[The true “outsider.”]

After browsing the forum, Ranen had the following six points to make: …

If he were still a player, he would definitely be excited and full of anticipation for a major main storyline task like this.

But as someone who is about to personally experience such an event, Ranen felt his scalp tingling.

The thought of moving again surfaced, and this time it came with such overwhelming force, uncontrollable.

Ranen stood up and walked to the bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror.

That almost perfect human appearance reminded him: ‘you are far from normal.’

So many people in the world want to transmigrate, so why did it have to be him?

Ranen’s lips drooped, and just thinking about the lurking madman, the unknown conspiracy, and the burning Arkham made him feel a wave of overwhelming fatigue and pressure.

Ranen was not someone who enjoyed the abnormal or the adventurous. His temperament was like a cat, preferring lazy days, lying in a rocking chair on a quiet afternoon, basking in the sun, slowly dozing off. He was completely indifferent to days of danger and bloodshed.

He pushed open the bathroom door with heavy steps, only to almost bump directly into Ogre.

“Ogre?” Ranen looked up in surprise.

“Mm.” Ogre lowered his head, looking at Ranen, and said, “You’re back.”

Ranen froze for a moment, then helplessly curled his lips into a smile. “Yeah, I’m back.”

“I was just about to come find you,” Ogre said, speaking each word slowly. He lowered his gaze, staring at Ranen, his long hair covering his face, but for some reason, Ranen felt like he seemed very aggrieved. “I noticed you were gone.”

Ranen paused for a moment. “Didn’t I tell you on the phone that I would be back a bit later today?”

At these words, Ogre took out his phone, opened the text messages, and then let out a startled “Oh,” as he realized what had happened.

It seemed he hadn’t even checked his phone today.

Ranen couldn’t help but feel both helpless and amused. His roommate always seemed so disconnected from the world around him. Every day, apart from painting, he would either do household chores or cook, completely immersed in his own world.

This made Ranen feel helpless, but at the same time, a little envious. Because, once upon a time, in his past life, he lived just like that.

If it weren’t for everything he had gone through, perhaps he would still be living that happy and simple life.

Thinking about this, Ranen couldn’t control his mood and began to feel down.

A warm sensation suddenly touched his forehead. Ranen looked up and saw that Ogre had placed his large palm on his forehead, his expression filled with uncontrollable worry. “Do you feel unwell?”

“No.” Ranen shook his head with a smile. “I’m just a little tired.”

Ogre remained silent for a while, as if thinking about something. After two or three seconds, to Ranen’s shock, he lifted his arm and pulled him into an embrace.

Suddenly being hugged, Ranen: ???

“Comfort,” Ogre whispered. “I think this is what humans do.”

However, Ranen barely heard what Ogre said. His entire attention was captured by the soft sensation on his face.

…This area, it seems to be his chest muscles?

Because Ogre was so tall and often unconsciously hunched his back, and was used to wearing loose clothes, Ranen had never noticed how well-built he was. He even had chest muscles!

A painter who stays home all day has such a great body and abs—is this even normal?!

Ranen, both shocked and envious, couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Why, when they all eat the same food, does he have no muscles at all??

After a moment, he gradually calmed down and, feeling a little embarrassed, gently pushed Ogre away.

“Ogre,”  

Ranen looked at him seriously. “I want to move out, leave this city. Will you come with me?”  

“Sure.”  

“Arkham might be dangerous for a while. I’m sorry I can’t explain much…”  

Ranen was struggling with how to explain it, but suddenly, he received a definite response from Ogre. “Really?”  

“Wherever you go, I’ll go.”  

Ogre lowered his head to look at him, his gaze focused and persistent. Ranen paused for a moment, and a strange thought flashed through his mind. But he quickly snapped back to reality, his expression turning serious. “Then let’s leave now.”  

Pack up and leave—leave right away!  

Since Ranen left the hospital, earning money, moving, and leaving Arkham had been his goal. Originally, he planned to save up more money, then observe Dr. Archie’s movements, and leave Arkham before anything major happened, finding some quiet corner where players wouldn’t come to live out the rest of his life.  

But now, even though he had enough money to move, he felt that he was getting closer to this conspiracy, sinking deeper and deeper into it.

If he didn’t leave now, he might never have the chance again.  

If the involvement of the Outsider had made Ranen cautious, making him feel that he should leave, then the appearance of Amos was the final straw that broke the camel’s back.  

He didn’t know whether Amos had been involved at this point in his past life, but based on the experiences summarized by players from his previous life, Amos was definitely the death harbinger, the raven that signified doom. As soon as he appeared before any NPC, it meant that NPC had already been marked as a target.  

With Amos’s involvement, Arkham had gone from being unsuitable to live in to a hellish place. If he didn’t leave now, it would be too late!  

“We need to prepare quickly. Don’t pack too much—just travel light.”  

Ranen had plenty of experience escaping from modules in his past life. He was an expert at running away, often managing to break out of CGs ^[1] he’s managing to escape or avoid events that are meant to be unavoidable or predetermined in the storyline. while delighting in the dumbfounded stares of the GMs ^[2] a figure in charge of guiding or controlling the storyline. He knew well that once the decision to leave was made, there should be no hesitation. The longer you delay, the more likely things would go wrong. Also, it was important not to make a big deal of leaving and telling everyone, as that would easily provoke those lurking in the shadows.  

Thus, Ranen packed only a few clothes and some money, without even canceling his apartment lease. It was as if they were just stepping out for a moment. He and Ogre went straight to the airport.  

Emphasizing his vast experience in escaping.  

As for Edmund and the others, Ranen decided he would explain things to them after getting on the plane and tell them to go into hiding as well.

As the taxi headed to the airport, the driver glanced in the rearview mirror and asked, “Are you two going on a trip?”

Ogre didn’t answer, as usual, and Ranen, used to his quietness when out and about, replied with a smile, “Something like that. Just going out for a bit.”

“Ah, to be young, you can go anytime,” the driver said with a trace of envy. Ranen noticed the uneven skin tone on the driver’s face and his neck, reddened from long days under the sun—marks from years of driving a taxi. “But soon I’ll be on a trip myself, with my family. I’ve saved for half a year, and at the end of the year, I’ll finally get to see them.”

Ranen glanced to the right and noticed a family photo next to the driver’s seat. In the picture, the man was hugging a woman, and in the middle stood a five- or six-year-old girl with a few freckles on her face.

“Is that your family?”

“Yeah, though we’re divorced. I can only see my daughter at the end of the year.” The driver shrugged, feigning indifference. “I was a jerk back then, so my wife left me.”

“Oh.” Ranen responded awkwardly, glancing around to avoid the topic. His gaze fell on a fenced-off area of open land outside the window. “What’s that place?”

“Hm, looks like a vacant lot,” the driver replied after a quick glance, clicking his tongue. “Probably some government zoning issue, leaving such a big piece of land empty. Anyway, like I was saying…”

“Oh, right, my wife and I divorced. I’ve changed, though, and I’m working hard. She’s agreed to let me join them for a trip at the end of the year. It’s been over six months since I last saw my little girl. Only God knows how much I miss them, but soon, in a few months, we’ll be together again.”

As he spoke, the driver began humming cheerfully, but the smile on Ranen’s face had faded. He looked out the window, his mood dampening.

After spending so much time around players, he’d almost forgotten.

This isn’t a game—this is the real world.

For players, Arkham City was just a failed quest. But for the people living in this city, it was 512820.

Five hundred twelve thousand, eight hundred and twenty people.

That was the number of lives lost in this city.

When they arrived at the airport, Ranen handed a bill to the driver, but the cheerful, song-humming driver waved it off. “I decided to pick a lucky passenger to ride for free on my wedding anniversary with my wife.”

“Oh, is today your anniversary? Congratulations?”

“Nope.”

“?”

Seeing Ranen’s puzzled expression, the driver laughed heartily. “Actually, it’s tomorrow, but I had a good feeling about you two. I figured, since it’s free, why not pick a couple?”

“Uh, we’re not…” Ranen responded awkwardly.

“Really? Then that guy’s eyes say otherwise,” the driver teased, nodding toward Ogre. “Even in the car, he kept watching you. I know that look—it’s exactly how I looked at my first love back in the day.” He winked at Ogre. “Don’t be shy, young man. This is a free country.”

With Ogre’s blank face and Ranen’s embarrassed expression, the driver chuckled, rolled up his window, and was about to drive off when Ranen called out, “If possible, move up your travel plans! This city might see trouble soon—it’d be safer to leave early.”

“Thanks for the warning, but I’ve been driving here for years. I know how to avoid danger. Besides, I still need to earn for my daughter’s school fees!”

The driver drove off into the distance.

Ranen stood silently, watching the taxi disappear. He knew that just a few words couldn’t save anyone.

“Ranen?” Ogre looked at him.

Ranen took a deep breath. “Let’s go. Boarding is about to start.”

Ranen’s mind was a complete mess at this moment.

He thought about the description of Arkham’s final outcome on the forums from his previous life. After the players failed their mission, what exactly happened? He could no longer remember, only a few faint images remained in the forum’s old posts, forever just brief entries in the game’s history.

Arkham City engulfed in flames, monsters roaming the streets, the investigators defeated, vanishing alongside Arkham forever, without even a final resting place.

This single line was something Ranen could never reconcile with the city he had been living in these past few days.

In the airport waiting room, Ranen and Ogre sat facing each other, both feeling somewhat dazed. He thought he’d feel relieved to finally escape the danger, but in reality, he didn’t.

When he was a player, he could leave a module without a care. So why, now that he only had one life, was he hesitating?

Ranen smiled bitterly to himself. Even if he stayed, what could he accomplish? He knew he was somewhat unusual, but the truth was, he wasn’t as powerful as others imagined. Staying wouldn’t make much more of a difference than the players did back then—they’d failed, so what could he change?

Thinking of it this way, he felt at ease. At most, once he reached another city, he could warn those around him to leave Arkham as soon as possible.

“Passengers on flight C1087, please proceed to the boarding gate…”

As the announcement echoed, Ranen and Ogre stood, following the staff’s directions to the gate. The young attendant there gave them a cheerful smile. “Have a pleasant journey.”

Preoccupied, Ranen gave a quick response and led Ogre toward the plane. Just before boarding, he suddenly felt a strange impulse to turn around. Around the corner of the boarding gate, he saw a fleeting glimpse of a black trench coat.

… Just a trick of the mind, perhaps.

—-

Albert stood at the airport corner, watching Ranen and Ogre board. He rubbed his phone but did nothing.

They’re gone… maybe that’s for the best.

He thought, feeling conflicted. 

Whatever Ranen is, he has already become central to the Outsider’s plan. If Ranen leaves here, it is Soren Hogg who has to deal with the headache.

Once they leave, they should never come back. As long as they stay away from Arkham City, even those mad people from the Outsider can’t reach them.

Albert pulled his scarf tighter. Winter had arrived in Arkham, and he felt it had never been as cold as it was today.

Next spring, surely, will be warmer than any before.

As Albert exited the airport, he lit a cigarette with his lighter. 

The Outsider’s conspiracy has reached its final stage, and this dark time is finally about to end.

It is time to start preparing.

A taxi pulled up in front of Albert, and the friendly driver got out to greet him. Albert was about to get into the car when he suddenly froze.

He heard a muffled yet familiar voice coming from the noisy entrance to the airport.

“…I should’ve known. No matter where I go, it’s the same…”

Albert turned his head in disbelief and saw two familiar figures, one tall and one short. Even among the crowd, Ranen’s face stood out unmistakably.

“Why…”

Why do you come back?

—-

With a look of resignation, Ranen walked out of the airport with Ogre, feeling utterly defeated as he thought:

He should have realized sooner—the problem isn’t with this world. It is with him.

Just as he was boarding the plane, he had seen a B-level anomaly, a Kamaitachi ^[3] a type of Japanese yokai or supernatural weasel, flying freely in the sky through the plane window. In the distance, he spotted a giant whose shape was indistinct, towering into the clouds. He had never seen such high-level creatures in his previous life and couldn’t even tell if they were anomalies, eldritch beings, or something else entirely.

At that moment, he suddenly understood—there is nothing wrong with Arkham.

The problem lies with those who can see these otherworldly things.

Arkham is on the verge of a catastrophe. He can flee; he can harden his heart and abandon the entire city. But even if he escapes this city, and next time, maybe this country, what about after that? Can he abandon this entire world? Amos doesn’t easily let go of a target he has set his sights on. Can he escape once, twice, or countless times? Is he going to spend the rest of his life in endless flight and despair?

Ranen had already given his answer. As he was about to finalize his decision, he got off the plane, intending to persuade Ogre to stay in another city. However, Ogre stubbornly followed him off the plane.

Well, fine. If nothing else, at least there will be company along the way.

Ranen had decided he would no longer run away. At least in this city, he wasn’t completely powerless. He still had many cards to play. Even in a life-or-death situation, there was still a sliver of hope to fight for.

Strangely, when Ranen decided to walk down this path that was bound to be filled with despair and hardship, the guilt and sense of responsibility he had felt suddenly disappeared.

He didn’t think of himself as a savior, nor did he believe he had to save everyone. He didn’t have such lofty morals or a heart full of mercy.

But he was indeed an investigator. He had once battled wits with the KP, ^[4] The KP is the person responsible for running the game, controlling the storyline, and guiding the players through the plot. gone through countless modules, and defeated enemies thought to be invincible.

And this time, it would be the same.

He had never been alone in his struggle.

—-

Albert watched as Ranen’s figure disappeared into the crowd, lost in thought for a long time. He then turned and left, sending a message to Amos to arrange a formal meeting.

The meeting location was another safe house in Arkham City. As soon as Albert entered, he activated the entire security system. Even though he didn’t know how effective it would be, it was better than doing nothing.

Amos knocked politely before entering the safe house. Today, he was wearing a British-style coat and carrying a black briefcase.

“I was just wondering when you would come looking for me again,” Amos said with a smile.

Albert coldly glanced at him, stepped aside to let him in, and when Amos sat down, he took off a necklace and casually tossed it to him.

“What? Don’t find this useful?”

“I no longer have a use for it.”

“That’s not for sure,” Amos said with a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Aside from its disguise function, the greatest use of this strange item is to block the pollution from the Dream Rift. I believe you’ve already noticed… If you don’t want to mess up at a critical moment, I suggest you wear it again.”

Albert didn’t take it, only coldly staring at him. “You never mentioned that this item would have side effects on my emotions.”

“Well, it’s bound to have some effect, after all, it involves disguising the soul. It’s like putting on a mask for your personality. Haven’t you heard the saying that if you wear a mask too long, you can’t take it off?”

Amos smiled and said, “I prefer to call this strange item a ‘personality converter.’ It’s not just for disguise. When worn on the soul, it can temporarily block the influence of the Dream Rift. You get so many functions with just a little cost—don’t you think it’s already quite a deal?”

Albert hesitated for a moment before putting the necklace back on.

“Now, tell me your purpose,” Albert said as he stretched his long legs and sat on the sofa, looking at him. “You came to collaborate with me to deal with Soren Hogg, right?”

“That’s right,” Amos smiled. “As expected of Mr. Double Agent.”

He watched Albert’s expression change sharply and raised an eyebrow. “If I hadn’t confirmed your identity, how would I have known you’d be on the opposite side of Hogg?”

“Don’t worry, we have the same goal. We can get along just fine.”

Albert stared at him for a long moment.

Amos Dur was always an outlier among the Outsider. Unlike ordinary followers who were obsessed with the teachings of the Outsider, Amos wasn’t. Yet, he had persistently followed Soren Hogg, helping him with various tasks, with great enthusiasm. However, as the Outsider approached their ultimate goal, his stance suddenly became ambiguous.

At the same time, this person’s background was incredibly mysterious. Albert couldn’t find any record of him, neither in the police department nor in the inspection bureau.

It was as if he didn’t exist at all.

“Why do you want to betray Hogg?” Albert asked, then added, “Exchanging purposes is the most basic foundation of cooperation.”

“Sigh,” Amos sighed deeply, looking somewhat troubled. “Why do you all like asking this question?”

“Isn’t it common consensus to pick the sweetest fruit and the most beautiful flower at the right time of cultivation?”

Albert was silent for a moment. “As expected, I really hate you.”

“I quite like you,” Amos smiled. “If I hadn’t already found the ultimate goal I want to pursue, I wouldn’t mind helping you.”

“Thanks, but no thanks,” Albert tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Let’s get to the point,” Albert said, fixing his gaze on Amos. “I need to know Soren Hogg’s real plan and his strength range. You’ve been lurking in this organization for so long, you must know something.”

Amos chuckled lightly. “Of course, that’s exactly why I’m here.”

“First, after staying in the organization for so long, you must have learned the ultimate goal of the Outsider, right?”

“To drag all of Arkham into the ‘Land of the Gods,’ the Dream World, correct?” Albert scoffed. “What a bunch of lunatics.”

“They are indeed lunatics, and a bunch of self-proclaimed lost souls,” Amos said nonchalantly. “Bad news, though—after years of exploration, these lunatics have finally found a way to open the gateway to the Dream World.”

“To be precise, we all know the method.”

Albert felt his throat tighten. “The Dream Rift.”

“Exactly,” Amos clapped his hands. “Dreams, reality, and the gaps—how fitting. Who would have known that the way to the Dream World was so simple and direct? All you have to do is go down the ninth-level stairs, and you’ll find the entrance to the Dream World. Each of us can become a ‘gate.'”

“Of course, this is the normal method, but this path has been impassable for hundreds or even thousands of years. No one knows what lies beyond the seventh-level of the Dream Rift. All those who have ventured deep into it have either gone mad or disappeared without a trace, never to return.”

“So, this path is effectively blocked. At this point, a madman began to think: if vertical depth doesn’t work, can we forcefully open the gate to the Dream World through the accumulation of horizontal quantities?”

“Horizontal?” Albert couldn’t understand.

“Vertical can be understood as a person. By descending the steps of the Dream Rift, they continuously delve deeper into their subconscious, developing their potential while gradually approaching the dimension of the subconscious.”

“The Dream World is the dream dimension of all living beings. It is a world entirely made up of the subconscious. To maintain stability, it constantly absorbs the spiritually powerful as residents. Therefore, those who have developed their subconscious to its extreme have the right to open the door to the Dream World and become its inhabitants.”

“At the same time, everyone is a point. As long as a person is sane, they have the potential to unlock the Dream Rift,” Amos said. “So can we imitate the Dream World and use the dreams of everyone in the city to create a Dream Rift that is infinitely similar to the Dream World? By accumulating quantity, we create a qualitative change, forcibly crossing into that dimension.”

Albert furrowed his brow. “Is that even possible?”

“In fact,” Amos shrugged, “they already have a successful case. Didn’t you witness it with your own eyes? However, the portal they opened only lasted for one second, and when it opened, it was forcibly occupied by some entity. Poor leader, it was like being kicked off the fast lane of a highway—he didn’t get to fulfill his grand wish of returning to the Dream World.”

“Return to the Dream World?”

“Yes,” Amos said indifferently, “The reason this organization is called ‘The Outsider’ is the literal meaning, but in reality, there is only one true outsider in the organization!”