<h4>Chapter 51: The Choice</h4>


    <strong>Trantor: </strong>Lonelytree <strong>Editor: </strong>Millman97


    With dark circles under his eyes, Chen Ge stood before the mirror hugging the dolls. <i>One more minute until midnight.</i>


    The lights in the bathroom were off, and Chen Ge stared at his reflection in the mirror. Afraid that he might miss out on some details, Chen Ge did not dare to blink with his palms on the sink and his face close to the mirror.


    He focused all of his attention on the mirror. When there were only several seconds away to midnight, the phone in Chen Ge’s pocket vibrated.


    <i>A call? Who would call at such a time?</i>


    The sudden phone call startled Chen Ge. He hurriedly pulled out his phone and the caller ID was Inspector Lee.


    <i>Has there been some kind of ident?</i>


    Chen Ge answered the call and put the phone beside his ear. “Uncle San Bao, have you got an update?”


    On the other end of the phone, Inspector Lee sounded serious and hurried. “Zhang Peng is still on the loose, but we’vee to the conclusion that he’s still around western Jiujiang! You have to be careful! The man is incredibly dangerous and cunning. His actions and thinking are different from normal, and we cannot rule out the possibility that he will return for you!”


    “But didn’t the police set up a perimeter around New Century Park yesterday? With injuries on both of his arms, he shouldn’t have been able to get far.” From Chen Ge’s perspective, he had been sure Zhang Peng was going to be captured.


    “There was an unexpected development. For now, I cannot give you the details, but what I can say is,st night, one of the officers who managed to intercept the suspect experienced some kind of trauma. He’s currently in a deepa and being looked after at the hospital.”


    “What?” Chen Ge’s expression shifted, and he was about to say something when he nced at the mirror on the wall out of the corner of his eye. A bloody Arabic number of 1 had surfaced on the mirror when he was not paying attention.


    “But don’t worry, the police are closing in on him. Justice always prevails.”


    Inspector Lee continued to talk on the phone, but Chen Ge’s mind was already elsewhere. He ced the phone down and looked at the mirror dumbly.


    <i>When did this appear? The mirror monster has already left, so why would the number still appear on the mirror?</i>


    Chen Ge was reminded of what he had seen in the bathroom the day before, where half of the mirror monster’s body was outside the mirror and Zhang Peng had voluntarily walked forward to merge himself with the creature.


    <i>What does this number really mean? Yesterday it was 2, and today it is 1. Does this mean it’ll be zero tomorrow?</i>


    The dropping number caused Chen Ge’s eyes to dim with concern. <i>After Zhang Peng was possessed by the mirror monster, the number started to drop. When Inspector Lee mentioned thea of the officer, the number dropped again. Does the number represent the number of victims? The mirror monster needs three living victims?</i>


    Regardless of the real meaning of the number, Chen Ge could not wait anymore because it was now rted to innocent lives. A great sense of urgency appeared in his heart.


    <i>The mirror monster is growing stronger and stronger; tomorrow night might be myst chance already.</i>


    Chen Ge picked up a dirty cloth to wipe the number on the mirror away; he could not y it safe anymore. After a few more words with Inspector Lee, he ended the call and then entered the Props Room with the ck phone.


    <i>It is now a new day; the Daily Missions will have refreshed already. Now, the only thing that might help me are the Red Specter’s Bloody Heart Mission or the new Nightmare Mission.</i>


    Chen Ge tapped into the Daily Mission interface of the app.


    Easy Mission: A normal Haunted House experience should not create permanent trauma to its visitors; I hope you understand this simple theory. Please improve the Haunted House’s security by inspecting the security threats hidden around the Haunted House.


    Normal Mission: You’ve achieved the criteria to enable the first expansion of the Haunted House, do search for a suitable location soon! Due to space limitations, you are unable to perform any Trial Mission to unlock scenarios!


    Nightmare Mission: There has always been a second upant inside your room, wouldn’t you like to meet said person?


    (Beware! The more difficult the mission, the more dangerous it’ll be, so please choose carefully!)


    After reading all three missions, Chen Ge’s eyes fell on the Nightmare Mission.<i>The other person inside my room? Just the description of it makes me ufortable.</i>


    Chen Ge knew the possible danger of the Nightmare Mission perfectly well. After a long hesitation, he chose to open the Red Specter’s page instead.


    “Are you sure you want to ept Zhang Ya’s Bloody Heart Mission? Warning! This mission contains a certain level of danger!”


    The app kindly provided Chen Ge with a warning. He rubbed his temples, unable toe to a decision.


    <i>Both of these missions have a certain degree of risk and danger. However, the rewards of the Nightmare Mission are random; there’s a high chance it might just give me another supportive skill. Inparison, the Bloody Heart Mission... Zhang Ya has been given the special title of Red Specter and even her own personal page on the app, this means that she is probably a powerful specter, at least several levels higher than the mirror monster. With her help, I should be able to survive this crisis.</i>


    After thorough analysis, with a grit of his teeth, Chen Ge clicked on Zhang Ya’s Bloody Heart Mission.


    “Are you sure you want to ept Zhang Ya’s Bloody Heart Mission?”


    “Yes!”


    The red interface started to change and peel off like wilting roses, and soon, a new message appeared on screen.


    “Anderson’s Fairy Tales Volume One, Book Three—Red Dancing Shoes: Once upon a time, there was a pair of ruby red dancing shoes that could make the dancer who wore them light on her feet and perfect at her dance. However, none of the dancers dared put them on because they were a pair of magical shoes, one that would make its dancer keep on dancing until they perished from exhaustion.


    “Please arrive at Western Jiujiang’s Private Academy within one hour from epting the mission and locate Zhang Ya’s red dancing shoes before dawn.


    “Warning: Don’t bete on your first date, or she’ll be very unhappy.”


    Chen Ge did not know what to feel after reading the mission details. The Private Academy had been abandoned several years earlier due to unknown reasons. However, Chen Ge had heard plenty of scary rumors about it.


    <i>My first date with a girl is at an abandoned school after midnight, am I that unlucky at love?</i>


    The mission required him to be at the Private Academy within one hour. Chen Ge calcted the distance in his mind, and realized he still have some time left.


    <i>The Private Academy is at this part of town, so not that far away from me. The biggest issue is going there after midnight. Sigh, I’d better go take a bath first; no matter what, this is my first time.</i>


    After a quick shower, Chen Ge changed into a clean outfit. He stood before the mirror to inspect his image.


    <i>There are fifty minutes left, why am I feeling so nervous all of a sudden?</i>