Chapter 29: Communication Before Dawn

After returning to the Haunted House 1044, Han Fei did not rush to exit the game; instead, he did a simple cleaning of the house.

"I haven't completed the newbie tasks of sleeping and bathing. I'll leave these two tasks for now and do them the next time I log in."

Han Fei had his own plan. Compared to the hidden tasks that required him to trigger them, the risk involved in the newbie tasks was relatively low.

He had to complete a task to be able to exit after logging into the game. There were no tasks left at Meng Shi's, so he had to save the newbie tasks for emergency use.

He glanced at the digital clock on the wall. It was 3:58 in the morning, and the sky outside the apartment building was still pitch black—the sun in this world seemed like it would never rise.

"It's time to leave. If my nerves are always this tense, I'm likely to go crazy sooner or later." After experiencing the deepest fear, only then did Han Fei realize how wonderful his ordinarily simple and tranquil life was. The Underworld game "Perfect Life" had given him a pair of eyes to see beauty and love.

When he opened the Attribute Panel, Han Fei was about to click the exit button in the corner when he suddenly noticed that one of the chat rooms, previously all grayed out and inaccessible, had lit up.

Among the deathly still chat rooms, the one labeled number 444 stood out, brightly incongruent.

"Can I enter?" Han Fei turned his head to glance at the digital clock on the wall again. It was now 3:59 AM. At the turn of night into dawn, one of the 999 chat rooms underwent some sort of change.

He clicked on chat room 444, and a cold system voice echoed in his brain.

"Do you wish to enter chat room number 444?"

"Yes."

"Please choose whether to speak anonymously?"

"Anonymous speech," Han Fei chose without a second thought. Kidding, in a place swarming with Fierce Ghosts and psychopaths, revealing his ID was far too risky.

He entered the chat room anonymously and waited a few seconds, but nobody in the chat room spoke.

After hesitating for a moment, he sent out his first message: "Is anyone there?"

Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): Are you kidding me? It's four in the morning and you're online, brother, are you all liver?

All liver? Han Fei visualized this scenario for a moment, finding it thoroughly horrifying, and he didn't understand the deeper implication behind the other person's words.

In order not to expose himself while trying to draw out more information, Han Fei was very cautious.

The other party dared to expose their ID directly, which suggested they had some confidence—probably an experienced player.

There was also the possibility that the other party had acquired an item that could modify their ID, and this guy was using a fake name.

Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): Mate, are you still there? With your stamina, what level are you at now?

So cavalierly trying to ascertain his level with some casual banter? Han Fei frowned and sent another message.

Anonymous User: What about you?

He didn't reveal any information, throwing the question back to the other party. Whether the other person lied or not, as long as he answered with a concrete number, it would help Han Fei understand more about the outside world.

This was conversational technique. This was the psychological warfare among top players!

Han Fei focused intently, watching the chat room closely. It was the first time he'd encountered another player in the game.

If someone could survive in this Underworld game and send messages so casually and playfully, they must have been through a lot.

Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): I joined the test project as a medical consultant, just reached level 14. Because I work at the hospital during the day, I can only play games at night, so my level isn't that high. I can't compare with all you hardcore players.

Reading Huang Ying's message, Han Fei pondered deeply. He had only asked for the level, but the other person had also spontaneously revealed their profession, daily routine, and gaming habits.

"Is he trying to muddle me with all this information? He should know what I mean by asking for his level—I'm trying to determine his threat level to me, yet this person cleverly blurs it over with a flood of information."

Anonymous User: Level 14? Then you level up quite quickly? How do you normally level up?

Han Fei didn't expect the other person to divulge their leveling method, but to his bewilderment, Huang Ying replied shortly after he sent the message.

Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): Since I'm a doctor in real life, I went straight to the hospital, starting as an intern and completing the daily learning tasks, assisting the doctors with menial jobs, patrolling the wards at night, and meanwhile pursuing the female nurses in the department. Before I knew it, I was up to level fourteen. The game is indeed quite addictive. There's none of the real-life annoyances, evoking a sense of control over one's life, creating a future of happiness.

As Han Fei read Huang Ying's message, his frown deepened: "Is this the grandeur of a big shot? A hospital is definitely more dangerous than a regular residential complex. And he dares to patrol the wards at night? Helps the doctors with menial jobs?"

Images of organ trafficking, operation rooms, and various horrific and bloody scenes flashed through Han Fei's Brain Sea. All the doctors' white coats were stained red, while Huang Ying pushed a cart filled with fresh organs down the long corridors of the hospital at night.

Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): This game has no fixed playstyle; I am a casual player. What kind of life did you choose, buddy?

Staring at the messages in the chat room, Han Fei didn't know how to respond. He wasn't even clear about what bizarre life he had picked, since he hadn't even stepped out of the apartment building yet.

Han Fei knew nothing about the world outside of the apartment, but he didn't want to let the other person see his weakness.

If the other person knew of his existence and then confirmed he was weak, they might very well treat him as prey—after all, this is a world where Fierce Ghosts roam and it's survival of the fittest!

Anonymous User: I'm also a casual player. Sometimes I go out to have a meal at a neighbor's, usually watching TV with a bunch of friends in the room, and when I'm bored, I play Hide-and-Seek with the kids in the community.

Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): Wow! I'm envious. It must feel great to have a group of friends to play with!

Anonymous User: Yes, it's quite nice indeed!

Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): We could add each other as friends later. We all play in the evening and have the same gaming philosophy. Nowadays, many testers are playing this game just to explore its depth, but they forget the original purpose of the game.

Anonymous User: Depth of gameplay?

Huang Ying (Test Account Number 0999): It's just what I've heard. The game is reportedly designed around the theme of human nature, likening it to an iceberg floating in the sea. Only a small part of the iceberg basks in the sunlight, while the greater part of this human nature iceberg lies submerged in the deep, chilling ocean.