Chapter Two: Rose Manor (Part One) — The Tale of the Rules
The grayish-purple sky spread overhead like a heavy curtain, thick clouds blocking out the sunlight entirely. The damp air clung heavily to his skin, giving him the eerie sensation that it might condense into droplets at any moment.
Zis shivered, opening his eyes to find himself standing within a Gothic manor. Before him, the towering ancient castle cast monstrous shadows that enveloped him.
The castle appeared aged, its walls overrun with withered vines resembling a network of decayed threads, breaking the façade into fragmented pieces. The entire structure exuded an air of neglect, as if it might collapse at any moment.
In front of the castle stretched a sea of roses, each bloom vibrant and flourishing, their branches wildly sprawling and clawing at the air.
The intense fragrance of the flowers lingered at his nostrils, so overwhelming and dense that it made Zis feel slightly nauseous.
A pale gray translucent panel materialized at the upper left corner of his vision, indistinguishable from the system interfaces seen in low-grade games on the market.
Silver-white letters refreshed on the panel, revealing information related to this instance.
[Instance Name: "Rose Manor"]
[Instance Type: Team Survival (6 players)]
[Main Objective: Survive for three days and unravel the rules]
[Preliminary Hint: Flowery words are detestable; all NPCs in this instance will not deceive players through speech]
“Is this it? We’re entering the instance now?”
Zis instinctively brushed his right wrist where a silver bracelet lay, the cool touch reassuring him.
He glanced at the note on the system panel stating “will not deceive players through speech,” raising an eyebrow.
—He knew well that sometimes truth itself could be a form of deception.
Leading someone astray through a series of fragmented truths was a specialty of his.
What remained unknown was whether this instance would involve such a level of subtle manipulation.
Suddenly, a soft, mournful narration whispered in his ear, as if laden with lament:
[What, after all, is the most beautiful thing in the world? She searched for it all her life, until her fair visage turned to skull and bone.]
[The beauty-loving girl planted roses throughout the garden, hoping that the vast sea of flowers would pay the price for her beauty.]
[Watching the roses age and wither, she began to wonder: could the roses cease to fade? Could the beauty she adored never grow old?]
[Honored guests, welcome to Miss Anna's Rose Manor.]
The final greeting was delicate, like a timid young girl’s whisper, yet its tone carried a heavy gloom, reminiscent of an ancient cemetery after rain—damp and decaying.
Zis did not indulge in overactive imagination or scare himself needlessly.
He soon noticed a narrow path winding deeply through the rose sea, leading straight to the castle’s dark, yawning door.
Without hesitation, he stepped forward across the moist, muddy ground and stopped before the stone door entwined by withered vines.
He pushed the door open and entered.
…
Inside, the castle was sparsely furnished. At the center of the main hall stood a marble long table, upon which sat a fruit platter. Next to it, a candelabrum flickered—the sole source of light in the dim room.
An archaic, massive mechanical clock rested in a corner, its presence distorting the sense of time and space. Its surface bore old, mottled stains of what appeared to be dried blood, mingling with rust to emit a faint metallic scent.
The emptiness and shadowy light created a stifling, eerie atmosphere, with a chilling dampness curling through the air like a crypt long untouched by sunlight.
Facing the entrance, the long table held a main seat with three chairs on each side, five people already seated.
Naturally, these five were players.
“Is everyone here?” asked a woman in a white long coat, sitting at the farthest seat from the head of the table.
Her brows were slightly lowered as she gazed toward the castle door, concern and thoughtfulness etched on her face, as if awaiting a late friend.
“There's still one seat empty; perhaps one more player is missing?” she probed tentatively.
The young girl sitting opposite her giggled, “If they haven’t shown up by now, it’s probably not looking good for them.”
Though she appeared no more than sixteen or seventeen, her words were cruelly sharp: “What a dramatic start—one player knocked out first, instantly ‘boxed’ upon landing. Tough luck.”
The black-clad young man beside her fluttered his eyelashes, seemingly disapproving of her attitude, yet he remained silent. Instead, he reached into the fruit bowl to grab an apple, holding it delicately, quietly biting into it.
A bespectacled middle-aged man took the opportunity to steer the conversation: “This is a team survival instance. We need unity and cooperation to unravel the world’s secrets—why don’t we introduce ourselves first?”
He had a face so ordinary it would blend into any crowd, dressed in a suit and trousers, exuding the aura of a reliable corporate elite.
“My name’s Shen Ming. This is my third instance. Once I clear this one, I’ll be a full-fledged player. I’m the general manager of a listed company—you can look me up online once we’re out.”
He paused for a moment, then casually added, “Since being chosen by this strange game, I’ve invested some money into researching urban legends and have made some progress.”
“Wow, a big shot! Looks like this run’s secure! Can I call you Brother Shen from now on?” The previously schadenfreude girl suddenly flipped her tone completely. Others noticed then that she had a sweet, cute face with two dimples when she smiled.
She tugged her ponytail, pulling it higher for a tidier look. “I’m Liu Qingye, second time in an instance. Just call me Yezi. I used to be a ghost hunter streamer, pretty brave, and naturally unafraid of ghosts. You don’t have to worry about me holding us back.”
With two people starting, the others followed suit with their introductions.
“This is my first time. I’m Lin Chen…” The last to speak was a young man in a patient’s gown, sitting to the right of the woman who spoke first.
His face was as pale as paper, looking frail and gravely ill.
Mid-sentence, he suddenly fixed his gaze on the castle door, eyes widening.
Everyone followed his line of sight to see a figure standing in the shadow of the doorway.
The newcomer looked to be in his twenties, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, tall and slender. His short black hair framed a delicate yet eerily pale face, making him resemble a ghost rather than a living man.
Closer inspection revealed his shirt was stained with blotches of blood, as if he had just escaped a murder scene.
Unbothered by being the center of attention or perceived as a threat, the newcomer calmly introduced himself: “Zis. This is my second instance.”
Zis had arrived as the player introductions were concluding, only catching the pale young man’s self-introduction.
Hearing the words “first time,” he immediately realized that some among the players were veterans; otherwise, there would be no need to mention the number of times.
In a life-and-death game, even with the need for teamwork, strangers could hardly be trusted.
Zis did not expect these people to look out for newcomers, nor did he want to be a clueless pawn used for trial and error.
So, he lied with a composed expression.
“Hello, handsome. You can call me Yezi.” The girl named Yezi greeted him with surprising familiarity, then eyed the bloodstains on his clothes curiously. “Is that real blood? You didn’t just come from a murder scene, did you?”
Zis toyed with his fingers and smiled gently, “I’m a specimen preparator. I was working on a specimen before coming here and didn’t have time to change.”
Yezi’s eyes widened. “Don’t you watch the countdown? Didn’t you know it starts at this time? I was already in bed an hour before the countdown ended.”
Zis showed no change in expression, replying mildly, “So what if I knew? Every minute and second of my time is precious. Rather than waste it waiting, I’d rather do something meaningful.”
Yezi pursed her lips, seeming unconvinced but said no more.
The middle-aged man named Shen Ming, taking on the role of team leader, briefly recapped the introductions for Zis.
Zis took the empty seat, turning his head to listen intently.
Apart from the seasoned Shen Ming and the startled Lin Chen, the others were all on their second instance.
The young man in the black hoodie was called Chang Xu, claiming to be a police officer. He sat upright, expressionless, with deep black eyes that gave off an air of cold detachment.
The woman in the white coat was Zou Yan, a psychologist in reality, dignified and composed. Even in the instance, she wore a reassuring smile that dispelled any ill will.
Lin Chen naturally leaned toward the calm Zou Yan, timidly asking, “Sister Zou, I… I heard that if you die in the instance, you die in reality too. Is that true?”
Zou Yan sighed, her gaze filled with pity. “Yes. If a player dies in the instance, they will die in reality within half an hour, by a plausible cause—heart failure, accident, or suicide—no way to reverse it.”
“But no matter how badly you’re injured in the instance, as long as you survive to the end, you’ll return to reality unharmed.”
To think one could still live for half an hour after dying in the instance... Zis stroked his chin thoughtfully.
So, to be truly lethal, one must be discreet—no survivors to spread the word; deliver multiple fatal blows to ensure death; and if killed, feign death to avoid a finishing strike...
Whether Lin Chen had thought of this or not, he nodded hesitantly: “I was pulled into the game after dying. The invitation said it offered me a chance for rebirth. Are you all the same? You don’t seem very afraid…”
Zou Yan smiled gently: “There are many ways to enter the game. Some are drawn by intense desires, others slip in through dreams. I volunteered to enter to save my daughter. But Lin, don’t ask others these questions again. I don’t mind, but some might get angry…”
Yezi interrupted playfully: “Enough of that. The game has already told us all we need to know. Knowing more won’t help—it’ll only ruin our mood.”
She glanced mischievously at everyone and spoke in a gossipy tone: “Hey, did you hear the rumor? Several major guilds might team up against the final instance…”
The players, led by Yezi, began chatting about strange tales related to the mysterious game.
The tension eased considerably. Were it not for the oppressive stone walls of the castle with no windows and the faint bloody scent mingling with the floral aroma, few would suspect this was a deadly horror game.
Just their second time entering and they already had such a relaxed mindset?
Zis listened with interest to the veterans’ chatter, storing potentially useful or useless tidbits in his mind, not fully trusting any of it.
He could lie; others could too.
—Even simple names seemed fake on some players at first glance.
Most other things were likely fabricated as well.
In the midst of their lively banter, a sudden sound of rolling wheels echoed from a castle corner.
The group immediately fell silent.
From the shadowed corner emerged a man in a black butler’s uniform, pushing a serving cart like a ghost appearing before them.
To be fair, his features were handsome, but his skin had an uncanny, almost artificial texture, like an inflated doll.
Noticing all eyes on him, the butler’s oily face broke into an exaggerated smile: “Honored guests, Miss Anna will be arriving shortly. She will dine with you.”
“Of course, our manor holds many taboos. For your safety, please read and remember the following carefully.”
As he finished speaking, a paper covered with writing materialized atop the long table.
The crimson letters on the white paper twisted and contorted, seeming ready to burst beyond the page. No one dared touch it for a moment.
Zis lowered his eyes to read, and at the moment his gaze met the text, the lines refreshed on the system panel in the upper left corner.
[1. The manor provides two meals daily—please dine in the hall promptly at 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM; rest begins after 9:00 PM.]
[2. Time is of utmost importance. If you awaken during the night, be sure to always know the exact time.]
[3. Miss Anna favors her guests and harbors no ill will, but remember the proper form of address is “Miss Anna,” not otherwise.]
[4. Do not refuse Miss Anna’s requests; strive to comply with all she asks. Miss Anna dislikes disobedient guests.]
[5. Miss Anna prefers wearing red dresses. The Miss Anna in red is trustworthy; if you see one dressed in black, keep your distance.]
[6. Do not leave the castle at night. Do not pick the manor’s roses. Beware the roses.]
[7. Only ghosts can kill humans. Trust firmly that you are human.]
[8. If you must break rules in an emergency, break as few as possible. Perhaps she will... spare you.]