Timeline Player

A tiny, handgun, seemingly hastily pieced together.

"When did you find out?" the woman asked through gritted teeth.

"You were hiding in your high heels the whole time, weren't you?" Chi Que said. "I found it strange back then. Why didn't you just break off the heels and instead run barefoot in the snow? Unless you were actually worried about the low temperature."

He pointed to the small pistol: "This model of pistol has very high precision parts, and low temperatures can affect its performance."

He added, "However, this is hindsight. What really made me doubt you was that you said the window was broken by a shadow. Why did you emphasize that? Because of that, I discovered that the direction of the shards was wrong; they were broken from the inside out."

"The shadowy figure really appeared!" the woman shouted. "It tried to attack me, and I fired in self-defense."

Chi Que glanced again at the direction of the broken glass.

If the shadow really did appear from outside the window, the glass should indeed shatter outwards; her statement does not contradict his observation.

Chi Que nodded. That made sense. Why did he suddenly fire? It wasn't because of a mistake, but because he was attacked.

"So where is it now?" he continued to ask.

"It was shot and retreated," the woman replied quickly.

"I see..." Chi Que said thoughtfully.

The woman seemed to have made up her mind. She took a deep breath and made her voice sound more sincere: "Now that things have come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore. Actually, I'm a peripheral member of a player organization."

"A player organization?" Chi Que raised an eyebrow.

This game has actually evolved into an organized activity?

He originally thought he was a pioneer in the game.

"Yes, a faction that has existed in the Great Game for a long time." The woman nodded, a hint of pride in her expression. "Once I complete this dungeon, I can officially join them."

She paused, then looked intently at Chi Que: "Let's cooperate? After we get out, I can act as your introducer. With the organization's protection and resources, your development in the game will be much easier."

Her offer sounded quite tempting, especially for a newcomer who had just stepped into this "great game".

Chi Que listened quietly, a thoughtful expression slowly appearing on his face, as if he had been persuaded.

He nodded slightly, as if he was seriously considering the suggestion.

"It sounds... quite good." Chi Que's voice softened.

A hint of joy flashed in the woman's eyes.

"But—" he changed the subject.

The woman's expression froze.

"Don't be nervous." Chi Que smiled. "What I mean is, there are a few conditions."

"What are the conditions?"

"First, the gun is under my custody."

The woman's expression changed, but she did not refuse.

She handed him the miniature pistol, which Chi Que took, weighed in his hand, and checked the magazine.

empty.

He didn't say anything more and simply put it in his pocket.

"Second," Chi Que held up two fingers, "Tell me everything you know about this instance."

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."

"Third," Chi Que looked at her, "don't do anything underhanded behind my back."

The woman was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed: "You're really afraid of being stabbed in the back, aren't you?"

"However, the deal is done." She held out her hand.

Chi Que did not move, refusing to shake hands.

She shrank back awkwardly.

He then learned the woman's name:

Warm dew.

A name that is completely out of place with her temperament.

"Let's talk about this instance," Chi Que said.

"What I know isn't accurate either; I only have a general understanding of the killing mechanics of this instance," Wen Lu said cautiously.

"Can't we just kill people indiscriminately?" Chi Que asked.

"Yes," Wen Lu nodded. "Just like yesterday, didn't that monster not make a move? The principle is the same."

"But it just attacked you," Chi Que pointed out.

"Yes." Wen Lu hesitated for a moment before reluctantly saying, "So I suspect that the murder might be based on age."

"Age?" Chi Que moved slightly and looked at Wen Lu. Come to think of it, she did seem to be the oldest among these people.

"You mean, you'll prioritize killing the oldest person—" Before Chi Que could finish speaking, Wen Lu interrupted him.

"I didn't say that!" she whispered angrily.

Why are women so concerned about age?

Chi Que changed the subject: "If that's the case, then that dark figure should have attacked you last night, right?"

"I suspect that the office worker might not have died at first." Wen Lu had clearly come up with a reason. "He was dragged away by the dog, and perhaps he only truly died today, so the shadowy figure shifted its target."

Chi Que nodded. Indeed, that office worker should be the oldest player. On the surface, that makes sense.

"I don't think that's the actual killing mechanism." But he shook his head. "It's mixed with too much personal speculation."

Wen Lu immediately retorted, "But isn't that the only thing I have in common with that bald guy?"

Chi Que nodded slightly.

indeed.

They were indeed the oldest players present.

But what does age have to do with copies?

The game's sound started again:

[Four players remain]

[Starting at midnight tonight, monsters will indiscriminately raid the manor until 6:00 AM.]

The two exchanged a glance.

Chi Que shrugged: "Looks like you can rest assured."

He silently mourned for the deceased for a few seconds.

Wen Lu's complexion did not improve.

Upon entering the hall, a pungent smell of blood wafted from outside the courtyard. It was the burly man, trampled into a bloody pulp.

A hint of crimson extended deep into the snow; he appeared to have been wounded outside and killed on his return.

A while later, the student and the girl also arrived in the hall, their expressions not very good.

The indiscriminate sweep meant that the hall could no longer serve as a safe zone, and they had to find a way to hide in the manor and hold out until the early hours of the next day.

"Let's rest first," Chi Que said. "Conserve our energy and prepare for tonight."

His suggestion was agreed upon by the others; the continuous mental shocks had left the survivors exhausted, and they needed to rest.

Soon, the firewood in the hall was lit again.

They worked in pairs, taking turns keeping watch at night.

Chi Que proposed a new solution.

He was worried about Wen Lu.

He chose to team up with Wen Lu, and the two of them guarded the area for the first half of the time.

The girl woke up once during the session and suggested that Chi Que go and rest first, but he did not agree.

Are you kidding me? Keeping both of them awake at the same time?

How many lives does he have?

In the latter part of the night, it was the students' and girls' turn to keep watch. Chi Que leaned against the sofa, trying to recreate the state he had been in twenty years ago.

As his consciousness gradually sank, Chi Que felt certain in his heart.

This feeling is the same as last time.

"Wake up." Someone gave him a push.

Chi Que slowly opened his eyes. In front of him was a face that had tormented him all night, but at this moment, he was still alive.

"Can I punch you?"

"What's wrong with you?"

Returning to the lobby, unlike yesterday's gloom, today the lobby was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

"What good thing happened?" Chi Que ladled himself a bowl of cream stew that was much thinner than yesterday's to fill his stomach.

The logistics staff excitedly said, "We've discovered a lot of edible fungi underground, so we don't have to worry about food anymore."

Chi Que paused slightly, recalling the door he had discovered earlier: "Where...where were those fungi found?"

"Behind the secret door of the warehouse."