(Wait, modify) Two A-grade players were once on the United Wormhole Point ranking, but since leaving the rankings, few have encountered them in dungeons; the most recent information provided by players was from three months ago. One of the "Gourmet" players appeared in a Rank-B Wormhole Point player family, possibly having joined the family to leave the game.

And the other one, two players provided conflicting responses: about four months ago, this "Gourmet" once broke into a famous farm and stole a batch of newly cultivated ingredients, causing a big commotion. It’s said that many witnessed it, and there was video evidence at the time.

Xu Huo watched the footage, and the other wasn’t a Cannibal Player, so it’s temporarily impossible to rule out.

The other two "Gourmets" are Rank-B players. One is famous as a food critic in many zones; many cooking shows invite him as a judge, making him the most exposed one, with his activities documented clearly in the past week.

This person is evidently a Grey Player and hasn’t participated in dungeons for a long time.

The remaining one is quite mysterious. Few people provide information about him. Xu Huo chose him because a player sent him a video.

The video lasts only a few seconds, set in a dimly lit banquet hall. Masked guests are mingling — ignoring the fact that many have blood splattered on their clothes and mouths, it could be considered a harmonious social scene.

Xu Huo immediately noticed a person standing on the right in the frame. He exposed only a side face, his clothes clean and neat, standing out from the crowd.

Such a mismatch was evident not only to the video’s viewers but also to those present, so the next second, almost everyone’s gaze was focused on him.

The video stops here, and the provider follows with a description: the self-proclaimed "Gourmet" slaughtered all the players in the venue within five minutes, leaving only a couple of cats alive.

As for why the person filming survived, they weren’t a Cannibal Player, merely stumbled upon the venue. Normally, they’d die tonight, but the "Gourmet" unexpectedly appeared and casually saved their life.

*

"What about the woman?" Liu Jia couldn’t help but ask.

"The woman mainly grew a beard; I’m not sure about anything else," Nie Xuan replied.

This made Yuan Yao can’t resist glancing at his chest, wanting to say something but held back.

Nie Xuan met the inquisitive gaze, calmly said, "Later, I found out it was a dungeon boss mixed in among the players, sneaking enhanced hormone drugs into everyone’s food."

Everyone present gasped. The effects of hormone drugs in the game were incomparable to those found in Zone 014.

"Why would the dungeon boss do such a thing?" Zhou Ning questioned, "It can’t prevent players from clearing the dungeon, right? What’s the point?"

"Because he himself is a victim." Nie Xuan said, "Him holding the dungeon as a player was an accident, accidentally entering that place, and while immersed in the joy of owning the dungeon, unknowingly became a woman... some parts woman."

His wording changed, "Probably being in a half-man, half-woman state twisted his mind, so he aimed to make all the incoming players become like him. Whether the player died wasn’t important; transformation was the goal."

Yuan Yao shivered as he listened, then said, "Your dungeon isn’t exactly entertaining..."

It’s actually a bit disgusting.

"What’s interesting isn’t the dungeon holder, but the fact that every player entering the dungeon has a Water Ghost mentality. As soon as they are caught in the trap, they try to drag others down as well." Nie Xuan said, "Driven by fear of bodily changes, they are more eager than in any other dungeon to pull others down, resulting in everyone inside, whether ordinary people or players, becoming accomplices to the dungeon boss. During the clearing process, some players even cover up for the dungeon."

This is something that hasn’t happened in other people’s dungeons.

"Those people are crazy?" Shen Xin asked, "Why not just clear the dungeon and go out to heal? Turning others into freaks doesn’t improve their own situation at all."

"People who are thinking straight would think like you, but those who entered this dungeon have minds a bit clouded, all the sorts who won’t live long." Nie Xuan evaluated.

It’s easy to imagine their end, Yuan Yao moved aside, distancing himself from Nie Xuan.

"You always clear with high ratings; the tickets the game provides you should be harder than for ordinary players. Do you have any memorable dungeons?" Nie Xuan asked Xu Huo.

After pondering briefly, Xu Huo mentioned the Ember Girl dungeon.

Without naming major characters, he recounted the entire dungeon’s clearing process. When he spoke of the girl sealed in Amber, everyone present fell silent.

"No matter how technology advances, it inflicts the greatest harm on ordinary people." Zhou Ning said, "An innocent person swept into a crowd of innocents."

"I hope we won’t be like this in the future."

Xu Huo patted Nie Xuan’s shoulder, "We’ll have to rely on the nation’s elite."

Nie Xuan glanced at his wet hand, but still didn’t move it away, simply saying, "Currently, the greatest harm is done by random dungeons; put in an effort and bring back a Super Dungeon someday."

"You’re wearing a pretty high hat." Xu Huo withdrew his hand and continued washing vegetables.

"Likewise." Nie Xuan also got busy again.

"Ha ha!" Yuan Yao suddenly jumped up, laughing aloud, "Don’t be modest, huh? Maybe you guys really can achieve it? Today we witnessed history, and when I write my memoirs, I’ll definitely include today!"

This statement received everyone’s approval, and Gu Yu held clenched fists with a longing expression, "Major turning points that change history often sprout from a small event; it might even affect Zone 014’s future!"

"For this special occasion, let’s have a drink!" Yuan Yao wiped his hands, ready to fetch some alcohol.

Liu Jia stopped him, "You just want to drink, don’t forget we have important things to do tonight."

Yuan Yao looked guilty, "Forgot, forgot, we’ll drink tonight then."

By the afternoon, Nie Xuan and the others rested and conserved energy, while Xu Huo continued searching for information about the "Gourmet."

So far, he had filtered out four candidates, all advanced players, known within small circles, self-proclaimed "Gourmets," each recognized or heard of by many, and two of them had been on the rankings before, though not anymore.