Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Lain simply couldn't understand how things had turned out this way.

He was just happily slacking off in the treatment room as usual, chatting with players, making money, and then checking the forum to see what ridiculous tasks the players had concocted for him.

And this new task left him utterly baffled.

"The plot thickens! Finally, the plot against Lain! Which side is righteous, and which is evil? What’s the purpose behind the dark hand reaching out to the players?"

Wow, that's a long one...

Seeing his name in the title, Lain immediately had an ominous premonition.

And indeed, his premonition came true.

Was someone investigating him?

Why would someone kidnap players to inquire about his true identity?

What true identity could he have? Wasn't he just an ordinary person?

Lain was utterly confused, but he couldn't stop the players from wildly speculating.

1l: "Five players kidnapped and interrogated...inquiring about Lain...hmm, is this the work of a hostile force targeting Lain?"

2l: "Possible. I think this might be the beginning of the main storyline. The players have released a sealed evil god in the hospital, who's hiding in a clinic in the streets and alleys, attracting the attention of an official organization. They might have been watching nearby, and when they noticed the players’ movements, they started capturing and interrogating."

3l: "Hiss...is it really such a coincidence? The plot just started, and it’s already discovered by the official organization? Are the investigators in this world that powerful? I don't quite believe it. Moreover, their approach doesn't seem very righteous."

4l: "I think it might be an internal conflict. Think about it, we players have been lingering around Lain these past few days. Did we perhaps anger his true believer group? If Lain is an evil god, he must have followers. Maybe they knew their lord was unsealed but kept a low profile due to the investigators' surveillance, and our movements as players disturbed them."

5l: "Hmm, but that doesn't make sense. Why would they ask the players about Lain's identity?"

6l: "Maybe it's a bluff, to press us on whether we know Lain's identity and where we got the information."

7l: "Possible. The logic of fanatics is unpredictable."

8l: "What about the person who came to the rescue? He's clearly a follower of Lain, right?"

9l: "Is it possible that there's also internal conflict among them? Even followers can get jealous of each other, right?"

Lain: ?

When I type a question mark, it's not because I have a question, but because you do...

10l: To be fair, I think this speculation is a bit far-fetched.

Lain thought with gratitude, 'Finally, there are still some sane people on the forum.'

10l: Rather than internal strife among the followers, I'm more inclined to think it might be the cult that originally sealed Lain, or some secret society that knows why Lain can't leave the hospital. Anyway, it probably isn't the official investigators; they wouldn't resort to such methods.

11l: Hiss... Another mysterious power? Is Arkham that deep and complex?

12l: After all, this is Arkham, hahaha.

Lain's face fell. Just as he was about to close the thread, he noticed a new development from the players.

Matcha Milk Green: Breaking news! I've been successfully rescued!

13l: ?? Rescued by a friend or relative in the game?

Matcha Milk Green: No, it wasn't other players who hadn't arrived yet. You won't believe it, but I was saved by an NPC, and they were from Lain's forces, Lain's followers!

14l：？？？

15l：？？？

Lan En: ???

16l: What's going on? Wasn't Lann supposed to be a guiding NPC? How come there are suddenly followers?

Matcha Milky Green: I don't know, but this follower guy looks pretty good, seems like he's got a lot of roles to play, and he's so enthusiastic, kept talking about Lann all the way.

17l: Yeah! Victory for Lain's malevolent faction!

18l: I've been released too, wuwuwu, seems like Lain’s people came to save me. He cares about me.

19l: LOL, so only A-Long was unlucky enough to tear up his card early.

Don't Call Me A-Long: ...Damn it.

20l: A-Long, are you still playing the game? If not, transfer your account to me, I want to go in and see my wife.

Don't Call Me A-Long: Get lost! I've already re-created my character!

21l: Don't you guys find it strange? The players were kidnapped not long ago, and Lain's followers are already rescuing them. Isn’t the timing a bit too perfect, a little suspicious?

22l: Is there a possibility that the unknown force opposing Lain is also being monitored by Lain's followers? Or maybe they aren't sure if Lain is really the target they are looking for (wild speculation).

23l: So, this is just a probe?

24l: It’s possible, we’ll have to see how the plot develops.

Lain couldn't fathom how the players’ imaginations could be so wild. Wait a minute, are they not discussing the possibility of him actually being a malevolent deity anymore? No, don't give up on the therapy!

Is it possible, just maybe, that he's really not a malevolent deity?

Lain couldn’t understand how he suddenly had these spontaneous followers. He tinkered with the panel he had access to, finding he could open the player forum and assign tasks to players. However, it required the players' location or face-to-face interaction. Fortunately, Matcha Milk Green had previously posted her location on the forum, so Lain quickly assigned a task for her to bring the followers to him.

He was determined to find out who was betraying him.

……

Carden, entering Lain's psychotherapy clinic for the first time, found its layout and ambiance similar to what he had seen before - not particularly ominous, but perhaps due to his mindset, everything appeared exceptionally terrifying to him.

Lain looked even more strikingly attractive than in the photos, exuding a dangerously alluring beauty, but Carden couldn't even dare to look up at him, let alone stare.

Stay calm, stay calm... Maybe he hasn’t noticed...

"Why did you do this?"

What? Do we know each other? Why are you betraying me?

Carden’s hand trembled as he held the teacup, feeling as if he was holding a deadly poison rather than tea, unsure whether to drink it or not.

Right, if he's indeed a deity-like existence, how could my little tricks ever deceive Him?

I was too arrogant.

Carden couldn't help but give a bitter smile, putting down the teacup. Under Lain's intense gaze, he stood up from his seat and knelt on one knee: "It was all my personal judgment. Please don’t punish Black Poker; I am willing to bear Your wrath alone."

Lain: ????

Well, there’s no need to apologize on your knees...

Wait, what did he just say?

"Black Poker..." Lann remembered, the criminal he helped interrogate at the police station was a member of Black Poker, wasn’t he?!

Under Lann's gaze, Calrens bitterly recounted everything he had done, including the sudden confession of Black Poker's information by Hunter at the police station, their plan to trouble Lann, and the messy affair of kidnapping Lann's follower.

Lann listened, feeling speechless and retrospectively frightened.

Now he finally understood the entire background of the incident. It turned out this guy mistook the players for his followers, thinking they were into some cult, hence the change in his attitude.

It could be said that if it weren't for the players' assistance, he might have been the one kidnapped...

Black Poker, just as Albert had informed him, was lawless and dared to kidnap in broad daylight, seemingly indifferent to the possibility of causing death.

This left Lann, who lived in a law-abiding society in his previous life, feeling quite conflicted.

Calrens, sensing the shift in Lann's mood, bit his lip, unholstered his gun, and placed it on the table: "Whatever punishment you think is appropriate to vent your anger, I'll accept."

Lann came back to his senses, his gaze at Calrens filled with complex emotions, and he said indifferently, "Forget it, it would dirty my floor. You didn’t kidnap me, after all."

Calrens realized, "Then I'll go and apologize to your followers right away."

"No need," Lann quickly stopped him, "They won’t mind that. Just provide them with some other information in exchange."

"Information...?" Calrens paused, "What kind of information are you looking for?"

"About strange incidents, non-human entities, traces that humans can’t leave behind..." Lann explained, "Any clues of this nature, let them investigate. They'll be happy to."

"I understand."

This wasn't difficult for Calrens, as Arkham was full of strange incidents.

But why would He make such a request? They were the greatest 'strangeness' themselves, and He should have much deeper knowledge about the Otherworld than their Black Poker.

At that moment, Calrens remembered the intelligence reported by his subordinates: these people had only appeared in Arkham today.

Could it be that they were planning to target other mysterious forces in Arkham?

With this thought, Calrens felt a chill in his heart, his wariness towards Lann escalating.

It seems Arkham is about to plunge into chaos...