Chapter 309 Paradise Notes

"Let's go. We still need to find things this afternoon."

Chen Yu took the lead, walking along the main path toward the depths of the Amusement Park.

The three women followed behind, their footsteps crunching on the gravel road.

The afternoon sun was filtered through the clouds, casting a grey haze. The amusement facilities on both sides of the road cast heavy shadows. Inside each facility, it was empty, with only the wind occasionally stirring a fallen leaf.

Wang Mengmeng looked around, her gaze sweeping over every trash can and every bench, trying to make use of her advantage.

"What exactly does the new evidence of the old days look like?"

"The one on the stage was a playbill, the one in the hotel was a register, so what else could it be? ..."

Wang Mengmeng analyzed, but couldn't come to any conclusion.

"Let's go check over there."

Zuo Shi suddenly stopped and pointed to a building on the right side of the road, with the words 'Souvenirs' hanging above the door.

But unfortunately, even after searching the entire shop, they didn't find anything of significance.

The whole afternoon...

In the vast Amusement Park, they hardly ran into anyone; everyone was busy with their own tasks.

Until—

Zuo Shi's Talent came into play.

Pirate Ship area.

The massive hull hung in mid-air like a giant whale.

The ticket booth was a small wooden shack with the door half-ajar and a broken pane of Glass in the window.

"This is it..."

"Just now, while scouting the Pirate Ship facility, my Talent gave me a hint... The place the Amusement Park owner liked to stay the most was this ticket booth. He even moved his office from the main office to here."

Zuo Shi led everyone into the ticket booth shack.

The room wasn't big; you could see everything at a glance. There was a folding table by the window, with a piece of Glass pressed on top, holding down several yellowing price lists underneath.

Beside the table were two chairs, one wooden and one boss chair.

In the corner stood a metal cabinet with the door open, completely empty inside.

"Let's search it and see if we can find anything useful."

Chen Yu took the lead, taking out the price lists pressed under the Glass. He flipped through them for a long time; the prices were clear enough.

But unfortunately, it wasn't the evidence of the old days.

Wang Mengmeng was very diligent, checking for a long time and running her fingers through every nook and cranny in the room.

But she only ended up with a handful of dust.

Yang Kexin lifted the tablecloth of the folding table and peered underneath for a long time.

Except for a few cobwebs, there was nothing.

Zuo Shi stood in front of the boss chair, looked at the filthy cushion, and lifted it with some distaste...

And wouldn't you know it!

A notebook with a black cover was lying quietly underneath!

"Chen Yu! Look!"

Zuo Shi was startled and quickly handed the notebook to Chen Yu!

Chen Yu took the notebook and flipped through it page by page. The paper was yellowed and brittle, and the handwriting was sloppy!

June 21, 1998

Spent another afternoon at the Pirate Ship ticket booth today. Xiao Zhou was there, wearing that floral dress. The neckline was very low, and I could see inside when she bent over to grab tickets. I pretended to look at reports, but I was actually watching her the whole time. When we got off work, I accidentally touched her hand, and my heart beat so fast. I should come to work here more often.

June 22, 1998

Xiao Zhou changed into a new uniform today, and the skirt is shorter. She sat in that chair with her legs together, but I could see her calves and the tops of her feet from under the table. They were so fair and clean. I pretended to drop my pen several times.

June 23, 1998

Trial operations are really annoying. There was no one at the ticket booth this afternoon, and Xiao Zhou was dozing off on the table. I stood behind her, watching the fine fuzz on the back of her neck, and couldn't help but reach out and touch it.

June 24, 1998

Xiao Zhou took the day off today, and some middle-aged woman is covering for her. Annoying. A bunch of kids came to the Amusement Park, even more annoying. Xiao Zhou isn't here either. She should be here tomorrow, right?

"..."

Wang Mengmeng's eyes widened: "This... isn't this just a total pervert!"

She rubbed the goosebumps on her arms. "And pretending to pick up a pen to peek at her!"

Yang Kexin's face flushed slightly. She averted her gaze from the diary and muttered softly: "This Xiao Zhou is too miserable, being harassed by a perverted boss every day..."

Zuo Shi also nodded: "At first, I was curious too, why an owner would want to work here... Now it all makes sense."

Wang Mengmeng looked up: "Brother Yu, is this notebook the evidence of the old days?"

Chen Yu nodded and casually dismissed the prompt.

[Key clue detected: Park Notes]

[Hidden quest "Cage of Memories" activated]

[Quest Objective: Collect seven pieces of evidence of the old days (3/7)]

[Quest Reward: Xiaoguang's Doll]

But Chen Yu didn't have time to be happy about the third piece of evidence.

Because the next page of the diary began...

The tone suddenly became eerie, making one's skin crawl.

June 30, 1998

What the hell is going on? We open tomorrow, and tonight, the twelve members of the opera troupe hung themselves from the backstage rafters. I cut them down and buried them. I absolutely cannot let this delay the opening.

July 1, 1998

A girl died on the Real Swing. Why is she so stupid? She didn't even fasten her seatbelt.

July 2, 1998

A brat drowned on the Log Flume. If you can't swim, why go on the Log Flume?

July 3, 1998

How did another one die? Can something go wrong on the Ferris Wheel too?

July 4, 1998

Sigh, another boy died in the Haunted House, stuck in a trapdoor. When I went to check, his eyes were still open. Holy shit, it scared the hell out of me. I buried him immediately.

July 5, 1998

No... No, that's not right. I think I saw that boy... It's an illusion, it must be an illusion...

The diary ended there.

The handwriting on the last day was extremely sloppy; it took Chen Yu a long time to make it out.

"Why does it feel like a ghost story?"

Wang Mengmeng bared her teeth, looking a bit scared.

Yang Kexin had already grabbed onto Chen Yu's sleeve.

Zuo Shi spoke in a low voice: "Do you remember the description of the hidden quest?"

Wang Mengmeng and Yang Kexin shook their heads.

Zuo Shi flipped to the original text and continued: "In July 1998, within seven days of the Midnight Carnival's opening, seven fatal accidents occurred. Seven children died in seven different facilities."

Chen Yu closed the notebook and put it into his personal inventory.

"Let's go. There's no point in staying here."

"The diary only tells us that people died, but it doesn't tell us how they died."

As he spoke,

Chen Yu had already stepped out first: "The Ferris Wheel is about to start too."

...

When the four of them arrived below the Ferris Wheel, people were lining up to board the cabins.

The massive wheel turned slowly under the grey-white sky, with the cabins rising from the ground one after another.

"I... oh my... this one isn't broken too, right..."

Wang Mengmeng looked up, and her legs went weak again. She was steadied by Yang Kexin, who supported her from behind.

Zuo Shi stood behind the others, silently praying.

Once the four of them entered the enclosed cabin, it began to rise, and the tracks made a clicking sound, one by one.

Wang Mengmeng and Yang Kexin had learned the essence of it and closed their eyes along with Zuo Shi.

Chen Yu: "..."