Horror Game Designer

Chapter 212: New Rules

Night, storm, chaos.

The east city investigation centre stood under the dark clouds and blocked the little light there was. The giant shadow covered everyone on Queens Street. Among them was Su Mo. From a normal person’s perspective viewing this tragedy, human lives were like fallen leaves, negligible.

“The group map is starting.”

Su Mo placed his delivery bike by the escape route and put on his cap and mask. He took a deep breath and reached into his pocket to touch the cross and the spring blade he had bought on the internet. Su Mo worked hard for a whole month and used the money he saved to buy these items.

Su Mo picked up his delivery box. He counted everything inside. Other than most anti-ghost items, there was also the thin blanket the four-mouthed auntie once put on him.

“The horror game is filled with danger, but for horror game players, every game participation is a chance to get stronger!” Su Mo knew he was weak. The combination of his five attributes was one point. However, he didn’t give up. He had read a lot of shonen manga and had great hopes.

“The horror stories are taking over the city. Since I know the truth, I can’t sit idle. If I can survive through clearing the maps, I’ll give up on my research.” Due to his job, Su Mo was familiar with Queens 19th Street. He avoided the crowd and planned to reach the backdoor of the investigation centre using a shortcut. “Not many people know this path. This way, I’ll have the initiative.” Su Mo entered the alley and turned a corner. Then, he saw ‘not many people’ squeezed inside ‘the rarely-known shortcut’.

“Another one?” The only two flood survivors at Min Long Street were there as well. The elder brother, Le Jia, was muscular and strong. The younger brother, Le Ren, was thin and wispy. Their fear of water was gone. They wore captain’s caps and black raincoats.

“It looks like this map is very difficult, and all the players will be here.” Fei Wu was a student at Han Hai University. He knew the ‘truth’ after solving the riddles on Dead Water Forum. He shared the shocking news with his roommates, and all four of them were there that night.

“Why are there so many students?” Yan Lin, in plain clothes, stood at the corner. He was the most experienced detective at Li San Police Station. He had no interest in this internet news until one of his subordinates disappeared mysteriously. To figure out the subordinate’s location, Yan Lin started his investigation. He realised the man had become the so-called horror game player and died in one of the horror games. Through the clues left behind, Yan Lin discovered more horrifying things. The investigation centre that represented justice and rules in his heart had many under-the-table dealings, like sacrificing living humans to the shadow world as leverage. Yan Lin was conflicted. Therefore, he decided to join the group map in person and enter the east city investigation centre to see the truth.

Thunder boomed. The phone screens lit up. Everyone in the back alley turned to their phones. They just got a new mission message.

“Investigation Centre (Group Horror Map): Danger Rating Normal. Mutation Progression 0. Shadow Coverage 20 percent. Surviving Players 137. Chance of a Miracle 1/1000.

“The temporary chief of the east city investigation centre, Situ An, has betrayed Han Hai. He sacrificed humans to the shadow world in exchange for power. The east city investigation centre is now a haunted building filled with ghosts. The former students of Class 13 found evidence of Situ An’s sins. You have to enter the building to find the captured Class 13 students and assist in their escape. Then, you have to attempt to expose the East City investigation centre’s sins on the internet. Be careful of the investigators possessed by ghosts.

“You have a chance to acquire cursed objects inside the east city investigation centre. Trading and identification of all cursed items can be done on the forum.

“This map represents the collapse of the old rules. The new rules will appear in your hands.”

The message confirmed Su Mo’s thought. He gripped his box tighter.

Yan Li held his subordinate’s phone. When he read the message, he frowned. On the surface, the players looked like they were aiming for a new balance, but in reality, they just wanted to fight against the investigation centre. “The tragedy is here, but humans are still fighting among themselves. Perhaps this is the nature of humanity.”

Putting away their phones, Fei Wu and his three roommates departed.

“Hey, do you want to team up?” Yan Lin walked towards Su Mo. He was a detective and could tell a criminal easily. Compared to the other players, Su Mo appeared naive and innocent. Yan Lin believed he wouldn’t betray him.

“Team up?” Su Mo was nervous. This was his first time. He was worried that Yan Lin would trick him, but he was not confident being on his own. “Never mind. I like to be alone.” He stuttered his rejection towards Yan Lin. Su Mo hurried away.

Yan Lin was stumped as he watched the young man stagger away. “Does he think he’s being cool? It looks like not all horror game players are that impressive.”

Yan Lin let Su Mo lead the way for him, and he followed quietly behind.

Along the way, Su Mo practised many excuses. If he were stopped, he’d say he was there to deliver food. However, when he reached the backdoor, he realised there was no guard there.

“Calm down. You are not worse than the others.” Su Mo cheered himself up. He entered the building. After some time, he realised… He was lost!

“You’re something else.” Yan Lin couldn’t stand it anymore. He walked out to grab Su Mo by his clothes. “Stop wandering around. Come with me.” Yan Lin was being kind. He felt like if he left the young man be, he would die on the second floor.

“Why do you care about me that much?” Su Mo was very careful. Everyone only cared about themselves in this kind of death game.

“Call me unlucky.” Yan Lin took out his gun. He remembered the path. He easily led Su Mo to the end of the second-floor corridor. They could see the first-floor lobby easily from there.

A large pool of blood appeared on the ground. Zuo Bo was fixed inside a small box. He screamed nonstop. He was like Prometheus, who was pinned to the mountain for giving humanity fire.

“That’s Zuo Bo from Class 13. The centre has indeed captured them!” Su Mo checked the information on his phone and planned to take down a video.

Yan Lin looked severe. The sin of the east city investigation centre was displayed openly before his eyes. The conviction in his heart shook. “Don’t upload anything yet. We should check out the other floors first.”