Chapter 54 Big Factory
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Wen Shi left the archives room and saw the elevator stopped at the fourth floor.
The call continued. Ji Yuanzhi spoke faster than usual, “We were just five percent away from exploring fully. If we finished one more task, we could earn Director Jin’s approval.”
“It’s difficult,” Wen Shi shook his head. “We got into the sanatorium too quickly.”
Every task trigger inside the sanatorium was linked to Big Factory. They had only worked for a day, and it seemed really hard to trigger more tasks.
“Moreover, just because a task suggests the possibility of an opportunity, it doesn’t guarantee certainty. Even if we somehow manage to increase our exploration level sufficiently, is there a chance that the sanatorium director, now a ghost, might still present an award for outstanding new employees?”
This worried Ji Yuanzhi too. He paused briefly and then asked, “Between the monster and Jian Qingrong, who do you think will win?”
Wen Shi answered without much hesitation, “Jian Qingrong.”
Ji Yuanzhi was briefly taken aback by the swift and certain response.
“But I guess he’ll turn into an irrational true spirit after devouring the monster.”
Doing good deeds helped keep rationality intact. Wen Shi was in that state now. But the confined monster was too powerful. A few good deeds wouldn’t counteract its effects. Jian Qingrong probably guessed this, but the awakening monster left no time for research. Plus, for him, losing rationality and destroying the world seemed inconsequential.
Such an NPC clearly added instability to the game, so the game leaned toward eliminating him.
Wen Shi didn’t immediately destroy the file. He might face retaliation from the petty game capitalist and needed to find a way to improve the game’s favorability towards him.
He took steps towards the records room. “The director’s office is on the fourth floor. Employees were warned about the fourth floor. It might be a death rule.”
Ji Yuanzhi, being smart, immediately understood that Wen Shi wanted to prevent Jian Qingrong from turning into a malevolent ghost, giving the monster the upper hand. Just as he was about to speak, an image of the demon-like teenager with horns violently attacking in the quality inspection area flashed in his mind. He changed his words and asked, “Do you want me to go to the fourth floor?”
“Let’s first try to save Zhou Xiaochun, see if he can divine the time or place of Jian Qingrong’s imminent death. If that fails, going to the fourth floor and searching the office becomes the only option.” Wen Shi had reached the door of the records room. “I’ll contact you later. I have something else to do.”
Before the archive task, he had passed by a worker carrying a box of videotapes.
Wen Shi wanted to review the content of videotapes from previous years, to see what kind of death Jian Qingrong was going to choose. Only he, in his transformed state, could do this.
Picking up a random tape, he pressed the play button on the VCR. The screen immediately showed the causes of death of Big Factory workers scrolling by.
Despite being mentally prepared, as the room’s temperature continued to drop, it couldn’t help but make one shiver.
The door and windows had already been damaged during the previous task. While the videotape played, a ghost crawled in through the window. It began with an arm, followed by a leg, and finally the head… it was a dismembered ghost, torn apart by humans before its death.
“My hand, can you see my hand?”
Wen Shi turned around and swallowed hard as he faced the menacing ghost. “I’m very hungry, don’t tempt me.”
In his transformed state, he felt like gnawing on table legs.
“……” You’re really scary.
The twisted ghost crawled around, searching the floor for its lost hand.
Wen Shi turned his gaze back to the TV screen. The progress bar was halfway through, and the room was filling with more and more ghosts. There was no harmony among them. Some of the more vicious ones devoured their own kind. The Gatekeeper Ghost had temporarily moved away. Wen Shi, being neither human nor ghost in his transformed state, didn’t provide much benefit to them and wasn’t really in their consideration. Plus, with the protective effect of the bell, amidst the swarm of ghosts, Wen Shi sat motionless in front of the TV, as still as a mountain.
From his observations, the solid ghosts were more ferocious and had a stronger devouring ability.
As for methods of death, he hadn’t encountered anyone more formidable than the red-dressed female ghost so far.
The methods of death painstakingly recorded over the years were condensed into just a few tens of minutes on the tape. Wen Shi watched expressionlessly, suddenly catching a whiff of a choking odor.
The foul-smelling smoke drifted in through the window. Wen Shi covered his mouth and nose, rushed to the window, and glanced to confirm the fire on the fourth floor. The fire wasn’t large yet. Though there were many monsters in the sanatorium, there wasn’t much flammable material. It seemed more like arson.
Instantly infuriated, his clear voice turned slightly hoarse from inhaling toxic fumes, “Put it out for me!”
His slender tail swayed rapidly from side to side, a considerable swing that displayed Wen Shi’s frustration. In this heated state, the surrounding ghosts instinctively moved away from him.
“Bastard!”
Who was setting fire to his future property?!
Fourth floor.
The vibrant flames illuminated his pale cheeks. In the firelight, Jian Qingrong gazed silently at the destruction of the office’s documents. The papers went from yellowing to curling before finally turning to ashes. The entire process was strangely oppressive. The blaze seemed to possess a kind of dark magic, capable of consuming all wickedness.
When people encounter demons or plagues, their first instinct was often to burn them.
Amidst the crackling flames, occasional small bursts of fire erupted. Jian Qingrong revealed a cold and eerie smile. He no longer focused on the growing blaze. Instead, he turned, twisting a vase, preparing to exit through the secret passage to carry out his death plan.
“Put it out for me!” Just as he was about to turn and leave, a curse suddenly echoed from downstairs.
The flames hadn’t yet spread to the other side, to the wires and screens. Jian Qingrong glanced at the monitor. In the video, the cat doctor’s tail was pounding the ground with force, displaying an unusual anger, as if it were on the verge of erupting at any moment.
Jian Qingrong’s muscles tightened. His body acted before his rational mind, rushing to the corridor to get a fire extinguisher and putting out the fire. He threw the remaining unburnt documents into the shredder.
Finishing everything in one go, he lowered his head with a hint of puzzlement, gazing at his sweaty palms… What had he just done? Why did he actually put out the fire?
The unusual sequence of actions wiped the smile off his face, replaced by a furrowed brow. After a moment of silence, Jian Qingrong shook his head, dismissing the matter from his mind, and entered the secret passage.
The thick smoke gradually cleared, and downstairs, Wen Shi returned to the TV.
He knew deep down that Jian Qingrong was probably the arsonist, but knowing that wasn’t useful. He couldn’t just look up and start shouting motivational quotes, urging the other person to stop.
For someone with a stubborn personality, a few words of persuasion were futile. It was similar to facing the death of No. 83. He felt pity and sorrow, but it didn’t change the outcome.
Wen Shi continued to quietly watch the videotape, silently ruling out an option of death by fire. If Jian Qingrong chose this method, it wasn’t something he could resolve with a mere shout.
“After looking around, it seems the jumping-off-the-building ghost is the most formidable.”
Wen Shi switched back to the first videotape. The red-dressed female ghost, who had been released not too long ago, appeared again. The air grew colder, carrying a rancid and chilling presence, indicating that the red-dressed female ghost was in a bad mood. She had already feasted once and didn’t want to come out again so soon.
Wen Shi adjusted his breathing, his face filled with anticipation as he asked, “As long as I keep replaying the videotape, can you gain eternal freedom?”
The feigned innocence in his tone might seem odd and affected on any grown man, but coming from a young doctor, especially one with those cat-like eyes, it only appeared endearing.
【Note: A’Ling’s favorability towards you +2.】
Wen Shi inwardly acknowledged that even this girl, who worked the night shift and secretly switched to a red dress, was indeed fixated on appearances.
Solid ghosts remain in a deceased state after death. Wen Shi admitted he had a liking for beautiful things. This desire grew stronger after acquiring his transformative ability. Subconsciously, one of his reasons for stopping Jian Qingrong was to prevent him from becoming ugly.
A’Ling explained in a relatively gentle manner, “The videotape carry a part of my soul. Keeping it playing continuously makes me feel exhausted.”
Immediately, Wen Shi displayed a look of genuine concern, “But what if the videotape get destroyed? Wouldn’t that put you in danger? Should I help hide it?”
This statement completely dispelled some of the suspicion the red-dressed female ghost had towards Wen Shi, making her believe he was just an innocent and kind-hearted child. Otherwise, if he had malicious intentions, he would silently study the videotape afterward.
The red-dressed female ghost’s laughter had a sharp edge, “A whole collection of tapes filled with malevolent ghosts, equivalent to a malevolent ghost haven. Who do you think could easily destroy them?”
A malevolent ghost… haven?
At A’Ling’s words, Wen Shi’s heart sank. Luckily, he hadn’t directly destroyed File No. 82. Though Jian Qingrong hadn’t become a malevolent ghost yet, given that he could see impurities since childhood, who knew if the files would become a dwelling for malevolent ghosts as well.
Damn game, daring to trick me!
The red-dressed female ghost asked Wen Shi to stop the video playback. She wanted to rest.
Wen Shi slowed his pace and walked to the video player, “I’m sorry for any trouble I caused you. I initially wanted to repay your kindness in giving up the food on the second floor.” As he was about to turn off the power, he casually remarked, “Missie was really impressive. Back then, no other ghost dared to defy your orders.”
A’Ling was twenty-eight when she died. In Wen Shi’s mind, the title “Big Sister” belonged to Xie Tangyan. Similar internet slang like “Missie” wasn’t as formal.
“Of course,” the red-dressed female ghost had a bold personality in life and it remained in death, “None of the ghosts here could ever defeat me.”
Upon hearing this, Wen Shi truly turned off the video player. After the playback ended, the red-dressed female ghost returned to the videotape.
“Such good stuff,” Wen Shi lamented, looking at the videotape, “Too bad I can’t put it in my backpack.”
This meant he couldn’t take it out of the instance.
“It’s okay, someday I’ll have my own home too.”
Descending two floors, Wen Shi couldn’t contact the teenager and didn’t know where the monster was being held. To ensure better survival, he had to rely on himself.
The commotion on the second floor had calmed down. Security personnel carrying weapons were patrolling. Wen Shi showed no intention of hiding and asked anyone he met if they had seen the escort personnel who showed him around.
Unlike other players, Wen Shi used his “Doctor” identity to move around the sanatorium openly.
“No, please wait in the lounge. We’ll pass on the message when we see him.”
Wen Shi continued walking forward, then suddenly paused, “Oh, by the way, it seems like there’s a fire on the fourth floor.”
The security personnel briefly hesitated before quickly turning serious. They stepped aside to use their walkie-talkies to report the situation, waiting for instructions from higher-ups.
If they didn’t rush to put out the fire immediately, it was best not to go to the fourth floor. Wen Shi messaged Ji Yuanzhi to ask where he was. Currently, their hopes were pinned on Zhou Xiaochun.
His phone vibrated:【Restroom】.
Wearing protective suit wasn’t convenient for the sanatorium staff. They didn’t visit the restroom often throughout the day. The sanatorium wasn’t crazy enough to station security personnel at restroom entrances. It was relatively safe.
The only restroom on the second floor was near the breeding pens. Wen Shi casually inquired and easily found it at the end of a branching corridor.
Pushing open the door, a mix of blood and disinfectant odor wafted out.
Big Sis Liu was applying medicine. Seeing Wen Shi, she let down her guard. Ji Yuanzhi leaned against the window, a nail-sized hole of blood beneath his neck. It was hard to imagine what they had experienced during the blood donation task. Ji Yuanzhi had excessively used his hallucination skill to save Zhou Xiaochun. Now he didn’t even have the energy to lift his eyelids.
Zhou Xiaochun anxiously clenched a copper coin. He had also been injected, but nervousness made him ignore the pain from the pulled muscles, “No. This question is too specific—about the time and place of death. Moreover, it involves a crucial NPC. I’m afraid if we try to divine it, I might die first.”
Including Ji Yuanzhi, no one spoke, clearly aware of the danger involved.
Zhou Xiaochun quickly stepped out of the afterimage, making Wen Shi feel dizzy. He said, “Then let’s change the question.”
Zhou Xiaochun abruptly halted his steps.
Wen Shi pondered for a moment. “Dawn is less than two hours away now. Figure out how to divine it yourself. It’d be better if you could narrow down the range and find out when the worst omen will occur.”
Normally, the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness within a certain period was consistent. However, Zhou Xiaochun might be able to narrow it down further with some effort.
What he wanted was the moment of utmost danger.
Zhou Xiaochun felt this new approach was at least more feasible. He gritted his teeth and said, “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”
Wen Shi patted his shoulder, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If this doesn’t work, we can try using Ouija board.”
With the heavy Yin energy in the sanatorium and the variety of ghosts, who knew, they might just summon one.
“……” The idea of using Ouija board in a horror game only added to Zhou Xiaochun’s stress.
He took a deep breath and activated the【Divination】 skill.
The copper coin lying flat in his palm automatically stood up. As the speed of the spinning coin increased, Zhou Xiaochun’s face turned as white as paper. The skin on the upper half of his body, from his palm, was continuously torn apart by an invisible force.
In other instances, this question wouldn’t trigger such a strong backlash, but now that it involved a crucial factor, the divination’s cost was quite high. Even those unaware of the situation could feel his life rapidly slipping away.
When half of his coveralls were almost stained with blood, Zhou Xiaochun didn’t opt to use a healing potion. Instead, he took out a string of crystal bracelets from his backpack and put them on.
He trembled all over. There was a moment earlier when he nearly thought the backlash might shatter him.
Liu Yun whispered, “The concept switch was successful.”
Although the divination result was similar, if Zhou Xiaochun had directly inquired about the time of Jian Qingrong’s death, the cost he would have to pay would have been much greater than this.
“Between 5:31 AM and 5:46 AM.” Zhou Xiaochun struggled to restrain the tremor in his voice.
It was now 5:38 AM.
Jian Qingrong had set the fire not long ago. He shouldn’t be dead yet.
Wen Shi’s expression tightened. “The most likely method he’d choose is jumping off a building, but the location is still uncertain.”
Whether in the sanatorium or any floor of the Big Factory, any level of the instance could potentially become his jumping-off point.
Before the group met up, Ji Yuanzhi had already explained Wen Shi’s plan: to prevent Jian Qingrong from becoming a malevolent ghost. Both Liu Yun and Liu Yuan agreed. They couldn’t let him turn into an irrational malevolent ghost before securing the outstanding employees award.
Zhou Xiaochun gave a bitter smile, “I really can’t do anything about this.”
Wen Shi’s face didn’t reveal much anxiety, but his brows remained tightly furrowed, indicating the pressure he felt.
In the blink of an eye, it was already 5:40. In horror stories, the number four often held special significance. Ignoring the moment, Wen Shi was leaning towards 5:44 as the chosen time.
His fingertips nearly dug into his palms. Wen Shi struggled to calm himself, attempting to think from Jian Qingrong’s perspective. If he were Jian Qingrong, where would he choose?
Workshop Three was a place for work, and daily living happened in the dormitory building. The building where the factory manager resided wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.
The sudden silence in the restroom was unsettling. The phone seemed to move beyond the realm of time, and the ticking sound accompanied a heart-thumping sensation.
About two more minutes passed, and Wen Shi, who had been pacing, abruptly halted as if something occurred to him. He glanced at Liu Yun, hesitated for about three seconds, checked his current HP, and then turned around, rushing out.
“You’re going…” Liu Yun’s words weren’t fully formed before Wen Shi had turned into a blur. She quickly used a stealth item to follow, and Ji Yuanzhi did the same. Liu Yuan and Zhou Xiaochun didn’t join them. The stealth items were rare A-grade items, and they had used up their only two.
Waiting for the elevator would take time, so Wen Shi dashed down the stairs.
“Dr. Aaron.” The escort personnel were conveniently on the first floor. Seeing him sprinting towards the elevator shaft, he instinctively tried to stop him, “If you intend to leave now, you’ll need to sign…”
“Move aside!”
Wen Shi forcefully pushed him aside, pressed the power button, and the secret door opened, revealing the damp and chilly air of the elevator shaft.
The cat’s night vision came into play.
Amidst the complex inscriptions on the wall, Wen Shi’s ears caught changes in wind speed. Above, the wind carried a muffled sound, as if something was pressing down. Agilely, he climbed up the ladder. When he saw a dark figure falling from above, he leaped without hesitation. His long tail wrapped around the figure’s waist, reducing the impact of the dive. Consequently, Wen Shi’s cat tail nearly tore apart. If not for the resilience of his transformed body, it might have snapped instantly.
… It hurts so much.
He gritted his teeth against the pain, caught Jian Qingrong from below, and descended together.
His slender frame collided directly with the cement floor. Wen Shi’s body rebounded forcefully, bones cracking. Large patches of blood stained his lab coat, blooming on the ground instantly.
The widened eyes of Jian Qingrong, who was pinning him, seemed to briefly convey disbelief at the turn of events.
Wen Shi calmly checked his attribute panel:
【HP: 1 (As long as monsters don’t deliver the final blow, a sliver of residual health can go a long way.)】
Once again, his health was meticulously preserved.
“Why…” Inside the elevator shaft, Jian Qingrong gazed at the face of the person below, his voice trembling slightly.
Wen Shi’s mouth was smeared with blood, and he didn’t immediately respond.
To establish a home in the sanatorium, he needed a suitable home guardian. However, the game was offering one for five thousand points, which wasn’t affordable. Jian Qingrong was the perfect candidate. Wen Shi couldn’t let him become an irrational and unrecognizable monster.
He wanted the teenager who had been kind to him to take charge of the monster. He wanted Jian Qingrong, who had enjoyed his kindness, to become a loyal guardian of his home, altering his predestined fate. They would both grow stronger together, with the home upgrade system firmly secured.
… I want that child to find freedom.
His little brother would inherit all the monster’s powers, living forever without the fear of confinement.
Wen Shi struggled to lift one arm, pressing Jian Qingrong against his chest, allowing him to hear his weakening heartbeat.
“Be, be a good person…” Wen Shi’s injured fingers twitched, and he whispered softly, “Jian Qingrong, being human is a good thing.”
During the archive task, he inserted himself into Jian Qingrong’s choice to abandon No. 83, but when he returned to his own perspective, he never abandoned that option.
The crimson blood continued to flow, as Wen Shi’s night-shift-worn skin cracked and bled. While before, Jian Qingrong only thought that pairing it with cat ears had a kind of enchanting beauty, now, seeing that blood, he found it overwhelmingly harsh.
The elevator shaft was quite damp, occasionally condensing into one or two droplets that landed on Wen Shi’s pallid cheeks, mixing with the blood.
The system’s cold notification tone chimed in his ears—
【Warning: Jian Qingrong’s favorability towards you has reached one hundred!】
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WHAT A CLIFFHANGER AAAAAAAAAAAAA