Players, Please Board the Train-Chapter 5: Food

Li Fei and the others seemed to realize something too. After whispering among themselves, they returned to their seats.
"Gurgle..."
"Gurgle..."
Stomach growls came one after another. The longer they stayed on the train, the stronger their hunger became. The rich aroma emanating from human bodies flooded in from all directions, making people dizzy!
"Bang!" A loud noise from the third-class compartment snapped everyone out of their daze. A blood-covered man rushed out from third-class, his hand barely touching the glass before being dragged back by pursuers. Then came the muffled sounds of tearing and swallowing.
The heavily made-up woman immediately rushed to barricade the door while others hurried to help. Through the window, Xu Huo only saw pools of blood and some splattered fragments before the opposite compartment door closed. Shadows moved rapidly behind the frosted glass—clearly the situation wasn't over yet.
Several minutes later, the third-class compartment fell silent.
"D-did someone die?" the female student asked tremulously.
Professor Han said grimly, "It seems we'll need to take turns guarding the door."
"Evolvers who've eaten humans become stronger than ordinary ones," the heavily made-up woman said with a pale face. "The train rules say not to enter other compartments casually, but don't forbid it entirely. I'm afraid those in third-class will eventually attack us when they can't hold back."
"How could this happen?" The oval-faced woman looked shocked. "Didn't they say performance on the train affects classification ratings? Aren't they afraid of dangers if they get eliminated?"
Xu Huo tapped the bloody handprint on the glass. "They've already started eating people."
People driven mad by hunger lose all reason, especially when they're fellow Evolvers—the attraction of flesh and blood is even stronger. The peaceful equilibrium had been broken; someone would surely violate the train rules soon.
For players, this train was truly lawless territory.
The other players, realizing they too were participants in this brutal survival game, looked grim. Simply surviving three days to disembark safely had become the game's most difficult challenge.
The female student sobbed twice before suddenly tugging Professor Han's sleeve. "Professor... I'm hungry..."
Everyone near the rear compartment door quickly scattered, eyeing each other warily.
"Ding dong!"
"Welcome aboard Preliminary Trial Train 301. This train departs from Three-Dimensional Point, traverses the Dimensional Rift, and will arrive at Five-Dimensional Station in three days at 8:00 train time. Please remain calm during any turbulence."
"A meal service will be available daily around 11:00 train time. Players may order freely. Conductors reserve the right to banish players—please observe train rules when ordering."
"Having food means not needing to eat people," Xu Huo murmured to himself, leaning against the door before returning to his seat to wait for the meal service.
The others exchanged glances before gradually returning to their original seats.
Soon a conductor arrived from the front compartment with only one menu. Li Fei, who ordered first, looked horrified. "Why so expensive!"
"A glass of water costs 100 White Bills! A bowl of noodles costs 300!"
With only 700 White Bills on him, he couldn't even afford one meal a day for three days!
The conductor answered expressionlessly, "You don't have to eat."
Li Fei ultimately ordered a bowl of noodles through gritted teeth.
The announcement specifically mentioned ordering—it was likely key to ratings. And spending was a train rule, mandatory even if just for a glass of water.
Everyone in the compartment reluctantly ordered noodles. When it was Xu Huo's turn, he only had 200 White Bills—not enough for noodles—so he ordered water and slipped his remaining bill into the menu when returning it to the conductor.
The conductor smiled slightly before leaving the compartment after everyone finished ordering.
Five minutes later, the meal cart arrived. The aroma of food lifted spirits—train food could curb gluttonous urges!
Those who got food began devouring it ravenously.
Xu Huo drained his water in one go, his hunger vanishing instantly. He smiled at the conductor in acknowledgment.
Cheap price, perfect effect.
The middle-aged woman suddenly pointed at Xu Huo. "I saw him secretly take the coaster! There's writing on it!"
Li Fei and the others darkened their expressions, quickly stopping the woman while apologizing profusely to the conductor.
The conductor's ordinary face turned stern as he glared coldly. "Conductors only provide ordering and delivery services. Passengers must not disrupt train order, or conductors reserve the right to banish you."
The woman shrank back but retorted, "The train's moving—how can you throw me off?"
The conductor gave a sinister smile without answering.
Not daring to push further, the woman lowered her head resentfully.
Li Fei approached the conductor with a smile, trying to slip him some White Bills, but the conductor brushed him off. "Conductors may not solicit tips. Please return to your seat."
Glaring at the middle-aged woman but not daring to harass the conductor further, Li Fei could only watch as he headed to third-class. Turning back, he approached Xu Huo's table. "I'll buy that information."
"Smart." Xu Huo nodded approvingly. "Fifty White Bills per person."
"Brother, that's a bit harsh," the square-faced man said. "At that price, might as well buy from the conductor!"
"If you can," Xu Huo gestured invitingly.
Realizing he couldn't get information from the conductor, Li Fei quickly weighed the pros and cons—this was still much cheaper.
"Per person is too expensive," Li Fei said.
"Even if I tell one of you, can you trust what others say?" Xu Huo countered.
"I'll buy," Professor Han offered a bill, indicating himself and the ponytailed student. "For us two."
Xu Huo led them to the rear of the compartment, back against the wall as he produced the note.
Both looked surprised after reading but said nothing.
"Brother Li, take me with you," the oval-faced woman pressed close to Li Fei.
Trusting her more than Chen Yi or the square-faced man, Li Fei paid 100.
Eventually Chen Yi and the square-faced man also bought the information.
These few looked indignant after reading—who'd have thought it'd be such "inside information"? Not worth 100 at all!
But the deal was done. Same compartment—if there's a pit, everyone jumps together.
He Yang learned from Professor Han via phone, while Yan Jiayu offered 100 to view it with the elderly man in the last seat.
"You know each other?" Xu Huo asked.
Yan Jiayu shook her head, smiling brightly. "This benefactor is a good person."
Her words earned several cold stares. Xu Huo made no comment, showing them the note.
Later, the old man gave Yan Jiayu his last 50 White Bills. Being poor herself, Yan Jiayu took out small sealed bags of compressed crackers from her patched robe's pockets, mixed them with her purchased water into paste, and shared a portion with the old man.
Only the middle-aged woman and heavily made-up woman remained—mutual dislike meant neither would pay for the other. The middle-aged woman set her sights on Yan Jiayu.
"Little girl, you're kind-hearted. Tell me what's on that note?"
Yan Jiayu ate her paste. "Why should I?"
"Aren't Buddhists compassionate? You'd watch me die?"
"My master said to be good—be good to good people, bad to bad people..."
Yan Jiayu met her gaze directly. "Auntie, bad people get retribution."
The woman choked back her anger, about to unleash her shrewish nature when the rear door opened—the conductor returned from third-class, looking exceedingly pleased.