Chapter 106.2 Merfolk Shore
Xiao Li and A’Zhuang were from the same underground organization. They also entered as a team and were randomly matched into the “Merfolk Shore” instance.
Compared to A’Zhuang, Xiao Li radiated the bright and genuine aura unique to college students. But A’Zhuang knew this person was quite calculating. Leveraging the facade of his youthful appearance, they sometimes played good cop, bad cop, and the effect was particularly effective.
A’Zhuang: “Now isn’t the best time to steal.”
Xiao Li’s cheerful demeanor vanished as he scoffed, “Who said anything about stealing? We’re going to find a school administrator.”
A’Zhuang didn’t understand why he would go find an administrator.
The campus of Mingzhu Music Academy wasn’t particularly large. The last page of the student manual had a campus map. School administrators were usually found in the Comprehensive Building.
They arrived beneath an impressive building, where a portly man was descending the stairs. Judging from his attire and manner of walking, he could only be a school administrator .
Xiao Li hurried over to intercept him. “Hello, I have something I’m not sure whether to share. It might be related to merfolk.”
The administrator’s initial impatience eased upon hearing the last part. “It’s alright, go ahead.”
Xiao Li brought up a photo on his phone. Though the resolution was low, it was still discernible as Wen Shi. He had a merfolk pendant around his neck, a scene from when Wen Shi had just received the pendant on the train and hadn’t yet tucked it into his clothes.
Xiao Li embellished, “We took a train here, and he seemed really interested in merfolk culture. He asked the train conductor a lot of questions.”
A flicker of well-placed hesitation crossed Xiao Li’s expression. “I’ve thought about it for a while and decided to report it first.”
“You’ve done well,” the administrator encouraged. “Do you know the name of this new student?”
“Aaron,” Xiao Li distinctly said the two-syllable name.
The administrator glanced at the photo again and nodded. “I’ll go get you a certificate. You can go to the dormitory management office in advance to collect a campus card. Regular new students need to wait until after the medical examination to receive one.”
It was implied that he was receiving special treatment.
Xiao Li quickly expressed his gratitude.
A’Zhuang stood beside him, suddenly recalling the earlier advice from the female teacher: students providing merfolk-related clues could receive rewards.
Even if the pendant couldn’t directly prove a connection between Pei Wenwei and merfolk, wearing such an accessory in a place fearful of merfolk wouldn’t result in blame for reporting inaccuracies.
With the certificate provided by the administrator, Xiao Li smoothly obtained his campus card from the dorm supervisor.
“New students have a 50 yuan free credit,” the dorm supervisor said while handing over the campus card. “If you find anything next time, you can come to me.”
Xiao Li nodded and took A’Zhuang to the supermarket for shopping.
•
For bathing, there were only two choices: the communal bathhouse or the bathroom. The school didn’t use water cards, and hot water was free. After taking a quick shower, Wen Shi casually asked Jian Qingrong, who was quietly sitting in the dorm, “Where’s Little Octopus?”
Jian Qingrong softly retorted, “Missed it, did you?”
“……” Well, yeah? Who asked you to dismantle yourself like that?
Little fools always managed to gain more affection. Of course, Wen Shi would never say this aloud. In a calm tone, he said, “Considering your efforts, caring about it is only natural.”
Jian Qingrong: “Trains don’t allow pets. If it’s capable enough, it can break the lock and find its way here on its own.”
The corner of Wen Shi’s mouth twitched. So, he was locked in the sanatorium, huh?
Each lost in their own questions.
Paying no mind to their conversation, Ji Yuanzhi lay on his bed, pondering whether to raid the supermarket or sneak into the cafeteria that night. Song Yan’s gaze, however, lingered on Wen Shi. Just out of the shower, the merfolk pendant hung openly around his neck, without a coat to conceal it.
As if knowing what he was thinking, Wen Shi calmly sais, “Being connected to merfolk might not be entirely a bad thing.”
At the very least, train conductors seemed to like merfolk.
The instance’s backdrop was described from the perspective of residents of the Merfolk Shore. The residents appeared to hold animosity toward merfolk, but the story didn’t mention the aftermath following any merfolk retaliation.
Concealing possibilities.
The existence of a merfolk identity was necessary. On the flip side, they should establish a link with merfolk through specific details. Exploring the benefits and drawbacks of being associated with merfolk further allowed him to observe both sides’ hypothetical factions. Neither faction would likely harm him easily.
Curfew was at eleven. To avoid drawing attention to their recently purchased goods, Xiao Li and A’Zhuang planned to enter discreetly.
Theft and robbery differed. In the former, the fewer people involved and the less noise, the better. At half past ten, Wen Shi and Ji Yuanzhi explained the plan. Song Yan and Jian Qingrong would stay behind while he and Ji Yuanzhi went steal the cake.
Jian Qingrong said, “No need to steal.”
He was among the first to board the train.
The two unfamiliar roommates had shown an unusual interest in Wen Shi on the train.
Jian Qingrong could easily anticipate what they had done before.
When it came to killing and looting, Jian Qingrong and the Wandering Corpse had similar thought processes. Killing the two and taking their belongings would suffice.
“It’s too early to act now,” Wen Shi said calmly. “Let’s settle in first.”
He needed these roommates to help verify if there were any dangers in the dorms at night. If there were, reciprocity was important.
After speaking, he looked at the upper bunk in the middle. “Accomplice, are you ready?”
Considering the possibility of surveillance, Ji Yuanzhi was better suited as a stealth partner. Players simply needed to spend points to achieve a disguise effect.
Holding onto the railing, Ji Yuanzhi lightly jumped down from the upper bunk.
With waist-length hair of a rare icy blue shade and glasses that were typically worn now removed, a pair of delicate fish fins adorned his ears.
After adjusting his ordinary face, it surprisingly blended well with the merfolk makeup.
Wen Shi raised an eyebrow. “Are you planning to use the merfolk legend?”
Ji Yuanzhi nodded. From what he’d heard from the dorm supervisor, most nighttime dangers came from merfolk. Even though he didn’t know how real merfolk looked, this disguise would confuse any monster NPCs they encountered, buying them a precious few seconds to escape.
Every second counted when fleeing.
Wen Shi stared at the fins, blinking. Ji Yuanzhi explained, “It’s a tool to help players breathe underwater.”
It was also on his shopping list for this instance.
After speaking, he walked towards the balcony.
With the curfew approaching, the balcony became their best option to exit the dorm building.
Since entering Mingzhu Academy, the slightly salty sea breeze-like air helped alleviate the pain in their feet. They managed to endure without taking any painkillers.
Following closely, Wen Shi shapeshifted.
The young man on the stool vanished, replaced by a black cat with night vision abilities.
The cat elegantly hopped down. Ji Yuanzhi was momentarily stunned upon seeing it. Yu Xingzhou hadn’t informed him about Wen Shi obtaining the complete transformation ability.
“Don’t space out, make haste.”
In the next moment, the grumpy little black cat was scooped up by a large hand. Jian Qingrong silently buried his face in the soft fur around the cat’s neck for a couple of seconds.
“Sorry,” he said with a slightly hoarse tone.
But it was truly quite comforting to snuggle.
The black cat pushed him away with one paw, and proceeded towards the balcony at its own pace.
Gazing down at the five-story height, Wen Shi decided to use the main entrance.
It was dark enough, and the lobby’s lights were off—perfect for sneaking out.
The unique shape of the cat’s lips made it smile in a mischievous way. “I wonder if merfolk are afraid of cats.”
Dismissing that dangerous thought, it straightened up. If someone was on the other side, they would witness the eerie sight of a “Cat Worshipping the Moon.”
Beneath the moon, as a lucky little cat, it silently prayed not to encounter fierce merfolk tonight.
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