Seeing Long Yuan staring at him, Ji Yan swallowed the last bit of bread in his mouth. Just as he was about to speak, a voice came from behind him. "Once we open the gate, follow me. Don't stray more than ten steps away."
"The fog outside is thick. If you get lost, don't even dream of making it back to the Apartment."
Behind them stood an Eerie wrapped head to toe in bandages, with only a pair of bloodshot eyes exposed. A Work Badge hung from his chest, bearing the words "Apartment Manager."
The Bandage Eerie showed Ji Yan and the others no friendliness at all. Every word he spoke was filled with contempt and disgust toward these outsider tenants.
"How big is that 'Rat'?"
Long Yuan suddenly asked after taking off his headphones.
Yet when facing Long Yuan, the Bandage Eerie immediately changed his attitude. "Mr. Long, so you were here too. I didn't see you earlier."
"How come I haven't seen you these past few days?"
Long Yuan yawned. "Sleeping."
"Mr. Long works tirelessly for the Apartment day and night. You certainly deserve a proper rest."
The other Players all wore different expressions at the Bandage Eerie's two-faced behavior. Some silently cursed the Dorm Manager for being such a bootlicker, while others were awed by Long Yuan.
After all, what Player could make even Eeries flatter him in the Eerie World?
Long Yuan yawned again. "You still haven't answered my question."
The Bandage Eerie said, "That Rat was discovered yesterday. It isn't small, and it looks like it's been parasitizing the place for quite some time."
"Old Landlord hates these things most. He posted a notice today, determined to clear them all out within a day."
"If Mr. Long joins in, cleaning them up shouldn't be difficult."
Ji Yan listened from the side, unable to help falling into thought.
What exactly were these "Rats" they kept talking about?
The Bandage Eerie took out a key and opened the Apartment gate.
"Woooo—!!"
The moment the gate opened, icy wind howled in from outside, like the wailing of countless vengeful Eeries, raising goosebumps all over their bodies.
Everyone shivered from the cold.
The Bandage Eerie walked in front and said coldly to Ji Yan and the others, "Stay behind me. If anyone tries to run, I'll chop off both their feet and toss them into the thick fog."
"The things in the fog eat anything."
"They like to eat bit by bit. And to keep their food fresh, they deliberately avoid vital areas, letting you watch yourself get eaten alive."
The Bandage Eerie's laughter was laced with mockery. He clearly enjoyed seeing the Players' faces turn pale with fear.
The intimidation worked perfectly. The moment they left the Apartment, those Players practically wanted to cling to the Bandage Eerie.
From time to time, horrifying chewing sounds came from within the thick fog, as though countless eyes were watching them.
Two minutes later, led by the Cleanup Squad, they quickly arrived behind Crimson Apartment.
After passing through an alley littered with minced flesh and garbage, the squad came upon a filthy, stinking Drain Ditch.
Garbage was piled everywhere. Countless Rats had made this place their paradise, fed until they were as large as adult tabby cats. They tore apart unidentified corpses in the ditch, their eyes swollen scarlet with blood.
The Female Players were nearly scared unconscious.
The Male Players clutched their cleaning tools, trembling.
Wait, did these mutated Rats really not eat people?
"Are there seriously this many Rats?"
"Forget clearing them out. We'll be lucky if we don't end up as food!"
Although they had come prepared, the Players still could not help breaking down when they saw the scene.
The Drain Ditch stretched for more than twenty meters and was packed with countless Rats!
"I'm only responsible for leading the way."
"Clearing them out is your job."
The Bandage Eerie retreated to the back, his gaze indifferent, as though none of this concerned him.
The Players shivered in the cold wind, their eyes all turning toward Long Yuan.
At that moment, Long Yuan had clearly become their only savior!
Noticing those looks, Long Yuan's face filled with disgust. "I accepted this task to advance the main storyline."
"I'm not here to save useless trash like you."
The other Players all fell silent at his words.
But if Long Yuan did not move, neither did they dare move.
They clearly intended to drag things out like this.
Perhaps realizing that, Long Yuan changed his tone. "Unless you have something valuable on you?"
A thin Female Player with pale skin curled up where she stood. "But if we could come here, we're already worthless."
Then, the Female Player looked at her own body before turning to Long Yuan. "...Or do you need something in that regard? I can do that."
"A woman? Heh. In a place like this, the body is the cheapest thing there is."
Long Yuan crossed his hands and shook his head with a cold laugh.
"Then... what exactly do you want?" a Male Player asked dully.
Seeing that he had them in his grasp, Long Yuan clapped his hands and revealed his goal. "Your blood still has some value."
He patted the kitchen knife at his waist. "This kitchen knife of mine needs fresh human blood every day. It isn't easy to nourish."
"As long as you take turns nourishing this Knife for one day, I'll complete this task for you."
"It won't take much blood. Just 1,000 milliliters."
The moment they heard that, several people's faces turned deathly pale.
One thousand milliliters!
Even a strong person would struggle after losing 1,000 milliliters of blood.
Much less them, already malnourished. Some of them had not eaten for three days and were showing signs of anemia.
Wasn't this asking for their lives?
At the very back, Ji Yan looked at the faint smile on Long Yuan's face and more or less understood.
Blood Nourishment for Artifact!
Long Yuan had harbored ill intentions from the very beginning.
Because of the Apartment's rules, Players were forbidden from clashing with one another. His kitchen knife also needed fresh human blood for nourishment, so he could not directly kill or force anyone. He could only use this task to pressure these desperate Players into nourishing his Knife for him.
Even advancing the main storyline might only have been a secondary goal.
After losing 1,000 milliliters of blood, they would be no different from slowly dying.
Ji Yan shook his head.
These people were too naive. They still expected a savior in the Eerie World.
Long Yuan had survived for over a hundred days and nearly cleared the Dungeon. Anyone could tell he was no saint.
"There isn't much time."
"You have no way out, but I do."
"I've raised Old Landlord's favorability to 60%. Even if I turn around and return to the Apartment now, I'll only lose a little favorability."
"Right?" Long Yuan turned and glanced at the Bandage Eerie behind him.
The Bandage Eerie said, "Mr. Long is an honored guest of the Apartment. Such a privilege is naturally permitted."
The Players looked at each other, their faces full of despair.
Long Yuan spat out his gum, amusement flashing in his eyes.
He had survived in the Eerie World for so long because he had long since mastered the art of manipulating people's hearts.
Only Ji Yan remained silent.
He turned to look at the countless Rats, drew his Chopper, and approached them.
A Rat with blood-red eyes saw Ji Yan closing in. Not only was it unafraid of humans, it bared its fangs as though it intended to eat him!
Ji Yan acted decisively. He stepped forward, raised his Chopper, and brought it down. The Knife Blade pierced through the Rat, and blood splattered everywhere.
Beg for help?
Ji Yan never begged anyone.
There were too many Rats for them to truly clear out one by one. Since Long Yuan had a way to complete the task, there had to be another method.
As for what that method was.
His talent would definitely tell him the answer!
Wielding the Chopper in his hand, he killed several Rats in succession. Soon, when he killed the seventh Rat, the familiar Hidden Information Panel indeed appeared in his line of sight...
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