In the monitoring room.
The previously rather stagnant atmosphere, caused by the inexplicable elimination of two more players, was quietly dispersed by the timely arrival of a sumptuous lunch.
The aroma of food filled the air, unconsciously soothing everyone's inner anxiety and suspicion.
Xu Xi opened a thermal container, and the stew inside immediately steamed with a misty heat.
He thought that aside from turning a blind eye, dropping out of the competition did have some benefits.
At least he could eat a few more hot meals in peace and quiet.
"Creak—" The door suddenly opened from the outside.
"It seems I've returned just in time."
Xu Xi glanced at Buriman, who headed straight for the food cart after entering, and slowly took a bite of the bread in his hand.
Why did he feel like the other man was in a much better mood after going out?
Just then, a staff member who was still dutifully staring at the monitors exclaimed in surprise:
"Director, that contestant named Ichimura Kota... has disappeared."
——
"Disappeared?" Winifred scratched his head, "Did any of you notice where he was last seen?"
The others looked at each other. After a moment, Kuxia was the first to reply, "I saw him heading towards the long corridor."
"With the production team here, they'll find him themselves," Daisy said calmly.
After all, the cameras installed around the camp weren't just for show.
Although, judging from their encounter with the supernatural beings and the production team's lack of response, it was likely the cameras couldn't capture those things.
Gessalin let out a soft sigh, "If even the production team can't find him..."
Winifred paused, then changed the subject, "Let's talk about what each of us found first. The information I gathered is limited, just some details about the victims' lives before they died."
"It's normal that this instance's government only has the victims' information, since they turned this camp into a memorial museum to commemorate them. I'm not disappointed," Gessalin said, as she hadn't found any useful clues herself.
"Behind the curtain of tragedy, there's always a puppeteer. While shedding tears for the victims, one shouldn't forget to reserve a pair of shackles for the perpetrators," Yurien reminded them.
These cryptic words made everyone's expressions turn serious.
"...We've overlooked the rebels," Daisy frowned, looking up at the group, "Everyone, something just occurred to me."
"What a coincidence, ma'am. It seems our thoughts align," Winifred shrugged.
Gessalin's words were much more direct, "Assuming the purpose of those things driving us away is out of goodwill, then the reason they're doing this is because there's something in this camp they consider even more terrifying."
"Is it a faction war, or..." Kuxia guessed in a low voice, "...a battle royale?"
Daisy touched her red wavy curls, "Whatever it is, we should pay attention to—time."
"Well, that's somewhat comforting," Winifred smiled, "At least it's only our first day, right?"
"Who knows," Daisy's lips twitched slightly, "We should think about how to clear this instance."
Even if they guessed what the final threat might be, it didn't mean they could safely get through this instance.
Just as the five were about to discuss a few more points, the slovenly man's voice came through the loudspeaker.
"The second round of challenges is about to begin. Please proceed to the basement to draw lots for your respective tasks."
——
In the narrow space, the five players endured an indescribable odor while casually examining the cards they had just drawn.
"...Alone in the quiet moment, find the place of echoes, chant and listen," Winifred looked at the string of strange incantations below the text on his card, "I have to say, the talents on the production team should be the players. Their guts are much bigger than ours."
"There's no need to complete the tasks. We just need to maintain the facade," Gessalin casually stuffed her card into her pocket, "We have a direction. What's important now is to use this time to look for new clues."
The other four agreed with her statement.
However, just as they were about to leave, an abnormality on the ground made them instinctively wary.
A line of text, seemingly painted with red lacquer, abruptly appeared at their feet.
"Withdraw immediately... die..."
The five stared grimly at the line of text, inexplicably sensing a feeling of urgency from it.
"Is this their final warning to us?" Kuxia looked around, trying to spot something.
"It seems we all need to be careful," Daisy waited a moment, and when nothing else unusual happened, she pushed the door open, "Everyone, see you later."
*
Gessalin checked the map in her hand, the flashlight beam sweeping over the door numbers in the corridor one by one.
She was looking for the camp's archive room.
Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of something in her peripheral vision and abruptly stopped.
A shadow was standing at a corner not far ahead, the emergency light above stretching its silhouette exceptionally long.
"..." Gessalin narrowed her eyes, her right wrist rotating slightly.
"Don't be nervous, it's me," the person walked out unhurriedly.
It was none other than Ichimura Kota, who had been missing during the earlier gathering.
Gessalin was taken aback but still maintained her distance, "What are you doing here?"
"To stay alive, of course," Ichimura Kota ignored her obvious wariness, "Someone among us has been replaced. I don't know who, so I simply avoided all of you."
"Is that so," Gessalin didn't ask how he knew, but instead countered, "Then why are you looking for me? Aren't you afraid the replaced person is me?"
"It's not you," Ichimura Kota shook his head, his expression serious, "In fact, I already know who it is."
"I came to find you... to propose a collaboration."
*
In the storage room, Daisy was selecting a handy tool.
To put it bluntly, her task was suicidal, and she had no intention of doing it at all.
After casually picking up a small hammer, she prepared to head to the dungeon.
Based on her deduction, there might be a hidden passage beneath the dungeon, possibly containing important clues.
But the next second, the storage room door was suddenly pushed open.
The person who entered paused upon seeing Daisy inside.
Daisy also raised an eyebrow slightly, "What a coincidence."
Kuxia's gaze swept over the small hammer in Daisy's hand, and she nodded, "I'm also here to get a tool."
*
Yurien stared at the huge water tank before him, his body unconsciously tensing.
In the murky green water, Kuxia floated quietly, eyes closed, her face deathly pale. She was clearly already dead.
"How could this be?"
He clenched the silver coin in his hand, its cool touch his only comfort at this moment.
"Just how... did all of this happen?"
*
Winifred walked with light steps down a passageway.
He was heading towards the dungeon.
He knew some players would have the same idea, like that red-haired lady.
This was the downside of having too many clever people.
But it didn't matter. As that lady in the leather jacket had said earlier—each relies on their own ability.
Thinking of this, Winifred couldn't help but quicken his pace.
However, as he bent down to pass through a narrow crawlspace, the scene ahead instantly rooted his feet to the spot, his pupils contracting sharply.
A male corpse in a suit lay there quietly.
