I really don't want to work in the world of weird rules!

Gu Changyuan was led to a wooden door at the back of the stage.

Pushing open the door, you'll find yourself in a typical old-fashioned Hollywood retro waiting room.

The only incongruity was that the walls were covered with black and white program posters, which at first glance looked like talismans for warding off evil spirits.

Thank you.

The faceless makeup artist nodded mechanically without saying a word, then turned and disappeared out the door.

The door lock made a crisp clicking sound.

Gu Changyuan let out a long breath.

survived.

Although it was only for a short thirty minutes, he successfully pressed the pause button on the Grim Reaper's scythe.

We must find a way to break this deadlock within the next half hour.

Moreover, we have new leads.

He immediately opened his palm to examine the things Yang Shiyin had given him.

In such a critical moment of life and death, what the other party was willing to risk their life to hand over was...

"Buttons?"

A spare button commonly found on a suit.

However, because the inside is slightly hollow, pressing the surface will produce a slight rebound, making it more like a miniature button.

He keenly sensed the hidden mechanism inside.

Gu Changyuan gripped the button tightly.

There's no time to hesitate; there's only one way to find out the truth.

Since the other party risked their life to hand it over, it must have some value.

He pressed the button without hesitation.

A faint, static-like sound rang out.

After a brief period of deathly silence.

The communication was established.

【I am Li Zihao.】

Gu Changyuan's breathing stopped abruptly.

[Who are you? This is Yang Shiyin's emergency call button.]

Li Zihao.

The leader of Group D, who was supposedly away on a mission long ago, actually connected directly to this deadly place through this tiny button.

Gu Changyuan once read in "The Secret Record of Exploring Strange Tales" that once trapped in a strange phenomenon, all signals and communications are usually completely cut off, leaving the trapped person completely isolated and helpless.

This is the most clichéd formula in horror stories.

But a story needs an unexpected twist to be truly exciting.

He vaguely remembered reading in a record that certain special teams at Daydream Company were equipped with a disposable device that enabled emergency communication in extreme environments.

Could it be this button?

His brain was working frantically, but Gu Changyuan's mouth didn't dare to stop for a moment.

Time waits for no one.

Gu Changyuan lowered his voice and spoke urgently.

"Is this Li Zihao, the team leader of Group D?"

It's me.

"I am Gu Changyuan, a new recruit from Group D. I have an emergency to report."

Let's drop the bombshell first.

"In thirty minutes, the entire D team will be dead here."

Even if the other party is stunned by this statement, you can't care about anything else. This kind of direct approach is the most efficient. You can quickly explain when the other party asks further questions.

The sound coming from the button was completely flat.

【I see.】

You have five minutes to briefly describe the situation.

Gu Changyuan's Adam's apple bobbed suddenly.

That's incredibly calm.

Although the on-site investigation team treats complete annihilation as commonplace, this reaction is far too inhumane.

This boss's personality model is probably a bit flawed.

Suppressing his urge to complain, he used the most concise language to fully explain his current predicament.

"A strange thing has happened to the D-rated Tuesday quiz show."

He quickly explained the unexpected intrusion of other group members and the sudden cancellation of the Q&A session.

Finally, the description focuses on the insane choir made up of living human heads.

How many people are left alive?

"Four of the seven are dead. The three from Group D are still alive, but they'll all be finished once their rest period ends."

Li Zihao's answer remained concise and to the point.

【Understood.】

You've delayed for another thirty minutes.

Gu Changyuan almost ground his back teeth to powder.

Who the hell can hold this off?

"That's absolutely impossible."

There's no other way then.

This team leader probably has maxed out the special talent that makes people's blood pressure spike before they die.

Talking to him is a waste of your life.

Although I knew beforehand that most of the senior members of the on-site investigation team lacked common sense and empathy, it still made my blood boil when I actually encountered it.

What do his subordinates' lives mean to him?

Gu Changyuan pressed his fingers firmly on the button, intending to cut off the communication and find his own way out.

The movement suddenly stopped.

and many more.

"Even if I could gain another thirty minutes, what good would it do?"

The other party wouldn't issue such an order without reason.

[It could save a life.]

If I can secure a buffer period of more than 55 minutes, I can apply to the security department for authorization to borrow top-of-the-line weaponry and infiltration equipment.

The deep male voice spoke in a flat, straightforward manner, as if reading an instruction manual.

Even if we act first and report later, the cumbersome approval process will still take about forty minutes, and forcibly entering this strange phenomenon with equipment will take an additional fifteen to twenty minutes.

Gu Changyuan's breathing became rapid.

"Once the procedures are completed, you can get us out of here?"

From a probabilistic standpoint, yes.

Gu Changyuan was completely stunned.

Using specialized equipment, they single-handedly infiltrate Class A paranormal phenomena to rescue people and forcibly suppress investigators of supernatural tales.

A truly extraordinary person capable of such an unconventional act.

He is definitely a key figure with a name and a background.

The boss who is currently on the phone must appear in the records of "The Mysterious Exploration of Ghost Stories".

And his role in the film is definitely not insignificant.

My back was covered in goosebumps.

Several famous code names flashed through his mind, and his train of thought was fully opened.

"It's definitely impossible to just go to the security department and steal the equipment."

That's definitely impossible.

The security department is set up to maintain the basic logic of the ghost story world. It is extremely heavily guarded, and stealing is simply courting death.

But what if the person on the other end of the communication is indeed the code name he knows?

Then there is another solution.

Gu Changyuan swallowed hard.

"Team leader, if I may ask, what is your signature mask?"

As long as you come across that resounding name.

【lizard.】

Gu Changyuan let out a long sigh of relief.

Oh, it's you.

That makes sense.

"Team leader."

There are 20 minutes left until halftime.

"Based on the information you provided, I've put together a temporary plan."

Let's take a gamble on this.

......

【Oh dear, Mr. Deer!】

The break time is coming to an end.

Gu Changyuan grabbed a bottle of mineral water from the waiting room and walked back to the studio with a stiff upper lip.

Humans, oh humans, choose two: humans, humankind!

Han Yan and Yang Shiyin were tormented by that damned "harmony" for several tens of minutes, and their faces were extremely pale.

The grotesque host, sporting an old-fashioned television set, enthusiastically extended his hand to Gu Changyuan.

Are you feeling better? Are you ready to continue presenting a top-notch show for the audience?

Gu Changyuan shook hands with him without making a sound.

"I feel much better, thank you for your concern."

[Haha, our show is only truly outstanding when the contestants are in top form!]

Compared to the monster's previous insane behavior, its current attitude is eerily kind.

It seems the forced goodwill from the smiley stickers is still in effect.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

Gu Changyuan quickly went over the lines in his mind.

"It's clear that you've poured your heart and soul into this program. That's why every episode is so captivating that it's hard to look away."

Perhaps because their lives were hanging by a thread, this sycophantic flattery actually felt perfectly natural.

[That's too kind of you! But a good show requires everyone's joint efforts. Mr. Lu, you are an indispensable part of it too!]

This rhythm is off; we need to get it back on track.

"You're too kind. We can't possibly compare to the main host who carries the entire show."

We must dig down along its pride.

Gu Changyuan sighed casually.

"I just didn't expect that someone of your stature would be forced to accept such a terrible treatment as a forced redesign."