Chapter 47
Abandoned Hospital
On the third day, an invisible sense of fatigue and weakness began to spread throughout the hospital.
More than one candidate experienced symptoms such as mental confusion, double vision, and even brief hallucinations.
"Damn it, what's wrong? I feel so weak..." A burly male candidate rubbed his temples and complained in a low voice.
"I think I saw my deceased grandmother smiling at me last night..." A female candidate said, her face pale and her eyes filled with terror.
Hong Yuan found Shi Mo, and her expression was also not good: "Something's not right. Many people's condition is declining rapidly, and it doesn't seem to be caused by simple tension and fear."
Shi Mo's heterochromatic eyes swept over the listless contestants, finally settling on the unused drinking water buckets in the corner of the activity room and the food scraps left on the food cart.
"Rule Nine," he said calmly.
Hong Yuan's pupils contracted: "Food and water are absolutely safe? You mean...?"
"Hmm." Shi Mo nodded. "The problem might lie here."
He recalled the dates on the receipts he found in the finance office; they were decades-old accounts. The hospital had been abandoned for a long time; where would they get "safe" food and water?
Taking advantage of the chaos during the afternoon activities, Shi Mo quietly slipped away from the crowd. With his superhuman senses and agility, he avoided the occasional patrolling, stiff nurses and sneaked into the kitchen area located at the back of the first floor.
The kitchen was also covered in dust and cobwebs, but there were clear signs of recent use. He avoided the relatively clean countertops and went straight into the warehouse.
Behind the pile of debris, he found several huge, rusty water tanks, as well as some food packaging boxes with logos that were long since blurred.
He pried open the valve of a water tank, and an indescribable stench assaulted his nostrils. The water that flowed out was black and contained suspended impurities. Inside the food packaging boxes were unidentified substances that had long been moldy and had hardened into lumps.
What hospitals routinely provide to candidates and patients are these "supplies" that have been simply processed into something else!
Rule Nine was proven to be a complete lie.
These foods and waters are not only unsafe, but also contain trace amounts of psychoactive toxins and debilitating agents, slowly eroding everyone's vitality and sanity.
Shi Mo turned off the valve expressionlessly. No wonder most of the patients were listless, no wonder the candidates quickly showed abnormalities. This was simply a slow poisoning trap!
He left the kitchen quickly, without leaving a trace.
Back in the activity area, Shi Mo didn't make a fuss. Instead, he subtly revealed the discovery to Hong Yuan, You Ying, and two other contestants who seemed clear-headed and quite capable (one was the scholar-like woman, codenamed "Doctor," and the other was the taciturn swordsman, codenamed "Shadow").
"Rule Nine is a lie. The food and water are problematic, containing neurotoxins and debilitating agents," Shi Mo stated succinctly.
The expressions on their faces changed drastically.
"I knew it!" The doctor adjusted his glasses, his eyes sharp. "I knew something was wrong with my body! Have you confirmed the source?"
"The kitchen warehouse, stockpiled decades ago, has become spoiled and contaminated," Shi Mo replied.
"Damn it! This godforsaken place!" Shadow cursed under his breath. "What do we do now? We didn't bring in many supplies!"
Ying silently touched the water bottle at her waist; it was almost empty.
Hongyuan made a quick decision: "Spread the word only to trusted people. Everyone should conserve their supplies and see if we can find other clean water sources or... alternatives in the hospital."
The news caused a stir in a very small circle. The surviving candidates began to intentionally or unintentionally avoid the meals provided in the cafeteria, drinking only the small amount of water they brought with them, or simply enduring hunger and thirst.
However, their unusual behavior seemed to have caught the attention of the "head nurse".
The head nurse with the stiff face appeared in the activity room more often. Her empty eyes swept over each candidate, especially lingering on those who hadn't touched their food. Although she didn't say anything, the invisible sense of surveillance sent chills down everyone's spine.
The difficulty of survival has increased once again. Not only must they face bizarre rules and the dangers of the night, but they must also struggle with hunger and thirst while evading surveillance from "medical personnel."
The malice of the B-level dungeon is like a tightening noose, slowly stripping away the resources and hope necessary for survival.