Players, Please Board the Train-Chapter 36: Return Journey

"Of course, it goes to you!" Yuan Yao was the first to speak up. "If it weren't for you, forget about catching the Headhunter Demon - we might not even have cleared the level."
"Plus we got extra rewards thanks to you. I have absolutely no objections about you taking it."
Huang Junjie and Abel nodded in agreement, while Liu Yuanyuan looked visibly reluctant.
"This vote will be public. Every player can see who others voted for, and majority rules." Xu Huo extended his hand, signaling Huang Junjie to return the lighter.
Without hesitation, Huang Junjie handed it over along with Wang Wei's item.
Since Wang Wei had died by Xu Huo's hand, his belongings naturally passed to him. In anyone else's possession, that string would just be an unusually tough musical wire.
What Xu Huo tossed back to Huang Junjie wasn't the "Arsonist's Tools" but the tattooed man's lighter. After pocketing the wire, he lit a cigarette and said, "No need to rush. We'll vote one by one. Even if we're missing one or two people, the voting system still works."
Liu Yuanyuan frowned. "How tyrannical! You'd kill anyone who doesn't vote for you?"
"Just a friendly reminder," Xu Huo replied. "It's part of the game rules. Who knows how many more votes we'll have in the future."
Huang Junjie and the others shook their heads. Opportunities to kill a dungeon boss and obtain their items didn't come around often.
"Brother Xu, ignore her. She's no saint anyway. We'll all vote for you," Yuan Yao said.
In the end, all five voted for Xu Huo, granting him the right to choose the replacement reward.
Under everyone's gaze, Liu Yuanyuan stated bluntly, "I have no problem voting for you, but that stun baton belongs to me."
"You already took Li Zheng and Wan Zhikang's items, and now you want Wang Wei's too? You didn't even kill him!" Yuan Yao protested angrily.
"I contributed my share," Liu Yuanyuan retorted, crossing her arms. "I deserve at least one item."
Huang Junjie and Abel also looked displeased, but Xu Huo said, "You can have it, but you get no share of the villa owner's extra reward. Out of the 100,000 White Bills, you only get 10,000."
Liu Yuanyuan's eyes darted before she gritted her teeth. "Fine!"
After their discussion, several stacks of White Bills and a skull-engraved seal appeared on the ground.
Xu Huo picked up the seal:
[Cursed Seal (Note: A curse that can greet anyone's immediate family. Find the right moment to imprint the pattern, and at least three people including the target will have one aspect of their power weakened. The curse remains until the mark disappears. Warning: Curse direction and intensity vary by circumstance. Avoid using on stronger players, or it may become your curse instead. Ah, what a truly cursed seal.)]
After reading, Xu Huo smiled and passed it to Huang Junjie and the others.
"This item's practically useless. Not even as good as that stun baton earlier."
Though Liu Yuanyuan hadn't seen it, their expressions told her enough. "I'm not trading," she declared immediately.
From Wang Wei's belongings, Xu Huo took out "The Queen's Mirror" and "Fast-Talk Notebook." "These two items plus the seal - each of you pick one."
"The Queen's Mirror" was a palm-sized compact. By telling it "You're the most beautiful" or "You're the most handsome," anyone seeing you for the next three minutes would automatically view you through a filter.
"Fast-Talk Notebook" was a shorthand pad that automatically recorded everything said within ten meters for five minutes after opening.
"You're being too generous," Huang Junjie said, feeling indebted. "We didn't contribute much and already owe you. Now taking your items... At least let me give you my share of the money."
Yuan Yao nodded eagerly, having chosen the mirror.
"Then I'll take 5,000." Xu Huo didn't refuse, accepting the White Bills from the three.
The Cursed Seal was unclaimed, so Abel could directly store it in his item slot. The other three items still belonged to Xu Huo - though held by different people, only he could discard them for others to claim.
Liu Yuanyuan, having secured her item, immediately produced her return ticket and vanished before their eyes.
"Is it wise to let her go?" Huang Junjie asked. "She's a Player-Eater."
"The game's over," Xu Huo said. "Relax."
Huang Junjie exhaled deeply. "Right. Players have no obligation to deal with Player-Eaters."
"Xu Huo, hope we meet again." He shook Xu Huo's hand solemnly before leaving the instance.
Abel approached with the seal, smiling. "Let me test this."
Xu Huo raised an eyebrow and extended his hand.
"I curse you to have less bad luck." Abel stamped the back of his hand and disappeared.
"Brother Xu, you must remember me," Yuan Yao pleaded earnestly, gripping his hand. "I'm CodeMonkey. Don't forget!"
Xu Huo nodded with a smile. After Yuan Yao departed, he examined his return ticket closely.
Though made of the same material as train tickets, this only bore a serial number: E27-014-A07.
Finding no immediate clues, he pocketed it. Flashlight in hand, he went to the small cabin downhill, dug up the previously buried woman, used her own nails to carve words inside her jacket, then reburied her.
Brushing dirt off his pants, he broke off a plum branch from the orchard ahead and slung it over his shoulder before using the return ticket.
"Beep beep—!" After momentary blankness, car horns greeted Xu Huo's ears. Opening his eyes, he found himself in a familiar back alley behind the hotel he'd stayed at before, neon lights illuminating the streets - he'd returned.
His phone showed 10:30 PM - prime time for nightlife.
As he moved to leave, his foot stepped on something firm yet yielding. Picking it up revealed a bulging wallet.
So that's how the curse works?
Glancing at the black skull mark on his hand, Xu Huo pocketed the wallet and entered the hotel.
Used to actors coming and going, the receptionist didn't bat an eye at his attire. "You should know - lots of creepy stuff's been happening lately. Many people died, and when you disappeared suddenly, we had to call the police. They took all your wallets and IDs. You'll need to collect them from the station."
"You were filming, right? So awkward about this. Want to stay the night here? On the house."
Thanking them, Xu Huo left and checked into another hotel.
After washing up, he finally opened his game panel:
[Congratulations Player Extra for successfully clearing the "Headhunter Demon" instance. Your performance has been rated B-level Excellence. You have one reward replacement option: either one Characteristic Development authorization or one item. Would you like to choose now?]