Top Secret Map

"What are you doing? Why aren't the lights on?"

"The fact that the lights aren't on means you're off work. What are you doing here?"

Xiaobai lay on the reclined office chair, at a height from which her face was perfectly hidden from view outside the desk.

"I haven't had any work lately, can't I even come home to check on things?" Li Hao walked around the desk and went to Xiao Bai's side.

"Oh my, even a big star like Li is out of work now? Has he become obsolete so quickly?" Xiao Bai teased, while adjusting his chair and sitting up straighter.

"Tch, you know perfectly well that we were forced into this by the Bald Eagle Association." Li Hao didn't mince words, grabbing a potato chip from his desk and eating it while leaning back against the table.

"By the way, did you watch Bald Eagles' live stream?" Li Hao suddenly changed the subject and asked.

"Now, as long as you're connected to the internet, and you open any website, that recorded video is always on the front page; it's hard to miss it."

Xiao Bai spoke casually, but where Li Hao couldn't see, her hands were already clenched into fists.

"What are you thinking, Mr. Li? Share your insights with me."

"This matter has caused quite a stir at the higher levels. The Bald Eagle Association, of course, has nothing to say about it."

"It has been confirmed that the Bald Eagles Association violated UN-banned brain-computer interface technology. Now, the most important thing is the attitude of the other major clubs."

"The Bald Eagle Society could face very severe penalties."

"Do you think the US will allow the Bald Eagle Association to obediently accept the punishment?" Little White interjected.

Li Hao shook his head. "Of course not, that's why we said we have to see the attitude of the other major clubs."

"The final outcome is beyond our control." He paused slightly before continuing, "But one thing we can confirm is this."

"What?" Compared to the previous comments about the United States and the United Nations, Xiaobai was more concerned about some of the decisions made by the Dragon Club.

The decisions made by the top executives of Longteng and Fengming, two of the top domestic clubs, reflect the domestic situation to some extent.

This has important reference value for small clubs like Club 78.

"Our club has designated the Tidal Prison map within the danger zone as a top-secret map."

"Top secret map?" Xiaobai asked in surprise.

It's important to know that before this, the other maps in the danger zone were only divided into two levels: ordinary and classified.

Normal difficulty corresponds to almost no serious threats, and the drop rate of high-level resources in the map is low.

The representative maps are Dam Zero and Longbow Valley.

The classified map corresponds to a map containing obvious threats, and a map with a higher drop rate of high-level resources.

Places like Baksh, the space base, and the former Tidal Prison were all assessed as classified maps.

"What is a top-secret map?" Xiao Bai looked at Li Hao with a smug, unexplaining expression, knowing that he was waiting for her to ask.

"The only map with the so-called top-secret difficulty is Tidal Prison."

"It is said to be the highest difficulty level currently determined by the United Nations based on the performance of these live streams, the player's operator withdrawal rate, average resource harvest, and the proportion of missing personnel."

"It means that the risk of entering is extremely high, the environment is very harsh, and the drop rate of high-level resources is high."

"Besides these points, there is another crucial criterion for evaluation."

"The map boss is extremely threatening, and the probability of getting lost is extremely high."

Upon hearing this, Xiaobai couldn't help but gasp.

Based on the prison's performance over the past few days, everyone understands that this map is different from others; it's more dangerous, but it offers greater opportunities.

The fact that the United Nations has now reclassified the warden and brought these risks to light is a true acknowledgment of the warden's terrifying nature.

"Therefore, the frequency with which we are scheduled to enter the Tidal Prison will be greatly reduced."

"Even if we do enter, we will take all necessary precautions and employ extremely cautious tactics."

"What about the other maps? We're not going to the Tidal Prison, will the other maps affect us?" Xiaobai asked.

"Didn't you go in there once?" Li Hao teased. To be honest, Li Hao felt a lingering fear for the young woman in front of him.

If she hadn't evacuated that day, I don't know what would have happened.

"Other prisons are not affected for the time being, and individuals and small clubs can still enter."

"I have something else to tell you." This time, Li Hao lowered his voice. "This time, the higher-ups have asked us to reduce the frequency of exploring the Tidal Prison, but they didn't mention the individual members or the small clubs."

"I suspect they might want you to be cannon fodder, to continue exploring the prison and developing possible strategies."

Xiao Bai looked surprised, his pupils shrinking slightly.

Li Hao reached out and grabbed Xiao Bai's wrist, his expression serious and his tone no longer frivolous. "Sister Xiao Bai, there's a good chance there will be other voices trying to provoke casual players and small clubs like yours into the Tide Prison."

"People might say there are opportunities inside, chances to get rich quick, and even some casual investors have made a fortune in it."

"You must remember what I said! I came back today specifically to remind you."

Xiao Bai looked into Li Hao's eyes, which were firm and serious, and realized that Li Hao was no longer the childish boy he used to be.

"I understand," Xiaobai replied.

Upon hearing Xiaobai's words, Li Hao's serious expression vanished instantly, as if it had never existed.

"Haha, I knew you were the best, Sister Bai! How are you doing? Business has been good lately?" After finishing his business, Li Hao returned to his usual self.

"Business is alright, it's just that Boss Han..." Xiaobai started to say, then stopped abruptly.

"Boss Han? What happened to Boss Han?" Mentioning Boss Han roused Li Hao. "Isn't he that reclusive master who sold you those rare, expensive items a few times?"

At this point, Li Hao slammed his hand on the table and yelled, "No way? Sister Xiaobai? You're not interested in him, are you? Even though he's pretty capable, you can't..."

Before Li Hao could finish speaking, Xiao Bai interrupted him with a flying slipper, yelling, "Shut up!"

"Boss Han has scheduled another batch of weapons for delivery tomorrow."

"Damn, that's awesome!" Li Hao exclaimed softly, a strange look flashing in his eyes. "So what's bothering you? If you get a good gun, just take it."

This time, Xiaobai didn't respond. "What do you think of Boss Han?"

"No, sis? You're serious?"

"What?!" Xiaobai exclaimed anxiously.

"I was saying, 'He always seems to have a fully modified gun, what do you think about recruiting him to our club?'"

After a moment's thought, Li Hao nodded twice. "His abilities are probably beyond question, but I'm not familiar with his background."

"Besides, can you even get them to come?"

Xiao Bai pursed her lips and remained silent.

"I think it's a good idea. If you can hire such a top talent, Sister Bai will be able to take over the third largest club in China in no time!"

Li Hao and Xiao Bai joked and laughed for a few more minutes before leaving Club 78.

Xiaobai sat back in her office chair and picked up the tablet computer that was placed next to her.

A video was paused on the computer screen. Xiaobai clicked the play button, and the video started playing.

The scene shows John's team, from Miles's first-person perspective.

The footage shows the scene before the signal was lost during the encirclement and attack of the warden on the elevator shaft platform.

Xiaobai clicked pause again.

Zooming in on the scene again, the warden snatches the rifle from John's hand with one hand and reaches into his black coat pocket with the other, pulling out a silver object.

The signal was then lost.

Xiao Bai frowned, focused intently, and skipped through the video again, watching it repeatedly.

"Is it... really true?" she murmured to herself.