Crime Scene

Yi Zhen stood at the entrance of his second escape room dungeon, mentally preparing himself for the challenge ahead. The room was labeled "Deadly Secrets," and the grim atmosphere that seeped through the slightly ajar door hinted at a more intense scenario than the previous one. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open, stepping into the dimly lit room.

The moment he entered, the door shut behind him with a soft click. The air was heavy with the scent of old wood and something metallic—blood. Yi Zhen's sharp eyes immediately scanned the room, taking in every detail. 

At the center of the room lay the lifeless body of a man, sprawled across an ornate rug. The man appeared to be in his early 40s, dressed in a well-tailored suit, now stained with blood. The wound on his chest suggested that he had been stabbed, but the precise nature of his death required further investigation. The system's holographic prompt blinked into existence, providing the details of the task:

Objective: Identify the killer, determine the time of death, and uncover the motive within 24 hours.

Yi Zhen knew that this was no ordinary escape room. The complexity of the scenario and the need for critical thinking made it a true test of his skills. He began his investigation by kneeling beside the body, carefully examining the wound. The knife had been plunged directly into the heart, a clean and precise strike. There were no signs of a struggle, indicating that the victim had been caught off guard.

He noticed the man's watch had stopped at 9:45 p.m., a possible clue to the time of death. However, Yi Zhen knew better than to take this at face value. He needed to cross-reference it with other evidence.

Moving on, Yi Zhen inspected the room itself. It was a luxurious study, lined with bookshelves filled with dusty tomes, a large mahogany desk, and several pieces of antique furniture. The clock on the wall, however, had been deliberately smashed, its hands frozen at 11:00 p.m. Was this an attempt to mislead? Or had it been broken during the murder?

His next step was to check the victim's pockets. He found a crumpled piece of paper—a note written in haste. The message was vague but hinted at a meeting with someone named "R." It read: "Meet at 9:30 p.m. in the study. Don't be late."

Yi Zhen frowned as he scanned the room for further clues. He noticed a slight indentation on the carpet near the victim's hand, as if something had been placed there recently. Upon closer inspection, he found a glass tumbler, partially filled with whiskey. The glass bore a single set of fingerprints, suggesting it belonged to the victim. The liquid's smell was potent, indicating it had been poured not long before the murder.

Next, he examined the desk, where he found an open ledger. The last entry was made at 9:40 p.m., mentioning a debt owed by "R." The entry was underlined, suggesting its importance. Yi Zhen also noted the presence of a second glass, this one empty, resting on the desk with faint lipstick marks on the rim—evidence of a second person being in the room before the victim's death.

Yi Zhen pieced together the timeline: the victim had been expecting someone at 9:30 p.m., likely "R," who had a motive related to the debt mentioned in the ledger. The smashed clock was a red herring, meant to throw off the time of death. The real time of death was closer to 9:45 p.m., when the victim's watch had stopped, likely from the shock of the stabbing.

But who was the killer? Yi Zhen considered the possibilities. The lipstick on the glass suggested a woman, but the single knife wound was precise and strong, likely delivered by someone who knew exactly where to strike. It was then that he noticed a small smear of blood on the edge of a bookshelf, just above the victim's height. The blood wasn't the victim's; it was too fresh. The killer had likely cut themselves when reaching for something.

Yi Zhen returned to the body and examined the man's fingernails. There, barely noticeable, was a small piece of fabric, torn from someone's clothing during the struggle. It matched the color of the upholstery on the armchair in the corner—a deep burgundy. He moved to the chair, carefully lifting the cushion to find a small, blood-stained piece of fabric that had been tucked away. This fabric didn't belong to the victim but was the same color as the torn piece under his nails.

It was clear now: the killer was someone close to the victim, someone who knew the layout of the room well enough to hide evidence in plain sight. Yi Zhen deduced that the killer was likely the victim's business partner, who had come to confront him about the debt but ended up murdering him when the conversation turned sour.

The time of death was precisely 9:45 p.m., as indicated by the stopped watch. The motive was financial, stemming from the debt recorded in the ledger. The killer had attempted to stage the scene by smashing the clock and creating a false timeline.

With these conclusions in mind, Yi Zhen walked to the center of the room, standing over the body. "The killer is 'R,' the victim's business partner," he murmured to himself, satisfied with his deductions.

As soon as he spoke, the room's lights brightened, and the MAIN SYSTEM's voice echoed coldly through the room:

"Crime solved. Time: 30 minutes."

A notification buzzed through the entire Player City, announcing Yi Zhen's new record. The previous best time of 1 hour and 35 minutes had been shattered.

Notification: "Yi Zhen—Escape Room Crime Scene record: 30 minutes."

The announcement spread like wildfire, and players all over the city paused to take note of the new name making waves.

The holographic interface appeared once again, presenting Yi Zhen with his reward options. As a record breaker, he was allowed to choose three out of the five rewards:

1. Bloodhound Pendant (B-Class Prop): Enhances the wearer's ability to detect hidden clues and tracks, making it easier to solve mysteries.

2. Shadow Dagger (C-Class Weapon): A lightweight dagger with increased attack speed, perfect for swift and silent strikes.

3. Phantom Mask (C-Class Prop): Temporarily conceals the wearer's identity, useful for evading detection by both players and enemies.

4. Evidence Bag (D-Class Item): A small, enchanted bag that can store and preserve evidence, ensuring it remains intact until needed.

5. Investigator's Coat (D-Class Item): A durable, protective coat that offers slight resistance to physical and magical attacks.

Yi Zhen carefully considered his options and chose the Bloodhound Pendant, Shadow Dagger, and Phantom Mask. These items were practical and would serve him well in the more challenging dungeons to come.

As he left the crime scene, Yi Zhen felt a sense of accomplishment. His experience had served him well, and he was steadily advancing through the ranks. Yet, the real challenges still lay ahead. With his newfound determination, he was ready to face whatever the Oblivion Cascade Realm had in store.

This was just the beginning.