CHAPTER 89: CHAPTER 71: BABYLON LIGHT (2)

The Xia Family’s daily living space was upstairs, with most of the ground floor being used to operate an Italian restaurant. Besides that, there was also a storage room, which housed some idle items.

In the storage room, which was kept very tidy, Xia Yun turned on the light and sat down within. From one of the storage cabinets, she took out a picture. In the photo were "Xia You’s" father and the two of them - mother and daughter. The old photo, depicting the two deceased, left her alone in the world, solitary and forlorn.

Ever since "Xia You" entered the Xia Family, Xia Yun, bearing the pain, had all the real Xia You’s photos, even the clothes she wore, and all the little keepsakes burned to ashes. Afraid of arousing "Xia You’s" suspicion, she hid this only remaining photo in this gloomy storage room. Tears wetted the photo; Xia Yun wiped her tears dry and placed the picture under the light.

"Child’s father," Xia Yun murmured, "I feel like our daughter is keeping something from me." For Xia Yun, the real Xia You had already passed away. Now, all she hoped for was that her daughter’s father and Xia You in heaven could bless the living.

Xia Yun was a person who dutifully kept to her role, yet she was not foolish. Mo Xixi’s arrival, the "Xia You’s" excessively frequent business trips, and following "Xia You’s" departure, an officer named Yu Xiaonan visited the restaurant a few more times. Curious during Yu Xiaonan’s last visit, Xia Yun asked which military region he was from? Yu Xiaonan, still eating his noodles, replied clearly without hesitation: "Rand Military District." How could a soldier from the Rand Military District be acquainted with "Xiao You"?

"Child’s father, I don’t want ’Xiao You’ to have any involvement with Rand. You and Brother Ding lost your lives because of Rand; all I hope for is to live a peaceful and untroubled life," said Xia Yun as she clutched the photo to her chest, unwilling to let it go.

In Xia You’s room, the cellphone screen emitted a faint glow; Xia You was lying on the bed.

"Entering main battlefield one, Babylon Light." As Ling entered the main battlefield, she heard the system’s announcement.

Babylon Light? Referring to Ancient Babylon, touted by historians as one of the four great ancient civilizations? Ling slightly regretted, due to the natural inclinations of Hua Country people and her experience in the Newbie Village, that her previous study of world history mainly focused on the history of Hua Country. Obviously, the developers of "Military Road" did not limit "Military Road" to the history of Hua Country alone. Like all players entering the main battlefield for the first time, Ling was first struck by the visual impact of Ancient Babylon City.

The bustling streets, the lined establishments on either side, silk from the East, spices from the Far East - as the cradle of Western civilization and located at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the prosperity of Babylon was simply a visual feast.

What surprised Ling even more wasn’t this scene, but the fact that she quickly noticed people walking around her. Unlike Prehistoric Space and Newbie Village, aside from the various NPCs included within "Military Road," there was an astonishing number of players.

"Black, yellow, white, tall, short, skinny," Ling watched in amazement as players walked past her. A single space, plus a Newbie Village, and she had only come across two other players. The useless No. 500, and that sly bald soldier.

In just a month, "Military Road" had flourished like a new world in the eyes of the people. The citizens of Ancient Babylon on the streets did not find the sudden influx of strangers surprising; they built new houses, brewed fine wines, and called out their wares openly. These oddly dressed strangers quickly started getting along with the locals.

(You shouldn’t just pay attention to these; perk up, watch out for the players around you,) Little Eight reminded an overwhelmed Ling. Any player would be astonished for a few days upon entering the main battlefield.

On the crowded streets, there was a player glancing all around. Some of those who had entered "Military Road" earlier could tell with one look that Ling was a new player. Her gaze was fleeting, glancing left and right.

"A few dozen Sergeants, about ten Sergeants, and even some Lieutenants," with the aid of Loli Reconnaissance Skill, Ling could clearly see the basic information of the surrounding players,

"In just a month, every player’s military rank has seen a significant change," Ling also knew she had delayed a whole month, which in "Military Road," amounted to ten months’ worth of time, and most likely most of the main battlefield players had already completed the system tasks.

Completing tasks meant acquiring military merits; since they had attained merits, why would the players still remain in Babylon City? They should have moved on to the next main battlefield.

Regarding military ranks, the publicly tested "Military Road" had already automatically adjusted the players’ military ranks. Just like the No.500 she had met earlier, he himself was a Sergeant, although he entered the game with the identity of a common Private. However, after entering the main battlefield, there would be a place called "military station" where players could adjust their personal ranks to their actual military ranks. Adjusting ranks has its benefits and drawbacks: the benefit is you can earn higher military pay, but the drawback is that the difficulty of completing tasks will also consequently increase.

Little Eight suggested that Ling should walk around to better understand the functions of some new facilities in the main battlefield, and incidentally also grasp the capabilities of other players.(To be continued... If you like this work, you’re welcome to cast your recommendation and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)