Chapter 33.1 ?

The method Xu Ming came up with to leave, though not difficult, somewhat involved finding loopholes.

In short, it utilized the urban legend’s mechanism of sending out the dead and the binding mechanism of the rulebook.

“No matter what the truth of this urban legend is, it’s certain that the white chess side wants to kill the butterfly. This is the basis for my negotiation with that one tomorrow.”

Xu Ming lowered her head, drawing on her notebook as she spoke: “On this basis, getting it to help us send Gu Yunshu out shouldn’t be too difficult.”

What followed was simple—let Gu Yunshu leave with the ninth rulebook, while the burntmen with the badges stayed. Xu Ming would leave a clue for herself, ensuring that in the next cycle, after getting off the bus, she and Qiu Yufei wouldn’t enter the hotel but head straight back.

Then, they’d release the burntmen wearing the badges as navigators, following the natural connection between the badge and the rulebook, and theoretically, they should be able to walk straight out.

The only concern was the burntmen’s ability to navigate…

But there was no better choice. The blubberman couldn’t stray too far from the rulebook, and Qiu Yufei, being alive, couldn’t see the invisible link between the rulebook and the badge.

The blubberman listened, getting excited and exclaiming.

“I think this method is feasible.” It rubbed its chin thoughtfully, soon smoothing out its originally pointed chin, “Although this makes the rulebook a bit risky… but Gu Yunshu’s combat strength is quite considerable, she should hold out until you come out. Those burntmen seem dumb, but since they followed Gu Yunshu here, they should have no problem chasing her out!”

The more the blubberman spoke, the more it felt the method was reliable, moving more and more energetically, clearly relieved. Xu Ming nodded nonchalantly, still thoughtful:

“The current difficulty is how to take the others out together.”

The blubberman, mid-gesture: “…Huh?”

“The main problem is how to meet up with them and convince them to follow us.” Xu Ming continued, ignoring its confusion, “In the next cycle, Yufei and I will be in the third cycle, likely arriving at the hotel in the morning… Should we wait at the hotel entrance to intercept people? But even if we intercept them, we can’t take them directly, they have no memory. Besides, there are people who arrive earlier than us.”

“Or we could leave a clue for them before the next cycle, telling them to wait after getting off… but the specific operation is still unclear… Perhaps we can use the rulebook to establish some rule for guidance?”

Blubberman: “…”

“Sorry, wait a minute.” It raised its hand slowly, sincerely interrupting Xu Ming’s thoughts, “May I ask where these other people are coming from?”

Xu Ming looked at it in surprise, as if hearing something strange: “Of course, I’m talking about the other living people in the hotel.”

“I know.” The blubberman continued to look at her sincerely, “But what does that have to do with you?”

Xu Ming: “…”

“Putting other things aside, at least we have to take the taxi driver with us.” After a pause, Xu Ming couldn’t help but say, “He followed us in.”

“He followed the dead in.” The blubberman calmly corrected her, “It just so happened you were in the same car at that time.”

Xu Ming: “…”

She restrained herself and closed her eyes briefly: “But if he hadn’t picked us up then…”

“If he hadn’t picked you up, he might have had an accident elsewhere, who knows.” The blubberman pointed and gestured, speaking confidently, “He came in because it was his fate, it means he was destined for this calamity, it’s not like you forced him in, so why are you so concerned?”

…Can I really just throw this thing away?

Xu Ming remained silent again, shook her head after a moment, and continued writing and drawing on the rulebook. The blubberman, seemingly worried by her actions, crawled over again, intending to persuade her further. Before it could speak, it glanced at what Xu Ming was tinkering with and was taken aback.

“What are you doing? Making work badges?” It exclaimed in surprise, “Haven’t all the burntmen been issued badges?”

“…I’m researching if I can create non-directional work badges.” Xu Ming looked at it displeased, then thought for a moment and responded.

The blubberman was taken aback again. Just then, Xu Ming’s pen tip paused, and thin red lines floated up from the rulebook, slowly spreading outward. Following the direction of the red lines, the blubberman noticed there was an extra work badge on the bed.

Like the ones given to the burntmen, it had a laminated shell, but instead of the thin, fluttering red lines attached to the shell, there was a smooth red ribbon, looking quite normal.

Curious, the blubberman leaned in to see that the badge was different from the ones previously issued. The photo section had a generic cartoon face, gender indistinguishable, the organization still filled in as “Urban Legend Demolition Office,” but the position was labeled “Temporary Worker.”

Most notably, the name field on the badge was completely blank.

“…” The blubberman examined the badge, suddenly feeling a bad premonition.

“So, uh.” It pointed, humbly seeking clarification, “What exactly is this…”

“A semi-finished work badge.” Xu Ming nodded affirmatively.

Blubberman: “…So you made this for…”

“For backup.” Xu Ming continued nodding affirmatively, “It depends on how the conversation goes tomorrow with the other party.”

If the other party really intended to save people, she felt she could fully cooperate with them, and the cooperation method was simple—

She would leave some semi-finished work badges in the hotel. If someone came in again, the hotel staff would intercept them, and an employee would wear the badge to act as a guide, following the connection with the rulebook to directly bring the person out…

The name on the badge was blank, waiting for the wearer to fill it in themselves. However, there were still two issues: she wasn’t sure if the hotel staff could leave the hotel, and if not, the cooperation plan would need adjustment; the other issue was that this method was quite costly for the staff, as once they left, it was uncertain if they could return…

All these needed to be confirmed in tomorrow’s meeting, and Xu Ming couldn’t decide for now, so she could only prepare as much as possible.

Meanwhile, the blubberman was once again dumbfounded.

—Cooperation.

She even thought of cooperation.

…Honestly, if it weren’t for the fact that they were still living under someone else’s roof, it would sincerely suggest that Xu Ming go to Sichuan after leaving and sit on the top of the Leshan Giant Buddha.

“Not to be rude, kid… I mean, miss.” The blubberman paused for a moment, then forcefully wiped its face—literally wiping, smoothing out its delicate features.

It didn’t care about that now, took a few more steps forward, and sat right under Xu Ming’s nose.

“I might be blunt, but I think you’re getting a bit carried away.” Its now featureless head split open, emitting a voice.

“…” Xu Ming’s hand, busy drawing a new badge, paused.

The pen tip jabbed irritably at the notebook a couple of times, and she glanced up slightly, “What do you mean.”