[Document Beautification: The same ID photo, different worlds. Incomplete data indicates that seven out of ten ID photos leave their owners too embarrassed to show them off. Now, by popular demand, Document Beautification is available in bulk, capable of transforming even the ugliest face on any ID card into the holder’s ideal visage.]
[But please moderate your modifications, as a photo significantly different from the actual person may cause unnecessary disputes over self-identification. As everyone knows, proving you are you can be quite difficult.]
[Note: This item is suitable for worlds with low technology levels.]
Xu Huo put on a fake face, took his photo with "Document Beautification," and printed it onto his ID. With a press and a seal, the photo was replaced with the fake face.
When he walked out, that woman was still looking around nearby. Seeing him, she was so frightened that she turned and ran.
Xu Huo went out to the street, used the newly acquired tool "Vehicle Key Card" to randomly unlock a car, and pressed the accelerator to leave the city.
There was still some distance to the Capital, but given the lack of more convenient transportation, he could only drive there according to the map.
Along the way, there were many convoys migrating toward the vicinity of the Capital. It was said that a certain intermediate Safe Zone had been attacked, and players had only temporarily ceased fire; the matter was far from over. Thus, to keep living, people had to flee into the night.
Even Safe Zones could be attacked; other places weren’t safe enough. There was no choice but to head for the Capital.
"Why not go to smaller places?" someone asked during a casual chat. "No one cares about the small places, surely no one will cause trouble there. It’s the big Safe Zones that are sure to be targeted first."
"Are you stupid? Even if a Safe Zone is targeted, rescue comes quickly. Unless the invaders are exceptionally strong, there’s nothing to worry about. But in small places, just a few players can leave you praying to heaven with no reply, and begging the earth with no response. You haven’t seen those small places where carloads of corpses are carted out from time to time... sigh, the lives of ordinary people are worthless."
"That’s easy to say, but ordinary people can’t just stroll into the Safe Zones of the Capital."
"That’s where you’re wrong. There are those who specifically sell new identities. As long as you have the money, you can get one."
This comment drew the crowd closer, as people eagerly inquired about how to proceed and whether the channels were reliable.
"Of course it’s reliable. The ones handling this are players who have special channels and good relations with a Player Organization," the person advertising said proudly. "Besides, the middleman doesn’t take all the money from making these IDs; others get a cut too."
Because of the traffic jam, the people crowded together hotly pursued the contact information, clamoring to buy it.
"I think Zone 009 is done for," the girl with eyebrow piercings and a jacket who was sitting next to Xu Huo’s car said with a grin. Noticing his gaze, she turned back and winked at him. "Don’t you think?"
Xu Huo closed the car window.
The car restarted, and after night fell, many people chose to group together for the night, making the roads more open. He drove non-stop to the next service area before taking a break.
The place was also crowded, but luckily, the restaurant was still open. Xu Huo ordered and sat down to eat. Not long after, the girl with eyebrow piercings who had spoken to him earlier also came in with her companion.
While her companion went to order, the girl sat next to Xu Huo, propped her chin with both hands, and stared at him intensely.
As if completely unaware of being watched, Xu Huo continued to eat his meal until the girl’s companion returned and asked her, "Why are you staring at him?"
The girl giggled and asked Xu Huo, "Brother, have you ever played with Fate Cards?"
"When I left home this morning, I drew a card, and it told me I would have good luck today. My intuition is usually pretty accurate. I have this feeling you bring out the best in me. The luck from my card is mutual; I bring you good luck, and you bring me good luck. How about we stick together from here on out?"
Xu Huo had finished his dinner and was leaning back in his chair to rest, clearly not interested in taking up her offer.
The girl with piercings nevertheless took the initiative to sit across from him and placed a stack of gold and silver cards on the table.
As the card spread out on the table, Xu Huo opened his eyes and looked at her coldly.
The woman said with a smile, "I mean no harm, it’s just that one has to draw a card from the deck before leaving the table."
"My cards usually reveal a person’s luck for the next three days. Don’t you want to give it a try?"
Xu Huo crossed his arms, still not intending to make a move.
The effects of the prop have a time limit, and he still had plenty of time.
It was only after a while that the woman with the eyebrow piercing spoke again, "I’m not lying to you, this prop only ends after drawing a card, otherwise, we can only sit here until dawn."
"There’s another way," Xu Huo said indifferently, "killing you."
The woman’s companions immediately stood up, but she herself didn’t seem to care and waved her hand, "I’ve already said I’m lucky today, I definitely won’t die here."
Xu Huo tapped his fingers on the table and suddenly said, "Do you know that luck is quantifiable?"
"Usually, a person’s good luck and bad luck are balanced. A period of bad luck is followed by good luck, and it goes back and forth."
"For example, if you predict that you’re lucky today and find money by the roadside, that’s good luck. Surviving multiple brushes with death because you’re relying on your luck is also good fortune. But the amount of good luck you use in such a scenario would take up a larger proportion of your life’s total good luck, meaning that afterwards, you’re either going to be unlucky for a much longer time or encounter a massive misfortune."
After he finished speaking, the woman with the eyebrow piercing didn’t look as relaxed as before, and her companions also seemed uneasy. Clearly, they all believed in this concept.
However, Xu Huo then smiled and pointed to a card, "I was just kidding."
The woman with the eyebrow piercing couldn’t quite shake it off. After flipping over the card, the swords in the illustration collided and began to bleed.
She looked surprised and studied Xu Huo repeatedly, "No, why is your card the opposite of mine..."
Muttering to herself, she shuffled the deck again and then flipped a card for herself. This time it depicted a person struggling and crying for help with a stab wound to the abdomen.
The woman with the eyebrow piercing’s expression slowly relaxed upon seeing the card.
"Was my luck affected by yours?" Xu Huo asked with a smile.
The woman glanced at him, "It seems my good luck hasn’t run out yet."
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Chi Nan, and these are my brothers, Lao Zhou, Xiao Ma, and Da Bu. Da Bu is mixed-race; he’s not very good with languages, so he doesn’t speak very clearly."
"Brother, what’s your name?"
"I don’t plan to join up with you," Xu Huo said, getting up to leave.
Chi Nan and the others didn’t even bother to eat before following, "It’s so dangerous on the road, who knows when a copy might suddenly appear, or if getting robbed could become a big problem. It’s easier to handle things with more people!"
"You’re going to the Capital Safe Zone, right? So are we. Do you have the documents? I know someone, getting you one won’t be a problem!"
Xu Huo flashed to the side of the vehicle in a second. Chi Nan stood by the roadside and shouted, "Brother, do you need someone to keep watch at night?"