There is One New Rule Every Month Globally

"Myths and legends can't be said to be exactly the same as those on Blue Star, but one might say they're wholly identical."

"According to that man, this used to be a thriving planet that now barely clings to existence, yet I failed to find even a trace of exclusive culture or mythology belonging to this planet."

"What do you mean, Yi?"

"What I mean is quite simple."

Chen Yi opened the book he was holding and tossed it in front of Tuberculosis Rabbit, revealing that its pages were blank, not a single word recorded, though the title was 'Five Thousand Years Above and Below the Lone Star'."

"Contrary to that man's story, I'm more inclined to believe that this map was fabricated, just another map created by the Snow Sea Project Team, like the wilderness maps."

"The supposed story background is also designed."

"But to design such an expansive story background is really a massive undertaking, so they took some shortcuts in the details, for instance, almost copying the Blue Star story background verbatim, only changing some planetary names."

"The man's words, I'm more inclined to view them as lines pre-designed for NPC characters."

"Could also be interpreted as... hidden tasks?"

"Just like when Sword Without End first joined the map, those Law Enforcement Bureau agents were chasing him and they shouted, 'You damned players still dare to come here!' At that moment, if Sword Without End had not continued to flee but instead had taken some action, perhaps he could have triggered a hidden task."

"I think I understand why this map is called the Pioneer Map. Previous maps didn't have NPCs, but this one has added them."

"This is an experimental innovation by the Snow Sea Project Team, which is why it's called the Pioneer Map."

"The aim is to bring in Hell Players, and I can make a bold guess that future maps will probably have more and more NPCs, and there will be more Hell Players forming an opposing faction against Blue Star players."

"This might be what the Snow Sea Project Team actually intends."

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"Is it... really like that?"

Tuberculosis Rabbit looked down at the somewhat juvenile-looking comic book in their hands, the smile that had spread from excitement now fading, and pretended to shove the book carelessly back into the shelf.

Then, resting their chin in one hand while deep in thought, they said, "So, Yi, how did you reach this conclusion?"

"Quite simple."

Chen Yi leaned on his cane with one hand and scanned the nearly empty library before speaking, "You just have to put yourself in the shoes of the Snow Sea Project Team, and you can see a lot more."

"At first, I indeed entertained Sword Without End's hypothesis, especially since the June version update did seem to have quite a few elements that related to this place."

"But as I got to know more about City 13, I started to feel that something was off. If the objective of the Snow Sea Project Team were as suspected, then they should have sent another group into City 13 to eliminate the captured player."

"That would create an information barrier."

"Instead of allowing the same group of players to enter, making it almost too obvious what their purpose is."

"Here, one could already start to become suspicious. With the introduction of Hell Players, the answer becomes even clearer—this map is a trial by the Snow Sea Project Team, or rather, a hidden update."

"You know how it is, domestic online games often have a very unique tactic. They call it an 'unannounced update,' just like what's happening now."

"Actually, validating this idea is very straightforward."

"If we can take on the related hidden tasks, then my guess would be proven correct."

"Hmm, I understand."

Tuberculosis Rabbit stood up with a serious expression and rasped, "So how do we take on these hidden tasks?"

"I think—"

After a pause, Chen Yi turned his head to look at Sword Without End who stood leaning against a bookcase beside him and suddenly started to smile, "You must have already received it, right?"

"My Sword Immortal?"

Tuberculosis Rabbit was stunned and, though somewhat puzzled, still quietly stood behind Yi with the Claw Knife in hand, its blade pointing directly at Sword Without End.

"..."

Sword Without End stiffened suddenly, his lips twitching slightly. After a long silence and looking into Chen Yi's unquestionable eyes, he raised his hands and sighed, saying with a bitter, resigned smile.

"Actually, I think there's a sixty percent chance you're bluffing me."

"After all, for you to deduce all this is rather outrageous."

The words fell.

A panel was shared by Sword Without End in mid-air.

'Hidden Task: Eliminate all Hell Players in City 13 (1/10)'

'Hidden Reward: Two C-grade Prop Chests.'

"Don't look at me like that."

Sword Without End raised his hands, somewhat embarrassed as he spoke, "This hidden task only popped up after I killed that Hell Player in the hotel. I didn't know about it before entering the map."

"Actually, I didn't mean to hide it, okay, but even if I did, it would be quite normal, right?"

"I was planning to follow you out of the map and then come back in at a later time to slowly complete the hidden task."

"After all, although it's a bit unethical, wanting to hog the rewards all to oneself is understandable, isn't it?"

"It's human nature, right?"

"But now that you've discovered it, naturally we'll split it— one Prop Chest each."

Tuberculosis Rabbit crossed their arms and scoffed before speaking, "Well played."

"To think I even felt a moment of sympathy for you outside, Yi took a risk accompanying you into this map, and now you're actually pulling off an act of hoarding? Really makes Yi and I feel cold."

"That's more like it."

Chen Yi didn't seem to care about that detail and, with a light chuckle, nodded his head, "That's correct, the words that man said before he died were meant to mislead us, or maybe we just started off thinking in the wrong direction."

"When you first entered the map, the 'player' that the Law Enforcement Bureau was roaring at shouldn't refer to us, but to the 'Hell Players'."

"In other words, the background story of this map suggests that Hell Players have been wreaking havoc in the 13th City this whole time."

"To trigger this hidden mission, we probably need to first go to the Law Enforcement Bureau to try to get crucial information and their trust. Then prove we are not Hell Players so that we can track and kill Hell Players with the help of the Law Enforcement Bureau."

"That is the standard protocol for regular players to clear this hidden mission."

"If I'm not mistaken, your hidden mission should show the real-time coordinates of the remaining 9 Hell Players, right?"

"Mhm."

Sword Without End, somewhat helplessly, continued with his hands raised, "You're right about everything. The two chests are all yours, I don't want them."

"Although I wasn't planning on going solo, it's pretty embarrassing to be called out like this. Let's not talk about it, if we keep up this conversation I won't be able to save face."

"If this isn't going solo, then what is?"

Standing behind Chen Yi, Tuberculosis Rabbit sneered coldly, his face full of scorn.

"It's just that I'm used to eating alone every day because I don't have friends, it's a subconscious thing."

"Heh."

...

What followed was much more straightforward and brutal.

Sword Without End took the lead, while Chen Yi and the others followed, slaughtering their way through on sleds.

In less than an hour's time,

All the Hell Players in the 13th City were dealt with.

And they went straight to the Law Enforcement Bureau, killing the criminal that was held captive.

The prisoner wasn't the player who had been captured alive by Sword Without End during his first descent into the map.

They completed the mission smoothly and exited the map.

On reflection, the challenge of this mission map lay in how to deal with the Law Enforcement Bureau and successfully complete the mission, while the key to the hidden mission was negotiating with the Law Enforcement Bureau and obtaining valid information.

Of course,

Chen Yi and the others skipped all these steps.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

This means that although their method of clearing the mission might have been unorthodox, they indeed cleared it successfully, accomplishing both the set mission and the hidden mission.

...

"This is for you."

Atop the rooftop of a building in the Garden District, Sword Without End, knowing he was at fault, awkwardly handed over the two C-rank Prop Chests awarded for the completion of the hidden mission to Chen Yi.

"This time it was indeed a bit humiliating for me, so I'm giving all the rewards to you."

"No need."

Chen Yi shook his head, tossed one of the Prop Chests into Tuberculosis Rabbit's arms, then tossed the remaining Prop Chest into Sword Without End's arms, "After all, it was your mission and you did contribute. You should take this."

It was 6 a.m. at the time.

By now, they had nearly finished analyzing the rules for June.

As long as they sleep between 9 pm and 10 pm, the rest of the time slots were flexible and free, which was more accommodating for the night owls.

"Alright... then thank you," Sword Without End said, somewhat awkwardly accepting the Prop Chest. He hesitated for a moment, then stepped onto his Traceless Green Peak and shot off into the distance, leaving behind a parting word.

"I've sent you a friend request. If you ever need my help in the future, just give me a shout."

"Yi," Tuberculosis Rabbit said, noticeably dissatisfied as Sword Without End walked away, "Are we just letting him go like that? We went into the map with him and he tried to hoard all the loot, shouldn't we give him a taste of his own medicine?"

"Isn't it pretty normal?" Chen Yi leaned tiredly against the sled, lighting a cigarette between his fingers, and spoke in a low voice, "Everyone has selfish desires, going solo is pretty normal, isn't it?"

"It's human nature, understandable."

"I wouldn't."

Tuberculosis Rabbit said sternly, his voice hoarse.

"That's what makes you precious, Tuberculosis Rabbit,"

"..."

Tuberculosis Rabbit suddenly froze in place. Although it felt a bit odd, he had to admit Yi's words made sense.

And just then—

A prompt suddenly resounded in the ears of all players.

"Attention all players, the world boss is about to appear."

"All players will be transported at 12:00 pm into one million separate boss spaces to fight and kill the boss together."