Global Collapse-Chapter 509 - 478: Murmurs and Gasps_1

Truth be told, Gu Mian had never lived in such a shabby house in his entire life.

Even though he had grown up as an orphan, the orphanage director had managed to swindle a fair bit of money by taking him out to bluff and deceive people.

Even though their place leaked rain in summer and let in drafts in winter, the director's tireless scheming had secured enough funds to patch up the holes.

In short, even the orphanage was several tiers better than this hovel.

Of course, as one of the world's "sinners," Gu Mian knew he wouldn't be sleeping in a decent house.

After all, they were put here to be made a spectacle of.

The sky had already grown completely dark. Being in a small mountain valley, night fell particularly quickly here.

Through the crooked door frame, Gu Mian watched the gradually darkening sky. The weather wasn't good; low rumbles of thunder echoed from the horizon intermittently.

The air was stuffy.

Naturally, there was no clock in this slum-like hovel. Gu Mian estimated it was around six in the evening.

How to sleep was a major problem. Looking at the pile of rags in the corner, Gu Mian fell deep into thought.

The film crew from the program was gathered at the entrance, cameras ready, determined not to miss a single detail. Gu Mian had no idea what they could possibly film in this pitch-black room.

By this hour, most people had finished work. In a world with few entertainment facilities, television was the primary means for most people to pass the time.

The show *Metamorphosis* was already very popular. Thanks to Gu Mian's recent troublemaking, its ratings had soared even higher.

Viewers in front of their televisions either sneered sarcastically or excitedly brainstormed tasks to propose.

They stared with malevolent glee at the individuals on screen.

Cameras had long been installed in this dilapidated house. Once the sky was completely dark, the cameramen departed one by one, but the cameras inside continued to record.

Just then, Accompany me next year was lighting a candle with a match. Keeping her voice low and away from the cameras, she said, "I always feel that these people's attitude towards us is somewhat strange... I don't quite understand the point of this show. An instance could have ghosts hunt us in countless ways, so why a variety show format?"

This female guest was still unaware of the old world's worldview.

She was still preoccupied with when the ghosts would appear, oblivious to the fact that she might soon face something far more terrifying.

At that moment, Chu Changge, sitting on the pile of rags, adjusted his glasses and said, "The mission given by the instance is to complete the filming of the show. I suspect various incidents might occur during the program; it wouldn't even be surprising if we discovered the entire production team consisted of ghosts..."

Nearby, Gu Mian touched his guitar case. Looks like Chu Changge is spouting nonsense again, he thought.

Gu Mian hadn't realized it before, but since this global game began, he'd discovered Chu Changge's peculiar talent.

Perhaps because he was usually expressionless, his face never reddened when he lied. Gu Mian had genuinely never seen him blush.

"So, it's best for you all to be cautious. If you notice anything amiss, you can flee immediately."

Accompany me next year, who was lighting the candle, nodded as if she understood, then fell into deep thought.

"Hey," Gu Mian suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "Are you trying to set her up?"

Chu Changge replied with a calm expression, "This instance is somewhat special..."

He's stating the obvious, Gu Mian thought. It's already called a special instance; how could it not be special?

Chu Changge adjusted his glasses again and continued, "The difficulty of player missions in this instance can vary."

Gu Mian understood this point.

Although they had entered the instance together and shared the same mission, it would be incredibly difficult for the four "sinners," including Gu Mian, to continue filming successfully. The other five merely needed to act miserable enough to make everyone lose interest in them.

Of course, only those who understood the old world's worldview would know to feign misery on the show. For those ignorant of this worldview, a single misstep could be fatal.

Imagine, for instance, sympathizing with a beggar who pleaded on the streets, rain or shine. Every time you passed by, pity would compel you to give him something. Then, one day, you suddenly discover this 'beggar' is actually a wealthy man owning ten properties.

Begging was merely his hobby, and he couldn't care less about your alms.

Such a revelation would inevitably transform one's feelings from sympathy to something else entirely...

Anger, envy, perhaps even madness.

Gu Mian didn't know if ordinary people would be driven to madness by such an encounter, but the people of this world most certainly would.

The other five players were currently like those wealthy beggars asking for alms on the street. If they were smart enough to discover the rules of this world early on, they could survive safely until the end.

As for Fatty, Gu Mian wasn't worried about him at all.

Fatty both understood this world's rules and had experience from many instances—even if he'd mostly coasted to victory.

But Fatty's ability to feign misery should be quite convincing, Gu Mian mused.

Although a misstep by the other five people could doom them, their difficulty level was indeed much lower than that of Gu Mian's group.

If one were to say the other five were strolling near an abyss or treading on thin ice within the instance, then Gu Mian and his companions had started at the very bottom of the cliff, trapped in a hole in the ice.

They would have to find a way, any way, to climb out...

However, Gu Mian noticed that the guest, Accompany me next year, seemed oblivious to this. She was staring at the pea-sized flame in the darkness, apparently still wondering when the ghosts would make their appearance.

As the only female guest, she showed no concern about where she would sleep that night, seemingly unbothered by the presence of three young men around her.

Chu Changge's voice suddenly came from beside him. "This is a special instance. Since the beginning of the global game, it's been stated that special instances are highly difficult and possess unique characteristics. The difficulty scaling in this instance is quite pronounced; our side's difficulty is very high."

So, the players who entered this instance were also assigned difficulties based on their abilities? Gu Mian understood Chu Changge's implication.

He stroked his chin. If the caliber of players on our side is higher than the other...

Does that mean Accompany me next year is also not to be trifled with?

Gu Mian thought of Liu Ruyan, who was on the other team. Liu Ruyan was already a formidable individual, yet surprisingly, in this instance, she had been assigned to the 'weaker' camp.

Does this mean Accompany me next year is stronger than Liu Ruyan?

Lost in thought, Gu Mian glanced at Accompany me next year in the dim light. She sat quietly beside the candle. While she clearly wasn't a naive ditz, she didn't appear to be the scheming or cunning type either.

As if reading Gu Mian's mind, Chu Changge adjusted his glasses. "Not all high-caliber players are devious and cunning."

"Oh," Gu Mian nodded. "Not all players are like you."

Chu Changge fell silent.