In Virtual Reality 92 ☆ The Hydrangea Park (16/33)

Excelsior's voice had a weary quality, but a closer listen revealed a hint of sarcasm and schadenfreude. The Fishman paused briefly before lifting his gaze and declaring boldly, "You knew that someone is going to impersonate you."

Xu Jin Yi arched an eyebrow, folded her arms, and regarded him coolly before inquiring, "What makes you think that?"

"Gut feeling." Old Attorney offered a terse reply that surprised everyone. His expression stayed steady. His bright green fish head moved up and down as he spoke. "Mostly a hunch, but then I remembered what you said." Old Attorney rubbed his chin, replaying Excelsior's previous actions in his mind.

"You brought up Wang Jin Long, and when I questioned your identity, you invoked that name as an oath." He looked up as if he wanted to smirk triumphantly at Xu Jin Yi. Yet, the avatar's face modelling was faulty and only produced a twitch of a facial expression.

"Although 'Wang Jin Long' is just a string of data, I doubt you would let him slip away as a colossal mistake in your gaming career, would you? Even if it's just a fan game."

Xu Jin Yi thought this was no fan fiction; this was the real thing. As for how to deliver the data on Wang Jin Long, it was easy enough – just dial his number. When two-dimensional thinking becomes three-dimensional thinking, there were always unforeseen twists.

Old Attorney wondered, "But I'm intrigued, did you copy the data from the official source?" He stroked his chin and puckered his lips, admiring, "It fits the character design quite well."

Xu Jin Yi smiled. "You're right." She didn't elaborate any further but merely scanned the surroundings to identify the area she was in, then turned back to the two people who were still stunned and thoughtful. "I'll proceed with the mission, and you guys…." Xu Jin Yi looked at Celestial Master, who had been furiously brainstorming in the barrage area.

He flinched, his eyes bulging, "I'm going with Excelsior!" He thumped his chest, wishing he could wear a badge saying 'I'm very dependable.'

Xu Jin Yi was not taken aback by his decision and made a noise of approval before looking at the other person who had not reacted.

Under the trees' shade, the fish-headed man's face was hidden from the blue moonlight. Old Attorney lingered in the shadows, apart from the other two. He lifted his head and spoke in a grave voice. "Do you need me to... verify he took Silence's identity?"

Xu Jin Yi smiled and blinked. "No need to verify. Silence is the only identity he can borrow."

Old Attorney frowned, doubtful of her decision.

[TN: If you are not reading this novel on puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon, please support the original translator by visiting my website. Thank you! :)]

Xu Jin Yi approached him and patted his shoulder, trying to comfort him. "Don't be so solemn. It's just a game, after all. Relax and enjoy yourself however you want."

She was in no rush to reveal herself to Wang Jin Long, the target of all players. The game website's videos were in first-person view, so players couldn't tell what her fixed model looked like. This gave Wang Jin Long a chance, but it was not a chance at all. It was a trap.

Old Attorney had been active in her comment section lately, which could easily mislead other players into thinking he knew her well. If he went to the broadcasting station, it would confirm that Wang Jin Long was Excelsior.

Then Wang Jin Long would realize that the identity he had obtained was not a good one. Even if he wants to change his identity, he must consider it carefully. If he exposes his name, "Wang Jin Long," there may be even more fun to watch.

The fish-man gazed deeply at Excelsior with his bulging eyes. She wore a faint smile, unfazed. He turned on his heel and strode away along the pebbled path to the southeast of the park, where the radio station was located.

Xu Jin Yi watched him go, a sigh stirring in her chest. She wondered what surprises awaited him at the radio station, where she had heard a familiar voice earlier.

"Excelsior." A voice broke her reverie. It was Celestial Master standing beside her.

Xu Jin Yi turned her head and replied cheerfully, "What's up?"

Celestial Master seemed to hesitate, then asked in a low voice: "The one who spoke on the radio, was that Wang Jin Long?"

Xu Jin Yi was taken aback by the question. "How did you know?"

Celestial Master shrugged, a helpless expression on his face. "I didn't know for sure. I just had a hunch. The pre-release materials for 《The Hydrangea Park》 not only featured your involvement, Excelsior, which undoubtedly bolstered the game's popularity, but also caught the attention of fans of the Murphy series. The reason for their fervour, combined with the clues in the promo materials, led me to surmise that it was all due to this character."

This wasn't a conclusion that Celestial Master had arrived at alone. Thanks to the many fans of the Murphy series in his Livestream chat, there was a flurry of chatter, and they came up with countless clues. He simply chose the most popular one and inquired about it.

Only Xu Jin Yi and Celestial Master remained, so she had no issue with providing some clarification.

"Well," Xu Jin Yi nodded slightly, maintaining a smile, but it failed to reach her eyes. Like a finely crafted marionette, Excelsior didn't betray any excess emotion and simply stated, "Wang Jin Long excels at reading people's expressions and identifying loopholes in 'Murphy's Amusement Park,' leveraging everything at his disposal to achieve his objectives. This game," Celestial Master heard the other person chuckle, "was specifically designed for him. I'm sure he's quite pleased now."

**

Wang Jin Long couldn't help but feel joy in his chest as he observed the chaos among the other "Shenanigans" participants. Evidently, their infighting had already begun, and he had already started strategizing his next moves. However, he couldn't help but notice that the other participants didn't look entirely human. The woman with the code name 【Madam】 seemed to know everything about everyone at the event, restricting Wang Jin Long from freely reporting a fake name.

He paused to consider the matter; maybe it wasn't even their real names but just some code. After all, monikers like 【Lone Wolf of the Apocalypse】 were hardly popular even in his grandfather's era. Despite this, he still managed to gain a lot of information from their conversations. He learned that this group had experienced "Shenanigans" several times before, and the unusual characteristics on their bodies were undoubtedly rewards obtained after passing through the "Shenanigans" many times.

Humans might be intelligent, but their physical bodies were weak, he thought to himself. He couldn't help but imagine what he could acquire if he could benefit even more from the "Shenanigans." Suddenly, a hint of crimson flashed in his eyes as he pondered the possibilities.

But his thoughts were interrupted by Lone Wolf, with broad shoulders and narrow back, who reached out to poke the microphone on the table. The small device couldn't bear the sharpnes of nail and fell to the ground, causing Lone Wolf to startle and all the fur on his body to stand up.

Wang Jin Long turned around and sighed inwardly. As useful as the device was, it seemed that at least the woman called 【Fox Snap】 would be easier to control and more intelligent. He couldn't help but wonder if he could somehow obtain more things that would benefit him in the "Shenanigans."

He let out a nearly imperceptible sigh, straightened his expression, and turned around with a gentle smile. "It's okay; let me handle this," he said calmly. He nudged Lone Wolf aside and moved his hands methodically. "Take a break first, and let me see how to use this thing."

【Wuwuwuwu, he's so gentle! I love it!】

【Gentleness is the most powerful! Being black-bellied and tsundere are outdated!】

【Ah ah ah ah ah ah he said it's okay, and he said to let him handle it ah ah ah ah ah I'm so touched】

【From now on, I'm a barking dog! Woof woof woof woof!】

The viewers in the live stream unleashed their true nature, dancing in a frenzy and spamming 【woof woof woof woof】.

Asmodeus's fan, the only normal person present, felt out of place as they watched the barrage of colourful comments flood the screen with an expressionless face. Tears slowly rolled down their cheeks.

Asmodeus's fan hovered over the keyboard long before retracting their hand. It wasn't their fault that they couldn't save the IQ of the hominids. They hoped that Asmodeus, the wise one, could forgive them. Forgive what? Did these guys not have any sense of caution? As a live streamer who had survived the apocalypse for a long time, shouldn't he have had some inherent sense of exclusion that comes with human nature? He typed angrily:

【Can't you use your few remaining brain cells to think about his series of unreasonable actions?】

【Here comes Asmodeus's fan again】

【Are Asmodeus's fans all paranoid?】

【Isn't it good to have more teammates? Don't understand this mentality】

Asmodeus's fan remained expressionless but typed quickly: 【How can you be sure he's a teammate?】

【Didn't he report his identity earlier? Silence is just a civilian card】

【And Silence looks so gentle; how could he not have killed the live streamer after being alone with him for so long as the wolf man】

Asmodeus's fan: 【In the game of Werewolf, there's a term called "raising pigs." It refers to a werewolf teaming up with a civilian and staying with them from beginning to end. Eventually, the civilian player becomes the Werewolf's automatic witness to claim innocents. When the Werewolf is the last one standing, they can kill the civilian and win the game. This is called "raising pigs for a thousand days for a single meal."】

【... Isn't this "killing the donkey after it has been used to grind the millstone"? And how dare you call the streamer a pig!】

Asmodeus's fan was furious. He immediately stood up and punched the air with military punches. The bullet screen area was lively, and Wang Jin Long had already found the correct way to use the broadcasting function. After a brief thought, he spoke in his gentlest voice.

To be honest, how did Cao Du become like this? Could it be that 'Mystery' also can change one's personality? After the broadcast, Wang Jin Long sat in front of the table with his hands clasped together under his chin and his eyes slightly closed.

Cao Du was one of the people who entered the "Shenanigans" with Ye Chengjing and was one of the few who survived along with Wang Jin Long. However, at that time, Cao Du was still very young, and even after Wang Jin Long returned to the real world, he could not find Cao Du.

Perhaps he was not like himself, able to return to the real world. After all, the result of that game was that "Shenanigans" ultimately recognized him as the winner. Cao Du may still be alive, but there's not much difference between being dead. He has been living in the "Shenanigans". He cannot return to the real world, only able to shuttle infinitely in different "Shenanigans."

'How pitiful,' Wang Jin Long thought. 'But this way, Cao Du's understanding of the 'Mystery' must be even more than I expected, which is beneficial for me to have a deeper and safer contact with the 'Shenanigans.' It's not impossible to make him my dog. Just use some tricks...'

[TN: If you are not reading this novel on puukkiss.wixsite.com/inkydragon, please support the original translator by visiting my website. Thank you! :)]

Now, all that's left is to wait for the prey to enter the trap. Time passed slowly. He didn't know how long he had been waiting until he heard the rustling sound outside the broadcasting station. Upon careful listening, he could also hear some murmurs. He suddenly opened his eyes and looked towards the closed door. Lone Wolf had already stood at the door, alert and waiting silently.

**

"Are we the first ones here?" BGM asked, the long sword hanging diagonally from his waist. He scanned the area before fixing his gaze on the door of the broadcasting centre. The glass window was covered with a thick layer of grey dust, making it impossible to see inside.

The beast-eared girl standing beside him had long since shed her cowardice in front of Asmodeus and the others. She smirked and replied, "Despite that, there's clearly someone inside. Excelsior," Fox Snap exclaimed in her unique beast girl accent, adding a layer of passion to her words.

She smiled and continued, "We're already here, oh. Please hurry up and open the door~" As she spoke, she gestured for her wolf teammate BGM to prepare for an attack.

Wearing the garb of a judgment-equipped werewolf, BGM remained unperturbed and pulled out his sword, gripping it tightly. If all else failed, he could always use the judge's attack. BGM was eager to cause trouble for the wolves.

A voice came from inside the room: "Just a moment, please."

The sound left the two outside stunned, causing BGM to miss his chance to use his judgment skill as soon as the door opened. A furry head poked out from inside the room, and Lone Wolf greeted them with a smile.: "Hello, friends... Ah?!!" But his expression quickly turned to one of shock as he looked at the beast-eared girl before him. After a few seconds of being stunned, he quickly retreated back into the room and slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

Over the intercom, his heart-wrenching wail came through: "Ah, Silence! The ones who came weren't teammates, they were werewolves!!"

Fox Snap: "..."

BGM: "..."

The young knight remained silent, then tilted his head to look at Fox Snap, his expression unchanging. "Do you know them?"

"A cursed fate..." Fox Snap replied. She never expected that Excelsior would team up with Lone Wolf. It seemed unlikely that they could defeat Excelsior even with both of them.

"Their ID is 【Lone Wolf of the Apocalypse】, their card face should be civilian," Fox Snap whispered. "I tried to test them, it's unlikely that they're our teammate."

BGM made a gesture indicating he understood.

【Let's bet one coin that Old BGM will forget that he's a judge.】

【Do we really need to bet? Look at his wise eyes!】

BGM's eyes glittered with righteousness.

Meanwhile, Wang Jin Long narrowed his eyes in surprise and asked, "Is she a werewolf? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!" Lone Wolf insisted that Fox Snap was a wolf. "The way she looked at me earlier was off--by the way, the one outside is Fox Snap, the one you know!"

Wang Jin Long seemed to ponder for a moment. 'Is that so... a werewolf? A teammate? Uncertain, let's observe first.'

Wang Jin Long quickly realized the mysterious rule of receiving a werewolf card at the beginning of the game, similar to the amusement park game. It was hard not to think that Cao Du deliberately arranged it. But then, what did he want to see? Was it a test? Setting aside these speculations, Wang Jin Long lifted his head and walked to the door.

"If she's a wolf, it doesn't matter," he said with a smile. "There are only two of us, and Fox Snap alone cannot force-kill us." He opened the door, revealing the two people outside.

——— Translator's Notes ———

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