Artifact Report

Chapter 252 Mai Minghe: Mai Minghe in the Mirror
When Mai Minghe raised his head, he saw a corridor with peeling walls and dim lighting.

The fluorescent light is not enough, just like a tooth decay after eating too much sugar. After a few steps, one of the light bulbs will go out, leaving only a rotten black hole.

The remaining dim light was also unreliable; from time to time, the light tube would flicker, plunging a moment of darkness into people's eyes.

...Which floor is this?

It definitely doesn't look like what's behind the street-facing door on the first floor; there's a narrow window at the end of the corridor, through which you can vaguely see the roof of the neighboring building.

Mai Minghe listened and found that there was no sound in the corridor except the buzzing of the light bulbs.

She was the only one nearby; the other four people and the translucent face were thrown into some corner of the building.

Maybe the translucent face stayed outside with the Kai family hunters?
This month, Annie's Warehouse Theatre presents a contemporary play set in a toy company that's struggling to survive but on the verge of bankruptcy.

When introducing them at the door, Chi Baili paused and glanced at Mai Minghe. As if remembering her lack of experience and qualifications, he added a supplementary explanation:
"These theaters in the old harbor of the nest also perform plays, which rotate every once in a while. To us, they're traps that could cost us our lives, but to the residents, these 'plays' are their cultural entertainment... After all, nothing makes them happier than watching humans die."

At this point, he laughed and said, "It's not like I can't understand it."

"Bailey," Tianxi glanced at him.

Sand Snow remained indifferent.

"Alright, alright. I'm just saying that if I die in the nest, it will definitely give birth to the most powerful resident."

Chi Baili ruffled his platinum hair and returned to the topic. "Depending on the plays being performed that month, the environment and scenes inside the warehouse will also change accordingly. Once we enter, we'll find that the entire building has been transformed into that toy company on the verge of bankruptcy."

It seems that this toy company was once quite successful and quite large, with more than one floor - although the area inside the building does not look large.

"...After entering, you'll find yourself randomly placed on a floor. The requirement for passing the interview is that you must return to the first floor and exit through the main door within an hour. Don't worry, the main door isn't blocked. As long as you can find it, you'll be able to leave without any problems."

She listened carefully to every word of Chi Baili's introduction.

"Let me first explain the peculiarities of this theater. The first thing you do upon entering is to determine what your appearance will be. Before you see it with your own eyes, your appearance is a fluid, chaotic mess, which means it can be manipulated however the theater desires.

"Just like 'observation collapses' in physics, the moment you see your appearance, it becomes fixed and stays in one form. Once your appearance is fixed, the theater can no longer manipulate your appearance at will.

"Remember, you must first determine the appearance before moving on to the next step."

He also said that within five minutes of entering, one must find a way to see what one looks like with one's own eyes; if one fails to confirm within five minutes, it means one has failed halfway.

Chibelli did not say why.

Although it was an introduction to the impending danger, he easily avoided any part that actually contained the danger.

Chi Baili did emphasize that anyone who had not passed the trap after an hour would be considered a complete failure.

At that time, the three Kai family hunters who remained outside Anne's warehouse would enter the building and rescue the trapped interview hunters to the best of their ability - of course, the premise was that they could still be rescued.

No one in the Kai family said explicitly how dangerous the inside of the theater was; but judging from their tone and manner of speaking, it was likely that many people who went there never returned.

Why are they willing to take such a big risk to join the family sect?

Mai Minghe looked back—there was only a door behind her, connected to the fire escape.

...Bathroom, there must be a bathroom in this corridor.

She walked along the corridor, step by step, gently forward; her hand was on the gun at her waist.

It was Ai Meili who had given her the gun—the bag of supplies the Kai family had distributed contained more than one gun. Li Sidan also gave her some bullets, paper, and pens, and the two of them managed to get Mai Minghe in without empty-handed. While Ai Meili was distributing supplies, Mai Minghe asked her indirectly if she felt the interview was too risky.

"I'm taking this risk now so that after I join the family sect, I won't have to face similar dangers alone and unprepared again."

Ai Meili shook her head and continued rummaging through the bag of supplies, saying, "Things that threaten lives happen all the time in the lair. No matter how prepared you are, you'll still be caught up in it. It's impossible to prevent it. It's all risky, so why not take a risk that will earn you support from your family? I've run enough on my own."

Or rather, the real question should be, if it is so dangerous, why bother being a hunter?
But Mai Minghe had a feeling; even if she asked, no one could probably give her a satisfactory answer.

Even she herself didn't know how to answer this question - but there was one thing she was very clear about.

No matter how dangerous the nest is, she still wants to be a hunter.

Mai Minghe was alert to the doors on both sides of the corridor all the way, especially when passing the glass door. She had to stand aside, observe and wait for a while before rushing over in one breath - the corridor was not long, but it took her a minute or two to reach the end of the corridor.

Fortunately, everything inside the company seemed quite normal and logical; the restroom was easy to find, right next to the tea room at the end of the corridor.

Yes, what kind of company would make its employees walk through a maze before going to the restroom?

That being said, when Mai Minghe stood at the door of the women's restroom, he still couldn't help but feel suspicious.

In Chibaili's introduction, all possible dangers and traps were omitted.

"...When we test a hunter, besides knowing his goals and character, the most important thing is his ability. Whether he can detect the source of danger and understand what constitutes danger is naturally part of the test. Of course, I can't reveal the entire topic to you right from the start, right?"

In other words, he specifically emphasized that the appearance must be confirmed first. Besides the fact that this is indeed rare and unexpected, is it also because there is danger hidden in this part?

If all we had to do was walk into the bathroom and look in the mirror, we’d have completed an important step. Wouldn’t that be too easy…?
Mai Minghe listened carefully first; there was no sound in the bathroom.

She pushed the door open a little - for a moment, she almost suspected that she would see the back of a long-haired woman in the corner again; but this bathroom was empty, with no one in sight.

The walls and floors are covered with long and narrow tiles. There are three toilet cubicles facing two washbasins.

There is a mirror above each sink.

Before looking in the mirror, Mai Minghe bent down and looked at the floor of each cubicle - she only saw the toilet base, no human feet.

...I wonder if things in the nest must have legs?
Mai Minghe recalled and felt that all the residents he had met so far at least had feet; this was at least a consolation.

In the cool air filled with the smell of chemical detergents, she carefully walked to the first mirror.

Chibaili said that once you come in, your appearance will change.

He also said that changes in appearance are crucial clues to cracking levels.

...What has become of me?

Mai Minghe stood in front of the mirror, raised his head and looked at his reflection in the mirror.

Her mind went blank; almost as a subconscious reaction of her muscles, she raised one hand and opened the door.

Mai Minghe had no idea how to understand what he saw.

　In the entire 24 years of my life, I only went out to play once (not counting the music festival, which was too short). Now when I think about it, it was all work, socializing, and dealing with bullshit, and the whole year was very dark.

　　But things have changed in the past 25 years! I got a great deal at the beginning of the year, and now I can tell you about it (to make it easier for me to take time off later).
　　A relative of mine broke up with his girlfriend (don't feel sorry for him; it was his own fault). They were supposed to go to Kenya to see the animal migration, but that didn't work out. So, he sent out an invitation to the family group... Kenya! Animal migration! Guess if I'm on the list?

　　I'm getting vaccinated this month and will be leaving in March. I'm so excited just thinking about it.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)