This volume is a story that takes place between the "Azure Spirit Sword Tournament" and the "I Am a Writer" arcs.

Why write it now…

Well, there's no particular reason…

If I had to give a reason, it's because I had too many things I wanted to write, so I temporarily put aside this excessively unrestrained script.

Since Feng Bujue didn't use any items or skills in this script, this interlude could be added anywhere.

So… let's begin.

…………

"Hehehe… Welcome to Thriller Paradise." A familiar voice chuckled.

[Loading complete. You are currently in Single Player Survival Mode (Nightmare).]

[This mode provides a script introduction and has a chance to trigger side hidden missions and special worldviews.]

[Script Completion Reward: An 80% bonus to base experience earned upon completion.]

[The script introduction will now play. The game will begin immediately after playback.]

The screen lit up, and the protagonist in the CG was driving a car on a mountain road.

The road ahead was rough and uneven, and the roadside guardrails were clearly in disrepair. Every so often, there would be a section without a guardrail, perhaps knocked out by vehicles that had crashed in the past.

Looking at the scenery in the distance through the windshield, one could see towering, chaotic mountains and deep, lush forests… This was clearly a remote area rarely visited by people.

The road ran along the edge of a canyon cliff, with many strange, leaning trees growing haphazardly. Some branches even extended onto the road, making it quite dangerous.

After watching for only a few seconds, Feng Bujue guessed what would happen next…

Soon, the system voice sounded:

[You are an eccentric famous detective.]

[On an October afternoon, you decide to go out for a long journey.]

[You drive a rented, cheap car, drive along the highway, leave the city, cross the hills, traverse the canyons, and follow the road into the distance… searching for the illusion of "freedom" in those unfamiliar, desolate lands.]

[Until… you arrive here.]

[This is an ancient land. The footsteps of civilization seem to refuse to linger here. It only hurriedly left a few footprints before departing.]

[Many years ago, this place was also considered suitable for habitation.]

[French Canadians came, Italians came, Poles came, but they all left. The reason for this was simply that they saw, heard, or encountered something, or perhaps… they merely imagined some thing.]

[This is clearly not a place that can bring people good dreams…]

The narration stopped abruptly, replaced by the sudden sound of brakes.

As Feng Bujue had predicted, the car in the opening CG suddenly skidded, broke through the gap in the guardrail, and rolled down the hillside. Accompanied by the rumbling sound of the car tumbling, the scene before his eyes first shook violently, turned upside down, and finally… was enveloped by darkness.

Fortunately, a few seconds later, Feng Bujue regained his ability to move. The script had officially begun.

As he opened his eyes, Brother Jue felt a sense of discomfort… At this moment, the car he was in was upside down, and his body was held in place by the seatbelt.

He didn't know if the car would leak oil and explode, but staying inside was definitely not an option.

Feng Bujue immediately tried to release the seatbelt. Unexpectedly, it came undone easily. The quality was truly up to par.

He supported his inverted body with his hands, looked around, and found that the windshield was completely shattered, so he decided to go out through there. So, he lowered his head, putting all his weight on his shoulders, and then bent his body like a shrimp, first extending his feet out, and then following with his body in a somersault-like motion.

This guy was quite flexible and quickly crawled out of the car.

After standing firmly on the muddy ground at the bottom of the valley, Feng Bujue didn't rush to leave the overturned car. His first thought was to search the car for any usable items.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, a flash of fire appeared, and the outside of the fuel tank inexplicably caught fire.

In the nick of time, Feng Bujue saw this and turned around to dash forward without hesitation. Two seconds later, an explosion occurred, sending Brother Jue, who was running forward, flying several meters and landing face-first in the dirt.

"You really can't let your guard down in Nightmare difficulty…" Feng Bujue muttered. "This kind of instant-death event only gives me two seconds to react." He got up again and brushed the dust off his body. Looking at the raging fire in the distance, he knew there was nothing left to take from the car.

[Important Reminder: You cannot use any items brought in from outside the script in this script; the inventory slot is locked; the skill slot is locked; before leaving the script, your clothing will be temporarily changed to the style of the plot character, and your physical attributes will be adjusted to the level of real life.]

"Huh?" Feng Bujue was visibly stunned after hearing the system prompt. Although he had noticed that his clothing had changed to a black casual suit, he hadn't really noticed the changes to the inventory and skill slots.

At this time, he heard the prompt and opened the game menu again, only to see that the items and skills were indeed locked.

"Yo-ho… this system really has the style of the National Development and Reform Commission. It issues a notice and does it right away." Feng Bujue complained and reluctantly accepted this setting.

Then, he habitually looked up and scanned the surrounding situation.

Although the valley floor was shaded by tall trees, the afternoon sun still shone through. He roughly surveyed the area and didn't see any obvious threats.

Perhaps it was the system's influence, but even the flames of the car that had exploded didn't spread, but were concentrated on the car body, as if they would go out as soon as the main body was burned out.

Just as Feng Bujue was about to start exploring, the main quest prompt came:

[Main Quest Triggered]

[Complete this script in thirty-three chapters.]

Below this quest, a sub-quest of another main quest also appeared: [Find and reach the Lovecraft family mansion in the valley]

"Oh… I see." Feng Bujue sneered. "A rare special episode. It really wouldn't be good to end it in just a few chapters… Then I'll stretch it out to thirty-three chapters!"

…………

A super simple case that can usually be solved in just five chapters.

A clumsy murderer, a secret room full of flaws, an obvious motive…

That famous detective who has to stretch it out to thirty-three chapters no matter what!

Absurd reasoning constantly emerges, the number of suspects continues to increase. Will he be able to bring the real murderer to justice!

Right now, it's only the first chapter…

Chapter 1 The Beginning