Unveiling the sinister plot
From MC's Perspective:
About 20 minutes later, as I meticulously sorted through the various storage rings, I finally noticed something that set off alarm bells. Out of all the rings, one seemed different—its collection felt off in a way I couldn't quite place.
The unease gnawed at me, and though the other rings appeared to be fine, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Erring on the side of caution, I decided to contact Teacher Lowell.
When the call connected, I wasted no time in sharing my concerns. The moment the words left my mouth, I could sense the shock in Teacher Lowell's silence.
His usually calm and composed demeanor faltered, and after a brief pause, he instructed me not to consume anything from the rings. He insisted on coming over to inspect them himself, a clear sign that my suspicion had struck a nerve.