Infinite Peculiar Games

Lin Chen placed the notebook back on the table and stood by the French windows in the guest room, anxiously observing the activity in the garden below.

He watched as Qi Si walked to the iron gate, tapped the ground, and exchanged some words with the butler, who suddenly appeared. Then, Miss Anna emerged from the castle, and Qi Si, smiling, approached her and struck up a conversation.

Lin Chen knew it was time.

Qisi’s part was done; now it was his turn.

He sprinted out of the guest room, heading straight for the stairs, gripping the handrail as he hurriedly ascended.

It was just one flight of stairs, but his nervousness overtook and stumbled him multiple times.

By the time he reached the third-floor landing, he was already out of breath and drenched in cold sweat.

The third floor was similar to the second, with only three rooms, but there was a difference—there was no clock.

Lin Chen clenched his fists, suppressing his futile hesitation in the depths of his heart, and took steps deeper into the floor.

Perhaps it was a trick of the eye, but he felt that the layout of the third floor was more elongated compared to the second, as if he were confined in a coffin.

As he ventured further, this feeling intensified, and the floor seemed to stretch endlessly, no matter how far he walked.

For a moment, he suspected everything around him had frozen at a certain time—even the passage of time was merely an illusion.

Sweat seeped from his palms, and his breathing began to quiver uncontrollably.

He shook his head, trying to dispel the inexplicable thoughts from his mind.

Brother Qi has already dealt with Miss Anna; how can I not handle something this simple?

With this on his mind, he turned towards one of the rooms.

Seeing the thick layer of dust on the door, he gritted his teeth and firmly grasped the brass doorknob, cautiously pressing it down.

It didn’t turn; the door was locked.

Lin Chen breathed a sigh of relief instead. He had no desire whatsoever to open an unknown door in a horror game; there might not be an immediate threat, but who knew what horrors lay beyond?

He tried the remaining two doorknobs in the same manner.

They were all locked.

“This should be enough… Brother Qi only asked me to scout the layout…”

Lin Chen muttered softly, carefully retreating towards the staircase.

Just as he was about to reach the stairs, a soft female voice suddenly sounded behind him, catching him off guard. “Who are you?”

The voice was delicately crafted, like the smooth, velvety tones of an opera—unmistakably Miss Anna’s!

Miss Anna… How could she be here?

Lin Chen felt his blood freeze, paralysed with fear, unable to react.

He opened his mouth to scream, but his voice was trapped in his throat, unable to escape no matter how hard he tried.

I’m caught. It’s over. I’m going to die…

Memories of his past twenty years flashed through his mind like a flickering carousel before one’s final moments.

Lin Chen’s heart raced, his body stiff as he slowly turned around.

At the stairway stood a petite old woman dressed in a red European-style princess dress. Her white hair flowed down her back, and her wrinkled face was covered in decaying scars, with her lips and eye sockets hollowed out to the bone.

Despite the eerie, horrifying sight, Lin Chen felt relieved.

Thank goodness it’s not Miss Anna…

As long as Miss Anna hasn’t discovered me, there’s still hope for survival…

“Who are you?” the old woman asked sweetly. The lovely voice contrasted sharply with her ghastly appearance.

Lin Chen took a step back, stammering, “I… I’m Lin Chen.”

The old woman stared intently at him and asked again, “Do you remember who I am?”

Lin Chen froze.

He recalled when he and Qi Si parted ways. After a few steps, Qi Si seemed to have a sudden realisation, halting in his tracks. He turned back to Lin Chen and advised, “Regardless of which NPC you encounter on the third floor, avoid using specific titles lightly.”

When Lin Chen asked why, Qi Si smiled coldly and pointed to the third rule on the system interface.

【3. Miss Anna likes guests and has no malicious intents towards them, but remember to address her correctly as “Miss Anna” and nothing else.】

Qi Si chuckled slightly, his tone tinged with sarcasm, “In any case, since the rules mention the issue of addressing, you should try your best to avoid making mistakes on this part.”

Lin Chen suddenly understood.

So Qi Si had anticipated this all along? He’s truly experienced.

As Lin Chen’s thoughts continued subconsciously, memories related to Qi Si flooded back, including his speculation jotted down on paper about the possibility of ‘two Miss Annas’. The clarity of those words on paper surpassed any other information.

The ghost’s identity before him was evident.

“Who am I?” The old woman fixed her gaze on Lin Chen, once again asking, each word pronounced with deliberation, “Tell me… Who am I?”

Lin Chen swallowed hard and said, “You are Miss Anna…”

…

In the garden, the soft soil emitted steamy, damp moisture, while dark clumps of broken earth were loosely scattered around the pit.

Qi Si and Chang Xu both lowered their heads, gazing silently into the newly dug pit where the corpse lay. They were speechless for a moment.

Chang Xu still held a shovel—he was the one who dug the pit.

Qi Si, having just sent off Miss Anna, casually passed by as if it were a mere coincidence. In truth, he had already planned to walk this path, and he stumbled upon this scene.

The corpse in the pit was a bloody mess, though the face had been deliberately cleaned, revealing the faint outline of the features—a young man with a common face.

The mortuary technique was familiar. If Qi Si had no recollection of this face, he would have suspected himself of the deed.

The deceased was clad in a white T-shirt adorned with a large, comical expression—a garment distinctly out of sync with the manor’s era.

Chang Xu concluded, “It’s a player, killed like Shen Ming, drained of blood by the roses.”

That was obvious.

Qi Si randomly asked, “Brother Chang, how did you know there was a body buried here?”

Chang Xu countered, “What did you talk about with Miss Anna?”

This clearly signified a stance: everyone holds their secrets, not to be probed or encroached upon by others.

Qisi understood, revealing a sincere smile. “You see, I complimented her on her beauty and casually asked about her age. Then, for some unknown reason, she became upset and left me behind.”

Chang Xu studied Qi Si’s eyes.

Qi Si stood unwavering, his expression open.

After a brief silence, Chang Xu seemed to believe Qi Si’s story and explained. “One of my clues said Miss Anna believed death was the best fertiliser for the roses. So, I deduced there were bodies buried in the garden.”

Qisi had not expected Chang Xu to be so forthcoming; he actually answered his question.

Though, without solid evidence, Qi Si would not trust anything anyone said.

He squatted beside the pit, smiling. “‘Garden’ typically covers about a thousand square metres. How did you pinpoint the body to be here?”

“Instinct,” Chang Xu replied, squatting beside the pit, “My instincts are usually right.”

“Very impressive indeed,” Qisi complimented half-heartedly, wrapping his fingers with a napkin as he gently prodded the corpse’s face. “Judging by the feel, the time of death doesn’t exceed seventy-two hours. This instance seems quite busy, with players coming in waves.”

Chang Xu raised an eyebrow: “You seem to know a lot about corpses.”

“Professional habit. When you’re surrounded by corpses every day, you inevitably pick up knowledge, whether you want to or not.”

“Animal corpses and human corpses aren’t the same.”

“Just a preconceived stereotype.” Qi Si folded the napkin and pocketed it.

He stood, looking down at Chang Xu with a squinted smile. “Humans are animals, aren’t they?”

This remark sounded nonchalant and laid-back, yet it harboured an inexplicable depth that sent a chill down one’s spine.

Chang Xu abruptly looked up, his voice turning cold. “You’ve killed someone before?”

“No, don’t slander me.” Qi Si said, slipping his hands into his pockets, his expression blandly innocent. “You’re so quick to mention ‘killing’; have you perhaps killed someone?”

“Yes,” Chang Xu replied seriously.

“You’re in the armed police?”

“Something like that,” Chang Xu seemed to hesitate, then added, “My tasks are typically kill-on-sight; I’ve never failed.”

“Really?” Qi Si keenly realised that, regardless of Chang Xu’s true profession, this would be a point to exploit.

Someone who is used to executing kill-on-sight missions easily develops a reflex for killing.

Ye approached them at some point, frowning as she peered into the pit. She claimed to be studying the new clue, but it seemed more like she was here to probe into the movements of the two.

Continuing the conversation on such a dangerous topic was unwise, so a gentle and harmless smile returned to Qisi’s face. “Anyway, Officer, if you encounter any questions about corpses in the future, feel free to ask me. I can still handle basic determinations of cause and time of death.”

Chang Xu remained silent, his gaze thoughtful, neither affirming nor denying.

(End of Chapter)

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