Bank Cards Are More Exquisitely Designed Than Grains

While Zhu Yan was busy opening his account, the meeting at the police station had not yet concluded.

The officer at the front looked gravely at his colleagues below.

"From our previous contacts and encounters, we have determined that the suspect possesses strong anti-reconnaissance awareness, exceptional psychological resilience, and acts with meticulous care."

"Under these circumstances, we cannot alert the snake in the grass. This is why I disapprove of sending mass text messages about a census and using that as an excuse to knock on doors."

Guan En focused his attention, listening so intently that a thin layer of sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Currently, we have pinpointed several possible areas, focusing mainly on the residential zones around the train station and a few urban villages."

"According to Guan En's statement, the suspect is around 18 years old and a college freshman at Xishan University."

You owe your life to me...

Is he truly a public enemy standing in opposition to humanity?

The officer on the stage paused and began to assign the follow-up tasks.

"Tonight, Xiao Mo's group will stay behind to continue reviewing the North Station surveillance footage and conduct further investigations in the targeted areas."

"Additionally, we highly suspect that the suspect's ID number is correct; we just cannot find the corresponding name in the system."

If both his aunt and the authorities in another city reported the exact same number, then this point is practically indisputable.

The officer picked up a small device from the table and waved it.

"Once the specific areas are locked down, our plainclothes officers will go door-to-door under the guise of checking water meters or conducting anti-fraud campaigns—"

"We will check everyone's physical ID or household register to weed out the suspects first."

This was an out-and-out clumsy method, but truly a measure of last resort.

The officer felt somewhat helpless. If the crisis brought by this suspect wasn't so severe, the trick of hiding his name and appearance really could have deceived everyone.

Unfortunately, things were not that simple this time.

"Guan En, you are a player. Go to the designated location in the outer suburbs to quarantine first, and do not make contact with anyone during this period."

"The quarantine site has living and survival supplies, as well as a telephone for communication."

"The moment you hear the sound of a broadcast notification, contact us immediately."

Guan En nodded and said, "I will follow my superiors' orders."

The officer continued addressing the rest.

"Double-check with Captain Huang and look at the map. We will immediately take our people to the Hall of Mourning..."

...

Inside the Hall of Mourning.

Zhu Yan stood up from the soft leather chair, holding a golden card in his hand.

In the center of the card was a black caged bird.

This finely carved bird could actually move. As Zhu Yan examined it, it was fluttering its wings inside the cage, a sight that evoked a sense of despair.

Zhu Yan tucked the card securely into his jeans pocket, ensuring there was absolutely no chance of it falling out.

The pseudo-human led him across the hall filled with strange creatures. Until he stood on the platform again, Zhu Yan curiously watched a bizarre corpse devouring a horse's leg.

The pseudo-human girl stood on the platform. Her originally smooth face sagged with deep nasolabial folds; it seemed she was starving.

"What happens if they attack players in the hall?" Zhu Yan asked her.

The pseudo-human pressed a button by the wall, and the platform slowly began to ascend.

"They would fill their stomachs," it said resentfully.

"Oh... there wouldn't be any punishment, right?" Zhu Yan lacked any tact.

"Survival of the fittest. Why would there be a punishment for such a thing?"

Zhu Yan understood but didn't stop asking questions.

"I'm such a weakling, why don't they attack me?"

The pseudo-human slowly rolled its eyes upward.

But it still answered him in a sarcastic tone.

"Quite self-aware. That is the current rule of the Hall of Mourning."

"If it weren't for this rule, you would have long been reduced to a puddle of meat paste, resting..."

The pseudo-human patted its own belly.

"Mhm... resting right in here."

...What kind of thing was that to say!

"Eating," the pseudo-human muttered, its tone turning peculiar.

"Can't eat players, can't waste effort..."

"The rules won't change until some time passes..."

Zhu Yan immediately caught the main point of its muttering.

"How long is 'some time'?"

Could it be as long as the five to six months before the descent of the Street of Flocking Birds?

Or earlier, or later?

The pseudo-human furrowed its brows.

"How should I know?"

Zhu Yan didn't ask any more questions this time.

Knowing this much information was enough.

Protecting account-opening players was probably no different from a pig farm sparing the piglets.

The platform slowly ascended into the cafe, which was permeated with a foul odor. With a click, it fit seamlessly into place.

Zhu Yan looked out through the dark glass window. A mother was pulling along a constantly fussing little boy. Everything was peaceful and beautiful, exuding a grounded sense of everyday life.

Zhu Yan left the WE Cafe, and fresh air-conditioned air filled his lungs.

Staying in an air-conditioned, odor-free shopping mall was truly a luxury!

Zhu Yan walked to the milk tea shop next door and ordered an iced fruit tea. He watched the rowdy little boy skip over to the sagging-faced pseudo-human and grab its skirt.

The pseudo-human immediately bent down and, with a beaming smile, carried the little boy into the shop.

The sweet, icy beverage flowed between his lips and teeth. Zhu Yan turned his head away, having already anticipated the little boy's fate.

He picked up his drink and walked out. Before he had taken more than a few steps, he predictably heard the mother's terrified scream.

The next second, the female broadcast voice suddenly sounded, blending with the screams.

Zhu Yan furrowed his brows and quickened his pace against the flow of the crowd.

"Good evening, player. A dungeon you can enter has been detected."

Here it goes again. The female voice's previous warning, "Do not stop," truly wasn't spoken in vain.

However, the situation this time was better than the last. At least he had gotten enough sleep and eaten a full meal.

The last time a new dungeon appeared, it was because the police department was about to arrest him.

What was the reason this time?

Had the police finally arrived at the Hall of Mourning?

"Player, please leave Wanxiang Plaza within 3 minutes," the female voice said calmly. "Otherwise, you will lose the opportunity to choose to enter a specific dungeon."

Just as expected!

The police would very likely arrive within 3 minutes.

If so, this dungeon should have nothing to do with them.

Then what could it be?

In any case, Wanxiang Plaza was no longer safe.

Zhu Yan jogged up the escalator, taking one last look back before reaching the first floor.

A trail of scarlet meandered out from the bizarre storefront of the WE Cafe.

Slurping sounds, chewing noises, and the woman's devastating cries mixed together. A passerby gathered the courage to step forward and look, only to scream and stumble back two seconds later.

Zhu Yan paid it no further mind.

He ran toward the mall's entrance and charged into the sweltering August air.

Across the street, Zhu Yan spotted several police cars in the distance.

"Very well," the female voice said. "Congratulations on securing a precious dungeon opportunity."

The green light turned on.

Zhu Yan crossed the crosswalk, walking briskly in the opposite direction of the police cars.

"After the Cat and Mouse Game dungeon ended, you chose to use Concealed and Unrevealed."

"Your information was hidden, which has drawn the intense scrutiny of human organizations."

The female voice broadcasted in a melodious tone.

Zhu Yan took a sip of his fruit tea. The icy beverage slid down his throat, calming his restless heart.

He had already witnessed death. He was much calmer than before, his body no longer wound so tightly.

He already knew everything the female voice was saying. So, what was next?

"The human agency has determined that your ID number is searchable, meaning you do not possess the ability to alter physical identification documents."

Well, he really didn't.

But since Carnival Paradise had pointed it out, did that mean he had a chance to change it once more?

"Of course, this is an ability you can obtain."

Zhu Yan was startled, then overjoyed.

His footsteps paused for a moment, his focus sharpening.

"In 3 hours, the instance Devouring Villa will begin."

"Instance location: Villa No. 12 in the outer suburbs quarantine zone."

"Do you wish to participate in the instance Devouring Villa?"