There's definitely something wrong with this murder mystery game

The anger rising within Hong Rao was plain to see, as she smashed her small table to pieces and then took a deep breath, not looking back as she skimmed away into the air.

Consequently, it was the distant Abyss Rift that paid the price.

Xu Shuo smiled faintly as he watched her leave, then turned around and walked back up to the Watchtower.

The expressions of the three people on the Watchtower were complex.

Lin En couldn't help but ask, "Brother, you couldn't possibly be some kind of Second-Generation Gamer, right?"

Top Second-Generation Gamers seemed to possess rare treasures, were kept under close mentor-supervised guardianship upon failing assessments, and had high-rank players to save the day if their defense lines were breached—although the latter might have been arranged by Script Space.

None of them had considered that attracting monsters was actually due to Xu Shuo himself, they just assumed it must have something to do with an item he carried with him.

Like those players with strong connections, they invariably have one or two rare items on them.

And then, such treasures attracting Abyss Creatures to attack seemed rather reasonable; after all, they were just novices, they didn't understand...

Wei Li tentatively asked with concern, "Brother Pei, these monsters... they won't come again, will they?"

Xu Shuo offered them a gentle smile, "I'm sorry, I really didn't expect to attract so many monsters, but my mentor said it's mainly because the Abyss Rift in this world has undergone changes, which is why those monsters lost control during the day."

"Changes in the Abyss Rift?" Solunya narrowed her eyes slightly.

"Yes, the Abyss Rift in this world has expanded," Xu Shuo said gravely. "During the day, my mentor went to investigate near the Abyss and urgently sought help from Script Space, which is why other high-rank players came to handle the situation."

Their explanation seemed plausible, and the three exchanged glances.

In any case, even if it were untrue, they could not afford to do anything because of the high-rank player accompanying him, someone they clearly didn't want to provoke.

The walls of Giant Fortress were exceptionally bright on that night, with the blood-red moon hanging directly overhead, casting an eerie light down.

Lin En was just short of surviving this last night and didn't want any further complications, so he walked over breezily and slung an arm around Xu Shuo's shoulder, giving him a thumbs-up.

"Brother, we're counting on you tonight!"

"Don't worry, the monsters definitely won't come again tonight. The high-rank players have already sealed the nearby Abyss Rifts during the day; the Abyss won't be breaking through the barriers that quickly," Xu Shuo reassured them.

Upon hearing this, Lin En and Wei Li quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Moreover, since he had willingly returned to the Giant Fortress, there was likely some truth to what he said.

After all, why would he come back to experience another siege and another breach of Giant Fortress's defenses, when it was safer to stay by his mentor's side?

The atmosphere, which had been somewhat tense, lightened a bit, and Lin En's thoughts once again began to stir.

He couldn't resist asking again, "Brother, you're not really some kind of Second-Generation Gamer, are you?"

Second-Generation Gamer, a term introduced to him by Hong Rao when she explained "Director," usually referred to the children of high-rank players, who could choose to join Script Space on their own.

Or the close acquaintances of high-rank players who entered Script Space and received special care.

Since its inception, Script Space had evolved to the point where there were still quite a few of the former, hence the playful moniker "Second-Generation Gamer" among the players.

Xu Shuo laughed, "No, I just have a pretty formidable mentor; I'm still an ordinary person myself."

Listen to that, what a subtly boastful remark! In Script Space, although there were more mentors than directors, it was still an invitation-only profession, and mentors could take on only a limited number of pupils; nearly ninety percent of players couldn't find a mentor.

Who wouldn't want a powerful backing?

Lin En had felt envious for a long time upon hearing that a kid in the town had been picked up by a high-rank player passing by during the day.

Why don't good things like that ever happen to me!

Everyone around me has a strong backer, except me!

As the mood became livelier, the four of them leaned against the balustrade of the Watchtower, conversing under the blood-red moonlight, although it was mostly Lin En chattering away.

Solunya didn't say much, just stared at Xu Shuo, his thoughts unknown. Stay updated through empire

...

The crimson hue was brightest when a number of players had already gathered on the city walls, and even Lin En's chatting tone gradually became more serious.

Because at this time, it was when the monster attacks were the most ferocious!

However, the tense players waiting on the walls waited for a long time, but in the end, not a single monster's shadow appeared.

Not one!

The nearby Abyss Rift had truly been suppressed.

Late at night, the Red Moon in the sky also began to dim, plunging the whole world into profound darkness.

The days are long and the nights short in Giant Fortress.

The short night, from the transition to the Red Moon beginning, to the peak of the Red Moon, until the last of the light receded into darkness, the whole process translated to Earth's time was less than three hours.

When dawn arrived, it was just about time to get hungry.

Xu Shuo had re-established relationships with his teammates overnight—at least outwardly—and then pulled out a bunch of berries he had gathered to share with everyone.

And as he was eating, he suddenly felt a sense of being watched from the sky.

Hong Rao, with her arms crossed, stood atop the opposite Watchtower, looking at him. Judging by the expression on her face, she seemed to have caught her breath.

But perhaps because she had been too angry the night before, she still didn't have much of a smile and exuded a cold, noble charm.

Xu Shuo greeted his teammates and then walked down from the city walls.

His task of "Slaying High-Rank Abyss Creatures" would likely remain unfulfilled if Giant Fortress was attacked by the Abyss wave again; he would have to go out and hunt the creatures himself.

And he'd have to do it one by one.

"Brother, you probably won't see me when you come back, so we should add each other as friends before you leave!" Lin En waved to him.

Squad thirty-six would soon be down to three people again, and Wei Li and Solunya had one more day since they entered the Punishment World almost at the same time.

Xu Shuo turned and gave an OK sign with his hand.

As for whether or not he would find him once he went out was another matter.

...

It was the same place as yesterday; Hong Rao didn't speak the whole way, maintaining a cold face as she led him there and then grabbed a High-Rank creature to come over.

Xu Shuo smiled helplessly and, with a grin, said, "About what you said yesterday, just arrange it as you mentioned. I won't touch the high-rank dungeons until I've improved my strength."

Hong Rao glared at him annoyed.

She then took out her repaired little table, watching Xu Shuo get pounded by the creature, leisurely brewing her tea.

Their atmosphere was back to the usual, with Hong Rao sitting by his side overseeing and occasionally offering advice on how to attack more effectively and efficiently.

Unfortunately, she wasn't a combat-oriented player; otherwise, she could have directly taught him hands-on.

Hong Rao relied more on her theoretical knowledge.

The sun in the sky regained its bright and splendid state, radiantly shining with an icy glow, serving as an unforgiving power bank for Xu Shuo.

With his previous combat experience, confronting the Abyss creature with its whip-like vines and squirming body was much more composed than yesterday, not nearly as embarrassing.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Soon, a burst of golden light filled the creature's body, and beams of light burst from the open cracks, the released power ultimately turning it into dust!

Although exhausting the power of "Radiance" still left his muscles sore, Xu Shuo surprisingly felt more accustomed and found a better grip on this power, having even learned how to compress energy.

His speed of progress made Hong Rao raise an eyebrow.

Then she decisively grabbed two more creatures and threw them at him!

Xu Shuo: "..."