"Guests, please form teams immediately! Guests, please form teams immediately!"
Hearing the chilling, cold mechanical voice, the guests couldn't help but shiver.
Shi Xinxin looked up at the bulky machine.
Squinting, she sensed danger.
"This isn't Director Fang; why has the personnel suddenly changed?"
Xiao Jue turned his head, asking Shi Xinxin, who was looking at the bulky machine with a puzzled expression.
"I don't know. We'll have to remember the rules that follow carefully."
As soon as Shi Xinxin finished speaking, the crackling static of electricity intensified, the double currents merging together, sounding even more terrifying.
"Welcome, guests, to 007 Mental Hospital. Due to an unforeseen earthquake, this city's renowned mental hospital has been severely damaged. The substantial property loss and casualties led the院长 (dean) to flee abroad, unable to bear the burden."
"No one was willing to take over this hospital, which had practically become a ruin. The tragic souls of the mentally ill patients, abandoned by their families, were forever buried beneath the rubble, unable to escape."
Hearing this, Ye Xun trembled uncontrollably, and the mechanical voice paused.
Taking advantage of this brief lull, Xiao Jue tugged at Shi Xinxin's sleeve.
"Is it real?" Xiao Jue vaguely felt that the story was not as simple as it seemed, nor did it entirely feel fictional.
"A similar case from decades ago."
Just as Shi Xinxin was about to say she didn't know, Sheng Chenjin, standing beside her, spoke up.
Yun Rou raised an eyebrow and glanced at Shi Xinxin, noticing the girl's indifferent expression, devoid of any admiration or surprise.
Yun Rou thought of the person abroad, a hint of vigilance creeping into her eyes.
[Oh my god, thank goodness I haven't had a chance to go yet. I might have fainted here.]
[Their instances seem different. I've played many times, no offense.]
[I saw a live broadcast of the 007 Mental Hospital challenge online. The instances are indeed different.]
[It's just been modified.]
The comments in the live stream also became speculative.
[Don't you think this sounds like a real case rather than a game instance?]
One comment, like a shooting star, streaked across the live stream and was instantly buried, as if no one had noticed.
"Next, we rewind time to one day before the earthquake. You must save the lives of the mentally ill patients and all medical staff through unconventional means."
"Please note that any facility within the mental hospital has real efficacy. Disrupting the lives of the mentally ill patients will prematurely trigger the earthquake as punishment. The timing of the earthquake is unknown."
"Do not trust any words spoken by non-medical personnel. Each person has only one chance to leave the hospital. Staff uniforms are black."
"We wish all guests a successful challenge."
The broadcast crackled for a few seconds before falling silent again.
The ground was slick from the drizzling rain, small grasses and moss growing in the cracks between the stone slabs. Weeds choked the surroundings, and water dripped from the stacked metal sheets, forming several muddy puddles on the ground.
The flower beds and greenery had long been overrun by weeds, with no lively small animals in sight.
Within a radius of several miles, there was only a cemetery. Not a single bird could be seen even on the coniferous trees, a place even crows were unwilling to visit. It was eerily quiet now.
"Woof woof—" As everyone stepped towards the hospital entrance, they were suddenly startled by a dog's frantic barking from behind.
"Tibetan Mastiff!" Gu Lin exclaimed, estimating that no one else among them would be more familiar with dog breeds.
His mother was an avid dog lover, and he had been somewhat influenced by the dog-loving atmosphere.
The size of that Tibetan Mastiff could easily tackle an adult.
Were any of them present not born into privilege?
Of course, except for Shi, Sheng, and Yun, Xiao Jue was also barely counted.
"Run! This is also part of the game. It'll be safe once we get inside."
Shi Xinxin reacted immediately, dragging Xiao Jue towards the entrance.
Everyone followed closely behind them, huddling together. At this moment, they suddenly realized that the dilapidated roller shutter door of the hospital was slowly descending.
Shi Xinxin watched the Tibetan Mastiff, which was slowing down behind her, and let go of Xiao Jue. The group quickly entered through the roller shutter door.
Shi Xinxin lingered outside and even noticed that the roller shutter door descended a section after each person entered. It was now about a meter high, making clicking sounds but refusing to descend further.
"Xinxin hasn't come in!"
Everyone was ready to close the door, but Ye Xun scanned their surroundings and couldn't find Shi Xinxin.
"She's outside."
Sheng Chenjin squatted down, looking at the figure standing outside.
The others also squatted down.
"Xinxin, why aren't you coming in?" Yun Rou asked with concern. It was likely that no one present was more curious about Shi Xinxin's actions.
Shi Xinxin didn't answer her, giving them a reassuring look.
Everyone present was relieved that Shi Xinxin wasn't holding back the progress of the show, but their hearts were filled with curiosity. Especially Bai Bin, who looked at the visibly uncoordinated Tibetan Mastiff with a scrutinizing gaze.
Soon, the Tibetan Mastiff stopped in front of Shi Xinxin, its tail wagging rhythmically.
Shi Xinxin raised an eyebrow and looked at the collar around its neck.
The Tibetan Mastiff's expression remained ferocious, unchanged.
Shi Xinxin slowly squatted down.
"Why aren't you running?" a voice, which sounded mechanical and hoarse, emanated from somewhere.
It was clearly voice-modulated.
"I don't want to run." Shi Xinxin smiled, staring into the Tibetan Mastiff's unblinking eyes.
The Tibetan Mastiff's tail immediately stopped wagging and drooped straight to the ground.
"Pfft... Because I'm waiting for you."
She petted the Tibetan Mastiff's head and lightly touched the collar, testing something.
"You... know?" The Tibetan Mastiff's voice became incredulous, its head tilting mechanically.
There was a two-meter distance between them and the inside, and Bai Bin chuckled, saying with interest.
"It's a mechanical dog; it can't bite us. Someone is observing us through this mechanical dog's eyes, wanting to see us flustered and afraid."
The Tibetan Mastiff tilted its head and growled in a hoarse voice.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I am a Tibetan Mastiff!"
The people inside the door were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"You? A Tibetan Mastiff? Hahaha, my Golden Retriever has more presence than you!" Gu Lin, perhaps poked at a funny spot, said mercilessly.
"Watch me." Seeing the Tibetan Mastiff's head stutter slightly, Shi Xinxin turned its head.
"Little Tibetan Mastiff, I've discovered your secret. Is there a reward?"
Shi Xinxin looked at it with bright eyes.
The Tibetan Mastiff sighed helplessly and said.
"I didn't expect my appearance to be so unsuccessful. Fine, I'll tell you. Mentally ill patients like to play Cosplay, but it can't hide their ill characteristics."
"Thank you."
"Aren't you afraid I'm lying..."
The mechanical dog suddenly fell silent. Shi Xinxin continued to stroke its head, and finally found a button above the collar, tentatively pressing it.
She didn't expect to actually control it. xxs
"Listen more, err more. Your words are only half true."