Chapter 3: Driver's Handbook

Pop!

The sound of air colliding with the car's interior folds struck his eardrums.

Ding Mo was startled and turned his head, only to see a man in his twenties, looking like a police officer, enter the car and close the door.

Where did this police officer come from? He had clearly just parked in a place where there was no one!

But since things had reached this point, adhering to the principle of his "Identity" as a driver, he asked:

"... You... may I ask where you are going?"

Ding Mo swallowed a mouthful of saliva as he spoke, sizing up this police officer.

Fortunately, compared to the paper person from before, this person looked very normal on the outside, with short stubble on a face with a healthy complexion, a well-proportioned build, and a clean, proper uniform.

Does he look like a normal person?

He was sitting in the back row at this moment and smiled upon hearing this:

"Driver, hello. Go straight ahead for 10 kilometers, to No. 888 Luanzang Road."

No. 888 Luanzang Road? But Ding Mo's body stiffened upon hearing this.

Because he realized... he didn't know the way at all! When it came down to it, he didn't even know where he was, or which road was Luanzang Road.

Fortunately, this police officer told him where to go, otherwise... but later on, what should he do if a passenger doesn't tell him?

"Alright." Ding Mo started the car with a heavy heart.

As it turned out, the car had only traveled a dozen meters when the police officer's smile suddenly vanished.

He said slowly, expressionless:

"Driver...

"You forgot to start the meter."

!!

Wait... does this count as violating his Identity as a driver? Ding Mo reacted and hurriedly turned on the taxi meter.

The system prompt didn't sound, but the police officer had already leaned forward, staring fixedly at Ding Mo, as if he were about to pounce in the next second!

"..." Ding Mo gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, his whole body tense, but he didn't know what to do!

What could he do!

But before he could figure out the reason, the police officer leaned back again, a smile reappearing on his face.

"Driver, you're new to this area, aren't you? I see you don't seem very familiar with this place."

"...

"I, I suppose so."

Seeing this, Ding Mo breathed a sigh of relief, watching the road while keeping an eye on the man in the rearview mirror.

"I see, no wonder I haven't seen you before, even though I've been a traffic cop here for so long."

The police officer smiled and added:

"Since you're new, let me recite the safety Handbook for taxi drivers to you."

What handbook? Ding Mo was stunned.

"Don't refuse. As a traffic cop on this road, I have an obligation to ensure the safety of drivers and passengers." He had no intention of asking for Ding Mo's consent at all.

On the desolate road, amidst the hazy light shining into the car, the man wearing the police uniform took out a small Handbook and began to read from it:

"First, drivers must start the meter when carrying passengers. Note: to avoid misunderstandings, this action must be completed after the passenger enters the car."

"Second, as a service provider, the driver should try their best to meet the passengers' requests."

"Third, for safety considerations, it is recommended that passengers sit in the back row."

"Fourth..."

Hearing that everything was normal so far, Ding Mo even felt like he had met a normal person, and felt a sense of relief.

"Fourth, if during the journey, the passenger bleeds, gets injured, or disappears without the car door opening, or if other anomalies occur,

"Do not stop the car, do not panic, ignore it and continue driving until you reach the destination, then turn off the meter upon arrival."

Wait?

What the hell!? Ding Mo thought he had misheard and couldn't help but ask again: "What did you say?"

"Oh, then I'll read it again: if during the journey, the passenger bleeds, gets injured, or disappears without the car door opening..."

Ding Mo had already unknowingly raised his head, staring fixedly at the police officer in the back row who was looking down at the small Handbook. But this police officer, who was reading out the bizarre "safety Handbook," acted as if it were perfectly normal, as if he were just doing the most ordinary thing.

"... ignore it and continue driving until you reach the destination, then turn off the meter upon arrival."

"Fifth," the police officer suddenly stopped abruptly upon reaching this point.

He raised his head, looked out the window, and then turned back and smiled:

"I suddenly have something to do, just drop me off here."

As he spoke, he pulled a few banknotes from his wallet and handed over the fare along with the Handbook.

Ding Mo glanced at him and reached out to take them, and in the next second:

【Threshold: 38%】 → 【Threshold: 62%】!

After taking them, his Threshold had actually risen back up!

【Prompt: You have completed the driver's basic duties, earned an income, and your Threshold has recovered.】

The shadowy figures surrounding them suddenly dissipated for the most part, and a look of joy appeared in Ding Mo's eyes.

"This Handbook is for you. Read the remaining rules on it... New guy, be careful, this line of work isn't easy."

The man gave him a meaningful look, then got out of the car and left.

Watching his shadow fade into the darkness, Ding Mo lowered his head and looked at the Handbook in his hand.

He hesitated for a moment before opening it:

1. Drivers must use the meter when carrying passengers...

2. Try your best to satisfy the passengers' requests...

3....

The first four rules were consistent with what the man had just said, but there were 9 more following them:

5. When a passenger pays the fare, do not raise any objections to the amount. If a passenger forgets to pay, please provide a reminder.

6. As a driver, you are familiar with and clear about all the roads in this vicinity; if you do not remember, keep telling yourself that you do.

9. If passengers who are unwilling to get off fill the seats (full load), please head to the Gas Station immediately.

10. Note, the license plate is extremely important; do not discard it lightly! I repeat, do not discard it lightly! Violators will bear the consequences themselves!

13. During working hours, try your best not to stop or get out of the car.

The above are the 13 rules in total, along with the final "advice":

In order to protect your safety and that of all passengers, we hope this code will be strictly followed. If special circumstances arise, as an experienced driver, you may handle them yourself.

"..." Ding Mo remained silent; only the sound of his breathing remained inside the narrow car.

He did not know what these 13 rules were for, how they were produced, or what lay hidden behind them.

In any case, Ding Mo had already firmly imprinted these 13 rules into his mind at this moment!

Regardless of whether they were credible or not, in this situation, remembering more information never hurt—as a deduction enthusiast, this was Ding Mo's habit.

Following this, he immediately started the car and continued to "work."

Rule number 13, try your best not to stop!

The engine roared, the air inside the silent car was suppressed to the extreme, and Ding Mo wanted to turn on the car radio, but discovered it had absolutely no signal.

He had no choice but to endure this oppressive atmosphere and proceed along the dark road.

Controlling the steering wheel, Ding Mo glanced at the current time: 1:22 AM.

There was... 1 hour and 38 minutes left until 3:00 AM!