Players, Please Board the Train-Chapter 6: Rule

Just as he was about to open the door, Xu Huo suddenly asked, "Can I get credit if I don't have White Bills?"
The attendant replied amiably, "Of course, credit is welcome."
Xu Huo pocketed the three hundred White Bills and, under everyone's gaze, went to press the first-class cabin's doorbell.
This time, it was Nie Xuan who opened the door. He had anticipated Xu Huo's return to the first-class cabin and had been waiting by the door.
Seeing the identical coaster note, he smiled and said, "Selling information?"
Unfortunately, there were quite a few wealthy and clever people in the first-class cabin, many of whom had already obtained the attendant's insider tips.
"Two hundred White Bills for the information in my hand, or you can exchange it with your own."
"Three hundred White Bills for a hidden rule, or you can trade with another hidden rule."
Nie Xuan wasn't particularly interested in the message on the note. Earlier, he had also received the attendant's napkin, but it only contained a trivial piece of information.
Nie Xuan quickly made his decision, closing the cabin door to speak privately with Xu Huo in the connecting area.
"How many hidden rules have you found?"
"Two." They exchanged and read each other's papers. Xu Huo raised an eyebrow and asked, "How much did you pay for this one?"
"Three hundred White Bills." Nie Xuan folded Xu Huo's note that read "Stay awake at night" and returned it. "How much was yours?"
"One hundred." Xu Huo also handed over the note that said "Don't turn on the lights."
Nie Xuan paid him five hundred White Bills. "A discount for buying both pieces of information."
Xu Huo readily accepted the money. Using the act of smoking to cover his mouth and nose, he lowered his voice and said, "Lower-class cabins can't enter higher-class ones unless someone opens the door."
Nie Xuan immediately understood. In this connecting area, the second-class cabin door had no bell, but the first-class one did. Xu Huo had rung the bell earlier.
"Are you sure?"
"The third-class cabin has no doorbell, but the second-class rear door does." Xu Huo raised his cigarette again. "Second rule: You can get credit for ordering food in the cabin."
First-class players weren't short on White Bills and could easily last three days. But if second and third-class passengers took credit, meaning they had no White Bills, how would they settle after three days?
The announcement had mentioned that players would be rated and classified based on their performance. Credit was likely deducted from this aspect, making it a last resort.
Moreover, most people had boarded the train on an empty stomach. If everyone ate their fill, what would be the rating standard? What was the point of the preliminary trial?
This information was crucial, hinting at other potential rules.
Nie Xan also grasped the implications and glanced at Xu Huo, who remained composed. He reminded him, "The train is relatively safe for players."
Xu Huo turned his head to look at the scenery outside, his wariness rising again at the seemingly unobstructed view. The attendant had the authority to expel players—did this mean death awaited anyone who left the train?
"Don't sell the first piece of information to anyone else," Nie Xuan added.
Higher-class cabins could enter lower-class ones without restriction. Did this mean first-class passengers could freely attack second-class ones?
Xu Huo didn't respond. Players were assigned cabins based on assets; higher-class didn't necessarily mean stronger abilities.
Strength might not be greater, but penalties could exist. Rational people would hesitate, while fools would act on instinct regardless of what they knew.
After their exchange, Xu Huo didn't leave. Soon, another person emerged from the first-class cabin. "I want to buy the information you have."
Though first-class passengers had more money, few came out to buy information. Still, it was enough.
When he returned to the second-class cabin, he had twenty-seven hundred White Bills in his pocket. Since the ordering period wasn't over, he called the attendant and added two bowls of noodles—one for himself and one for the old man.
The old man hesitated before thanking him and invited Yan Jiayu to share the meal.
"Good deeds bring good rewards," Yan Jiayu said between mouthfuls of noodles. "Benefactor, you're also a good person."
Xu Huo quickly finished his noodles and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest while slowly organizing the information he'd gathered.
One hundred White Bills had bought the reminder to "Stay awake at night," while three hundred had revealed "Don't turn on the lights." The rule "Lights out at 8 PM" was written in the passenger rules, indicating that turning on the lights at night was at least more severe than falling asleep.
The cabin's light switch was a trap.
First-class players generally had greater purchasing power than second-class ones. The heavily made-up woman's words were likely true—players were assigned cabins based on assets—but she probably didn't have much more information.
Her indifference to the attendant's messages could be a bluff or confidence in her position.
But the Preliminary Trial Train was clearly a survival game full of traps. More security meant less risk. With bloody players on board and so many uncertainties, the latter possibility seemed unlikely.
During the third-class cabin disturbance, she was the first to barricade the door. Was she unaware of the rules or acting deliberately?
Xu Huo paused briefly before moving on to the next piece of information.
The seemingly hidden but actually obvious rule that higher-class cabins could enter lower-class ones was also a trap. The passenger rules stated that entering other cabins wasn't allowed, superficially implying that higher-class players were stronger than lower-class ones. But in reality, the power gap wasn't that clear.
Under these circumstances, entering another cabin was unwise unless all players in one's own cabin were dead or only bloody players remained.
Bloody players were the known threat.
Based on what the delivery woman had revealed, the Preliminary Trial Train would definitely separate bloody players. But ordinary players weren't immune to temptation. If they couldn't get food on the train, those who hadn't eaten before might also fall.
However, players could get credit. If no one went hungry, how could players be rated and classified? So the food's effect probably wouldn't last twenty-four hours.
The question was whether the food affected ordinary players the same way it did bloody ones.
Thus, the first major incident would likely occur after lights out.
Xu Huo half-closed his eyes, observing everyone in the cabin.
Freed from the torment of gluttony, the atmosphere was less tense. The oval-faced woman flirted with Li Fei, Chen Yi fiddled with his toothbrush, and the square-faced man kept his hands in his pockets.
He Yang played a mobile game with the ponytailed student, Professor Han typed constantly on his phone, the middle-aged woman sat with her hands folded over her stomach, the heavily made-up woman rested with her eyes closed, and Yan Jiayu chatted with the old man.
Until 3 PM, there were no announcements on the train.
After some whispering, the four at Li Fei's table had him stand up. He cleared his throat and addressed the group, "We're all in the same boat now. Whether you believe me or not, infighting will only get us killed faster. Tonight, we'll take turns guarding the door... Any objections?"
With gluttony no longer an issue, it was time to think practically.
Seeing no opposition, he continued, "Most of us don't know much about the Preliminary Trial Train. I suggest we share information to better handle emergencies."
Several glances turned toward the heavily made-up woman and Xu Huo.