Cheng Shuang has already gotten used to the lines of a living person, so she doesn't care much about these lines that only exist in photos.
The little girl stood steadily, carefully examining the photos, not deterred by the eerie wall of pictures.
She didn't know if these things would be useful. Using her schoolbag as a cover, she took out a cartoon ballpoint pen and a lace notebook and wrote down the names of the people on duty today and those on duty tomorrow. As for their appearance, well, in her eyes, these line figures all looked the same. The only difference was that she could distinguish men from women by their uniforms and differentiate them from customers. This would drive the little girl to face blindness in no time.
Lie Fu returned right on time. He shook his head at the three of them with disappointment. It didn't need to be said explicitly; just looking at the number of people at the welcome banquet, it was clear that many people had ignored the cruise ship's announcement about the welcome banquet and hadn't made it in time.
Of course, it's also possible that they fear the welcome banquet is a dangerous event and would rather stay in their rooms than risk attending.
Whether their choice is correct depends on the number of people at the buffet tomorrow.
There was a commotion outside the lobby. It seemed that the staff refused to let them in because their clothes didn't match. Perhaps they knew how strict the staff were, because their pleas soon faded away.
At exactly 6:30, a loud bang was heard.
Everyone was startled and turned to look for the source of the sound.
It turned out to be the sound of two large doors closing.
Although the hall was not crowded, the closed doors made the space feel instantly oppressive. The people inside were like caged birds, all silent and timid, with a sense of resignation.
Another piercing noise came from another direction, like sharp cat claws scraping against glass, amplified to double its unbearable awfulness.
Everyone present turned around and looked towards the source of the voice, shuddering involuntarily.
A line drawing of a human figure wearing a bow tie, with two red cheeks and an exaggerated smile, appeared on the stage below the banner.
The light shone on it, making it look like a paper figure that had suddenly come to life.
Holding the microphone, it tested it in a serious manner, uttered a couple of grand welcoming remarks, and informed the guests that there would be a lucky draw during the banquet. After finishing, it shouted loudly and crisply, "The welcome banquet officially begins."
The lights suddenly dimmed, loud music started, and line figures with identical red faces appeared in the corner, playing line instruments.
The colorful lights rotated in the hall, immediately enlivening the atmosphere, and the sounds of guests clapping and laughing could be heard intermittently.
Waiters moved about the hall, carrying various easy-to-eat delicacies, occasionally stopping to serve guests. Various cake cups and cold dishes were displayed on both sides of the banquet hall, which guests could also help themselves.
Because it was a buffet, in addition to the aroma of wine, there was also a faint sweet fragrance of pastries in the air, adding a touch of sweet ambiguity to the eerie banquet hall.
Most of the newcomers formed small groups of five or six, their fearful and cautious demeanor making them easily identifiable. Each group typically had one or two "veterans" among them. Compared to the others, these "veterans" were much calmer.
The remaining newcomers gathered around certain defenders, serving them tea and water and flattering them to the extreme.
It seems the 'elders' have already told them about the existence of the protectors, and as for whether they choose to attach themselves to them or rely on themselves, the 'elders' are taking a detached and indifferent attitude.
Before anyone knew it, three pretty women gradually approached Hei Zishan and Lie Fu, chatting shyly. Soon, the five of them were laughing and talking, as if they had known each other for a long time.
Du Jun, perhaps because of his cold demeanor and the fact that he was holding a child, stood out from everyone else.
Cheng Shuang was hungry when a waiter carrying a tray walked by. The little girl stood on tiptoe to look at it; it was a tuna sandwich. The chef was very thoughtful and made it a mini version, half-wrapped in a napkin with a ship's name printed on it. It was the perfect size, enough for an adult to eat in two bites.
Cheng Shuang took two pieces, handed one to Du Jun, and took a big bite of her own. The little girl smiled and nodded repeatedly as she ate.
The sandwich contains a whole piece of tuna, without onions, and has a refreshing lemon flavor, making it a safe, delicious, and fresh treat.
Du Jun clearly liked it too. The two of them didn't exchange any words, but their actions were tacit and unified. They picked up some food of a single color and whose original form could be seen, and filled their stomachs.
While others were either indulging in revelry or feeling uneasy, they buried themselves in their food and ate until they were at least 80% full, then took two small bottles of soda water from the pile of ice to moisten their throats.
Seeing how unrestrained they were eating, Hei Zishan and Lie Fu were also infected. While chatting with the beautiful women, they would occasionally stuff something into their mouths to soothe their rumbling stomachs.
The most beautiful woman suddenly asked hesitantly, "Is this food... really safe?"
Hei Zi paused, shrugged, and said nonchalantly, "I don't know!" He picked up a cherry from the cake cup in his hand and handed it to the woman, "You might find out if you try!"
The beautiful woman's face turned pale, and despite her rumbling stomach, she still shook her head with a forced smile and refused.
The old man said that safety should be the top priority, and if possible, stay away from the natives at the Gate of Reincarnation.
So it's possible that we should stay away from the food prepared by the indigenous people.
Who knows how many of them they might eat, and how many body parts they might leave behind, just like that little boy this morning.
The beautiful woman shivered violently, and now she wished she could cover her nose and not smell or look at it.
Kuroko smiled broadly, popped a cherry into her mouth, and said casually, "What if we don't eat anything and get too hungry to run away?"
In enclosed spaces like this, food is generally not a problem unless something unexpected happens. Otherwise, if everyone were wiped out right away, there would be no such thing as a "veteran" or "old-timer".
Lie Fu very gentlemanly comforted the three women who looked terrible, saying, "It's right to be cautious." But he didn't stop putting pieces of pickled fish into his mouth.
Most of the people eating were maintainers. The 'old people' waited for a while, and seeing that the maintainers were not acting strangely, they slowly began to eat.
The newlyweds breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this. Although the selection of cold dishes was limited, there was no doubt that the chefs on the cruise ship were far superior to those in ordinary restaurants.
The newlyweds had eaten a small lunch early and were starving.
Fortunately, the waiters were mindful of the ubiquitous lines on the tables. Even the burly, rough men ate with great elegance, only eating more because they were so hungry.
The fact that the newcomers are standing here at least proves that they are adaptable, and what happened this morning will no longer easily affect their appetite.
About half an hour later, the host, wearing a bow tie, stood at the front again. The lights instantly focused on the stage, and with two rows of ladies dressed in red and green behind the host, the feeling of a funeral procession in a mourning hall became even stronger!
The sound of gasping for air was incessant.
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