Chapter 29: 29

After returning to Room 1044, instead of leaving the game, Han Fei stayed to clean up the room. “I still haven’t completed both the New Player Missions for sleeping and showering.

“It’s time to go. If I continue to be this stressed, I might go insane from playing this game.” After experiencing the deepest fear, Han Fei realized the beauty of normal, everyday life. This Iyashikei game had done its purpose of helping him learn to stop and smell the flowers. Opening the game menu, Han Fei was about to log out of the game when he realized the previously all greyed out chat rooms had one that was currently lit up. Among the sea of greyness, the brightness of the button to join Chat Room 444 appeared so out of place.

‘Does this mean I can access this particular chat room now?’ Han Fei confirmed that the time was 3.59 am. At this twilight hour, this change happened. Reaching out to click on the button 444, the robotic voice rang out in his brain, “Are you going to enter Chat Room 444?”

“Yes.”

“Please select whether to keep your Id anonymous.”

“Yes.” Han Fei selected that option without much thought. In this place where ghosts and murderers roamed, it was far too dangerous to show his Id. After entering the chatroom, Han Fei waited for several seconds but no one spoke. He hesitated for another few seconds before he punched in the message, “Is anyone around?”

Huang Yin (Tester Account Player 0999): ‘There’s still someone online at 4 am? Brother, you must have more than one liver to sustain such a lifestyle.’

‘I have more than one liver?’ Han Fei pictured that image and it grossed him out. He could not tell whether this was just a figure of speech or something else. Trying not to expose too much information about himself, Han Fei was very careful. In contrast, this other player was so flagrant with the display of their player id. They must be an old player… Or they had gained access to the function of changing one’s in game Id. Either way, this player was definitely more experienced with the game than Han Fei was.

Huang Yin (Tester Account Player 0999): ‘Brother, you still there? You must have gained plenty of EXP from playing until so late. What level are you at now?’

In spite of the casualness of their tone, this player was clearly trying to dig up more information about Han Fei. The latter’s brow furrowed as he replied, “You must be a high-level player too since you’re also still online now. What is your current level?” Without revealing anything, Han Fei kicked the question back to the other player. Granted the other player could have lied, but the lie would still tell Han Fei plenty of information. From the number given by this experienced player, Han Fei could gauge the current maximum level of this game. This was the art of speech, the psychological battle between expert players!

Han Fei was focused as he stared at the chat. After all, this was the first time he encountered another player in Perfect Life!

In spite of the horrid nature of the game, this player was able to chat with Han Fei with such nonchalance, this further confirmed Han Fei’s belief that this was a long time player.

Huang Yin (Tester Account Player 0999): ‘I joined this project as a medical consultant. I just reached level 14. My level is low because I can only play at night since I need to work during the day. I’m sure my level is much lower compared to hardcore players like yourself.’

Reading Huang Yin’s reply, Han Fei sunk into deep thought. He merely asked for the player’s level but they had volunteered their real life career and gaming habits. ‘Is he trying to confuse me with an influx of information? As an old player, he should know that I’m fishing for information. Why would he be so generous with them? Is this another fake front?’

Anonymous Player: ‘Level 14? You have levelled up quite fast then, how did you gain so much EXP so fast?’

Han Fei did not think the person would reveal his levelling trick but he was proven wrong. Huang Yin’s reply soon came.

Huang Yin (Tester Account Player 0999): ‘My gaming life started in the hospital since I was a doctor in real life. However, I had to start from the internship level. I just focused on completing the daily missions like helping the doctors with their chores, doing night patrols of the wards and wooing the nurses. Without even knowing it, my level is already at 14. This game is honestly quite addicting. The vexing details in real life are absent and it gives one a feeling of control over one’s choice of life.’

Seeing Huang Yin’s message, Han Fei’s frown deepened. ‘Is this person serious? In this game, a hospital has to be more dangerous than an apartment building. And he still has the nerves to patrol the wards at night?!’ The images of human organs black market, gory surgeries appeared in Han Fei’s mind. All the doctor’s white coat was dyed red while Huang Yin pushed a cart stuffed with fresh organ harvest as he made his rounds in the wards.

Huang Yin (Tester Account Player 0999): ‘This game is a sandbox with plenty of freedom. I am personally a casual player. Brother, what kind of perfect life you’ve chosen for yourself?’

Staring at the message, Han Fei did not know how to answer. He had no idea what kind of life the game had given him, after all, he had not even ventured out from this apartment building yet. Han Fei knew nothing of the world-building of the life he inhabited but he did not want the other player to know he was actually a new player. He didn’t want to make himself out to be an easy prey. After all, this was a hellish game where the winning philosophy was the survival of the fittest!

Anonymous Player: ‘I’m also a casual player. So far, I’ve spent my days visiting my neighbours, and watching television with my roommates. Sometimes, the kids in my neighbourhood will invite me to join them in their games. They’re all my friends.’

Huang Yin (Tester Account Player 0999): ‘Wow, that does sound like a perfect life. It must be nice to have a group of friends in game!’

Anonymous Player: ‘That is true!’

Huang Yin (Tester Account Player 0999): ‘We should add each other as friends since we both play at night and we’re both casual players. Many testers are playing this game but most of them have forgotten about the main objective of this game because they are too busy exploring the game’s more cryptic gameplay.’

Anonymous Player: ‘Cryptic gameplay?’

Huang Yin (Tester Account Player 0999): ‘Yea, but that’s just what I heard anyway. This game is based on human nature so it is supposed to be as complex as one too. According to the other players, human nature, and this game by extension, is like an iceberg. The parts which are shown on the surface are just a small part, the deeper, more cryptic parts of this iceberg are hidden under the deep and dark sea.’