Chapter 32: Gloomy Phantom City (9)
Chapter 32: Gloomy Phantom City (9)
The group waiting outside barely had time to exchange glances before artificial light flickered on inside the police station. A minute later, Feng Bu Jue emerged from the familiar side entrance. "Found the backup power switch. This place has a built-in independent power supply."
The good news prompted the five to slip through the wall’s quekou (gap) and into the station. The illuminated interior revealed a gruesome scene. While the ceiling remained largely intact, every movable object—desks, chairs, computers, water coolers, even door fragments—lay scattered. The main entrance’s rear was piled high with debris, making it impossible to open from outside, even with a key.
Three corpses lay on the first floor. The first, near the entrance, had already been searched. Deeper inside, two more officers—both white males—were found. The second’s rotund belly had been sliced open, his intestines spilling out. The third bore a jagged wound across his left shoulder, severing his collarbone and caving in his chest. His heart was missing.
The game’s graphic detail was nauseatingly vivid, though the system dulled players’ gag reflexes by muting smell and taste sensations. Wang Tan Zhi, unfazed, had dissected corpses in real life. Motionless bodies, however grotesque, didn’t bother him. But ghosts, shadows, or darkness? He’d react like most women at a horror movie—screaming at every jump scare.
Speaking of which, societal myths about gender and fear are just that—myths. Men feigning bravery and women faking fear in horror films often mask similar anxiety levels. But let’s not dwell on that. Back to the corpses.
The second officer carried a police baton and broken handcuffs. Feng Bu Jue handed the baton—a common-quality weapon without usage restrictions—to Gu Du, who’d been weaponless. The third body, in a cramped janitor’s closet, yielded nothing until Wang Tan Zhi found a numbered note in his pocket: 69185.
Feng Bu Jue tossed the paper aside after checking its description. "That keychain we found earlier—69185 must match one of these keys." He plucked a key marked with the digits, discarding the rest. Moments later, a new item appeared:
Flame Key (Fine Quality)
One of five keys required to unlock the Hellgate.
"A main quest item", Feng Bu Jue explained. "We’d have to come back here eventually for the Hellgate mission anyway."
Long Ao Min returned from the ruined staircase. "No way up to the second floor."
"Expected", Feng Bu Jue said. "The key’s clue points to something on this floor."
Gu Du and Jimo soon returned with a first-aid kit containing bandages and two Vitality Value Supplements (Large)—common consumables restoring 100% health, though stacking reduced effectiveness.
Feng Bu Jue handed Wang Tan Zhi a disposable syringe. "Doctor’s orders." Wang drew nearly the full dose into the syringe, injecting Long Ao Min. The key was returned mid-injection. "What’s 69185 mean?"
"Simple cipher. Alphabet positions: 6=F, 9=I, 18=R, 5=E. Fire."
Wang finished the injection, restoring 83% vitality to Long Ao Min (now at 95%). The remaining 17% was offered to Gu Du and Jimo, who declined. Wang drank it himself—health restored to 100%.
"Why not share?" Because the game treats "drinking" as consuming the entire item instantly. Only Feng Bu Jue’s syringe trick bypassed this, splitting the dose. The system rewarded Wang with skill points for creative use of the disposable syringe.
Feng Bu Jue tallied their loot: "Batton, pistol, Flame Key, two health potions, and a bleed cure. Killing the Bloodless Corpse later will likely inflict bleeding—this setup makes sense. Still… only two weapons from three corpses? I was hoping for an armory or at least a stash of confiscated drugs."
"Virtual drugs are banned", Wang Tan Zhi interjected.
Feng Bu Jue paused, staring at the bloated corpse. "Wait—the guy’s guts are out, but his belly’s still swollen. There’s something inside!"
(End of Chapter)
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