In Virtual Reality 106 ☆ The Hydrangea Park (30/33)

Wang Jin Long struggled to catch his breath, chest rising and falling in sync with the eerie broadcast that reverberated through the air. A vicious jab from the sharp gardening shears had punctured his hand, and crimson spilled forth, a relentless flow. As he endured this torment, he strained to distinguish the searing warmth coursing down his fingers—his own lifeblood seeping, scorching his flesh—or the inferno of emotions blazing within.

Was it the impending specter of death gnawing at his soul, or the seething fury concealed within the voice that clawed at him?

Perhaps it was neither.

His strength waned steadily, sapped by the ceaseless drain of blood. Strangely, the ghost gardener refrained from seizing this opportune moment to deliver the fatal blow. It was as though an invisible force bound them all, compelling their attention towards the thundering broadcast echoing over the desolate park.

With measured cadence, Xu Jin Yi finally spoke, her words deliberate, laden with meaning. "I've often pondered the depths to which a person can sink in their insatiable pursuit of greed," she remarked. "And you, my dear, embody that relentless pursuit."

"— Do you still remember Ye Cheng Jing?"

"— Did you ever consider, as you pretended to be human, fooling others into trusting you, that someone might actually fall for your act? That they would devote themselves to protecting the people around them, based on your lies?”

"—Your claimed kindness, your actions, all had a motive; each one was a stepping stone, helping you climb to the top—a tower built on countless corpses.”

"— Maybe you think that no one can defeat you, that even in the worst situations, you can find a ray of hope,” she said. Her voice was calm, but with a hint of metallic coldness. “Man acts, Heaven watches.”

"— Yet, if it were Sir Ye, it might be possible,”

"—You act, and the people judge.”

"Clang! Clang... Clang!"

The bell tolled once more, a resonance sharper and more piercing than before. Instinctively, everyone clamped their hands over their ears, but the action did little to alleviate the agonizing discomfort.

"The night yields to the day."

In the broadcasting room, Xu Jin Yi swiveled around, catching sight of the Reaper standing at the doorway. Her lips curved into a faint smile as she retrieved a black robe from her pocket.

The Reaper's gaze fixated on the ebony garment as Xu Jin Yi handed it over. He donned the hood and mumbled something under his breath.

In a blink, he vanished.

Now cloaked in the shadowy robe, the Reaper moved with a swiftness that defied his previous lethargy. He embodied a true soul reaper, akin to Death himself emerging from the western horizon.

In the blink of an eye, he was gone, headed for the western gate, and an uneasy ripple swept across the onlookers.

Wang Jin Long, who had been observing the scene, felt a pang of remorse. "If I were you," he croaked, "I wouldn't let myself get voted out this round."

Madam Astrologer peered from behind a tree, her enchanting visage rendered speechless.

BGM snorted and retorted, "Enough with the 'ifs.' What have you contributed thus far? Are you blind? And now you seek to sow discord? Do you take us for fools?"

How could they forget his provocations and manipulations, which had repeatedly led to their defeats?

Asmodeus sighed inwardly, recognizing that this was far from over. He was only familiar with Wang Jin Long from this game and his past endeavors at Murphy Studios. But Wang Jin Long possessed a multitude of tricks up his sleeve, eluding complete comprehension with just a few encounters.

"Is that so?" Wang Jin Long relinquished his grip.

The Gardener Ghost refrained from seizing the opportunity to strike. Instead, he tended to his wounds during this brief respite, wrapping torn cloth around his bloodied hands. A searing pain emanated from his chest, making him ponder the extent of his rib fractures. Rising to his feet was a monumental task, and each breath felt like swallowing red-hot embers.

Wang Jin Long pressed his hand against his chest, where his heart raced, its thunderous beats signaling distress.

He glanced at his adversary and spoke coolly, "You've pushed me aside. Do you truly believe this will secure your victory in the game?" Adjusting his bandages, he continued, "We share a common adversary, don't we? Excelsior, the puppeteer pulling our strings. If you eliminate me, are you certain you possess what it takes to defeat him?"

The group exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions a perplexing mix of emotions.

Little did Wang Jin Long suspect that his carefully choreographed plan in this game and every move he had made within Murphy's Park was laid bare for all to witness. This wasn't merely about winning or losing; it was about the very honor of the gamers themselves!

Being manipulated was undeniably frustrating, but when the puppeteer turned out to be an NPC, the thirst for payback took on a whole new intensity.

"But now, we've got a way to dethrone him without losing a single soldier," Wang Jin Long surveyed his surroundings, squinting ever so slightly. "I'm sure there's a hint of excitement stirring within each of you. I'm here, and there's no hint of menace emanating from me." He extended his arm, revealing the sorry state he was in. "As long as even one of you is a werewolf, taking me down would be a piece of cake. Right here, I'm the classic sacrificial lamb. My destiny is sealed, but," his tone abruptly shifted, "Excelsior's fate isn't. Who carries more weight, and who is lighter—I believe you all know, right?"

His words held sincerity; if Fox Snap hadn't encountered him before, she might have genuinely considered his argument.

She raised her hand with an impassive expression. "I'm aware."

Before he could even wear a satisfied smile, she added bluntly, "Our top priority now is to eliminate you. Winning this game? I couldn't care less!"

The girl with beast-like ears unleashed her inner fury, "Today, I'm going to utterly annihilate you!!"

Asmodeus had bottled up his frustration for too long, and that sentence marked his breaking point. "I'm asking, could you expand your horizons a bit? Observe a little more, pay slightly more attention? Today, no one declared it's time for a public vote."

The Grim Reaper hadn't presented any options. So why did you all assume that this round of voting was in your hands, huh?!

Asmodeus had foresight; he had advised the Lone Wolf to maintain a safe distance, positioning him where he could oversee the entire situation without being immediately drawn into it.

Observing was fine, but make sure you don't unwittingly become part of the spectacle.

A brief pause swept through the gathering as they absorbed his words, even Wang Jin Long's movements came to a halt.

"Correct response," Excelsior's voice chimed in once again, now warmer and tinged with satisfaction.

"The daytime vote in Real The Hydrangea Park wasn't meant for players to decide."

A gentle rustling sound stirred in the short grass surrounding the area. Before long, two figures emerged from the midst of the grass, each with a distinct appearance. One sported a cheerful yellow hat, while the other had a whimsical, teddy bear-like appearance.

Celestial Master regarded them with a touch of bewilderment, cautiously extending a greeting, "Well, hello there?"

Excelsior's voice rang out, "You see, the park's true inhabitants are the voters."

As their words settled, a frozen silence enveloped the gathering, save for the newcomers. This unique voting system had left them all befuddled!

Old Attorney simmered with frustration, his teeth clenched in plain sight. Who could dream up such a convoluted voting scheme? It was akin to being informed before an exam that only the third chapter would be covered, and then realizing during the exam that everything except the third chapter was being assessed. Such an ordeal would test even the most patient souls, especially the everyday players.

Excelsior's revelation about this unconventional voting method drew all eyes to the Reaper and another NPC amidst the assembly.

They watched in astonishment as the Reaper, draped in ebony, gracefully approached the spectral gardener. The NPC brandished a pair of hefty shears and engaged in a conversation. Yet, their discourse was a linguistic enigma, an unintelligible jumble to the onlookers.

Listening with bemused bewilderment for a while, the gathering grew anxious as the gardening ghost finally made a dismissive gesture.

"This is..." Old Attorney hesitated, his brows furrowing as he muttered under his breath, "Did they abstain?"

Others puzzled over the gardening ghost's actions, then noticed the Reaper's confirming nod, followed by stillness. It seemed like an abstention indeed.

Curiosity surged within them – why would this NPC abstain? Their minds swirled with confusion. Soon enough, the spectral gardener raised the mammoth shears, gracing them with an authentic smile.

"..."

"Perhaps he's not interested in enduring the voting process; he's taking matters into his own hands," Lone Wolf's voice quivered as he turned to Asmodeus, his eyes brimming with hope for a denial from the expert known for their wit.

Asmodeus, however, crushed those hopes with an emotionless gaze. "I'm glad you're using your brain."

Meanwhile, on the other side, the gardening ghost abandoned the ongoing voting, still sporting that genuine smile, and raised its colossal scissors as it began approaching them.

Instinctively, everyone took a step back.

Wang Jin Long, who happened to be closest, sensed danger and attempted to turn and flee, but after a few steps, he found himself immobilized.

【Warning: Residential referendum is still ongoing. Players are currently immobilized.】

Beneath the reaper's cloak, an eerie voice stirred, sending a shiver down Wang Jin Long's spine. With a swift motion, the colossal scythe deftly hooked onto the back of his collar, leaving him frozen in place.

As if the situation weren't already chaotic, the dense forest that surrounded them began to rustle with hushed whispers. It was as though a multitude of hidden observers lurked nearby, their eyes gleaming in various shades from the depths of darkness.

"Time to vote, time to vote..."

"Hehehe, can we finally cast our votes?"

"So annoying... incredibly annoying..."

"And that fool in the yellow clothes... the scent of detergent is so refreshing..."

The guy in the yellow clothes: "?"

Celestial Master pointed at himself in bewilderment, his gaze darting from one tree to another as the eyes within them slowly opened, reflecting his utter confusion.

"That fool, could they be talking about me?"

——— Translator's Notes ———

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