Chapter 9: Rose Manor (Part VIII) Manor Breakfast

Putting on an aloof front while leaving one’s defenses wide open in the details—it seems he is quite confident in his individual capabilities.

The smile on Qi Si’s face turned sincere for a fleeting moment.

He knew well that people like this were prone to revealing flaws and leaking sensitive information through their lack of attention to detail. Squinting his eyes, he allowed a measured amount of curiosity to show.

As expected, upon receiving his gaze, Chang Xu replied in a cold tone: "This is a reward I obtained for achieving a perfect clearance in my first instance."

Qi Si nodded in understanding, smiling as he said, "I’m envious, truly. An item related to time—that’s a perfect match for this instance’s theme."

Chang Xu was unimpressed. Two seconds later, he reached out his hand, gesturing, "Give it back."

Qi Si knew when to stop. He returned the pocket watch, which he hadn't even had time to warm up, to Chang Xu’s palm.

Judging by the name alone, it was a valuable item—he wanted it badly. But there was no helping it; Chang Xu looked like someone who could certainly handle himself in a fight.

Although this guy seemed to have his guard down, Qi Si didn't think he could get away with swiping someone else's item in plain sight. He had a very clear self-assessment of his own combat prowess; he knew that in a direct confrontation, he might not even be able to beat Ye Zi, let alone anyone else.

Chang Xu tucked the pocket watch away, cast his eyes down at Qi Si’s right wrist, and said earnestly: "If I’m not mistaken, what you’re wearing on your right wrist is a weapon-type item. They are rarer and more practical in the early stages."

"Is that so?" Qi Si was slightly taken aback, then offered a strained smile, as if caught in the act. "Your eye for these things is impressive, Brother Chang." To be able to see that the bracelet concealed a secret at a single glance.

To Chang Xu, however, this sounded like an admission that he could identify the location of items at a glance. He did not grow suspicious; he gave a slight nod and proceeded down the stairs.

Watching Chang Xu’s back disappear at the stairwell, Qi Si’s smile gradually faded, and his gaze darkened.

The bracelet on his right wrist was custom-made in reality; naturally, it couldn't be an item from the Weird Game. Yet, Chang Xu had asserted with absolute certainty that it was a "weapon-type item." It was unlikely he was just making baseless claims.

It was highly probable that weapons from reality could not be brought in. Under normal circumstances, the only items players could bring into an instance were those obtained within the instances themselves.

Come to think of it, that made sense. If a player could carry heavy firepower into the game, they would just bulldoze through the instance upon arrival, and there would be no game left for anyone else.

*‘But then, what is the situation with my bracelet? Is the game bugged?’*

Qi Si considered a myriad of possibilities, but now was not the time to ponder them. With insufficient information, any judgment would only be a preconceived answer, a waste of time.

He turned his head toward Ye Zi, who was standing nearby, and said with a smile, "Chang Xu’s suspicion has been somewhat cleared. Now, I must ask you: Ye Zi, why are you so certain that Shen Ming won't die? Do you know something?"

Ye Zi’s expression stiffened. Gritting her teeth, she raised a hand and pointed at Qi Si. "I see it now! You and that Chang Xu are most likely in cahoots! You entered this instance together, and I don't know what kind of schemes you're plotting!"

It was a blatant attempt to deflect blame. Qi Si tilted his head, asking with the attitude of someone seeking guidance: "Oh? You seem to know quite a lot about players forming cliques and teaming up?"

Ye Zi sneered, "What I know is none of your business."

"Let’s stop arguing over irrelevant issues." Zou Yan, who had been watching from the sidelines, stepped in at the right moment to play the peacemaker. "We are all human, and our primary goal is to survive. Things have come to this; pointing fingers at each other is useless..."

"Then, Dr. Zou, what is your take on this matter?" Qi Si countered.

He maintained a serious and persistent demeanor, his eyes fixed unblinkingly on Zou Yan. "If we assume that there is a hostile relationship between players, then was Shen Ming a victim, or a perpetrator who dug his own grave? If we assume that players should stand united, then who was the one who started casting suspicion left and right, leaving everyone in a state of unrest?"

"I have always felt that those who lack a clear stance and play both sides are the most unstable factors. They could stab anyone in the back, couldn't they?"

***

Zou Yan seemed not to grasp the subtext of Qi Si’s words, offering a wry smile. "Taking sides has no meaning in the long history of humanity. Wealth and poverty, intelligence and ignorance, man and woman—no factor should serve as a yardstick to divide the human race."

"Nothing in this world is ever strictly black and white. Perhaps a flawed process can still lead to a correct outcome. I have always done only what I believe is right."

Qi Si knew that Zou Yan had no intention of revealing her stance, and he couldn't help but give a light click of his tongue.

He said no more, standing there with a slouch as if he had no bones, observing Ye Zi with great interest, which earned him an icy glare in return.

Aside from her genuine emotional outburst at the beginning, the girl no longer looked at Shen Ming’s corpse, adopting an expression of indifference.

Zou Yan, however, returned to the room and brought out a bedsheet to cover the body, concealing the gruesome flesh and blood on the floor—a gesture that truly reflected a sense of humanistic care.

The time was getting late. The players descended the stairs one by one, gathering around the long table on the first floor and taking their seats.

Even Lin Chen, who had been scared out of his wits, came downstairs before the bell chimed again, trembling as he complied with the rules on the system interface.

Shen Ming’s absence made the atmosphere far less lively than it had been the previous evening. Ye Zi’s gaze frequently swept over the empty seat, and Lin Chen soon realized what had happened, his lips pressing into a thin line.

The death of the most experienced veteran among the six was undoubtedly a grim warning. And the growing web of suspicion woven between the players was an even worse omen.

In the silence, Zou Yan spoke first: "The first night has passed. You have all searched your respective rooms, haven't you? Based on our experience in previous instances, everyone should have obtained some clues pointing toward the worldview. Why don't we share them now?"

Her eyes showed pity. "As you can all see, this instance is more difficult than we imagined. We must work together to decipher the worldview as soon as possible. Otherwise, by the third day, who knows how many of us will still be alive."

Lin Chen was moved; he opened his mouth to speak. But upon seeing Qi Si’s half-smiling expression, he swallowed his saliva and kept his words to himself.

Qi Si sighed and said, "I slept very soundly last night. Dr. Zou, Brother Chang, you must know something, right?"

Zou Yan laughed helplessly. "I know it’s unrealistic to ask everyone to be completely honest, and I would love to offer what I know as an example, but unfortunately, I really did sleep soundly and have no idea what happened."

She emphasized the word "really," lowered her eyelids, and shook her head slightly. "I suspect that Miss Anna’s target might be a specific gender, because neither Ye Zi nor I woke up..."

"...And judging by little Lin’s expression, it seems he did wake up and has some thoughts on what happened last night."

Qi Si cast a side-glance at Lin Chen, who was full of flaws from head to toe. Without suppressing the murderous intent in his eyes, he asked with feigned seriousness, "Student Lin Chen, if you know anything, why not share it? We won't suspect you."

Hearing the chilling tone in Qi Si’s voice, Lin Chen felt as if he were flickering back and forth in front of the Grim Reaper.

He blinked helplessly, muttering in a small voice, "I don't know, I really don't know anything... I slept soundly last night too, I really did..."

Qi Si turned his gaze toward the silent Chang Xu.

The police officer was concise and incredibly honest: "If none of you are talking, I won't either."

Amidst the fruitless discussion, the pendulum of the mechanical clock in the corner began to swing with a dull, heavy rhythm, striking six times.

Miss Anna, dressed in a long black gown, emerged from the shadows, followed by a butler who moved like a mannequin.

The woman, as slender and gaunt as a ghost, strolled to the head of the table and sat down elegantly. She surveyed everyone with a curved smile, her gaze licking over them like damp, half-rotted palm leaves after the rain.

As the butler pushed the food cart to set the table, her eyes lingered on Shen Ming’s empty seat. She then covered her mouth and chuckled, saying in a詠嘆调-like (lyrical/lamenting) tone, "My dear guests, I hope you had a pleasant night."

The voice was filled with enthusiasm, like the polite pleasantries of a hospitable host, yet in light of the specific events, it was dripping with schadenfreude.

Qi Si thought of the gruesome state of Shen Ming’s body, and the smile on his face became a fraction more genuine. "It was indeed quite pleasant. Thank you for your hospitality; I also admire your aesthetic. However, may I be so bold as to ask you a few questions?"

The other players were stunned, turning to prick up their ears and listen intently.

In the silence, Miss Anna nodded in acknowledgment.

Qi Si asked point-blank, "Miss Anna, you are very fond of roses, aren't you?"

"Yes, roses. I love roses," Miss Anna repeated, smiling. "The most beautiful thing in the world is a rose..."

"You love blooming roses and hate withered ones, don't you?"

A touch of sorrow entered Miss Anna’s smile. "Yes, if a rose withers, it is no longer beautiful... I love beauty, and I hate ugliness..."

Qi Si nodded in deep agreement and continued, "You once had a beautiful sister, didn't you?"

"Yes, I once had..." Miss Anna got halfway through her sentence before she was cut off, as if gripped by an invisible force, forcing the rest of her words to be choked back.

Her expression turned panicked in an instant, like a creature of the shadows suddenly exposed to the sun—filled with confusion and resentment—as she muttered words that no one could understand.

NPCs could not deceive players with their words, but could they choose not to answer?

Qi Si knew he could not press any further.

If he triggered some special event, he didn't know if others would die, but he felt certain he wouldn't survive.

Breakfast in the manor was quite simple: wheat bread and wine with apples—a combination that hardly suited the tastes of the players present.

The atmosphere was already stagnant and oppressive due to the death and the resulting web of suspicion. With Qi Si asking Miss Anna those questions, which left the NPC wearing a hideous expression, most of the players found it difficult to swallow the breakfast before them.

Qi Si, on the other hand, was never picky about food. No matter how unappealing the breakfast in the instance was, it was better than the slop he threw together in reality.

He used his knife and fork to cut the bread into small pieces, chewing them carefully, occasionally sipping his wine, looking exceptionally relaxed.

Chang Xu, sitting opposite him, was eating with equal precision, his mouth moving like a hamster’s—perhaps he truly found the manor’s breakfast delicious.

Their behavior undoubtedly served as a strong incentive, and the others began to pick up their cutlery to eat.

Finishing his portion on his own, Qi Si picked up his napkin, wiped his mouth, and surreptitiously tucked it into his pocket.

The napkin he had swiped last night had been ruined on Shen Ming’s corpse; a new one was just what he needed.

He grabbed an apple, offered a polite "Excuse me," and rose toward the stairs, catching Lin Chen’s eye as he stood at the edge of the shadows.

Lin Chen was already sitting on pins and needles. Seeing Qi Si’s urging gaze, though still hesitant and anxious, he followed him.

Qi Si walked in silence, ascending to the second floor and stopping before the massive mechanical clock.

Estimating that no one downstairs could hear him, he turned to look at Lin Chen and said in a low voice, "There is one thing I forgot to tell you. The Weird Game has an instance protection mechanism. After a certain number of players die, the remaining players can pass the level safely and receive more rewards."

He relayed the information Ye Zi had let slip, then sighed softly. "I suspect that among the five of us, someone will attempt to harm the others."