Absolute Death Game

"This is useless, this is useless too, damn it, is there really not a single useful thing?"

As Situ Yu spoke, she tossed a pile of inspected rubbish to the side. She had been searching for over two hours now, the evidence room’s flickering lights were straining her eyes, she couldn’t simply let it go—wait, what’s this?

Situ Yu’s attention was suddenly drawn to an old magazine discarded on the ground, revealing a gap with something seemingly stuffed inside it. She flipped through the magazine and pulled out an old, folded newspaper from the middle.

It was a job classifieds advertisement, filled with various job-seeking, hiring, sale, rental, and lease requests. She quickly scanned them, noticing that some ads were circled with a ballpoint pen; there were about seven or eight in total, all from companies looking to hire. She checked the date—it was from half a month ago.

I’ve found it! A surge of elation shot through Situ Yu as she grasped the newspaper and headed for the Director’s office.

Knock knock knock, a series of knocks lifted Director Zhou from his computer.

"Come in," Director Zhou said in a somewhat hoarse voice. The door opened, and an excited Situ Yu walked in. Seeing that it was her, Director Zhou’s expression softened.

Situ Yu and he were somewhat related; after all, Situ Yu’s grandfather was his former superior. Director Zhou had a fondness for this ambitious young woman, finding her eagerness rare among today’s youth. When it was her knocking, he jokingly asked, "Is it you, Xiao Yu? Weren’t you investigating that case? Could it be that you have found a clue?"

"That’s right, Director. I think I’ve found some clues."

As she spoke, she spread the newspaper in front of Director Zhou. "Look at this, it’s a newspaper left by the deceased, dated half a month ago. Clearly, he was job-hunting at the time, and had marked several positions he planned to apply for.

If my guess is correct, the company he entered during this half month is among these circled ones, and this company might well be the workplace of the victims who died in the several previous cases. I believe if we find this company, it will be key to solving these cases."

Situ Yu said excitedly, not noticing the sudden complexity on Director Zhou’s face, "If possible, please issue me an investigation order. I guarantee I’ll get to the bottom of this." n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Director Zhou frowned, his face showing some difficulty, not quite looking as pleased as one might expect. Situ Yu initially didn’t notice, but after a long wait and seeing no praise from him, she felt odd, and glancing at Director Zhou’s facial expression, she grew even more puzzled.

"What’s the matter, Director? Is there a problem?"

"I cannot give you this investigation order," Director Zhou said gravely.

Situ Yu became anxious immediately, "But Director—"

"There’s no ’but’!" Director Zhou’s expression was unusually serious, "The police department is a place that adheres to judicial procedures. We cannot rashly handle cases based on our speculations. What would we become then? The victim died indoors from a stabbing, but there is no sign of forced entry on the doors and windows, no trace of a violent struggle at the scene.

Thus, it’s quite obvious he might have committed suicide, perhaps due to job dissatisfaction or other reasons. Any experienced officer can see that. You cannot link unrelated cases based on tenuous guesses, making assumptions about a case is a cardinal sin for a police officer; remember that."

Seeing that the young woman was not satisfied, Director Zhou could only comfort her with these words: "I know young people like you are energetic, want to accomplish great things, want to rid society of evil, all good intentions, but sometimes solving cases isn’t just about enthusiasm. I am telling you this for your own good.

I will keep this newspaper for now, you seem rather unstable at the moment, so you will not be in charge of this case for the time being. I will transfer you to the Public Security division for a while. It’s getting late, you better go home, don’t make your parents worry."

Angry and helpless from Director Zhou’s speech, Situ Yu stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Director Zhou sighed as he watched Situ Yu’s retreating figure. He took a lighter from his pocket, placed the newspaper on top of it, seemingly intent on burning it, but he hesitated.

A strong urge welled up in him to unfold the newspaper, to take a closer look at those circled companies. Just as this impulse grew stronger, a deep voice suddenly emerged from the corner,

"What are you hesitating for?"

Director Zhou’s hand jerked; he looked up in alarm. In the chair across from him, a man wearing a black trench coat had appeared in the office at some point, smiling at him.

"Good evening, Director Zhou, it’s been a long time since we last met."

"What are you doing here?" Director Zhou asked coldly; his stern voice could not hide the tremor within.

"What do you think?" replied the man in the trench coat as he rose from the chair and casually sat on his desk, leaning forward toward him and snatching the newspaper from his hands to take a look.

"Heh, didn’t expect you had a few competent people under you," he remarked.

"I warn you not to think of laying a hand on her."

The man in the black trench coat glanced at him with disdain, "I’m not that bored. I don’t kill people just for the sake of it—unless there’s a real threat. Especially not such a cute little girl."

Director Zhou’s expression softened slightly as if he had aged ten years. You guys are bound to run into trouble sooner or later. Even if I don’t look into it, someone else eventually will. Even though he said this, he still offered the lighter proactively.

"Seems like you know your place," the man in the black trench coat said, but he didn’t reach for the lighter. Instead, he clenched the newspaper tightly in his hand, and a burst of sparks erupted. When he reopened his hand, the newspaper had turned to ash.

Seeing this trick that seemed like magic, Director Zhou was hardly surprised; obviously, it wasn’t the first time he had seen it, "Just who are you people?" he said as he slowly put the lighter back in his pocket, then quietly opened a drawer, but before he could reach inside—

"It doesn’t matter who we are. What you need to know is that we are people you cannot afford to mess with. Oh, and if I were you, I wouldn’t keep a gun in the drawer next time. It’s too easy for others to get to it," he said while tossing a gun in front of him.

Ignoring Director Zhou’s ugly expression, the man in the black trench coat did what he came to do, smiled, waved at him, and then disappeared into the air like he had melted away.

Director Zhou slumped back into his chair, his eyes filled with anger and helplessness.

—————Divider———————

The next day, Xiao Buli exceptionally got up very late.

For the newcomers like them, the company hadn’t set any strict working hours. However, to make a good impression on the company executives and to achieve more growth in the game, the four of them always logged in on time.

But today, Xiao Buli just wasn’t in the mood. He stood in front of the washbasin, looking at his reflection in the mirror, and for the first time, he began to hesitate.

"Should I continue?" he asked his reflection.

The death of Sun Bin had shown him the brutality of the game. Although he had a premonition, it was only when death actually occurred before his eyes that he realized being cautious sometimes wasn’t enough.

Sun Bin’s ability in the game wasn’t much worse than his; in some aspects, it was even stronger. But he had died without a chance to fight back, soundlessly.

Was there anything different about himself?

Perhaps this was a mistake from the beginning, and now it was time to end this mistake. He thought about this, almost immediately wanting to run to Qin Shimoon to resign, to stay far away from this strange game.

But reason told him that would be wrong. Not to mention the three hundred thousand he had invested in trying to save Lu Jiang, which left him without savings and in debt, he didn’t even know if he could get past the company. From all the signs he had seen from this Qilin studio, he didn’t believe they would let him go that easily without taking any action.

Continuing in the game might lead to death, but it might also lead to a powerful strength.

If he were to resign now, he could also possibly die and certainly wouldn’t gain any strength.

So if death was a possibility either way, why not take a chance? At least this way, he could control his own fate, couldn’t he?

His reason gradually took over. A calm analysis had always been his strength.

And don’t I still have a high Luck Value of 17? With such high luck, there’s no reason I should die easily. As long as I take advantage of the Blessing BUFF from Lu Jiang and find a safe area while it lasts, there should be no problem, right?

I’ll treat this game as a real adventure, measure everything by real-life rules, and use my strategic planning skills to solve dilemmas, "You can do this, Xiao Buli!" he exclaimed, not only to encourage himself but to state his full confidence.

As he uttered these words, his decision was made.

After washing his face, the man in the mirror looked a bit downcast. He tweaked his eyebrows to make himself look more optimistic. Well then, let the real adventure begin!