Chapter 188

Chapter 188 -4

Everything in this amusement park was diminutive - tiny airplanes, miniature trains, small bumper cars, all seemingly tailored for children. Yet, the only exception was the Ferris wheel. Although its cabins were also tiny, the wheel itself was colossal. It wasn't quite touching the clouds, but it was close.

The other two joined Xiao Yuan in looking up at the massive Ferris wheel. The sight of the vast wheel with its tiny cabins, spinning slowly against the deep blue sky, was both dreamlike and awe-inspiring.

"This truly isn't a normal world," remarked Teammate Two.

"I noticed this Ferris wheel at the entrance and planned to ride it. Unfortunately, I dozed off on the small train. I wonder how many people this wheel can accommodate? From the top, one should be able to see the horizon," Teammate One mused.

After a brief silence, Teammate Two squinted at the cabins of the Ferris wheel.

From this distance, the higher cabins were mere specks, and the dusky sky made it even harder to discern.

However, as he tracked the descending cabins, he could vaguely make out the silhouettes of people. As the cabins slowly lowered, those figures became clearer. They were their colleagues!

"You're right; we can't burn down the entire park," Teammate Two conceded.

The Ferris wheel completed a rotation and was loading passengers. Although no one was boarding, the diligent duck-suited staff continued their routine, opening each cabin door to inspect it before closing it again.

Not only was no one boarding, but no one was disembarking either. A cabin with a passenger reached the bottom, and the duck-suited staff opened the door. However, the person inside gestured that they wanted another ride, declining to leave.

"Wait—"

Before Teammate One could speak further, Teammate Two muffled his mouth and dragged him back, whispering sharply, "Can you manage to get everyone off the entire Ferris wheel at once? If not, stay silent!"

Teammate One hastily nodded his understanding, and only then did Two release him.

"So, what should we do now?" Teammate One inquired humbly.

Two looked at Xiao Yuan, "Brother Yuan, what's our next move?"

Xiao Yuan instructed, "We'll inspect each cabin to see if the ghost is inside."

Without further ado, looking at the massive Ferris wheel, the two followed Xiao Yuan inside.

The duck-suited attendant didn’t allow them to enter but stopped them at the boarding platform, informing, "There's a rule: only two people per cabin."

"I see." Xiao Yuan examined the cabins with a scrutinizing eye, displaying a finicky demeanor, "I don't like red. I won't ride. You go ahead."

The indicated Teammate One: ?

"I'll join him," Teammate Two nudged One, "Let's go."

With a confused glance back at Xiao Yuan, One hesitantly followed Two.

With a click, the cabin door closed, and they each took a seat opposite each other.

As Teammate One seemed about to speak, Two preemptively said, "I know what you're thinking, but don't say it now."

Recalling the blazing train and bumper cars, Teammate One bit his tongue. Their cabin was gradually rising, the door securely locked from the outside. If a fire broke out now, they'd have no escape.

Although words were off the table, Teammate One was still determined to communicate. He used exaggerated facial expressions to convey his confusion: Weren't we supposed to inspect each cabin for the ghost? If we're on the Ferris wheel, how can we check?

Teammate Two appeared somewhat exasperated but replied anyway, "Your doubt is precisely why you were asked to ride first. The recommended route includes the Ferris wheel; it's a must-ride. Brother Yuan was being considerate, letting you go first. And I'm here with you so you won't feel lonely."

Teammate One pulled a face, "I feel like you're mocking me."

"I still suggest you remain silent. Look at the beautiful scenery around us – this amusement park, this city... Wait, what?" Teammate Two paused, taken aback by the view beneath them.

Although no lights shone outside and the sky wasn’t particularly bright, seeing the dark silhouettes of the buildings, they, as natives of Harbor City, instantly recognized it. Beyond the amusement park, it was Harbor City!

The two exchanged a glance, and Number Two quickly covered Number One's mouth to prevent him from uttering some bizarre words that might get them both burned alive on this Ferris wheel.

But in that brief eye contact, both displayed the same puzzled look: Did Harbor City have such an amusement park?

Below the Ferris wheel, Xiao Yuan was speaking with a duck mascot staff member.

After the red gondola came an orange one. The duck mascot, flapping its wings, opened the gondola door.

Xiao Yuan shook his head: “Orange? That color is too glaring. I won't ride in it.”

The duck mascot staff member reluctantly closed the gondola door.

Next up was a yellow gondola.

Xiao Yuan made a sharp comment, “Yellow isn’t appropriate, don’t you know that?”

The duck mascot closed the gondola door.

After that, a green gondola.

Xiao Yuan: "Although I've never been in love, I don't want to sport a hint of green."

A turquoise gondola.

Xiao Yuan: “I like this color, but the paint on the door is peeling. It looks cheap. I won’t ride.”

Blue.

Xiao Yuan: “It seems too aloof, not lively enough. If I ride alone, I'll feel even lonelier. I won’t get in.”

Purple.

Xiao Yuan: “I’m not into that.”

It then circled back to red. By now, the resentment radiating from the duck mascot staff member was nearly palpable, and Xiao Yuan could see dark energy emanating from the costume.

Xiao Yuan: “Is your service always this poor? Showing attitude just because a customer is a bit picky?”

The duck mascot seemed taken aback for a moment but quickly brightened its eyes into a smile and opened the door to the red gondola for him.

Without further explanation, Xiao Yuan simply stated, “Next.”

And so, he stood there, passing each and every gondola of the Ferris wheel. When he saw someone inside, he'd stand behind the duck mascot, letting its bulky form shield him. From behind the mascot, he could observe those in the gondolas, who were mostly in a dazed and bewildered state. Almost none of them took notice of him. As the wheel made its full rotation, nobody disembarked, and nobody spotted him.

When it circled back to the red gondola where Teammates One and Two sat, Xiao Yuan finally said to the duck mascot worker, under Teammate One's stunned gaze, “Fine, I’ll take this one. My friend used it, so I guess I can make do.”

The duck mascot, bursting with joy, hurriedly ushered him aboard, even its webbed feet seemed to flutter in elation.

Teammate One looked even more baffled, while Teammate Two decisively pulled him away from the Ferris wheel area.

Once outside, Teammate One exhaled, relieved to finally speak. “How long were we up there?” he asked, voicing his curiosity.

Teammate Two pondered, “Given the size, probably around two hours.”

“Two hours,” mused Teammate One, looking somewhat melancholy. “Do you think time here runs the same as outside? I feel bad. Before coming in, we were in touch with the other teams. They're facing hardships, and here we are, enjoying a Ferris wheel ride. Doesn't that feel wrong?”

Teammate Two fell silent for a moment. “Better worry about how the ghost will devour you if we can't get out. Instead of fretting over that, focus on your own safety.”

“Yeah,” Teammate One sighed. “It just feels too easy for us here. Everything's so odd. Anyway, let's break down what we know. First, from the Ferris wheel, we saw the world outside. This place is Harbor City…”

“Right, and I have no idea what the connection is between Harbor City and this amusement park. I’ve patrolled every part of Harbor City and I'm certain it doesn’t have this park. Not even this Ferris wheel.”

“Is the ghost from Harbor City?”

“Possibly.”

……

The two deliberated for what felt like hours, the sky constantly teetering on the brink of dawn. They couldn't tell how much time had passed. Their communication devices were frozen, stuck at the time they entered this realm.

Eventually, when both ran out of things to discuss, Xiao Yuan finally approached from the Ferris wheel and simply shook his head, indicating, “Nothing.”

The two asked him, “Did you see the outside from the Ferris wheel?”

Xiao Yuan, not being a local and with the dim lighting, couldn't identify any landmarks. He could only see outlines. Noticing their expressions, he guessed, “Is it Harbor City?”

They both nodded.

Xiao Yuan pondered for a moment, then decided, “Let’s move to the next attraction.”

Teammate One immediately voiced his recent speculation, “Yuan, do you think the ghost isn't personified as a human? I mean, within this amusement park, it might not manifest as a person. It could be a vehicle, the entire Ferris wheel, or even the entire amusement park. Maybe it’s just a trash can on the side, or even a plastic bottle within the trash?”

Xiao Yuan nodded, "All possibilities are on the table."

"Do we need to do a comprehensive search then?" Teammate One looked like he was on the verge of tears.

Xiao Yuan said, "Let's start with the people. We have to find the ghost before anyone on the Ferris wheel comes to on their own."

The mood among the trio immediately turned heavy. They knew if anyone on the Ferris wheel woke up, questioning the world around them, it would engulf the entire wheel in flames, making survival for those within near impossible.

"Let's split up." Xiao Yuan pulled out a brochure handed out at the entrance, pointing at several attractions. "You check out the Swan Boats, slides, Pirate Ship, and Spinning Teacups, they're nearby. You go to the rollercoaster, the Giant Pendulum, and the Swing Tower. You don’t need to ride them, but just observe. I'll continue on the recommended route. We’ll regroup at the park's entrance."

The two teammates nodded in agreement.

Before parting ways, Xiao Yuan emphasized, "Minimize your talking."

Teammate One quickly acknowledged and they began their separate searches.

Once separated, their pace quickened considerably. Especially for Teammates One and Two, they merely observed and took notes, signaling disinterest whenever an odd-looking duck staffer approached them.

Despite the unsettling stares from the duck staffers, both managed to remain calm and prevent any suspicious actions.

All their timekeeping devices had stopped, so they couldn’t gauge how much time had passed. Both teammates reached the park's entrance one after another, waiting a while before Xiao Yuan joined them.

Xiao Yuan approached, still holding the brochure but wearing a grim expression.

They asked, "What happened?"

Xiao Yuan flashed the brochure. The recommended route map had changed, and a new message appeared at the top: "Thank you for supporting our park! Try one more round. This route promises even more fun!"

A collective silence enveloped the trio.

Teammate One pulled at his hair in frustration, "So, an entire round and we gained nothing?"

Teammate Two remarked, "Listening to the ghost only drags us deeper, doesn't it?"

Teammate One, noticing the fresh blood stain on the brochure, asked with a pointed look at Xiao Yuan, "Did you kill one of those ducks?"

Revealing a self-inflicted wound on his arm, Xiao Yuan replied, "No, I needed to stay alert. The longer we stay, the easier it is to forget our purpose here. This park wants to trap us."

"We've discussed it; we didn’t spot any ghostly figures other than the ducks on those rides. So, are we moving on to searching the trash bins now?" asked Teammate One.

Teammate Two added, "What's our next move, Yuan?"

"If following the rules won't work, we'll try another way."

While One and Two were still puzzled about the plan, they saw Xiao Yuan slap the brochure onto One's chest and walk towards the duck staffer at the entrance.

Moments later, they witnessed Xiao Yuan whisper something to the duck, causing it to react violently. The duck's mouth sprouted sharp fangs and its wings morphed into jagged serrations.

With swift reflexes, Xiao Yuan quickly subdued the mutant duck. It collapsed, revealing not a human inside but a clump of dark stuffing.

Xiao Yuan paused in thought, with One and Two silently watching.

"Do we need to eliminate all the ducks in the park?" Xiao Yuan mused aloud.

Teammate Two quickly interjected, "It's one thing to tackle the one at the entrance, but don't touch those guarding the attractions!"

"Right," Xiao Yuan sighed, looking disappointed. "If we kill them, they'll ignite, and that would result in casualties."

Concerned about Xiao Yuan's line of thought, Teammate Two proposed, "Have you considered that the problem might not be restricted to this amusement park? Both the park and the outside are dark. The supernatural realm could encompass the entire harbor city, not just this park. Because we started at the entrance, we naturally assumed the issue lies here. Perhaps if we change our direction, we'll find the real problem."

Teammate One panicked, "So, you're suggesting we search the entire harbor city? No way!"

"Let's head out and see," suggested Xiao Yuan.

With Xiao Yuan leading the way, they moved towards the exit. A few steps away was a store, the same place where Teammate One had bought water earlier.

The store was dimly lit, yet they could see an elderly woman inside. She looked ancient, but her eyes were kind. Seeing them, she offered a warm smile.

In a hushed tone, Teammate Two whispered, "Is she the first real person we've encountered? Could she be a ghost?"

Xiao Yuan responded, "We'll find out if we ask."

Taking the lead, Xiao Yuan approached the old woman, with One and Two closely following.

First, he grabbed a bottle of water from the counter and then asked, "Ma'am, how long have you been running this store?"

The elderly woman chuckled, "No charge for the water. The amusement park next door told me guests can have a bottle on the house."

Xiao Yuan paused, then replied with a smile, "Thank you, ma'am."

The old lady continued, "I've been in business here for decades. Young man, you have questions about fate, don't you?"

Not one to beat around the bush, Xiao Yuan asked directly, "Has anything unusual ever happened at that amusement park nearby?"

The old woman shook her head, "They've been in business for so many years, and the children really enjoy it. The only odd thing might be that they're just too popular."

Xiao Yuan remarked, "Didn't they just open? They're promoting their opening, right? How can they have been in business for many years?"

The previously warm and kindly smile on the old woman's face froze. She turned to stare intently at Xiao Yuan and, with an emotionless tone, repeated, "They've been in business for so many years, and the children really enjoy it. The only odd thing might be that they're just too popular."

Xiao Yuan chuckled, "I see. My mistake. They have indeed been around for many years. I used to enjoy coming here as a child."

The stiffness in the old woman's gaze faded, returning to its affectionate nature, "Yes, it's been so many years."

Without probing further, Xiao Yuan regretfully left the store and signaled to team members one and two, "It's not her."

Then Xiao Yuan began to explain, "I noticed it at the amusement park. This world has certain glitches, like us not being here for fun or the fact that there's no one inside the duckling costume. If we point out these glitches, the things related to them start to malfunction."

Teammate number one asked, "So that's why the train and bumper cars caught fire? And why the duck at the entrance turned into a murderous duck?"

"Exactly," Xiao Yuan continued, "The old woman also had a glitch. In her perception, the amusement park had been open for a long time, yet today they were advertising their opening. When I mentioned it, she started to glitch out. I wasn't sure what would happen if she completely malfunctioned, so I quickly changed my statement to prevent it."

At this point, teammate number two looked around and asked, "Are you guys hungry?"

Teammate number one patted his stomach, "Starving, but I'm afraid to eat anything. I also feel exhausted and sleepy, but I dare not rest. Last time I felt this tired, I had to deal with a ghost all night during my shift."

"If we can't find a way out soon, we might starve to death here," teammate number two remarked.

Xiao Yuan gazed into the dark harbor city, suggesting, "Let's go and take a look outside."