Chapter 9 Rose Manor (VIII) Manor Breakfast

An item?

Qi Si could understand the previous key being an item, but the pocket watch held by Chang Xu clearly didn’t belong to this instance based on its era and style.

Where did it come from? Why didn’t the other players have one?

Chang Xu said indifferently, “This is a reward I obtained for a perfect clear in the first instance. It was precisely through it that I knew the exact time at every moment last night.”

That explains it. It seemed some items could be obtained in one instance and carried over to others.

Qi Si understood. Toying with the 【Pocket Watch of Fate】 in his hand, he smiled. “How enviable. An item related to time is a perfect match for this instance.”

“Indeed.” Chang Xu didn’t buy into his pointed compliment and reached out expressionlessly. “If there’s nothing else, give it back to me.”

The 【Pocket Watch of Fate】 sounded like a good thing by its name; he really wanted it, but… Chang Xu looked like he could put up a good fight.

Qi Si tossed the pocket watch back into Chang Xu’s hand, his expression unchanged. “You’d better keep this item safe. It might be the key to breaking through many instances involving time. I’m afraid we’ll have to rely on you, Brother Chang, for the subsequent clearing of this instance.”

Zou Yan and Ye Zi’s gazes drifted over. The pocket watch, which had seemed unremarkable at first, instantly captured everyone’s attention.

An item that matched the instance’s theme was undoubtedly a huge boost to a player’s strength, and might even be the deciding factor in whether a player could clear it.

Chang Xu slipped the pocket watch into his pocket and fixed his gaze on the bracelet on Qi Si’s right wrist. “If I’m not mistaken, what you’re wearing on your right hand is a weapon-type item. These are even rarer and more practical in the early stages.”

“Is that so?” Qi Si smiled politely. “Brother Chang has good eyes.” To be able to see at a glance that the bracelet hid a secret.

To Chang Xu’s ears, this sounded like he was saying he could spot the location of an item at a glance.

He didn’t suspect anything, gave a slight nod, and continued down the stairs step by step.

Watching Chang Xu’s back disappear at the top of the stairs, the smile on Qi Si’s face faded.

The bracelet on his right hand was something he had custom-made in reality; it naturally couldn’t be related to the Eerie Game. Why did Chang Xu think it was an item?

Qi Si recalled that since entering the instance, no player other than himself had a weapon with them.

Initially, he thought those players were as suspicious as he was and liked to hide their weapons in the dark. Thinking about it now, there was probably another possibility: weapons from reality, like mobile phones and other electronic products, could not be brought in.

Under normal circumstances, only items obtained within instances could be brought into other instances.

‘So… what’s the deal with my bracelet? Is the game bugged?’

Qi Si thought of countless possibilities, but now was not the time to ponder these issues—with insufficient information, any judgment would only be a preset answer and a waste of time.

He turned his head to look at Ye Zi and said with a smile, “Chang Xu’s suspicion has been somewhat cleared. Now, I have to ask you: Ye Zi, why were you so sure Shen Ming wouldn’t die? Do you know something?”

Chang Xu, with his outstanding martial prowess and key item, could not be eliminated. Thus, he could only sacrifice Ye Zi, who was as noisy and aggressive as a Chihuahua.

Playing the good cop and bad cop with Shen Ming during the introductions to establish Shen Ming’s leadership; after Shen Ming’s death, her displayed confusion and fear far exceeded the scope of witnessing a stranger’s death… There were many suspicious points.

Ye Zi crossed her arms over her chest and sneered. “What does it have to do with me? What could I know? Ha, I’ve got it. You wouldn’t happen to be in cahoots with Chang Xu, would you? You were just putting on an act to clear him of suspicion and pin it on me!”

This was an obvious attempt to turn the tables. Qi Si tilted his head and smiled sincerely. “Oh, you caught me. That’s right, it’s exactly as you think. But what can you do about it?”

It was getting late. The players gathered one by one around the long table on the first floor and took their seats.

Even Lin Chen, who was scared to death, came downstairs before the bell rang again, trembling as he followed the rules on the system interface.

Shen Ming’s absence made the atmosphere no longer as lively as it was yesterday evening. Ye Zi’s gaze occasionally swept over the empty seat. Lin Chen also quickly realized what had happened, pursing his lips and saying nothing.

The death of the most experienced veteran player among the six was undoubtedly a bad omen. And the suspicion gradually weaving between the players was an even worse sign.

Amidst the solemnity, the mechanical clock in the corner clumsily struck six times.

Miss Anna, wearing a long black dress, stepped out from the shadows, followed by a Butler who looked like a mannequin.

The woman, as tall and thin as a ghostly shadow, walked gracefully to the head seat and sat down elegantly. She looked around at everyone with a curl of her lips, her gaze licking over them like damp, half-rotted palm leaves after rain.

While the Butler was setting the table with a dining cart, her gaze lingered on Shen Ming’s empty seat, and then she covered her mouth and smiled. “My lovely guests, I hope you spent a pleasant night.”

The voice was full of enthusiasm, like the polite words often spoken by a hospitable host, but given the specific events, it was filled with schadenfreude.

Qi Si spoke up abruptly. “It was indeed very pleasant. Thank you for your hospitality. However, I wonder if I might take the liberty of asking you a few questions?”

The other players were all stunned, then pricked up their ears and listened intently.

In the silence, Miss Anna nodded in greeting.

Qi Si asked bluntly, “Miss Anna, you like roses very much, don’t you?”

“Yes, roses. I like roses,” Miss Anna repeated. “The most beautiful thing in the world is the rose…”

“You like blooming roses and hate withered ones, don’t you?”

Miss Anna’s voice became sorrowful. “Yes, if a rose withers, it’s no longer beautiful… I love beauty and hate ugliness…”

“You once had a beautiful older or younger sister, didn’t you?”

Miss Anna stopped answering. She suddenly grinned, her teeth as pale as tombstones neatly arranged between her crimson lips, reminiscent of a knife used to cut fish.

Blood-colored phantoms flashed before his eyes, and the tolling of a bell boomed in the depths of his mind. Various tones of vibrato spiraled and echoed in the hollows of the castle for a long time.

A dangerous warning leapt in Qi Si’s heart. He knew he couldn’t ask any further.

If some special event were triggered, he didn’t know if the others would die, but he felt he certainly wouldn’t survive.

The castle’s breakfast was relatively simple: wheat bread, wine with apples. It was a style of eating that highly disagreed with the tastes of the players present.

The atmosphere was already stagnant and oppressive due to the death and the resulting chain of suspicion. Coupled with Qi Si’s questions to Miss Anna, which caused a ghastly smile to remain on the NPC’s face, most of the players found it hard to swallow their food.

Qi Si, however, had never been picky about food. No matter how unpalatable the breakfast in the instance was, it was better than the meals he threw together in reality.

He used his knife and fork to cut the bread into small pieces, chewing them carefully while occasionally taking a few sips from his wine glass. At first glance, he seemed exceptionally leisurely and content.

Chang Xu, sitting opposite him, was also eating meticulously. His mouth never stopped moving, like a hamster; perhaps he really thought the manor’s breakfast tasted good.

The behavior of the two undoubtedly served as a good incentive, and everyone picked up their knives and forks to start eating. The food on the plates gradually decreased until only small crumbs remained.

Qi Si finished his breakfast on his own, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and inconspicuously stuffed it into his pocket.

He grabbed an apple, said “Excuse me,” stood up, and walked toward the stairs. Standing at the edge of the shadows, he gave Lin Chen a meaningful look.

Lin Chen was already sitting on pins and needles. Seeing Qi Si’s urging gaze, although he was still a bit hesitant and apprehensive, he ultimately followed.

Qi Si walked ahead without a word, went up to the second floor, and stopped in front of the giant mechanical clock.

The brass gears turned slowly, and the sharp black hands glided between two Roman numerals. The clock’s casing reflected the thin morning light, shimmering with a sacred golden hue.

Lin Chen stood behind Qi Si, looking around uneasily. His hands unconsciously gripped the crumpled hem of his clothes, pulling it long and then rolling it up.

Estimating that the people downstairs could no longer hear his voice, Qi Si turned to look into Lin Chen’s eyes and said in a low voice, “There’s one thing I forgot to tell you. The Eerie Game has a protection mechanism: after a certain number of players die, the remaining players can clear the instance safely and receive more rewards.”

He relayed the information Ye Zi had spoken and sighed softly. “I suspect that among the five of us, someone will try to harm the other players.”