Carmen frowned, "What is the purpose of the Specter Space doing this? If real danger arises, won't the rookies be wiped out?"

"They might receive side quests, as 'The New Innsmouth Conundrum' is just a Normal-level script world. In the first and second acts, the danger level isn't too high. As long as they proceed carefully, it's almost like handing out free points to these newcomers..."

Xu Lin habitually chewed on her thumb, speaking with dissatisfaction, "But given the quality of these rookies, not only would they struggle to actively tackle the script, but they might also 'deviate' before the final act even arrives!"

"'Deviate!'" Carmen paused mid-smoke, her gaze growing serious.

The so-called deviation is akin to a movie's NG (No Good). However, unlike filming, in this script world, if an NG occurs, the only outcome is death!

The Specter Space will sentence you to death immediately!

However, the rules for deviation in Specter Space are rather lenient. The first rule is that you must not disclose information about the Specter Space or script matters to the plot characters.

This rule is quite relaxed—just don't actively mention the existence of the Specter Space, and you'll generally be fine.

The second rule is that you must not leave the designated area as outlined in the script. If the script specifies a particular setting for a story plot and you flee from the scene, Specter Space will erase you.

Aside from these, there are several other rules that are very clear. As long as you're not an idiot, these rules are essentially ingrained in your mind by the Specter Space.

Yet, if someone is determined to dig their own grave, they will surely succeed.

...

In the depth of night, Roger, a plump man, was speeding away from Innsmouth in a stolen sports car, attempting to escape the area.

Roger was in his thirties or forties. In his early years, he was involved in many shady dealings, including car theft—his rise was steeped in a dark history.

However, Roger had always been lucky. He seized the opportunity during times of upheaval, using his cunning to climb social ladders in the provincial capital, where he met several influential figures, allowing him to flourish and seemingly become omnipotent in his secondary city.

Yet, his arrogance grew with his success, and in a few short years, he made countless enemies. One day, he drank a glass of Remy Martin laced with potassium cyanide at his home bar.

"Damn it, those bastards think I'm an idiot, not knowing how they sent me to America..."

Roger drove, cursing aloud, "Good thing I'm smart. Whatever beings you are, once I get back to Bin Hai City, you'll pay."

Suddenly, he noticed a peculiar almond smell lingering around him.

"What’s that awful smell? It stinks!"

The almond scent was tainted with an extreme stench, filling the air, and he quickly realized it was coming from himself.

Roger touched his ear and found a trickle of liquid oozing out—it was a yellow, turbid fluid, occasionally leaking from his ear, and he could hear a gurgling, bubbling sound in his brain.

Feeling nauseous, Roger gagged, vomiting a substantial amount of bile onto the windshield.

The brakes screeched against the pavement, nearly crashing into a metal road sign.

Staggering from the car, Roger vomited continuously, half his body covered in yellow vomit.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I feel awful... so awful..."

He felt suffocated, his esophagus burning, with blood and vomit incessantly spilling from his mouth. Rotting flesh even began ejecting from his stomach.

"Help, someone help me..."

Roger reached out with a trembling hand, horrified to see it dissolving before his eyes. His subcutaneous tissues were melting—a sign of deep collagen breakdown. Soon, his legs gave way, and a torrent of yellow fluid and blood spewed forth...

"I don't want to die..."

His voice turned to a whimper, growing weaker until it ceased. His body melted away like snow, becoming an unrecognizable mass of decayed flesh and pus.

Outside the mist-covered town of Innsmouth, everything sank into a deathly silence.

...

"Explorer Roger has been erased by Specter Space for violating the second rule..."

Pinocchio's voice resonated in the minds of every explorer, shaking their resolve.

"Who is Roger?"

Carmen and Xu Lin exchanged glances, shaking their heads in resignation. They hadn't asked for everyone’s names earlier, making it impossible to guess who it was now.

Meanwhile, Alexander raised an eyebrow, following closely behind the protagonists on the street.

He was taking a risk or gambling, analyzing that his best option was to hide in the Gilman House guest room and wait for Xu Lin and Carmen to join him.

"However, analyzing the plot of the first act, danger won't come so quickly, and sticking close to the protagonist team won’t result in instant death..."

The protagonist group included the male lead, Janet, and several companion characters: the mature and rational silver-haired, bespectacled Linda, her reckless boyfriend Roland, and the African-American man Alexander hadn't yet identified.

They were students from the general department of Miskatonic University in Arkham City. This Miskatonic University was a remarkable place, notably its departments of Mysticism, Ancient History, and Archaeology, routinely producing individuals of great power.

Alexander didn’t know the detailed backgrounds of these people, so he couldn’t determine if any were investigators or powerful figures in the occult.

"Anyway, I don’t need to take risks. As long as I follow them, I can observe what they're up to..."

Sneaking after them, Alexander saw them head to the slums on Northern Street, where they interacted with some rough-looking young men in black leather jackets.

Soon, this group moved toward the center of town. For some reason, they weren’t driving, which made it easier for Alexander to follow...

They arrived at a scrapyard where a bearded middle-aged man approached them from a car, engaging in a conversation.

"I warned you, don’t come looking for me again!"

The bearded man angrily slammed the car door.

Janet stepped forward to talk to him.

"Sorry, Tom, I didn’t want to bother you, but Anantan disappeared here, and I must find him. You're the only person I can trust..."

"So, you want me to hack into the cops' security system? You’re trying to get me killed..."

"The town’s security system is managed by Deep Web Communications. As a former Deep Web engineer, you can do it..."

Janet pleaded sincerely, "I know your daughter is ill. If it’s just a matter of money..."

"It’s got nothing to do with money. Listen, this is the only time, don’t ask again..."

Tom, the bearded man, considered for a moment before seriously addressing them: "At 3 AM, I’ll find a way to disable the outer system for you to sneak into the police evidence room. If you only take a DV, the cops might not notice, but make sure not to touch anything else, or no one can save you..."

"They’re planning to break into the evidence room; have they lost their minds?"

Alexander was puzzled, but quickly understood—this was the world of Cthulhu, and being Innsmouth, ordinary logic didn’t apply.

He continued hiding in the shadows, sipping whiskey bought from the hotel to keep warm, watching the group until around 2 AM, when they left the scrapyard. He rubbed his hands together and followed them.

The four reached the back of the police station, sneaking through a metal door into a building. Soon, they saw lights on in a guard room.

"This won't work. We can’t get past the guard room..."

Janet shook her head.

"Who's there!?"

Linda sensed something, looking towards Alexander’s hiding spot.

Caught!

With no other choice, Alexander stepped out of the shadows, hands open.

Suddenly, Roland charged at him, grabbing his collar and preparing to strike.

"Stop, or I'll call the police."

Alexander's words froze the scene.

"Who are you? Why are you here..." Janet gestured for Roland to release him. Roland's strength easily swung Alexander to the wall, while the other three gathered closer.

"Alright, listen up. I know you’re looking for Anantan. In fact, I’m looking for his DV..."

Alexander motioned for the anxious group to let him finish.

"I’m an investigator from a foundation. Your friend Anantan got mixed up in some trouble, which I am unfortunately here to handle. I believe we have room for cooperation..."

Janet and Linda exchanged glances before speaking in unison, "First, tell us, who exactly are you?"

"Sorry, my employer doesn’t allow me to disclose such details. I think we have more pressing matters to attend to, like retrieving Anantan’s DV from the evidence room..."

Alexander smiled at them, "Maybe I can help you!"

"And how would you help us..." Linda asked skeptically.

"I may not have much skill, but I can figure out a way to distract the guards, buy you some time."

Alexander shrugged, "But I’m very interested in the DV’s content. I’ll find you tomorrow, and you’ll let me see what’s on it..."

Having said that, he poured whiskey over his head and headed towards the guard room.