Choice

Some said that everyone's life was set in stone from the moment they were born, but others said fate was never unchanging.

Perhaps the only certainty about the future was that no one knew what would happen.

Gao Ming reached into the black case and took out the bloodstained Black Ring.

He looked at the three Investigation Bureau members before him and asked, "How do I activate it?"

"Enter your identity information and complete three stages of verification, and you'll become its sole owner." The tall, thin man's expression softened a little. "I'm glad you made this choice. My name is Chen Yuntian, Office Director of the Lishan Investigation Office, Hanhai Old City District Investigation Branch. The Lijing Apartments, where you live, fall within my jurisdiction."

With the investigators' help, Gao Ming completed the identity verification. The moment he put on the Black Ring, he gained access to all the information stored inside it.

Most of that information consisted of Investigation Rules for handling Anomaly Events, compiled by the Investigation Bureau. A smaller portion contained experience passed down by the Black Ring's previous owners.

The Black Ring itself represented the pinnacle of technological achievement in Xinhu's smart district. It also carried the courage, fearlessness, and other shining qualities of one ordinary person after another.

"You don't need to worry about your work at the game studio. If you don't want to quit, you can keep working during the day as usual. We won't interfere with your life." Chen Yuntian closed the black case. "But there are a few things I need to make clear."

"Of Hanhai's nineteen districts, the Old District has the highest population density and the largest transient population. It's also currently the place with the most anomaly event outbreaks. We've transferred a large number of investigators here from Xinhu, but even that has only just allowed us to keep things under control. We'll give you the best compensation, and we hope you won't resist certain orders we issue." Chen Yuntian always looked calm, as though he had lost all human emotion. He never grew angry or sad, nor did he feel happy.

"How many Anomaly Events have you encountered in the Old City District?" Gao Ming was a little curious.

"Twenty-one level 0 Anomaly Events, seventeen level 1 events, seven level 2 events, and two level 3 events."

"That many?" Only a few days had passed since Gao Ming emerged from the tunnel. He had thought there were only a handful of Anomaly Events.

"There's no pattern to the appearance of Anomaly Events, nor any connection between them. But one thing is certain: they're occurring more and more frequently." Chen Yuntian opened his palm. "I'll give you three days to get yourself ready and adjust to your new role. After that, you'll join Investigation Team One at the Lishan Investigation Office and take Qin Tian's place."

After watching Gao Ming put on the Black Ring, Chen Yuntian picked up the black case and left with the other two Investigation Bureau members.

"Gao! They didn't give you a hard time, did they?" Manager Gou and Wei Dayou ran into the room. "What the hell is wrong with those people?"

"I'm fine." Gao Ming's sleeve covered the Black Ring. "Is everyone else all right?"

"We won't be able to go home tonight, so we're planning to stay in the office until morning. What about you?" Wei Dayou seemed to have rediscovered his passion for making games.

"I need to go home for a bit."

Gao Ming walked out of the room. Xuan Wen was waiting for him with a cup of coffee. "You look a lot more determined now. Did something get to you?"

"The Horror Game has become reality, and other players besides me will be taking part. If supernatural powers fall into the hands of certain lunatics, things could get even more chaotic." Gao Ming did not take the coffee from Xuan Wen.

"Yes. After all, there aren't many people as rational as you and me." Xuan Wen quite naturally put herself in the same category as Gao Ming.

"So I need to move faster, use my information advantage to acquire more things, and take greater control." Gao Ming shouldered the backpack containing his Posthumous Photographs. "I'll leave Nightlight to you. Find out who the hidden killer player is, then set up a 'production line' specifically for making games for Strange Tale."

"You're finally willing to trust me now?" Amusement filled Xuan Wen's eyes. She had called Gao Ming her husband the first time they met, but only she knew whether she truly liked him.

"I've always trusted you." Gao Ming ran downstairs and hailed a taxi, ready to return to the Old City District.

Chen Yuntian gave me three days to prepare myself mentally, but he doesn't know I'm actually more anxious to get started than anyone.

He quietly browsed the Black Ring's contents. The Investigation Bureau had a complete set of procedures for responding to Anomaly Events.

Different settings required different Investigation Rules, such as apartment rules, school rules, hospital rules, and so on. These could greatly improve an investigator's chances of survival, but they could not help them clear the game.

As Gao Ming patiently studied the Black Ring, its indicator light suddenly flashed. After feeling a faint vibration, he received a message from the Lishan Investigation Office.

"An anomaly event has been detected on Minlong Street in Lishan, Old District. All available investigators, proceed there immediately!"

The vast majority of Anomaly Events occurred at night. With only a little over two hours left until dawn, Gao Ming considered it briefly, then asked the taxi driver to change their destination.

He decided to take a look at the scene and learn how the Investigation Bureau operated. That way, if he ever came under Investigation himself, he would at least know what to expect.

The taxi traveled along the city streets. Gradually, the gleaming, dreamlike skyscrapers disappeared from the surroundings, leaving only cramped, dilapidated apartment buildings and densely packed dark windows in view.

If the Old City District was Hanhai's poorest district, then Lishan was the poorest and most chaotic place in the Old City District.

Lishan was not an actual mountain. The name referred to a vast complex of old apartment buildings erected illegally, without any planning.

Concrete buildings were piled densely together. There was no such thing as space between buildings here, and the homes on the lower floors received virtually no sunlight all year round.

After getting out of the taxi, Gao Ming threaded his way through streets less than two meters wide. Sewage poured from broken pipes overhead, filling the air with a foul stench, while curses and shouts reached his ears from time to time.

He tilted his head back to look up. Illegally strung electrical wires, clotheslines, and advertising signs blocked the narrow strip of sky. He saw no night sky, only oppression, decay, and filth.

Taking a deep breath, Gao Ming walked past a dental Clinic and slipped into an unlit building entrance.

The old metal sliding door made a grating noise. The interior of the rundown building had been completely opened up and was brightly lit. Staff in black uniforms bustled about inside, most of them without Black Rings.

Gao Ming showed his Black Ring and completed verification. Afterward, he felt that the staff looked at him with respect.

Within the Investigation Bureau, frontline Investigators who wore Black Rings seemed to hold high status.

"Hello, Gao Ming, level-one Investigator of Investigation Team One, Lishan Investigation Office, Hanhai Old District Investigation Branch. Identification number 01919." This was the receptionist's first time meeting Gao Ming, and they patiently explained the office's situation to him. "To make it easier to understand Anomaly Events, the Lishan Investigation Office was established within the Lishan Housing Complex, where these events occur most frequently. There are seven streets here in total. Investigation Team One, which you belong to, is responsible for Minlong Street and Lijing Street."

"I received the message. I need to go to Minlong Street."

"Investigation Team One has already departed. You may have to go on your own. Please follow me."

The staff member led Gao Ming to the building's rear entrance, where several modified black electric scooters were parked. "The roads inside the Lishan Housing Complex are narrow, so electric scooters are more convenient. You can activate them directly with your Black Ring. Every scooter is equipped with navigation and communications devices."

Without wasting any words, Gao Ming put on a raincoat and rode away on an electric scooter.

He had lived in the Lijing Apartments for a long time and was fairly familiar with the surrounding area. With the navigation system's help, he reached Minlong Street in just a few minutes.

A cordon had already been set up. Four investigators in black uniforms were discussing something.

Lowering his raincoat's hood, Gao Ming showed his Black Ring and walked over to them. "My name is Gao Ming. I'm the investigator replacing Qin Tian."

(End of chapter)