Chapter 39: Mother's Request

(You: Your daughter is currently in Chongshan Hospital, and the Dean is keeping her captive.)

(Woman: Really? Is she suffering? What does he plan to do with my daughter?)

(You were just guessing, but you didn't expect the woman to actually believe you.)

(However, from the beginning until now, there have been no clues in the dungeon indicating that “I” have already died, which is why you boldly stated this information.)

(You: He is using your daughter to carry out some cruel experiment for his own desires and ambitions.)

(Woman: He's a madman, a devil!)

(You: Your daughter gave me this mask and asked me to find you.
Can you help me?)

(Woman: I have already lost my physical body, only this remaining soul is lingering here.
I need your help to regain my flesh.)

(You: Where is your physical body?)

(Woman: In the Dean's office.)

(You: But it's difficult for me to enter there.)

(Woman: That man comes to see me every day at precisely 3:26 a.m.
You can sneak into the Dean's office at that time.
Remember, you must find my physical body within five minutes, or the Dean will return.)

(You: I understand.)

(You terminate the deduction.)

Gu Yi opened his eyes and contemplated silently for a moment.

What would happen if I follow Toto's mother's instructions and obtain the so-called “physical body”?

Although Toto's mother appeared completely normal this time, Gu Yi had a vague feeling that even if he obtained her physical body as instructed, he might not gain the desired clues and could even get into a series of troubles.

From the diary of “I”, it was evident that her mother was one of the culprits who led “I” into the pit.

So far, the blood-written hints given by “I” had played a crucial role, while her mother had triggered numerous death flags.

Gu Yi preferred to believe “I” rather than her mother.

With this in mind, Gu Yi took out the handmade mask of “Toto” and carefully pondered the blood-written hints behind it.

“Everything has a hidden price.”

“Remember, there's no such thing as a free lunch.”

“Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds have consequences.
It's the only principle you need to abide by.”

The first two sentences seemed to imply something, but Gu Yi didn't understand their meaning for the time being.

The last sentence, however, brought clarity to Gu Yi — his entire progress in the dungeon so far had been proving this statement.

Because of his genuine care for Yao Yao, he obtained the kangaroo pants.

Because he befriended the shop owner, the shop owner was unwilling to expose him even when facing death.

Because he saved Xu Nian, he played a crucial role in several plans.

In contrast, when Gu Yi stole Dr.
Gui's mask, although there seemed to be progress on the surface, he faced obstacles at every turn and had to acquire more props to compensate.

Designing the death of the “Deer-headed Man” resulted in Gu Yi suffering in pain, accelerating his infection.

“Good deeds are rewarded, and evil deeds have consequences.”

This statement not only hinted at the evil Dean and the Unspeakable's final outcome but also indicated Gu Yi's way to progress.
The use of violence, theft, robbery, and even murder would only increase the difficulty of progression.

The first theft attracted the attention of the security department, making it impossible to use the acquired prop.

The second murder drew the Dean's attention, resulting in him spending more time in the hospital.

If Gu Yi resorted to violence for the third time, the Dean would directly intervene, triggering an inevitable fatal outcome.

Even if he made progress through violent means, there would ultimately be only a dead end.

Perhaps in the eyes of “I”, indiscriminate killing was also an evil act.
The doctors and security personnel in the hospital were innocent victims and prisoners as well.

He couldn't continue causing destruction in the hospital.

Calmly analyzing the blood-written hints, Gu Yi decided to change his approach and choose a more harmonious method to drive the plot forward, refraining from using violent means.

Now, the only clue he had was the Dean's office on the third floor.
There was no need to try anything else.
He would wait until nighttime and sneak into the Dean's office as instructed.

…

It's always best to be concise.

When it struck 3 a.m., Gu Yi was awakened by his alarm clock.
He immediately sat up from his bed and activated his talent.

(The deduction begins!)

(You put on the elephant mask and enter the third floor.)

(You quietly hide next door, waiting for exactly 3:26.
Then you immediately enter the dean's office through the ventilation duct.)

(Following the instructions to enter the secret room similar to the second basement, you open the door.)

(Sure enough, there is also a secret room in the corresponding position of the third-floor office.)

(After opening it, you find only a black urn on the floor.)

(You put the urn in your pocket.)

(You hear the sound of the elevator outside.)

(The dean must have noticed something unusual.)

(You quickly retreat the same way you came.)

(You hide in the adjacent specimen room.)

(You hear the sound of the dean opening the door.)

(Moonlight shines on the specimens.)

(The moonlight giant opens its eyes and stares at you intensely.)

(You terminate the deduction!)

“No, that's not right!”

Gu Yi shook his head.

It took Gu Yi less than a minute to steal the urn, but according to Toto's mother's instructions, the dean would need at least five minutes to reach the scene.

Why did he arrive in two minutes?

No, something is wrong.

Instead of considering how he managed to arrive at the scene, it would be better to think about how he discovered himself.

“Backtrack!”

(The backtracking begins!)

(You hide next to the dean's office.)

(You find a box and hide it in your kangaroo pants.)

(You estimate the time and, after hearing the footsteps of the dean leaving, sneak into the dean's office through the ventilation duct.)

(You follow the previous method and enter the secret room.)

(You don't touch the urn; you only take out the ashes and put them into a pre-prepared box.)

(You leave the secret room.)

(You return the same way.)

(You hear the footsteps of the dean, but it has only been two minutes, and the dean has arrived early again.)

(You immediately hide in the toilet through the ventilation duct.)

(You hide in a toilet stall, waiting quietly.)

(Suddenly, you feel a chilling sensation on your back.)

(You lift your head and see the dean's head appearing above yours.
He is leaning against the door frame, smiling at you.)

(Dean: Finally caught you, you little mouse.)

(Everything before you turns blood red.)

(You die.)

(The deduction ends!)

Gu Yi inhaled sharply.

Once again, the dean managed to return to his office in less than 2 minutes and successfully caught him.

In the previous death scene, the cause of death wasn't even deduced.
It's highly likely that the dean used the power of the rules to forcefully kill him.

Clearly, the urn is not the key issue here.

There must be some detail that he hasn't considered yet!