fei was very polite. He could demand the pieces but he wanted to buy them.

"Leave it to me." Huang Yin entered the chat. After saying a few things, the other guilds quickly replied. They would send over the pieces soon.

"No wonder you're the first player." Han Fei was lucky to have met Huang Yin.

"It'll take time for them to send the things over. How about we attempt a nightmare now?" Huang Yin moved his body. "I've heard so much and I want to give it a try." Huang Yin was the first player and he had to do something. In that case, he might as well go with Han Fei.

"You're more understanding than Bai Xian."

Huang Yin and Han Fei left the base. Han Fei purposely moved behind Huang Yin. He used masterful acting to express his admiration for Huang Yin.

The players were excited when they saw this. The strongest member of Happiness Neighborhood was making his move!

The vice president, Han Fei, could lead 30 players to clear the seventh layer unscathed and clear the eighth layer alone. Huang Yin, as the president, had to be stronger, right?