DSMC Chapter 32

Yan Jiyun had been well taken care of by Lin Xie. He hadn’t missed a single proper meal in the past two days and had enough stamina to carry out missions.

He ran so fast that only a fading afterimage was left behind, quickly catching up to Zhou Ying, who was hesitating over which direction to search. Yan Jiyun deliberately bumped into her leg, reminding her to follow.

Zhou Ying was frantic to save Cheng Li, but she had no idea where to go. In her desperation, her eyes reddened. The moment she saw the little black cat, she followed without a word.

Humans weren’t even as loyal as a black cat.

Yan Jiyun guessed that the Supervisor Zhang would likely lock the suspicious Cheng Li in his office. He had emphasized its location to Jiang Yan when they came yesterday.

The deputy supervisor reeked of sleaziness from head to toe, while Cheng Li was the type of cute, girl-next-door beauty. So of course he might grow lustful.

Yan Jiyun knew the approximate location of the office, not far from the Red Field Poppy production workshop.

One human and one cat dashed madly through the dark, chaotic workshop. Zhou Ying nearly crashed into the side machinery in her haste, but at that moment, Yan Jiyun’s eyes acted like tiny lanterns. His eyes didn’t always glow in the dark, but in such a critical situation, he did his best to sweep beams of light ahead to guide her path.

True to her player nature as a strong-willed woman, Zhou Ying immediately climbed back up after a fall, gritted her teeth, and continued following.

Compared to her pain, Cheng Li’s life was more important.

She didn’t know what she could accomplish in five minutes, but she was determined to give everything to save Cheng Li.

Yan Jiyun found the office. It was unlit, but among the shrieking NPCs rushing outside, he discerned Cheng Li’s muffled cries for help.

Because of the sudden blackout, the deputy supervisor had temporarily locked her in his office before leading people out to check on the outage.

Yan Jiyun clawed at the door. Zhou Ying immediately pulled out her tools, steady hands working the lock. The tenser the moment, the calmer she became.

When the door swung open, Yan Jiyun saw Cheng Li with her clothes in some disarray. At the sight of them, tears spilled down her cheeks.

Zhou Ying rushed forward to check her. She was intact, thankfully unharmed!

She tore the tape from Cheng Li’s mouth. “As long as you’re fine. We’ll get you out now!”

“Ying-jie!” Cheng Li wept in relief. “I thought I was going to die here.”

“No time to talk. Let’s go.” Zhou Ying swiftly sliced through the ropes binding her wrists and ankles with her dagger.

Every second was precious.

Yan Jiyun waited by the door.

Then, two women and one cat sprinted desperately for the exit.

The NPCs, irritable from the blackout, clamored to leave the stifling workshop. Only the trio knew an explosion was imminent.

But at the exit, they found a massive crowd jammed together.

Someone shouted, “Why won’t you let us out?”

The leader barked, “Everyone return to your stations. The power will come back soon, just endure a little longer.”

With only two and a half minutes left, Zhou Ying and Cheng Li grabbed Yan Jiyun, who was stuck in the crowd.

Zhou Ying forced her way into the throng, raising her voice: “There are explosives! It’s about to blow! Let us out!”

Cheng Li echoed seamlessly: “I just heard someone say it’s going to explode! Let us out now!”

The other NPCs froze. Explosives?

“There’s a bomb! Let us out!”

“I don’t want to die, let me out!”

“Help! There’s a bomb!”

Chaos erupted. The deputy supervisors and security guards at the door couldn’t stop the panicked workers, who shoved the door open in a frenzy. Everyone swarmed out. Zhou Ying and Cheng Li blended into the chaos, Yan Jiyun safely cradled in Zhou Ying’s arms, otherwise he might have become the very first casualty of Main Mission (4) before the bomb even went off.

The explosives had been made by that fake couple, and no one knew how powerful they were. The group had to get as far away as possible!

Boom!

The first explosion came even sooner than expected.

Luckily, it wasn’t right where they were but off to the side.

The blast terrified the workers even further. This was no false alarm, it was real. Everyone scrambled for their lives.

One explosion followed another. The ground shook, the building trembled.

The crowd swelled, the doors burst open under pressure, and all the workers fled.

Once Zhou Ying and Cheng Li fought their way out, Yan Jiyun leapt from her arms and led them toward the hidden elevator they’d found yesterday.

The elevator was well concealed, unlikely to be discovered by others.

From there, they traversed a secret passage and reached Building A’s B2 floor, elevator in Room 1, the same one Yan Jiyun had taken with Lin Xie down to the B2 level.

The three rode the elevator upward.

As the doors opened, Zhou Ying and Cheng Li pressed to listen outside. They heard frantic footsteps. Yan Jiyun could tell they were all coming from the mirrored doors.

The explosion had shaken all three buildings belonging to the Midnight Diner. Building C’s first floor housed the production workshop and shared the structure with the lab area. Both above and below were likely laboratories. The people rushing out now must have come from the labs.

Too many NPCs were outside, so they temporarily hid in Room 1.

Yan Jiyun also overheard chatter: Zhao Renfu had erupted in fury over the explosions.

Originally, he had planned to “retire” tomorrow, but now such chaos had broken out. For him, this was no good omen. He would stop at nothing to uncover who was behind it.

[Want to Be Human] livestream channel: 

“Holy shit, the explosions were insane! I was wearing headphones so I nearly got blasted out of my chair.”

“Our black kitty is still alive! I thought for sure it’d be blown to pieces this time. What a pity, but this kitty streamer is quite strong.”

“Baby, go for it! You’re the best! Nearly scared me to death, but forget everyone else, just stay alive.”

“This cat streamer is seriously clever. It knows how to finish missions, knows when to recruit others as tools, even went back to save them. And that swipe at the fake couple? So satisfying. But… it doesn’t realize explosions kill people? I love gore, but in this stream, I just want the kitten to make it. Keep going, Little One, we’re rooting for you.”

“Upstairs really said what I wanted to say. Finally, someone who loves gore and loves this kitty streamer as much as I do. I’m obsessed. Hope it survives and clears the game.”

The explosions had thrown the entire “Midnight Diner” into chaos.

But strangely enough, they never received a notification that Main Mission (4) was complete.

Zhou Ying frowned. “The blasts are over. Did you get the mission completion chime?”

Cheng Li shook her head. “No.”

Zhou Ying: “The fake couple set the bombs after you were taken. Where exactly did you encounter the deputy supervisor?”

Cheng Li: “At the entrance of the Red Field Poppy workshop. I was looking around, and since Zhao Renfu was searching for whoever broke into his study last night, he used that excuse to drag me away.”

Zhou Ying: “So you never saw where the fake couple planted the bombs.”

Cheng Li nodded. “Right. Could it be they only set them at the entrance? Never even touched the Red Field Poppy warehouse?”

Zhou Ying: “Of course they didn’t. Yesterday, when we searched for the cat, there were nine more workshops beyond the entrance, plus machinery storage further in. The warehouse is massive, with thick doors. Without placing the explosives inside, there’s no way to blow it. Those two trash bags… we should never have trusted them.”

Cheng Li consoled her, “Ying-jie, don’t be angry. If we didn’t finish the mission, neither did they. And they don’t even know where the warehouse is.”

Zhou Ying: “Even so, we’ll have to go in again.”

Yan Jiyun: ….. 

The halfway-picked-up player really was unreliable. He had only just managed to escape!

Main Mission (4) had wasted far too much time already.

Cheng Li: “Do we go now? But the stuff we can use to blow up the warehouse is with Nanxing-ge.”

Zhou Ying: “Let’s find him first.”

Just as they spoke, the elevator doors behind them suddenly stirred. The two slipped to the sides, thinking it was an NPC coming out, ready to knock them out cold.

The elevator opened, and their eyes lit up. It was Wen Nanxing, panting like a dog!

Zhou Ying and Cheng Li quickly helped him up. “Wen Nanxing? You escaped that woman?”

Wen Nanxing, having fled for his life, felt a wave of relief upon seeing two teammates and the black cat with emerald eyes staring at him quietly.

“There was an explosion just now. Everyone down there was busy running for their lives, so no one was watching us experiments. I took the chance to slip away. What about you guys? Did you finish the mission?”

Wen Nanxing hadn’t been within the production area’s range earlier, so if someone else had completed Main Mission (4), he wouldn’t have received a system prompt.

Cheng Li explained what had just happened, and Wen Nanxing cursed that fake couple for being so shitty.

The three discussed for a while, deciding to risk breaking into the Red Field Poppy workshop again. 

Things were still in chaos. Once things settled down, Zhao Renfu would surely send people to investigate. Better for them to disguise themselves as production workers and continue the mission.

Wen Nanxing asked them, “Why is the little cat here too?”

Zhou Ying said, “He led me to Cheng Li. He’s really smart, worthy of being a gold-tier NPC.”

Yan Jiyun: …

The three still didn’t think much about Yan Jiyun’s identity.

This time, chaos was everywhere, and no one dared approach the production rooms. But Zhou Ying and the others knew the explosions wouldn’t continue. On their way, they knocked out three NPCs coming out, stole their uniforms, and climbed back in through a window shattered by the blast.

They returned once more to Red Field Poppy’s workshop. Everyone had evacuated because of the explosion, leaving the place completely empty. Three people and a cat could move freely.

Wen Nanxing distributed three timed explosive packs he had exchanged from the game, planting them in three corners of the warehouse.

Wen Nanxing said, “I’ll count down from three, then we press together.”

The bombs were set to explode in five minutes, enough time for them to get out.

After pressing the triggers, they rushed for the same window they had entered.

Some black-uniformed guards investigating spotted three “workers” running out and asked what happened.

Zhou Ying shouted again, “Th-there are more explosives inside! It’s beeping! It’s going to blow any second— run!”

The black-uniformed men didn’t dare stop them, bolting faster than they did!

The trio encountered no further obstacles.

They ran back to Room 1 in Building A, drenched in sweat from all the running.

Just as they came out of the elevator— BOOM! A deafening explosion shook the air.

Even sweeter than the explosion was the system prompt that followed.

[Congratulations, Player Yan Jiyun…]

[Congratulations, Player Zhou Ying…]

[Congratulations, Player Cheng Li…]

[Congratulations, Player Wen Nanxing…]

[…Successfully completed Main Mission (4). Rewards will be distributed at the end of the instance. (Visible to players only)]

The three had just breathed a sigh of relief when Zhou Ying noticed the black cat was gone.

Zhou Ying asked Wen Nanxing, “Weren’t you holding the cat just now?”

Wen Nanxing looked down at his arms. “Oh right. Where is it?”

When the three had been rushing toward the second elevator, Yan Jiyun had quietly leapt from Wen Nanxing’s arms when he wasn’t paying attention. He never entered the elevator at all, but slipped away toward the stairs instead.

Of course, he had also received the mission completion prompt.

But after finishing Main Mission (4), no prompt for Main Mission (5) appeared.

He had left Zhou Ying and the others mainly to better search for the Main Mission (5). With so little time left in the instance, he couldn’t afford to rest.

At present, Main Mission (5) might surface with Lin Xie, Jiang Yan, or Zhao Renfu. Catching any one NPC was no easy task, but he had broken away earlier because he spotted Jiang Yan at a stairwell corner.

He had always wondered — why was Jiang Yan always acting alone? Did he have his own mission?

Three days were almost over, and he still hadn’t uncovered the third secret about Lin Xie and Jiang Yan.

What exactly was it?

Yan Jiyun trailed Jiang Yan, who walked with furrowed brows, seemingly deep in thought, unaware that a shadow was closing in.

The explosion thundered through the entire “Midnight Diner,” shaking the ground so hard that Yan Jiyun felt it trembling beneath his paws. Yet Jiang Yan walked up the stairs steadily.

With Building C no longer safe after the blast, Jiang Yan would definitely avoid it. That left only Buildings A and B.

Building B was Zhao Renfu’s quarters. But what secret did Building A hold?

Yan Jiyun glanced at the remaining instance time.

[Time left until the instance ends: 10 hours, 3 minutes, 34 seconds]

Unknowingly, noon had already arrived.

Yan Jiyun followed Jiang Yan quietly. There were plenty of corners and even vases to use as cover. With his sharp hearing, he didn’t need to get too close to track Jiang Yan’s footsteps.

Jiang Yan headed for Building A. He too was being cautious, hiding whenever he heard a sound, as though he had no proper reason to be there openly.

Building A was Lin Xie’s jurisdiction.

But after an explosion like this, why would Jiang Yan ignore everything and come here? What was he planning?

As Yan Jiyun prepared to move closer, Jiang Yan suddenly stopped. Someone was up ahead.

From the footsteps, Yan Jiyun judged that it was Lin Xie!

Jiang Yan was following Lin Xie?

They lived on the same floor, even next door, and knew each other’s schedules. Why would Jiang Yan stalk him within his own surveillance range?

Yan Jiyun crept a little closer.

Lin Xie was speaking to someone hidden in the shadows. It was a person dressed as a restaurant waiter, of medium build, so ordinary they could disappear in a crowd.

Yan Jiyun heard Lin Xie ask: “Has everything been transferred out?”

The man nodded. “It’s been successfully moved. Headquarters received it. You’ve done us a big favor.”

Lin Xie: “When will the people from above arrive?”

The man replied, “The bridge is still under repair. The earliest crossing will be after 9 PM. They’re trying to ferry across, but in daylight it’s too obvious, they might be spotted by lookouts. They’ll wait until dark to act.”

Lin Xie: “Alright. Zhao Renfu has a Red Field Poppy deal tonight. After tonight, it may be hard to catch him. Once the deal’s done, he’ll leave this place.”

The man: “Zhao Renfu is as cunning as ever. I’ll remission orders to surround this place quickly. Not even a fly will escape.”

Lin Xie: “Zhao Renfu will suspect me of stealing the data. Be careful. He has a meeting at seven tonight. Best if your superiors arrive before then, so we can catch him red-handed.”

The man: “Understood. I’ll report back immediately.”

After the two finished their exchange, Lin Xie disappeared around the stairwell corner. Jiang Yan didn’t move, and Yan Jiyun crouched low against the wall, ears pricked, catching every single word between Lin Xie and the man in the shadows.

That Lin Xie was an undercover agent was now nailed down without a doubt, but why hadn’t the system flagged the completion of his third secret yet?

And after hearing Lin Xie’s words, would Jiang Yan report directly to Zhao Renfu, or would he record it as leverage against Lin Xie?

Wait. Jiang Yan had come straight here, skillfully eavesdropping on Lin Xie’s exchange with the mole. Did that mean he had already known Lin Xie was undercover all along?

What exactly was Jiang Yan’s role here? Good guy, bad guy, or neutral?

[Want to be Human] Livestream channel:

“Holy crap, the little cat is amazing! This is my first time seeing this scene from Jiang Yan’s angle! Holyshitshitshitshit! Is Jiang Yan good or bad? I’m losing it.”

“I’m not even into the plot, but watching this from the kitty’s perspective has me on edge. I want to keep chasing this line. Lin Xie’s an undercover cop, but what about Jiang Yan? Ahhhh so intense! Why has no player ever gone down Jiang Yan’s storyline before? I always thought he was just a difficult villain!”

“Agreed! Did I miss something this huge? All those dumb players misled me. Turns out Jiang Yan knew Lin Xie was an undercover all along. Why didn’t he report to Old Master Zhao, and instead took out Kevin Yang? Damn, Jiang Yan has been hiding deep. I thought he was just blindly loyal to Zhao Renfu. My whole family is shaken!”

Yan Jiyun felt that Jiang Yan’s heart wasn’t evil, but he hadn’t expected Jiang Yan truly knew Lin Xie’s secret identity. 

He couldn’t help but recall that Lin Xie and Jiang Yan each still had one secret left undiscovered.

When Lin Xie finished with the mole, Jiang Yan also turned to leave, deep in thought, not even noticing the cat crouched behind the fire equipment.

Lin Xie’s secrets were now mostly uncovered, but Jiang Yan still had many hidden. Yan Jiyun once again followed after him.

Main Mission (5) still hadn’t triggered, but he knew the general direction of the plot:

One, stop Zhao Renfu from leaving the “Midnight Diner” and bring him to justice.

Two, help Lin Xie escape danger, and together bring Zhao Renfu down.

And Jiang Yan… what pivotal role would he play in the end?

He knew Lin Xie was undercover yet had hidden it from Zhao Renfu. When Lin Xie was captured, he even saved him.

Last night, when Lin Xie snuck into Zhao Renfu’s place to steal documents… had Jiang Yan known then as well?

When Yan Jiyun broke into Jiang Yan’s room last night, Jiang Yan hadn’t resisted, nor had he gone next door to return him to Lin Xie.

So, not only did Jiang Yan know Lin Xie’s secret, he had often been secretly covering for him.

Once Yan Jiyun thought it through, the problem seemed clearer.

Why hadn’t Jiang Yan exposed Lin Xie? Was it because Lin Xie is his second brother?

At this moment, Jiang Yan headed straight to Building B, where Zhao Renfu was.

Black-uniformed men were rushing around everywhere, searching for the ones who bombed the production rooms. Some stopped to report to Jiang Yan.

“Can’t find them?” Jiang Yan’s temper flared. “What the hell do I feed you for? Not even a fly should get out of here! Can’t you idiots run facial checks? If you see a stranger, grab them and drag them to me immediately!”

Listening to reports, Jiang Yan strode toward Zhao Renfu’s office lounge. Yan Jiyun hid behind fire equipment outside, doing his best to remain unseen. By now, no one would look kindly at a stray cat.

Zhao Renfu was in foul spirits, though Jiang Yan’s arrival seemed to ease him somewhat.

But there was someone else standing before him.

“Father,” Jiang Yan said in puzzlement, “why is Supervisor Zhang here?” He referred to the workshop supervisor standing in front of Zhao Renfu.

Supervisor Zhang had been in the control room during the explosion. Since no bombs had been planted there, he had escaped with the crowd.

Zhao Renfu said, “I called him here. Go on with what you were saying.” The last part was addressed to the supervisor.

In an instant, Jiang Yan understood. Supervisor Zhang was Zhao Renfu’s man.

Supervisor Zhang glanced nervously at Jiang Yan. “Yesterday, the Second Young Master brought two men and one woman from the lab to look for a cat. Today, just before the explosion, I noticed a woman acting suspicious, always glancing at Red Field Poppy’s workshop. She was one of those three from yesterday. Shortly after she appeared, the blast went off. I had already tied her up in an office, but her companions rescued her.”

Zhao Renfu asked, “Jiang Yan, what do you think? Is this connected to Lin Xie?”

Jiang Yan flopped onto the sofa, neither confirming nor denying. Instead, tossing an apple up and down, he asked the supervisor, “I was there yesterday too, should you be suspecting me as well?”

The supervisor’s face tightened. “Third Young Master, that’s not what I meant. I was only reporting the facts.”

Jiang Yan sneered, “Who would be stupid enough to drag people to the workshop? That woman wasn’t even clearly seen, and you’re ready to convict her on that?”

The supervisor turned pale. He really had no proof. After two explosions, there was barely anything left of the production rooms to use as evidence.

“What I said is true,” the supervisor muttered weakly.

“If it’s true, then bring that woman you mentioned here,” Jiang Yan said coolly.

The supervisor opened his mouth, but dared not say more. He really had no evidence.

Still, Zhao Renfu turned the prayer beads on his wrist and said, “Jiang Yan, tonight I’m meeting with an old friend. Nothing can go wrong. Not a single slip. And you—” he glanced at the supervisor— “keep Red Field Poppy under strict guard. If even one pill goes missing, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”

Only then did Yan Jiyun understand. The first batch of Red Field Poppy produced wasn’t in Jiang Yan’s hands. This supervisor wasn’t simple.

So where was that batch?

The system prompt chimed.

[Player Yan Jiyun has triggered Main Mission (5): The Final Mission. Completing this mission will award 5000 points.]

Yan Jiyun was puzzled. Whose final mission was this?