The Labyrinth of the Monsters

Chapter 8 The First Note

"So, you two help me with something. As a condition, I will tell you all the serial numbers after 50." Officer Huang picked up a perfectly cooked spinach with his chopsticks in his left hand. "Not only that, I can also answer one question for you for free, any question that you want to know and I happen to know."

"What do we need to do?" Qing Ling asked.

"You have to agree first." Officer Huang smiled. "This task is definitely not difficult, I guarantee there is no life-threatening danger."

Qing Ling remained silent.

Gao Yang also didn't say anything. In fact, he didn't even have the qualifications to negotiate conditions with Officer Huang. It would be better for him to take the "hidden" route.

"You already know one in ten thousand ratio, so you should be aware of how bad your situation is." Officer Huang sighed deeply. "We are all orphans of the world, abandoned by the gods long ago."

Qing Ling fell into silence, hesitating.

Gao Yang remained silent as well.

Officer Huang continued persuasively, "I believe that in order to survive in this misty world, besides having powerful talents, you also need to grasp the rules as much as possible."

His eyes were calm, but his tone was firm. "I guarantee that my information is invaluable, and this transaction is absolutely worth it."

"Deal." Gao Yang blurted out. His thoughts were simple: since the other party had said this much, he might as well agree first. If it didn't work out, he could always change his mind later.

Qing Ling glared at Gao Yang but didn't object.

"Smart people." Officer Huang was very satisfied. He took out a sticky note and a pen from his uniform pocket and wrote down three notes with a rustling sound. "Don't blame me for being stingy. After all, I still can't completely trust you. Being reborn in this hell, we can only do our best to survive."

The police officer folded the notes and handed them to Qing Ling.

Qing Ling reached out to take them, but the police officer quickly pulled back the notes. "Remember, open the first note after evening self-study tomorrow. Open the second note after completing one task. Open the third note after completing two tasks. Make sure to follow the instructions."

Qing Ling took the notes and stuffed them into the front pocket of her school uniform. "After the task is completed, I want to ask two questions."

"Sure, once the task is completed, I will contact you." Officer Huang stood up and took out his phone. "Grandpa Liu, let's settle the bill."

...

In the middle of the night, when Gao Yang returned home, his mindset had undergone a huge transformation.

After learning about the one in ten thousand ratio of humans to beasts, he could no longer face his once warm and happy family.

Based on the experience from the night when he was four years old, Gao Yang could almost be certain: his grandfather was definitely a "beast," although he wasn't sure which kind.

His grandmother being in the same room as his grandfather probably meant that she was also a beast without a doubt.@@novelbin@@

As for his parents and younger sister...

Gao Yang didn't want to think too much about it. Deep down, he hoped that his family members were all humans, even if the probability was as small as winning the lottery. But he couldn't erase this sense of luck, after all, they had been his family for twelve years, spending every day together.

If on his 18th birthday night, Gao Yang hadn't been bumped into by that "mentally ill" person, if he had continued to live in ignorance, growing up, getting married, having children, and dying peacefully, it might have been a kind of happiness.

Living in falsehood and lies is not pitiful for a person, as long as they never wake up.

But there were no ifs. Gao Yang had awakened, and his once peaceful life no longer existed.

Now, he was in hell!

From now on, he could only be cautious, treading on thin ice. Any slight mistake could lead to a deep abyss.

At three in the morning, his family had already fallen asleep. Gao Yang knew that tomorrow morning he would definitely receive a scolding from his parents, but at least tonight, he didn't have to face them. He had time to adjust his mindset and find the most suitable state to face his family.

Feeling exhausted both physically and mentally, Gao Yang lay down in the bathtub, wanting to take a comfortable hot bath. When he looked up, he saw a faint light coming from the hexagram in front of him. This time, he didn't touch it with his hand. He closed his eyes and tried to control it with his inner voice: enter the system.

【Beep—】

【Entering the system】

【You have gained 27 lucky points, totaling 30 lucky points. Would you like to use them?】

- Use.

【Opening the attribute panel for you】

【Physical Strength: 12 Endurance: 12】

【Strength: 11 Agility: 11】

【Mental Strength: 10 Charisma: 10】

【Luck: 0】

Gao Yang immediately noticed that some of his basic attributes had increased, although very slightly.

- Do attribute values automatically increase?

【Attribute values fluctuate based on your physical function and condition】

【Today, you have had a fulfilling day and have become slightly stronger than your previous self】

- Then if I do 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run every day for three years until I'm bald, will I become the strongest person on Earth?

【In theory, your body will become stronger, but you may also face injuries such as muscle strains and knee wear】

- Then how can I become stronger?

【Use lucky points to permanently enhance attribute values】

【In addition, different talents have permanent bonuses to different attribute values】

- Is Qing Ling's Sword God talent powerful?

【Talent: Sword God. Serial Number: 32. Rune Type: Damage】

【Max level Sword God: Specialization in swords, triple increase in sword damage, physical defense penetration rate of 91.4%】"【Max Level Sword God Permanent Attribute Bonus: Physical Strength +400, Strength +800, Agility +1000, Charisma +400】

——What about the Gun God talent?

【Talent: Gun God. Serial Number: 41. Rune Type: Damage】

【Max Level Gun God: Firearms Expert, 97.3% firearm hit rate, firing speed 12 times/second】

【Max Level Gun God Permanent Attribute Bonus: Physical Strength +300, Strength +700, Agility +800, Charisma +300】

——Fuck.

【What's the object?】

——Stupid system!

【You have also discovered the Talent - Metal today, would you like to know more?】

——Stop showing me, my heart can't take it.

【Do you want to allocate your bonus points?】

——Only 30 lucky points, what's there to allocate? Just add them all to luck! I want to see just how lucky I can get.

【Once lucky points are allocated, they cannot be changed. Are you sure?】

——Yes, hurry up!

【Congratulations! Your luck has broken through 30, all attributes receive a permanent bonus of 6 points】

【Physical Strength: 18 Endurance: 18】

【Strength: 17 Agility: 17】

【Mental Strength: 17 Charisma: 16】

【Luck: 30】

——Only 6 points, could you be any stingier?

——Wait, all 6 attributes get 6 points, that's a total of 36 points. That's not a bad deal.

【Additionally, you have triggered a hidden panel, do you wish to unlock it?】

——Unlock it! Hurry up!

【Sorry, your luck is insufficient】

——Then why did you even mention it!

【Access ended, system hidden】

【Beep——】

……

Early in the morning, Gao Yang got up, as expected, he was lectured by his mother: You're about to take the college entrance examination, but you've been staying out late these past two days, not replying to messages, not answering calls, you're becoming more and more worrisome.

Gao Yang lied that it was Wang Zikai's birthday, and he was dragged to sing karaoke until midnight.

Upon hearing this, his mother became even more angry: "Wang Zikai? Didn't he drop out of school? Don't hang out with that boy all the time, don't learn bad habits from him."

At the dining table, his father was cheerfully munching on a doughnut, but he had a different opinion: "Little Kai? His dad is really rich, son, this friend is worth making."

"Don't listen to your father's nonsense, nurture determines a person's character!" His mother glared at his father.

"Wife, times have changed."

"How have they changed?"

"In today's society, ability is secondary, what's important is networking. Friends from Little Kai's class, our son will definitely need them in the future." His father argued.

"What kind of twisted values are these?" His mother was angry.

"Wife, I didn't mean anything else, I just want our son to have more friends, more options. I believe Yangyang has his own judgment, he won't really learn bad habits from him." His father looked a bit wronged, and gave Gao Yang a look: "Isn't that right, son?"

"Dad, Mom, I'm full."

Gao Yang was feeling complicated, he really didn't know how to face his "family", he ate a few bites haphazardly, and went to school with his backpack.

He knew very well that his family members were likely beasts, but for a moment, Gao Yang wavered: His parents had raised him, cared for him day and night, they loved him more than anything, how could they be beasts? But then, wasn't Li Weiwei his childhood sweetheart? Such a beautiful girl, yet she turned into a demon in a second.

What kind of creatures are beasts?

What do they want to do?

What's going on with this parallel world?

Gao Yang had no answers, just like he had no answers as to why he time traveled at the age of six, or why he got such a crappy system.

……

Gao Yang arrived at school and had an ordinary day.

Throughout the day, Gao Yang didn't speak to Qing Ling, not even a passing glance. After evening self-study, Gao Yang went to a small alley near the school where there were no cameras.

Soon, Qing Ling also appeared, she took out two thin black hoodies from her large backpack, along with two baseball caps and masks, "Put these on."

"What's this?"

"What else? Do you want me to set up a changing room for you?" Qing Ling started to take off her uniform as she spoke. She was really quick at undressing, like a snake shedding its skin, in two or three moves she had taken off her top, her neck was fair, her collarbone sexy, Gao Yang quickly turned his back and awkwardly started to undress.

Three minutes later, they both put on the black hoodies, pulled up the hoods, put on the baseball caps and masks.

Before they set off, Qing Ling took out the first piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it.