booktalesy Chapter 4 The Free Ghost, Li 4
Chapter 4 The Free Ghost, Li 4
Yang Lan was unwilling to accept it!
Why her of all people?
Inspired by freedom and democracy from a young age, she went to great lengths to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Liberty, Mirka.
She was lucky enough to meet a fellow PhD graduate from Sakura University who pointed her in a clear path to rapid promotion and prestige.
I've tried several targets without success, and now I've finally met a fool, so foolish that she'll believe anything she says. The academy has signed off, and all the press releases are ready. I'm just waiting to be put to the test.
Now that we're at the very last step, you're telling me we're going to be dragged into a horror dungeon?
I am not reconciled! I hate it!
She was just one step away! Just one step away from successfully framing someone and escaping this terrifying, randomly selected, low-level kingdom!
Just one step away!
The darkness disappeared, and visibility returned.
Yang Lan opened her eyes and saw a blue sky and green land.
A huge statue stands in the center of the field of vision, holding a torch in its right hand, a book in its left, and a crown of thorns on its head.
The clock square below the statue was packed with people, as noisy as a market.
"Yosh! It's finally my turn, Zhang San, to defy fate! Hahaha!"
"Why me of all people? I have an eighty-year-old mother to support and a baby who hasn't been weaned yet..."
"How... how did I get chosen... Did the boss not bribe his subordinates properly, or did the ghost money appreciate in value? That shouldn't be the case."
"Ruyan! I don't want to die! If I die, who will satisfy you?"
Yang Lan was stunned.
Wasn't I sucked away by the horror dungeon? How did I end up here?
What I see before me is clearly the Statue of Liberty of Mecca.
The crisp sound of high heels rang out.
A tour guide with an unusually distinctive style, wearing black stockings, stepped out from the crowd.
Labilins extended his hand, flashing a professional smile:
"Welcome to the terrifying dungeon 'Execution Line'. I am the dungeon administrator, Labyrinth."
……
Yang Lan made a phone call, and You Xing witnessed the entire process of being absorbed by the dungeon and the fear and confusion she showed when she first entered the preparation area.
It's a pity that You Xing didn't hear her thoughts at that moment, otherwise he would have laughed himself to death on the spot.
Over the course of three days, You Xing studied and referenced a great deal of local people, events, and things in Beautiful Ka, and also exchanged ideas with designers from across the ocean.
I know that the horror dungeon there doesn't need to randomly select participants, simply because there are too many people who want to sign up, so there's no need for random selection.
We are all real people living in Meilika, and each of us has an invisible and intangible line of death behind us.
Loans that were originally impossible to repay in this lifetime suddenly became possible after the arrival of the terrifying instance.
Only someone like Yang Lan, a giant baby raised in a comfortable society, wouldn't know this.
Seeing Yang Lan being sucked into the terrifying instance in fear and despair on the screen, the administrator began to explain the rules, and the resentment on You Xing dissipated to some extent.
He stood up and arranged the prepared props into a strange six-pointed star in order.
"The players are in position, and it's almost time. Time to prepare to summon the ghost exclusive to the horror dungeon."
After saying that, Youxing squatted down and arranged the rat, meat chunks, worm pile, slime, consent form, and old notebook in the order of top center, bottom left, top right, bottom center, top left, and bottom right.
After drawing the six-pointed star, the vigilante placed the final Statue of Liberty at the intersection of the two center lines and drizzled it with ketchup.
He recited his improvised incantation with feigned seriousness:
"A dark world needs the light of freedom to illuminate it."
The strange six-pointed star formation lit up with a green light.
"In the free country, books are smeared with honey, toilet water is drinkable, and everyone enjoys God's blessing."
The mouse responded with a squeaking sound.
"In a free and happy environment, all children's intelligence will be greatly developed."
The pile of meat was throbbing.
……
"Life is precious, love is more precious, but freedom is the most precious of all."
The last line was read.
The model in the center of the formation, which was originally the size of a palm, had transformed into a monster the same height as Youxing. Youxing stretched out his finger and gently tapped its head.
"From this moment on, you are Li Si, the Free Ghost. The ghost who governs the Kill Line instance, and also the only [God] within it."
The free spirit, newly summoned and with its intelligence yet undeveloped, is confused by the arrangements for the executioner.
"Master, why am I called Li Si? Aren't I the first ghost you created?"
"That's right. There have been three agents of God in the world: Ye Da, Hong Er, and Tang San. You are the fourth, so you are called Li Si."
"Understood, Master."
"Once you understand, I'll begin explaining the benefits you'll receive in the dungeon and the rules you must follow once it's open."
The ghost Li Si tilted his head to the side, and countless question marks appeared on his face.
Shouldn't the rules of the competition be explained to the participants?
Why should I have to abide by the rules even when I'm in a dungeon?
……
During the time when the wandering executioner summons the free spirits.
Under the Statue of Liberty, the contestants were incredibly excited, as if they had been injected with adrenaline.
The instance administrator repeatedly stated that there were no deaths in this instance.
The contestants' biggest worry has disappeared!
"Thank you, tour guide, you're like an angel."
"This isn't a horror dungeon at all!"
"Oh, it's all thanks to God."
Yang Lan also excitedly imitated them, making the sign of the cross in the sky.
In the center of the square, when the digital clock reached 6:6:6, a huge hexagonal magic circle appeared on the ground.
With a few breaths, the green magical aura expanded from the statue beneath their feet to the entire instance.
At the end of everyone's sight, six giant green beams of light were lit up, and the Statue of Liberty in front of them was also shrouded in a mysterious green light.
This area, this grand scale, is it really a D-level dungeon?
The white demon clasped his hands together, revealing a kind smile.
"Alright, now that everyone has seen it, I won't keep it a secret anymore. I'll tell you all the requirements for clearing the Kill Line dungeon in advance."
"All you need to do is survive in the Liberty City map for 12 months and have more than $100,000 in personal assets at the end of the game to complete the game."
"The more assets you have upon clearing the stage, the more Nether Blades you will receive, which can be exchanged for better rewards in the shop. If your assets upon clearing the stage are 100,000 Nether Blades, they will be exchanged for 100,000 Nether Blades."
Those with assets exceeding one million and ranking among the top will receive an additional one million reward.
The contestants stared wide-eyed at the administrator with disbelief, and even Yang Lan, who was used to taking advantage of others, chose not to believe it.
100,000 Nether Blades? What does that even mean?! Are you really running a D-rank dungeon?
A standard A-level dungeon is extremely difficult, with a near-certain death rate. It's exhausting, and the participants are constantly competing against each other. The first-place reward is only 100,000 Nether Blades.
Just enough for him to exchange for a bottle of a panacea that would allow him to live a healthy, painless life to a hundred years old.
Disassemble it into other potions and items, and you can exchange them for dozens or even hundreds of bottles. Take them back to the human world and resell them; you can immediately build a successful business.
Now, the reward for clearing a D-level dungeon is comparable to the top A-level dungeon?
Am I dreaming?
Am I crazy, or has the world gone mad?
D-rank dungeons offer better rewards than A-rank dungeons, and some don't even have a death mechanic.
All you need to do is live and earn money in this city, which is similar to Mecca.
This isn't some kind of horror dungeon! It's practically a divine intervention, a real treat!
Coincidentally, Labilins thought the same thing. She couldn't understand the reason for distributing welfare in this way at all, and she suppressed her anger and explained to everyone with a fake smile.
"So, is it okay to make money by any means necessary?"
"Anything is acceptable, as long as the participant's personal assets exceed 100,000 by the settlement date 12 months later, they pass the level. The methods don't matter!"
Labyrinth smiled and affirmed, "Of course, the dungeon designers do not recommend using improper methods."
As instructed by the executioner, the White Demon kept the second half of the sentence.
Although she couldn't understand why such a simple money-making game needed to indirectly tell them about irregular ways to make money.
If you start by choosing a class that comes with a 100,000-damage buff, wouldn't everything be over?