Plans and Arrangements
After turning the first few pages, Bai Zhi flipped through many more pages until he was sure there were no other writings left in the Notebook before he stopped.
"Alright, that's about all the information recorded in this Notebook. What do you think?"
Bai Zhi closed the black-covered Notebook and turned to look at everyone.
"Uh... watch it standing up."
With great effort, he pieced together the information he had just seen in his mind. Slightly annoyed, he tapped his head with his hand and let out a dry, Steel Bones joke.
"If the records here are all true, then the death of the Colorful Black should also be explained."
His eyes flickered, and Fengxi’s Bone's brows twitched slightly.
"Last night, he stepped into that past scene, returning to a time when Rose Manor was not yet what it is now... or rather, to the moment when Rose Manor had just become what it is now."
As he said this, he turned and glanced at Bai Zhi.
"Last night, you also encountered that same illusion, but before you could step into it, it vanished before your eyes. However, the Colorful Black did enter it, then died inside, and its body appeared in the First Floor Hall of https://www. hetushu. com."
"The past... judging from the conversation between the two Maid you described earlier, Anna was probably a Princess before?"
Also turning their gaze towards Bai Zhi, March-shi smiled and began to speak.
"Killing Anna would end this Dungeon immediately, but Anna is now immortal and impossible to kill... But what about when she was still human?"
"Yeah, Anna can't die as an Anomaly, but can't she die as a human? Anyway, it's Anna who dies."
He realized what was happening too, and Steel Bones was overjoyed.
"If we can kill Anna from the past, this Dungeon can end immediately. I scouted the area outside the Forest of Mannequins before, and many of them were still in good condition. After Anna dies, maybe those humans can come back to life... It's a pity about those two Player from before; one was cut in half at the waist, and the other was completely mutilated..."
"Don't be so naive. Do you really think things are that simple?"
With a slight pursing of his lips, Bai Zhi turned his gaze back to the black-covered Notebook on the table.
"Leaving aside the fact that such an inference is merely the other party's speculation that hasn't been confirmed, if things could really end so simply, then why are we here?"
"This Dungeon isn't finished, which means the Investigator failed. The Colorful Black also ventured into the past, but his fate was to be hung in the First Floor Hall on the first floor..."
He pulled a Lollipop from his pocket and popped it into his mouth, Fireworks of Romance smile on his face.
"They all failed, that's obvious. It shows that the risks inside are far greater than the risks of this castle. To rashly choose to go in there is tantamount to suicide."
"The risks are high, of course; after all, fortune favors the bold. Anna's Birthday Party, which gathered all sorts of Socialite in that castle, might just be the turning point that led to Anna becoming Anomaly and this manor becoming so desolate... But there's something I don't understand."
Bai Zhi reached up and touched his chin, looking thoughtful.
"Night Evolution Breath, what exactly did he see outside the castle that night? Why didn't he write it down in his Notebook? Did he forget it, or... was he unable to write it down?"
"If it can't be written down on paper... could it be Meme like 'Spontaneous Combustion Text'?"
After thinking for a moment, Steel Bones offered a possible deduction.
"For example, the sights he saw outside the castle that night were the source of the Doll Curse. And if this Notebook is discovered, it will inevitably be taken out. If he writes down what he saw and spreads it, it might very well cause another form of the [Doll Curse] to erupt in the Real World..."
"That's possible. If that's the case, then Anna's Birthday Banquet that night must have been the source of all the changes. After that Birthday Banquet, Rose Manor was abandoned, Anna became Anomaly, and everyone else turned into Doll..."
As he spoke, Bai Zhi looked up.
"An invitation from [Anna's Tea Party], and news about her parents... It seems I'll have to go up to the rooftop later."
"Too dangerous."
After hearing Bai Zhi's mutterings, the Dead Zero, who had remained silent and stood quietly to the side, couldn't help but frown.
"Don't worry, Anna still has goodwill towards me. It's just a simple tea party, and I'm very good at escaping and Survival Ability..."
With a casual wave of his hand, Bai Zhi stood up from his chair and picked up the Notebook on the table as well.
"Indeed, this trip was worthwhile; the harvest was quite good. I've decided to try visiting the old Rose Manor tonight. Anyone want to come along?"
"Hey, it's dangerous there, didn't you just say that yourself?"
With Lollipop in his mouth, Fireworks of Romance frowned.
"We have to go, even if it's dangerous. After all, there aren't any more clues to be found inside this castle; all the other clues are hidden there."
Shrugging, Bai Zhi waved the Notebook in his hand at the other person.
"If we succeed, that's great. Even if we fail, those who stay in the castle can still fulfill their wish to leave the manor through 'Anna's Gift.' After all, the fewer people there are, the greater the chance of being chosen. It's a win-win situation."
"... You're just like that Investigator who courted death—completely unreasonable!!"
Feeling inexplicably angry, Fireworks of Romance turned his head sharply.
"How am I being unreasonable? Some things always need to be done, okay? Besides, this is a great opportunity to earn a lot of points, who would pass it up?"
Rolling his eyes, Bai Zhi was too lazy to pay attention to the other person who had suddenly become ill, and then turned to talk to the others.
"That's all for now. I'll be heading there tonight. If any of you want to come along... we'll see then. As for now..."
Bai Zhi glanced at the Notebook in his hand.
Do you know which floor in the castle has the most portraits hanging in the corridors?