章節 24: The Red Key Appears
Rules for Working in Slaughter Room No. 8:
1. Always wear protective gear when entering Slaughter Room No. 8.
2. Remember, you are performing a great task. Your work is of immense importance to humanity.
3. The animals to be slaughtered in Slaughter Room No. 8 are not just pigs.
4. If the animal under your knife sheds tears, kill it the next day.
5. You will often see the 17th door. Remember, it is an illusion, and do not believe anything it says.
6. If you feel mentally disturbed, do not take medication. Pain is the best way to regain clarity.
7. Do not communicate with the supervisors.
8. Never open the 17th door!
After reading these eight rules, Zhou Bai's system voice chimed in.
[New rules detected. Marking one erroneous rule for the host.]
[Rule No. 5 of the Slaughter Room No. 8 rules is incorrect.]
Zhou Bai looked at Rule No. 5. Another rule about the 17th door deemed incorrect by the system. It seemed the 17th door was crucial in this scenario. Could the contamination source be behind it?
He pondered this possibility, then looked at Rule No. 6. The rule mentioned that pain could help clear the mind, aligning with Zhou Bai's earlier hypothesis. But why shouldn't they take medication? In the previous scenario, contaminated people took medication. Could it be that medication doesn't suppress contamination?
Zhou Bai recalled his mother's gray pills and the changes in her appearance after each outing. It was possible that the pills didn't help her at all. After considering this, Zhou Bai put the new rules away.
The experts watching the live stream quickly transcribed the new set of rules on the whiteboard and began analyzing all three sets of rules.
Zhou Bai returned to the gatekeeper's room, placing the new rules with the other two sets before closing the drawer. It was nearing midnight, and some employees had already arrived, waiting at the gate. Zhou Bai unlocked the gate and returned to his room, watching employees trickle in for their shifts.
At exactly 12 AM, a truck loaded with pigs arrived. Zhou Bai opened the gate fully, and the truck backed into the holding area for the pigs. Several workers quickly unloaded the pigs, which appeared to be ordinary. Zhou Bai observed the entire process, finding nothing unusual.
After the pigs were unloaded and the truck left, Zhou Bai sat back in his room, watching the silver moon through the window and listening to the pigs' screams as they were slaughtered. Despite waiting all night, no second truck arrived. Zhou Bai began to doubt his analysis. Was the person behind the door lying? Was the red door just an illusion? But the system had indicated the 17th door was real. What was Zhou Bai missing?
He spread the three sets of rules on the table, studying them for a long time but finding no clues. Rubbing his aching head, he realized he had plenty of time to think through the long night.
As dawn broke, the slaughterhouse employees finished their shifts and left. Zhou Bai, as usual, inspected the slaughter rooms. Each room reeked of blood, making him nauseous. When he reached Slaughter Room No. 8, he noticed it hadn't been used the previous night. Everything was clean and in place.
The gatekeeper's room was a distance from the slaughter rooms, and Zhou Bai had stayed at his post all night, unaware of the situation inside. He connected the unused Slaughter Room No. 8 with the absence of the second truck. Could it be that Slaughter Room No. 8 only operated if the second truck arrived?
Though he had no concrete evidence, Zhou Bai decided to keep this hypothesis in mind for further observation. He confirmed the room was empty and locked it.
With his duties completed, Zhou Bai turned his thoughts to clearing the scenario. To achieve an SSS-level clearance, he needed to find the contamination source. The slaughterhouse had many suspicious areas: the director's office, the 17th door, Slaughter Room No. 8, and the infirmary. Which one was the source?
He had too many questions and no clear answers. Moreover, eliminating the contamination source was another challenge. Frustrated, Zhou Bai decided to focus on the other two clearance methods, both involving Director Liu. He resolved to visit the director's office, as the rules indicated it was safe during the day.
The director's office was quiet. No one was being punished today. As Zhou Bai approached, he saw Director Liu rummaging through a drawer. Seeing Zhou Bai, he closed the drawer, but Zhou Bai glimpsed a red key inside.
Though startled, Zhou Bai remained calm, smiling as he approached. "Director Liu, I started yesterday and wanted to check if I'm doing my job correctly or if there's anything I need to improve."
Director Liu eyed him, then nodded. "Your performance is satisfactory so far. Keep up the good work."
Zhou Bai seized the opportunity to ask, "Director Liu, is there anything specific I should be aware of or any advice you can give me to ensure I do my job well?"
Director Liu seemed to consider his words carefully. "Just follow the rules and stay vigilant. This place can be dangerous if you're careless."
Zhou Bai nodded, trying to appear earnest. "I understand. I'll make sure to be cautious."
Director Liu's demeanor softened slightly. "Good. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to ask."
Zhou Bai hesitated, then decided to probe further. "Director Liu, I noticed there's a red key in your drawer. Is it important for my duties?"
Director Liu's expression darkened momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure. "The red key is not something you need to worry about. Just focus on your responsibilities."
Zhou Bai nodded, sensing he shouldn't push further. "Thank you, Director Liu. I'll get back to work."
As he left the office, Zhou Bai's mind raced with thoughts about the red key. It was clearly significant, but Director Liu's reaction suggested it was best not to inquire too much. Zhou Bai decided to keep an eye out for any opportunities to learn more about it.
Returning to his duties, Zhou Bai couldn't shake the feeling that the red key was a crucial piece of the puzzle. He resolved to stay vigilant and gather more information, hoping it would eventually lead him to the contamination source and a way to clear the scenario.
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