After selecting the world, Xiao Gui'an waited for the data loading that the Little Light Sphere had mentioned.
He propped his chin on his hand, wanting to negotiate about the punishment issue from earlier. "I think you should be more careful. Shouldn't someone like me, a model youth with all five virtues, be given more leniency and opportunities?"
『Well then, there is another option. But according to my data records, most of you humans wouldn't choose this one. I'm already being quite lenient. If you want the other punishment, that's also possible...』
The System said somewhat hesitantly.
"Then change it to the other one, change it!" Xiao Gui'an said with determined eyes.
『If that is your wish, Host, then alright. If you fail in your acting, your browser history and the contents of your hard drive will be completely made public...』
"What?..." Xiao Gui'an froze for a second, then turned pale with shock. "No change! I'm not changing it! Just let me die! Don't touch the stuff in my phone and computer!"
Some things are more important than life itself.
Some deaths are called social death.
"You don't understand, it's a matter of dignity, dignity, you know? How would a system like you without hardware understand?"
Just as Xiao Gui'an was criticizing the System, he didn't expect the Little Light Sphere's face to slowly turn red.
"Holy crap, why are you blushing? You look so perverted!"
『Oh my, Host, what are you saying? You're making me remember the happy times I had with No. 1, I'm so embarrassed.』
Xiao Gui'an: ???
"No. 0?" Xiao Gui'an quickly grasped the fleeting thought and tentatively called out.
"Hmm? What is it, Host?" The System's mechanical voice took on a sickly sweet tone as it asked.
Xiao Gui'an: "Tch—"
He never expected that even after dying, he would still have to endure two non-human things showing off their affection. He really...
『Alright, Host, cheer up!』
『Linking 999th Ghost NPC Actor to the next instance dungeon about to take place in this world...』
『Instance dungeon confirmed as 【Hide and Seek I Don't Want to Play】
Current mission location: Sunshine Residential Area
Mission brief: Hide and seek, a game everyone played as children. One person closes their eyes and counts while the others find places to hide. The person found loses and must accept punishment!
Or rather, if not everyone is found within the time limit, the punishment will be reversed!!
Difficulty level: C-rank
Friendly reminder: Why not look in the mirror more often?』
『Drawing ghost identity information needed for acting...』
『Current short-term acting character:
【Unnamed】：An innocent male university student who wants to be a pyramid scheme leader, currently practicing vocal skills.
Identity: Half-human half-ghost
Ghost rank: D-rank
Ghost power: 100
Strength: (15/100) Speed: (19/100) Endurance: (16/100)
Spirit: (15/100) Constitution: (14/100) Luck: (50/100)【This attribute cannot be changed】(PS: Absolute probability)
Current acting progress: (0%)
Current vocal skills attribute level: Level 1 (Max level 15)
(Can use speech to bewilder and influence, increase persuasiveness, ultimately achieving mind control effects)
【Evaluation: Congratulations, you have a mouth】』
『Long-term hidden acting character:
【Writer (Not fully unlocked, not written by actor)】
Experience: Not written
Ghost rank: ???
Ghost power: ???
Current acting progress: 0%
Current attribute points: 10 (Distributable)
Talent attributes:
Current level: Level 1 (Evaluation: When you seriously fantasize, you look like you have brain damage.)
Current level: Level 1 (Evaluation: The characters you write are as ugly as earthworms crawling.)
Current level: Level 1 (Evaluation: Poor people and dogs not allowed.)
Ghost object: A writer's pen, it has been cursed. Sometimes, it writes unbelievable things. (Current state: 1/10)
Main quest not unlocked.』
"Sy... System... wait a moment..." Xiao Gui'an called for a stop weakly.
『What's wrong, Host?』
"I have a lot to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it."
『Of course you can raise any questions, we can negotiate and resolve them.』
"There are too many things to criticize I don't know where to start, but those evaluations you added afterwards are way too harsh! Personal attacks?!"
The System defended itself, 『How could this be personal attacks? Host, these remarks and evaluations are just to help you better understand your own capabilities.』
『When your abilities improve in the future, the evaluations will naturally change. During this process of change, you'll feel more accomplished!』
"Fine, you're right, you call the shots."
Alright then, just leave it be!
Let it properly become a tool to motivate him.
He slowly pulled out a smile, "What's next? System?"
『The information loading is almost done, Host. Get ready to enter the game instance! Don't blow your cover!—』
『Login countdown: 3, 2, 1, 0』
"So sudden, I..."
Before Xiao Gui'an could finish speaking, his vision went black. When he opened his eyes again, he had been transported to a completely unfamiliar place.
『Ding—Welcome Host to instance dungeon 【Hide and Seek I Don't Want to Play】』
『Now loading mission:
One of the real ghosts has been set as the Host's acting character 【Writer】. The Host must eliminate clues unfavorable to himself, ensuring the 【Writer】's identity as one of the real ghosts in the hide and seek instance is not exposed.
Only by finding one of the 【Real Ghosts】 can this instance dungeon end.
『Currently loading identity: 【Writer】
Information: An unknown ghost who recently came to Sunshine Residential Area, seemingly here to gather material.
Friendly reminder: As a ghost NPC, before the instance dungeon officially begins, you have the privilege of 12 hours to familiarize yourself with the environment, to help you successfully pass the upcoming acting.』
On a panel invisible to others, Xiao Gui'an saw what his current 【Writer】 identity looked like.
Black hair reaching about shoulder length, wearing light-colored glasses, facial features seventy percent similar to his own but appearing more scholarly and amiable. Dressed in what seemed like a long gown from the Republican era, carrying the demeanor of an intellectual.
This was his state before customizing his appearance.
So the Writer on the ghost panel also had Xiao Gui'an's own face. Once he adjusted the data later, he would be able to create another face.
Xiao Gui'an lowered his head to look at himself. Sure enough, his clothing was the same as on the panel.
He raised his hand to look.
His fingers were long and bony, clearly a good hand for writing.
But in a moment of dizziness, all ten of his fingers seemed to have been beaten until the white bones were exposed, then rapidly rotted, with gurgling blood continuously dripping from the ten holes.
Looking again.
All ten fingers had been neatly severed alive.
Trembling slightly in the pool of blood on the ground.
Xiao Gui'an: !!!