Chapter 205: The Haunted Construction Site on Huaishu Road 03

Chapter 205: The Haunted Construction Site on Huaishu Road 03

The entire eastern part of the construction site fell silent. The players who had been whispering to each other all turned to stare at Qin Fei, their eyes like searchlights.

Sometimes, comparing people can truly drive one mad.

Qi Xiu was speechless for a moment before regaining his composure. "…Please continue."

He inadvertently used a respectful tone.

And Qin Fei did not disappoint with this respect.

"I believe that this ghost didn't die on this construction site," Qin Fei said, shocking everyone. "At least, it wasn't due to the construction work here."

This conclusion completely overturned the analysis that Qi Xiu and the others had just made.

Qi Xiu frowned, still cautious and serious. "Why do you say that?"

"First."

The young man raised a finger, his gaze clear as if he were giving a presentation. "Look over there."

He pointed to a corner of the construction site fence.

On the dirty fence board, a large construction map covered in dust was neatly posted.

"According to the dates marked on the construction map, this site has only been under construction for three days," he explained.

Qi Xiu nodded, understanding dawning on him. "The system prompt mentioned that before our group, three construction teams 'only stayed one night before hastily leaving the site.'"

Three days, three construction teams.

Strange things had already started happening from the very first day of construction.

This clearly indicated that the ghost appeared much earlier than when the construction began.

Qin Fei nodded and continued:

"Second."

"Although this ghost story is called 'The Haunted Night at the Huaishu Road Construction Site,' the introduction also mentions another location."

The system description of the construction site reads:

The construction site opposite Sinar Mas Department Store, located at No. 404 Huaishu Road in the city center.

"No. 404 Huaishu Road, Sinar Mas Department Store," Qin Fei said slowly. "Such detailed location information in the system prompt must have a purpose."

Lu Cheng nodded vigorously. "Indeed, there's something odd about the road sign No. 404."

It sounds like a place haunted by ghosts.

He looked in the direction of the department store.

Under the thick layers of dark clouds, the building of Sinar Mas Department Store appeared even more dilapidated and decrepit, as if it could collapse at any moment.

Before entering the construction site fence, the players had already observed their surroundings.

In this ghost story world, the visible range is limited, with dense gray fog obscuring everything beyond a few dozen meters around the construction site. However, the outline of the building across the street was exceptionally clear, almost as if it were right in front of them.

The deep brown window panes concealed the interior scenes, and a shadow flickered behind the window Lu Cheng was looking at.

Lu Cheng shivered, and the two C-level players from Crystal Bubble Dragon couldn't help but shrink their necks, as if burying their heads in their collars would protect them from all harm.

"In summary," Qin Fei said calmly, "I believe that the main map of this ghost story might not be the construction site, but rather the department store across the street."

"Although so far, the players' activities have been confined to the construction site, we will inevitably get an opportunity to enter the building soon."

Even if there isn't such an opportunity, we need to create one to enter the building.

That place is clearly not just for us to look at.

"So…" An Yang said weakly, "What should we do now?"

Qin Fei remained calm, bent down, and lifted a stack of bricks onto a cart. "Work."

From the start of the scenario until now, both the foreman outside the construction site and the NPC supervisor who distributed tools to them have consistently conveyed one message:

Players should complete their work on the construction site as quickly as possible.

Construction work ends at 5 PM, and according to the rules, terrible things may happen after nightfall.

Qi Xiu was thoroughly convinced by Qin Fei. "The rules also mention that the construction wages are paid daily. Although we don't know what role money plays in this ghost story, we have been assigned a significant amount of work that needs to be completed quickly."

If we fail to complete the work, our wages will be deducted.

While Qin Fei's team discussed their decision, the other three groups of players on the construction site were also gathered together, whispering among themselves.

Clearly, the players reached different conclusions.

A moment later, the team on the south side made the same decision as the east team and began working diligently.

The teams on the west and north sides, however, visibly slacked off, working haphazardly and exploring various parts of the construction site.

Their idle behavior drew frequent glances from the NPC supervisor.

However, he ultimately said nothing, merely sneering silently before turning away.

Time passed slowly.

Before long, sighs and complaints from the players could be heard from the corners on the east and south sides.

The workload at the construction site was extremely high. Even though the players generally had good physical fitness, they were still exhausted to the point of groaning incessantly.

Lu Cheng dumped a shovel of cement into the wheelbarrow, his cotton gloves already filthy.

For some reason, working on this construction site seemed particularly tiring. After just over an hour, Lu Cheng could barely straighten his back, sweat pouring down his forehead.

"Brother, you gotta help me."

Lu Cheng whined as he walked over to Qin Fei: "There might really be a ghost on this site. I feel like my bones are about to break!"

Lu Cheng strongly suspected that there might be a terrifying ghost, typical of Thai horror movies, sitting on his neck right now.

Qin Fei glanced at Lu Cheng speechlessly. An Yang, who overheard their conversation, immediately spat three times: "Please, I want to live a few more days."

Could you please not say such inauspicious things in a place where ghosts might be lurking? Even if no ghosts come, it's scary enough to die from fright.

Lu Cheng closed his mouth with a face full of resentment, giving Qin Fei a look filled with envy and jealousy.

Compared to the other players, who were covered in sweat and dust and looked utterly miserable, Qin Fei appeared exceptionally clean.

This was mainly due to the presence of the pollution source constantly circling around him.

Earlier, when Qi Xiu assigned specific tasks within the team, the pollution source volunteered to take on the work closest to Qin Fei.

Although the pollution source had a face that didn't seem to fit the construction site, his actions were surprisingly efficient. While doing his own share, he also helped Qin Fei, significantly reducing Qin Fei's workload.

Lu Cheng scooped up another shovel of cement and began to lament: "Who stole my handsome life!"

Even in a strange world, there would still be NPCs rushing to help with the hard labor, making it impossible for others not to envy them.

The sky grew increasingly gloomy, and the wind on the construction site picked up, causing many players to cough from the swirling sand.

Qin Fei scanned the construction site and looked towards the small house in the center of the open space, which was only partially built.

Unlike other parts of the site, the area around the small house was cordoned off with caution tape. Earlier, when some players from both teams tried to approach it, they were stopped by NPCs.

This house...

Qin Fei squinted slightly, his eyes filled with contemplation.

Although the players from the west and north teams searched extensively within the scene, they did not find any valuable clues and returned to their respective teams after over an hour, continuing their hard labor.

As the red bricks and shovels of cement piled up, it quickly reached 4:30 PM.

The players in the eastern corner, where Qin Fei was located, finished all their work first. About ten minutes later, the players in the southern corner, where Dark Fire was located, also announced completion.

The other two groups, having wasted too much time initially, were still far from finishing.

"The people from Dark Fire are heading towards that house."

Lu Cheng, too tired to stand, crouched on the ground and whispered.

The players from the west and north teams had circled the entire construction site in the afternoon but found no valuable clues, which everyone could see.

Now, the most mysterious place on the entire site was that cordoned-off house.

The house was not large, rectangular in shape, with steel frames inside and brick walls only half completed.

Although the area around the house was cordoned off, since it was not yet fully constructed, its interior layout was clearly visible.

"This house."

Mi Yang stared at the house for a while, feeling a chill run down his spine: "It's so weird."

This small house was built on a main road in the city, facing the department store across the street.

Although the surroundings were obscured by thick fog, the players could still see that the other buildings nearby were ordinary urban high-rises.

Amidst these towering skyscrapers, a low, single-story house seemed out of place.

Moreover, the house was built perfectly square and had no internal partitions. In the center, there was only a rectangular table with an empty incense burner on top.

"Cough, cough."

Just as the players were whispering among themselves, a deliberately loud cough interrupted them.

The foreman NPC approached, scanned the situation in the eastern corner, and nodded in satisfaction upon seeing all the materials placed in designated areas.

"Line up, payment time."

The NPC spoke succinctly.

Qi Xiu stood at the front. When he received ten pink banknotes, he couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise.

The wages paid at this construction site were indeed extraordinarily high.

The players lined up one by one to receive their pay.

After Qin Fei received his money, he did not leave immediately. Instead, he smiled and pulled out a banknote, rolled it up, and handed it back to the NPC.

The NPC frowned slightly, but there was no trace of displeasure in his eyes: "What is it?"

Qin Fei looked up at the NPC with clear eyes and an innocent expression: "Brother, you know there are many taboos on construction sites. Since this is my first time working here, I'm not quite sure about some things and wanted to ask you."

The supervisor, like the foreman at the entrance, was not interactable, but the NPCs in this instance were ordinary people living in the normal world. Qin Fei thus chose to use a common approach to strike up a conversation.

Although the rules stated that one couldn't talk to strangers during construction, by now, Qin Fei was ninety-nine percent sure that the "strangers" mentioned in the rules did not refer to the supervisor in front of him.

Behind Qin Fei stood a player from the Bubble Dragon Guild named Zhu Ning, who nearly gaped in astonishment at the scene.

Bribing an NPC openly? Was this even allowed?

With two fingers, the NPC supervisor smoothly pocketed the money and sneered, "You don't look like someone doing construction for the first time."

Clearly, he knew all the ins and outs.

The NPC gave Qin Fei a meaningful look. "You seem pretty smart. When you enter the department store tonight, remember to keep your wits about you."

The department store!

Hearing this, all the players present brightened their eyes.

Qin Fei's smile remained unchanged as he feigned surprise. "What department store?"

The supervisor looked at him strangely. "Didn't they say during recruitment that the accommodation is included with the job, but since there are no barracks on-site, you'll be staying in the employee dormitory of the department store across the street."

Mentioning the department store, the NPC seemed reluctant to elaborate further. However, due to the hundred-yuan note Qin Fei had just handed over, he said with a flickering gaze:

"Anyway, whatever happens tonight, don't see, don't hear, don't know—just sleep through it."

"Oh, and on the third floor of the department store, buy what you can afford. Don't be cheap. Afterward, go directly to the foreman; he'll take you to the dormitory."

After these vague words, the NPC refused to say another word and quickly walked towards the south side of the construction site after distributing the money.

An Yang, watching the NPC's retreating back, suppressed his excitement:

"You guys were right in your analysis. The construction site isn't the main map of this urban legend; the department store across the street is!"

"Good thing our team thought of this ahead of time!"

Zhu Ning flattered them with a keen eye.

"I wonder what the supervisor wants us to buy? He said not to be cheap, so we should probably buy something expensive."

Zhu Ning clicked his tongue, realizing: "Those teams that didn't finish their work won't get any clues and will earn less money. They might run into bad luck tonight."

The players grew increasingly pleased: "Our four teams worked here all afternoon without any danger, so the construction site must be safe. It's just a diversionary scene meant to mislead us, useful only for distributing money."

Qin Fei listened silently to the other players, exchanging glances with Mi Yang and Lu Cheng.

Was the construction site really just a diversion?

Qin Fei didn't think so.

The choice of location for the construction site must have its significance. Without mentioning anything else, just the house itself was enough to make one ponder.

Qi Xiu asked, "Shall we go?"

It was almost five o'clock. Although the sky still seemed far from dark, it was better to leave early according to the rules.

Qin Fei nodded, about to follow.

However, at that moment, a heart-wrenching scream suddenly pierced the sky!

"Damn!"

An Yang nearly had a heart attack, looking in the direction of the sound.

When he saw what had happened, his face drained of color.

In the center of the construction site, next to the half-built small house, the nine players and NPCs of the southern construction team stood in a row.

A few steps away, the supervisor stood there as well.

Everyone's faces were ashen, expressions more miserable than eating a fly.

At the intersection of everyone's gaze, closest to the small house, a Dark Fire player stood straight.

A steel bar had pierced through his chest, having slipped off the unfinished roof of the house, striking the player's heart!