Abandoned Restaurant

"I won't be coming home for dinner tonight. The club is having a get-together."

After editing the message, he sent it.

Lin Yu turned off his phone screen and brought his bicycle to a stop at the intersection.

He had arrived at Changming Street.

Changming Street was located in Jiang City's old urban district. There were no high-rise buildings here, only low houses everywhere, and even some self-built homes.

There were all sorts of small shops on both sides of the road—convenience stores, auto repair shops, and breakfast shops—giving the place a rough, shabby feel.

Lin Yu walked along Changming Street, counting the blue plaques nailed above the doorways.

"937, 938, 939..."

Lin Yu stopped.

Number 940 had arrived.

This place was larger than the others, but it was also more desolate.

Because it was an abandoned two-story restaurant.

The sign that read "Jiangcheng Renjia" was already tattered, and the door lock was covered in rust.

Lin Yu thought for a moment before walking to the window beside it. The glass was already shattered, with only a layer of paper pasted over it.

He poked through the paper and opened the window.

The windows of this sort of old building were not very high, so Lin Yu climbed in easily.

But the scene inside surprised him.

"Something's not right..."

Although the place was broken-down and old, all the tables and chairs were arranged neatly, and the floor was spotless.

It was as if someone had just cleaned it.

That was completely different from the old and abandoned appearance outside.

Lin Yu instantly became vigilant.

He took out the Lie Detector and his pistol.

As for why he had taken out the Lie Detector as well... carrying it certainly couldn't hurt.

Lin Yu nervously scanned the restaurant, even finding a pillar to hide behind.

And it was at that moment...

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Footsteps echoed through the empty space.

Lin Yu cautiously stuck his head out and looked in the direction of the sound.

He saw a man walking down the stairs between the first and second floors.

He was a tall, bulky middle-aged man wearing an elegant dark-blue double-breasted suit and a pair of gleaming leather shoes.

Besides that... he was covered in all kinds of glittering gold jewelry—gold watches, gold rings, and gold chains.

The entire man practically sparkled with wealth.

He walked down the stairs and looked in Lin Yu's direction.

"I saw you, little brother—stop hiding!"

"The 'gathering' is the night after tomorrow... You're a little early!"

The middle-aged man's voice was full of vigor.

Lin Yu still didn't dare show himself.

Although this middle-aged man clearly didn't seem to be on the same side as the "junior," Lin Yu didn't dare take the chance.

He stayed behind the pillar and called out, "What gathering? I don't know anything about it!"

The middle-aged man burst out laughing.

"Oh, your first time here? Judging by the timing, this should be when this batch of newcomers finds the 'forum'..."

The middle-aged man's words left Lin Yu even more confused.

"I don't understand what you're talking about. I'm just passing through."

Hearing Lin Yu's words, the middle-aged man's smile grew even wider.

"Young man, setting aside the way you sneaked around here to 'check the place out,' which is just like most of the first-timers I've seen..."

"As a 'veteran,' let me give you a little advice. Those of us who have participated in the 'Death game' can't reveal the words 'Death game' to ordinary people, not even indirectly. The moment that thought arises, the words that follow will get 'Ka-ed' in your throat."

"The fact that I can chat with you so smoothly proves that you really are a 'player.'"

As the golden, glittering middle-aged man spoke, Lin Yu remained behind the pillar.

He felt that the middle-aged man was not lying to him...

But precisely because they were both players, Lin Yu became even more cautious.

"Players are natural enemies, aren't they...? Aren't you going to be wary of me at all?"

Lin Yu spoke in a low voice.

The middle-aged man laughed. "Young man, it looks like your Novice instance was a confrontation-type one."

"'Players' rarely oppose one another in the real world. Everyone's lives were hard-won. Why kill each other outside the game as well?"

"As the saying goes, 'Harmony brings wealth,' right?"

The middle-aged man's voice was rich and enthusiastic, making him sound particularly convincing.

Lin Yu believed him halfway, but still did not fully trust him.

He raised the Lie Detector in his hand.

"Then swear that you won't hurt me."

The middle-aged man looked extremely surprised.

"Huh? Swear...? All right!"

He raised his right fist. "I have no ill will toward you, and I have no intention of hurting you."

Hearing the middle-aged man say this, Lin Yu released the button on the Lie Detector.

"Beep—"

The Lie Detector's green light came on.

Lin Yu finally relaxed somewhat, but he did not completely let down his guard.

After all, there was still one possibility: the middle-aged man before him could also be "Lying with Truth."

However, Lin Yu felt that such a "vanishingly unlikely" event could practically be ignored.

He stepped out from behind the pillar.

This made the man raise his eyebrows.

"Well, aren't you a handsome newcomer... And you found the forum in just one day, solved the riddle, identified the gathering location, and even knew to come early to check the place out. The younger generation is truly impressive."

Looking at the middle-aged man, who still maintained an air of goodwill, Lin Yu decided to be a little more open as well. "I genuinely have no idea what gathering or riddle you're talking about."

He spoke sincerely, and the middle-aged man froze for a moment before asking, "Then how did you find this place?"

"Someone gave me a card with this address on it."

As he spoke, Lin Yu took the business card from his trouser pocket.

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man hurried down the stairs.

Lin Yu watched him warily. The middle-aged man indeed made no excessive move; he merely picked up the business card and examined it repeatedly.

Then the middle-aged man returned the card to Lin Yu and muttered, unable to contain himself, "That's strange. Why would this person just give the gathering's address to a newcomer like you?"

"Could some 'organization' be trying to recruit you...? But that's a strange way to recruit someone."

As the middle-aged man muttered, Lin Yu frowned.

"So what exactly does this 'gathering' refer to?"

At this, the middle-aged man fell silent in thought for a moment.

"All right, 'newcomer'... Although I don't know what your background is, since you don't even know these basic facts, I'll explain them to you."

"Anyway, once you find the 'forum,' you'll be able to find the answers there too."

"For now, I'll tell you for free. Consider it my way of doing you a favor!"

Hearing the middle-aged man, Lin Yu felt somewhat helpless.

"You're making this sound so worthless. Do you really expect me to owe you a favor?"

"Heh heh, sincerity is my ultimate weapon!"

The middle-aged man laughed, then his expression turned solemn. "In any case, let me ask you a question first, rookie... What do you think is the standard for measuring a Death game 'player's' strength?"