Chapter 376: Humiliating Debut
Chapter 376: Humiliating Debut
This interlude takes place between the "Cangling Debate of Swords Chapter" and the "I'm a Writer Chapter."
Why include it now, you ask?
Honestly, there's no special reason. If pressed for one, it's because Feng Bu Jule had too many ideas to write and temporarily shelved this particularly undignified scenario.
Since Feng Bu Jue didn't use any items or skills in this scenario, its placement is flexible.
So... let's begin.
…………
A familiar voice cackled, "Hehehe... Welcome to the Terrifying Paradise."
【Loading completed. You are now entering survival mode (nightmare).】
【This mode includes a scenario overview and may feature side quests, hidden tasks, and special world views.】
【Scenario clearance reward: 80% bonus experience upon completion.】
【Scenario overview will now play. The game will start immediately afterward.】
The screen flickered to life. The protagonist was driving a car along a mountain road.
The road ahead was uneven, and the guardrails were clearly rusted from years of neglect. Every few meters, there were gaps where the barriers had completely disappeared—probably torn off by vehicles in past accidents.
Through the windshield, Feng Bu Jue saw jagged peaks and thick forests in the distance. This was clearly a remote, uninhabited area.
The cliffside loomed beside the road, with gnarled trees leaning precariously over the edge. Some branches even extended onto the road itself, creating a hazard.
After just a few seconds of observation, Feng Bu Jue already guessed what would happen next.
Sure enough, the system voice cut in:
【You are a quirky, world-famous detective.】
【On an October afternoon, you decide to embark on a long trip.】
【Driving a rented, cheap car, you leave the city, cross hills, and pass through canyons, chasing the distant horizon in search of an illusion called "Freedom."】
【Until... you arrive here.】
【This is ancient land. Civilization's footsteps seem to have rejected staying here, leaving only a few traces before moving on.】
【French-Canadian lords came. Italians came. Poles came. But all eventually left. Why? Perhaps they saw, heard, or encountered something—or maybe they merely imagined it.】
【This place clearly doesn't bring people pleasant dreams...】
The narration abruptly stopped, replaced by a screech of brakes.
As Feng Bu Jue suspected, the car in the opening CG suddenly skidded, plunging through a guardrail gap and tumbling down the slope. The screen shook violently as the car rolled, flipped, and finally went dark.
Thankfully, Feng Bu Jue regained control a few seconds later. The scenario officially began.
Opening his eyes, Feng Bu Jue felt a twinge of discomfort. The overturned car lay chassis-up, with his body strapped to the driver's seat by the safety belt.
Whether the car would explode from a fuel leak was unknown, but staying inside was risky.
Feng Bu Jue immediately tried to unbuckle the safety belt. To his surprise, it came off easily—remarkably durable craftsmanship.
Using his hands to support his upside-down body, he glanced around. The windshield was completely shattered. He decided to crawl out through that opening. Lowering his head, he shifted his weight onto his shoulders and folded his body like a shrimp, pushing his feet out first, then rolling his body backward in a somersault motion.
His flexibility was impressive. He wriggled out swiftly.
Landing on the muddy ground at the valley floor, Feng Bu Jue didn't rush away. His first thought was to search the car for usable artifacts.
But just then, flames erupted—the fuel tank had inexplicably caught fire.
Without hesitation, Feng Bu Jue turned and sprinted. Two seconds later, the car exploded, sending him flying several meters forward in a face-planting crash.
"On nightmare difficulty, you really can't let your guard down", Feng Bu Jue muttered, brushing dust off his clothes. "Instant death scenarios give me only two seconds to react." He stared at the raging fire, realizing there was nothing left to salvage from the wreckage.
【Important Notice: This scenario prohibits any items brought in from outside. The satchel menu and skills bar are locked. Until you exit, your attire becomes that of a plot character, and your physical condition is adjusted to real-world levels.】
"Huh?" Feng Bu Jue blinked at the system prompt. While he noticed his attire had changed to a black casual suit, he hadn't realized the menu and skills were locked.
Opening the game menu again, he confirmed both were indeed grayed out.
"Tsk. This system's got the efficiency of a top-down directive bureau. Announce and enforce immediately", Feng Bu Jue grumbled, reluctantly accepting the setting.
He instinctively raised his head, scanning the surroundings.
Though the valley was thick with trees, afternoon sunlight filtered through. A quick survey revealed no immediate threats.
Thanks to system effects, the fire from the exploded car hadn't spread. It burned only the vehicle itself, as if set to extinguish once the physical form was destroyed.
As Feng Bu Jue prepared to explore, the main quest appeared:
【Main Quest Triggered】
【Complete this scenario within thirty-three chapters.】
A subtask emerged beneath the main quest:
【Find and reach the Lovecraft Family's Mansion within the valley.】
"Oh?" Feng Bu Jue smirked. "For a special interlude, wrapping it up in a few chapters would be too boring. Let me stretch it to thirty-three chapters!"
…………
A super simple case that usually ends in five chapters.
A clumsy murderer, a secret room riddled with inconsistencies, a motive as clear as day...
Yet the famous detective insists on stretching it across thirty-three chapters!
Bizarre reasoning keeps emerging, suspects multiply—will the culprit ever face justice?
This is only the first chapter...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
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