Orpheus's ramblings:
"Hey, listen up, all of you. To make this project work, we must cooperate fully."
"Exactly how should we do it? How much capital do we need to invest? You know, I still have a clinic to run, and I don't have that much savings…"
"Heh, can't you do the math? As long as we open the orphanage, we can apply for government subsidies. A single government grant will be enough to keep your clinic running for several years, and that's just the overt income."
"Overt income? Wait, do you have other plans?"
"Oh, my naive little Amelia, you couldn't really think we're opening an orphanage out of pure kindness, could you? What adult doesn't do things for profit?"
"Then…"
"Besides gaining sympathy from the public and attracting donations, orphans also have other uses. Use your rusty little brain. For example, Amelia's clinic receives many patients every year who need organ replacements to survive…"
"What! My goodness, you're truly cruel!"
"Before you criticize others, think about yourself. What right does an arsonist have to accuse others?"
"You…"
"Alright, stop bickering. We're all in this together now. If you don't want word to get out and get caught, then shut your mouths. From now on, until other circumstances arise, all of you will follow the original plan."
This somewhat inexplicable background narration ends here. After the black smoke dissipated, Caleb found himself lying on the floor of a dilapidated shack, with three other players lying beside him.
His vision went from dizzy to focused, and some illusory images flashed before his eyes. Caleb felt a strange sensation, as if he had forgotten something. After he became more alert, he began to survey his surroundings.
The shack was small, showing traces of being ravaged by fire everywhere. There was a large hole in the roof. Through the hole, he could see the waning moon high in the sky, unaccompanied by stars—cold, desolate. Black ash-like particles floated in the air, and many unburnt remnants were scattered on the ground.
In the center of the shack, there was a brand-new wooden table, which looked out of place with the background. Two wires were thrown beneath the table, seemingly to connect some electronic devices. A window was open on the left side of the shack. Looking out, Caleb could see a huge factory-like building not far away.
At this moment, his three teammates also began to wake up one after another.
"Wow! I've got teammates! It's finally not a single-player game anymore!" A player, wearing thick-rimmed glasses, a dark blue Japanese high school uniform, and a short skirt, exclaimed, a little too excited. Seeing that everyone's attention was drawn to her, she generously introduced herself: "Hello everyone, my ID is Ginger. I'm a player who focuses on deduction and puzzle-solving. Please take care of me in this game." As she spoke, she extended her hand in a friendly gesture to a disheveled and dejected-looking male player nearby.
"Do we have to introduce ourselves? By the way... there's a team interface in the upper left corner." The male player rubbed the back of his head, reminding her a bit shyly.
Ginger checked the upper left corner of her vision upon hearing him, and her expression immediately became flustered. She awkwardly retracted her hand. "Ah! Oh, oh, oh, alright, this is my first time encountering a dungeon with teammates…"
Caleb also glanced at the upper left corner, noticing that four player avatars had appeared there. His avatar was in the second position. Before him was the disheveled male, whose ID was Hard Candy Hank. The third was Ginger. The fourth was also a female player, wearing high heels and a pink dress, looking quite cute. Her ID, Sweet Candy Sky, could form a CP with Hard Candy Hank. They were clearly a young couple playing in duo mode.
[Main Quest: Night of the Military Factory]
[Quest Description: 'This used to be a private Military Factory. It is said that a worker's improper operation caused a large fire, burning it down to ruins. Recently, local residents have reported to the newspaper: around midnight every night, terrifying roars emanate from deep within the Military Factory ruins...']
[Quest Objective: Escape the Military Factory.]
After all four had read the Main Quest, Ginger spoke first again. "Emmm... it seems if we don't escape successfully by past midnight, we'll encounter the guy making those terrifying roars." Ginger's eyes lit up as she said this. "Thinking about it, I'm a little excited!"
"Uh... but the owner of that terrifying roar is clearly the big BOSS in this game. If we really encounter him, people will probably die." Hard Candy Hank said, somewhat timidly.
"Oh, right!" As if he suddenly remembered something, he reached into his tattered shirt pocket and pulled out a dirty, broken bowl. "Distinguished sirs and ladies, please have mercy on me~" He extended the broken bowl in front of his three teammates, putting on a distressed expression, and said in a pleading tone. This appearance, this demeanor, he was practically a formally recognized member of the Beggars' Sect!
"???" "…"
Ginger and Caleb were both too surprised by Hard Candy Hank's sudden change in demeanor to speak. Then, they both simultaneously received a system notification:
— Teammate 'Hard Candy Hank' activated his identity ability 'Begging'. You, in your great kindness, generously bestowed upon him $5 in Escape Points.
What the heck!!! Such a bizarre identity ability actually exists?!
"Oh yeah $15 in Escape Points in hand, feeling good " The broken bowl in Hard Candy Hank's hand flashed with light, and the sound of coins clinking rang out. He immediately beamed with joy and put the broken bowl back into his shirt pocket.
Suddenly, an electric flying kick came from behind him, sending Hard Candy Hank sprawling on his face. "How many times do I have to tell you! Stop using that shameless skill!" Sweet Candy Sky (Hard Candy Hank's girlfriend) stood with her arms crossed, looking down at her boyfriend, her upper face shrouded in darkness, radiating killing intent.
"Is this all you're capable of?"
"Lady hero, spare me! Please let me off! I won't dare to do it again." Hard Candy Hank trembled, admitting defeat quickly.
Caleb noticed a faint light flash on him again.
"Hmm, consider yourself lucky. I'll let you off this time…" The killing intent surrounding Sweet Candy Sky immediately vanished. Like a change of face, her expression switched from angry to gentle. But this situation didn't last even two seconds before Hard Candy Hank received another angry punch from his girlfriend.
"You can't use this skill either!"
"…"
This peculiar art style made Caleb and Ginger look at each other in bewilderment.