Ji Li was somewhat stunned. A moment ago, he had still heard the muffled cries from inside the elevator, but when the doors opened the next second, there were actually three dead bodies inside?
"You really are the fucking Grim Reaper. People die wherever you go."
The Second Personality estimated the current death toll. More than half of the dead had been around Ji Li, and he spoke in a strange, mocking tone.
"How exactly does the ghost kill people without making a sound...?"
The Third Personality raised this question. In fact, he had been considering it ever since the first male employee died.
The ghost possessed the Cloning Ability, but that did not mean it could slaughter employees without any warning.
Otherwise, there would be no way to resolve this mission at all.
Ji Li's expression was equally grim. The Second Personality was right—wherever he went, people seemed to die.
Two questions had now emerged: where was the ghost, and how had it infiltrated living people's bodies to kill them?
He turned his head and examined the clothes on the three corpses. Judging from the repairmen's blue uniforms, the three maintenance workers who had not gone down to the basement to regroup had been trapped in the elevator.
And had just died.
Then there was no need to keep searching.
Ji Li took out his phone from his pocket. The cold glow of the screen shone on his face, making his eyes slightly uncomfortable.
He then called Fang Shenyan.
The call connected shortly afterward. Ji Li spoke first.
"Are you sure you can restore the power over there?"
Fang Shenyan looked at the three busy repairmen.
Then he looked at the knife in his hand.
He only gave an ambiguous answer.
"I'm not sure."
Ji Li was not surprised. Human repairs might not necessarily overcome the ghost's power.
Still, he found it somewhat regrettable. If the power could be restored, then once he reached the Monitoring Room, he would be able to grasp the overall situation.
Perhaps he could even find room to investigate those two questions regarding the ghost.
But whether the power could be restored remained unknown, leaving a gap in his plans.
Ji Li did not ask anything further. He merely told Fang Shenyan to be careful before hanging up.
No sooner had he ended that call than Tong Guan called from the other side.
Ji Li let out a long breath.
Please let this be good news.
He answered the phone.
"This is Ji Li."
"Ji Li, the teams led by Fang and me have gathered most of the employees from the upper floors in the first-floor lobby.
"But a large number of people are still missing. I propose that the three sides regroup."
Tong Guan's voice was deep and steady, unaffected in the slightest by the string of deaths in such a short period.
Ji Li said nothing. He turned back to look at the three bodies, long since cold.
He hung up and headed downstairs.
The first-floor lobby was now packed with people. The employees in black uniforms all wore anxious expressions, yet no one dared to speak.
Light from the building across the street shone in, slightly dispelling the darkness.
Still, everyone kept their heads lowered in utter silence.
Only the southwest corner stood vacant. No one was willing to approach it.
The first female employee lay there, dead from two gunshot wounds.
Tong Guan stood with his back to the glass entrance doors, half his body swallowed by darkness. He stood tall, a cigarette between the fingers of one hand.
With the other, he used his phone to record the current number of people and their information in the lobby.
Chang Nian took in the scene before her.
She tied up her loose long hair with an elastic band and walked toward Tong Guan.
"This ghost is unusual."
Tong Guan did not look at her. He continued with his work and spoke softly.
"The Cloning Ability has practically exceeded the scope of a One-Star Hotel mission. I'm surprised it can be this powerful."
Chang Nian gave a disdainful snort and rolled her eyes at Tong Guan.
"Before the mission, you were boasting that this one wouldn't be difficult. Look at us now, huh?
"With the Cloning Ability and forty-three employees, if it wants to, it could kill everyone in three hours!"
She spoke of that cruel reality, yet there was not a trace of fear on her face.
It was as if she remained entirely unmoved by the current situation.
Or perhaps she simply had confidence in the man beside her.
Even though her words were mocking that very confidence.
"No matter how strong it is, this is still only a One-Star Hotel-level mission. Even if it has the Cloning Ability, it can't be completely unsolvable.
"I believe that as long as we find its killing rule—or rather, its weakness—we'll have enough to crush this mission!"
Tong Guan had already made a long list.
His gaze fell on number thirty-three.
"Ji Li should be here soon."
He rubbed his stiff neck and looked through the crowd toward the darkness by the staircase.
Chang Nian's body trembled slightly at his words.
Thoughtfully, she took a notebook from her pocket.
After casually flipping it open, she glanced through it and said, "Ji Li entered the hotel at the beginning of October this year. According to these mission records, he cleared three missions by himself.
"Three solo missions. He forcibly dragged himself all the way to the One-Star level.
"This person is far from simple."
As she spoke, she looked toward the woman who was theoretically the first victim.
She had been shot dead by Ji Li.
"When we first arrived at Branch No. 11, the hotel was already at the One-Star level, with an Acting Manager above us.
"After he died, you took over the position.
"In reality, we've only gone through three missions as well, and none of them were solo missions."
Chang Nian's voice carried a hint of wistfulness. She thought of the companions who had once fought alongside her.
By now, she had no idea which branches they had been assigned to.
Tong Guan nodded.
"Ji Li is ruthless, selfish, and extreme. He'll stop at nothing to achieve his goals."
As he spoke, he turned to look at Yu Guo, who was conversing with Li Xing behind them.
"Fang Shenyan is also quite extraordinary. I can tell that his way of doing things is extremely similar to Ji Li's.
"I just can't understand why Yu Guo, who appears so mild and kind, would keep company with them."
Chang Nian covered her mouth and laughed softly.
"Perhaps only people like that can survive in this world."
Tong Guan snorted disdainfully.
"If a person lives like that, can he still be called human?
"I only believe that there is justice in the world. Without relying on schemes and tricks, I can still keep you alive."
Chang Nian spat at him irritably and punched him.
"Maybe I'll be the one keeping you alive."
"It's quite lively. Looks like almost everyone is here."
At that moment, Ji Li finally arrived.
The moment he appeared, the employees stirred restlessly.
The employees who had arrived first had already spread word of Ji Li's earlier brutality.
The rumors had spread rapidly.
By now, nearly everyone believed Ji Li and the others were nothing more than desperate criminals.
Ji Li looked at the sea of heads before him and silently counted them once.
Then he frowned.
He walked over to Tong Guan and beckoned to Yu Guo and Li Xing behind him.
"The three sides have regrouped. It's time to compare the intelligence from our first round of actions."
Before you continue