Chapter 9: The Wanted Order
Seeing her curiosity, Chu Xuange explained, "There are many professions in the game, such as 'Scrap Collector', 'Chef', 'Bartender', 'Bodyguard', 'Professional Killer', 'Traffic Police Officer', 'Pharmacist', etc. The entry requirements for each profession are different."
"Some professions even require certification exams."
Pei Hening listened with great interest.
Chu Xuange deliberately elaborated, mentioning that after the Newbie Protection Period ends and after every map cycle, the system will rank three lists: the 'Strength Ranking', the 'wealth ranking', and the 'mileage ranking'. Each list ranks ten players, and those who make the list receive ranking rewards.
For the entire day, Pei Hening listened to strategies while searching for boxes.
Six o'clock in the afternoon.
Gripping her katana tightly, she cautiously opened a box.
"Congratulations to player [Di Bi Di Bi] for obtaining Vehicle Air Conditioner*1, Instant Noodles*1, Screw*2."
"Congratulations to player [Di Bi Di Bi] for obtaining Land*1, Cola*1, Wooden Board*4."
"Congratulations to player [Di Bi Di Bi] for obtaining Vehicle Refrigerator Blueprint*1, Plastic*1, Iron Block*1."
"Congratulations to player [Di Bi Di Bi] for obtaining Underwear Set*1, Strawberry Cake*1, Battery*1."
...After she finished opening the boxes, Chu Xuange sent over a bowl of fragrant Pig Trotter Noodles.
She picked up the noodles, tears welling up in her eyes from excitement.
The rich broth, the soft, fall-off-the-bone pig trotter, the fried egg resting on top of the noodles, and the garnishing greens fiercely tempted her taste buds.
It was so delicious it made her cry on the spot!
This was the first decent meal she had eaten since entering this cursed game.
"We don't have a lot of ingredients, but it's enough to get through the Newbie Protection Period."
With teary eyes, Pei Hening asked, "Will I still be able to eat hot, steaming meals after the Newbie Protection Period ends?"
Chu Xuange said helplessly, "Don't worry, I definitely won't let you go hungry."
——
Day seven of Road Survival.
On the last day of the Newbie Protection Period, Pei Hening woke up before six o'clock, wanting to check the resources that refreshed today.
"Congratulations to player [Di Bi Di Bi] for obtaining the Magic Creation: 'Worker's Life-Extending Cup' (E)."
[Worker's Life-Extending Cup] (E)
This is the greatest product of the Magic Era, automatically producing one cup of highly concentrated anti-fatigue coffee daily, with a random flavor.
Just as she finished reading the description, Chu Xuange's call came through.
"Baby, the system will release the rankings tonight. We can rest early and prepare for tomorrow's natural disaster."
Pei Hening nodded obediently while brushing her teeth.
She wanted to make an extra effort on the last day, but today turned out to be much busier than she anticipated.
At nine in the morning, just after she killed a Rat Monster, she noticed a robot that had appeared beside her without her knowing.
The robot was wearing a red vest imprinted with the words 'Roadside Delivery'.
It politely spoke, "Excuse me, are you Ms. [Di Bi Di Bi]? You have a package here."
Pei Hening looked at the round-headed robot and nodded, "Yes."
The robot pulled out a finely packaged box from its belly.
"Please verify the information before signing."
She was initially confused about who would send her a package until she clearly saw the sender on the waybill—Highway School.
School must be starting tomorrow; they were sending Student Name Tags and Passes today.
After signing for the package, Pei Hening looked at the clumsy-looking robot and asked, "How much battery do you have left?"
The robot's program ran for a moment and replied, "12%."
Pei Hening frowned slightly and placed a battery into its mechanical hand: "This is for you. Thanks for your hard work."
The robot paused for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "Really?"
Pei Hening: "I never lie to robots. Continue your work. I need to complete today's mileage goal."
After Pei Hening left, the robot finally put the battery it was holding into the innermost part of its Personal Storage Space.
Pei Hening unwrapped the package and took out the contents. The Student Name Tag was small and could be pinned to clothing.
Once the Pass was taken out, it automatically integrated into the Personal Panel, adding a [Highway School] section next to the [chat channel].
Pei Hening clicked in and found that the [Highway School] section could locate the Highway School and allowed chatting with schoolmates.
Among the schoolmate members, she saw herself and Chu Xuange, plus twenty-six other students.
Just as she was about to exit, a message popped up.
[Hanada Chiko]: Wow, there are so many schoolmates. I thought it was just Matsushita-kun and me.
[Matsushita Kojiro]: Chiko, there's an ancient saying in Huaxia: 'Beyond mountains, there are mountains; beyond men, there are men.' I counted, and nine of our schoolmates are Huaxiapeople.
[Her Highness Doris]: Does this mean people from all over the world have been dragged into the survival game?
[Stir-fried Boss Squid]: Your guess is highly accurate. I speculate the game is divided into zones based on countries. At least in our zone, there are no foreigners.
[Frank]: I'm British, and there are no foreigners in our zone either.
[Hanada Chiko]: Ning Ning Little Princessand Di Bi Di Bi are here too!
[Falcon]: Perhaps we can interact with players from other zones at the school. Our zone started with 100,000 people, and 569 have turned gray in these seven days. I speculate they died.
[Falcon]: The Rat Monsters in the boxes these days aren't very strong; it shouldn't be hard for people without basic skills to kill them.
[Her Highness Doris]: I have another piece of news: yesterday was the start of my period, but I didn't get it. My period is always very punctual.
[Falcon]: I haven't opened any sanitary napkins these past few days.
[Di Bi Di Bi]: +1
[Stir-fried Boss Squid]: +1
[Frank]: +1
[Hanada Chiko]: +1
[Falcon]: I asked female players in our zone's chat channel. Currently, no player has gotten their period, nor have sanitary napkins been found. My speculation is—we have been digitized. This news is unverified.
[Megxili]: @Ning Ning Little Princess What did you do?! You've been put on a wanted list!
[Falcon]: @Megxili What's going on? Can you elaborate?
[Frank]: A player can actually be wanted by an NPC? That's too smart!
[Megxili]: I just entered a Gas Station and saw an NPC posting a Wanted Order for @Ning Ning Little Princess. I was stunned. We're all playing the same game, how can the Little Princess be so outstanding?
[Megxili]: [Image]
Pei Hening clicked on the image and looked at the contents of the Wanted Order, secretly breathing a sigh of relief when she saw that Chu Xuange's photo was not on it.
"Wanted Order (Unknown)"
"Ning Ning Little Princess"
"Strength: 49000"
"Sin Value: 10000000"
"Bounty Reward: 100 EXP, 100 copper coins"
"Danger Level: S"
[Di Bi Di Bi]: Isn't this bounty reward too low? NPCs are truly stingy.
[Ning Ning Little Princess]: @MegxiliSmuggling. You can do it too.
[Megxili]:...I am a law-abiding citizen.