CH 27

(You forcefully break your index finger.)

(The intense pain instantly clears your mind.)

(The specimens here have proven the true nature of the hospital's research: they are transforming humans into those black-haired monsters known as Petz.)

(You continue walking forward.)

(You find a pile of certificates and photos.)

(You discover the dean holding a Petz, as if walking a dog.)

(He stands on a large podium.)

(The dean is the only person without a mask.)

(Other people wearing various animal masks applaud excitedly from below, while the dean smiles arrogantly, causing you physical discomfort.)

(You vaguely understand why the indigenous people wanted to purchase Petz.)

(You speculate that they are simply for their amusement, just like humans buying cats and dogs.)

(However, human dignity does not allow such things to happen.)

(So the hospital uses these methods to transform humans and turn them into pets that adapt to their society.)

(In the eyes of the indigenous people, humans are just a group of low-level creatures.)

(The dean "tames" humans in such an inhumane way.)

(Is this the truth?)

(You kneel on the ground, feeling everything around you twist and distort.)

(You shake your head.)

(At the Level -2 floor, your mind remains in an unstable state, making it difficult for you to determine if this place is real or an illusion.)

(What if those photos and specimens are all fake?)

(Or... perhaps...)

(The world above the hospital is fake, and the underground world is the real one?)

(You cannot judge at the moment.)

(The unspeakable has greatly inhibited your thinking, making it impossible for you to reason normally.)

(You can no longer bear the pressure.)

(You are about to collapse.)

(You terminate the deduction!)

Gu Yi opened his eyes, leaning against the windowsill, and vomited with nausea.

Xu Nian stood up and wanted to help him, but Gu Yi waved his hand, indicating that he was fine.

During the latter part of the deduction, Gu Yi lost the ability to distinguish between reality and illusion. He felt that he had developed severe cognitive impairment on the Level -2 floor, and what he saw and heard there could not be used as clues for reasoning.

Gu Yi believed that Level -2 (second basement) might not be real.

Many things here were illusions, and they must be allegorical representations of certain things in the real world.

There must be other props in the hospital that could dispel the illusions.

Gu Yi was convinced that he had figured out a way to uncover the truth of the decryption dungeon– that is collecting all the animal masks.

"Xu Nian, stay here and behave yourself. Don't wander around or make a scene. Trust me, everything I do is to save all humans."

Gu Yi patted Xu Nian's shoulder, then took out the ward key and Dr. Gui's disguise from his kangaroo pants.

Disguised and ready.

Gu Yi skillfully opened the door, bypassed the surveillance, and evaded the medical staff and security department's sight with ease.

With the previous deduction as a guide, Gu Yi arrived at the driver's cabin of the delivery truck, stole the kangaroo mask from the driver, and successfully obtained the "Monster Siege" videotape from the basement's archive room.

Ten minutes later.

Gu Yi hid near the window, looking down at the delivery truck.

The driver in the cabin remained motionless, while his two colleagues appeared panicked and quickly sought help from the hospital staff.

The hospital staff brought various emergency supplies to rescue the driver, but ultimately, they couldn't save him.

Indeed...

Everything happened just as Gu Yi had imagined.

The masks meant lives.

If he took someone else's mask, it meant that person would die within a short period of time.

However, Gu Yi felt no guilt about it.

These indigenous people treat humans as experimental tools, as guinea pigs, and as disposable goods. Gu Yi feels no sympathy for them.

To Gu Yi, they are just tools that can be used.

Now that Gu Yi has obtained the new prop, the "Monster Siege" videotape, he decided to conduct an experiment to test his theory. He hid in the second-floor toilet and began another deduction.

(Deduction begins!)

(You change into Dr. Gui's clothes in the toilet.)

(At this moment, it's time for the Deer headed person to come and select a Petz.)

(With the experience from the previous deduction, you can now interact with the Deer headed person naturally, and you can even discern different individuals from subtle differences in their masks.)

(You find the Deer headed person you previously approached.)

(You: Sir, I don't think Petz number 1557 is suitable for you.)

(The Deer headed person turns to look at you.)

(Deer-headed person: I heard that Petz number 1557 is very strong and has even won awards?)

(You: Although Petz number 1557 looks robust, it actually has many hidden injuries. Taking it home may lead to an outbreak of plague.)

(Deer-headed person: You're the first person I've seen who promotes their product like this.)

(You: I won't earn money with a guilty conscience.)

(Deer-headed person: You're special.)

(With the experience from the previous deduction, you quickly establish a rapport with the Deer headed person.)

(Deer-headed person: So, are you certain that the hospital has better-quality Petz?)

(You: Of course. Would you like to come with me and see for yourself?)

(Deer-headed person: Sure.)

(You lead the Deer headed person to the first-floor ward area.)

(You bring him into your own hospital room.)

(Upon seeing the Deer headed person, Xu Nian appears somewhat panicked. But he is too weak to escape, even lacking the strength to run away.)

(You reassure Xu Nian and have the Deer-headed person sit by your bed.)

(Deer-headed person: Is he the superior breed you mentioned?)

(You: Whether he is a superior breed or not, you can judge for yourself. I have a special device here that can test the physical qualities of Petz.)

(You deceive the Deer headed person into wearing the 3D glasses.)

(You turn on the projector and start playing "Monster Siege.")

(In no time, the Deer headed person's expression turns to terror.)

(A monster bursts out of the screen and pins the Deer headed person to the ground, snapping his neck in a matter of seconds.)

(Xu Nian covers his mouth to prevent himself from screaming.)

(You quickly turn off the projector and hide the projector and videotape in your kangaroo pants.)

(You remove the Deer headed person's mask.)

(You turn your head to look at Xu Nian, only to see him with a terrified expression.)

(You quickly turn away.)

(The Security Department personnel appear behind you in an instant.)

(Security: You killed a guest.)

(The Security personnel roar and grab hold of your neck.)

(You can't break free.)

(Your vision turns pitch black.)

(You are tied up and taken to Room 0.)

(A giant spider descends from above.)

(You terminate the deduction!)