The farce had eased the stiff atmosphere considerably.
The lingering stench from the custodian hadn't yet dispersed as Ji Heng and Su Er, unwilling to linger in the narrow corridor, talked while heading downstairs side by side. Zhang Yi shamelessly followed after them, not caring whether he was welcome or not.
On the other side, Liu Wenzhu asked Li Xiao, “I'm going to the cafeteria. Do you want me to bring you some food?”
Li Xiao shook his head to decline.
Liu Wenzhu promptly left.
Zheng Gao, Chen Lingfeng’s roommate, sneered, “What a joke—pretending to be kind just to sneakily follow Ji Heng and Su Er and gather intel.”
When the pretense was still there, people could speak civilly. Now that it had been torn away, Li Xiao gave a cold smile. “And didn't you watch Chen Lingfeng die without lifting a finger?”
Zheng Gao’s expression darkened.
“Enough arguing,” someone came out to smooth things over. “Time's running out. Since we know Principal Dai wants to become the official principal, it'll be much easier for us to earn an A-grade evaluation.”
First, threaten the dorm supervisor with the double agent situation, then use the custodian’s death to bargain for a colleague’s evaluation, and finally sell the information to the teachers and the other two principals.
Thinking back, collecting four A-grade evaluations didn't sound that hard.
However, with only five slots available, instead of frantically scrambling for them, everyone stood still.
“Don’t you think they're a bit too calm?” Li Xiao temporarily set aside internal conflicts, frowning and voicing his suspicion. “Especially Su Er—he openly shared the custodian’s cause of death.”
Anyone else would have rushed to use that information to secure their spot first. It was precisely because of Su Er’s ‘inaction’ yesterday that they didn't dare to act rashly.
Zheng Gao curled his lips. “Maybe it’s not that simple. A previous batch of players was almost entirely wiped out.”
To play it safe, Li Xiao whispered, “Keep a close eye on them. If they start collecting, we'll follow.”
Today was a sunny day, but the temperature inside the main building was much lower than outside.
After morning classes, everyone ‘coincidentally’ ran into each other in the dim hallway.
Li Xiao felt a bit awkward—after all, they were blatantly copying the others’ actions—but fortunately, Su Er and the others showed no displeasure.
“Teaming up to threaten someone might provoke a backlash,” Su Er said seriously. “We're planning to go intimidate Principal Dai.”
Li Xiao gave a stiff smile and pointed toward Principal Chen’s office at the end of the hallway. “No worries. We’re planning to sell the information and get on Principal Chen's good side.”
Su Er nodded and stepped aside politely. “After you.”
“...” Wasn’t he being a little too courteous?
Since Su Er already had two A-grade evaluations, he quickly completed his set. Ji Heng and Zhang Yi took a bit longer.
Once it was clear they were genuinely gathering evaluations, the other players finally picked up the pace. When it came time to submit the forms, they guardedly eyed each other, like elementary school students scrambling to hand in their exams.
Ji Heng voluntarily stepped back to leave space for the others.
Seeing even Zhang Yi acting so relaxed, Liu Wenzhu started to wonder if there was some hidden danger ahead.
Humans tend to follow the crowd; for a moment, no one dared move forward.
Su Er sighed and took the initiative to knock. A voice inside said, “Come in.”
It was his first time meeting the official principal nearing retirement. His temples were covered with white hair, and though his eyes were small, they were long and narrow. When he saw the forms in Su Er’s hand, his demeanor softened. “What a good student—you've only been here a few days and already earned such glowing evaluations.”
Su Er remained calm. “It's all thanks to the training at the Reform Camp.”
The academic office had compiled everything onto a single sheet. The principal signed off briskly and even beckoned to the players behind Su Er. “Also here to submit your forms?”
Liu Wenzhu, standing in front, instinctively nodded.
The principal warmly approved each form and told them to wait for the final notification.
Liu Wenzhu hurriedly asked, “But weren't there only five slots?”
The principal clasped his hands on the desk and gave a strange smile. “Don't worry. There’s plenty to go around.”
That one sentence sent chills down their spines.
As they exited the main building, Zhang Yi tried to continue clinging to Su Er’s group, but Liu Wenzhu and Li Xiao pulled him back. Unwilling to forcefully shake off two girls, he had no choice but to stop.
Watching the golden ticket walk away, Zhang Yi grew anxious and muttered, “If all the slots are taken, do you think the other Reform Camp students will be allowed to live?”
Liu Wenzhu’s eyes trembled as if realizing something.
Normally, the greatest threat in an instance would be the ghosts, but there were exceptions.
After a long silence, Li Xiao was the first to regain composure. “While there’s still time, let’s find a safe hiding place.”
But change always comes faster than plans.
Just after lunch, the dorm supervisor notified them they were required to attend an afternoon internship.
Every player, without exception, was herded onto a bus bound for the factory. Their faces showed varying emotions. The bus ride should’ve been a good opportunity to escape—but if they ran, their hard-earned slots could be revoked, ruining everything.
While still pondering strategies, the bus stopped at the factory gates.
Apparently, the accompanying teacher had already spoken to the factory director and his wife, because both of them came out personally to greet them. Madam Director said meaningfully, “Didn't expect so many excellent kids at once.”
The students were quickly assigned to different work areas.
Su Er was lucky enough to avoid the dangerous job of cleaning the high platform. Another player was chosen instead—a player even more cautious than Su Er, constantly glancing around nervously. Midway through, Madam Director arrived. After exchanging a few words with the player, he showed some reluctance but ultimately left with her.
Su Er only glanced briefly but happened to lock eyes with Madam Director and immediately looked away. Every few seconds, he mechanically tossed raw materials into the machine, his mind elsewhere.
Zhang Yi was paired with him and also noticed players being taken away. He asked about Su Er's experience from yesterday.
“She didn’t get a chance to do anything to me. The power went out,” Su Er said, clearly unable to offer much help. “But the factory Madam Director should be human.”
If she truly showed hostility, then they would just have to fight violence with violence.
About twenty minutes later, Madam Director returned. She had changed clothes and now had a bruise on her hand—but the player was nowhere to be seen.
Zhang Yi cursed under his breath, realizing that player was probably dead. He couldn't understand it. Players were supposed to be battle-hardened in dungeons—how could one lose to a seemingly frail woman?
“Hey, listen…”
He looked up and saw Su Er mouthing words to Ji Heng in the distance, who seemed to understand, occasionally nodding or shaking his head.
At that moment, Director Madam swept her gaze around. Zhang Yi’s hands trembled slightly as he silently prayed, “Don't pick me, don't pick me…”
But of course, the thing you fear most always happens. Madam Director’s gaze finally landed on them.
Just when the situation was at its most critical, the Supervising Teacher suddenly spoke up: “The principal instructed that the students must be taken back early today.”
Madam Director immediately looked displeased: “But they've only been here for less than an hour.”
Publicly contradicted, the teacher’s expression turned dark and sullen as he stared her down.
Madam Director pressed her lips into a tight line but ultimately chose to back off.
The Reform Camp was a giant entity; she couldn’t afford to clash head-on. Back when she was compensated for her child's death, the principal had promised that students would be sent here daily to reduce labor costs, and those who earned A-grade evaluations would be delivered to her for revenge.
If she pushed her luck too far, they might not tolerate it.
While the teacher was counting heads, Su Er suddenly stepped forward without any warning, standing next to the Madam Director: “No, I’m not leaving! I want to stay and spend more time with her!”
Su Er looked at Madam Director with deep emotion: “You said yesterday that seeing me reminded you of your late child! Honestly, when I see you, I also think of my mother, who passed away early!”
He wailed so dramatically that Madam Director’s first reaction was to think he had gone mad.
Su Er tugged at her sleeve and turned to the teacher: “Please allow me to stay here for one night and relive the warmth of a mother’s love.”
The teacher twitched at the corner of his mouth, but before he could say anything, Ji Heng also stepped out, expressing the same wish.
Having worked at the Reform Camp for so many years, the teacher instantly understood what these students were plotting. Tonight, no doubt, a massacre would erupt at the Camp—they were trying to dodge it.
Yet for some reason, the teacher’s stiff face suddenly showed a hint of a smile: “I have no objections.”
Then he looked at Madam Director.
An opportunity had fallen right into her lap—there was no reason for her to refuse. She gazed at the students as if they were pieces of meat on a platter.
Su Er’s intentions were crystal clear, and not only the teacher but the others could also sense it. Yet no one could decide what to do.
The player who had been taken away earlier was likely dead, proving that Madam Director was also extremely dangerous.
And although going back meant facing potential student ambushes, the Reform Camp was large with many hiding places.
In contrast, this factory was small and full of unknown dangers beyond just the couple. No one knew which option was safer.
The teacher's voice turned cold and sinister: “Is there anyone else who wants to stay and experience the bond of mother and child?”
The tone of the second half lifted slightly, filled with mocking sarcasm.
Everyone exchanged looks. In the end, only Liu Wenzhu and Zheng Gao made the same decision to stay; the rest chose to follow the teacher and return.
No one was happier than the Madam Director. That night, the couple hosted a lavish dinner. At the table, Madam Director once again reminisced about her son's brilliance and his tragic death.
“Why aren't you eating?” After her trip down memory lane, Madam Director suddenly noticed Su Er hadn’t touched his food.
“I was just reminded of a painting... called <The Last Supper>.”
Both the husband and wife laughed at that comment.
As the sky darkened, Madam Director announced she wanted to show them something.
They walked quietly to a shuttered door. The Factory Director pressed a remote control, and with a creaking sound, hundreds of iron cages were revealed—each one packed with vicious attack dogs.
Some dogs weren’t caged or chained. Upon hearing the sound, they immediately surrounded the group.
The layered barking was as oppressive as a pack of wolves howling. Yet these dogs were extremely obedient to Madam Director. At a simple hand signal, they held back their instinct to pounce.
Liu Wenzhu’s face changed: “Look over there…”
She pointed toward the food troughs, where broken limbs and scraps of shredded clothing were faintly visible—along with a bloodstained school badge. Blood stained the dogs' teeth as well, hinting at what had happened to the player taken away earlier.
Ignoring everyone's horrified expressions, Madam Director maintained her sense of ceremony, slowly unfastening the iron chains: “Relax. Your friend was fed a full meal before he departed... Just like my son, who had just finished eating when he was killed by a student from the Reform Camp…”
Liu Wenzhu fought the urge to run—although with the dogs encircling them, escape was impossible. She immediately regretted staying behind.
Just as the last of the dogs were about to be unleashed, Ji Heng suddenly spoke up: “What's the point of just setting the dogs on us?”
Madam Director’s hand paused slightly.
Ji Heng said: “It’s getting dark. How about we play a game of hide-and-seek?”
Madam Director turned her head and chuckled lowly: “You don’t really think you’re children, do you?”
Ji Heng remained expressionless, but his words were cruel: “Let us hide first, then you release the dogs to hunt us down—wouldn't that be more fun?”
He paused and looked her straight in the eye: “Death isn’t the worst torment. It's the endless march toward death that's the most painful.”
Madam Director’s eyes lit up, while the other players' faces turned ashen. Still, they could only think positively: at least this would buy them some time. Otherwise, once the dogs were unleashed, they'd be torn to pieces in seconds.
Madam Director glanced at her husband, who gave a twisted smile: “Make them leave their jackets behind.”
Dogs could track by scent; the purpose was obvious.
The players grimly removed their jackets one by one. The Factory Director led the dogs toward the main gate to prevent anyone from escaping.
Meanwhile, Madam Director stayed behind, smiling at them.
“Fifteen minutes,” she said, then clapped her hands. The pack of dogs that had been surrounding them retreated behind her, clearing the exit.
None of them noticed that far away, on a big tree, a little girl carrying a lantern had appeared out of thin air. She looked at the sea of black dogs, then propped her chin in her hand and watched Su Er, who had already run off trying to find a safe spot. She giggled: “An old dog bastard being chased by hundreds of dogs... Looks like karma is real after all.
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