The camp's main gate had been slowly pushed open by two staff members, revealing the dilapidated and eerie front hall behind it, completely exposed to the view of all the players and everyone in the live stream.
Winifred and the others were still mentally preparing themselves when they saw that young man from Hua Nation take the lead, stepping inside without the slightest hesitation, which made him stand out glaringly.
By the time they all followed and entered, his figure had already vanished into the complex corridors.
"It seems we've encountered a bold friend," Buriman said casually, masking the inquiry in his eyes.
Saha crossed his arms, though it was unclear if his evaluation was sincere. "Just reckless."
Daisy chuckled lightly. "Wrong. Reckless people don't survive this long."
Winifred seized the opening. "Regarding my cooperation proposal, are you all really not going to reconsider?"
Polina stepped forward, passing by Winifred and dropping a light, airy sentence. "You could go try with that one. Maybe he'd be willing to cooperate with you."
Winifred naturally understood who she was referring to and shrugged helplessly. "Alright, I'll take that as you mocking me."
The remaining players gradually chose directions and left.
Before leaving, Yurien left behind a low murmur. "People can cooperate, but their hearts may not."
Winifred's gaze paused slightly. Looking at the now empty front hall where only he remained, he couldn't help but smile.
*
Live stream.
In the split screens, the players were all observing the camp environment and gathering clues, except for one split screen where the scene was markedly different.
[Where is this Hua Nation player going? (ip Maple Nation)]
[Maybe the dungeon? (ip Garden Nation)]
[That rebel leader guy sounds like a big boss. It's obvious even to a toe that the dungeon where he killed himself would be crazy dangerous. Why is this Hua Nation player in such a hurry? (ip Soft Nation)]
The young man on the screen wasn't cautiously exploring the open areas like the other players. Instead, he seemed to be heading towards a specific direction with clear purpose, his steps fast and steady.
He only stopped when he reached a point inside a corridor.
He didn't stop voluntarily; he was blocked by dozens of bluish-green figures in front of him.
[Oh my god! What are these freaky things! (ip Coffee Nation)]
[I told you the dungeon is dangerous. This Hua Nation player is in trouble now. (ip Soft Nation)]
[How can there be so many supernatural beings? Is that normal? What are our contestants supposed to do? (ip Paste Nation)]
[The Hua Nation person is finally paying the price for his arrogance. (ip Prettyland)]
Everyone thought this young Hua Nation player was about to be stopped right there.
However, the next second, they heard the young man suddenly speak.
"I'd like to visit the archive room. Could you show me the way?"
??
They swore they actually saw a look of utter bewilderment on the face of one of the supernatural beings.
*
After entering, Xu Xi originally wanted to head straight for the archive room, but he suddenly realized he didn't know where that specific Blue Monster was at that exact moment.
Should he just walk around shouting to lure it out?
He abandoned that idea in less than two seconds.
He decided to replicate the last run—go to the dungeon first and catch it there.
Same location, same Blue Monsters, same way of blocking the path.
Xu Xi looked at the Blue Monster at the front and asked directly, "I'd like to visit the archive room. Could you show me the way?"
The Blue Monster clearly paused for a moment, its pitch-black eye sockets widening slightly.
Xu Xi immediately added, "I'll leave after the visit."
The Blue Monster silently stared at him, as if assessing the intent behind this request.
Xu Xi waited patiently for a while, and sure enough, he saw it leap past him, its head tilting slightly as if signaling him to follow.
Good, this line really works.
He had wondered before why this particular Blue Monster treated him differently, even being willing to guide him to find the skull symbol.
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed its attitude became friendly after he said he was just there to visit.
Visit... tourist?
Xu Xi recalled the background the slovenly man introduced—this camp had once been built into an exhibition hall, later abandoned for unknown reasons.
Hiss, that seems to make sense.
*
Tens of billions of netizens in the live stream stared dumbfounded at the split screen belonging to Hua Nation.
On the screen, the young man followed behind that Blue Monster as casually as if he were strolling in a garden, appearing extraordinarily composed.
[Two sentences... and that's it? Solved? (ip Kangaroo Nation)]
They were all prepared to witness this Hua Nation player's failure, but not only was he not attacked, he actually got a supernatural being to guide him!
[What's he going to the archive room for? Isn't he supposed to enter the dungeon? (ip Hans Nation)]
Suddenly, a live stream comment noticed this point.
The young man was clearly heading straight for the dungeon. Why did he suddenly want to go to some archive room?
[I don't understand, not at all. My head hurts. (ip Windmill Nation)]
They really didn't get it.
All of this Hua Nation player's actions were utterly baffling.
Yet his demeanor always exuded a sense of confident ease.
[Sorry Dana, since you're resting right now anyway, I'm going to watch what that Hua Nation player is trying to do first. (ip Maple Nation)]
It has to be said, the vast majority of viewers' eyes were firmly glued to that composed figure.
The last time they encountered operations they couldn't understand from start to finish was...
Oh no, forgive them, they've never seen anything like this before.
*
Xu Xi didn't think his actions were confusing. He thought they were very logical and silently gave himself a thumbs-up for accidentally matching the tourist identity.
Arriving at the archive room, the Blue Monster hung from the ceiling, as if indicating it had brought him there.
Xu Xi pulled out that victim profile collection, flipped through it casually, and found the page recording this Blue Monster's information.
Then he took out the phone he had tricked from the shaman man from his pocket and, following the procedure, started a live stream.
Yes, that's right. He decided if he was going to do it, he'd go big.
Since he didn't know who to prove it to, how to prove it, or what the effective standard of proof was, he might as well make a huge commotion!
A real-time live stream "truth revelation"—what could better fulfill all the elements needed for "proof"?
The audience were natural witnesses. The real-time nature ensured the information was immediate and unalterable. It could be said to be much more reliable than the show team that couldn't even finish recording the challenges.
Xu Xi knew his method of clearing this instance was actually an unorthodox approach. There must be other, more reasonable methods for this instance.
But who told his brain couldn't think of them.
He quickly set the title: ["The Fetali Camp Memorial Hall Abandoned Due to Supernatural Activity? The Truth Is Actually This!"]
Hmm, good. Straightforward and eye-catching.
As for whether the camp was actually abandoned due to supernatural activity? Not important.
Xu Xi, satisfied, started the live stream.
Come to think of it, this was his first time being a streamer. How should he start?
Before he could figure out his opening lines, quite a few people had already trickled into the live stream room, all loyal fans of this shaman man's account.
[? Why isn't it Vett?]
[Who are you? Where's Vett?]
[Did Vett get killed? I told him these rituals are dangerous, that he'd trip up in a ditch sooner or later, but he wouldn't listen.]
Xu Xi cleared his throat lightly. "Everyone, time is tight. Please listen to me."
He adjusted the camera angle, pointing it at the ceiling.
The Blue Monster was clinging up there with its limbs, its head tilted, looking at him.
Just like how it couldn't be seen in the monitoring room, this phone couldn't capture it either.
But that still wasn't important.
"My current location is the Fetali Camp on Tan'er Holy Island, a place that was once remodeled into a memorial exhibition hall but was ultimately abandoned."
"There is a historical truth that was deliberately buried here."
"Xinli, 19 years old, one of the victims of that massacre back then, archive number G-1179, identity judged as a 'spy'. However, confirmed by the victim's own supernatural being, this identity is a complete wrongful judgment. This live stream is to restore his innocence."
Evidence? None.
Anyway, the victim's own supernatural being said it was wronged.
Xu Xi looked down at the sudden bright white light glowing beneath his feet and breathed a sigh of relief.
It really worked.
Who says unorthodox methods are bad? Didn't he just clear the instance?
He really was a genius.
At that moment, the archive room door was suddenly pushed open violently.
The slovenly man stormed in angrily, several staff members following behind him.
"Who allowed you to bring a phone into the camp privately! And even start a live stream! You..."
Xu Xi casually stuffed the phone into his pocket, interrupting the man's questioning.
"Please help me pass a message to that shaman gentleman. Tell him his phone is very handy, I'm keeping it for now, and I won't be returning it. Thanks."
One second before his figure vanished, he waved at everyone.
"And also—"
"Good luck to you."
