chapter 23

After reading Li Gou's history, Wang Shun, for the first time, regretted possessing the "Know-It-All" skill that allowed him to delve into a player's past. It was not, he realized, a blessing.

This game was a haven for those whose desires burned with ferocity; it was not lacking in the cruel and depraved. On the contrary, it was their grandest stage and battlefield, and many of the top players had blood on their hands.

Wang Shun gazed at Bai Liu's small TV with a trace of worry, heaving a long, weary sigh.

The game was not yet over, and already a butcher stood sentinel at your door.

Bai Liu, you are truly the embodiment of misfortune.

———

[126 people have liked Bai Liu's small TV, 675 have bookmarked it, 0 have tipped it, and 378 have given it a thumbs-down.]

[Player Bai Liu has gained 3,000 viewers in a single minute, yet the like rate is less than one-tenth. It seems most are here merely to spectate and join the commotion.]

[A high-level player, Li Gou, is now watching Bai Liu's small TV. Congratulations, Bai Liu, on attracting your first high-level viewer!]

[Li Gou has given Bai Liu a thumbs-down. Alas, it seems this high-level player is not fond of you.]

———

Bai Liu waited alone upon the sea until dawn. Before long, the great ship that had departed the previous night returned. He noticed both Jelf and Lucy at the prow; Jelf appeared to be comforting Lucy, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

Lucy, on the verge of collapse, buried her face in Jelf's embrace, soothed by his tender caresses.

Jelf would, from time to time, press a loving kiss to Lucy's tear-streaked cheek, and Lucy did not resist, instead leaning into him with a dependence that bespoke intimacy. Observing this tableau, Bai Liu's brow arched ever so slightly.

It seemed that, after a single night, not only had Bai Liu's own "ship of true love" safely reached shore, but Jelf and Lucy, too, had embarked upon their own romantic voyage.

Yet as the ship drew near and Lucy and Jelf caught sight of Bai Liu, swathed in a blanket as if he had slept soundly through the night, Lucy let out a startled scream, clutching her chest and pushing Jelf away.

Jelf, as if unable to believe his eyes, stumbled back in panic, gesticulating wildly. "Bai Liu, you—you're alive?! No, I mean, are you all right?"

With composure, Bai Liu grasped the rope ladder and climbed aboard, his gaze lingering meaningfully between Lucy and Jelf before he offered a genial smile. "I'm quite well. Good morning, Jelf, Lucy. I had a rather pleasant night. It seems you did as well?"

Lucy, flustered, made to cling to Bai Liu's arm, but he deftly sidestepped her.

She covered her face, sobbing, "No, last night Jelf told me that you and Andre would both die. I was so frightened—I thought it was all my fault, and Jelf comforted me."

Bai Liu's smile was enigmatic, but he pressed no further, his attention drifting elsewhere.

Lucy's complexion was pale as porcelain, her movements oddly stilted. The sensation of her touch was eerily reminiscent of the mermaid wax amulet Bai Liu had handled in the hold—brittle and thin as an eggshell, with none of the pungent fishy odor she once bore.

Jelf, too, began to explain, his eyes evasive. "Yes, Lucy thought you and Andre were doomed, and she was simply afraid, that's why she stayed with me. There's nothing between us."

He forced a strained smile at Bai Liu. "I know she's your girlfriend. I would never do anything. You're my best friend, Bai Liu."

Bai Liu was noncommittal. "Where did you spend the night? The Siren Wax Museum, wasn't it?"

Lucy gasped, "How did you know?"

She then launched into a litany of complaints. "Yes, they wouldn't let us return to the hotel—apparently it's some local custom. After participating in the mermaid hunt, we had to spend the night in the wax museum to cleanse ourselves of blood and sin."

"That place was terrifying, filled with wax figures that seemed to move in the night. No matter where we went, there was always a statue blocking our path."

Jelf's smile remained frozen. "Bai Liu, where's Andre? Where did he go?"

Bai Liu smiled. "He's probably waiting for us at the wax museum."

Jelf cast a furtive glance at Andre's small boat adrift on the sea.

The boat was smeared with black, tar-like blood, and scraps of fabric—once Andre's shirt—clung to its sides.

Jelf's eyes flickered at the sight, and he lowered his head, unable to suppress a twisted, triumphant grin.

Bai Liu regarded Jelf coolly; it was clear that Andre's demise brought him no small satisfaction.

But soon, Jelf feigned confusion, turning to Bai Liu and pointing at the boat. "But, Bai Liu, Andre's boat is still here. He couldn't have made it back to shore…"

Jelf shot Bai Liu a timid glance, shrinking back and falling silent at just the right moment.

Lucy gasped again, covering her mouth, her voice trembling with tears. "Oh my God, is Andre really dead? Bai Liu!"

She looked at Bai Liu with disbelief and disappointment. "Did you kill Andre? Did you push him into the sea?"

Bai Liu thought she might be trying to cry, but her eyes were dry. Of course—a wax figure cannot weep, he mused absently.

Jelf fixed Bai Liu with a look of feigned sorrow. "You shouldn't have done such a thing. Andre may not have been a good man, but he deserved a chance to live."

Bai Liu chuckled softly, meeting Jelf's gaze. "I could say the same to you."

Jelf stared back, wary.

Bai Liu shrugged indifferently, smiling at Lucy, who was still accusing him. "You'll see Andre at the wax museum. I wouldn't lie to you."

"If I'm lying, we'll break up," Bai Liu added with a cheerful squint.

Lucy hesitated, glancing at Bai Liu's pocket—where he kept his wallet. Remembering the exorbitant cost of the vacation, she finally fell silent.

Bai Liu had at last unraveled the final ten percent of "Jelf's Bloody Conspiracy."

He realized he had overestimated the humanity of the game's NPCs; not a single companion had shown him genuine kindness.

When designing games, Bai Liu had always been compelled by his superiors to extol the virtues of friendship and goodness, ensuring at least one pure-hearted ally for the sake of passing review.

He had not expected a world where every character was a villain—Andre, who reveled in violence; Jelf, timid yet ruthless; Lucy, whose affection was as shallow as her greed, ever ready to betray him for money.

Such a cast of unredeemable scoundrels—he found it utterly delightful.

A faint smile played at Bai Liu's lips.

Once he abandoned the notion that "an NPC so well-versed in mermaid lore must be a good guy who should survive to the end," the last ten percent of "Jelf's Bloody Conspiracy" became obvious.

No wonder Jelf had always been wary of Bai Liu; no wonder the quest progress had jumped twice—Jelf had always intended to kill two people: Bai Liu and Andre.

The driver's mission was not only to kill Andre, but also Bai Liu, perhaps even to rob and divide the spoils.

In retrospect, it was odd that the player character, timid to the point of tears at the mere thought of visiting Siren Town, would initiate such a trip. Andre and Lucy were both unfamiliar with the place; only Jelf, steeped in mermaid research, would recommend it as a test of courage.

It was easy to see why Jelf chose Siren Town—he knew of its lawless nature, the townsfolk's penchant for violence, the police's impotence, and the many unsolved disappearances.

All signs pointed to Siren Town as the perfect place to dispose of bodies.

There was no better dumping ground than "Siren Town."

Jelf's expertise in mermaid lore was not meant to help the player clear the game—

—but to facilitate their assassination.

[Side Quest—Jelf's Bloody Conspiracy: 100% Complete. Reward: 50 points.]

[Unlocked Hidden Status—Jelf, Who Hates All Things.]

Bai Liu swept his coin over Jelf:

[NPC Name: Jelf (??? Status)]

[Profile: A passionate enthusiast of mermaids and other unnatural creatures. Upon learning of Lucy's trip to Siren Town, he volunteered to join, and is well-versed in the town's legends.]

[Hidden Profile: Long subjected to Andre's bullying, Jelf harbors a deep-seated hatred for all things…]

[After gaining your trust and becoming your friend, he grew envious of your beautiful girlfriend and family fortune, resenting your refusal to seek justice for him, seeing you as a hypocrite, and coveting all that you possess. He even hoped to use you to kill Andre.]

[When you and Andre made your wager, Jelf was tempted… He knew of the world's most perfect crime scene, where neither he nor you would be the killer, but the mermaids he so adored. He decided to use his beloved creatures to end both your lives…]

[Upon unlocking this side story, the system issues a warning—Jelf's trust in the player is extremely low, and he is highly likely to attack. Please be vigilant.]

Before the small TV, Wang Shun suddenly understood. "So that's it. I always wondered why, during the land chase, Jelf kept trying to kill the player—even Mu Shen was nearly done in by him."

Other players grumbled in agreement:

"Damn! So that's Jelf's true nature! I always thought his mermaid expertise meant he was an essential NPC who couldn't die. I even risked my life to save him a few times—almost got myself killed!"

As the voices praising Bai Liu grew louder, Li Gou impatiently slammed his blade down, and the room fell silent.

Li Gou sneered at Bai Liu's image on the small TV, arms crossed. "So it's just a side quest. I thought it was something impressive. The forum's hyping him up as the next Mu Sicheng."

"Those who praise him clearly haven't played many games or made it to the top spots. Him? The next Mu Sicheng? He's not worthy."

Wang Shun opened his mouth, then closed it, shaking his head in resignation.

Not enough experience?

He had watched countless "Siren Town" streams, and knew that only Mu Sicheng and Bai Liu had ever come close to completing the full side quest.

Mu Sicheng's "Siren Town" playthrough was locked in the system's VIP video library, requiring forty points to view.

That price alone spoke to the value of the information within; if anyone could easily complete the side quest, it would not be in the VIP library.

Even Mu Sicheng himself, as Wang Shun recalled, had never managed to finish the final ten percent of "Jelf's Bloody Conspiracy."

When Mu Sicheng played "Siren Town," his luck stat was already at 56. From Wang Shun's perspective, for Bai Liu to have reached this point in a single game—

—Bai Liu had far surpassed Mu Sicheng.