Everyone in the rest area had gotten to know each other a little during those few days, so they didn't waste much time observing their companions. They primarily focused on examining their surroundings and discussing potential strategies and conditions for clearing this dungeon.
"Chi Hao," Jing Minghe nudged Chi Hao and whispered in his ear, "Should we check out another area?"
*Click!*
As soon as Jing Minghe finished speaking, all the lights in the building went out. Immediately, colorful lights illuminated the corners of the first floor, and eerie music began to play.
A shrill voice, accompanied by the music, pierced everyone's ears.
"The banquet has begun, please enjoy yourselves."
Jing Minghe rubbed his ears. "Tch, that sounds awful."
Chi Hao put down his wine glass and pulled Jing Minghe closer. "Dance."
"Oh, the music's playing, it's time to dance," Jing Minghe complied, though he muttered, "But this music is really terrible."
Besides, why did he have to dance with Chi Hao? There were women present.
"Just dance."
Seeing Jing Minghe and Chi Hao suddenly start dancing, the others looked on in confusion.
You Mi was the first to react. She pulled Qi Meiyuan closer and smiled. "Come on, let's dance too. Follow them, it's the right way."
Perhaps You Mi's words served as a reminder, as the remaining people also found dance partners and started to dance.
However, with eleven people, one was bound to be left out.
As expected, the one left alone was Guan Wei. He had emerged from the previous dungeon alone and was now standing quietly in a corner.
No one knew what would happen to the person left alone. Everyone danced to the chaotic music with their own thoughts, until the music ended.
The colorful lights extinguished. Apart from the lobby on the first floor and each person's room upstairs, no other lights came back on.
The waiters from before appeared at the entrance of the stairs on the first floor, facing everyone with smiles.
"It is now 11 PM. The banquet has concluded. Please, ladies and gentlemen, return to your respective rooms."
"That's it?" Tong Zheng walked up to the waiter and asked. "Is there nothing else? We just... go back to our rooms to rest?"
The waiter maintained a friendly smile and replied, "Yes, sir."
The others exchanged bewildered glances, looking thoroughly puzzled.
"Let's go."
Chi Hao was the first to head upstairs. Seeing this, Jing Minghe followed.
As Jing Minghe passed by, Tong Zheng reached out and grabbed his sleeve. "Minghe, it's this late, you won't be able to sleep, will you? How about we explore elsewhere? We might find clues to clear the dungeon."
Jing Minghe was about to agree when he felt Chi Hao's gaze. He looked over and asked, "Do you want to join?"
"Return to your room and rest."
Jing Minghe noticed the look in Chi Hao's eyes as he said this, and understood. He turned back to Tong Zheng and said, "No, I'm not going. Didn't the waiter say? Everyone should return to their own rooms."
Jing Minghe emphasized the last sentence, speaking almost word by word, both to Tong Zheng and to everyone else.
"Let's go, back to our rooms," Jing Minghe said, patting Tong Zheng's shoulder with a firm press.
Tong Zheng watched Jing Minghe and Chi Hao go upstairs, standing frozen for a while before snapping back to reality and hurrying upstairs to his own room.
Qi Meiyuan gently tugged at You Mi and whispered, "Sister You Mi, can I come to your room? I'm too scared to be alone."
You Mi hesitated. "It's best not to. Minghe specifically repeated the waiter's words just now, emphasizing 'return to your own rooms.' This might be a dungeon requirement. If we disobey, we might be punished."
"Ah? This..." Qi Meiyuan pursed her lips. She knew that in this kind of place, no one would have a reason to let someone else take risks for them, nor would anyone be willing to do so.
"Meiyuan," You Mi said, walking with her and comforting her, "Don't worry. Relax, as long as you don't mess around, the chances are slim that anything will happen. Don't be too concerned."
Qi Meiyuan nodded slightly. "Okay, thank you, Sister You Mi."
The rest of the people in the banquet hall, after much consideration, put aside the idea of exploring and obediently returned to their rooms to wait.
Once everyone had returned to their rooms, text appeared in the void before each person.
Jing Minghe had just sat on the bed, ready to rest, when he was startled by the words before him: "The plot performance has now begun. Please strictly adhere to the plot requirements, or you will face the punishment of death."
"Plot performance?" Jing Minghe chuckled. "This dungeon is interesting. Is it a role-playing game?"
After the text disappeared, Jing Minghe saw no further prompts. He took out the pocket watch he had bought in the rest area and checked it. The watch was running normally, showing the time as 11:29. This meant the dungeon's time was likely normal.
"So, things bought in the rest area can probably be used normally in the dungeon."
As soon as Jing Minghe finished speaking, text appeared in the void before him, stating his plot requirement.
"Alright," Jing Minghe stood up and put away the pocket watch. "This young master will now go and play his part."
After completing his own plot, Jing Minghe returned to his room and let out a big yawn. His eyelids involuntarily drooped. He quickly realized this was the dungeon forcibly inducing sleep. He immediately checked the time: 11:20 PM.
Hearing the sound of a bell ringing, Jing Minghe shot up from the bed, his mind groggy. He quickly fumbled for his pocket watch to check the time.
It was now 9 AM.
After a quick wash, Jing Minghe pushed open the door and saw Chi Hao coming up from downstairs.
"Why are you coming up?"
"To the fifth floor."
As Chi Hao pulled him along, Jing Minghe realized the bell had come from the fifth floor. He was truly still half-asleep.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, Jing Minghe saw a waiter holding a bell. Tong Zheng, Lin Ling, and Guan Wei were standing not far from him.
When everyone had gathered, Jing Minghe scanned the group and noticed that the woman named Qi Meiyuan was missing.
"So, this room is..."
Before Jing Minghe could finish his sentence, the waiter spoke, his voice drowning out Jing Minghe's.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Qi Meiyuan has died in her room. The boss has certified Mr. Guan Wei as a detective, so we've asked him to help us find the murderer of Ms. Qi Meiyuan. The rest of you will assist Mr. Guan Wei in jointly searching for the true culprit. Now, you may enter Ms. Qi Meiyuan's room one by one. You have twenty minutes."
After speaking, the waiter stepped aside, signaling for them to enter.
The first to go in was, naturally, Guan Wei, designated as the detective. He emerged less than five minutes later.
Next were Yue Yang and Guo Wei. After they came out, Lin Ling followed Chen Mu inside. Then came Tong Zheng and Yan Xiaoqian. Everyone took about three to four minutes.