Chapter 319 Who Is This Person?

Chapter 319: Who on Earth?

"A strange player?" Qin Ge sounded puzzled. "You should have just completed the Beginner Quest. Did you encounter a new player that caught your attention? If there are any particularly outstanding newcomers, you can recommend them to the team anytime."

"Although I did meet a very impressive newcomer, that’s not why I’m here today. Please, you must listen carefully to what I have to say," Sha Linghai said, his expression turning serious.

Qin Ge seemed to sense the seriousness in Sha Linghai’s tone and nodded earnestly. "I’ve heard about you before, but your current demeanor is completely different from the rumors. It seems you must have met some remarkable people during your Beginner Quest and experienced something meaningful."

Sha Linghai was invited to take a seat on the chair opposite and began recounting what had happened after he entered the nightmare world.

"...And so, under the little girl’s guidance, we observed every Ghost Bride," Sha Linghai said, pausing to take a sip of water the assistant had just brought in.

"Ghost Bride? That’s a familiar and nostalgic topic," Qin Ge chuckled. "To be honest, my own Beginner Quest was also related to Ghost Brides. You really encountered some good companions—just slightly less impressive than the ones I met back then."

As he said this, Qin Ge’s mind flashed to the figure that had suddenly taken the form of a Ghost Bride.

"But since you met such good companions and successfully completed the Beginner Quest, why do you still seem so downcast?" Qin Ge found it strange. "Did something unforgettable happen afterward? Was there a traitor among your companions disguised as an Eerie Entity?"

"No, it’s not like that," Sha Linghai immediately defended his companions. "They were all good people, but the story was far from over."

Sha Linghai went on to talk about the bowl of broth, the true Eerie Entity known as 'Ghost Matron' who finally revealed herself, and the "Ghost Bride" who helped them at the most critical moment. He described the bell on her *xipa* (bridal veil) and the bloodstains seeping from her chest...

It was precisely because the "Ghost Bride" had mentioned Qin Ge’s name that he described the "Ghost Bride’s" appearance in such detail to the captain.

And indeed, Qin Ge’s expression grew increasingly grave as Sha Linghai spoke, his eyes seeming to drift into some memory.

"What a coincidence? But that Ghost Bride should have already been eliminated by Su..."

Qin Ge muttered to himself, but his voice was so soft that Sha Linghai, sitting across from him, couldn’t make out what he said.

Then Sha Linghai’s account moved on to the identification phase. He mentioned how the North Courtyard Bride was sent flying by the Ghost Matron’s palm strike, making him fear that even the East Courtyard Bride and the rest of them combined were no match for the Ghost Matron. That was why he chose to request an early entry into the identification phase from the administrator. After all, their mission was to identify the culprit, not to kill the Eerie Entity.

"But I never expected the real trouble was just beginning." Since it was Sha Linghai’s decision to enter the identification phase early, it was this decision that halted their search for clues, left them helpless when an unexpected thick fog obscured their vision, turned their smug, thorough preparations into a joke, and forced the "bride" to sacrifice herself to save the lives of them, the reckless newcomers.

Although Sha Linghai and the others were separated from the "bride" by the thick fog in the final moments, he couldn’t help but picture a kind-hearted senior who was willing to die for a few foolish new players.

"He might have heard about my training with the relevant authorities—after all, I said it... quite loudly," Sha Linghai recalled his behavior at the start of the game, his face reddened. "So he told us, 'Registration Number 888 sends his greetings to Mr. Qin Ge.'"

"Number 888? Registration number 888?" Qin Ge exclaimed in shock, seeking confirmation.

"Yes, it should be the player mentioned by the seniors, the one with forum registration number 888," Sha Linghai hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to ask, "Is that player... a friend of yours, Captain Qin?"

Sha Linghai dared not look at Qin Ge’s expression. He knew Qin Ge must be acquainted with that player, and the legendary player with Registration Number 888 on the forum was undoubtedly someone incredibly skilled and outstanding. Such a kind person must be dearly loved by those around him. Sha Linghai even suspected that the player with number 888 might be Qin Ge’s closest friend. Would Captain Qin be very sad—or even angry—to hear that his important friend had sacrificed himself to save them?

It was this thought that had been weighing heavily on Sha Linghai for the past two days, making it hard for him to breathe.

But if he never mustered the courage to look Qin Ge in the eye, he might remain trapped in this oppressive feeling forever.

Sha Linghai repeatedly reminded himself that the reason he came to see Qin Ge was to face this situation head-on and to do whatever he could to repay the "bride." He wanted to ask the player’s real name, whether he had any family in the real world, and if there were any unfulfilled wishes the player had left behind.

Even if it was just to find closure for himself, he genuinely wanted to do something.

With this in mind, Sha Linghai finally mustered the courage to look up at Qin Ge.

However, the expression on the captain’s face left Sha Linghai puzzled. He could see that Qin Ge was surprised and shocked, but more than anything, he seemed confused rather than grief-stricken.

"Captain Qin?"

"You’re saying you encountered a veteran player—not a newcomer—during your Beginner Quest, and it was Registration Number 888?" Qin Ge’s main concern was this. "Our department’s records never mentioned veteran players appearing in Beginner Quests. Could it be that when we encountered him on Bus Route 444, it was a similar situation?"

"Um, Captain Qin... since that player couldn’t complete the quest because of us, what will happen to him?" Sha Linghai mustered his courage to ask again.

"Ai," Qin Ge sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his forehead. "From your description, the player you encountered was indeed the one with forum Registration Number 888, and I do know him."

"He really is a kind and warm-hearted person," Qin Ge nodded in agreement, recalling scenes from his own Beginner Quest.

"But you don’t seem..." Sha Linghai didn’t know how to phrase it.

"Don’t seem sad?" Qin Ge sighed again. "As for me, working in this office, I am just an ordinary player struggling to survive in the nightmare world. Although the person you met was truly a good man, I’ve already bid farewell to too many comrades and partners who were like family to me."

"Besides, he is the strongest player I’ve ever encountered," Qin Ge sat up straight again, his expression serious. "He’s also the player who understands the rules best and knows how to break them most effectively."

Sha Linghai was stunned.

What kind of being had he encountered?