Collecting all the puzzle pieces allows one to clear all the games—this meant a permanent escape from the nightmarish games, so puzzle pieces were naturally an extremely precious and rare resource! However, for most people, the value of a puzzle piece merely lay in its one-time immunity.
Shen Mo said, “If we really want to achieve this, information dissemination will be a problem.”
“As long as someone is alive, there will be a way to spread the news.” Bai Youwei wasn’t worried in the slightest. “Didn’t Cheng Laoshi see lights in some places today? That means there are definitely people living in the city. As long as we put out the word and offer to trade props for puzzle pieces, I don’t believe anyone would refuse.”
“Ah?” Tan Xiao was surprised. “Trade props? Wouldn’t that be a bit of a loss?”
“Of course not a one-for-one trade.” Bai Youwei pondered. “I’d like to trade one for ten, but I guess not many people have extra puzzle pieces right now. One for five, or even one for three, would be acceptable.”
She looked up at everyone. “What do you think?”
Shen Mo thought for a moment and replied, “I have no objections.” In the short term, props were important, but in the long run, puzzle pieces were undoubtedly more valuable.
Cheng Weicai also agreed. “Collecting all the puzzle pieces requires perseverance and determination. I have no objections either.”
Tan Xiao looked at Shen Mo, then at Cheng Weicai, puzzled. “Do we have that many props to trade? I only have a badge, and I don’t even know what it does…”
[Friendship Badge: You helped the princess find her lost golden ball. You have become the princess’s friend.]
The purpose of this prop was unclear, as no one knew what use being the princess’s friend was.
Bai Youwei patted her “abundant” canvas bag. “I still have a lot. If it’s not enough, we can earn more in the games! It’s better than running through the maze again and again. That’s so tiring.”
Tan Xiao: “…” My dear sister, I really don’t think playing games is any easier than running through the maze!
Shen Mo glanced at the time and said to everyone, “It’s getting late. Let’s go back to our rooms and rest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go around and check things out. If there are no problems, we’ll enter the maze tomorrow afternoon.”
Everyone looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
Bai Youwei reminded Shen Mo, “Don’t forget to pick the loquats before entering the maze.”
“…” Shen Mo looked at her helplessly. “Don’t worry, I won’t forget.”
…
The next morning.
Shen Mo and his group packed their bags, got into the SUV, and drove slowly along the streets outside the fog.
Occasionally, they would encounter people on the road.
Unlike Yangzhou, where almost everyone gathered near Yangzhou Port waiting for rescue, the people in Hangzhou seemed to be scattered throughout the city, cautiously maintaining a certain distance from the fog in the city center.
When they saw Shen Mo’s car, they all looked wary, standing still with guarded expressions, as if Shen Mo and his group were unwelcome guests.
“These people are so strange.” Tan Xiao looked through the car window and spotted two more people collecting supplies by the roadside. She hesitated. “Should we go down and ask them something?”
“Not yet.” Shen Mo’s gaze swept over them indifferently as he looked straight ahead. “These people are too tense. I’m afraid they’ll run away before we even stop the car. Let’s go further ahead and see.”
The SUV continued forward.
After driving a bit further and passing an intersection, Shen Mo saw a dozen or so people gathered by the roadside, sorting and packing things from a shop and loading them onto a three-wheeled cart.
They were all men, ranging in age from teenagers to those in their twenties, thirties, and forties. All of them, young and old, were working.
When they saw the SUV, although their eyes were also wary, perhaps because there were so many of them, they didn’t show fear or nervousness, and their movements of carrying goods didn’t stop.
Shen Mo parked the car across the street, got out, and called Tan Xiao to join him in going over to gather information.
Cheng Weicai, worried that they might get into a conflict, stood nervously by the car, watching.
Bai Youwei also leaned against the window, watching.