Not only Yue Zhenqiao, the group of dart masters, and Flying Knife.

Li Nian and Lin Yu were also watching the doorway with the same intense wariness.

And in Lin Yu's ears and mind, the voices of Li Nian and Old Zheng overlapped almost perfectly, sounding simultaneously.

"Three people, all Players."

"Three Players, be careful."

The Fear Torch had already silently materialized in Lin Yu's hand. He stood up and looked towards the entrance.

Compared to Li Nian and Old Zheng, Lin Yu wasn't particularly on high alert.

Because...

Since these three Players had appeared at this stone house, they might not necessarily have come with hostile intentions.

Based on Lin Yu's understanding of the Competition dungeon type and all the experience gathered from Competition dungeons so far, there had never been a case where the 'clear condition' was a kill-or-be-killed clause directly stating to eliminate all opposing members.

Generally speaking, in Competition dungeons, the participating Players are usually divided into several factions, with different and somewhat mutually exclusive 'clear conditions' for each faction.

For example, one faction of Players needs to assassinate, while another faction needs to protect.

Or several parties need to assist NPCs from absolutely irreconcilable forces to achieve their respective goals.

In short... although it's basically a "you die, I live" situation, this "you die, I live" dynamic isn't directly written out but is deduced.

Therefore, a certain 'high-tier Player', the founder of a certain 'player organization', once proposed a bold idea...

Perhaps Competition dungeons hold the possibility of cooperative wins and clearing the dungeon together.

So, that 'high-tier Player' personally conducted an experiment after his organization members encountered a certain Competition dungeon—and surprisingly, it succeeded!

Although not all members survived, both factions completed their mission conditions in a subtle way.

Lin Yu happened to have heard this story—because the protagonist of this story and that organization were none other than Radish Grandpa and the Player Mutual Aid Association.

This case and the related theory were also recorded and archived by Order.

However, achieving such conditions is extremely difficult.

After all, deciphering the clear conditions of both sides in a Competition dungeon to find a solution that might allow both to succeed is inherently not as simple as directly confronting the other side.

Achieving such a win-win situation most likely means going against the entire dungeon, and the process would be relatively difficult.

Moreover, the biggest challenge is actually believing that the Players from the opposing faction will definitely cooperate and won't take the opportunity to stab you in the back.

Even Order wouldn't pursue actions of killing other Players in a Competition dungeon—otherwise, that would be too contrary to human nature.

But...

Radish Grandpa did indeed create a unique precedent.

Even in what is likely a more clear-cut Competition dungeon type, both sides often try to make contact, communicate, and negotiate first, to see how severely their 'clear conditions' conflict and to assess whether the opposing Players are reliable.

Although eight or nine times out of ten, cooperation isn't reached, but... what if?

Even if no agreement is reached, both sides can often obtain the information they want.

It feels a bit like a "gentleman's competition".

So...

Those three Players probably arrived at Chen Family Fort later than our group and the escort team. They likely already investigated our whereabouts, hence coming straight to the stone house.

Then, the other party might very well be here to talk.

And sure enough, the three Players who entered through the stone gate amidst the rolling heatwave, though vigilant, did not attack immediately.

They were clearly a team with tacit coordination. Three men, wielding sword and shield, staff, and dual pistols, stood shoulder to shoulder, warily observing the room.

The man with the sword and shield was the tallest, the one with the staff was second tallest, and the shortest was the one holding two pistols.

They stood in a row, all wearing black armor or clothing, looking from a distance like the three-bar signal indicator on a phone's status bar.

Yue Zhenqiao didn't dare be negligent. He picked up his long saber and spoke, "May I ask who you gentlemen are..."

The man with the sword and shield spoke, "Looking for someone—but not you."

They scanned the room and quickly identified the three who clearly stood out from the group of native dart masters: Li Nian, Lin Yu, and Flying Knife.

"You three must be the people we're looking for!"

The man with the sword and shield spoke again. Lin Yu nodded.

"Isn't it obvious from our attire?"

The black-armored man with the sword and shield spoke again, "I see... Allow me to introduce myself. I am 'Little Fire Dragon' from the 'Mutual Aid Association'!"

The black-robed man with the staff also spoke, "I am 'Squirtle' from the 'Mutual Aid Association'!"

Finally, the short, stout black-clad dual-pistol wielder spoke, "Yours truly, 'Deadshot' of the... 'Mutual Aid Association'!"

"Hold on, one of your names doesn't fit, does it?" Flying Knife immediately teased, "My obsessive-compulsive disorder is about to act up."

The sword-and-shield-wielding Little Fire Dragon nodded, "You guessed right. 'Bulbasaur' is undergoing Promotion in this dungeon, so he couldn't come."

The dual-pistol Deadshot nodded coolly, "Indeed. 'Bulbasaur' is the strongest among the three of them. I was entrusted by 'Bulbasaur' to look after these two."

Flying Knife showed deep respect, "Such profound brotherly bonds..."

Then, as if touched by the scene, Flying Knife grew melancholy, "Thinking back, I also... sigh!"

Li Nian patted Flying Knife.

"My condolences, big brother..."

Then, she looked at the trio, "Hmm, the 'Pokémon Trio' of the 'Mutual Aid Association'. I've heard of your reputation."

Little Fire Dragon was surprised, "You've actually heard of us? Good—it seems you should know we have some skill..."

"Now it's your turn to state your names!"

Little Fire Dragon said proudly. Li Nian grinned, "'Master Thief' A Nian, from the 'Free Alliance'. Heard of it?"

As Li Nian spoke, Little Fire Dragon's expression changed slightly.

"'Master Thief'?! Not good, brothers!"

He raised his sword protectively in front of him. Deadshot also immediately drew a pistol with his left hand, aiming at Li Nian.

Squirtle shouted, "Calm down! She might not be the real one. Maybe she's just trying to scare us!"

"No, this one is the real deal!"

Deadshot said calmly, raising his empty right hand.

He had drawn both pistols just now—but only the left one came out.

And over at Little Fire Dragon's side... the shield in his hand had also vanished without a trace.

The whereabouts of both items went without saying.

Li Nian waved the pistol in her hand, sitting on the round metal shield, and spoke with a grin.

"I knew you might not believe me, so I demonstrated my skills in advance to prevent counterfeits."

"Don't worry, I'll return the items in a moment. I mean no harm!"