Chapter 12: The Haunting of the Black Tower 12

Chapter 12: The Haunting of the Black Tower 12

After finishing his ramble, Pei Yi shut down the live stream. The CG that he anticipated appeared before him, showcasing the game's reality.

The screen revealed the black tower, now no longer dark but bathed in warm colors. What was once shadowed was now brilliantly illuminated.

In the corridor, a pair of children ran swiftly, their youthful faces spinning in front of the camera, their laughter contagiously joyful.

Their running together was captured by the photographer in room 204, freezing the moment forever with a click.

The camera slowly ascended, soft light shining on the building, making everything appear normal. Without experiencing the nightmare, one could hardly imagine the filth hidden within.

The camera fixed on the blue sky.

The final subtitle appeared: "Caring for children begins with you and me."

Pei Yi: "……"

Incredulous. The building looked too idyllic, the sunlit red-brick structure resembling a piece of art. If not for the two homicides, the neighborhood life seemed very harmonious.

Just as Pei Yi was reflecting, the camera suddenly shifted, plunging him back into darkness. He realized he was in room 304 again! Suddenly, he found it hard to breathe. A sinister, terrifying smile flashed across the camera.

Then, the scene switched to a prison where a man was confessing with his head lowered.

"I didn't kill her, really, after we were done, I let her go back. She and that little boy, I even watched them go to the rooftop. It was odd, you can check again. Why couldn't it be that little boy who killed her! His parents were so twisted, and he's a freak too! Ask the photographer from 204, he captured it all, really, believe me, please!!"

Pei Yi was shocked! A twist? He wanted to hear more, but the screen went black. He found himself in a modern city.

All the skyscrapers were over fifty stories high, making it impossible to see where the sky was.

Countless skyscrapers, myriad neon lights, robots on the streets, and the J-police armed and masked.

Of course, there were also passersby, each wearing a wristband similar to Pei Yi's.

Pei Yi thought completing the game would allow him to return, but that proved impossible.

He seemed to have arrived in an enhanced version of Shangzhou — highly modernized and technologically advanced.

His enlarged portrait was displayed on a giant screen atop a skyscraper. A sweet system voice announced,

"Champion of the 0740th newcomer's list in Thriller City, Pei Yi, 'Black Tower Nightmare' overall performance S++++, enjoy a seven-day loop on the screen! Congratulations, Pei Yi."

The voice looped continuously, accompanied by a huge holographic robot standing there, waving and smiling, an exact replica of himself. Pei Yi was startled by the realism.

Mechanical voice echoed in his ears.

"Player Pei Yi, having completed the 'Black Tower Nightmare' dungeon and received a gold medal, your current overall ranking is 79821."

Pei Yi glanced at his wristband, which boldly displayed the score of 30.

"Welcome, player Pei Yi, to Thriller City, JC Club. Wish to experience horror from three stars to limitless terror? Any high-rise or scenic spot in the city, even standing by the river, can offer you a thrilling horror game experience at any time. JC will fulfill all your desires! Want to enjoy the adoration of thousands? Daily, the city's skies will display ranking data, with dungeon hunts broadcasted globally live!"

Hearing this, Pei Yi paused, "Wait." So the system meant... "I can enter that kind of horror game at any time?"

"Yes, but there is a cost involved, requiring points."

Pei Yi: "...So with my current 30 points, where can I go?"

"As the champion of the newcomer's list, you will be accommodated in the Glory Tower, with rent waived for the first three months. This is JC's reward for each champion player."

"What about the players who completed the dungeon but didn't finish first?"

"Rest assured, JC has a variety of apartments available. As long as you have points, anything is possible. If you're on a budget, you might consider staying in the underground city where the rent is more affordable."

Pei Yi: "Okay then, when does the next competition start?"

"It is scheduled for the day after tomorrow."

"One last question, how can I cash out my points? The exchange rate is one to ten thousand, right?"

"Cash out at any time. JC promises that every point can be withdrawn at any time. However, if you die, corresponding points will be deducted. Also, there is a participation fee for each dungeon entry."

"…How do I get to the Glory Tower?"

"You have been transported there already."

Pei Yi didn't know how they did it, something akin to teleportation. This tower was unlike any other, genuinely golden, as if it were plated with real gold.

Entering the lobby, many people looked his way. Pei Yi felt out of place, perhaps too casually dressed? They were all in suits and ties. The lounge in front faced the azure sea.

Pei Yi to the system: "Which is my room?"

"Your room is on the second floor, room 301. The previous occupant was moved out due to insufficient points."

"…" Pei Yi instinctively thought it didn't bode well, maybe he should move out.

But upon opening the room, he couldn't bring himself to leave. How to describe it? He had never lived in such a nice place in his life, a three-bedroom with a living room. The decor was in his preferred natural wood style, very comfortable, including a large balcony. Though it didn't offer a sea view, it was far superior to his current rental.

Pei Yi took out his dice and rolled them. Not bad, a sign of fortune.

— Might as well settle in.

["For meals, you may visit the third-floor hall. Ask me for whatever you need. Please note, accommodation is free for the first three months; afterwards, a monthly fee of 5 points is required, as are other services. Welcome to JC Glory Tower, we look forward to your continued performance."]

"Stingy," he muttered.

Pei Yi looked around and saw a food service option, but it required points. He silently put down the phone.

It was true; everything here required points, and at a substantial cost. He decided to exchange his points for cash and buy some instant noodles.

Acting immediately, Pei Yi cashed out his points and ordered two buckets of instant noodles from an online store.

After eating the noodles, Pei Yi inquired about the game and learned that to track game progress, one could log into the JC forum.

Pei Yi logged into the panel and saw his HL replay views had reached forty thousand, with the numbers still skyrocketing.

There were heaps of comments and gifts. Noticing some trolls, Pei Yi occasionally replied. He had never experienced this before, having never been famous. He realized that the more he responded, the more energized they became, so ignoring them was the best strategy.

He visited the forum JC residents frequent. Unprepared, he found the discussions about him slightly unsettling.

The "Black Tower Specter" section was filled with posts discussing his performance.

Topics included [A comprehensive review of Pei Yi's performance in the HL].

[What are Pei Yi's chances of breaking through in the next warm-up match?]

[I declare Pei Yi my new idol.]

Flattered, Pei Yi clicked through, finding the speaker was someone named "Beanstalk Bro."

"The previous post about Pei Yi's three highlights and three lowlights is there for reference. Today, let's discuss Pei Yi's impressive moments in the latter half of the game.

"I've said before, JC is a game that demands daring. It's not just about being smart or knowledgeable; it requires a person with standout overall abilities, or someone who dares to risk it all. The former is evident in 'God Lu,' and the latter, in Pei Yi.

"In the second half, many criticized him for wasting time on the ghost in room 304, but he spent ten minutes dealing with that person. That showed passion. Everyone hated the man in 304, but no player actually took action. Pei Yi truly empathized with the little girl in room 502.

"Then, the defining moment everyone talks about—fulfilling the little boy's wish. Admittedly, as a die-hard JC fan who's watched the HL episode over forty times, I was taken aback by Pei Yi's analysis of the dream sequence.

"At first, I thought it was far-fetched. But after inquiring with the official dream creator, they confirmed the game's core is nightmares, indeed designed around the boy's parents.

"For instance, the zombie represents the father's fierce dominance in the boy's eyes, always causing harm. The dream serves as a substitute for reality. Then, the woman crawling upside down, everyone knows the boy's mother betrayed traditional values.

"Thanks to Pei Yi, we finally witnessed HL's conclusion, leaving us with a cliffhanger and a major twist. We thought the little girl was killed by the man in 304, but while he was despicable, he might not have been the murderer.

"The little boy, living in the shadow of domestic violence and parental murder, could very well be the culprit, possibly killing the girl and hiding her in the water tank, playing a final game of hide and seek. If it was indeed the man from 304, there would be no need to overcomplicate by placing her in the water tank.

"This case remains unsolved in real life. The man in 304 was executed, but the little boy's whereabouts are unknown to this day, now likely in his forties or fifties.