Chapter 489: Taking Advantage of the Fire to Loot

Cheng Shuili opened the regional channel and looked; what he said was indeed correct.

After discovering last night that the water level had stopped rising, the entire regional channel was filled with joyous celebratory voices, and some even felt that the system still had a hint of humanity, that it had not utterly annihilated them.

But the pause in the water level lasted only until eight o'clock.

When eight o'clock arrived, the water that had stopped rising seemed to be reactivated; at first it was only a tiny amount, making those who had been staring constantly wonder if it was an illusion, but when they rubbed their eyes, looked away, and looked back, they realized it was not.

The water surface was rising at a visible speed, extremely steadily, inch by inch upward.

In the first few minutes, the channel only carried a hint of panicked confirmation:

"Am I seeing things? Is the water rising again?"

"It seems… it's true; the lowest tread on my tire was still visible just now, but now it's half submerged!"

"Don't panic, don't panic! It's rising slowly! We have time!"

But soon, this "slow" turned into a suffocating despair.

The speed of the water level's rise grew faster and more stable, as if an invisible hand were steadily pouring water into the basin.

"The floor of my cockpit is wet! Water is seeping in through the door seam!"

"Backup engine! My backup engine is soaked!"

"Help! My vehicle is shaking! Is it about to float away?!"

"Quick! Find a way to secure the vehicle! Put something on top of it! Or tie it with rope to the roadside railing—wait… where did that railing come from!"

"I've dropped anchor! My vehicle has stalled! It's completely immobile!"

"The water is reaching the car windows! I can't get out! Someone come save me!"

Panic spread through the channel, cries for help, curses, and despairing wails intertwining to paint a picture of hell.

Cheng Shuili glanced a few times, then withdrew her gaze.

In stark contrast to the regional channel, it was the remarks in Black Feather's faction group chat.

"@Water Watcher, has the water come? Has it come?"

This is no longer the water watcher from last night; that person had already switched shifts and gone to rest.

This person is just now on duty; she not only watches the water level inside the territory, but also pays attention to the situation in the regional channel.

Seeing someone tag her in the group chat, she immediately replied.

【Water Watcher】: No way! My eyes are about to pop out; our territory here is so dry sparks could fly! But the regional channel is truly deadly—many people's vehicles are floating away, and some are crying for help then falling silent… It makes my heart go cold.

"Is our territory's elevation especially high? I heard those bear cubs say the Beastfolk Town is flooded, and their parents didn't even go to work! How come we have no water here at all?"

"Don't get too excited early. Water not coming in doesn't mean people can't get in. Our safe zone is open; those people in the regional channel will eventually discover that Black Feather's territory has no standing water."

"So what? Their vehicles still can't get in; this is a privilege reserved for Black Feather members. Could they still cause trouble in our safe zone? Do you really think we're pushovers?"

"To be frank with you, I've long wanted to give a good lesson to those few people who have been spreading rumors in the regional channel!"

"Exactly! Absolutely! Put bluntly, is the boss putting up with all this just for us? She's famous; even if she talked back directly, it wouldn't matter. What we fear is that the other side will turn their spears toward us, toward us ordinary Black Feather members!"

"But now it's different. The flood has come, their vehicles are soaked; if they hide in their vehicles, they'll eventually die from various causes. Meanwhile our territory is dry and safe. They'll either beg us in the channel to take them in, or… they'll treat us like meat and try every way to take a bite! The boss's previous tolerance may have instead made them think we're easy to bully."

The group chat fell silent for a moment.

These words woke many people up.

Yeah, the safe zone is open; just pay the game coin to enter.

Normally this is nothing; players come and go, trading supplies.

But now, this place is an island in the flood, the sole lifeline in the eyes of countless drifters, and also… the most conspicuous target.

Cheng Shuili gazed at the remarks in the group, her eyes deep.

She had foreseen the competition after the server merge, but hadn't fully expected the flood to place the safe zone in such a delicate situation, turning it into a refuge coveted by everyone.

She curled the corner of her mouth and sent a message in the group.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: Looks like everyone's awake. No more nonsense—our territory is our home, not a public shelter. If you want to come in, under the new rules: triple the fee, weapons temporarily confiscated, stay put in the designated area. Dare to stretch your claws, and they'll be chopped off. No need to hold back—if a conflict starts, fight; if you can't win, call for backup, I'll take responsibility. In our turf, can we still be bullied?

The message sent out immediately drew a wave of agreement.

"The boss is right!"

"It's about time! Let them taste our strength!"

"Triple the fee? Won't that be too harsh? Some people might not be able to come up with it…"

"If you can't pay, don't come in! Our supplies didn't blow in on the wind—when we were exhausted from yesterday's frantic harvest, where were they? When we were besieged by other major regions' forces, where were they? When they insulted us online, why didn't they think of today? Wanting everything without giving anything—where in the world is there such a free lunch?"

"Exactly, compassion also depends on the target. Those who followed the crowd in cursing the boss, now wanting to come in? No way."

The discussion in the group was heated, but Black Feather's members quickly reached a consensus.

Resources are limited, people's hearts are hard to read; in extraordinary times we must use extraordinary measures.

In short, the boss is right!

Black Feather's management immediately implemented the arrangements, and Cheng Shuili also modified the ticket required to enter the safe zone, and incidentally issued a notice.

This is indeed taking advantage of the fire to loot.

But Cheng Shuili isn't exactly a good person either; opportunities to loot don't come often, so since this chance has arisen, why would she let it slip away for nothing?

Moreover…

Whether the lack of water inside the safe zone is targeting something specific or is a mechanic of the flood is still up for debate.

Just as the Black Feather members in the group chat had worried, soon the message "Black Feather's safe zone has no water" spread through the regional channel.

In despair, when people see a glimmer of hope, they often erupt with astonishing obsession, even… distorted hatred.

"What the hell?! Why is it only their place that's fine?! Is the system practicing discrimination?!"

"Saying this now is useless—quickly get into the safe zone!"

"But the safe zone only lets players in; vehicles can't get in at all!"