The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 168: Simulated Event 2

"I'll be careful. I'll listen to the screams, but I'm going to keep examining the stone pillar to figure out what it is," said Lu Li.

His mental fortitude had already taken a hit; he needed to get something in return.

"The cries for help echoing from the ruins sound strange. You grew cautious and chose not to approach immediately, instead continuing your inspection of the stone pillar. On its black surface, you found a piece of a tailbone, impossible to identify as human or animal. You have received 'Mission Progress (10/100)' and 'Minor Information'."

"Confirming that the stone pillar is exactly as the rumors described, you let out a sigh of relief. Just then, the cries for help from the ruins become more frequent. What will you do now?" Tesla asked.

"I'll use the black stone pillar for cover and cautiously approach the source of the screams," Lu Li replied.

"The cries for help didn't cause you to panic. You remained cautious, moving from the cover of one black stone pillar to the next as you approached the source of the sound. You came upon a grove of pillars clustered more tightly together, like a forest, standing crookedly on the black earth and reaching toward the cloud-choked sky."

"You seem to have spotted something, but the thicket of stone pillars prevents you from seeing any details. What do you plan to do?" Tesla asked.

"I'll get closer, even more carefully, making sure not to make a sound. I'll watch where I step to avoid any loose stones or anything fragile," Lu Li answered.

Though it was unlikely Tesla would use something so trivial to reveal his position, it was better to be safe than sorry.

"The more frantic the cries became, the calmer you grew. You moved silently behind a black stone pillar that gave you a clear view of the scene ahead. To your astonishment, you saw a monster preparing to attack a villager lying on the ground. As you took in the sight, you suddenly remembered the information you had gathered in the village: the chief's son and daughter had gone missing two weeks ago, and some residents had seen their silhouettes on the black soil.""The screams for help brought you back to the moment. You see the young villager on the ground, apparently paralyzed with fear, as the monster slowly approaches. What do you decide to do?" Tesla asked.

"I'll observe for ten seconds," replied Lu Li.

"You spent ten precious seconds observing. The villager's screams grow more piercing and ragged. As you tried to get a better look at the monster, an indescribable aura enveloped you. 'Minor loss of mental fortitude.' You have updated 'Mission Progress (25/100).' What will you do next?" Tesla asked.

It seemed 'mental fortitude' was equivalent to his Mind Level and psychological state.

"I'll back away slowly and leave," Lu Li said.

Tesla raised an eyebrow slightly. This was an unexpected reaction.

It wasn't unexpected because no one had chosen this option before. On the contrary, many participants in this simulation had chosen to leave. The surprise was that Tesla hadn't thought Lu Li would make that choice as well.

"Perhaps it was out of fear, perhaps you sensed something was wrong, or perhaps you simply decided to focus on your mission. You ignored the scene and retreated, leaving the dense forest of pillars. Shortly after your departure, the cries for help from within the stone grove ceased abruptly," Tesla continued.

"I'll circle around this area and continue toward the ruins," said Lu Li.

"'I'm very sorry, but I can't save you,' you thought to yourself as you pressed deeper into the ruins. The surrounding landscape began to shift. The black stone pillars grew thicker and taller, and now there were a few unfinished ones among them. Your gaze swept past the columns, and at last, you saw your destination at the foot of a mountain—a cluster of tall and mysterious dark ruins."

"But reaching it will not be simple. You can see that the towering forest of pillars ahead is filled with more of the monsters you saw earlier," Tesla said.

"I'll go around them and approach the structure from the side," Lu Li replied.

"You decide not to cut through the forest of pillars, opting to go around. But just as you turn to leave, you sense something rapidly approaching from behind. You whirl around to see the villager from before running straight at you, the monster in hot pursuit. What do you do?" Tesla asked.

"Dodge the attack and put some distance between us," Lu Li answered.

"You darted to the side, evading the lunging villager. When you looked back, a chilling sight met your eyes. The monster wasn't chasing the villager—the villager's legs had fused with the creature, becoming one with it, twisting into a thick tail. A wave of fear washed over you. 'Minor loss of mental fortitude'."

"The villager, now fused into the monster's tail, seemed to be in control. The creature stood where you had been just moments ago. The villager shrieked at you, his voice filled with rage: 'Why did you run away! Why didn't you save me!!!' What will you do next?" Tesla asked.

"I'll reply, 'You've been dead for many days. You didn't die by that monster's hand because I abandoned you,'" said Lu Li.

"'You've been dead for many days. You didn't die by that monster's hand because I abandoned you,' you answered. The madness on the villager's face slowly subsided. Just when you thought you might avoid a fight, his expression twisted again, and he shrieked with renewed fury, 'But you're still a heartless person, a coward! A villain who ignores the plight of the wretched!!!' The villager-monster began to advance on you. You felt a surge of alarm and decided to..." Tesla continued.

"I'll answer, 'When you were pretending to be alive and crying for help, I already knew you were dead,'" Lu Li said.

"You told him, 'When you were pretending to be alive and crying for help, I already knew you were dead.' 'What do you mean, you knew I was dead?' Your response made the villager pause. His lips moved a few times before he couldn't stop himself from asking," Tesla narrated.

"I'll reply, 'It means I didn't save you, not because I was unwilling to help, but because I understood that you were already dead,'" said Lu Li.

The sentence was a bit convoluted, so Tesla didn't repeat it, simply continuing the narrative.

"The villager didn't seem to believe your answer, but he also didn't resume his attack. He waited in silence for you to say more. The monsters in the towering forest of pillars still haven't noticed you. What will you do?" Tesla asked.

"I'll talk to him," Lu Li said. "Before entering the ruins, I visited your village. The residents told me the chief's son and daughter went missing two weeks ago, and that they were last seen on the black soil. I believe you're the son."

"That's me," the villager answered, his eyes dull.

"Other than that, I heard of no one else missing from the village. So when I saw you by the source of the screams, I realized you were the chief's son. There is no food in these ruins, yet you survived here for fifteen days. You survived for fifteen days, only to be so frightened by a monster that your legs gave out from under you. You were terrified, yet you cried loudly for help in a forest of pillars inhabited only by monsters," said Lu Li.

"With every word you uttered, the villager's expression grew darker. He lowered his head and whispered, 'Perhaps you're right... But I still can't accept it... Why have I become... like this...'" Tesla continued.

"Just as you thought you might avoid a fight, he went on, 'Why didn't you come sooner? Why are you alive while I've become like this? Why...'" said Tesla.

"You sensed something was wrong and decided to..." Tesla prompted.