Welcome to Rule City - Chapter 41 - Post-Mortem

Good times always fly by, and the two-hour welcome party was over in a flash. It was time for the judgment hour [crossed out], the post-mortem hour. Everyone carried their drinks and snacks to the meeting room.

This was Sano’s suggestion. She felt that sometimes Meng Hao was too serious during post-mortems, and the person being reviewed might not even realize their mistakes, making the atmosphere tense. Alternatively, the person might know they have issues but feel embarrassed to admit them, which also leads to awkwardness.

Having snacks and drinks helps lighten the mood. Observers can step back, crack a joke, or the person in focus can take a sip to calm down, easing the tension. They’re all teammates, after all, and there’s no need to argue over such matters.

Though they remain friends after the meeting, constant arguments can wear down relationships. If faced with Instances that amplify negative emotions, even minor disagreements can escalate into major disasters.

So when Sano suggested it, everyone raised their hands in agreement. Post-mortems should be serious, but outside of them, they still aim to keep the atmosphere light.

Mu Ai was handed a large cup of cola and a pack of seafood-flavored snacks, following them into the meeting room next to the Leisure Room.

The room wasn’t large, lacking any sofas or leisure facilities. It only had a long table and six hard chairs, implying “quick and efficient, don’t waste time.”

One wall had a projection screen, with a projector on a small table beside it. Each chair faced a table with paper and pens, most of them old, showing personal styles. Only one set was brand new, clearly prepared for Mu Ai.

Mu Ai noticed this and instinctively sat by that chair, placing her snacks down, opening the notebook, uncapping the pen, and sitting upright as if ready for a class, waiting for Meng Hao to start the post-mortem.

Once inside the meeting room, everyone toned down their previous antics and adopted a more serious demeanor. Meng Hao wasted no time, seeing everyone seated, and began speaking: “Today’s post-mortem Instance is ‘Mysterious Sunburn Island,’ led by Mu Ai. As usual, listen first, then analyze.”

Mu Ai was instantly the center of attention. She instinctively wanted to stand up, but as soon as her leg moved, Sano beside her held her arm.

“Don’t be nervous,” the glamorous elder sister winked at Mu Ai, “Just speak while seated, take your time, say whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about repeating yourself or sounding verbose; just share all the details you remember.”

Mu Ai took a deep breath, giving herself a few seconds to calm down. Since she wasn’t afraid to speak confidently in front of strangers, there was no need to be timid among her own people.

“The cinema absorbs audiences in batches. This information was correct in my Instance. It gathers enough people to complete the first act. Those who succeed move to the second act, while the rest continue the first act with newcomers until they advance.”

Mu Ai started with the cinema’s information, her thoughts clear, speaking more fluently and calmly as she went on. She analyzed her actions on Sunburn Island thoroughly, explaining her reasoning and observations of others clearly.

“…My Talent Skill played a significant role. I could analyze and predict the plot based on the information it provided. Some actions seemed reckless but were under my control, except for the last one.”

At this point, Mu Ai hesitated. In the Instance, she hadn’t felt it, but now she realized something was off.

“I stared directly at the Unnameable Entity. Technically, I shouldn’t have been so impulsive; it doesn’t fit my personality. But at that moment, I felt an urge to look, and my mind listed countless reasons to persuade me.”

Mu Ai shook her head, puzzled: “Although I managed to withstand it and gained benefits, my state was really bad… When I left the cinema, my Contamination Value was 80, but remember, that’s after the Instance deducted 10.”

“Hiss…” Ivan gasped, stammering, “Were you already a Believer then?”

Mu Ai nodded, her expression unchanged: “According to classification, yes, but I didn’t go insane in the Instance. I maintained rationality-or thought I did?”

The meeting room fell silent as everyone pondered the issue. Finally, Meng Hao spoke first: “We can be certain that Cthulhu system Instances remain the most challenging, even above Supernatural Dungeons.”

Fu Xi nodded in agreement: “Supernatural Dungeons can be countered with items and skills. Cthulhu system kills invisibly, seducing your rationality while you believe you’re clear-headed.”

Anton irritably rubbed his hair into a bird’s nest: “Can’t we get some resistance gear? Like in games, with nature, shadow, or fire resistance. If no one can beat that unlucky entity, boosting self-preservation and running should work, right?”

“It’s difficult.” Fu Xi tapped the table with a pen cap, “All mental resistance items are rare, and materials are expensive. We’ve struggled for so long and only have a few bottles in stock… Ultimately, it relies on oneself.”

Sano looked at Mu Ai: “You mentioned gaining benefits from staring?”

Mu Ai nodded: “I’m unsure if the benefit is universal or related to my Talent. Anyway, the Instance rewarded me with Initial Spirit +1, and I wanted to ask if you have any suggestions for allocating points?”

Point allocation is no secret in Guize City; it’s transparent information. As long as one clears enough Random Instances, they’ll eventually reach that allocation.

Strength and Spirit can initially be increased by up to 5 points each. To continue beyond that, one must clear special Instances to raise the cap to 7.

Once at 7, new choices appear, allowing passive branch selection in Spirit and Body. Each branch requires 1 Enhancement Point, and the maximum value follows the Strength or Spirit cap.

In essence, it’s another way to encourage players to clear Instances. When one’s cap reaches 7 and passive branches unlock, they face two choices:

1. Continue increasing Spirit and Strength until the final cap of 13.
2. Shift to enhancing passive branches, which aren’t singular. More powerful skills require more Enhancement Points, meaning clearing more Instances.

However, no matter how skilled, entering an Instance poses a threat of death. So far, no one has reached 13 in Strength or Spirit.

“According to our data, physical and mental strength can be increased through training, even initially. But it’s tough and can decrease due to neglect or other factors.” Meng Hao explained, “It’s like someone developing an eight-pack but then living unhealthily and abandoning training; the muscles naturally fade.”

Mu Ai nodded, understanding that physical strength requires long-term maintenance. That’s why she took shortcuts to enhance her body; she’d been in this crazy place for days, experiencing 3 Instances and 1 Random Event. If she trained step-by-step, she’d be long gone.

“We don’t know how to train mental strength yet.” Meng Hao continued, “It’s not as tangible as the body. Some tried meditation, others monk-like training, and some sought waterfalls to endure…”

He shrugged, leaving the rest unsaid. Of course, there’s a chance people claim it’s ineffective to keep secrets, but everyone remains skeptical, preferring to attribute it to special talents.

Mu Ai ultimately decided on balanced point allocation. “My decision wasn’t entirely my own” had indeed scared her, and unless she aimed to be a physical DPS, her current physical strength sufficed.

At the post-mortem’s conclusion, Anton proposed a new theory: “Could it be that Talent Skills amplify certain obsessions within us while providing benefits?”

Talent Skills vary from person to person. It’s said that everyone’s initial evaluation in Guize City differs, with subtle variations despite similarities.

Mu Ai was used to being alone and cherished every game she could play due to a lack of toys in childhood. She wouldn’t let go until exploring every corner, forming a habit that led to her “Gaming Obsession” Talent.

Others likely have their own unique habits or hobbies, transforming into their current Talent Skills, accompanying them as they struggle to survive in Guize City’s Instances.

Anton’s theory seemed plausible upon reflection. Mu Ai’s recklessness in the Instance might indeed be linked to her Talent, aside from the Cthulhu system’s mental allure-after all, she gained a Hidden Achievement, which she wouldn’t have triggered following her own logic.

“Great theory, needs verification.” Meng Hao concluded the post-mortem meeting. Next, he would organize some materials for Under the Bronze’s shared resource room, available for everyone to review. “That’s it for today. Mu Ai, you should rest for a few days, eat Fortune Cookies daily, and only consider entering Instances when your Contamination Value drops below 20.”

“Got it.”

Mu Ai nodded in agreement. She had just learned that Fortune Cookies were semi-shared resources in Under the Bronze. Anyone with extras willing to share could place them in the medical room’s tray, along with Lemonade and Bandages. Everyone kept enough for themselves, then offered the rest for teammates in need.

These resources weren’t crucial for them, benefiting newcomers like Mu Ai the most. Everyone went through this, accepting teammates’ goodwill and passing it on to the next new member.

That night, Mu Ai lay on her new bed in her new bedroom, appreciating the beauty of sleep for the first time. She could leave a nightlight on and didn’t have to play Batman patrolling the apartment building at midnight… Ah, early to bed, early to rise, good for health. She was determined to sleep before midnight.

Then, Mu Ai stared blankly as a spirit phased through the wall, sitting at the foot of her bed, watching her with interest.

Oh dear, haunted villa. Meng Hao, did you know when choosing the house?

And, dear male Ghost, do you know that barging into a young lady’s bedroom at midnight might get you killed again?

Don’t know?

Scoff!

You’ll find out soon enough!