Volume Three, Chapter Seven: The Clock Tower's Hidden Mechanism

The Clock Tower loomed at the desolate edge of Ulong's Old Town district, a skeletal finger of rusted iron and decaying stone, piercing the twilight sky like a forgotten tuning fork embedded in the very fabric of time. Its broken spire, a jagged silhouette against the fading light, seemed to vibrate with a silent, spectral energy. Zhang Xiaowai stood beneath its formidable shadow, craning his neck to gaze up at its weather-beaten peak, and in the quiet hum of the evening, he swore he could hear Phantom Sound's insidious electronic whisper echoing in his ears: "Before the bell tolls thrice, the truth will be revealed." The phrase clung to him like a shroud, tightening its grip with each passing moment, an inescapable reminder of the ticking clock that governed their perilous quest.

"I'd say this place screams 'sound control lair'," Liu Piaopiao declared, her voice cutting through the stillness. She was already crouched low, a small, multi-purpose hammer in her hand, tapping methodically at the Clock Tower's stone foundation. The dull thud of metal against stone reverberated strangely. "There's something off about this echo… hear it? It's a hollow structure! There's definitely a secret passage beneath this!" Her detective's intuition, honed by countless improbable cases, was sharper than ever, zeroing in on the subtle anomalies that most would overlook.

Wang Dazhuang, ever the enthusiastic muscle, joined her, his portable iron shovel slung over his shoulder, gleefully reinforcing her observation. "I checked on the Ulong City Forum," he announced, his voice booming with satisfaction. "This Clock Tower is connected to a sealed drainage system underneath, part of the old town's flood control from a hundred years ago. It's all locked down tight now." He thumped his chest, proud of his research, seemingly oblivious to the inherent danger of a locked, century-old underground system.

"Locked down and you still came?" Zhang Xiaowai retorted, a wave of profound weariness washing over him. The sheer absurdity of their predicament often left him speechless, yet his companions' unwavering enthusiasm for peril continued to astound him. He wanted nothing more than to curl up in his cubicle with a bowl of instant noodles, far from any ancient, potentially collapsing structures.

"Of course we came! Do you think a protagonist's script writes itself by just waiting around?" DJ Xiao K interjected, his voice brimming with unbridled confidence. He was already setting up his portable subwoofer, meticulously adjusting the soundwaves, his floral shirt a splash of defiant color against the grim stone. "Don't worry, once I unleash a sonic boom, any ghost hiding underground will be forced to jump out!" He flexed, striking a pose that was half rock star, half exorcist.

Tang Xiaotang, ever the dedicated documentarian, had already scaled the first platform of the Clock Tower, her selfie stick extended like a periscope. She was addressing her phone camera with fervent enthusiasm. "Welcome to Ulong's On-Site Spirit Exploration Special—The Clock Tower Mystery! Today, we'll be investigating a century-old sound control ruin…" She spoke with the practiced cadence of a seasoned broadcaster, completely immersed in her narrative.

Zhang Xiaowai clapped a hand to his forehead. "If she fell right now, I wouldn't even be surprised," he muttered under his breath, a mixture of exasperation and genuine concern for his intrepid teammate.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Liu Piaopiao's small hammer struck a particular stone slab with a decisive "thwack." A soft "click" echoed, almost swallowed by the ambient sounds of the city, followed by a faint rumble from beneath their feet. Slowly, meticulously, a narrow crack appeared in the ancient stone, widening to reveal a section of a spiral staircase that began to descend, inch by agonizing inch, into the inky blackness below. Dust motes danced in the sparse light, disturbed by the ancient mechanism's reluctant awakening.

"Hey! It's triggered!" she exclaimed, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "There really is a mechanism here!" Her voice, usually calm and analytical, was now tinged with genuine excitement, the thrill of discovery eclipsing any lingering fear.

Zhang Xiaowai felt an irresistible pull, a familiar sensation that preceded his involuntary participation in the unfolding drama. His Ulong Halo, resonating with the activated mechanism, seemed to exert a physical force, gently but firmly drawing him forward. He found his foot stepping, without conscious command, into the newly revealed stairwell. "I… I'm on auto-navigate again!" he groaned, the words escaping his lips in a resigned whisper. His body, it seemed, had a mind—or rather, a halo—of its own.

One by one, the group descended into the twisting depths, the spiral staircase winding endlessly into the earth. They emerged into a deep, cavernous stone chamber, its ancient air thick with the scent of damp earth and forgotten secrets. In the center of the chamber stood a massive device, shrouded in a thick layer of grey dust. It resembled a piano, yet also a monstrous, distorted synthesizer, its intricate workings hinting at a purpose far beyond mere musical creation. The rough-hewn stone walls were intricately carved with a bewildering array of musical notes and complex frequency diagrams, suggesting that this was an early prototype of a sound control machine. The sheer size and elaborate nature of the device spoke of a grand, terrifying ambition.

"Phantom Sound's early version," Liu Piaopiao murmured, her voice trembling slightly, tinged with a mix of awe and trepidation. "He experimented here, in these very depths." The historical weight of the discovery pressed down on them, the knowledge that they were standing in the cradle of a sinister technology that had already cast its shadow over Ulong City.

DJ Xiao K's eyes gleamed, reflecting the dim light of their flashlights. "I feel like the sound field structure here could elevate my mixing to a whole new level!" he declared, completely oblivious to the solemnity of the moment. He was already imagining himself on a grand stage, controlling the very fabric of sound.

"Can you just shut up for ten seconds?" Zhang Xiaowai muttered under his breath, exasperated. His gaze drifted to a corner of the chamber, where he spotted a panel with a set of bright red switch buttons. Next to them, a faded, ominous warning sign was affixed: "Frequency Forced Resonance Zone — Unauthorized Triggering Strictly Prohibited." The stark simplicity of the warning only heightened the sense of impending danger.

"That sentence was written precisely to be ignored and pressed," Wang Dazhuang remarked with a knowing, almost mischievous grin, his hand already reaching for the forbidden buttons. He believed in direct action, a philosophy that often led to unpredictable, chaotic outcomes.

"Don't!" Zhang Xiaowai yelled, his voice laced with desperate urgency, but it was already too late. Wang Dazhuang's finger descended with a decisive "click."

A sharp "thud" reverberated through the stone chamber, and the entire Clock Tower above them shuddered violently. Then, a familiar melody, far more potent and pervasive than any they had heard before, began to emanate from deep within the earth. It was the Sound of Ulong, amplified and intensified, its low hum growing into a terrifying, all-encompassing thrum that vibrated in their very bones. The air grew heavy, thick with the tangible weight of resonant sound.

"Phantom Sound has activated the next stage…" Tang Xiaotang whispered, her eyes wide as she watched luminous musical note projections slowly bloom across the chamber walls, dancing with an eerie, hypnotic glow. "He wants to use resonance to put the entire city into a synchronized somnambulistic state." Her voice was filled with a chilling comprehension, the realization of the full scope of Phantom Sound's malevolent ambition.

Liu Piaopiao gritted her teeth, her jaw set with determination. "We have to find the main control frequency point and take it down before the bell tolls for the third time!" Her voice was firm, resolute, betraying no hint of the fear that undoubtedly gnawed at her.

Zhang Xiaowai clapped his hands over his ears, a futile attempt to block out the oppressive sound. "You make it sound like I know how to do that…" he mumbled, his voice muffled. His own involvement in these escalating crises always felt like a cosmic accident, a cruel joke played by his uncontrollable Ulong Halo.

The soundwaves intensified, filling the chamber with a relentless, invasive hum, and the ancient Clock Tower above them began to resonate with a low, mournful groan. Then, a single, deep "DONG!" echoed through the stone walls – the first bell toll, sharp and inescapable. Zhang Xiaowai knew, with a sinking feeling, that they were now one step closer to the truth, but also, terrifyingly, one beat closer to complete and utter collapse. The main melody had begun, and the question lingered, hanging heavy in the air, vibrating with unspoken dread: what would the next measure bring? Would it be the deafening silence of an entire city falling under Phantom Sound's dominion?