The rules mention four animals: crow, spider, mouse, and parrot.
From a purely rule-based perspective, crows and parrots are beneficial to them, while spiders and mice are harmful.
However, nothing is absolute. For example, rule four mentions being careful of talking parrots, which means that parrots can also pose a certain danger!
Are these four animals really just animals? Do they represent something else?
They still needed to find more clues. Jiang Ran patted his head lightly; the discomfort had disappeared. Now it was time to go for a stroll around the inn!
Jiang Ran walked out of the room and was met by a rat. The rat stopped and bowed the moment it saw Jiang Ran, and then quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.
"This mouse is quite polite."
The rat's eyes gleamed with an eerie red light; it was not in danger until it violated rule fourteen.
Jiang Ran turned his head to look in the direction the rat had come from, and then walked directly in that direction!
At the end of the corridor was a staircase leading upwards. Jiang Ran followed the staircase to the fourth floor. The first room was labeled "Room Number One (Top Tier)," indicating that this floor was still reserved for guests.
Jiang Ran did not go in to investigate, as the rules restricted them to entering only their own rooms.
A squeaking sound came from ahead. Jiang Ran peeked out and saw a spider scrambling rapidly on the wall, about to reach him in the next moment!
The mouse leaped high and pounced on the spider, swallowing it whole in a few bites!
Seemingly sensing Jiang Ran's gaze, the rat scurried back into the darkness. Just as Jiang Ran was about to chase after it, a hand landed on his shoulder.
"Sir, the Tianzi room area is not open at the inn at the moment. Please move to another room, or better yet, return to your own room. It's late."
The sudden appearance of the staff member startled everyone watching the live stream. Jiang Ran turned around and met his gaze.
What area is ahead?
"It's just a perfectly normal guest room."
The staff member answered Jiang Ran expressionlessly.
"I just saw a mouse."
The staff member's face visibly darkened, but he still said, "Then you must be mistaken, sir. The inn is always clean and there are no rats here."
"Please return to your room."
The staff urged him repeatedly, and with him blocking his way, Jiang Ran couldn't go any further, so he could only nod and return to the third floor.
"By the way, we have a specialized pest control service. If you see a spider, please call us."
After leaving those words, the staff member disappeared again.
This wasn't the first time Jiang Ran had seen a rat. So what exactly is a rat, and why does it hunt spiders?
Fortunately, his greatest strength is that he doesn't listen to advice!
After the staff disappeared, Jiang Ran quickly returned to the fourth floor and headed straight for the previous spot!
Number Four - Number Nine -
After passing through the doors of each room, Jiang Ran quickly arrived at the end of the corridor!
An iron gate blocked his way.
Four large characters were written on the iron gate: "Employee Dormitory".
The fourth floor not only has premium rooms, but also staff dormitories. Why did the staff member hide this from us before?
The iron gate is locked, and entry is currently impossible.
But there was an unexpected surprise hidden in the crack of the door.
Jiang Ran took out the note that was tucked in the crack of the door.
Whoever sees this note, go to the corner on the left side of the lobby near the door; there you'll find something you want to know.
The corner on the left side of the lobby near the entrance?
Jiang Ran put away the note. Since the staff dormitory was already locked, he decided not to waste any more time here.
A red eye silently watched Jiang Ran leave.
When Jiang Ran arrived at the lobby, the third ghost storyteller entered the inn!
Smir from the White Eagle Kingdom!
Smir remained unusually calm after entering the inn. Unlike Weps, he did not go crazy, and he did not even feel dizzy.
It was as if there had been no interference whatsoever.
"I didn't expect you to arrive at the inn before me. It's a pity you didn't die in the white mist."
"After all, I haven't even witnessed you kick the bucket yet, how can I leave first?"
Smirk snorted and took the room number from the front desk.
Room No. 5, the "人" character.
He didn't take the liquor from the counter, nor did he need it.
Smir's talent is the S-rank "Divine Veil," which makes him immune to the world's interference with his mind. This is also why he can sense the correct time in the white mist!
Therefore, he didn't need to distinguish between liquor and juice at all, as he felt he wouldn't need either of them until he cleared the game.
Hanamura Naiku, who was with him, was not following behind him at this moment. Smir had noticed early on that Hanamura Naiku was somewhat lost in the white mist, but in fact, if he wanted to, he could have easily brought Hanamura Naiku to the inn with him.
However, Smir ultimately decided to let him lose it. The cooperation was only optional anyway, so it was better to take the opportunity to get rid of an opponent!
"Your name is... Jiang Ran? Listen up, there's only one reason why you were able to steal the show in the eerie apartment last time and be the first to clear the level: I didn't participate!"
"This time I'm going to show you a fact: only the ghost story masters of my White Eagle Kingdom are the real ghost story masters! You are nothing but a rabble!"
Smirre's arrogant remarks instantly enraged netizens from other countries, who flocked to the White Eagle's live stream to engage in a war of words!
Smirre actually grabbed a stool from the ground and smashed it against the counter!
If the liquor and juice on the counter were initially plentiful, but now that not a single bottle of juice is missing while two bottles of liquor are gone, Smir immediately and astutely deduced that the liquor was the tool others were using to combat mental intrusion!
So as long as he destroys all the liquor, regardless of whether he can pass the level or not, everyone else can forget about it!
"Sir, the supplies are valuable, please do not spoil the drinks at this inn."
The receptionist appeared just in time and grabbed the stool from Smir's hand with one hand.
"Tch, it still doesn't work after all."
Smir was not discouraged. Success would be great, but failure wouldn't be a big loss for him.
"Then good luck, kid from the Dragon Kingdom."
Smir took the wooden sign to his room. Although he didn't need to go through the room to clear his head, he couldn't let go of any clues there!
Jiang Ran ignored Smir and immediately ran to the location specified on the note after he went upstairs!
When he was looking at the note earlier, he deliberately tucked it into his arms so that the live stream viewers couldn't see the contents of the note clearly, thus preventing other countries' observers from seeing it and using the hint opportunity to alert their own ghost story writers!
If this hadn't been planned, he and Smir would probably be fighting over this thing right now.
Okay—what exactly is hidden in this corner?
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