Forbidden Zone of Deception

Chapter 254 Newcomer Guidance
At that moment, he saw the cleaner who had treated his wound walk over to another cleaner.

The other cleaner took off a half-person-high, seemingly specially made sealed bag from behind and opened it.

The cleaner, holding a vacuum cleaner, aimed the nozzle at the bag, opened the valve, and poured in all the ash that had been sucked in.

Obviously, after the cleaner takes these ashes back, they can extract resentment crystals from them and use them as rewards for completing tasks in the reincarnation system; or they can make them into various items, such as ashe black runes or hunter's rifles.

Jiang Jin's dark eyes glanced at the bags of the other cleaners next to him and noticed that there were other types of bags.

What's in the other bags?
His inner vision activated, penetrating the bag's special insulating layer and revealing the scene inside—

There was no ashes in there at all!
Instead, they are flat, lifelike cardboard cutouts of "people"!
Their bodies seemed to have been drained of all moisture and bone, becoming extremely soft and flat, like layers of human-shaped soft plastic, squeezed together in the bag. Most chillingly, each "person" wore a Reincarnator watch on its arm! Jiang Jin's Ghostly Eyes had incredibly sharp vision; he could clearly see that the SAN values ​​displayed on the screens of those watches were all, without exception—0%!

Jiang Jin's breathing suddenly stopped, and a chill even deeper than when he faced the ash humanoid rose up!

What are these things...?! Those reincarnators whose SAN values ​​have dropped to zero... would they end up like this?! And they're still stuffed in garbage bags?!
Before he could figure it out, the cleaners had already finished their "cleaning" work.

They didn't exchange any words, but tacitly put away all their equipment, and then... right before Jiang Jin's eyes, their bodies began to decompose, turning into countless tiny, mosaic-like pixels, which then quickly blurred, faded, and finally disappeared completely into the air!

Only empty streets remained, along with Jiang Jin and Shi Baixuan, both survivors, filled with shock and confusion.

……

It's finally dawn.

The sunlight dispelled the gloom of the night, but it could not dispel the heaviness in Jiang Jin's heart.

As a lawyer specializing in deception, he checked and found that at level 1, he could only purchase two types of equipment for cleaners.

Cleaning cloths and the most basic disinfectant.

Moreover, the prices are very high; a single rag costs 700 resentment crystals, and ordinary disinfectant costs 3,000 resentment crystals.

Seven hundred crystals of resentment, why don't you just go and steal them!

He had no choice but to put the idea aside for now and focus on saving money.

When he went to retrieve the knocking ghost, he found that when he used the Soul-Capturing Staff to disperse the resentful humanoid, he also dropped a lot of resentment crystals. He collected them all, and there were quite a few dozen of them.

Previously, the support team that arrived later took over the scene, which included two LV3 reincarnators. After listening to Jiang Jin's report, their expressions were extremely solemn.

Soon, instructions came from the Membrane Contamination Monitoring Department: the area within three kilometers of the old farmers' market on Jinchang Road in Tiexi District was immediately designated as a "red code restricted area," prohibiting all personnel from entering, and residents in the surrounding area began to be evacuated and have their SAN values ​​tested.

The news immediately caused a huge uproar in this relatively peaceful area. Early in the morning, people who were going to work, buy groceries, or go square dancing nearby were stopped outside the cordon. Seeing the staff of the memetic pollution monitoring department, panic quickly spread.

It is extremely rare for a restricted area with a red health code to appear so close to the outer ring road!

Jiang Jin's originally scheduled week-long garrison mission was also ended ahead of schedule.

The monitoring department tested him and confirmed that after the cleaner sprayed him with disinfectant, his SAN value potential had dropped to its lowest level and his SAN value had returned to normal. He was then released. If someone is contaminated with memes after encountering an Ash Doll, there is no incubation period. Since he's fine now, he's definitely alright.

Sitting on the subway back to the city, Jiang Jin looked at the anxious people and made a firm decision: his parents had to move immediately! They couldn't live there anymore! It was too dangerous! Their house was located at the border of Yunjue District and Tiexi District!

He wants to buy his parents a house in Changming District—the core security zone where the Membrane Contamination Monitoring Department is located! Most of the LV5 Reincarnators are stationed there!
Without hesitation, he took out his phone and dialed Wen Qi's number.

“Assistant Wen, it is I, Jiang Jin.”

"Captain Jiang? Has the matter in Tiexi District been resolved?" Wen Qi's voice carried concern and a hint of fatigue.

"Yes, it's all taken care of. I'd like to ask you for a favor. I want to sell my Resentment Crystal and exchange it for cash; I need it urgently." Jiang Jin stated his purpose directly.

Wen Qi seemed somewhat surprised, but quickly replied, "No problem. Recently, due to the frequent occurrence of meme incidents, the consumption of resentment crystals has been high, leading to a shortage and a significant increase in the exchange rate. According to the current market, a standard-quality resentment crystal can be exchanged for approximately 2000 to 3000 million RMB. How many do you need?"

"Let's get two new ones first." Jiang Jin estimated that not only should they buy a nice house, but it would also be best to buy his parents a nice car for transportation. At their age, it's better for them to avoid taking the subway.

"Okay! I'll contact the most reliable channel for you right away! The money should arrive as early as this afternoon!"

“Thanks, Assistant Wen. Also… could you please keep an eye out for some existing or nearly completed apartments in Changming District that are in good locations, have elevators, and are suitable for the elderly? Money is not an issue,” Jiang Jin added.

"You're buying a house for your parents? No problem! Leave it to me! I guarantee I'll find you a safe and comfortable place!" Wen Qi readily agreed, her tone becoming warm.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Jin breathed a slight sigh of relief, but how to persuade his parents, who had been frugal all their lives and had a deep affection for their neighbors, to move was another problem.

He leaned wearily against the train window as the subway traveled through the tunnel, and many passengers around him were talking on their phones.

"Have you heard? Red health codes have been marked on Jinchang Road in Tiexi District too!"

"Really? At the farmers' market? I was thinking of going there this morning to buy some cheap fruit!"

"That's terrifying, nowhere is safe anymore..."

"That's right, look at the new rules today, fishing is no longer allowed in the White Lake area at night..."

Listening to the surrounding discussions, Jiang Jin felt a great sense of impending danger.

Hopefully, more LV5s will emerge to guard the core area of ​​Muxu City.

After getting off the subway, Jiang Jin followed the flow of people out of the turnstile.

Just then, a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties, with delicate features but a somewhat anxious expression, stopped him, her tone uncertain and embarrassed: "Um... excuse me, sir, could you tell me... how do I get to Exit 7?"

Jiang Jin looked up at her and pointed in a direction: "That way, go straight and turn right, and you'll get there."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" the woman said quickly, and hurried off in that direction.

Jiang Jin didn't pay any attention and continued walking out.

He remembered there was a real estate agency near his home, so he could go and take a look and ask about the situation. He needed to consider selling the house his parents had bought as soon as possible.

The woman who had asked for directions rushed to Exit 7 and waited anxiously.

Around nine o'clock, a man finally appeared and came to her side.

"Lin Lu, have you been waiting long?" The man looked at the young woman named Lin Lu with a complicated expression. "Let's go."

The two found a quiet coffee shop nearby and sat down.

This is where the two had their first date.

Lin Lu felt extremely uneasy about her boyfriend Jin Chenglin choosing to meet her here.

The atmosphere inside the coffee shop was somewhat somber.

Finally, Jin Chenglin spoke first, his voice low and apologetic: "Lin Lu... I'm sorry. My parents... they still don't agree. They said... your parents' condition of buying a house in Changming District is too harsh. Of course... I understand your parents don't accept us living in the suburbs after we get married... We can try to buy a house on the outskirts of Yunjue District. After all, this area is close to the suburbs, and the houses are so much cheaper! We can buy one in the suburbs first, and then upgrade later! I'm sincere towards you, Lin Lu, I will definitely work hard to earn money!"

Lin Lu pulled her hand away from his, her eyes reddening. "Cheng Lin, it's not about money! Don't you understand? Membrane contamination is getting more and more serious. Have you seen the news? Today, even Jinchang Road in Tiexi District has been marked with a red code! Places near the suburbs are starting to become unsafe! My parents said that I'm their only daughter, and they can't bear to see me living in constant fear. What if... what if one day our SAN value suddenly drops and we get contaminated by memes? Living in Changming District, close to the monitoring tower, is always a bit safer..."

“But the down payment for a house in the city…” Jin Chenglin’s voice was filled with bitterness and helplessness, “…that much…”

"We can pay the mortgage together, and besides, do we want our children to live in an environment that could be contaminated with memes at any time after they are born?"

“But I only have this much housing provident fund, how much can I borrow? Do you expect me to take on a mortgage for decades with you after we get married? With children, it'll be a bottomless pit! And what if something unexpected happens and we can’t make the monthly payments?” Jin Chenglin’s words pierced Lin Lu’s heart like a knife. She knew her boyfriend was right. “Chenglin, give me some more time… I’ll think about it some more, I’m sure I can find a way…” Lin Lu made a final effort, her voice almost pleading.

But Jin Chenglin simply shook his head, picked up his bag, and stood up: "Lin Lu, let's... calm down for a while first..."

After saying that, he turned and left the coffee shop without looking back.

Lin Lu sat there listlessly, as if all her strength had been drained away.

She didn't know how much time had passed before she finally walked out of the coffee shop like a zombie, wandering aimlessly through the streets.

When I was in love, I thought that love could conquer all, but now I realize how ridiculous that was.

Just as she was feeling disheartened, she suddenly saw a somewhat familiar figure—it was the aloof young man who had given her directions earlier.

At this moment, Jiang Jin was walking out of a high-end-looking real estate agency, holding his phone and calmly making a call: "Thank you so much, Assistant Wen, for personally helping me choose a house... Yes, it must be in the core area of ​​Changming District, preferably a new or nearly new house, with a large area, at least 150 square meters, and not too high or too low a floor... Yes, it must have an elevator, my parents are old and have difficulty walking, climbing stairs is inconvenient for them... Also, it must have a parking garage, parking must be convenient. And community security is also very important. Money is not a problem, just tell me when you've found one, and I'll pay in full..."

Prime location in Changming District? Large apartment? Elevator building? Money is no object?!

Lin Lu was stunned, as if struck by lightning, staring dumbfounded at Jiang Jin's departing figure, her heart filled with turmoil!

Why is there such a huge difference between him and Cheng Lin, a young man who looks about the same age? Even for a small apartment in the city, it would be difficult for both of their families to scrape together the down payment, even if they emptied the savings of six family members. Yet he can casually buy his parents a large house in the most expensive Changming District? And in full?!
Extreme shock, an indescribable bitterness, and a deep sense of powerlessness instantly overwhelmed her.

With his back to Lin Lu, Jiang Jin continued searching the Reincarnator Forum on his phone, looking for ways to quickly earn more resentment crystals. In truth, given his current status, many people were willing to give him money, but accepting such money would create more favors, which often required the entire team to repay.

Then he discovered it on the forum...

[Recruitment of New Players for the Ghostly Mall Reincarnation System]

"Just like Liang Qin back then?"

When Liang Qin took him along, Lu Zhao and Xia Wei were in Qingtan Community. They didn't even care about his life or death during the process. It seems like this money is quite easy to make.
Upon clicking through, I discovered that there are different types of beginner's guides.

Liang Qin is just a low-paid mentor for new employees; he doesn't lose his pay even if the new employee fails.

However, the overall number of reincarnators has recently begun to decline, and the replenishment of fresh blood is very important. Therefore, the reincarnation system has also begun to increase the rewards for mentoring newcomers, and the more reserve reincarnators that survive, the higher the rewards.

In other words, she would become a wet nurse for newcomers.

“The Ghost Image Shopping Mall is located in the restricted area of ​​the New South District, which is a Thai-style terrorist containment zone,” Jiang Jin murmured.

The location of Youxiang Shopping Mall is directly south of Jinlin District, where he usually works, and he is quite familiar with the road conditions.

At 9 PM tonight, a new batch of reserve reincarnators will be sent to the Ghost Image Mall by cleaners. We need to recruit reincarnator instructors.

However, since the emergence of the Manhattan meme, the reincarnators have collectively rejected the Thai horror copy, fearing that the Thai horror copy, which is too close to Singapore, would be affected by the meme.

The reward has been increased to 200 resentment crystals, but so far no one has applied.

"200... Okay, take it!"

After Jiang Jin clicked the "Accept Task" button on the forum, the Reincarnator Watch immediately received a corresponding confirmation notification.

Jiang Jin pressed "Confirm"!
At this moment, Lin Lu was distraught and didn't even know how she got back to her home in that dilapidated old-fashioned residential building on the edge of Tiexi District.

She didn't even glance at the cat that came to greet her at the door.

She lives in a cramped rental room of less than 60 square meters, without an elevator, and perpetually without sunlight. Her parents, on the other hand, live in an even more remote suburb, an area that is constantly at risk of severe meme contamination and frequently has red-code restrictions.

She knew it was all over.

The gap in reality is like an insurmountable chasm.

The saying "poverty-stricken couples face a hundred sorrows" truly resonates now.

Exhaustion and despair washed over her like a tide. Without even taking off her clothes, she collapsed onto the creaking old bed and drifted off to sleep.

She didn't know how long she had slept, but she was awakened by an intense thirst.

Outside the window, it was already dark.

She struggled to get up, still dazed, and went to the living room to get some water, only to suddenly realize—the cat was gone.

"Mimi? Mimi?" she called several times, but there was no response.

A bad feeling rose in her heart.

The doors and windows were all closed, how could the cat have run out?
She immediately searched every corner of the house carefully—in the wardrobe, under the bed, under the cabinets… but found nothing.

Because she has a cat at home and is worried that it might cause damage or get lost, she specially installed a surveillance camera in the corner of the living room.

She suppressed her unease, opened the monitoring app on her phone, and played back the footage from today.

Fast forward, fast forward... It's about 4:30 pm now.

In the picture, the chubby orange cat is lying lazily on the living room floor, licking its fur.

Suddenly, its ears perked up, and it curiously looked towards the bedroom, specifically under Lin Lu's bed.

It hesitated for a moment, then cautiously and step by step approached the bottom of the bed.

Just as its head was about to peek into the shadows under the bed—

A pale, swollen human hand, with grime under its fingernails, suddenly reached out from the darkness under the bed!
With lightning speed, it grabbed the orange cat by the neck!
The orange cat only had time to let out a short, shrill scream before it was violently dragged into the darkness under the bed by that terrifying hand!
Throughout this process, Lin Lu remained fast asleep in bed, completely unaware of everything!
Lin Lu's breathing stopped instantly! Her blood seemed to freeze! A chill ran from her tailbone straight to the top of her head!

She suddenly looked up, her eyes wide with horror, at her familiar bed!

Then, she suddenly remembered something! Something she had completely forgotten because of her heartbreak!

This morning... the monthly rules released by the Membrane Contamination Monitoring Department clearly state: [All employees of companies in Tiexi District are required to wear headphones from 16:00 PM to 17:00 PM daily.]

She works in the high-tech industrial park in Tiexi District, so she's naturally a corporate employee! But she forgot this rule! She wasn't wearing headphones!

An indescribable, immense fear instantly gripped him!

Rules...the consequences of breaking the rules...

suddenly……

"Meow meow!"

She stared intently at the bed; the meowing sound she'd just heard had come from under it!

But just now when she was looking for the cat, she had already carefully checked under the bed, and there was nothing there!

That bed now seemed to have become the entrance to a demon's lair, ready to devour anyone who dared to cross it!
Trembling, she moved step by step toward the bed...

(End of this chapter)