Chapter 130: Employees
Outside the roast suckling pig shop, Qi Chen and his companions stood with heavy hearts, their expressions shifted by the gruesome transformation they had just witnessed. The remaining special operations team members, though still projecting the stoic resolve of elite soldiers, could not hide the creeping dread of the unknown that had taken root in their eyes.
Qi Chen had now seen for himself the terrifying nature of a rule-based anomaly. In this ordinary-looking restaurant, they had already lost two men: the construction supervisor, Lao Zhang, and one of the special operations team members. The others had sustained various injuries during the frantic struggle against the pig-headed humanoids; armed only with combat knives, they were at a severe disadvantage against such inhumanly strong monsters. In the face of such raw, crushing power, their training and technique had been rendered moot. Without Qi Chen and the anomaly-user known as "Warm Man," the entire squad would have surely perished.
"That supervisor... how did he suddenly turn into a pig?" Qi Chen squinted, his gaze fixed on the shop. The overwhelming, oppressive aura of the anomaly had vanished after it consumed the pig-headed creatures that had fled the shop, allowing them a moment of relative calm to analyze the situation.
"He was likely mentally distorted long before this," Warm Man sighed. "He was just an ordinary person, the one with the lowest mental strength and resistance among us. It’s only logical that his mind would be eroded by the anomaly’s rules without him even realizing it." As he spoke, Warm Man cast a subtle, concerned look at the special operations soldiers behind them. Unsurprisingly, as their time in the Minsheng Mall dragged on, these elite warriors of City No. 3 were struggling to escape the same fate of mental distortion. Unless he and Qi Chen could get them out before it was too late, their outlook was grim. But given their current situation, expecting a safe exit felt like a fantasy—they hadn't even finished exploring the first floor.
"According to the mall's regulations, there must be safe areas," Qi Chen said, recalling the rules he had committed to memory. Several of them pointed to the same thing: customer service desks on every floor, staffed by mall employees who might provide vital information.
"Let’s head to the first-floor service desk and find an employee," Qi Chen decided, his gaze firm as he looked at his companions. They all agreed; information was their only lifeline.
...
The location of the service desk was fixed, situated in the center of the first floor according to the area map on the wall. Qi Chen’s group moved with caution, terrified of being dragged into another shop by the inexplicable employees and forced into another bloody battle. They kept as far away from the shops lining the corridor as possible, gaining a clearer picture of the first floor as they traveled. Just as the construction team had claimed and the rules stated, the entire floor was dedicated to dining. The sheer variety of restaurants was overwhelming to the others, who had grown up in the Fog Era. Even though City No. 3 was considered prosperous, it could not compare to the grandeur of the old-world shopping centers.
"There go more animals, running out of a shop," Warm Man whispered, gesturing toward a bustling restaurant where several chickens and ducks were bolting out, shrieking. They didn't speak in human tongues like the previous pig-headed creatures, but their panic was far beyond that of normal livestock.
"Note it down. Like the rules say, we’ll bring it up when we reach the service desk," Qi Chen replied, his eyes filled with helplessness. These animals running loose could be distorted humans, or they could be another trap set by the anomaly. To play it safe, they chose the most cautious path.
Of the five surviving special operations team members, one was in critical condition. A large chunk of flesh had been torn from his body by a pig-headed creature; even after the wound was cleaned and bandaged, the severe blood loss had left him pale and delirious. Suddenly, the comrade supporting him changed expression and reported to Qi Chen and Warm Man in a panic: "Sir! Xiao Li... Xiao Li is barking like a dog!"
Qi Chen stopped in his tracks, rushing with Warm Man to the delirious man. Sure enough, his incoherent mumbling had shifted into rhythmic, canine-like barks. Looking closer, they saw his features shifting, losing their human quality as he began to resemble a dog.
"Damn this rule-based anomaly! Which rule is twisting our minds like this?" Warm Man cursed under his breath. He had dealt with many anomalies over the years, but rule-based ones were rare, and this Minsheng Mall anomaly was by far the most dangerous he had ever encountered.
"Perhaps... this is the rule of the first floor," Qi Chen mused. Combining his observations with the mall regulations, he sensed that each floor was not just a distinct space, but a distinct set of rules. The first floor was the dining area, and since those whose minds were distorted here became the ingredients, this was likely the fundamental rule of the floor.
As they hurried along, they finally reached the first-floor service desk. Behind the circular counter, a woman in a blue uniform stood with a professional smile, completely unmoved by the heavy scent of blood clinging to the group.
"Good day, gentlemen. Is there anything I can help you with?" The employee bowed slightly, her etiquette perfect.
"We read the mall regulations and saw some livestock running free. We thought we should inform you," Warm Man said, taking the lead as they had agreed.
The employee smiled and thanked them, then turned her gaze to the severely injured soldier. Without hesitation, she said, "Dear guests, the supervisor on the second floor should be able to help your companion."
The group, desperate for a way to save Xiao Li, felt a spark of hope. Qi Chen and Warm Man exchanged glances; they didn't blindly trust the employee's words, but having a path forward was better than wandering in the dark. They had to ascend to the next floor.