You made all the streamers on the internet kneel before you when you were asked to make a game.

Lu Zhixing watched this farce from the sidelines, shook his head helplessly, and began to examine his "Judge's Pen".

The other surviving players also received rewards ranging from tens to hundreds of ghost money based on their respective contributions.

Although it wasn't much, it was a huge surprise for them, who were struggling in this hellish world.

The terrifying cycle of the Village of the Unjustly Dead seems to have finally been broken.

The sky brightened.

Although it was still shrouded in gray, at least it was no longer that despairing blood moon and dark night.

The fog that had been hanging over the village dissipated, and the phenomenon of being lost in a maze disappeared.

Players can finally explore the village freely without worrying about ending up back where they started.

The ghosts in the village seemed to have calmed down a lot and no longer attacked the players.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

The surviving players erupted in cheers of relief.

But Lu Zhixing and Brother Long keenly sensed something was amiss.

The village simply stopped attacking them.

But they still couldn't leave.

The stone tablet at the village entrance that reads "Village of the Wrongfully Dead" seems like an invisible barrier, trapping everyone here.

This place has transformed from a death trap into an even larger prison where one can breathe.

Just as all the players were thinking about what to do next.

Hao Ren's announcement has arrived.

A new game announcement was pushed to every player in the entire Federation who possessed a neural connection headband.

[New Arrival in the Underworld Section: Midnight Bus]

Alternative title: Last Train No. 444

[Game Genre: Short Thriller, Rule-Based Puzzle]

[Single game duration: 15 minutes]

[Core Gameplay: You will play as a bus driver on the last bus, driving along an endless coastal highway in a torrential downpour. Your task is not to reach the destination, but to survive the entire journey.]

Price: Free.

The announcement caused an uproar among players across the Federation.

"Good People" has released a new product!

And it's a quick and easy 15-minute experience!

"Great! I really don't dare go to that horrible place called 'Reincarnation,' but I can try this 15-minute one!"

"Rule-based puzzles? Sounds much more user-friendly than 'Reincarnation'!"

"It's free! I'm so happy! May this good person live a long and peaceful life!"

……

Lin Xiaoshuai, a player from the Federation, is an ordinary office worker.

He is a loyal cloud gamer of "Good Guy".

From "Red Veil" to "Reincarnation," he watched every single episode of Mad Dragon Brother and the Master's live streams.

I watched with great interest, but broke out in a cold sweat.

But he would never dare to personally participate.

But today, things are different.

Midnight Bus, 15 minutes, a short thriller.

This duration and this type of play perfectly hit his "strike zone".

"It's only 15 minutes, it should be... okay, right?"

With a mix of trepidation and excitement, Lin Xiaoshuai put on the neural connection headband.

Welcome to "Midnight Bus." The driver's code of conduct has been distributed; please read it carefully.

[Driver's Code of Conduct 1.0]:

1. You drive the last bus of route 444, which departs at midnight, rain or shine.

2. Not everyone who gets on the bus is a person. But anyone who pays a coin is a passenger, so please treat them with courtesy.

3. If a passenger throws in ghost money, don't make a fuss, just drive normally. But remember their face.

4. Talking, eating, and drinking are prohibited inside the carriage. If you hear someone calling your name from behind, do not turn around.

……

Lin Xiaoshuai read those eight rules over and over again three times, feeling his heart begin to race.

Scene loading.

"Splash—"

The sound of torrential rain pounding against the car window instantly enveloped him.

Lin Xiaoshuai found himself sitting in the driver's seat of an old-fashioned bus, holding a cold steering wheel.

Outside the car, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and visibility was extremely low.

Inside the car, only the instrument panel emitted a faint green glow.

A hissing sound came from the car radio, mixed with a faint, mournful, and melodious opera voice.

"Midnight, get ready to depart."

A cold, automated system voice sounded.

Lin Xiaoshuai took a deep breath, shifted gears, released the handbrake, and stepped on the gas.

The bus slowly started moving, disappearing into the endless rainy night.

We've arrived at the first station.

The platform was deserted.

But the bus stop sign had the word "Stop" written on it.

Lin Xiaoshuai didn't dare to be careless, and steadily stopped the car and opened the door.

The sounds of rain and wind poured in.

A minute passed, and no one got on the bus.

Lin Xiaoshuai was a little confused, just as he was about to close the door.

He felt the car body sway slightly.

It's like someone got on the bus.

But when he looked back, the carriage was empty, with only rows of cold plastic seats.

Lin Xiaoshuai remembered rule number five.

What you see in your rearview mirror may not be the truth. If the number of passengers in your rearview mirror does not match the actual number, please pretend you didn't see it.

He immediately turned around, looked straight ahead, closed the door, and started walking.

He didn't dare look in the rearview mirror.

The vehicle continued on its way.

The second platform.

An old man wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat stood below the platform.

His face was hidden in the shadow of his straw hat, making it difficult to see clearly.

Lin Xiaoshuai parked the car and opened the door.

The old man slowly got on the bus and walked to the coin box.

"Clang!"

A coin fell into the coin box.

That wasn't a federal credit card; it was just a piece of paper money covered in dirt.

Lin Xiaoshuai's heart skipped a beat.

Rule number three.

He pretended not to see it, and even forced a stiff smile at the old man.

The old man ignored him and went straight to the last row, where he sat down.

The atmosphere in the carriage grew increasingly eerie.

Lin Xiaoshuai's palms were already covered in cold sweat.

He gripped the steering wheel tightly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.

He dared not turn around, nor did he dare look in the rearview mirror.

He could sense that the carriage was becoming increasingly "lively".

A faint sigh.

There was a "scratching" sound like fingernails scraping against glass.

There was even the sound of children's silvery laughter.

Just then.

A gentle female voice rang in Lin Xiaoshuai's ear.

"Master, did you... take the wrong road?"