Chapter 235

Chapter 235

Upon arriving, they found the Black Cat team promoting the "Ark of Noah" project in the square, surrounded by a number of residents. This spectacle caught Bernie and his companions off guard.

Ever since the deaths started occurring in the town, people knew that new rules had emerged. Most stayed indoors, so the streets hadn't been this bustling in a long time.

"We understand your eagerness, but please rest assured. There will definitely be room for all of you on the journey to the new world."

Only when Bernie drew closer did he hear the Druid's efforts to reassure them: "There's no need to rush and hand over your resources just yet."

"Why not? Why won't you accept them? Is the ship to the new world already full? So that's why you're turning us away?" a panicked resident asked.

"Not at all."

"Get rid of this damn thing and give us our tickets to the ship!"

An irate man below demanded impatiently.

Bernie and Cornelia then understood the situation, which was the exact opposite of what they had anticipated. The residents were already aware of the investigators and the new world plan. Now, upon hearing about the Black Cat's visit to promote the project, they were clamoring to sign up.

There was a sudden realization that trust hadn't vanished; it had merely shifted to this nascent organization.

All their efforts had failed to earn the residents' obedience, yet these people from the organization had the townsfolk eagerly offering their most cherished possessions to strangers.

It was an irony that defied explanation.

Someone noticed Bernie standing outside, "Oh, Mr. Bernie…"

Bernie smiled slightly, glad that someone had finally acknowledged his presence.

"You haven't joined the Ark Project, have you? Let me introduce you!" The person said enthusiastically.

Bernie: ...

Don't think he didn't know they were recruiting members!

Bernie's face darkened, and the person fell silent. Seeing Bernie push through the crowd and head straight for Black Cat and the others, he dared not speak further.

"You're from that investigative organization?"

The decision-makers among the residents still held influence. Upon noticing Bernie, Cornelia, and especially Cornelia in her wheelchair, they fell silent, their eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes," the black cat smiled, feeling pleased to see a familiar face, albeit one who no longer recognized him.

Bernie found the person before him strangely familiar, but after a closer look, he realized they had never met. His expression soured when he considered how these newcomers seemed to have won more favor than he had in years. "What do you want?"

"Exactly as we reported."

"Ha, you really dare to test the rules?" Bernie leaned in, his voice low. "Or are you using your illusory tickets to lure others into being your scapegoats, earning fame for yourselves?"

The black cat blinked in confusion, his face an open book of sincerity. "Of course not."

Pushing Bernie aside, he opened his arms to address the residents below. "It's not that I refuse your resources, but we have a more crucial mission ahead – building a ship to the New World won't happen overnight. You'll need to remain here for some time."

Silence descended upon the crowd, their gazes filled with grim resignation.

"—But don't worry, because our Investigative Organization won't abandon you. We'll explore the rules for everyone's sake, so please don't lose hope for survival!"

"It's starting, it's starting hhhh"

"I've been longing to do this! It's a Rule Tale, how can we not confront the rules, hahaha!"

"Eh, are Black Cat and the others really going to stay here until they figure out the rules? Aren't they falling behind other high-level players who are frantically acquiring high-level items?"

"I know about that. They discussed it. The resources are too hot to handle, what's tearing a few cards in comparison?"

"Damn, that's true."

Matcha Milk Green covered her mouth and whispered to the live stream, "We don't want to tear cards either, but they're giving us so much and with such enthusiasm. It'd be hard to accept without tearing them."

Mainly, the resources were obtained too easily. The NPCs' earnest expressions when they presented all they had to enroll moved them deeply, blurring the line between reality and the game.

Black Cat and the others had discussed it. To the NPCs, summarizing the rules meant risking their lives, but for them, it was just a matter of tearing a few cards – harmless enough.

Besides, who knew if such actions might trigger some hidden achievements?

The residents below exchanged glances at Black Cat's words but didn't react immediately – they had been disappointed too many times and wouldn't easily entertain hope.

Bernie watched in a daze, hardly believing these few people dared to make such bold promises to the entire community. In a trance, he handed over the records of recent resident deaths to Black Cat and his group, then watched them enter the room in a daze.

In Black Rock Town, the approach to probing the rules was straightforward and crude. If someone were to die unexpectedly at home, investigators would look into their activities throughout the day and compare them with those who survived. They'd seek out any actions that might have triggered the rules, such as eating an extra bowl of rice, making unusual gestures, visiting particular places, or speaking with certain individuals.

Lately, all the deceased had passed away in their own rooms, leaving everyone in the dark about what truly transpired indoors. The only known condition was that they lived alone. However, forcing two people to share a room didn't eliminate the deaths, causing widespread fear and unease.

The Black Cat and the Druid confidently shared a room, while Matcha Milk Green stayed separately to convey any information to the decision-makers should they pass away.

Throughout the night, they kept their live streams running.

"Here we go, live broadcast, thrilling!"

"The two best buds finally sharing a bed, screenshot taken!"

"I'm curious about the rule this time."

Black Cat and the Druid casually chatted with their viewers, striving to replicate the authenticity of everyday life. At night, they lay in bed, closing their eyes to sleep.

Suddenly, as Black Cat dozed off, he heard tapping sounds coming from beneath the bed.

Thud, thud, thud...

"Is anyone there?"

Thud, thud, thud.

The black cat deduced that this must be the rule. After a moment of contemplation, it chose not to respond, pretending not to have heard anything. As silence persisted, the knocking sounds from below grew louder. Still, the cat ignored them. Ten minutes later, rustling noises came from the foot of the bed, and the black cat finally couldn't resist opening its eyes.

Pitch-black, contorted strands of hair climbed up from beneath the bed, entwining around the cat.

Creak, screech.

It wasn't until the late hours of the night that the Druid finally stirred, drowsily catching sight of the black cat's lifeless body next door.

"..."

"Rule 8: The Person Under the Bed"

Matcha Latte had stayed up all night watching the live stream and yawned from fatigue. She scribbled down this line in her notebook.

"Known fact: Ignoring will result in death."

The next day, the black cat's lifeless body was removed from the room, witnessed by the neighboring residents who whispered amongst themselves. Cornelia sat in her wheelchair, with Bernie pushing behind her. He had planned to ask them about the rule once they emerged, and if they hadn't found it, he would have mocked them. However, upon seeing the black cat's corpse, he was left speechless.

On the third day, Matcha Latte continued sharing the room with the Druid. The black cat's new card hurriedly took over as the recorder. This time, Matcha Latte attempted to look beneath, only to encounter a pair of blood-red eyes before meeting an abrupt end.

"Looking down will also lead to death."

The Druid slept through another night.

On the fourth day, both the black cat and the Druid slumbered deeply, oblivious to any sounds coming from beneath the bed.

"If you miss the initial 'thump, thump, thump' and don't hear it, you can survive."

On the fifth day, it was finally the Druid's turn. Promptly waking up the black cat, they both heard the voice from under the bed asking 'Is anyone there?' The black cat, startled but awake, irritably replied, 'Your grandpa's here,' thus surviving.

After numerous attempts, the eighth rule was eventually discovered.

"Rule 8: Occasionally, King Oldie might extend a friendly greeting from beneath the bed. Please take note, if you ignore him, King Oldie might assume your bed is empty and climb up to find you. If you hear knocking on the bed frame at night, and someone asks 'Is anyone there?', a third person in the room must respond 'Yes' (or similar affirmations)."