Chapter 26: 33

The raging storm continued unabated. Inside an abandoned villa deep in the mountains, flickering flames danced to an unheard beat while the mouthwatering fragrance of grilled meat filled the air.

"What do you mean you've connected the dots?!"

Upon hearing Bai Zhi's announcement, Mustachio widened his eyes and turned his full attention to Bai Zhi, just as Temperance Gentleheart and Late Night Kitty were doing.

"I solved the puzzle of the Newbie Run."

Bai Zhi put his basting brush away and looked at the party.

"It's something I've been asking myself from the beginning, 'what is the point of Newbie Runs?' Is it just a simple adventure with no deeper meaning? Or a test to find those worthy of the title of Player?

"A test?" Temperance Gentleheart stiffened slightly.

"That's right." Bai Zhi shot her a scathing look. "Don't you think you've learned many invaluable lessons from this Newbie Run?

"Late Night Kitty might be a scaredy-cat, but it's not her fault she's useless. She isn't much help at all, but that's because she's stupid. Even though she reacts to trouble like an ostrich—by burying her head in the sand, at least she follows instructions well.

"You, on the other hand... look at the state you've got yourself into!"

"I can't tell if you're complimenting me, or..." said Late Night Kitty as she forced a tight smile.

"The ability to be careful, thorough and not miss a single detail, those are the first things we are being tested for in this quest, and will prove if we have what it takes to be Verified Players. However, it seems you have demonstrated none of that… Simply putting on a façade of polished elegance won't cut it." Bai Zhi continued, ignoring Kitty.

As she recalled the sobering memories of both times that she had been attacked by the spirit, Temperance Gentleheart fell silent.

"What about the second?" Mustachio blurted out as he stripped himself of his dripping-wet jacket before it started to chafe.

"Easy-peasy. Whether we have the courage to face the challenges ahead." Bai Zhi looked pointedly at Late Night Kitty.

"The OG Players probably didn't have the advantage of fancy rental items, but they got through their Newbie Runs just fine, didn't they?"

Mustachio frowned, but Bai Zhi's words had gone over his head, so he ignored them and barreled ahead with his burning question. "Spit it out already, what's the answer? You said that the right arm might not be in the villa, but pray tell, where else could it be, if not here?"

"Oh, zhat shing ish probably in another world." said Bai Zhi as he enjoyed a freshly grilled skewer of meat.

Swallowing, he continued, "Hypothetically, if you hadn't brought the Bamboo Doll with you, then the first time Temperance was attacked, she would probably have disappeared. Mind you, I didn't say she would die. If triggering something like that was fatal, Newbie Runs would be far too difficult for us normies to clear."

"Are you suggesting that I shouldn't have saved her?!" Mustachio fumed.

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"Eh~" Bai Zhi shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat. All I'm saying is if you hadn't saved her, she would likely have been dragged into this villa's Mirror World. My guess is, that's precisely where the missing piece of the puzzle, the Sealed Right Arm of the Forbidden One, is hidden.

"We should have discovered the existence of the Mirror World much earlier, since the first person to get caught would have tried to communicate with us from the other side—hopefully while playing a good game of cat-and-mouse with the spirit. Then, by working together, the party would put the corpse together and burn it, thus clearing the quest... That's how this Scenario quest is meant to be solved."

"But 'hypothetically', right? It's all just a hypothe... hype… just your hyped-up theory!" Mustachio scoffed.

"Hmph, pearls before swine." Bai Zhi smirked. He was now wearing glasses, for some reason, and he pulled out an apple from his Inventory.

"We have about an hour and a half till dawn, think we can make it? If something has better than even odds, it's worth betting on."

Mustachio bristled, but he calmed down, with some effort, and said, "...Very well then, tell us—what's next? Shall we rush headlong into the so-called Mirror World, risking life and limb based on nothing but your unfounded conjectures? You've seen its effects on Temperance even with my protection—what if it really was a fatal trap, after all?"

"That's why I asked you to decide if you want to trust me, bro." Bai Zhi took a nonchalant bite of his apple. "If you do, I'll need the last two doll clones. I'll enter the Mirror World myself and find that arm."

Before the astonished Mustachio could muster up a response, Late Night Kitty yelled, "Hang on, are you off your rocker?! If you were wrong about any of this, you'll..."

"Newbie Runs are quests that are only meant to test us, so barring any unforeseen accidents, they can't be all that brutal. Since I made the suggestion, naturally, I must be the one to see it through."

Bai Zhi stood up and looked at Mustachio.

"I can't be sure what dangers the Mirror World will hold, and we are running short on time. That's why I need the clones, as insurance."

After a moment of silence, Mustachio let out a heavy sigh and stood up as well. "In that case, allow me to accompany you. Two bodies are better than one—"

"No dice," Bai Zhi interrupted, shaking his head. "The ladies could use your protection, and I need a reliable counterpart on this side when I'm in there.

"The deepening cold that's been plaguing us for a while is proof that the spirit is getting closer to breaking whatever seal is keeping it in place. Temperance is pretty much paralyzed, as you can tell. If you go in with me, we'd be leaving the people on this side to die."

"But to be on your own..." grumbled Mustachio.

Late Night Kitty seemed about to say something, but as her eyes darted around nervously, noticing all the gloomy corners in the room, she forced her mouth shut and bit her lip, letting her hand fall slowly as if she had never meant to put it up in the first place.

"Alright, I concede." With a grunt, Mustachio took out the two Bamboo Doll clones in his Inventory and thrust them brusquely at Bai Zhi.

"Godspeed."

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