I’m Really Scared
Chapter 177: Playing the Fool Once

"Three hours?"

Sun Han, connecting Guan Shan's previous questions, immediately realized, her pupils contracting as she looked towards the collapsing mountainside: "He wouldn't be going...?!"

Using abilities on ordinary people was strictly prohibited by regulations, but in practice, it was often overlooked as long as no major incidents occurred.

But taking action against civilians was another matter. If confirmed, it would be a serious violation, far worse than Qi Xingyu's bewitching of colleagues.

Even if justified, it would result in a major penalty.

The privileges of A-level Espers, as Sun Han mentioned earlier, ultimately applied only to them. The lower-ranking members still had to follow the rules.

"Tsk." Sun Han took a step to pursue.

Lin Shuman suddenly extended her arms to block her: "Guan Shan is just handling personal matters. His cooperation with the investigation is already overdue. Captain Sun, you have no right to interfere with other team members."

Sun Han was taken aback: "Isn't today..."

Lin Shuman pulled out her phone: "It's December 3rd, 2 a.m. We entered the Wuhao Team base 16 days ago. According to regulations, the filing time for an ability case is 15 days. You have no authority over him now."

Sun Han paused: "So you're covering for him?"

Lin Shuman shook her head, looking Sun Han in the eye: "I'm not covering for him; I'm just stating the facts."

"If Guan Shan's actions are problematic, the Youhao Team will investigate and handle it, not you."

Sun Han was silent for a moment, looking at the forest gradually being engulfed by fire, taking a deep breath: "Fine, I have no authority."

She gave Lin Shuman a deep look: "But as a duty of the Special Security Group, I will still organize a search and rescue. If I find anything during the search, I will act accordingly."

---

Guan Shan raced through the burning forest towards Baihe Village.

In his hand, a recorder played a message from Li Zhiying... her final words.

"I am Li Zhiying, president of 'Hangzhou Evening News.' What I am about to say are the facts I witnessed and the truth I uncovered through various sources. Inside the recorder's compartment is a USB drive containing all the collected information."

"If someone finds this recorder... I'm probably dead. They've noticed my actions. Based on my observations, this village is accustomed to killing."

"This village is called Baihe Village. Seven years ago, when I taught here, I noticed something odd. Some children's speech and knowledge didn't match those from a mountain village."

"At the time, I didn't think much of it, and my teaching stint was brief. Soon, I returned to the city. Seven years passed quickly."

"Recently, I saw a missing person notice. The child looked exactly like one I taught in Baihe Village seven years ago. I immediately realized why I felt something was wrong back then."

"Those children were likely kidnapped!"

"Next, I searched all missing person platforms and found three more missing children. A horrifying thought struck me. To uncover the truth, I returned to Baihe Village..."

Guan Shan realized that Li Zhiying didn't suddenly decide to promote Baihe Village but had already sensed something amiss before coming.

The subsequent events were similar to what Guan Shan had learned.

Li Zhiying's investigation deepened, uncovering the "Bee God" belief and human sacrifices. The village head, Ba Dian, decided to kill her to keep the village's secrets.

"I never saw the 'Divine Messenger' they spoke of, but he is likely a charlatan, possibly the head of a human trafficking ring, using 'sacrifices to the god' as a pretext to sell them."

"Before the 'Divine Messenger' arrived, the villagers already believed in the 'Bee God' and did not leave any survivors."

"In other words, before the 'Divine Messenger,' kidnapped children were sacrifices. After, they became commodities and breeding tools. This tradition has likely lasted many years."

"Ba Ping's mother was an obedient and sensible child, also very smart. Her real name should be Liu Wan. Her parents were ordinary workers who spent everything to find her but never gave up."

"Ba Ping returned with both legs gone after being taken by the 'Divine Messenger.'"

"When there weren't enough children, they even cruelly used their own."

"I found a couple willing to cooperate. They had some education and wanted to escape. Their child became a sacrifice last year but reportedly escaped. They asked if I had seen him."

"Their child's name was Ba Ke, meaning 'beautiful jade.' They gave him a silver plaque with 'BK' engraved on it."

"The next day, they disappeared."

"They plan to act tonight. I know I probably won't escape, but strangely, I heard a voice saying it could save me."

"I agreed."

"I know it's there, under the swamp in the cave."

"I don't know the outcome... but please, whoever finds this recorder, reveal the truth and let those children go home."

Guan Shan stopped at the village entrance, looking at the recorder, cursing, "Damn! 'BK' is Ba Ke!"

The spider monster that attacked him on the bus with Tao Luo; he had seen its file. It was an unidentified child.

"He awakened teleportation abilities as an experimental subject, escaped, but was recaptured, brainwashed into a killing machine!"

"BK" was one of many children persecuted by "Death Hive." Many others couldn't endure the "Ascension Candy" and perished in the mountains.

Guan Shan's anger was uncontrollable. Li Zhiying's investigation uncovered over forty children.

He took a deep breath, pulling out a special item from his backpack.

[Damaged Metal Plate (Special Scenario Trigger Item)]

[Effect: Forces a simulation in the current area, triggering a special scenario.]

[Description: An old, well-kept metal plate, a corner missing. It bears the initials 'B' and 'K,' symbolizing someone's return home.]

"Returning home... that's what the charlatan meant."

"'BK' returns to his hometown, and President Li was killed here."

Guan Shan walked towards the burning village. Villagers were fighting the fire, praying to the Bee God, with bodies strewn around.

He donned his mask, the metal plate in his hand dissipating into the air.

His eyes, behind the mask, reflected the flames as he raised his Demon Blade: "And I will play the fool."

The world changed again. All villagers looked different. Guan Shan didn't know who was guilty or innocent.

But it didn't matter...

The simulator would judge.

[Scene scanning complete, generating horror game...]

[Horror game generated: Battle Royale]

[Loading plot, please wait...]