The Budding of Dissemination

The police car carrying Guan En sped toward the nearest police station's security office.

A few minutes ago, that gentle female voice had finished announcing the rewards and other details of this instance, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

That Plague Exemption Time was a perk given only to players.

Who knew if this thing would infect others even when he wasn't showing symptoms?

The problem was, just in case he was Zhu Yan in disguise, and to prevent him from scamming or deceiving them, they had gagged him!

For the first time, Guan En felt anxious and desperate toward his own people.

He shrank deeper into the police car, away from the others, as a drop of cold sweat rolled down his cheek.

...

The massive mouth of the Monster Tram opened a few times, bringing in a strange new smell each time.

All of these stops were stations of the Carnival Paradise.

Zhu Yan saw an abandoned wax museum, stone houses stacked perilously like eggs and woven with spider webs, and exquisite, beautiful toy display windows that looked no different from those in the human world.

During this time, the art student's typewriter had been working tirelessly.

In addition to an ID card with the name Zhoo Yen, it also diligently produced a brand new household registration book, two death certificates for immediate family members, and a property deed.

The photo section of the ID card showed a face somewhat similar to Zhu Yan.

Zhu Yan brought the ID closer and noticed that only the eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lips were slightly different, but the overall aura of the face instantly appeared much kinder.

Damn.

Such was the power of an art student!

Just as he was about to mentally bow down in gratitude to the art student, the broadcasting female voice of the Carnival Paradise chimed in at an inappropriate time.

"Congratulations, player," the female voice said. "It is detected that you have completed the majority of your data modification."

However, the typewriter was no longer working.

Zhu Yan gathered all the documents, including the property deed that made him extremely curious.

He hadn't had the time to examine it closely, but a house couldn't just appear out of thin air, could it?

What exactly was going on?

"I will explain some of the key points," the female voice said melodiously.

Zhu Yan had already stored the typewriter back into the Plague Ghost's clothes and sat up straight.

The Monster Tram was almost empty; the VIPs in the back rows had all gotten off.

He estimated that he would arrive at his stop in ten minutes at most.

"We have implanted your new information into the human system."

Zhu Yan focused his attention and pricked up his ears.

"Your old identity information cannot correspond to your new identity information, and the new identity information will not directly overwrite the old information. Previously left biological information will be erased."

They had fabricated a completely new identity for him.

This was fantastic!

"Please modify the Admission Notice as soon as possible and prepare for the next instance—if you can survive."

Zhu Yan let out a heavy sigh of relief.

He packed up all his belongings and finally heard the arrival broadcast for his own stop.

"Station 46: 178 Meiyuan Street, Ribo District, Anwu City has arrived."

The voodoo doll's voice possessed a gentleness that didn't match its appearance.

"Passenger, we advise you to leave before the instance ends and not to wander into the human world by mistake."

"The fare will be automatically deducted shortly."

Zhu Yan recalled the scene when he first saw the Monster Tram.

At that time, the instance hadn't ended yet, and the doppelganger upstairs told him that the vehicle had arrived.

Combined with this broadcast, the Monster Tram could only stop at the locations where an instance descended and at the Carnival Paradise.

He stood up, and the bumping and swaying inside the tram also ceased.

The roof of the tram opened up again. This time, the scene outside had turned into a brick and stone wall.

In the middle of the wall was a small double-leaf residential door. A small lamp was lit by the door, illuminating a small iron plaque that read 178 Meiyuan.

Zhu Yan looked back one last time to check his seat, and after confirming he hadn't left anything behind, he quickly jumped off the tram.

As the Monster Tram gradually faded from his line of sight, Zhu Yan leaned against the wall, hearing the sound of chewing from inside the door and the broadcast sounding at the same time.

A thick scent of blood drifted into Zhu Yan's nose.

"Player, please note that we will immediately teleport you back to the real world."

Zhu Yan braced himself, in no rush to change his appearance.

In truth, just appearing here was dangerous for him.

Because the tragedy at 178 Meiyuan had already occurred. Tomorrow, the day after, or the day after that, someone might report it to the police.

Once the police checked the surveillance footage, they would very likely discover that he had been here.

However, his original appearance was now a piece of erased data.

The broadcast had said that his new information would not directly overwrite the old information, meaning the two were independent of each other, and the old information could still be used.

As long as he kept his original appearance and used his old phone number to hail a ride, the police still wouldn't be able to track him down.

Zhu Yan gripped the bathrobe tightly and felt the scene before his eyes subtly flash.

The nauseating chewing sounds vanished—

Replaced by the faint chirping of summer insects and the sound of a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves.

Zhu Yan immediately followed the dim yellow light of the streetlamps, walking further away.

This was likely an old architectural complex from a century ago, with narrow streets and alleys where no cars passed.

Zhu Yan took out his phone, quickly located the nearest main road, and hailed a car.

From behind him came the heart-wrenching cries of a woman and a child. Zhu Yan's heart sank at the sound, and he quickened his pace.

It seemed the instance was about to break out here as well.

He just didn't know what the situation was like on his aunt's side...

Meanwhile.

Inside the police station, the lights illuminated the entire interrogation room in a pale, stark white.

Several police officers, along with Captain Huang, sat behind the desk, listening as Guan En calmly finished his last sentence about the instance.

In reality, Guan En hadn't confessed everything.

He originally wanted to tell them about the Plague Ghost and the Plague Exemption Time the moment his restraints were undone.

But when the words reached his lips, he remained silent.

Did he really have to tell them?

The Plague Exemption Time was only ten days.

If Guan En wanted to live, he needed to quickly find a way to enter an instance where he could obtain a vaccine or other items.

But if he told them the truth, would he really still have the chance to enter an instance alone and survive?

According to the police station's standard procedures, he would be strictly isolated—everyone who had come into contact with him would also be strictly isolated, and their movements would be heavily restricted.

The outbreak of the plague was too terrifying.

Especially this unknown, potentially incurable plague closely related to the Carnival Paradise!

The police would very likely try to contain it at the source.

If he spoke up, his only fate would be dying in a small room, his body burned to ashes along with the house.

"Little Guan, do you have anything else to confess?" Captain Huang asked.

Guan En shook his head.

He thought of the feeling the eyes of that player in the instance had given him.

Resolute, completely indifferent, and entirely unfazed by his identity as a police officer.

Perhaps the other party had long seen through the inevitable trend of the Carnival Paradise's descent.

Regardless...

"Nothing else," Guan En said, shaking his groggy head.

He couldn't die.

He was the only son his parents had.

If the Carnival Paradise was bound to descend, why should he be the first to die?

"Captain Huang, I'm tired," Guan En said, keenly noticing a faint black spot that had appeared on the captain's arm.

He glanced up at Captain Huang's neck and found an identical mark on the right side.

Captain Huang certainly hadn't had these during the day.

This was very likely the plague!

"I haven't slept in a day and a night. I want to head back and get some sleep."