Everyone else was taken aback when they heard the words " contract book ".
Number 2 Girl asked in confusion, " What is a contract book?"
The boy explained, " The Plum Blossom Secret Chamber will match Challengers with the same progress in the secret chambers together. The five of you have already cleared all the d-class secret rooms. Starting from the c-level secret chamber, it will be a multiplayer team-based mode where you cooperate to clear the levels. The contract book is a necessary item for team play."
The girl asked, "What if I had chosen Plum Blossom Secret Chamber from the start? Could I have teamed up with others after completing the game?"
"No. I'll start by choosing the Plum Blossom Secret Chamber players. I'll control the game and observe their performance, eliminating those with poor mental fortitude. If they win money, they can keep it for later and buy a contract book from the Guardian when they meet someone they want to team up with." The boy's gaze swept over everyone as he said, "The five of you are currently at C-level Secret Chamber, so you can buy it directly."
He gently raised his hand, and three contract books appeared on the table.
A basic contract book costs 10,000 gold coins and allows two players to form a team. An intermediate contract book costs 50,000 gold coins and allows five players to establish a contractual relationship. An advanced contract book is outrageously expensive, costing 180,000 gold coins and allowing 8 to 15 players to establish a contractual relationship.
Xiao Lou had limited gold coins, and the only person he wanted to bind was Yu Hanjiang. Without hesitation, he directly used 10,000 gold coins to buy a beginner's contract book. Yu Hanjiang originally wanted to buy one as well, but seeing that Xiao Lou had already bought one, he temporarily put away his gold coins.
After receiving the contract book, Xiao Lou flipped through it and found some clauses written inside—
Card Room Contract Book Rules
1. Challengers who establish a contractual relationship immediately become fixed teammates. Whenever a teammate opens a new Secret Room, all other teammates on the contract book will be summoned into their world at the same time. Those who are in other Secret Room Worlds will not be affected by the summoning.
2. The first person to sign becomes the owner of the contract book by default. The owner can cross out other people's names on the contract book, terminating the contractual relationship with them, but this is not allowed during the proceedings in the secret room.
3. Contract books can be upgraded. A basic contract book binds two people; an additional 40,000 gold coins are required to upgrade to intermediate, and an additional 170,000 gold coins are required to upgrade to advanced. After upgrading, the original contract relationship still exists, but the signature page will expand, allowing you to add new people.
4. Use the special quill pen that comes with the contract book to write your name on the signature page, then give the contract book to the person you want to invite. Once the other person agrees, they will sign the book, and the contract will be automatically generated.
5. If any signatory other than the owner voluntarily erases their name or dies in the secret room, the contractual relationship terminates. If the owner of the contract book dies in the secret room, ownership of the contract book is transferred to the second signatory.
6. Each person is only allowed to sign one contract book in Card World.
7. The last team rule can be added or modified by the owner of the contract book.
This book has a wonderful feel to it, like a mysterious magic book from a Western fantasy film. The pure black leather cover is bordered with a beautiful pattern, and the words " Card Secret Room Contract Book " are printed in gold foil in the center. The inner pages are yellowed kraft paper, and the text on the first page, the rules section, is a blood-red color. A red quill pen is tucked between the pages.
The second page is the signature area, and there are currently only two empty signature slots.
Xiao Lou picked up a quill pen and carefully and neatly wrote his name, " Xiao Lou, " on the signature page.
After finishing writing, he smiled and handed the contract book directly to Yu Hanjiang in front of the other three people.
Yu Hanjiang glanced at Xiao Lou, then decisively picked up a quill pen and wrote the three elegant and handsome characters " Yu Hanjiang " in the signature area next to Xiao Lou before handing the contract book back to him.
The two remained silent throughout, yet their tacit understanding was as if they had planned it beforehand.
The other three: "..."
Are they really bound together like this? The three onlookers suddenly felt a little envious.
Number 5 said with a half-smile, "Number 1 and Number 3, so you two know each other?"
Yu Hanjiang simply replied with an "Mm".
Number 5 said, "No wonder you two kept exchanging glances while playing cards."
Xiao Lou: "..."
They only made eye contact a few times, was it really that obvious?
Plum Blossom Youth asked, "The remaining three, if you need to team up, you can contact me. If you don't want to team up, the next round will randomly match you with teammates from the lone players. I can't guarantee who you'll be matched with."
The boy took on the role of "newbie guide NPC" without hesitation. Although he was a bit expressionless, he was quite responsible and explained the rules very clearly.
The thin girl, number 2, looked longingly at number 7. Before she could speak, number 7 took the initiative and said, "Let's team up, but I don't have enough gold coins (10,000) to buy a contract book."
Number 2's eyes lit up: "Great! How much more do we need?"
The two girls teamed up, pooled their money to buy a contract book, and quickly signed it.
Number 5 is the only one left without teammates.
He played cards too recklessly, and neither of the two girls dared to team up with him.
But the man didn't seem to mind; he sat in the chair as if he were sitting on his own sofa, completely at ease.
Xiao Lou had a strong intuition that the man with the braid was very capable—he was incredibly sharp-minded, bold, daring, and a professional card player. Although his performance in the Hearts, Diamonds, and Spade levels wasn't great, someone like him was sure to be a force to be reckoned with in the Plum Blossom level.
The opponent's fear is this – gambling with their life! Who dares to play so recklessly? If someone uses Luck Bead in the first round, they're doomed if they go all in at the start.
Noticing Xiao Lou looking at him, Number 5 blinked and said, "What are you looking at me for? Still want to play cards with me?"
Xiao Lou shook her head decisively: "No."
Number 5 smiled and said, "Let's grab a couple of drinks sometime." He seemed to remember something and suddenly looked at Guardian, asking, "By the way, Plum Blossom A, I've been at Card World for so long and haven't felt hungry at all. Don't people here need to eat?"
Everyone: "..."
When he said that, everyone realized with surprise that they really weren't hungry at all. It seemed that apart from being tired, they didn't feel anything else.
Everyone looked at Guardian with suspicion.
Plum Blossom Youth said, "You don't feel hungry because you are still in the d-class secret room. The lowest level of secret room protects novices and shields your physiological metabolic functions. Once you leave the d-class secret room, you will feel hunger, fatigue, and pain, and your five senses will return to normal."
Xiao Lou asked, "So, the coins awarded by the Plum Blossom Secret Chamber can also be used to buy food in Card World in the future?"
"Yes. Gold coins are the only currency in Card World." Guardian glanced at the clock on the wall and said, "The room is about to close. You have three minutes to say goodbye."
A brief silence fell over the room.
After a few seconds, Number 2 Girl suddenly whispered, "H-Hello everyone, I'm a student from Jiangzhou Medical University. I'd like to ask if you all encountered some kind of accident in the real world that brought you here?"
Girl No. 7: "I am also from the medical school. I was in a car accident on the way back to school by bus."
Number 2 Girl paused for a moment: "Is it the school bus that goes to Minzhu Street in Jiangzhou City?"
Girl #7: "That's right."
Xiao Lou's back stiffened slightly: "You were all in the car at the time?"
The two looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.
These two girls are actually medical students, and may have even taken Xiao Lou's classes. In the real world, Xiao Lou would greet them warmly. But in the current Card World, Xiao Lou is barely able to take care of himself, let alone his students.
Jiangzhou City, Minzhu Street, is exactly where Xiao Lou's accident occurred. It seems that many people died in that car accident.
Xiao Lou didn't reveal his identity, turning to look at Yu Hanjiang with a questioning look in his eyes. The latter shook his head and said, "I wasn't in a car accident. I'll tell you the details later."
Number 5 shrugged: "I've never been to Jiangzhou, but I did have an accident in the real world."
Girl number 7 seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly said in a trembling voice, "So, my sister also came to this world? She was sitting with me! She's not in good health, how is she supposed to survive in a place like Zombie Town? Could she have already been killed by zombies..." Thinking of that cruel scene, her body began to tremble uncontrollably, and she couldn't continue speaking.
Number 2 Girl walked over and gently took her hand, saying, "Don't be sad. Maybe your sister is still alive. Zombie Town doesn't have to be won by violence. You can survive if you run fast."
Girl number 7 grunted in response and lowered her head in frustration.
Guardian: "30 seconds until the room closes. Please return to Personal Space."
The group turned to leave, but as girl number 7 reached the door, she suddenly turned back and said, "My sister's name is Liu Qiao. She's 18 years old and just got into university. If you ever see her, please pass on my message—she should live a good life!"
She looked at Xiao Lou, clearly the one she trusted most among these people.
Xiao Lou could only say gently, "Okay. If I run into her, I will definitely tell her. You must also live well."
The girl nodded to Xiao Lou, then turned and walked into Personal Space No. 7.
Number 5 waved casually and said, "Goodbye everyone. I'm going to Plum Blossom for the next level. If you don't want to run into me, you'd better not go into the Plum Blossom Secret Chamber yet."
Xiao Lou and Yu Hanjiang exchanged a glance but said nothing more.
The room was about to close, so the two turned and each entered their respective Personal Spaces, whichever was indicated by their number tags. They were bound together; opening either room would pull the other in, so there was no need to talk here.
However, upon entering Personal Space, Xiao Lou spotted a familiar, tall figure.
Yu Hanjiang: "..."
Xiao Lou: "..."
Why did they meet in Personal Space? Are they connected?!
The two of them turned to look at Plum Blossom Youth at the same time.
The boy said expressionlessly, "Because of the contract book, you will be bound together for the challenges from now on. I'm too lazy to split into another Plum Blossom A to take care of both of you separately. Ask me any questions together. You can also discuss and decide how to choose the later escape rooms."
Xiao Lou suddenly realized that this expressionless little guy could be kind of cute at times. Being lazy and not wanting to create another Plum Blossom A, he simply merged the two Personal Spaces that were teaming up.
That suits me perfectly!
Xiao Lou immediately took off his mask, and Yu Hanjiang also took off his mask.
The two finally met eyes and saw that long-lost, familiar face.
That one glance felt like a lifetime ago.
Their faces hadn't changed; they looked just like they remembered. Only, a deep weariness shone in both of their eyes.
"Long time no see." Yu Hanjiang walked up to Xiao Lou and said softly, "I didn't expect to meet you here."
"I didn't expect that either."
I clearly have so much to say, but...
Not knowing where to begin, the room fell silent for a moment.
After a moment, Yu Hanjiang asked, "Were you in a car accident before you came into this world?"
"Hmm. On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, I went to the supermarket after dinner. When I was crossing the street, a bus suddenly rushed towards me. It was the place those two girls mentioned earlier. I think they must have died in the same accident…" Xiao Lou didn't want to recall that bloody scene anymore. He closed his eyes and asked, " Captain Yu, what about you?"
"It was an explosion. There was an accident during the mission." Yu Hanjiang couldn't reveal his police identity in front of those people, but he didn't need to hide it from Xiao Lou. He explained simply, "It was also on the seventh day of the lunar month, in the afternoon, in the suburbs."
"So, you didn't receive my WeChat message?"
"WeChat? My phone was on silent while I was on the mission." Yu Hanjiang asked, puzzled. "You need something?"
"It's nothing serious. I just wanted to ask when you'd have time to have a meal together."
"..." Yu Hanjiang remembered that he had indeed told Xiao Lou on the night of the Spring Festival that they would have dinner together another day.
Unfortunately, that dinner invitation never materialized.
They both encountered accidents on the same day, but unexpectedly reunited in Card World.
Xiao Lou could imagine how dangerous Yu Hanjiang's situation must have been. Instead of asking about the details of the incident, he walked slowly to the wall of cards and changed the subject, saying, " Captain Yu, you must really want to go back to the real world, right?"
Yu Hanjiang followed, looking at the huge card wall in front of him, and asked, "You too?"
Xiao Lou smiled: "Of course."
He turned to look at Yu Hanjiang, extended his hand, and said with a determined look in his eyes: "Together, we'll clear all the card rooms and leave this place!"
Meeting Xiao Lou's clear eyes, Yu Hanjiang nodded solemnly and said softly, "Okay."
The man gripped Xiao Lou's hand tightly.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
In the unfamiliar Card World, I met familiar people.
The warmth from the other person's body, transmitted through my fingertips, seemed to infuse my heart with immense strength.
From this day forward, they are comrades-in-arms.
No matter how difficult or dangerous the road ahead may be, they will walk side by side.
[End of Volume One]
Author's Note: Volume One introduces four types of escape room settings: Hearts ( mystery and crime-solving), Diamonds (mechanical maze), Spade ( survival adventure), and Plum Blossom (challenge and duel).
With the two joining forces, Card World's new journey is about to officially begin:)