Chapter 3: Discomfort, the Money in the Pocket is Gone
"The De Map is navigating for you. Take a right turn in 100 meters to reach the A City bus stop."
"Young man, we've arrived at the A City bus stop. That'll be fifty dollars. Please settle the payment."
A black taxi came to a stop near the bustling A City bus stop, and the driver looked at Alister with a polite smile.
"So expensive?" Alister's eyes had a touch of melancholy.
It was a rare occasion for him to take a taxi, and while the distance was indeed quite far, Alister couldn't help but feel a bit distressed about the fare.
It was Crazy Thursday, and with fifty dollars, he could treat someone to a nice meal... Sigh...
Alister quickly scanned the driver's payment code with his phone, authenticated his fingerprint, and transferred the fifty dollars.
"These accidents have been happening a lot recently. Take care, young man."
After ensuring that Alister safely exited the vehicle, the driver offered a parting reminder before driving off to pick up the next customer.
Alister watched as the taxi disappeared from his sight, then continued scrolling through his phone, using his index and middle fingers to navigate the map of A City.
"If my calculations are correct, this is one of the most likely meeting points."
He couldn't catch up with those players by chasing after them. Instead, he had to calculate their routes and arrive at the predicted locations ahead of time to lie in wait.
Of course, it couldn't be called "lying in wait." It was more like setting a trap.
Alister didn't think he posed a threat. His main goal was to see if those pursued players had any weaknesses and to determine the likelihood of acquiring their abilities through calculation.
No need to worry about innocent bystanders being affected. Since the pursuit began, those players hadn't caused any major destruction. They were probably being restrained by unknown reasons.
And if they were indeed pursued players, Alister simply used simple reverse thinking.
In the far distance, there was a loud commotion. However, due to the tall buildings obstructing the view, Alister couldn't see what was happening but was aware that an accident had occurred.
Alister earnestly looked at his phone, and within a minute, he received a detailed notification, alerting nearby residents to stay safe.
The fact that official news could be promptly and accurately delivered meant that there were official personnel at the scene. It was highly likely that those being pursued were the pursued players.
And to be pursued with such intensity by official personnel meant that they were likely players involved in serious crimes.
"Hey there, are you waiting for the bus too?"
Just then, a woman noticed the handsome young man standing in the rain and approached him with a smile.
Evenings in A City were usually accompanied by buses, so the question seemed natural.
Alister continued to focus on his phone, calmly saying, "No, I'm just here to enjoy the scenery."
"Is that so?" The woman with an umbrella stood beside him.
The two stood side by side, facing the Jiang Bridge, the golden lights, and the towering skyscrapers of A City, with its bustling night view.
As a passing stream of cars rushed by, bringing a cool breeze and splashing water, the woman remarked, "The view is quite nice from this angle."
Alister didn't respond to her words.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
The woman smiled wryly, realizing her attempt at conversation wasn't successful, and quietly waited for the arrival of the bus.
The rain continued to fall, seemingly without end.
Fifteen minutes passed like this, and the woman had long since left, while Alister remained standing at the A City bus stop.
During that time, some people took photos of this attractive young man without him caring much about it. As a person with high attractiveness, he had grown accustomed to it.
Suddenly, a shadow swept across his vision, crashing into an obstacle about twenty meters ahead of Alister, sending it flying.
People nearby heard the strange sound and turned their gaze, but they couldn't see what had caused the obstacle to fall, as if what Alister had witnessed was an illusion.
Alister kept a calm expression, holding his phone, seemingly unaware of any abnormalities, just like an ordinary person.
The shadow twisted for a moment, then gradually took the form of a person, emitting a weak low growl.
It was a man's voice.
"My abilities have been restricted... damn it..."
Following that, the man locked onto a passerby and stumbled towards them. The protective layer of shadow in front of him gradually dissipated.
Underneath, his torn suit and white shirt were visible.
The passerby initially ignored him, but then their pupils contracted, seemingly able to see the man under the protective layer of shadow.
As long as the barrier of abilities was removed, could ordinary people see him? Alister noted this information.
"... I'll drain your stamina... I can still hold on for a while..."
The man declared, and the passerby, unable to comprehend the situation, couldn't utter a word.
This passerby was likely unaware. Alister silently mourned for them.
Insufficient abilities. I can't save you. I'm sorry.
In the interval between the man dissolving into shadows, Alister noticed a cut on his body caused by broken glass, stained with crimson.
The real body beneath the protective layer could be injured by attacks on the level of broken glass. Alister noted his second piece of information.
By the way, this setup is quite similar to the fragile damage-dealer position in competitive games, with high attack power but low defense.
Sometimes game players can also be killed by the game's minions. Alister's gaze grew deep.
"Mm..."
The passerby's muffled sound blended with the pattering of raindrops on the ground. No one saw the shadow in front of him.
After five seconds.
A thud sounded, and the passerby lost consciousness. The nylon umbrella in their hand fell and lay limp on the waterlogged road.
In the distance, traffic lights at the intersection flickered, and the shadow swiftly vanished within the neon lights.
"Hey, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Amid concerned and hesitant gazes, a kind-hearted person hurried over, crouched down, and helped the fallen passerby up.
The passerby closed their eyes, their body growing cold, motionless.
They were dead.
The A City bus stop fell silent for a moment, then erupted into noise.
The fallen passerby's figure gradually disappeared behind a gathering of umbrellas.
Alister didn't know how many times he had sighed tonight, but his mood was certainly heavy.
...
...
"Hello, may I help you with something?"
In a spacious and brightly lit convenience store, as the automatic doors rang, a young store clerk warmly greeted Alister.
Alister closed his nylon umbrella and placed it at the entrance before surveying the shelves filled with various products.
Snacks and beverages, toys and plushies, general merchandise and tools...
As Alister carefully examined the brand-new kitchen knives on the shelves, he asked the store clerk, "Do you sell flashlights here?"
Just as vampires feared silver weapons, Alister believed that shadows should fear light sources.
"Of course, we have flashlights. Do you have any specific requirements?" The store clerk approached, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, speaking in a mysterious tone.
"It's going to be quite expensive," she warned with a smile.
"Do you actually have it?" Alister's eyes sparkled with surprise. "Can I see its actual effect?"
"Sure."
The store clerk asked Alister to wait for a moment and went to the storage room herself. After rummaging around for a while, she finally found the long-forgotten item.
"Radiant AK69, it's a famous product imported by our store owner from Europe..."
She pressed a button, and the beam of light illuminated the wall, even though the store was already well-lit. The light created distinct layers.
"Alright, alright..." Alister interrupted the clerk's sales pitch, "How much does it cost?"
The store clerk smiled and made a gesture indicating the frightening four-digit price...
"...I'll take it." Alister took out his phone to make the transfer.
The sales were booming this month, and he felt happy.
The money in his pocket was gone, and it made him uncomfortable.
At this moment, the two individuals had very different feelings.