Why is my journey to the world of anime a strange tale of rules?

While thinking, Gao Hai gently shook his hand, glanced at the two human skins on the ground, and then set them on fire.

"Did they still escape? Have you found any clues?"

Cat Brother, who had run out first, saw only Gao Hai and two skins lying on the ground outside. He realized that Gao Hai had failed to hold off the enemy and quickly asked what was wrong.

"Yes, although I haven't seen much, I have confirmed one piece of information. I have seen the real team names of these players."

As Gao Hai spoke, he closed his eyes and felt the fragmented things he had acquired.

Because the operation was rushed and the mind-reading memory wasn't truly destroyed, Gao Hai only obtained a very small amount of information this time. The first piece of information was the name of the organization these players actually belonged to.

"【Treasure Hunters】, these players call themselves 【Treasure Hunters】. The so-called Bald Squad is just their disguise; Treasure Hunters is their true identity."

Gao Hai calmly recounted the information he had obtained.

Upon hearing this, Cat Bro's expression changed after a brief moment of astonishment.

"These guys are the so-called 'treasure hunters'?"

From the serious expression and muttering of this veteran member of the "Slacking Off Gang," Gao Hai realized that the forces behind those two players might be quite powerful.

Chapter Sixty-Three: The Past of the Treasure Hunters and the Wreaths Outside the Village

[Treasure Hunter]

As far as Cat Brother knows, this Red Moon-level player team announced its existence in the 7th month after the [Sacrifice Game] appeared.

At a time when most players were completely clueless about the so-called "Sacrifice Game," and didn't understand the three levels of Twilight, Dark Night, and Red Moon, or the various buffs, blessings, and items of obsession, this player team successfully cleared a Red Moon-level dungeon and proactively announced their existence. They could be considered the "Treasure Hunters" of their time, acting as guides for other Red Moon-level player teams who, along with others, answered questions and pointed the way for those struggling to survive.

Without these mentors, the casualty rate among players over the past two years would likely have been far higher than it is now, and various player organizations would not have been formed so easily.

"So, the [Treasure Hunters] are actually a group of good predecessors?"

Hearing this, Gao Hai asked with some curiosity.

"It used to be."

Cat Brother shook his head with a somewhat subtle expression, revealing a hint of emotion.

"once?"

"The first generation of the Treasure Hunters were wiped out during their 14th dungeon mission. The second generation, who inherited their obsession, acted very differently from the first generation. The original Treasure Hunters were pioneers who would actively enter unknown Red Moon-level dungeons to help players explore, while the second generation was more focused on self-preservation, essentially abandoning the ideals and beliefs of the first generation. Of course, if it were just that, it wouldn't be so bad, since it's normal to have to make choices when reality and ideals diverge. But after that, these guys completely went astray."

With a sigh, Gao Hai and Cat Brother walked side by side toward the edge of the village, listening to Cat Brother recount the history of the player group called "Treasure Hunters".

After the changes from the first to the second generation, the "Treasure Hunters," who were originally guides for the player community, retreated and shifted to a state primarily focused on maintaining their own safety. It could be said that at this stage, the "Treasure Hunters" had become not much different from other player groups, a phase that was neither particularly good nor bad.

However, after that, the Treasure Hunters recruited some players who had been rejected by other player groups and whose character was not good. This seems to be because those players with bad reputations had good relationships with some members of the Treasure Hunters at the time, so the team leader accepted them without any vetting and trusted them based on nepotism, resulting in the entire team's behavior gradually deteriorating further.

They began robbing other players' coveted items, leading to conflicts with other players in dungeons. Although this tendency was initially somewhat contained, and other player groups of similar level warned them, the increasingly corrupted "Treasure Hunters" escalated their actions, eventually being deemed a threat by other player groups and subjected to a coordinated attack. Ultimately, their base was surrounded, destroyed, and their forces were decimated.

By now, the [Treasure Hunters] team has fallen apart. Their powerful coveted items have either returned to the dungeon or been divided among other teams of players of similar level. The remaining few are forced into hiding, none daring to show their true faces, as they would be hunted down if they did. Although more than half a year has passed since the [Treasure Hunters] were wiped out, the players who initiated the operation haven't forgotten their existence, and will pursue them relentlessly whenever they are spotted.

However, these remaining players were still Red Moon level players, and they had even managed to escape ambushes and attacks from players of the same level, so their skills were certainly not lacking. Moreover, according to the players' investigations, the reason for the [Treasure Hunters]' drastic transformation seemed to be related to a certain dungeon they had experienced. However, most of this information was based on hearsay, and few people knew the truth.

"The 'Slacking Off Gang' didn't participate in the operation to kill the 'Treasure Hunters.' I only know a little about them and have seen some wanted posters issued by player organizations involved in the operation. If I see them in person without hiding their faces, I can recognize them all. I can also tell you their specific information if you need it."

Cat Brother said to Gao Hai very seriously at the end.

"In short, they're a bunch of scourges. Okay, I got it. Tell me their names and characteristics later, and I'll just kill them next time I see them."

Unlike the deeply moved Cat Brother, Gao Hai, who had not experienced the dark period at the beginning of the [Sacrifice Game], had no special feelings for the [Treasure Hunters] organization. After confirming that they were a threat, he nodded and calmly concluded.

Although the two twin players ultimately escaped, Gao Hai had mixed his own blood into Kaguya's Blood Domain after she unleashed it. He was certain that the two Crimson Moon-level artifacts the players had been forced to use at the last moment were stained with blood. Furthermore, because Gao Hai had forcibly invaded their minds with his mental power, their brain functions and the integrity of their souls had been severely damaged. Without appropriate repair methods, "Jackta" could only watch helplessly as his two teammates became mentally disabled.

Furthermore, that invading spiritual force has not completely dissipated yet.

Gao Hai raised his head and gazed at a mountain peak under the gloomy sky.

He could sense that the two players were in that direction.

Although this perception was rapidly fading, and he might not be able to sense the other party's location again for at most two or three minutes, it was still an unexpected bonus for Gao Hai.

With my now further enhanced mental power, can I implant my mental power into other people's bodies for tracking? It's a skill that's worth developing, but I need to study it carefully first. After all, my mental power is too strong now, and I could easily turn someone into an idiot if I'm not careful.

As for what to do with the two players who escaped, that's simple; the police have already gone there.

As the strongest combat force that the rescue team badge can currently summon, the police officer may not be very effective when facing an unreasonable and overpowered monster like the Mountain God, but if the opponent is a Red Moon-level player, then it's a different story.

"So, these are all the things?"

While he was thinking, Gao Hai had already reached the edge of the village. He walked past some trembling young players gathered there and stood on the roof of a house. He walked to the edge of the roof, just one step away from leaving the village, and frowned slightly as he looked out of the village.

wreath.

Wreaths woven from rough paper and bamboo strips.

One wreath after another surrounded the entire village, forming a complete circle around its perimeter.

These wreaths bore no names or any useful written information. All of them bore only the ancient Chinese character for "offering sacrifice," and nothing else of note.

No player noticed when these things appeared; by the time someone discovered them, they had already silently surrounded the entire village. Because the Red Moon-level players, who were the main fighting force, were focused on the well area, and the Dark Night-level players dared not leave the village, everyone simply watched these things from a distance until Gao Hai and the others arrived.

"I can't sense any eerie aura; it just seems to be an ordinary wreath."

After staring at the wreaths and sensing them for a while, Gao Hai finally spoke with some confusion.

"The wreath itself may have some special meaning, and it's not just things with the aura of eerie creatures that pose a danger. For example, if you destroy toys in a dungeon where there is a child eerie creature, even if it's a toy you brought into the dungeon yourself, it may still trigger a reaction from the eerie creature."

After hearing this, Cat Brother thought for a moment and still spoke up to remind him that although this player's combat power was the strongest he had ever seen, he still had to be careful when tackling dungeons. He couldn't think he could pop the champagne just because there was a strong player in the team.

But then again, isn't this man a bit too strong? Is he really just like Xiong Mi said, having only just finished the third dungeon?

Consider that even a top-tier player organization like [Treasure Hunters] only dared to announce its existence after completing the seventh dungeon. Yet this man named Gao Hai, having only cleared three dungeons, was able to overpower [Treasure Hunters] players, forcing them to reveal their trump cards and flee in panic. Cat Brother thinks that either the world or he might have gone mad... no, it would be more accurate to say that both of them have gone mad.

{Haijun, we are in position.}

Maki's voice echoed in the mental link. Gao Hai looked up and saw Maki and Ichiri standing at the edge of a dirt road not far away, at the very edge of the village. When Maki saw Gao Hai looking over, she waved before turning her attention forward, frowning as she examined the wreaths.

{Did you feel anything?}

Gao Hai waited a short while before asking in the mental link.

{...It's confirmed that these are all real items. These things don't seem to have been created out of thin air by some force, but rather moved to this place by some power. Furthermore, while the wreaths themselves aren't particularly special, the space they occupy may have undergone some kind of change. My perception isn't entirely clear, but if I were to pass over or try to touch those wreaths, it might cause some kind of teleportation phenomenon?}

This time, Maki's voice rang out hesitantly after a short while. Through the blessing given to her by her teacher—"to distinguish between reality and illusion and to sense the boundary between the alternate dimension and the normal dimension"—she successfully obtained some information from the wreaths surrounding the village.

Real wreaths, and portals appearing around them?

The fact that it appeared at this exact moment feels ominous. Could it be that after dark, this wreath will turn into a portal and zombies will jump out of it?

As Gao Hai was thinking this, he saw that Yili had already summoned a clone through the guitar, which walked out of the village and approached the wreaths.

Chapter 64: The Clone's Exploration and the Corpses Arriving in the Night

In the village, a pink-haired girl was gently plucking the strings of a musical instrument.

Not far away, the clone that looked about 60% like the girl, wearing sunglasses and doing the moonwalk, had already left the area of ​​[Li Family Village] and was approaching the row of wreaths placed outside the village.

Inside the village, Gao Hai and the other players silently watched the clone, waiting for the moment it would make contact with the wreath. Some were incredibly tense, ready to flee immediately; others were fully focused, preparing for battle.

Speaking of which, I have to admit that Xiao Yi's clone is truly the strongest exploration-type blessing item I've ever seen. Compared to the clone summoned by this guitar, Lao Guo in the rescue team badge is just a filler; he's only useful for a quick rescue in crucial moments.

Gao Hai silently pondered to himself, while simultaneously observing his surroundings to guard against any possible unexpected situations. Beside him, Kita Ikuta, floating in mid-air, watched Ichiri with a tense expression, occasionally bobbing back and forth, clearly showing her nervousness.

Don't be too nervous, everything will be fine. Don't forget that her clone and her main body aren't linked; even if something happens to her clone, she'll be alright.

Seeing how nervous the girl was, Gao Hai thought for a moment and then offered a few words of advice through the mental link.

Even so, it's still hard to relax. This dungeon is just too difficult and bizarre. What if... um, I can't say that, I can't say that...

Kita was slightly excited, but as she spoke, she quieted down, only shaking her head a few times, her long red hair swaying in the process.

Speaking of which, although it's an "imaginary body" formed from spiritual energy and doesn't actually possess any physical properties, Kita's hair can sway and shake like real hair when she makes various movements, which is quite amazing. However, the only part of her body with this simulated physical property is her hair. Although theoretically, a girl should have another part with this property, unfortunately, Kita doesn't have the talent for it, so she can't shake it.

Gao Hai's thoughts wandered slightly, and his gaze unconsciously drifted towards the girl's chest, only to be immediately noticed by her.

{I feel like your gaze is being very impolite. Are you thinking about something rude? At a time like this, you should be more serious and focus on the important matter at hand.}

Kita took a very wary step back and crossed his arms to cover his chest.

{I didn't say anything, and I'm a very upright person. Honestly, have I done anything bad to you these past few days?}

Gao Hai grinned and calmly boasted, his gaze already returning to his clone who was cautiously approaching the wreath.

"Haven't you done enough bad things? Time and time again, in front of me, with one girl after another... those shameless things, you didn't even try to avoid me. I'm just a high school girl! Didn't you ever think about how much psychological damage that would cause me?"

Kita, who had been holding back for so long, finally couldn't hold back and started complaining with great dissatisfaction.

{This isn't my problem. It's perfectly normal for the girl I like and I to be intimate. It's you who insists on prying into other people's private lives; that's clearly your fault. Kita-kun, in my opinion, you played poorly this game.}

As this wasn't the first time Takahashi had addressed this issue, he remained as calm as ever, quickly pinning the blame on Kita without even blushing.

{You're...making a fuss over nothing...}

Having no idea how to argue with Takami, Kita angrily puffed up his cheeks, stomped his foot in mid-air, and then turned his gaze back to Goto Ichiri.

wow-

At this moment, the clone reached out and grabbed a wreath, picking it up.

No abnormalities occurred.

Even though the clone and the wreath had made direct contact, none of the players present felt anything unusual.

It seems that these wreaths really are just wreaths?

Gao Hai did not rush to conclusions; he immediately used the temporary mental link established by the object of his obsession to ask Yi Li a question.

{From the clone's perspective, what's the current situation? Have you noticed any problems?}

As he spoke, he took out the 20-sided gold die, tossed it into the air, caught it, and looked at the number on the side of the die facing him.

What Gao Hai saw was the [13] side.

Overall, the numbers are on the more favorable side, but they are very close to the median of 10. Does this mean that my thinking is still quite biased?

{No problems have been detected yet. No strange aura has been sensed, and no power or rule has been triggered. Hmm… this wreath seems to be just an ordinary wreath; it doesn't seem to possess any special power.}

Yili's voice rang out muffledly in the mental link, and it was clear that the girl was also confused and didn't quite understand what was going on with these wreaths.