Chapter 228: A sudden change

"It wasn't me who saw through you—you brought this on yourself." Xu Huo tossed her a bread roll. "Go vegetarian for the next couple days."Ni Tian had no choice but to pick up the bread and swallow it under his cold stare.

After finishing the food, Xu Huo took off his jacket, lay down, and closed his eyes to rest.

Octopus Card Bear's story was clearly watered down. Not seeing the monster's appearance might be true, but it was unclear who the monster was actually after. With Deng Yu missing, it was unknown which of them had first damaged the painting. However, regardless of who it was, damaging a painting or attempting to damage one would definitely provoke the monster's retaliation.

This fit perfectly with the identities the dungeon had assigned them. They were here to authenticate the collection's authenticity, so protecting the artworks was a necessary prerequisite.

In other words, they couldn't create counterfeits by modifying existing paintings.

The dungeon introduction had also made it clear—the Curator would only close the gallery after confirming all paintings were genuine. Therefore, when the dungeon began, there should have been no fake paintings in the art gallery.

So the appearance of counterfeits required another trigger.

He thought of that painting "Still Time."

When he picked up the painting yesterday, the eyes of the person in the painting had moved. From a certain perspective, "living" paintings could also be considered counterfeits. Moreover, the painting had only come to life after players entered the gallery.

There were likely more living paintings than just the one he saw. Whether that portrait of the aged woman was actually damaged by Deng Yu as Da Xiong claimed, the person who damaged the painting might have seen the figure moving inside. A simple careless slip wasn't convincing enough.

If fake paintings appeared after they entered the gallery and couldn't be obtained during daytime, then the remaining factor was time.

If players saw moving paintings during the day, it would be natural for them to try their luck at night when they could avoid other players' attention.

Deng Yu's disappearance could mean he was killed, or he might have completed the mission and left the dungeon. If it was the latter, then fake paintings were most likely only obtainable at night.

Additionally, avoiding the monsters wandering the gallery to obtain paintings presented a difficulty level more appropriate for game requirements.

However, Xu Huo wasn't planning to test the living paintings just yet. First, he couldn't determine their authenticity, and second, Deng Yu's disappearance felt somewhat peculiar.

"Brother Xu!" Fan Shiji knocked and entered, his face beaming with a smile. "Do you have enough food? I have some dried meat in my room if you want some?"

Xu Huo opened his eyes and stared at him, then got up and invited him inside.

"Brother Xu," Fan Shiji said with a bitter smile, "That monster will definitely come for me tonight. My evolution rate isn't high, and I don't have many items. Could I stay in your room tonight?"

Xu Huo remained silent, so Fan Shiji continued, "I know my request is unreasonable, but I have no other choice. At least you have two players here..."

"He might agree, but I don't!" Ni Tian, who had gone out to wander around again while Xu Huo rested, appeared at the doorway. "Aren't you clearly trying to drag both of us down with you?"

"Da Xiong was fine last night too," Fan Shiji argued. "This shows the gallery monster won't attack anyone except those who damage paintings! Just buy me some time, give me a chance to escape!"

"I can give you potions and items—anything I can offer, I'll give you!"

Ni Tian wavered slightly and looked toward Xu Huo.

But Xu Huo said, "How much time can two E-grade players really buy you? The lights go out at nine and don't come back on until seven in the morning. If that monster won't stop until it kills someone, in a place as large as this gallery, could you really evade it all night?"

Fan Shiji grabbed his hair in frustration. "Then what should I do? I can't fight it and I can't escape it—am I just waiting to die?"

"Same method I mentioned earlier," Xu Huo said. "There are no fake paintings in the gallery during daytime, but that doesn't mean there aren't any at night."

"If you can find a fake painting before the monster hunts you down, you might still clear the dungeon."

Fan Shiji was nearly desperate. "With so many paintings, how would I have time to search?"

Xu Huo shook his head. "Why does the monster kill those who damage paintings? This must violate the game rules. If players can't break game rules, can that monster?"

Fan Shiji's eyes lit up. "You're right! As long as I escape my room and reach the exhibition hall first, I stand a chance!"

"Brother Xu, thank you." He left a potion bottle behind and departed.

"He's just giving up like that?" Ni Tian couldn't understand. "Even if he reaches the exhibition hall, he might not escape the monster anyway."

"Other players will go out searching for paintings by then. Why should he rush?" Xu Huo said calmly. Someone would definitely take advantage of the chaos—this wasn't just an opportunity for other players, but for Fan Shiji too.

Ni Tian made an "oh" sound.

Having gained nothing during daytime, players turned their attention to nighttime. Since they couldn't find fake paintings during the day, they could only search at night. The timing for searching was crucial too—they needed to wait until the monster came from the exhibition hall to attack Fan Shiji.

Fan Shiji convinced Pan Siming to switch to the first room on the left. Da Xiong didn't dare stay in last night's room, so he proposed changing rooms together with Pan Siming.

However, Pan Siming didn't agree and instead chose the innermost room alone.

Thus the room arrangement on the left side became: Fan Shiji in the first room, second and third rooms empty, fourth room still occupied by You Huanhuan and Lu Gang, fifth room in the corner taken by Pan Siming, and sixth room by Da Xiong.

"Let's hope that monster recognizes rooms, not people," Xie Man commented, watching the changes.

The Gloomy Man turned around and said, "Get some more rest. We'll have plenty to do tonight."

The remaining players returned to their respective rooms.

When the lights went out promptly at nine, Xu Huo woke the Painting Woman and, with his back to Ni Tian, had her slip out under the door crack.

Soon, the same scraping sound of something hard dragging across the floor echoed from the exhibition hall, just like last night. It quickly reached the mural area, then turned toward the left side.

However, the sound didn't stop at the first room but continued inward.

All players were now attentively listening to the commotion, unsure where the change originated. But the subsequent knocking made everything clear.

Pan Siming was right next to Octopus Card Bear, so that single knock was particularly distinct. He immediately realized Octopus Card Bear had lied—last night the monster wasn't after Deng Yu, but him!

Yet at that moment, the wall beside him suddenly burst open. As Da Xiong charged into his room, Pan Siming saw through the hole in the wall the door panel from the adjacent room being kicked flying by the monster!

Without another thought, Pan Siming bolted out the door, with Da Xiong close behind him!

The monster, which had already entered Da Xiong's room, turned back and pursued them. The two hadn't run more than a few meters when they felt a cold gust sweep down behind them. They instinctively crouched, looking up just in time to see the mural across the corridor slashed with a huge gash!

Pan Siming, who was ahead, rounded the corner first. Da Xiong, who was slightly slower, only heard opening and closing sounds from ahead. By the time he emerged, all the room doors were tightly shut. Not daring to enter an empty room, he sprinted with all his might toward the exhibition hall!