The group that emerged from the corner consisted of four or five men, all walking towards the players with their gazes fixed on them.

One of the men had a black cloth bag slung over his shoulder and was leading a sizable pit bull on a leash. Drool dripped from the dog’s mouth, and its teeth were sharp and long.

Seeing this, the players’ expressions changed drastically. They immediately went on high alert, their faces unconsciously revealing vigilance and apprehension.

Never mind the people, the dog alone was terrifyingly fierce. This kind of dog was a fighting breed; once it targeted prey, it wouldn’t let go until it was dead.

Lin Xingchi, who had wanted to grab Gu Lin earlier but hadn’t been fast enough, now swiftly scooped Gu Lin up before Su Qiao could, one step ahead.

Having snatched the cub, he raised an eyebrow at Su Qiao.

Su Qiao: “…”

That was a show-off, right? Definitely!

Lin Xingchi was seventeen years old, a high school sophomore. He was handsome, tall and lanky, probably around 1.8 meters tall, with the slender build of a teenager.

He picked up Gu Lin with ease, not needing any strength.

Gu Lin was small and thin, but his arms and legs were round and plump, like sections of a lotus root, soft and fleshy. He actually had quite a bit of meat on him.

Holding him like this, he felt quite solid, but not heavy, probably weighing around 20 jin (10 kg).

Gu Lin was exquisitely carved, like jade and snow. His skin was as white as porcelain, clearly showing that he was well cared for by his family.

But someone so young, still at the age of drinking formula, had actually been pulled into this horror world.

Lin Xingchi wasn’t the type to meddle in other people’s business. He wouldn’t bother with the others.

But he couldn’t stand by and watch such a small cub meet with misfortune in front of him. He just couldn’t do it.

Gu Lin could clearly sense the kindness of others. This dagege, like the jiejie, showed him only kindness.

He stayed in the dagege‘s arms, a tiny ball, letting himself be held obediently. He even reached out his soft little arms and wrapped them around the dagege‘s neck.

Gu Lin greeted him: “Dagege, hello.”

Lin Xingchi was taken aback. He looked down at the cub in his arms. Seeing the cub smile at him, he couldn’t help but smile back.

This cub wasn’t afraid of strangers at all.

Lin Xingchi said, “Hello, my name is Lin Xingchi. You can call me Xingchi-gege.”

Gu Lin obediently called out: “Xingchi-gege.”

Su Qiao: “…”

Su Qiao couldn’t help but smile sweetly: “Linlin, jiejie‘s name is Su Qiao. You can call me Qiaoqiao-jiejie, okay?”

Gu Lin, ever the diplomat, said in a soft, tender voice: “Qiaoqiao-jiejie.”

Su Qiao couldn’t resist touching his little head.

Soon, the group had arrived in front of them.

As soon as they got close, the drooling pit bull barked at the players a few times. It was wearing a chain as thick as a thumb around its neck, held by its owner. It only barked at the players, not lunging forward to bite.

But even so, the players all looked grim, their faces cold and alert, watching the newcomers warily.

These few were obviously instance NPCs, probably residents of Mermaid Town.

The leader walked in the very center. He looked like he was in his fifties, but his face looked like he was seventy or eighty. He was powerfully built and sturdy. His back was straight, his shoulders broad, but his face was crisscrossed with wrinkles, like the dried-out bark of a banyan tree. He wore a fedora that looked like it was from the last century. His hair reached his shoulders and was greasy and dirty, in strands.

Everyone was stunned by this strangely dressed old man, both gentlemanly and slovenly.

“Welcome, welcome. I am the town mayor and person in charge of Mermaid Town.” The old man was very enthusiastic, but his small eyes gleamed with a chilling light, sweeping over each person’s face one by one. “You’re all here to participate in the Mermaid Festival two days from now, right? I apologize for not meeting you sooner.”

Everyone: “…”

Mermaid Festival? Two days from now?

Everyone had different thoughts, and for a moment, no one responded.

This old man, who claimed to be the town mayor, was acting unnaturally enthusiastic. And the way he looked at each of them, with a sticky, cold light, it was as if… he was examining merchandise, not a living person.

It was very unsettling.

The same went for the four men behind the mayor. These four men were young, strong, and tall, with expressionless faces.

The only thing was that their gazes, looking at them, were like looking at prey trapped in a snare, completely alert, as if afraid they would run away.

The mayor raised an eyebrow and smiled: “All guests are welcome. We have already prepared accommodations for you. However, the Mermaid Festival is the biggest festival of the year in Mermaid Town. There are many guests, and rooms are limited. We can only provide five rooms for you. I hope you won’t mind.”

The mayor had said so much, but still, no one responded.

It wasn’t that they didn’t want to respond, it was mainly that they didn’t dare. Several players were already starting to tremble.

Who welcomes guests with a fighting dog?

This clearly looked like they were here to unload “goods.”

The mayor talked to himself for a while, still smiling, but the smile had cooled a few degrees.

He also stopped talking, scanning each person back and forth, no one knowing what he was thinking.

Then, his gaze swept over the two-zha-long little doll being held in someone’s arms. He was stunned, looking Gu Lin up and down, seemingly unable to understand how such a small guest could be here.

Gu Lin, seeing him looking, blinked his innocent, watery big eyes, meeting his gaze without flinching. There was no fear in his eyes, only innocence and curiosity.

Town Mayor: “…”

The town mayor looked at him for a while, then looked away first.

Gu Lin tilted his little head and looked to the mayor’s right.

Standing to the mayor’s right was the man holding the pit bull.

The man was tall and strong, looking around thirty years old, possibly younger, but his skin was dark, making him look older.

His exposed neck and thick arms were covered in colorful tattoos, tattoos of fierce beasts, which looked very frightening.

Gu Lin stared curiously at those fierce beasts.

Noticing Gu Lin’s gaze, the tattooed man shifted his gaze to him, meeting his eyes with a cold, evil glint.

Gu Lin was unfazed and dared to stare back without flinching. Truly, a newborn calf is not afraid of a tiger.

Lin Xingchi, however, felt a shiver down his spine. He quickly turned Gu Lin’s little head, making him look elsewhere.

Gu Lin obediently rested his head on dagege‘s shoulder and squeezed his own little arm.

Hmm… why did that shushu (uncle) have little monsters on his arms?

He didn’t have any!

Gu Lin’s little face was thoughtful.

He didn’t like little monsters. He liked Ultraman.

Little monsters weren’t powerful. Ultraman was powerful, beating up little monsters!

9527 asked sincerely: [What is Ultraman?]

Gu Lin: [Ultraman, duh. You don’t even know that?]

9527, utterly humiliated by the little cub: …

Gu Lin grabbed the straps of his little backpack: [It’s the Ultraman on my backpack!]

9527: …

My apologies, it was I who was ignorant.

Thank you, little streamer. If you hadn’t said anything, I would have been kept in the dark, thinking it was called “Aoteman” (the Chinese pronunciation).

The others didn’t have Gu Lin’s leisure to think about Ultraman beating up little monsters. They were all on edge, staring intently at the five people in front of them.

The atmosphere was strange and stagnant, so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

Several players, in this deadly atmosphere, felt their hands and feet go weak, and sweat beaded on their foreheads.

Just then, a soft, crisp, childish voice sounded.

“Mayor-yeye.”

The mayor, being called grandpa for the first time: “???”

The mayor and the four men opposite were all stunned. The players were also shocked.

Su Qiao and Lin Xingchi’s faces turned pale. They hadn’t expected Gu Lin to suddenly speak, and it was too late to stop him.

The mayor’s gaze returned to this little guest, his smile not fading, and even strangely deepening a bit.

It was hard to say, but it even seemed a little…kind? How was that possible?

Gu Lin’s little face was serious, his expression pure: “Mayor-yeye, your mermaids killed one of our people. They’re bad fish. Eating bad fish will give you a tummy ache.”

When he said “tummy ache,” he even patted his round little belly with his little hand.

Then his tone changed, becoming urgent, his eyes lighting up: “So, are there any good fish, fish that you can eat?”

The mayor’s kind smile instantly froze on his face: “…”

Where did this little doll come from?

Players: “…”

Livestream: “…”

So you still haven’t given up on the idea of eating fish?!