[Instance 2][Happy Kids Swimming Pool 1] Multiplayer instance begins!

Chen Han walked in without a second thought.

To his surprise, there were quite a few people inside the swimming pool facility.

One was a ticket seller, while three others were chatting nervously.

As soon as Chen Han entered, everyone's eyes focused on him.

The difference was that the ticket seller stared straight at Chen Han with a stiff, mechanical smile.

He looked a lot like Mom.

Chen Han guessed that he was this instance's NPC, or rather, its supernatural entity.

The other three scrutinized Chen Han cautiously, seemingly assessing how dangerous he was.

Chen Han's appearance was quite deceptive. He looked young, like a college student.

Coupled with his rather rounded features, he looked harmless.

Chen Han was observing the three of them as well.

Their expressions were clearly much more animated than the ticket seller's.

One woman and two men.

The woman was a middle-aged auntie nearing fifty.

She was looking at Chen Han with contempt. Of the three, she had the strongest presence.

One of the men looked rather weathered and was around thirty.

He sat with his legs crossed, his expression impassive.

He watched Chen Han silently.

The remaining man was a young blond guy. He was trembling all over, like a newbie entering this game for the first time.

He had not noticed Chen Han at all, instead focusing all his attention on himself.

The three of them sat scattered around the waiting area, neither too close together nor too far apart.

They were probably strangers meeting for the first time.

With this many players appearing in the instance, it had to be a multiplayer instance.

And now, all they had to do was wait.

The instance would only begin once all the players had arrived.

Chen Han walked over without a word and sat down a few seats away.

There was a strangely oppressive air to the place.

He checked the time. It was already 23:00?!

It seemed that although this instance was in the same area as the previous solo instance...

The time had not carried over. Chen Han knew perfectly well that even counting his return to the system space and the walk here...

No more than half an hour could have passed.

Based on when he had left the previous instance, it should have been around 20:30.

Either time in the system space flowed faster than in the instance world, or the system had directly manipulated the time to bring it close to midnight.

Every time Chen Han returned to the system space, his stamina was effectively replenished automatically.

So he was full of energy now, neither sleepy nor hungry, merely waiting in boredom for the instance to begin.

About half an hour passed.

A flurry of hurried footsteps rang out, accompanied by breathless panting.

Chen Han looked toward the sound and saw a girl around twenty with a high ponytail hurrying over.

She was terrified, her expression still shaken.

Chen Han guessed that it was simply too late at night, so walking alone through an empty city would inevitably be frightening.

After the girl with the high ponytail came in...

The ticket seller gave an even more mechanical smile, the corners of his mouth curving higher.

After counting everyone, he said with a beaming smile.

"Welcome to the Happy Kids Swimming Pool. This instance will begin at 00:00, and the rules will also be distributed to everyone at precisely 00:00!"

Chen Han's livestream opened at that moment as well. Since not everyone had arrived earlier, the instance had been unable to enter preparation mode.

Only once everyone had arrived could the livestream enter preparation mode.

During this period, viewers could enter the livestream early and wait alongside the players for the instance to officially begin.

The players' existing fans would also receive a notification when their livestreams opened.

"Whoa, didn't Boss Chen Han just finish an instance at 20:00? How come he's starting another one already?"

"We actually get to watch the boss show off his skills twice in one night. I can't wait!"

"It's a multiplayer instance this time, with quite a few people. There are five, including Chen Han!"

Most of those who flooded into Chen Han's livestream at first were returning viewers. Only later did some new viewers gradually appear.

"Is this Chen Han guy really that good? Why's everyone in the livestream hyping him up?"

"I watch rules horror livestreams every day, and I've never even heard of this Chen Han guy. He's probably just a newbie!"

"This Chen Han looks like an honest guy. In rules horror, that usually means he's the opening sacrifice."

That disparaging bullet comment actually received more than ten likes in an instant.

It seemed that most of the newcomers to the livestream did not think much of Chen Han's chances.

Back on Chen Han's side.

Just after the ticket seller announced when the instance would begin...

Chen Han glanced at the time. It was already 23:40.

The auntie suddenly stood up and first cleared her throat.

Then she spoke in a strong, full voice.

"In a little while, we'll all be in the same boat."

"So we need to get to know everyone's circumstances first. Let's take turns introducing ourselves."

Then she looked around at everyone's reactions. Once she noticed that everyone's attention was on her...

She gave a satisfied smile.

"I'll go first!"

"I'm a veteran player. I've already cleared three instances."

Everyone drew in a breath. Judging by their reactions, the auntie was now pretty sure this was a newbie lobby, with most of the players being newcomers.

A newbie lobby was even better. She would be able to take control of the whole situation when the time came.

Next was the middle-aged man. Although he had a middle-aged man's face...

His voice sounded like a young man's.

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"This is my second instance. I don't know much, so I'll just follow everyone's lead."

The young blond guy had calmed down considerably by now. He seemed to have accepted the reality that he had entered a rules horror game after dying.

"This is my first instance. Please bear with me!"

Then he cupped his hands and bowed to the people around him.

The girl with the high ponytail had little expression on her face.

Although she had been the last to arrive, apart from her initial panic...

She was quite composed now.

"This is my first instance."

The young blond guy seemed delighted and struck up a conversation with the girl with the high ponytail.

"It's your first instance too? What a coincidence. I guess we're the only two newbies here."

The girl with the high ponytail glanced at him, then gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Last was Chen Han.

Chen Han shrugged. He had initially considered whether to make up some random number, but on second thought, there was little point.

This was his second instance. Making things up could easily backfire.

"This is my second instance. Nice to meet you all."

After hearing what everyone had to say, the auntie was very satisfied.

She now had the highest standing among everyone present, which would give her more say later.

To her, the greatest advantage of a newbie lobby was being able to send the others to test the rules and die in her place.