Gamers Are Fierce-Chapter 599 - 597: The Hall
"Beyond human..."
The Mule’s expression froze slightly. He was acutely aware of the special meaning hidden in the other’s words. He was about to ask when Bee uncrossed his legs, leaned forward, glanced at his watch, and said indifferently, "We have arrived."
The ship swayed gently, and the liquid in the wine glass rippled. Bee stood up from his chair. Ferry, who had been listening in silence, quickly drained his glass, wiped his mouth, and stood up, his hands hanging respectfully at his sides. The Mule also rose. Through the window in the captain’s cabin wall, he could see land outside.
"Please follow me." Bee nodded slightly and strode out of the cabin, leading the two men onto the deck.
Li Ang floated behind the Mule and said calmly, "This counts as passing the test, right? The meaning behind Bee’s words just now was to hint that the Underworld values Lawyer Kevin highly. They wouldn’t be stingy with benefits for him and might even let him directly transcend the mundane."
Black Trojan, floating behind with a complex expression, licked his lips and couldn’t help but ask, "Shadow Man, old chap... did you really think of all that on the spur of the moment?"
"I was thinking as I spoke," Li Ang replied calmly. "Our employer is playing the role of a lawyer who switched from being a prosecutor. Combine that with Ferry’s earlier flattery and the tormenting case Bee presented, and it’s likely he’s a common law lawyer with a strong moral compass and conscience. Once you step into such a character’s shoes, it’s quite easy to imagine what they would say."
Black Trojan felt somewhat peeved. "...Quite easy, huh?"
"Of course," Li Ang nodded and said seriously. "Empathy is the ability to experience the inner world of others. When I have nothing better to do, I often create imaginary friends in my mind. For example, there’s the overbearing CEO so dominating they don’t need toilet paper. Then there’s the urban soldier king who likes to live in a doghouse to experience life. Or the genius inventor who created the pedal-driven wheelchair, the massage coffin, and winter mosquitoes. And let’s not forget the Apex serial killer who escaped capture numerous times but, due to obsessive-compulsive disorder, ended up doing a major cleanup in the victim’s home and got caught. I give them full backstories, have mental conversations with them, and learn from their strengths. It’s developed to the point where I can even let these imaginary friends take control of my body to help with work and study. It’s incredibly convenient."
"That’s not imaginary friends at all!" Black Trojan exclaimed in shock. "That’s outright Dissociative Identity Disorder, okay?!"
Li Ang suddenly shivered, then turned his head sharply and fixed Black Trojan with an intense gaze. In a distinctly different, deep, and magnetic voice, he corrected, "This is not schizophrenia. To be precise, it’s Dissociative Identity Disorder. I am honored to meet you again, Mr. Terminator. On behalf of the more than thirty brothers and sisters in my mind, I greet you."
"..." Black Trojan was startled by Li Ang’s piercing and eerie gaze, screaming inwardly, Damn it! This guy doesn’t really have multiple personalities, does he?!
Seeing the look of horror on Black Trojan’s face, Li Ang paused for a few seconds, feigning depth, then suddenly laughed, returning to normal. "Hahaha, just kidding! You didn’t really think I have multiple personalities, did you?"
"Ha... ha..." Black Trojan forced a few embarrassed laughs, discreetly wiping the cold sweat from his palms on his pants. Such a drama king and a domineering teammate... How annoying!
Their interaction caught the attention of Forest Cat and Witch. Forest Cat just thought the two were a bit odd—most high-level players in the deadly game were somewhat strange. The Witch, however, raised an eyebrow but said nothing, silently musing, This Shadow Man has some tricks up his sleeve. No wonder the Mule singled him out and invited him to join the task force. Hmm... maybe I can ask the Mule for this person’s information after the mission is over?
The Syndicate Organization, to which the Witch belonged, had twelve chief members who operated in pairs. A replacement could only step up if a member of a pair died. The Witch had no objections to her current partner. Her desire to gather information about Li Ang was simply her fulfilling her role as a member of the organization, auditing talent on its behalf.
This little interlude didn’t affect the Mule as he followed Bee onto the deck. By now, the ship had crossed the Styx and reached Higan. The riverbank on this side was just as desolate and silent as the other. The only difference was a transparent, hollow glass cylinder by the bank, soaring straight into the clouds.
The hollow cylinder was about thirty meters in diameter. A door on the side facing the Styx opened inwards. Its interior floor was covered with a soft, off-white carpet, and a circle of seats lined the inner wall. A vending machine stood in the centermost part. Overall, it looked a bit like an amusement park ride, doesn’t it?
BANG—
One side of the cargo ship’s deck popped out again, transforming into downward-slanting steps. Bee, stepping onto the stairs at the front, introduced it to the Mule. "This is the automatic elevator that goes directly to Paradise Mountain." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
The Mule was taken aback. "There’s an elevator to Paradise Mountain?"
"Of course," Bee said matter-of-factly. "What else do you think Underworld officials rely on for their commute? Although Paradise Mountain is a man-made concept, it has now become the official workplace for Underworld staff. All workers rely on this automatic elevator to travel across the vast territories of the Underworld."
As he spoke, Bee arrived in front of the giant glass cylinder. He snapped his fingers, and the cylinder’s outer door slid open. He led the two men inside, and they took their seats. The door closed automatically, and a pale blue light shone down from the ceiling.
A gentle, mechanical female voice echoed in the room: "Hello, dear passengers. Welcome aboard the Goat Brand Super-Concentrated Strawberry-Bitter Gourd Beverage-sponsored train. This is train DM81532, departing from the Styx bus station to the ninth-level council hall on Paradise Mountain. Smoking is prohibited throughout the journey. Please fasten your seatbelts. Next stop: Paradise Mountain."
Bee and Ferry expertly pulled seatbelts from behind their seats and buckled up. The Mule imitated them, then couldn’t help asking, "What exactly is the Goat Brand Super-Concentrated Strawberry-Bitter Gourd Beverage?"
"Oh, that’s a specialty of the Underworld; it’s very popular here," Ferry explained. "Although the special environment of the Underworld amplifies the emotional responses of Spiritual Bodies, over time, even the most intense sensory stimuli become dulled. Only super-concentrated vegetable and fruit juice beverages can still affect seasoned Spiritual Bodies like us. However, some untrained, newer Spiritual Bodies review the super-concentrated strawberry-bitter gourd beverage as ’one sip and you’ll see hell.’ Newcomers are better off starting with ordinary beverages like the Fried Pork Cutlet Sandwich Drink or Chablis Pineapple Juice."
Bee interjected, "I personally recommend the Watermelon Clam Soup."
"Oh? Mr. Bee, you prefer a mix of sweet and salty flavors?" Ferry nodded. "That’s quite the taste."
What’s good about that?! You Underworld folk must all have problems with your taste buds, right?! The Mule scoffed internally but kept his expression neutral.
The glass cylinder began to tremble slowly. The Mule felt a push from below, growing stronger. Looking out, he saw the scenery shrinking rapidly. He saw the freighter docked at the riverbank, the dense, endless lines of Souls along the Styx’s upper and lower reaches, the 5G towers formed from piles of twisted monsters, and the giant city where countless Souls resided. Worlds upon worlds lay before his eyes.
The elevator ascended swiftly, breaking through the gloomy clouds in the blink of an eye. Black Trojan and the others silently marveled at the Underworld’s vastness. Bee and Ferry remained calm. The Mule, however, instinctively gripped the handrails on both sides of his seat, his face tense as he braced against the G-force of the acceleration.
After a while, the elevator began to slow, eventually coming to a complete stop.
DING-DONG—
With the chime, the elevator door slid open to one side. Before the players lay a circular council hall. Thirteen high platforms were arranged around the hall, each with a chair behind it. Five Dinosaur Majesties and seven human councilors looked down from their high positions at the transparent elevator and the Mule inside it.
