Chapter 114: If I Get Any Stronger, I Might Lose Control!
The tourists wearing golden masks were undoubtedly the most distinguished guests aboard the cruise ship.
Wherever they went, they received the highest level of service.
Many chosen ones had attempted to strike up conversations with them, but without exception, the golden-masked tourists ignored them.
Golden-masked tourists were rare, and even fewer were willing to engage with the chosen ones.
So when one of them bumped into several chosen ones, those chosen ones weren’t angry—instead, they were somewhat delighted.
In their eyes, this particular tourist seemed “approachable,” at least willing to respond.
Edson, the chosen one from Football Country (Brazil), was his usual self—observing the environment, the people, and then analyzing the rules.
The open-air swimming area had no roof, offering a clear view of the sky and the scenery outside.
The location was excellent, even allowing a glimpse of the deck, where many crew members were busy at work.
Looking around, the open-air swimming area had four large pools and over a dozen smaller ones.
In addition, there were recreational facilities like slides, high diving boards, and wave pools.
Hundreds of tourists were enjoying themselves here, roughly five or six hundred in total.
Among them were those tourists with a peculiar smell.
Even from the entrance, Edson had caught the fishy stench of a few masked tourists.
Strangely, they never removed their masks, even while swimming.
It was as if the masks symbolized their identities.
Just as Rule 2 stated: Remember your identity—it is very important to you!
Edson had watched the clearance footage of Dragon Country’s transcendent chosen one. This time, the rules didn’t provide explicit hints, but he could guess that the key to changing identities lay in the masks.
This rule might be subtly suggesting that chosen ones could switch identities.
Once again, Edson closed his eyes to think.
Rule 1 was straightforward—it instructed him to please the golden-masked tourist, as doing so would earn his assistance.
In other words, golden-masked tourists had access to special areas, much like how only children were allowed in certain play zones.
On this cruise, crew members could access the first and second floors.
So far, Edson had unlocked access to the third, fourth, fifth, eighth, ninth, and tenth floors by blending in with ordinary tourists.
Only the sixth and seventh floors remained inaccessible to regular tourists.
Now that he was on the tenth floor, where golden-masked tourists and even children had appeared, clearing this stage would theoretically unlock the remaining floors.
Those floors undoubtedly held critical intel.
Rule 3 mentioned that if one chose to swim here, they must wear proper diving equipment.
This rule immediately alerted the chosen ones—there was likely something wrong with the water.
Otherwise, why would the rules specify the need for diving gear?
To be safe, it was best to find a full-body diving suit.
He could ask the staff or other crew members about this later. After all, this was a cruise ship—such equipment had to be available.
As for Rule 4, Edson didn’t fully understand its implications yet, so he simply noted it for later.
With his analysis complete, Edson had a rough plan:
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Literal Approach: Please the golden-masked tourist by fulfilling his requests, which might grant access to restricted areas.
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Identity Switch: Obtain a silver mask to change his identity.
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Edson believed it was better to switch identities first before approaching the golden-masked tourist.
His concern was the disparity in status.
Through observation, he noticed that even though golden-masked tourists held high status, other tourists didn’t defer to them.
After all, everyone was a tourist—why should they bow to someone just because they were “higher status”?
That privilege only mattered to the staff, who couldn’t afford to offend them.
Edson reasoned that if he approached the golden-masked tourist as a crew member, the tourist might take his efforts for granted and make even more unreasonable demands.
But if he approached as a fellow tourist, the requests might be more manageable.
With this in mind, Edson sprang into action.
He lacked the courage or skill to outright kill a silver-masked tourist, but he could exploit the rules.
As he scanned the area, a silver-masked tourist passed by, emitting the nauseating fishy stench he’d come to recognize.
This was his target.
Lone targets were always easier to eliminate.
The tourist entered an elevator heading downstairs, and Edson followed.
Familiar with the rules, he knew that as long as he didn’t react to the smell, he’d be safe.
Sure enough, the intimidating silver-masked tourist posed no threat to him.
When the elevator reached the fourth floor, Edson pretended to exit for his own reasons, discreetly trailing the tourist.
What followed was a masterclass in subtlety.
After exiting, Edson didn’t immediately follow the tourist. Instead, he lingered nearby, pretending to be occupied while keeping the tourist in his peripheral vision.
Only after the tourist had walked a fair distance did Edson resume his pursuit—careful not to alert his target.
The fourth floor housed a library, but the tourist showed no interest in it.
This was fortunate—it likely meant the tourist was returning to his room.
Edson followed at a safe distance, ensuring he wouldn’t be detected.
This time, he experienced the joy of being a “bloodhound.”
His enhanced sense of smell allowed him to track the tourist by the revolting stench alone, reducing the risk of being caught.
Once the tourist entered his room, Edson casually walked past, memorizing the room number.
Next, he needed to find the housekeeping manager.
Unsurprisingly, like all chosen ones’ housekeeping managers, this one had an elongated neck and a sharp chin.
Edson’s first thought was whether that chin could impale him.
Based on his understanding of the rules, these foul-smelling tourists had killed and replaced the original guests—making them his targets.
Their rooms would undoubtedly contain bloodstains, so reporting them to the housekeeping manager would ensure their elimination.
Even if there were no stains, the worst outcome was a scolding—far safer than taking matters into his own hands.
Things unfolded as Edson expected.
The housekeeping manager caught the silver-masked tourist red-handed—his room did indeed have bloodstains.
Though Edson couldn’t fathom why there was no corpse.
Had the imposters consumed their victims?
As he pondered this, the next scene tested his limits.
Sure, he’d drunk that thick, foul-smelling Bloody Mary, and his throat still burned from the experience.
But at least he hadn’t known the ingredients—ignorance made it bearable.
The “freshly squeezed red wine” the housekeeping manager offered after wringing out the tourist, however, was utterly unpalatable.
But Edson was clever.
After thanking the manager, he took the drink and left.
The manager had said, “Here’s a glass for you,” but never specified that he had to drink it, right?
One detail that the chosen one from Britannia Country (Britain) seemed to miss, but Edson caught, was the manager’s remark:
“This is good for your body, but if you’re not used to it, forget it.”
On the surface, this seemed like a casual comment, but it carried crucial information.
Edson deduced that the drink might enhance physical abilities—possibly granting supernatural strength within this bizarre world.
This power could even allow him to fight the anomalies head-on.
Why would he refuse such a boon?
In this instance, who would help him?
Only his fellow NPC crew members!
Edson decided he didn’t have to drink it himself—he could give it to a teammate.
If his guess was correct and this was a strengthening potion, empowering his allies would only benefit him.
If he was wrong and it was poison… well, one less teammate.
Either way, he stood to gain.
His teammates wouldn’t know what it was. If he passed it off as “watermelon juice,” they might drink it willingly.
Or perhaps they’d recognize it but still drink it—after all, this was the bizarre world.
If even the housekeeping manager was this monstrous, the others couldn’t possibly be normal.
As for who to give it to, he’d choose the most cooperative and friendly teammate.
The last thing he needed was to empower a hidden traitor.
With this plan in mind, Edson used his keen sense of smell to eliminate five more foul-smelling targets—silver-masked tourists—before stopping.
He collected five glasses of [Freshly Squeezed Red Wine] and five [Silver Masks].
Then, he donned a tourist’s outfit over his sailor’s striped shirt, concealing his crew identity, and put on a silver mask.
Now, as a silver-masked tourist, he headed to the tenth floor to curry favor with the golden-masked tourist.
The striped sailor shirt bore his identification number, but with the silver mask, Edson had gained a new identity.
This move left viewers in awe of his audacity.
He was the first chosen one outside of Dragon Country to successfully switch identities.
Soon after, others followed suit, though none dared remove their sailor shirts.
Edson wasn’t the only standout in this stage.
The chosen one from Britannia Country had reached a new level of rule comprehension—almost rivaling the “gentler version” of Zhang Yangqing (Dragon Country’s transcendent chosen one).
Rule 13 stated: If you find bloodstains in a tourist’s room, report it to the housekeeping manager immediately—this is very important!
Last time, on the fifth floor, he’d luckily eliminated one target anomaly.
Now, he was ready to experiment.
He wandered the corridors where tourists resided, searching not for those entering rooms, but for those leaving.
If someone exited a room, it likely meant the room was empty.
Still, he knocked first to confirm before using his master key to enter.
There were two types of silver-masked tourists:
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Normal ones—not his targets.
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Foul-smelling ones—the anomalies to eliminate before nightfall.
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Penalver, the Britannia chosen one, knew that only the foul-smelling ones had bloodstains in their rooms.
The normal ones didn’t.
So, how could he kill a normal silver-masked tourist?
Simple: plant bloodstains in their room.
The rule said: If you find bloodstains in a tourist’s room…
It didn’t specify who made the stains.
What if he created them?
With this in mind, he conducted his first experiment.
He found a normal silver-masked tourist and used blood from a foul-smelling one’s room to frame him.
Penalver felt a twinge of guilt but justified it as necessary for survival.
After reporting the “discovery” to the terrifying housekeeping manager, the manager stormed toward the room.
Penalver’s heart pounded—what if his theory was wrong?
But it was too late to turn back. At worst, he’d get yelled at.
As long as bloodstains were present, the manager wouldn’t kill him.
To his relief, the manager didn’t care whose blood it was—he simply executed the tourist on the spot.
Though Penalver felt a pang of remorse, this was the bizarre world. Mercy was a luxury.
Most chosen ones here were hardened—either naturally or after their expert teams drilled survival instincts into them.
Some expert teams even offered psychological counseling: If your conscience troubles you, just tell yourself Dragon Country’s chosen one taught you this—he’s been there.
If Zhang Yangqing heard this, he might just storm out and obliterate those experts.
Penalver’s brilliance earned cheers from Britannia’s audience.
“OMG, Penalver is using the rules to kill NPCs! He’s even better than Eagle Country’s (America’s) guy!”
“Penalver’s growth is on par with Football Country’s Edson!”
“Of course! The expert teams said those who don’t adapt in the bizarre world won’t survive.”
“Chosen ones are way better than randoms—no stupid mistakes, and way braver!”
“But what’s the point? He only killed one silver-masked tourist.”
This last comment silenced many Britannia viewers.
But then, Penalver showed them what a “gentler Zhang Yangqing” could do.
If he could exploit the housekeeping manager, why stop at one kill?
Penalver wasn’t just experimenting—he was ensuring his survival.
Only someone like Zhang Yangqing would conduct “pointless” experiments.
After obtaining a silver mask, Penalver tried it on.
He felt a slight boost in strength, but it was negligible.
So, he removed the mask and prepared for his next, more ruthless experiment.
He was the only living chosen one who dared to try this.
Could the housekeeping manager kill a golden-masked tourist?
If he got a golden mask, would it be even more powerful?
Would it grant supernatural abilities?
This was Penalver’s goal.
But the risk was immense—if the manager lost, not only would his plan fail, but he’d also lose a powerful ally.
Without the manager, this stage would escalate from Normal to Hell difficulty.
After careful consideration, Penalver decided to proceed—but cautiously.
He tailed three golden-masked tourists and noted their nearby rooms.
Once one left, he slipped inside and planted “bloodstains” in an inconspicuous corner.
As a seasoned “frame artist,” he executed this flawlessly, leaving no trace.
His technique was so polished that Britannia’s expert teams began suspecting he had a criminal record.
How else could he be this skilled?
Unaware of their suspicions, Penalver headed to the housekeeping department—now a familiar place.
Initially, he’d found it terrifying, but after the manager solved several problems for him, he felt safer.
This bizarre world wasn’t as insurmountable as he’d thought.
With enough cunning, survival was possible.
Still, this was only the beginning. Nightfall was the real challenge.
Facing the arrogant manager, Penalver tested the waters:
“Hypothetically… if a golden-masked tourist’s room had bloodstains, would we intervene?”
Translation: “Boss, can you take a golden-masked tourist? If not, let’s drop it.”
The manager scoffed, sipping his “freshly squeezed red wine” with relish.
“It’s been too long since I’ve tasted such a delicacy,” he mused.
Translation: “Silver or gold, they’re all wine to me.”
Penalver grinned. This NPC had style!
He relayed the location of his “framed” target, playing the righteous informant.
The manager, now excited, began warming up.
This was new—for silver-masked tourists, he hadn’t bothered.
Golden-masked ones were stronger, warranting preparation.
Using anomalies to kill anomalies was a chosen one’s ultimate strategy.
Even Eagle Country’s top performer, Miller, acknowledged Penalver’s brilliance.
As for the two abnormal chosen ones? They were in a league of their own.
The audience eagerly watched Britannia’s screen, anticipating the showdown.
It was like a cockfight—thrilling to witness.
Penalver, however, kept his distance.
If these two powerhouses clashed, even stray debris could kill him.
He hesitated but ultimately followed from afar, desperate for the golden mask.
Viewers complained, demanding he move closer for a better view.
Penalver would’ve retorted: “You want a front-row seat? Be my guest!”
The battle between the grotesque manager and the golden-masked tourist would decide his fate.
But the fight wasn’t fair—the manager brought reinforcements.
Yellow-clad staff and other department managers joined the hunt.
All department managers shared the same eerie, exaggerated features—a mark of their power.
Once they confirmed the bloodstains, they attacked without hesitation.
No explanations, no mercy.
A brutal brawl erupted on the fifth floor, fists colliding with bone-shaking force.
The managers came armed, and the golden-masked tourist, though strong, was outnumbered.
Other golden-masked tourists watched indifferently—as long as it wasn’t them, they didn’t care.
With a final, deafening roar, the tourist fell.
The battlefield was wrecked, though the ship itself held firm.
The tourist’s skull and heart were pierced—death was certain.
The manager dragged the corpse away like a trophy, others following for the “feast.”
Penalver finally obtained his golden mask.
He was the only ordinary chosen one to achieve this.
In a secluded cabin, he donned the mask.
Instantly, his muscles swelled, his strength surged.
He felt capable of crushing a regular tourist’s skull with one punch.
Though not as powerful as a true golden-masked tourist, he could now overpower silver-masked ones.
His next experiment? Solo a silver-masked tourist.
Penalver became the first chosen one in this round to gain a power boost!
For ordinary chosen ones, understanding the rules and seizing opportunities was key.
This enhancement was a game-changer.
But the two extraordinary chosen ones saw no need.
Grekko from Pasta Country (Italy) believed he was already strong enough.
Zhang Yangqing from Dragon Country feared that further enhancement might make his already unstable power uncontrollable.
