Chapter 79: A Girl?

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[Today's Day: Day 2]
[Remaining Game Time: 143:59:43 (6 days)]
[Remaining Players in This Instance: 12]

Ji Linmo opened his eyes, looking about in confusion before glancing at the clock in the dormitory. It was already nine in the morning.

In an instant, Ji Linmo sat up abruptly. Several beds around him were already empty—the veteran employees had left. Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

—He had slept so deeply, utterly oblivious to changes in his surroundings?

Ji Linmo knew his biological clock was always punctual, and even the slightest disturbance would usually rouse him from sleep. Yet today, he’d slept so soundly that he hadn’t noticed anyone leaving the dormitory.

Frowning as he got out of bed, fear lingered in his heart. He blamed this unusual deep sleep on the aftereffects of eating rabbit meat.

"What time is it... Is it time for work?" A drowsy voice came from the opposite bunk, and beds around him began to stir as other players woke.

Watching the others get up and prepare for work, Ji Linmo followed suit.

"Oh, my memory! I forgot to tell you we’re on the morning shift today, Ji Linmo," Lin Hao said, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

"Damn, at least the shift is short, and with food and lodging provided here, it doesn’t interfere with exploring the instance. Otherwise, who’d want to work here..."

Ji Linmo nodded, saying he already knew, then raised his hand and tapped the upper bunk, signaling Qin Feng to get down.

According to their agreed time, Qin Feng and Lin Bufei were to meet at 10:30 in the morning.

"Mr. Ji, you’d better work hard~" Qin Feng, lying in bed, winked playfully at Ji Linmo, then pulled the covers up again.

"As deputy manager, I’ll lie down a bit longer before going over."

Other players silently grumbled in their hearts but dared not speak, leaving quietly. After all, the rules did grant the deputy manager the right to leave their post.

As the saying goes, "a new official burns three fires," and after last night’s events, no one wanted to provoke Qin Feng.

Ji Linmo also left the dormitory and dutifully walked to his post.

The daily necessities section he was responsible for was as desolate as ever, and there were fewer ghostly customers during the day than at night, so the entire convenience store was almost empty.

With the shop manager Niu Haoshou not present, it was the perfect opportunity to explore the manager’s office.

However, Ji Linmo didn’t rush in. Instead, he waved over the most honest-looking veteran employee and asked him to fetch the ledger from the manager’s office.

"It’s for the deputy manager; he’ll need it soon. Just give it to me first."

The thin, ghostly employee hesitated briefly but eventually walked into the office, Ji Linmo following closely behind.

Nothing, nothing...

The office exuded a damp chill, and the desk was scattered with bottles of eye drops.

Ji Linmo searched everywhere but found no inventory ledger. Clearing his throat, he raised his voice:

"Also, bring out the inventory sheet. It'll help the deputy manager reconcile the accounts."

The veteran employee was visibly startled, his expression uneasy.

"Um... The inventory sheet is hard to find. How about we wait until the deputy manager actually needs it?"

Ji Linmo looked down at him, expressionless, his tone heavier.

"Then go tell the new deputy manager yourself that you'll bring it later. How about that?"

The thin employee’s face changed instantly, but seeing the office had virtually no documents, he finally spoke hesitantly.

"It’s not that I don’t want to get it... I’ve worked here for years and never seen the boss restock anything..."

"The products in our convenience store, as well as other shops, any missing items basically appear automatically after three days..."

Automatic restocking?

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Ji Linmo recalled what Lin Bufei had said.

—The products in the mall all appear automatically.

It seemed to be true.

"But the boss forbids us from asking around about this," the employee continued.

Just as Ji Linmo was about to ask another question, a furtive figure quickly darted away from the doorway.

Ji Linmo looked up and saw Liu Datou standing in the tobacco and alcohol section, pretending to promote products to a customer.

That guy had overheard.

"Liu Datou, I need your help," Ji Linmo waved to him.

Noticing Ji Linmo’s gesture, Liu Datou quickly turned his massive head away, pretending not to notice.

"Liu Datou, don’t pretend you didn’t hear me."

As the customer left, Ji Linmo strode over to Liu Datou.

"Put this hat on and stand at the entrance to attract customers."

Liu Datou looked at the rabbit-shaped hat in Ji Linmo’s hand, his expression suddenly furious.

What a joke—it was impossible for him to wear such a hat.

Besides, the hat was clearly meant for girls under ten.

"Are you kidding? Ji Linmo, don’t think I’m really afraid of you. I’ll tell you, even if the king himself came today, I wouldn’t do as you say!"

Ji Linmo said nothing, staring expressionlessly at the scar on Liu Datou’s head.

The wound on Liu Datou’s head from last night had formed a crooked new scar, like a giant centipede crawling across his scalp.

"Want to go through that again?"

Ji Linmo raised his eyebrows at Liu Datou.

Liu Datou swallowed nervously.

"Um... Death over dishonor, Ji Linmo, this really isn’t okay."

A gentle laugh sounded behind Ji Linmo and Liu Datou.

Ji Linmo turned to see Qin Feng, lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"Oh~ really not okay?"

"But as deputy manager, I truly hope this shop’s business thrives."

With that, Qin Feng took the hat from Ji Linmo’s hand and gently placed it on Liu Datou’s head.

The man’s enormous head topped with a cute, tiny hat looked both absurd and hilarious.

"Liu Datou, go stand at the entrance and attract customers. With you there, I’m sure wealth will pour in."

Qin Feng tilted his chin, signaling Liu Datou to stand obediently.

Facing the mall’s enormous floor-to-ceiling window, visible to all the passersby outside, Liu Datou’s face flushed red, a look of resentment flickering in his eyes.

Bang! Bang!

Repeated knocking sounds echoed. Liu Datou looked up in annoyance and froze.

—Outside, a woman with disheveled hair stood before the window, banging her forehead against the glass.

Sensing Liu Datou’s gaze, the woman pressed her hollow eye sockets against the glass, staring intently at him, mouthing words:

"Hat..."

At that moment, Qin Feng, as deputy manager, was lecturing the store employees.

He spoke a few perfunctory, grandiose sentences, then smiled and waved at Ji Linmo, leaving the convenience store.

"I’m off to the second floor to eat with your friend. Don’t worry about me, Mr. Ji~"

Ji Linmo glanced at the store clock—it was almost 10:30.

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If the meeting went smoothly, they would soon reach the fourth floor to investigate.

Ji Linmo nodded, signaling he had things under control here.

But as he returned to his station, he suddenly noticed Liu Datou was gone!

The space by the window was empty, the white hat lying quietly on the floor.

Ji Linmo frowned deeply, bending to pick up the hat.

Just then, a pair of battered red high heels appeared before him.

She was here! She had really come!

Ji Linmo steadied himself, slowly looking up.

The woman in red murmured "ah, ah" repeatedly, her voice as hoarse as an old bellows.

She stretched out her hands in a grotesque gesture toward Ji Linmo.

"Are you looking for this hat? Please, take a good look."

Ji Linmo carefully placed the hat in the ghost’s hands.

The ghost trembled as she caressed the hat, her hands searching until she found a photograph pinned inside. She clutched the hat tightly to her chest.

"Xuanxuan... my Xuanxuan... Xuanxuan..."

The woman in red repeated the name obsessively, then suddenly raised her head, glaring at Ji Linmo with eyeless sockets.

"You’ve seen my Xuanxuan, haven’t you!"

Her swollen, waterlogged cheeks crawled with maggots, spilling from her hollow eye sockets. She grabbed Ji Linmo’s arm, shrieking her questions.

"Speak! My Xuanxuan... my precious daughter, you’ve seen her... you must have seen her... Where is she? Tell me... tell me..."

When Ji Linmo didn’t answer, the woman grew even more frantic, her questioning incoherent. At that moment, drops of bright red blood fell to the floor.

One, two, three...

Blood gushed uncontrollably onto the floor.

Ji Linmo finally realized something was wrong; touching his face, he felt warm blood streaming over his hand.

—Hot blood was pouring from his eyes, nostrils, and ears.

[Warning! You have angered the opponent. Please act quickly to avoid death.]

He was in trouble—his plan had backfired!

Ji Linmo’s brows knitted tightly as his mind raced for an escape.

He’d thought giving the hat to the woman in red would uncover new clues.

But he’d underestimated the terror of a special-grade ghost.

As such, even the slightest anger from her could kill instantly.

Now, there was only one chance to make her spare him.

"Madam! I’m willing to help you find your daughter!"

Ji Linmo shouted at the woman in red.

She lifted her head, blood tears streaming from her empty sockets.

"Find... find her... You must find her..."

"She’s here in this mall... I can feel it, I sense she’s here!"

[You have triggered a mission]

[Find the Missing Girl]

[Mission Background: One year ago, seven-year-old Liu Xuanxuan vanished. After her disappearance, this mall was erected. Her mother insists she’s still somewhere within the mall. Can you find her?]

[Mission Success: You will uncover the terrifying truth]

[Mission Failure: Death]