Releasing a Chapter Early Surprised

The "What Time Is It, Mr. Wolf" instance still had about 20 hours left before it ended.

Wow, an extra half-day of rest for no reason.

Zhu Yan thought expressionlessly.

He accepted the "West Mountain University Student Guide" and started flipping through it right in front of the Slime.

Zhu Yan had been careless since he was a kid, from small things like math problems to big things like carelessly tossed milk tea cups.

He was afraid there might be hidden traps in the manual.

If he had any doubts, he could ask on the spot. That way, nothing else could go wrong!

The first page of the "Guide" was the table of contents, which included sections on dormitories, teaching, part-time jobs, expenses, and descriptions of various clubs.

For the dormitory section, Zhu Yan could go back and ask Yang Zhanbai.

He started from the teaching section, skimming ten lines at a glance, and quickly found the library.

"[Library]: This is a building with a lot of personality."

"From the current time until September 1st of this year, its location is on the west side of West Mountain University. This is because it hasn't finished devouring the old buildings yet!"

Excellent, just a few days away.

Zhu Yan would go there today, immediately, right after leaving this classroom.

"Please swipe your student ID card to enter the [Library]. The admission fee is 5 bone coins."

"For specific borrowing fees for various books, please refer to the [Expenses Section] directory and the library's book list."

Zhu Yan thought of a classic phrase used in telecom fraud: "Earn money in the compound, spend money in the compound."

The huge amounts of money swindled by fraudsters could only be spent within the scam compound.

How was this any different from the students of West Mountain University risking their lives to earn money, only to have to spend it all at West Mountain University?

"If you have special needs, such as consulting forbidden books, files, or accepting tasks, please explain to the front desk and pay the corresponding processing fees."

Oh.

There's something here!

Zhu Yan's eyes lit up, and he looked up to ask the Slime.

"What kind of files are these, and what categories are there? What are the tasks?"

The Slime didn't dare to be negligent.

"As for the files, there is an [Archives Department] in the [Nightmare Bookstore], which contains a considerable amount of private information on players and thriller creatures."

What?

Holy crap!

Zhu Yan was shocked.

This was a fucking intelligence agency!

Did the boss of this [Nightmare Bookstore] have some special ability?

Where did they get all this stuff!

"Then... mine..." Alarm bells started ringing in Zhu Yan's head.

"Yours will definitely be included," the Slime nodded. "After all, even I've heard of your name. Although your level isn't high, you're considered somewhat famous among the players."

"Ah, plus," the Slime cracked open that slit, its two rows of sharp teeth opening and closing, "dear [Hunter], you are the very first [Hunter]!"

The first one?

Zhu Yan raised an eyebrow.

Probably, besides him when he was at a dead end back then, no one else would be willing to accept the baptism of the [Trembling Joy].

Heh, that wasn't important anyway.

"How do I look up the files of specific players or thriller creatures?" he asked. "What information is needed?"

"Body parts," the Slime said. "Or name plus date of birth. Or by querying specific abilities."

"However, you have to pay. The more powerful the player, the more expensive their file."

The Slime waved its bone spurs at him playfully.

"For example, you. It would cost at least 2,000 bone coins to view your file once. For an ordinary player, it might only cost 10 bone coins."

Damn, really?

Zhu Yan felt slightly relieved.

It wasn't as if everyone could afford these 2,000 bone coins anyway, so his privacy was guaranteed for the time being.

He planned to look into Yang Zhanbai and Qi Yinming. After all, since they shared a dorm, it was better to know their backgrounds thoroughly.

Zhu Yan read the last sentence again and suddenly thought of a question.

"When I cleared a level for the first time," he said slowly and deliberately, "the broadcast told me that I could take other players' abilities."

The Slime's smile widened. "That is correct. It seems you must have taken one."

"The broadcast also said that this was one of the few opportunities I would have to take someone else's ability."

Zhu Yan specifically emphasized the words "few opportunities."

"Since the Nightmare Bookstore can access files like player privacy..."

Zhu Yan asked what he really wanted to know.

"Then, if I want to know about opportunities to take other abilities, can the bookstore tell me?"

This time, the Slime fell silent for a moment before speaking.

"Very few players can remember this detail."

It said in a soft, thin voice.

"Well, since you asked, I can tell you that this is not part of the ordinary files."

"However—"

Zhu Yan pricked up his ears.

The Slime's bone spikes extended outward. "One bone coin, and I'll tell you the details."

Zhu Yan took out his level-five dining knife and twirled it, but the Slime remained unmoved.

"Your granddaddy here is level 15." Its tone took a sharp turn halfway through, sounding like a chief eunuch from the Qing dynasty. "Don't even think about threatening me!"

The Slime gave a shudder, and a heavy, rotting stench instantly filled Zhu Yan's stomach.

He couldn't help but bend over and dry heave, saying intermittently, "You answer first. I'll give it to you when you're done!"

He would remember this grudge for now.

The Slime sneered and withdrew that disgusting smell.

"There is a special file that only a Hunter can rent."

Thinking of something unknown, it let out a snickering laugh.

"For 500 bone coins a time, you can choose certain instances from it, or spend a little more money to specify a person with a certain ability to participate in one of the instances with you."

"If you are the MVP in the instance, you can plunder other people's abilities."

Zhu Yan thought about it.

It was quite a good deal.

For a few tens of thousands, he might be able to get more than one ability.

He nodded. "If I want to kill someone, for example, my aunt..."

"Ah, that can be included as a freebie," the Slime said immediately. "Provide your aunt's information, and if she's a trash player, you only need to pay 5 bone coins, 10 at most, to send her into the instance as well."

Very well.

Zhu Yan nodded and gave it a bone coin.

He didn't linger in the classroom any longer, decisively turning around and quickly running down the stairs.

If his aunt wasn't dead yet, he would probably have to send her on her way.

Zhu Yan lowered his eyes.

Ah, and Guan En too.

Only a few instances had passed in less than a month, yet it felt like a very long time ago.

He was now a Hunter, a player, and a member of Fangcun Mountain.

These two had hindered him enough.

Guan En could be kept alive a little longer. Zhu Yan planned to wait until after this broadcast to see his attitude.

After all, from the current perspective, Guan En highly trusted the identity of Zhu Zeyu, and the authorities were recruiting players.

The authorities had strength in numbers, and their true power was something Zhu Yan couldn't fathom.

If "Zhu Zeyu" could join the official forces, he would gain access to an entirely different perspective of information, as well as some resources from the human faction!

Zhu Yan listened to the echo of his own footsteps down the corridor and smiled to himself.

It seemed Guan En was doing quite well for himself in the police department.

"Zhu Zeyu" might be able to take the initiative to extract some benefits from Guan En, perhaps even using him as a stepping stone to climb the ranks.

His aunt, however, was utterly worthless.

If he wanted to roam freely through the Carnival Paradise, he would have to clean up these loose ends left behind by his former self.

That way, he could avoid any unforeseen complications down the line.