Matryoshka Off-Limits Chapter 160

The castle master's mental state was relatively stable before midnight. The cool breeze failed to elicit any response from the pale, tightly-knit muscles beneath his collar, just as the moonlight failed to cast a shadow on him.

It seemed like he was a creature meant to roam in the dark night, yet he went to bed on time every evening. When he heard what Wen Shi said, he replied with a touch of sarcasm, "Night shift?"

Wen Shi looked deeply troubled. "Yes, night shift."

After leaving Big Factory, he still had to work the night shift. He was destined to be unable to escape the 996 fate.

Although the blood brides who used to wander the ancient castle late at night had vanished, the butler and others were still put up in a different house at night, with no extra night shifts to speak of.

This was a good thing for Wen Shi. He had upset all the NPCs in the ancient castle, especially the gardener, who would probably want to use his shears on him.

The castle master might be crazy, but he wasn't dumb. He watched the young man pretend to be pitiful under the night sky and knew that this guy was just making things up.

The so-called afternoon tea invitation was just a cover.

"I promise, I will send out invitations every time from now on," Wen Shi presented the only chip he had in hand.

As long as the Earl wasn't afraid of getting beaten to death, he didn't care.

Earlier, Wen Shi had glanced at the clock in the dining room. It was almost eleven. With just over an hour remaining and the hospital quite a distance from the castle, Wen Shi didn't hide his urgency. "The hospital has been turned upside down, which might work in your favor too."

The Earl refused to go near places like the hospital. Wen Shi had once failed to summon him at the sanatorium. But this resistance wasn't absolute. The crazier the Earl became, the more his power grew. Unless the patients from the deep zones stepped in, A'Ao stood no chance against him now. In this dimension, no NPC was more eager than the Earl to see chaos unfold at the hospital.

After all, Frank Hospital wouldn't give up on housing mentally ill patients. Previously, this mentally ill guy relied on his status to confront them.

The castle master stared at Wen Shi for a few seconds.

The young man's strength was negligible in his eyes, but his ability to cause trouble was top-notch. Throwing such an unpredictable bomb into the hospital was indeed a good choice.

A quarter of an hour later, Wen Shi got on the carriage as he wished.

The castle master had changed into his regular attire, a black robe with silver buttons. He leaned back in the carriage, closing his eyes to rest.

"Either A'Ao dies, or you die." Halfway through, he suddenly lifted his eyelids, and his terrifying eyes fixed on Wen Shi. "If you die, I'll send the obituary to all the media worldwide."

Wen Shi lowered his gaze, wondering if he should rally his family to seek revenge.

At that time, Xie Tangyan would surely appear. No matter how he looked at it, the Earl had the upper hand.

Throughout the journey, no one was driving. It was as if the two black horses were being controlled, galloping towards the distant Frank Hospital.

......

Frank Hospital.

As far as the naked eye could see, the map of this super-tier instance was quite ordinary, with no annexes to be found.

There was only one main building in this rundown mental hospital, surrounded by knee-high overgrown grass. From the hospital's entrance, one could still see some lights on the first two floors, but from the third floor up, it was like an endless swamp.

Despite being a chaotic and dilapidated hospital, it held a high social status. On one hand, it was willing to take in patients that other hospitals wouldn't, which was good for public safety. On the other hand, A'Ao and corrupt politicians had colluded to forcibly admit normal people, making it easier for them to seize property.

Twenty-one players, except for Wen Shi who had left halfway, all had the role of medical interns. The instructor had left them at the hospital, repeatedly mentioning how lucky they were to meet the Director directly. The players wished they could pass on this "luck" to someone else as it is.

After the instructor left, a plump nurse led the players into the hospital.

The windows in the corridor were open, and through the iron railing, the daunting, densely woven grid of electric wires outside could be seen.

The plump nurse's steps finally halted outside the protective door dividing the north and south zones. She was not light, but her face appeared stiff and expressionless.

"Not too long ago, a doctor severely harmed the Director's vitality. It took a lot of effort for him to recover. To prevent similar incidents, the Director now personally conducts orientation talks for newly hired doctors."

The ground floor was too basic, and when the players gathered together, the corridor felt crowded. The plump nurse pushed open the door to the only room with a larger area. A sign, slightly askew, bore the inscription "Prayer Room," while tiny black ants meandered within the crevices.

Upon entering, they were faced with a huge crucifix.

While everyone was examining the interior of the prayer room, Yu Xingzhou and Ji Yuanzhi exchanged glances, arriving at a unanimous conclusion. They needed to act like they didn't know Pei Wenwei later.

Pei Wenwei's strange behavior, combined with the plump nurse's words, now perfectly made sense.

At the moment, everyone was focused on their own situation. Only a few, like Yu Xingzhou's group, had the mental capacity to consider Wen Shi's predicament.

"The damn bottom of the food chain," muttered one player under their breath as the plump nurse prayed in front of the crucifix.

Other players shared similar sentiments.

Except for players like Song Yan, who were brought into the team, most of those who entered the 3S instance had purchased themes with hospital scene. They were experienced and well-prepared.

They had also reviewed their experiences from other hospital instances beforehand, thinking it might be somewhat useful, only to discover that traditional faction-based conflict patterns didn't apply in this scenario.

The plump nurse was definitely not just a simple NPC. On top of that, there was a director. If they were merely patients, the situation would be simpler, as they would only need to navigate one layer of conflict. But in this story's context, they specifically mentioned patients, and the likelihood was that these admitted patients were quite terrifying. As doctors, they would inevitably find themselves caught between these two opposing forces.

Song Yan retained a hint of innocence that newbies often had. "If the patients are too dangerous, will the nurses help us fight them?"

Under the crucifix, the nurse had finished her prayer and turned around with a sinister tone. "You must complete the daily tasks on time. For any negligence..."

An eerie smile replaced the words left unsaid. The plump nurse departed ahead of them, leaving the players in the prayer room to wait for the director's lecture.

Song Yan completely dispelled any unrealistic thoughts. He walked to the crucifix where the nurse had prayed, expressionlessy thinking: This hospital is beyond help. They don't adhere to any specific god, like the one and only King Asa.

While Song Yan was lost in thought, a coarse voice came from outside the door, "Very good, it seems there's a sensible one among this batch."

Outside, there stood a bearded man with
bulging muscles threatening to burst out of his white coat. His right hand had an iron hook, illuminated by the dim bulb in the room. It was rusty and terrifying.

The tag on the bushy-bearded man's neck reminded everyone of his identity: Director A'Ao.

Upon entering, A'Ao praised Song Yan, "I see you came to admire the crucifix first. The instructor has taught you well."

【A'Ao's favorability towards you +1.】

Most players were surprised that Song Yan could even think of such details. They couldn't recall him being among the top fifty players.

"We're about to hold the year-end selection for outstanding doctors." As if thinking of something joyful, the layers of fat on his face piled up as he muttered to himself, "According to the hospital rules, all doctors must participate."

If Aaron didn't return soon, he could rightfully dismiss him.

After indulging in his happiness alone, A'Ao finally began his lecture, "Working here requires strict adherence to the hospital rules. Absolutely no moonlighting outside, especially treating patients off-site..."

As if recalling something infuriating, A'Ao's low-pressure aura made the nearby players break into cold sweat.

"Isn't it better to visit patients at their homes?"

The director's lecture was suddenly cut short, drawing everyone's attention to the source of the interruption. Standing at the door was a young man in a blood-stained white coat, a single-lens eyeglass perched on his nose, oddly adding a touch of allure to his appearance. Behind the young man was a mottled wall, and oddly, the entire scene had an unsettling sense of harmony, as if he belonged here all along.

"Aa......ron?" Upon recognizing that face, A'Ao's facial fat trembled. "You dare to come back!"

A'Ao didn't hesitate to raise the iron hook in his hand and charged towards Wen Shi.

This sudden turn of events was unexpected by everyone. Wasn't this supposed to be a 3S instance? Why were NPCs going berserk right from the start?

Faced with a target who wasn't a patient, A'Ao was constrained from going all out, but even so, it seemed enough to wear Wen Shi down.

"A violent man." Wen Shi pursed his lips.

With the【One Strike Flattens All】failing to eliminate pivotal NPCs, coupled with A'Ao's formidable defense, he understood the complications involved. This was precisely why he promptly sought out the Earl to ease the situation.

Seeing Wen Shi standing there motionless, A'Ao, who had been fooled a few times, instinctively raised his guard. In the next moment, a rush of air came from behind him, forcing the direction of the iron hook to deflect. The sharp end grazed the edge of the wall, instantly creating a terrifying hole.

Thud, thud.

The hollow iron railing was tapped with a finger, startling players near the window, who swiftly moved to the other side. They considered themselves fairly alert, but they had no idea when someone had appeared outside.

The castle master's face appeared segmented, almost as if separated by intricate railings. The contrast between the indoor lighting and the exterior darkness created a disconcerting ambiance. While he didn't possess A'Ao's intimidating appearance, his aura exuded a distinct sense of eerie iciness.

A boss, undoubtedly a boss!

The players who had previously hidden to the side were frowning. Even in a high-difficulty instance, wasn't this boss' level a bit excessive?

A'Ao was ecstatic to see the castle master within the hospital's vicinity, even if he hadn't fully entered the hospital's interior yet.

This time, the Earl had voluntarily come to them. Since this person was so willing to accept "treatment," A'Ao was more than willing to comply!

Ignoring Wen Shi, A'Ao almost instantly vanished from the prayer room.

With everyone else in confusion, one seasoned player asked directly, "What is the Director in such a hurry to do?"

This was the first time they’d seen an NPC run off in the middle of speaking.

Wen Shi: "To get a beating."

"......"

As Wen Shi turned to leave, he placed his hand on the pull cord by the door, preparing to turn off the lights.

Among the players venturing into this instance, the leader of Seventh Commandment Guild was also present. Seeing the situation, he spoke up, "As the triggerer of this instance, you have inherent advantages..."

Wen Shi paused in his steps, turned his face to listen to what the leader had to say.

"We don't expect you to reveal any critical information, but at least, before doing these inexplicable things, explain your reasons."

These words strongly resonated with most players. After all, any inadvertent action within the instance could trigger death rules.

Leaving the prayer room without permission, turning off the lights—these actions seemed quite strange.

Li Nan in the background gestured with a seven using his fingers, then raised one finger. Wen Shi guessed the speaker's identity: Seventh Commandment Guild's leader.

He had previously embarrassed the Seventh Commandment in the virtual plaza, and during the Big Factory instance, a member of the Seventh Commandment, along with Tu Bianxi, had attempted to trick him, only to end up being tricked themselves. Wen Shi didn't have any deep-seated grudges with this guild, but there was certainly no love lost between them.

"Explain?" He had a somewhat mischievous smile.

The latter part of Seventh Commandment Guild Leader's statement was less important. He was subtly implying to everyone that Wen Shi possessed crucial information, setting the stage for a situation where, if they faced challenges, they could collaborate with other players to pressure him for clues.

While Seventh Commandment Guild Leader was requesting an explanation, Yu Xingzhou and Ji Yuanzhi were busy reading the hospital rules next to the crucifix. Li Nan also seemed quite interested in these rules.

As for the minor friction and hidden agendas in this verbal exchange, they weren't involved, nor did they see the need. If it ever came to a point where they needed to intervene, it would be a life-or-death situation.

While pressuring Wen Shi, Seventh Commandment Guild Leader was also keeping an eye on the rules and the ongoing battle outside. The space had been sealed off by one side or the other, making it impossible to see the actual fight, but occasional gusts of air flowed through, occasionally scorching the skin.

Not concerned with the battle, Li Nan and the others finished reading the rules and headed towards the door. One step ahead of them was Song Yan, who humbly asked the same question.

Though he had been following Wen Shi's train of thought, which was already quite unpredictable, he still couldn’t figure out why they needed to leave the prayer room.

A loud crash interrupted his question.

The iron railing bent dramatically as A'Ao's body, over two meters long, was thrown in, breaking the railing and crashing into the prayer room.

Wen Shi quickly pulled Song Yan outside and whispered, "I told you he's out to get a beating. If you were a superior, would you want your subordinates see you getting beaten up?"

Before the Earl's power evolved, he was slightly better than A'Ao, but now the two were not in the same league.

The patients in the deep zones only acknowledged the first director. Unless things get too extreme, they won't actively help A'Ao against the Earl. They might even sit back, munching on melon seeds while watching him get beat up.

A'Ao was such a proud and arrogant person. Anyone who witnessed him being beaten to a pulp would likely end up in trouble.

"Instances aren't just about fighting. There's also politics and social dynamics," Wen Shi said, his gaze deep.

Song Yan looked like he had been enlightened.

"Thank goodness." Wen Shi leaned against the cold corridor wall not far away, unable to hide his schadenfreude. "Finally, someone to share the director's hatred points with me."

Guided by the principle of being kind-hearted, he wanted to extend a helping hand, but unfortunately, the other person didn't appreciate it. As the saying goes, "You can’t save someone who’s determined to court death," so he could only silently watch them self-destruct.

On the other side, Li Nan approached the situation without any personal bias. "Someone has to play the role of the candle, burning themselves to illuminate the path for others."

With so many medical interns, it was impossible for everyone to do the same job. When quests were assigned later, it would be quite clear who who was going to have the worst luck.

The prayer room.

A'Ao, now beaten and battered on the ground, had a swollen nose and two eyes almost merged into a single slit. He met the gaze of Seventh Commandment Guild Leader, who had earlier tried to observe the battle. In the room's dim light, A'Ao clearly saw the astonishment on the leader's face.

Seventh Commandment Guild Leader: "......"

The name of the 3S instance was Frank Hospital. It was quite surprising that the boss, who was the hospital director, had been reduced to such a ghastly appearance. Did that make any sense? Even the most composed players would be taken aback when they witnessed such a scene.

It was as if he was just one step away from having "How can you be so weak?" written on his face.

Then, Seventh Commandment Guild Leader immediately realized the danger. An inept boss had been reduced to such a state in front of his subordinates. His first reaction was definitely not to fight back but to redirect his anger towards these subordinates.

Seventh Commandment Guild Leader's assessment was quite accurate. A'Ao's expression was already oozing malevolence.

Seventh Commandment Guild Leader instinctively glanced at the others and saw that the players who hadn't managed to leave the prayer room yet had all lined up in front of the crucifix. They were continuously making the sign of the cross on their chests while facing away from him, as if they were in prayer, seemingly oblivious to everything.

"Amen," they all chanted with closed eyes, in perfect unison.

"......"

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