Chapter 369 Assigning “Family Members”

Chapter 369: Assigned "Family"

Fog, it seems, is an indispensable element of nightmare games.

If players are in a city, that city is always shrouded in dense fog.

If players are in a jungle, then perhaps the entire jungle will be filled with dense fog, trees blurring within it, and players can only vaguely discern shadowy trunks.

If players are inside a villa or other building, then when they look out a window or through a wall, all they will see is an all-encompassing dense fog. The fog acts like a wall, completely obscuring the outside world, like an uncrossable chasm, thoroughly isolating the unknown world beyond. Sometimes, it even makes people forget they are under the red moon.

But most of the time, players don't actually dislike the dense fog. After all, often the fog doesn't just block out the red moon gazing down from above, but also the completely unknown world outside the fog, and many unknown dangers. The fog is like a beginner's shield, separating most players from the outside world.

So, most of the time, being enveloped in fog isn't a bad thing.

Su Bai thought so too. In Su Bai's view, a nightmare game accompanied by dense fog was more like a beginner's village for most human players. Although nightmare games were nightmares or even hell for many players, what truly plunged Su Bai into struggle and despair in his previous life were not these fog-shrouded games, but the real nightmare world after the fog dissipated.

When the nightmare game entered its next stage, the reason why players residing in the nightmare world, led by the Nameless Society, were more powerful than other players was not just due to talent. It was because those players had more opportunities to face the true world under the red moon, unshielded by fog, and were forced to confront more bizarre entities.

Of course, the disappearance of the fog from the nightmare game in his previous life happened two or three years after Su Bai became a player. Currently, the nightmare game... or rather, a mysterious experiment targeting players, is still in its early stages, and the fog remains a protective measure for most players.

Just like this "Joyful Hotel."

After the administrator relayed the rules for the "Joyful Hotel" family special event, the dense fog surrounding the players began to dissipate at a very slow pace. The administrator's usual sarcastic voice then echoed again—

"Esteemed chosen residents, please remember some tips for getting along better with your family."

"First, always keep your family happy. Your family might be displeased by your refusal, and that would be terrible. So, try your best to fulfill your family's requests, please do your utmost to satisfy their demands. Your family's thoughts and desires are the direction of your efforts."

"Furthermore, before acting, always consult with your family. After all, only by working together as a family can this special family event conclude successfully, and only then can you smoothly end your 'Joyful Hotel' journey."

"We wish you all a pleasant game."

Not long after the administrator's voice faded, most of the fog around the players had dissipated. Su Bai, who had been silently standing still, could now see the blurry figures of other players in the fog.

However, besides those players who couldn't help but look around, Su Bai was quite sure he also saw something else.

Just as Su Bai wanted to get a clearer look...

An unsettling, icy aura approached Su Bai's right side from behind. It wasn't an overwhelmingly powerful force, but it gave an uncomfortable feeling.

Su Bai seemingly casually took a step to his left. When he turned to look behind him and to his right, he saw a small boy with a pale, bluish complexion, frost clinging to his face and even his clothes, staring intently at him with a cold expression.

The boy's eyes had no whites at all; just one glance would send shivers down an ordinary person's spine.

At that moment, the boy, who was clearly not alive, extended his left hand forward, seemingly preparing to grab Su Bai's right hand.

Before Su Bai could react, the boy, whose entire skin was bluish and covered in frost, suddenly bared his frozen, purplish lips, revealing a bizarre, sickly smile. Then, in a sickeningly sweet voice, he called out to Su Bai—

"Mommy!"

"..."

Hearing such a bizarre address, Su Bai's subconscious reaction was to glance at his own attire. Since the entrance exams were over, Su Bai could no longer lazily wear the school uniform of Honghuai No. 10 Middle School. When his mother, Lin Wan, woke up, she was also annoyed that he was still wearing old clothes from several years ago. So Su Bai used the warehouse of the Misty Shop to ask Ghost Umbrella, who called himself the number one fashionista of "Ghost Puzzle," to help prepare some clothes.

However, Su Bai knew that no matter how much Ghost Umbrella liked to fuss, he wouldn't conjure up clothes that would make him mistaken for "Mommy."

It was summer in the real world. Su Bai's white shirt was similar to the retro-style shirts that you could occasionally see online, with classic collars and cuffs adorned with delicate embroidery. He casually tucked the shirt into his wide-leg pants, making him look both casual and neat.

His lower body was clad in dark gray, ankle-length wide-leg pants made of light, flowing material. A tassel waist chain hung at his waist, with an exquisite white jade plaque inlaid in the center, featuring the auspicious Ruyi pattern favored by his mother, Lin Wan.

Su Bai's casually maintained semi-long hair was tied into a low ponytail, with the small key Su Xuan had given him still attached to the rope. The key swayed slightly with Su Bai's movements, looking like a unique hair ornament.

Black Umbrella's choices indeed made Boss Su appear tall and exceptionally elegant. The blood-red bead bracelet on his left hand and the peace charm transformed from the cat spirit also fit seamlessly into this style.

But...

Mommy?

Su Bai narrowed his eyes, looking at the male-shaped bizarre entity to his right, his gaze very dangerous.

However, Su Bai quickly recalled Su Xuan and Yao's warnings, and then thought of the administrator's earlier hints. Su Bai knew that this small bizarre entity beside him was likely the "family member" assigned to him for this game.

"Family" would be displeased by his refusal?

He had to try his best to fulfill his family's requests?

Was this how this nightmare game was played?

Su Bai turned to look in other directions after the fog had dissipated. Many "families" of two or three people stood close together, but upon closer inspection, one would find that in most "families," there was always one person looking flustered and stiff, some even trembling all over. The other humanoid figures in those "families," like the boy beside Su Bai, did not look alive at all.

Su Bai knew that all other players who entered this game had, without exception, been assigned "family members." The fact that these players didn't scream when the fog dissipated showed that they were experienced veterans.