The surrounding players were inevitably drawn to his attention. Some listened to Mu Anqi's questions and words with thoughtful expressions, while others wore mocking expressions.
This must be the next round of selection. Mu Anqi looked at the Beauties team leader and couldn't help but think: Her judgment should be correct, right?
As the game drew closer to its start, Mu Anqi couldn't help but feel a little nervous, constantly taking deep breaths to calm herself. However, this nervousness persisted until she saw the White Paper Residents beside her, earnestly holding an apple in both hands like a statue…
Mu Anqi suddenly felt that the symbol of "blank paper" was really good.
Team formation complete, game begins. Each team must hand in their ID cards before starting the game, and all players complete the game under the watchful eyes of the Beauties. Cheating and backing out are not allowed. After each round, the Beauties record the score on the back of the ID card.
The players in the first group seemed to have made a pact; they threw their punches incredibly fast, resulting in a draw from the first to the ninth round. Until the final round, both players surprisingly chose paper. Even though it was still a draw, the expressions on their faces changed simultaneously.
The atmosphere was heavy as the player stepped off the stage and received their identity card. Behind it, after a series of assessments of appearance, physique, and other factors, another line appeared: "Game of Honesty and Trust: 20 points."
This first game didn't set a good precedent for the players who followed. Instead, it made the two players in the second group nervously look at their teammates. The trial players who entered the game were already temporarily teamed up, and this unexpected turn of events in the first group made it hard not to have too many thoughts.
Fortunately, all the players in the second group finished the game with "stones" and scored 20 points.
In the next group, some players didn't discuss it beforehand and just started playing rock-paper-scissors. There were wins and losses, and some ended up with exactly 20 points. Of course, there were also players who betrayed their teams at the last minute and won in one fell swoop.
The rewards and penalties were not distributed immediately; they would likely be given out after all players finished the game.
Soon, it was Mu Anqi's turn.
Honesty and trust? Mu Anqi took a deep breath and went on stage with the White Paper Residents. The White Paper Residents held an apple in one hand and, at the moment the game started, simultaneously chose "paper" with Mu Anqi.
For ten rounds, the White Paper Residents never hesitated to play "paper" each time. Mu Anqi knew that if she played scissors at the end, the White Paper Residents would definitely lose.
Mu Anqi retrieved his ID card.
After glancing at his score of "20 points," he once again sincerely thanked the White Paper Residents.
What is the beauty god? What are the Beauties? What are the White Paper Residents? In the eyes of the White Paper Residents, the beauty god is a deity, representing all that is beautiful and their entire faith. But what about in the eyes of the beauties? Is the beauty god that the beauties wholeheartedly believe in truly the same as the beauty god in the eyes of the White Paper Residents?
Both the Beauties and the White Paper Residents appear inhuman, strange, and malevolent. However, in their state of being as white paper, the residents of Reincarnation City are harmless and diligently strive to please what they believe to be the " beauty god," becoming honest believers. But the beauty god does not receive the White Paper Residents.
He received Beauties. Beauties... players left inside the instance, and... possibly corrupted, or perhaps dead White Paper Residents? Mu Anqi has noticed that none of the White Paper Residents watching have ink spots on their faces, so where did the residents with ink spots on their faces, or even those whose faces have been stained black, go?
"Travelers with scores of 20 or higher can come here to claim their rewards. Players with scores below 20, from now on, you will need to fend for yourselves."
In this round, only 4 players scored more than 20 points. Consequently, 4 players had to find their own meals.
Compared to the punishment of death, this punishment of having to fend for oneself is already very weak.
The losing players all breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked at the players who went to collect their prizes.
The winning players didn't receive any items. They walked over, and the Beauties captain simply tapped their foreheads, which was considered a gift. No one answered what the gift was or what it was called.
The winning players were a little flustered, but they figured the losers' punishments weren't severe, so their prizes wouldn't be much worse. What if they could avoid being hunted down that night?
Mu Anqi disagreed. It was only the second day; if the NPCs didn't provide food, the four players would have to rely on the other players for sustenance. While a lack of food wouldn't significantly impact stamina, speed, or reaction time in the short term, what would happen during Ghost's pursuit? As for the gifts the victorious players would receive, Mu Anqi didn't expect them to be anything of value.
Mu Anqi even thought this quirky gift was a way for Beauty God to pay more attention to you and be more willing to accept you into the Beauties. Some players even believe that the boss in Black Mirror Vortex will provide you with items—just kidding!
What are the items for? Are they to help you kill it or help you complete the game? Ideally, they'd be items you find yourself while exploring.
After the rewards were distributed, the Beauties and White Paper Residents dispersed. Among the remaining players, the one who turned on the other last was in the most awkward position. Especially those players like the first group, where both sides turned on each other at the last minute, resulting in an unexpected tie, were in the most awkward situation. But they couldn't blame each other, since everyone was in a similar predicament.
"Hello." Just as Mu Anqi was about to leave, a male player called out to her. This male player wore glasses and had a bluish stubble around his chin. "I have a guess here, I wonder if I can discuss it with you?"
"This male player was just in a team with someone else, and it ended in a draw?" Mu Anqi nodded. "Communication is fine."
"Let me share my information first. The players who corrupted the White Paper Residents completely disregarded the responsibilities of guests, ransacking the house, barging into bedrooms, and making a mess of the place, which angered the White Paper Residents," the player said. "After learning this, I went to the house of the corrupted White Paper Residents. Their door was unlocked, but the room was empty. And when I was observing the game just now, there weren't any of these White Paper Residents present."
" Beauties are made up of players and White Paper Residents. Those corrupted White Paper Residents have probably become Beauties," Mu Anqi said. "I think… the white paper on those residents' faces is like a reflection of their inner selves. When they are corrupted by darkness, they will transform into another form, which is Beauties. Of course, I think there should be a transformation between corruption and becoming Beauties, and this transformation should be summoned and completed by the beauty god."
"Yes! I thought of all this when you asked those two questions just now." The player became visibly excited and analyzed seriously, "I think White Paper Residents and Beauties are completely opposite, and their perception of beauty god is also completely opposite."
"Furthermore, the City Lord's Mansion definitely exists in Reincarnation City, and the Beauty God is a real being. It's just that under normal circumstances, it's very difficult for us to see Him." The player looked at Mu Anqi and extended an invitation to her, "You have control abilities and items. I wonder if you would be willing to take the risk with me? The Beauties are chasing us at night… I suspect that the City Lord's Mansion can be seen during that time."
"...The Other World?" Mu Anqi hadn't played Silent Hill, but he had a good understanding of the real and alternate worlds.
A general understanding. "Hmm... let me think about it. If it's okay, I'll give you an answer tomorrow. Tonight, for now..."
"Why?"
"When I was gathering intelligence, the White Paper Residents said that players who want to become Beauties need to undergo a selection test by the Beauty God," Mu Anqi explained. "On the first day, they nitpicked at my appearance, and on the second day… I thought I'd see what special qualities the winning and losing players had, and see if the Beauty God would have any new tricks up his sleeve tomorrow." The player's spawn point, the White Paper Residents ' rooms… why can players stay in these places? Players resting at the spawn point will be chased by Beauties at night, while players staying at the White Paper Residents' rooms are not allowed to freely enter the White Paper Residents ' master bedroom.
Why did she have this thought? Because… Mu Anqi had actually searched White Paper Residents ' house as well. Although she hadn't made a complete mess of it, she had still been asked the same questions by the White Paper Residents. The only difference was that she hadn't stepped into White Paper Residents ' bedroom.
When Mu Anqi thought about seeking lodging again, the White Paper Residents kept silently watching the player… What was she looking at? In most cases, the White Paper Residents are harmless. But what if the beauty god had given them a different kind of "oracle"? What if this was part of the beauty god's test for travelers, and the White Paper Residents were simply complying?
If players attack or anger the White Paper Residents, they will be hunted down or attacked. The White Paper Residents can also be transformed into Beauties by the Beauty God. If this hypothesis is correct, does it mean that a monster is sealed within the White Paper Residents?
"Either is fine. I'll try my best to find the approximate location tonight. If I find it, I'll wait for you to come with me tomorrow night." The player nodded. Although he could evade Beauties' nighttime pursuit, he really didn't have much confidence facing the boss alone. That was why he recruited Mu Anqi. "Or, if you have any reliable player teammates, you can let them know."
"Ah, okay." Reliable player teammates are nowhere to be found. She's a lone wolf in this trial dungeon. But this information…
Mu Anqi hesitated for a moment, but decided to speak to the group of female players anyway. There was no limit to the number of players who could complete the trial dungeon, so she figured she should help if she could. As for the player who had been cursing and forcing her to try and get information for free, Mu Anqi didn't have time to deal with them.
Friendly told the female players some speculations about the dungeon and the city lord's mansion, and Mu Anqi also told them about the precautions they needed to take when staying at the White Paper Residents' house. These players hadn't slept well last night, and tonight was the second day; although they could handle it, it would still affect their performance.