Thriller Paradise Chapter 302: Ascending Tower Chronicles (II) - Novel Cool

Chapter 302: Ascending Tower Chronicles (II)

Chapter 302: Ascending Tower Chronicles (II)

The four had barely exchanged greetings when Ji Chang suddenly frowned. "Everyone... all the items in my item slot have turned gray. Are you experiencing the same issue?"

Prompted by his words, the other three immediately opened their game menus to check their item slots.

"Same here. Everything's grayed out—I can't retrieve anything", Qiu Fengse confirmed.

"Identical situation", Feng Bu Jue added.

Hong Hu stated bluntly, "This must be a restriction imposed by the scenario. But why didn't it give us any warning?"

Ji Chang, a cautious strategist by nature, might not be the quickest thinker among the group, but his deliberations were always thorough. Reflecting on Hong Hu's words, he realized another concern: "What if there are other restrictions? For instance..."

"Time", Qiu Fengse interjected. "Assuming this scenario only updates tasks without any system prompts, we'd have to deduce all rules ourselves. Time would be the most critical factor leading to a party wipe."

Hong Hu nodded. "True. If there's a hidden time limit we're unaware of, and we leisurely explore without urgency..."

"Time limits usually come with clues", Feng Bu Jue chimed in casually.

"Exactly", Hong Hu mused, adjusting his glasses. "No rule is entirely undecipherable. If there's a time limit, there should be early hints—plot devices or implications. It wouldn't wait until we're desperate or remain silent forever..." He trailed off, then suddenly fixed Feng Bu Jue with a suspicious stare.

Qiu Fengse and Ji Chang exchanged glances, realization dawning. Both turned their eyes toward Feng Bu Jue.

"What?" Feng Bu Jue feigned innocence. "Did I say something wrong? I just assumed... with you guys here, any restrictions or puzzles would be solved quickly, so I spoke offhandedly."

Hong Hu chuckled dryly. "Right, right. You're so naturally gifted at puzzles, huh?" Sure, he thought. You pretend to be casually optimistic, yet act so confident. I thought you’d instantly deduced something—scared me half to death.

Ji Chang and Qiu Fengse shrugged noncommittally, while Feng Bu Jue inwardly sighed in relief. Almost slipped up with that conclusion... Glad I didn’t say more. He resolved to stop thinking. From now on, I’ll just daydream about Si Yu’s illness... Yeah, feverish beauties...

"Hey... Why’s he suddenly grinning like a pervert?" Qiu Fengse whispered to Ji Chang. "Getting complimented by Hong Hu made him react this way?"

Ji Chang swallowed. "Could he be a... you-know-what?"

"That term’s offensive. Say 'homosexual,'" Qiu Fengse whispered back.

"Come on, you understood the censored version anyway", Ji Chang muttered.

Hong Hu stared at Feng Bu Jue’s drooling, idiotic grin, solidifying his belief: This guy’s a leech clinging to strong players. 'Dark Vanguard' probably means he betrays sides in scenarios or relies on stealth skills.

"Back to business", Hong Hu said aloud. "Based on the opening CG, the 'Reasoning Club' is likely inside this building."

"If the entire building is the target", Qiu Fengse countered, "the scenario would be too simple. We wouldn’t clear the game just by entering the door."

"Then it’s a specific room inside", Ji Chang deduced.

The trio hummed in unison, striking poses mimicking a famous detective.

Suddenly, Feng Bu Jue pulled out a magazine from his coat pocket. "Items outside the satchel still work."

Qiu Fengse followed suit, retrieving a chocolate bar from his outer pocket. "But we can’t store satchel-external items back inside."

"Essentially, the satchel’s sealed", Hong Hu concluded.

"Artifacts must be carried manually or stuffed in pockets", Ji Chang added.

Qiu Fengse asked, "Do we enter the building now or explore the surrounding map? If we hunt gear in the city, we can only carry limited items. Large weapons like Standard Weapons or Controlled Blades would draw unwanted attention."

"Plus", Ji Chang added, "if combat triggers, we’d fight barehanded. Not my specialty."

Hong Hu nodded. "Still, let’s observe the perimeter first. We don’t know if the entrance seals shut after entry. Starting outside the building implies the exterior holds explorable elements."

"Hmph... This 'strategist' actually has merit", Feng Bu Jue mused. "Even without system hints, he deduces rules from scraps of info."

The group agreed to split up and explore within a half-kilometer radius of the building to gather intel.

For seasoned puzzle-solvers, basic intelligence collection was second nature—checking newspapers, public phones, or street signs. But this scenario denied them such luxuries.

Ten minutes later, the four regrouped at the entrance, three of them grim-faced.

"Newspapers and shop signs are in German, no system translations", Qiu Fengse reported.

"Few pedestrians, all Caucasian. They ignored my Chinese", Ji Chang said. "Didn’t risk force—police trouble’s the last thing we need."

"Clothing, infrastructure, and vehicles suggest early 21st century", Hong Hu analyzed. "Location’s unclear—could be any German-speaking region. Language barriers and lack of local currency limit progress."

Feng Bu Jue concluded, "I borrowed a young man’s coins and cell phone, dialed 110, 119, 120, 114, 10086—all dead. Then I bought snacks." He patted his bulging pocket.

"That’S Not The Point!" Qiu Fengse snapped. "You should’ve asked about the scenario’s era, location, or the 'Reasoning Club'!"

"Who said I speak German?" Feng Bu Jue retorted.

"Huh?" Ji Chang blinked. "Then how did you..." He paused, realization hitting. "You didn’t..."

"I tried Chinese and English first", Feng Bu Jue explained flatly. "Failed. Then I grabbed a brick, yanked his collar, and growled two German phrases: 'Qi si ou lei' and 'fang ai zan dou zha zha.' He handed over his phone and wallet."

"God..." Hong Hu facepalmed.

"You just mugged him!" Qiu Fengse exclaimed.

"Ah... Bricks are the universal language", Ji Chang sighed.

"Let’s enter the building", Hong Hu urged. "Before police arrive."

Feng Bu Jue shrugged expressionlessly. "Fine."

(End of Chapter)

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