For ordinary people, carrying a radio is as heavy as a big backpack on their backs, but for Duanmu Huai, strapping it to his waist turns it into a fanny pack, not taking up any space at all. Of course, just to be safe, he also took a medical kit. This way, if any of the workers have any external injuries, they can easily be treated on the spot.

The mayor originally intended to give Duanmu Huai a hunting rifle for protection, but Duanmu Huai flatly refused. He knows his own abilities well enough to know that his shooting skills would more likely hit his own people than any wild beasts. So, Duanmu Huai decisively declined the embarrassment of carrying a rifle and instead chose a—ahem, there was no war hammer available, so he settled for a military shovel.

Considering he’s headed into the mountains, he might as well pretend to be part of the Krieg Death Corps.

But just as Duanmu Huai was ready to head into the mountains...

"What do you mean by this?"

Looking at Shajuye in front of him, dressed in jeans and a hoodie, Duanmu Huai had already more or less guessed the answer, but he still asked.

"Because brother is going into the mountains, isn’t he? So I want to go too."

"The mountain at night is very dangerous."

"That applies to you as well, brother. I know you’re very confident in yourself, but when you often walk by the river, your shoes will eventually get wet. Haven’t you thought about what to do if something happens? What would I do then?"

"I think there’s little chance of anything happening..."

Given Duanmu Huai’s current physical attribute, he could tear an Evil God apart even during a role-playing game; he really didn’t feel a mere deep mountain forest posed any threat to him.

"It’s precisely because of this that I can’t help worrying."

"...Alright."

Duanmu Huai thought for a moment and did not oppose Shajuye’s request. Although he wasn’t certain about the current situation, judging from both his game and real-life experiences, even if he refused Shajuye to come, she might sneakily follow him later.

Rather than letting her get into trouble beyond his control, it was better to bring her along. After all, with Duanmu Huai’s capability, he didn’t believe this place could cause him any trouble.

By the way, Duanmu Huai was now sure that this sister was deliberately added by the system to increase his difficulty.

If it were just him, he would have cleared this wretched mountain long ago.

Now bringing along a little tagalong... fine, I’ll still clear it all the same!

At least this sister is obedient and doesn’t wander off randomly. Compared to those game NPCs who run around recklessly and don’t listen, making the player want to deal with them even more than with the bosses, she was much better.

And so, Duanmu Huai’s party of three left the small town and followed the mountain path once more towards the construction site up above.

Hmm? Three people?

Yes, this time Duanmu Huai could really count to three because someone caught up with them when they left school—none other than Teacher Yamahara, whom they had met earlier at the campsite. He mentioned that the sudden earthquake was very peculiar, hence he wanted to return to the campsite to recheck the seismic instrument readings.

So Duanmu Huai allowed Teacher Yamahara to drive the truck while he and Shajuye sat in the back, heading up the mountain road.

Initially, there were some rubble and mud, but the route was relatively smooth until they climbed higher and the road became harder to traverse; finally, just as they were about to reach the campsite, Teacher Yamahara stopped the car.

"It seems we can only proceed on foot from here."

Watching the rock and tree debris lying flat on the ground blocking the path, Duanmu Huai wasn’t particularly surprised. Teacher Yamahara and Shajuye had no choice but to brace themselves and climb over these, following Duanmu Huai as he walked forward.

"I never thought the situation up the mountain would be this severe."

As he walked, Teacher Yamahara shone his flashlight around and quietly mumbled.

"The originally mild seismic activity suddenly intensified all of a sudden, which seems quite problematic."

"Really? Aren’t earthquakes by nature like that?"

Duanmu Huai wasn’t particularly concerned; from what he remembered, earthquakes were always unpredictable phenomena.

"That’s true for humans, but instruments can detect it with much higher precision."

Teacher Yamahara explained.

"According to the seismic data I gathered from the school and home instruments, there have been small tremors occurring continuously for some time. However, just now these waves suddenly intensified rapidly, and I believe this should be related to the mountain’s seismic activities. Or rather, why did such an earthquake suddenly occur without any warning? Maybe... "

Duanmu Huai decisively tuned out Yamahara’s detailed explanation, as he wasn’t interested in these boring things. Fortunately, they had already navigated past the overturned trees and rock-blocked road, arriving at the campsite they had visited during daylight. Seeing his tent still there, Teacher Yamahara hurriedly moved up ahead towards it.

"Over there, I want to look at the data here... whoa!"

However, perhaps not watching his step, Teacher Yamahara suddenly fell forward, and seeing this, Shajuye hurried over.

"Teacher Yamahara, are you alright...?"

However, before Shajuye could finish her sentence, she froze in place.

"Ugh...what’s going on? What is this?"

At this moment, Teacher Yamahara also sat up and instinctively shone his flashlight at the point where he tripped, then...

"Whoa, what is this!!"

It’s no wonder that this middle-aged man in his forties screamed so miserably because right there, near Teacher Yamahara’s feet, lay a corpse!

"A corpse... "

In contrast to the frozen Shajuye and the terrified Teacher Yamahara, Duanmu Huai remained much calmer. He came over, held the flashlight to the body, and turned it over.

In the light of the flashlight, it was clear to see that the body wore a blue work uniform and a yellow helmet, the searchlight on the helmet seemed to have been shattered when he fell. However, that wasn’t important; what mattered were the wounds on the body—they weren’t just simple bruises from rocks or debris. When Duanmu Huai turned the body over, it was clear to see that its chest to abdomen had been viciously clawed, exposing bones, and the innards scattered everywhere.

Moreover, the frozen look of fear and scream on the face of the corpse seemed stuck at the very moment before death, even more unnerving under the ghastly white light.

Duanmu Huai reached out and took a name tag from the body’s chest, reading the name—Mikoto Jun.

"Is, is he dead, brother?"

At this moment, Shajuye asked in a low voice, holding her hands over her mouth as if to prevent any screams from escaping. For a sister not turning into an extra who enthusiastically heightened the horror atmosphere with screams at this moment, Duanmu Huai was quite relieved.

"He is dead."

Duanmu Huai released the body and stood up.

"Although I don’t know how long he’s been dead, it seems recent enough—and he wasn’t killed by rocks or trees, but murdered."

"Murdered?"

Upon hearing this, Shajuye and Teacher Yamahara were even more shocked. But instead of answering, Duanmu Huai merely picked up his military shovel and looked around.

"We’ll find out soon enough."