Kaidan Game Train: Abide Rule or Die!-Chapter 1932: 1932: A Higher Price for the Living

Chapter 1932: Chapter 1932: A Higher Price for the Living
Xu Huo returned to his residence and found his door wide open. The tables, chairs, and bed he had just tidied up in the morning were turned upside down again, and even the bedsheet was torn. There were some foul-smelling unidentified objects in the stove.
In this state, cooking was out of the question. He knocked on the neighbor’s door, asking if she could help tidy up the room. He was willing to pay.
The woman was initially cautious of him but, upon hearing that she could earn some money, hesitated before unlocking the security chain and asked, “How much are you willing to give?”
Xu Huo handed her fifty, “I don’t need the stuff in the kitchen. Please take them all away.”
The woman smiled slightly, “I’m not going to pay you for the things you’re throwing away.”
Once Xu Huo confirmed he was not asking for money, the woman entered his room, cleaning up the bed and the tables and chairs first, then took away all the items in the kitchen, scrubbing it multiple times.
She left after tidying up and did not mention helping him cook.
Given the situation, even if others dared to cook, he wouldn’t dare to eat.
Using the bread he conveniently bought on the way, he had dinner and then, in the middle of the night, quietly got up, pulled out the wire from the light switch, and climbed out of the window.
By this time, a group of people was coming towards his place. Among them were two familiar faces from yesterday, and two newcomers.
Since they hadn’t found him yesterday, they came more prepared today, carrying tool bags and knives. One of them mentioned, “A live one fetches a higher price. Too bad he’s an Inspector.”
When the four entered his room, Xu Huo led a few drunken thugs from another street downstairs. When those four were rummaging through, he “accidentally” knocked over a cup, hitting one thug on the head. They were so engrossed in their vandalism that they didn’t hear the curses from downstairs. Soon enough, some thugs stormed upstairs.
Both sides had brought blades, and it soon turned deadly. The thugs obviously had organization and power; they immediately used a terminal to call nearby companions. Seeing the situation escalating, the four petty gangsters hurried to escape. Unfortunately, the thugs arrived swiftly, blocking the way downstairs. Two of the gangsters were killed on the spot, and though the other two ran in different directions, they likely didn’t get far.
Xu Huo assisted one to redirect the thugs’ pursuit and then followed someone crawling out of a garbage bin to a usual hiding spot.
The man who emerged had a scarred face and, once secure inside his house, didn’t even bother treating his wounds before opening a cellar.
In the cellar were three people – two dead, one alive. The living one was a young girl, and when dragged up by her hair, she tearfully looked at the people on the floor. Weak from long-term hunger, she couldn’t utter a sound, merely being pulled out of the cellar by the man.
The scarred man pressed a dagger to her neck, “Come with me, or you’ll die worse than those old ones!”
The girl glared at him spitefully, wanting to resist but too feeble, she could only have her head pushed down and stuffed into a box on a vehicle.
The scarred man started the vehicle, contacting the buyer en route, telling him to prepare the money for door delivery.
Xu Huo threw a pebble onto the road, causing the scarred man’s vehicle to flip over, sending both him and the box flying out. The girl inside the box tumbled out as well, attracting the street’s attention, but they merely watched. The girl struggled to her feet and ran for an alley.
The scarred man quickly gave chase, but the alley the girl ran into happened to have two Resistance Army members meeting. Seeing people running towards them, one quickly slipped away, while the other indicated non-involvement by stepping back against the wall. Yet, when the scarred man approached, he swiftly drew a short knife and adeptly slit the scarred man’s throat.
The girl stopped running, turning back to fiercely assault the scarred man’s corpse.
The Resistance Army member silently prepared to leave, but the surviving girl hurriedly knelt, kowtowing to him, pointing at her tongue, pleading for him to take her in.
He said nothing, with no intention of taking her. He gave her some money before quickly leaving.
The drizzle continued, the dim alley seemingly lurking with dangers. The girl chased after the Resistance Army member a few steps but soon lost track of him. Watching the variety of street-goers, she fearfully avoided everyone’s gaze. Upon seeing a few hoodlums approaching, she turned and sprinted off.
The Western District was too chaotic; such a night was a breeding ground for crime, especially for a seemingly weak girl like her.
Some did see her being chased, but most chose to turn a blind eye. Those of goodwill didn’t dare take her in, opting instead to point directions or mildly hinder her pursuers.
Indeed, some shops by the street signaled the girl to enter, but she feared them too, opting to avoid the main roads and flee through the narrow alleys.
Unknowingly, after running for what seemed like forever, she was dry heaving, collapsing to the ground, unable to rise again.
The men chasing her noticed and walked over, laughing, “Run again if you can!”
“What are you doing?” Xu Huo appeared at the alley entrance, assessing the situation before quickly drawing his service weapon, aiming at them, “Leave right now, or I’ll shoot! 5, 4, 3…”
Before he finished counting, they grudgingly walked away.
Xu Huo holstered his weapon and approached the girl, careful not to touch her impulsively, and asked, “Can you stand up?”
The girl flinched, but then intensely nodded, watching him without even daring to blink, her limbs struggling to stand.
Xu Huo sighed, extending a hand to help her, “Do you have anywhere to go?”
She remained silent, not trusting him.
“If there’s nowhere to go, you can crash at my place for one night,” Xu Huo said, “If you think of somewhere by morning, I’ll take you. No need to go to the Supervision Department.”
The girl hesitated, wary of following him, but hearing the street’s jeering, she had no choice but to stagger along.
Knowing she was following, Xu Huo stopped by a stall and ordered her a bowl of noodles.
Since he hadn’t given the food himself, she accepted it easily, wolfing it down before silently mouthing a “thank you.”
Xu Huo smiled slightly, saying nothing further.
The rental’s occupants had all left. Xu Huo simply swept aside the broken items and handed her a blanket, “You sleep outside; you never know if someone will come into the bedroom overnight.”
Feeling nervous, she took the blanket, standing still.
Xu Huo turned into the room, locking the door behind him.
Relaxing ever so slightly, she curled up with the blanket in a corner, not daring to lie down, falling asleep in a sitting position.
Once she was sound asleep, Xu Huo emerged from the room, drawing her arm to inject her with an Evolution Potion.