584 Is this a Horror Game?
“No wonder the paparazzi can’t get any fluff news on you. You’ve gone hiding inside the game.” Boss said with understanding.
“Be careful of what you say.” Han Fei glared at Boss. When he touched Boss, he saw the man’s profile. The man had normal attributes. The only thing that stood out was his Luck. He had 6 Luck, which was higher than average.
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to get to know you. Do you want to meet after we leave the game? You are this year’s best new artist. Would you be interested in being our company’s spokesperson?” Boss forgot many scary things. He was ‘carefree’. He even tried to expand his connections.
“We’ll talk about that if we can leave this map alive. You can’t leave the hidden maps that freely. In other words, we are all trapped here.” Han Fei pulled up the locations of all the cameras in his mind. He planned to lead Boss to the safehouse to question him.
“It’s easy to quit the game, and you only need to die. Others might care about their account, but I don’t. I can pay to find another account.” Boss adjusted his uniform. “These accounts are nothing, and my main goal is the black box.” Boss’ gaming purpose was different from others. He had the confidence of a whale.
“I’d advise you not to do that. If you die in the hidden map, it’ll cause irreparable damage to your brain.” Han Fei led Boss into the safehouse. After he closed the door, he whispered, “Do you have any memory regarding this hidden map?”
“What memory?” Boss was confused, “I’ve only been here for 10 minutes. You’re the first player I encountered.”
“Ten minutes?”
“Yes, I was woken up 10 minutes ago at Building Five’s caretaker room. The fat nurse said she’d bring me to meet someone and that someone is you.” Boss thought carefully. “There’s nothing strange other than the fact I haven’t triggered any mission.”
“Your memory has been reset to make you believe you’ve just entered the hidden map.” Han Fei scratched his chin. He didn’t know how the hospital did this, but he wanted to master this skill. If he could alter the player’s memory, then it would be easier for him when other players entered the memory world. ‘This is another reason for me to inherit this altar. I want to know how to edit someone’s face and soul.’
Han Fei stared at Boss until the latter shivered. “Brother, you are really good at playing the villain. Just this stare is making me quiver. There are at least six emotions behind it.” Boss had a very high EQ. He didn’t say Han Fei was being too creepy.
“Don’t interrupt me. You won’t believe me but what I’m telling you next is the truth.” Han Fei stood before Boss. “You’ve been on this map for days already, but you forgot everything. Your other friends are at this hospital, and I’ll bring you to meet them now.”
“I’ve lost my memory in-game?” Boss wanted to laugh. He looked at Han Fei strangely, like the man was crazy.
“Feel free not to believe me, but you better follow my instructions.” When Han Fei and Boss spoke, the safehouse door opened. Zhang Zhuangzhuang walked in with another newbie.
“Da Yu?”
“Boss!”
The man following Zhang Zhuangzhuang was another player. He and Boss were supposed to escort Shen Luo. Now they reunited at the hospital.
“You two know each other?” Zhang Zhuangzhuang asked coolly as his eyes traveled between the two players.
“They are old friends.” Han Fei offered. The two players’ memories were wiped. They thought they had just entered the memory world.
“Okay then. Service the clients well, and you can live longer.” Zhang Zhuangzhuang gave a piece of valuable advice, but Da Yu and Boss, who lost their memories, didn’t care about him. After a 15 minute rest, the four caretakers came to the floor where Love and Qiang Wei’s assistant were.
“A caretaker’s job is simple, especially at this hospital.” Zhang Zhuangzhuang looked at the two newbies. “You need to satisfy the client’s request. Many caretakers here only want to be an adopted puppy.”
“It sounds like this hospital is not really a hospital.” Da Yu was a swimmer. His muscle was so large, and the uniform couldn’t cover them.
“The employee who was supposed to help you had gone missing, so that’s why we had to teach you. I hope you can understand what I mean. Don’t become the next victim.” Zhang Zhuangzhuang was already being very transparent.
The elevator opened. The manager in black jogged to Love’s side. “Would you like to make another choice? It was our fault earlier. Other than Fu Yi, we’ve found a new batch of caretakers for you. He will accompany you always.”
“These are from the new batch?” Love’s eyes settled on Han Fei, and she didn’t care about the others. “Let the others go, I don’t need them.”
Love entered her room. The three black boxes were already there. Her eyes softened like she was looking at her three children. She caressed the black boxes. She couldn’t wait to use them. Han Fei sensed the danger. Before Love raised his head, he slipped away. Love inside the room remembered something. She turned to look outside, but she couldn’t find Han Fei. Her face flushed with anger, and she slammed the door close.
“What a beautiful NPC.” Boss lamented. “I wish to know the secrets of her boxes. It’ll be worth it even if I die.”
“Boss, we need to focus.”
“What is there to worry? This is just a game account.”
“What are you two grumbling about?” The manager’s face was dark. She walked to Boss and Da Yu. “So worthless. You’ve wasted my anticipation on you. Is there no other person at Building Five?”
“You’re quite interesting. I like this realistic setting.” Boss smiled at the manager in black. “The worse you are to us, the more interesting it’ll be when you’re conquered.”
“Has the doctor destroyed your brain?” The manager cursed. Blood pulsed under her face. Han Fei sighed and walked out of his hiding spot before the conflict escalated, “Manager, don’t mind them. Zhang Zhuangzhuang and I will teach them.”
“You’re the clever one.”
“Love doesn’t need a caretaker, but what about the two guests in the opposite room?” Han Fei wanted Boss and Da Yu to meet the other players. With the statement from Qiang Wei’s assistant, they would realize their memories were wiped.
“One of the guests fainted, and they have been sent to Building Two for treatment. There are doctors looking after them.”
“Building Two?” Han Fei frowned.
“What’s wrong?” The manager glanced at Han Fei.
“The two clients have picked me before, but I couldn’t serve them. I feel bad, so I want to introduce a new caretaker to them.”
The manager nodded with satisfaction. “You are born for this job. No wonder so many female clients like you even though it’s only your trial period.”
After the manager left, Boss sat on the couch prepared for VIP. “Since Da Yu and I are here, then the other players couldn’t be that far away. They’re most likely in this hospital. We need to gather everyone and make a plan.”
“We’ll stay at the hospital. With Qiang Wei’s ability, he’ll be here soon.” Da Yu sat down beside Boss. Han Fei and Zhang Zhuangzhuang looked at them like they were mentally damaged.
“Are they your friends?” Zhang Zhuangzhuang whispered.
“I used to know them. They came from Building Five. I feel that the hospital has messed with their mind.” Han Fei finally witnessed the tactic of this hospital. As the world mutated, the hospital would only become scarier.
“They’ve been given treatment. The hospital has made patients into caretakers because they lack human resources.” Zhang Zhuangzhuang told Han Fei. “You have to remember there are good and bad patients. We better don’t let anyone know about our plan tonight.”
“Understood.” Han Fei and Zhang Zhuangzhuang settled their plan. Then, he walked to Boss and Da Yu. He assigned his manual job to the two. As compensation, he told them what to pay attention to after dark. After that, Han Fei returned to Fu Yee’s ward. He used the little time he had left to accompany the girl without her father’s love. The sun was sliding down the horizon. The hospital’s lights came on. Han Fei planned to start the mission. “Daddy is going off work.”
“Can… you stay?” Fu Yee lay in bed. Earlier, doctors came to check on her.
“I’ll be back soon.” Han Fei comforted Fu Yee. He returned to the safehouse where Zhang Zhuangzhuang was waiting.
“The hospital is wildly different in the day and at night. We can’t be too careful.” Zhang Zhuangzhuang looked at Han Fei seriously, “I’ll try my best to help you. If you see my sister, I hope you can hand this letter to her.”
Zhang Zhuangzhuang handed a wrinkled envelope to Han Fei. “My sister’s name is Zhang Xi. You’ve seen her picture before.”
“Don’t worry, and I’ll do that.” Han Fei put away the envelope. He changed and passed the uniform to Zhang Zhuangzhuang. At the right time, Han Fei, in a suit, walked out of the hospital. All the cameras caught him. Just as he was about to leave the hospital, an ambulance suddenly rushed towards the hospital. The staff carried a student covered in blood out of the vehicle. Han Fei’s eyes narrowed when he saw the familiar school uniform. He rushed over!
“Dad?”
Han Fei was halfway there when Fu Sheng’s voice came behind him. Han Fei turned around and saw Teacher Liu and Fu Sheng get out from another ambulance.
“Why are you here?!” Han Fei was anxious. Anyone could come to this hospital but Fu Sheng.
“Fu Sheng discovered a bullied child at school.” Teacher Liu didn’t look so well. “The child scratched her face and wanted to jump from the roof, but she was stopped by Fu Sheng.”
“Fu Sheng, you need to go home! Dad and your Teacher will stay at the hospital! Leave this to us!” Han Fei was really nervous.
Teacher Liu noted how strange Han Fei was acting. She consoled Fu Sheng. “Yes, I’ll stay here. Li Yuan will be fine.”
Fu Sheng normally would heed their advice, but this time, he didn’t move. Instead, he looked straight at Han Fei. Han Fei believed Fu Sheng had seen something. He walked to Fu Sheng and knelt to look into the boy’s eyes. “You need to look after mother and little brother. Leave the rest to me. Should I fail, you’ll be the pillar for the family. Go home, don’t make them worry.”
Fu Sheng looked at Han Fei before nodding. He didn’t enter the hospital but turned to leave. The staff carried the student into the hospital. Teacher Liu followed. Han Fei stood outside alone. He waited until the sun had fully set before he called his wife. “I need to work overtime until midnight, so I will be skipping dinner.”
When the last ray was consumed by the horizon, the city fell into darkness. Han Fei left the hospital. After taking a long detour, he came to the wall close to the hospital’s side door. He jumped over the wall. He found a bag Zhang Zhuangzhuang prepared for him inside a bush. It contained a doctor’s coat, mask, and a lot of bandages. After he changed, Han Fei assumed the role of a doctor and took out the doctor’s work id given to him by Shen Luo. At first, Shen Luo escaped the hospital with another doctor. Shen Luo was lucky to find Han Fei, but the doctor died in a car accident. Before Shen Luo disappeared, he left the doctor’s work id with Han Fei.
“The mutation is getting stronger.” Standing in the shadow, Han Fei could feel the oppressive pressure. Normally, he’d be home at this hour, so now he finally understood the horror of the memory world at night.
Han Fei took out the red paper doll. He used it as guidance.
Zhang Zhuangzhuang was cleaning the corridor on the 3rd floor. His eyes moved to the corner where Han Fei was. “He only has one chance. If he fails, his memory will be gone. He won’t be him again.” His hands that held the broom tightened. A tear slid down Zhang Zhuangzhuang’s face, but he had no idea why he was sad.
“Brother Zhuang, the head nurse, told us to go to Building Two to help. So we’ll be going!” Da Yu and Boss left the cleaning job to Zhang Zhuangzhuang and left.
“It’s best to stay put after dark.” The two players didn’t heed his advice and left.
“I feel like my back is about to break after doing so much cleaning. I’ve played many games, but I’ve never encountered something like this before.” Boss massaged his back. “The NPC ignores us, and we haven’t triggered a single mission. What kind of useless hidden map is it?”
“Hidden maps should have their own rules. Perhaps we haven’t fulfilled the condition to trigger the missions.” Da Yu thought. “We’ve explored the entirety of Building One. We didn’t see the other players. They should be at the other buildings.”
“Let’s find Qiang Wei first. He is a hidden map expert and a top black box hunter. He’ll know this place better than we do.” Boss and Da Yu left the elevator. They walked down Building One’s corridor to head to Building Two.
Da Yu shivered as the chill overwhelmed him. “Was the heater at Building One that strong? How come Building Two feel so cold?”
“It’s more important for us to find the other players. We need to do that before the dumb Zhang Zhuangzhuang realized we were lying to him.” Boss closed the door. He was about to walk forward when the lights flickered. “Was that due to a fluctuating electrical pressure?”
“I don’t think so. Don’t you feel that the surrounding has gotten darker?”
“Stop scaring yourself. This is an Iyashikei game. There won’t be any gore.” Boss walked ahead. Soon, he saw a lot of bloody bandages left outside one of the wards.
“Boss, didn’t you say there wouldn’t be any gore?”
“Maybe the hidden maps are slightly different.” Boss pushed open the door and looked into the ward. The small ward was empty. The lights flickered again. The temperature dropped.
“This atmosphere is not right.” Da Yu examined the bandages on the ground. He noticed there were faint footprints underneath. It was as if the patient had removed the bandage and walked away holding the wall. Da Yu followed the footprint to the middle of the corridor, where the footprints disappeared. Da Yu looked up and saw a notice board hanging on the wall. It was filled with pictures of doctors. “Why would the footprints disappear here? There is no door or window nearby, so where did the person go?” A scary thought entered his mind. Da Yu looked at the pictures of the doctor. Every picture was clear. It felt like the doctors were staring at him.
Da Yu suddenly realized that at the bottom row, a doctor had left behind a full-body picture. The doctor wore a white coat but stood away from the camera. The picture was old like it was taken years ago.
“Boss, look at this picture at the bottom.” Da Yu called the Boss. He pointed at the notice board.
“What picture?” Boss ran over.
“The one at the bottom! The doctor is standing facing away from us!”
“I don’t see anything. Are you hallucinating?” Boss was speechless.
“What…” Da Yu looked around. There was an old picture still on the board, but there was no one in the picture. Da Yu sucked in a cold breath and took a step back.
“Can you not scare yourself?” Boss just said that when the lights flicked again. However, this time, the lights at the end of the corridor didn’t come back on.
“Boss, I have a very bad feeling.” Da Yu’s focus was on the notice board. He looked at the doctors, and the doctors looked at him.
Da Yu slowly retreated and bumped into a person’s back. He felt better. “Boss, shall we return to Building One and come back in the day?”
Da Yu looked up, and he realized Boss was standing before him. The bad feeling intensified.
“Something is not right. Is this a horror game?”
