Gu Worm

“Interesting,” you say, and that means I lose my entire vacation.

Zhu Yan silently grumbled to himself before continuing to read.

“At present, the infiltration methods of [Carnival Paradise] are varied.”

“[Holiday with Hidden Undercurrents] is an entirely new type of instance. Unlike previous instances, there are no horror creatures inside that will attack proactively.”

Oh?

That was interesting.

The fact that the horror creatures didn’t attack on their own didn’t mean there weren’t any horror creatures.

Horror creatures that wouldn’t attack unless provoked… Did that mean the players’ way of clearing the instance involved solving puzzles or avoiding the horror creatures?

Zhu Yan let out a huge yawn.

Clearing instances was exhausting work, after all.

He had thought that sleeping for a full ten hours would keep him from feeling tired, but after being dragged around by “Mother” for so long, he was actually starting to feel a little drowsy again.

“Would you like some coffee?” Vine Cage Girl asked. “Oh my, you’ve expended far too much energy. Coffee will perk you up.”

Zhu Yan yawned again.

At some point, the cow cat had followed them over. It was now rubbing itself against Vine Cage Girl with its tail held high.

Zhu Yan took out the advanced [Straw Bottle] from his ring.

The advanced [Straw Bottle] had a much larger capacity than the level-four Straw Bottle he had used before.

Even all of Li Panlong’s vitality took up only one-tenth of its capacity.

“Here. You can feed the cat,” Zhu Yan added. “You can drink it yourself, too.”

He took a sip of coffee and continued reading the hypnotic text.

“[Holiday with Hidden Undercurrents] is a life-embedded hybrid instance and has no specifically designated instance boundaries.”

“This instance was designed specifically for the [Hunter]. Therefore, the [Hunter] only needs to complete the [Hunter] mission.”

Oh? There was no player mission?

That was certainly unusual.

“The current [Hunter] mission is: implant the horror creature [Gu Worm] into the body of Director Jin of the [Human Alliance].”

Huh?

Zhu Yan held a mouthful of coffee, unable to swallow or spit it out. He nearly sprayed it everywhere.

What was this?

He stared at the neat, orderly lettering on the label, feeling as helpless as Benbo’erba facing a Nine-Headed Serpent.

Implant the [Gu Worm] into Director Jin’s body?

Was he supposed to do it?

Could he refuse?

But the text had clearly anticipated Zhu Yan’s reaction and immediately shot down the idea in emphatic terms.

“After the [Gu Worm] is implanted, Director Jin will become a puppet that can be controlled by high-level horror creatures.”

“This mission is of vital importance. The [Hunter] is requested to take it seriously. Do not resist. Do not refuse.”

“Additionally, the [Hunter] need not be overly concerned.”

“The mission has an extremely long timeline. It may be completed within three months.”

“Once the [Gu Worm] successfully survives inside Director Jin’s body, the broadcast will announce that you have cleared the instance.”

Three months, huh?

Zhu Yan considered the matter.

He had a plan to kill Jin Rongxu and take his place, and he could carry it out in the public-test instance one month from now.

After going through the [Where Is Mother] instance, he had realized that Jin Rongxu was practically useless.

Once Jin Rongxu was dead, Zhu Yan would still have two months to deal with Director Jin. In theory, that should be enough time.

“Since the mission is quite difficult, we have decided, after consultation, to provide you with a special grant of 300 Bone Gold Coins.”

“These funds may only be used for mission-related expenses and have already been deposited into your [Hunter] account.”

“We will monitor all incoming and outgoing transactions involving these funds.”

Three hundred Bone Gold Coins. Judging by the prices at the [Lazybones Craft Shop] and the [Demon Department Store], that was indeed enough to buy quite a lot of things.

Zhu Yan continued reading.

After several blank lines, the text brought up another matter.

“Considering the [Hunter]’s long and arduous journey, we are providing you with a five-day vacation.”

“During this period, you do not need to do anything.”

“After five days, please proceed to the [Recitation Platform] to undergo the [Baptism].”

Zhu Yan raised his head and looked at Vine Cage Girl, who was playing with the cat.

“What exactly is the [Baptism]?”

“It’s a little ceremony of transformation,” Vine Cage Girl said. “After undergoing the [Baptism], you can painlessly move closer to becoming a horror creature… Er, more similar to one, and continue leveling up.”

“Leveling up?”

“That’s right. Apparently, after the [Baptism], your leveling speed will increase a little. And the [Hunter] missions will change, too.”

Vine Cage Girl stared intently at Zhu Yan. “You’ll be able to complete missions as an instance Boss, taking the path of total opposition to the players.”

“If you accept Boss missions, you won’t have to consider the player missions at the same time. Pretty great, right?”

Zhu Yan nodded absentmindedly at Vine Cage Girl.

There was nothing wrong with what she said.

But if the [Baptism] meant turning him from a human into a horror creature, Zhu Yan thought he would rather pass.

During these five days of vacation, he would find a way to make another trip to [Mount Fangcun].

He had no way to resist this kind of baptism. Mount Fangcun ought to have something that could help.

Zhu Yan’s eyes continued scanning downward, only to discover that he had already reached the final line.

He took a photo of the long strip of paper, handed the unfinished coffee back to Vine Cage Girl, and pulled over the brightly wrapped cardboard box.

The contents of the box were simple: a stiff paper card that read, “Reward: 700 Bone Gold Coins. Redeem at the [Hall of Mourning],” a silver bracelet, and a plain wooden box about the size of a palm.

“[Advanced Storage Bracelet]: Can be used to store the wooden box containing the [Gu Worm].”

Zhu Yan pulled out the paper pressed beneath the bracelet and began to read.

“There is one portable surveillance forgery device, one eavesdropping earpiece, and one box of advanced temporary invisibility ability inside the bracelet.”

“Please promptly review the instructions for using the tools and abilities.”

“Please note: The advanced temporary invisibility ability is valid for three months. After three months, the ability will automatically expire.”

Zhu Yan stared at the final line, almost laughing aloud.

He touched the bracelet and discovered that there really was a small black box inside. It was probably the temporary ability.

This was far too generous!

It was generous enough that Zhu Yan could be in an excellent mood while having his puppet smile at Jin Rongxu.

The portable surveillance forgery device was self-explanatory. With this thing, the [Human Alliance]’s cameras would probably be nothing more than decorations.

There was no need to mention the eavesdropping earpiece. As for the final item, the “advanced temporary invisibility ability,” that was an even greater treasure.

Invisibility!

Although it seemed to overlap somewhat with [Mist], if [Carnival Paradise] had given him this item, Zhu Yan believed there had to be a reason.

[Mist] might be detected, but if he could really activate the invisibility ability and wander freely through instances and the [Human Alliance] building, then he would have nothing to worry about.

Zhu Yan opened the little wooden box attached to the bracelet and took a glance inside. A plump, stubby larva lay there motionless.

Disgusting!

He snapped the lid shut, gathered up the pile of rewards, and bid farewell to Vine Cage Girl.

…

The broadcast had just said that the [Gu Worm] was controlled by a high-level horror creature.

Who was that high-level horror creature?

In any case, the general direction of Zhu Yan’s mission had already become something as difficult as “dismantling the [Human Alliance].”

Why should Director Jin get to be a high-level horror creature when he couldn’t?