In Virtual Reality 107 ☆ The Hydrangea Park (31/33)

"Hehehe..."

"Vote... cast your votes..."

"Let the yellow fool pick, we'll choose along..."

"Smells so good..."

Amidst the eerie embrace of Hydrangea Park, tens of thousands of Ghost Eye Trees stirred, their unsettling gazes fixated on Celestial Master. Amongst the trees, a subtle chuckle rippled, seamlessly transferring the voting power into the hands of Celestial Master alone.

Celestial Master: "..."

It finally dawned on him why Excelsior had persistently assigned him solo missions at the Nine Springs Laundry Chain. If Excelsior had been privy to the game's enigmatic rules all along, her unwavering resolve to accompany him on this particular task, despite everyone else's unavailability, boiled down to a pivotal vote.

In this new light, Excelsior's motives appeared startlingly uncomplicated.

Celestial Master scratched his head, perplexity etched on his face.

Many had speculated that beneath Excelsior's vendetta against Wang Jin Long lay a hidden agenda. Some suspected she aimed to secure victory in the game while diverting attention. However, the truth now crystallized: Excelsior's primary goal was revenge against Wang Jin Long.

No other explanations were needed; it was all about settling scores with Murphy Corporation, the malevolent entity that had cruelly betrayed players like Excelsior during the closed beta.

It was as if saying: I, Excelsior, will have my revenge! A decade may have passed, but it's never too late!

As Celestial Master pondered, a whimsical image flashed into his mind—an adorable chibi video game character, standing proudly, hands on hips, and head held high. He couldn't help but shake his head vigorously, attempting to banish this bizarre vision from his thoughts.

All eyes in the group were now fixed firmly on him, particularly Wang Jin Long, who cleared his throat with the clear intention of exerting pressure on Celestial Master.

Celestial Master desperately wished to drown out Wang Jin Long's potential drivel, fearing he might be swayed by it if he didn't keep a tight rein on himself. In a rush, he extended his trembling hand, pointing urgently at him and stammered, "Him! Vote for him!"

Wang Jin Long: "..." his face a mask of impassivity.

Wang Jin Long couldn't help but wonder about the inexplicable bias these people held against him. Perhaps Excelsior, the mysteriose individual among them, wasn't as tight-lipped as he seemed. Tsk, looks, after all, could be deceiving, especially since they shared the same face.

Initially, he believed that his vote represented only one person. However, as Celestial Master concluded his plea, the all ghosts surrounding them pointed in unison.

"!" Wang Jin Long recoiled, his eyes wide with alarm as he narrowly escaped the gleaming blades of Grim Reaper with a frantic roll and crawl.

It dawned on him that the NPCs who had just thrown their support behind Celestial Master were not just one or two. In the encircling ring of trees, ominous and menacing eyes watched from every shadow.

The group known as Ghost Eye Trees from "Nine Springs Laundry Chain" practically comprised 90% of the NPCs in the Hydrangea Park. Even though a handful of straggling NPCs had yet to cast their votes, they were dwarfed by the overwhelming numbers of the Ghost Eye Trees.

At the game's outset, Wang Jin Long rarely observed players diligently focused on their tasks—except for one individual who had cozied up to Excelsior.

This newcomer appeared intimately acquainted with Excelsior, making it impossible for Wang Jin Long to impersonate him. It was a dire situation.

Silently, he began to inch backward, one cautious step after another, until every eye in the vicinity was pinned on him. Without hesitation, he pivoted and bolted, his heart pounding with the urgency of survival.

Regret gnawed at him as he fled. He wished he had trained his body more rigorously before this moment. Intelligence might be a potent weapon, but here, physical prowess reigned supreme.

His legs felt like they belonged to someone else entirely, and his palms, swathed in ragged white fabric, radiated heat. Blood seeped relentlessly through the makeshift bandages, the wounds he'd barely mended now torn open afresh. The sensation of blood loss became almost unbearable as waves of heat and cold danced through his body, clouding his thoughts.

Had he ever been in such dire straits?

Wang Jin Long, accustomed to swaying others with his silver tongue and exceptional acting, had always won the favor of the gulluble kind-hearted.

Regardless of whether they were his relatives or even Ye Cheng Jing, who only discovered his true face at the very end, he exploited people's kindness and goodwill, surviving until the bitter end.

Wang Jin Long stumbled forward, a throng of people closely trailing him.

The Gardening Ghost wielded oversized scissors, its grin unsettling as it relentlessly pursued. The Reaper, bound by the Hydrangea Park's rules, extended his arm and swiftly advanced, sickle in hand. Timid, inexperienced players cheered and bolstered the NPCs from behind.

The live stream chat remained eerily quiet until now.

【Hydrangea Park's official team is really going all out...】 Someone's comment broke the silence, garnering widespread approval.

【But let's be honest, Wang Jin Long's current predicament is oddly satisfying, don't you think?】

【Hey, do you guys genuinely believe Wang Jin Long will bite the dust in this game?】

【It's what everyone's secretly hoping for. If he doesn't, it's just unfair!】

【True, but Wang Jin Long's data package came from Murphy, right? And didn't they announce that the amusement park games would reset? Messing with his data package now might affect future gameplay, won't it?】

【Well, that's the developer's headache, not ours.】

【The one up front is definitely a Murphy fan.】

【Mindless fun is one thing, but a coherent storyline is even better!】

【No need for thanks; I'll just tag the developer directly! @Murphy Series Official】

The discussion among the viewers in the live stream chat grew increasingly fervent, propelling the game's popularity and putting the Murphy official back in the spotlight.

Left with no alternative, the Murphy official had to make an announcement.

【Murphy Series Official V:

We've already reached out to the esteemed Excelsior privately for the specifics. We believe they'll craft the perfect ending for this work 🌹🌹🌹 @Excelsior】

And what was Xu Jin Yi, the one mentioned by the official, up to at this moment?

She pulled out her phone, stumbled upon several highly popular Game.com forum posts, and a sly grin crept across her face.

As for Wang Jin Long's fate... she had it all figured out.

Then, everyone received a system message.

【Player 【Excelsior】 has exited the game.】

Live stream viewers:?

Players still in the game:?

And the most bewildered of all, the Murphy official:?

**

Xu Jin Yi was never one to back down easily; a fierce determination flowed through her veins like an electric current. With a fluid grace, her one hand entered into an online game forum, while her other hand deftly adjusted her VR goggles, selecting 《The Library of Eternity》.

Inside the digital realm of the game, an ominous sense of foreboding hung heavy. The unrelenting pressure from Murphy officials pressed upon her like a spectral force. Yet, beyond the immersive grasp of the game, they had no power over her.

No matter their cunning tactics, they shielded Wang Jin Long for their own selfish interests. That much was undeniable...

However, Xu Jin Yi possessed a knack for unearthing ingenious solutions.

In the midst of the eerie silence enveloping 《The Library of Eternity》, she retrieved her in-game smartphone. A sly grin curved her lips as her nimble fingers danced across the screen, poised to unlock a world of eerie possibilities.

——— Translator's Notes ———

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