Deep in the Living-Chapter 974 - 953: Mr.?
Certainly, here's the translation of the provided Chinese text:
This is a closed space resembling a basement.
The Moon God's worms are embedded around, but only dare to hide in the cracks of the walls, rarely showing themselves. Due to the presence of the [Sixth Death Row Inmate], these worms, even if used to isolate the duel space, need to minimize contact.
The prisoner sequence provided by the Prison Director is by no means arbitrary but is the result of very detailed consideration and calculation.
This guy, whose comprehensive index ranks above the Moon God, is either more dangerous, more complex, or more vicious.
Those worms that slightly approached all underwent "degradation."
One by one, they transformed into text and fell off, or were directly affixed to the wall, causing the entire basement wall, corners, all to be filled with worm-like text.
Center of the basement.
A man with a stocking over his head is sitting here,
His back is still resting on a pink waist cushion,
Dressed in a light coffee-colored detective coat exclusive for cosplay,
Wearing two pairs of white sneakers.
A relatively complex original board game is placed on the round table in front of him, corresponding to a city named [Crime Capital].
The scale model of this dense steel jungle is continuously emitting smoke from chemical factory chimneys, the sound of whistles, and people arguing, with several police cars speeding down the streets, various warrants about Mr. ? are posted throughout the alleys and streets.
The stocking corresponding to the mouth is cut open.
A straw is inserted,
Sipping on a special pink coffee, clearing the mind and refreshing.
A large number of crime novels are piled around the basement, and this person gets up to choose six different types of books, respectively:
"Night Owl", "Despised Skull", "Red Glove", "Burning Flesh and Bones", "Expired Files", "Rust".
He drew the villain character cards placed between the six novels, including the card between the novel "Rust", which accidentally cut the finger of the man with stockings.
Each card is distinctive, with very vivid character illustrations, character profiles, and even related star ratings such as:
"Owl"
Brutality Level: ★★★
Combat Ability: ★★★★
Intelligence: ★★★★
Means: ★★★
Fame: ★★★★★
"Burned"
Brutality Level: ★★★★
Combat Ability: ★★★
Intelligence: ★☆
Means: ★★★
Fame: ★★★☆
"Rust"
Brutality Level: ★★★★☆
Combat Ability: ☆
Intelligence: ★★★★★
Means: ★★★★★
Fame: ★★★★★
The six cards are placed in different areas of the city under the consideration of the stocking man.
As the cards contact the board game scene, the textual information on them will automatically emerge, gradually [materializing].
They are given the same target, also the first target — "find and kill Mr. ?"
Meanwhile,
The stocking man carefully extends his finger toward a certain abandoned apartment, touching a corpse lying inside.
The corpse immediately turns into a card named [Hyena].
The card itself becomes dull, lifeless, with a green question mark marked on the surface. The novel corresponding to this card also withers and decays.
Beneath the stockings, the lips painted with lipstick begin to move:
"Never had such a 'character' existed before, it's fine to persist for so long, but actually managed to kill so many of my penned villains.
I really didn't see wrong, the Prison Director's vision is indeed terrifyingly high, and managed to select such amazing crime characters.
Before the boss descends, I might really finish this unparalleled masterpiece."
The more he thinks, the more excited he gets,
He even prepared the related cover in advance — [covered in white tiles in a secret room, seeing colorful ? marks from different angles].
"?"
As long as Mr. Question Mark loses this game, he himself will be extracted from the brain, turning into a similar real-life character card, stored in a book.
...
Today's air is unusually dry,
Just by opening the mouth, one can taste the industrial flavor wafting from several chimneys nearby.
[Suburban East District]
A certain tycoon purchased a futuristic manor here, equipped with a large number of security personnel.
Tonight seems quite lively,
Six individuals with different styles found their way here based on clues. Some of them looked dangerous at a glance.
However, there was no hostility among them, as they all shared the same goal: to find Mr. Question Mark.
They headed towards the manor's gate in the night.
From afar, they could see the security guard mechanically waving a greeting at the gate.
As they got closer, they noticed that the guard's clothing was painted with a [ ? ], and his hands were connected via metal wires to a gear mechanism at the top of the gate.
A white cloth covered the guard's face, and the blood oozing from his seven orifices formed a question mark shape.
The six people weren't easily intimidated. One of them, wearing a skull mask, even considered doing something to the corpse, but seeing everyone else enter the courtyard, he followed along.
The courtyard still looked like it did in the daytime.
Various servants were mechanically cleaning, their faces also covered with white cloths.
As they pushed open the mansion's door, a flash of lightning illuminated a corpulent wealthy man's body hanging from a beam.
This wealthy man was a notorious capitalist locally known for exploiting workers, employing various underhanded tactics. Now, he lay dead here.
Like the servants outside, his face was also covered with a white cloth.
However, he held a remote control, connected by precise wires.
As all six entered, pressure sensors at the door reached a certain level, activating mechanical devices that made the corpse press the remote.
In an instant,
The manor's custom air defense system was fully activated, sealing the vibrating building with layers of metal to create a completely enclosed space, making escape impossible*.
*Under the constraints of a detective novel's realistic setting, all individuals are restricted in terms of system ability, with most having just body modifications or drug enhancements, close to reality.
The television turned on,
A sack-headed figure appeared on the screen, and a voice followed:
"Welcome, all six of you who accepted my invitation to this specially designed game venue. Tonight, you will display your courage, talent, and wisdom here.
The ultimate winner will have the chance to meet me and receive the grand prize from winning the game.
The first game is [Find the Secret Room].
Starting now, the entire mansion's ventilation system will activate, releasing a slow nerve poison. You have about half an hour to find the isolated secret room.
Let's start the game."
Hiss... waves of poisonous gas began to release.
The six felons, each from different novels, started to take action, except for one man in a rusted suit, emaciated and bony, who didn't actively search.
He walked straight to the television, pressing his eye to it, seemingly staring at Mr. Question Mark through the screen.
...
The first ray of morning sunlight streamed in,
Inside the mansion.
Five villains lay dead in different areas, each with distinct death scenes. Even the savage, owl-mask-wearing Night Owl died in a secret room, his ribs torn open like wings.
Beep beep beep!
Panel activation.
The only survivor, a man named Rust, completed a code deciphering. One of his arms was entirely frozen and had been torn off by him.
In front of him was the final secret room, a sealed monitoring room.
Each screen here corresponded to the secret room sections from the games they played earlier.
A bag-headed Mr. Question Mark sat inside, waiting for his arrival.
Rust pulled out a specially made oxygen bottle, taking a deep breath over his withered face, a rusty sheen appearing over his entire body.
A certain internal energy seemed to activate.
With ghostly steps, he was instantly before Mr. Question Mark, a rusty knife buried in the latter's neck, leaving no time to react.
The game is over!
Rust finally sighed in relief but suddenly caught sight of a corner where an inconspicuous surveillance camera was installed.
This surveillance room was being monitored.
He suddenly realized something and was about to leave.
He heard a countdown sound, realizing that the severed head contained some mechanism.
Boom...
The body exploded.
Rust's body slumped against the wall, rusty blood continuously flowing from his mouth.
At that moment,
The corpulent "wealthy man's body" with a question-marked white cloth on its face appeared at the door, entering with a remote in hand.
It seemed he had stayed up all night, sitting on the living room couch, watching the game's live scenes.
The white cloth was lifted,
A handsome face was revealed.
"Not bad..."
After giving a slightly above average assessment, Mr. Question Mark shut the room's Iron Gate again. The gravely injured Rust could only remain inside, waiting for death.
...
Two kilometers away on a suburban street from the manor.
A girl wearing headphones just rode by, her eyes glanced towards the mansion area, a hint of surprise in her pupils.
She had intended to assist, collaborating with Mr. Question Mark to deal with the six external "characters."
Unexpectedly, no assistance was necessary, as Mr. Question Mark didn't seem trapped in the work itself. He adapted well to the story's plot and seemed to be gradually steering the direction of the entire narrative.
