Chapter 379: Banquet Phonograph

Take a good look at the surroundings here. The table, the guests, the phonograph, and the food—there's nothing else. Clues can't appear out of thin air; if we can't find them, we have to ask!

He was visibly excited, clearly confident that his guess was correct.

The response at the table was a cold laugh.

Kael curled the corner of his mouth, "You Long Guo people, besides guessing, can't you say anything useful?"

Cheng Shuili glanced at Kael, her tone as flat as commenting on today's weather: "At least we dare to guess and dare to act. And you? You only dare to put down your knife and fork when it's safe, and only abandon your intellect when danger arises?"

You—!

Kael's face flushed red with anger, like a cooked lobster, yet he didn't dare actually strike.

After all, his former colleague, lying there with head severed, was still on the ground, the visual impact too intense.

Who knows if this woman might suddenly attack the players?!

After all, there's no rule saying players can't kill each other.

The more he thought, the uglier his expression became.

Everyone's gaze at the table fell on him; seeing his unwillingness to yield yet having to comply, they exchanged glances and shared a knowing smile.

The female teammate in the Pan Shi squad whom Cheng Shuili had saved looked at Cheng Shuili with eyes practically glowing; she whispered to her companion, "Wu Ya's mouth is as sharp as her blade…"

After the farce barely subsided, Pan Shi cleared his throat, intending to continue discussing or simply start experimenting, when the headless servant's corpse on the ground began to flicker like a faulty bulb.

This abnormal situation instantly drew everyone's attention.

After a few seconds, the corpse turned into specks of dark red light particles, dissipating in the air. At the same time, a small piece of special crimson paper fluttered down to the ground.

What is this?

Did it drop equipment?!

Cheng Shuili bent down to pick up the paper; it felt slightly cool to the touch.

She unfolded it and saw a line written in twisted golden script:

【Servants do not lie. Their duty is to ensure guests are immersed in the feast's pleasure; if necessary, they become blades to dispel discordant voices!】

On the back of the paper was a simple sketch of a smiling face wearing a top hat.

Cheng Shuili handed the card to Hao Hao Kan, lost in thought.

What does this mean?

It means the identity of the guest Cheng Shuili just killed is indeed a servant? And "servants do not lie"—could it be hinting that "guests might lie," even that guests might outright disguise themselves as servants?

"Servants do not lie?" Hao Hao leaned in, whispering the words on the paper, a flicker of doubt crossing his amber eyes: "Does that mean guests… or some guests, are capable of lying?"

Though she spoke softly, everyone present, sharp-eared and clear-sighted players, instantly caught the key point.

Pan Shi's expression turned grave: "It seems confirming one's identity isn't so simple either."

His gaze fell on Cheng Shuili, and he grew doubtful. He now somewhat believed this person had entered the instance as a two-person team; no matter how you look at it, she seems to have that capability.

Describing her with the phrase "bold yet meticulous" couldn't be more fitting.

Pan Shi stopped pondering those things and instead chewed over the phrase on the card.

"Servants don't lie?" This means we might be able to pry true clues from them, provided we can endure the consequences of angering them… and… like Miss Wu Ya, have the strength to counter their retaliation.

His words were both a lament and a reminder.

Cheng Shuili being able to settle a servant with one blow doesn't mean others can do the same.

Blindly imitating would likely be suicide.

Kael's face shifted several times as he looked at Cheng Shuili's long blade, clearly not an ordinary weapon; he swallowed the sneer on his lips, merely letting out a cold snort before turning away.

"So we now have a relatively safe method to verify identity?" The female teammate in Pan Shi's squad whom Cheng Shuili had saved said, her voice tinged with excitement, already turning her head to try it herself.

"Safe?" Her teammate, a rather steady-looking man, repeated the word, then suddenly lifted his gaze to Cheng Shuili: "What we need to do now is figure out which of these guests are guests and which are servants… and… whether killing these guests will cause any problems."

Cheng Shuili casually handed the paper to Hao Hao for safekeeping, then sheathed her Night Hunt.

Her expression remained calm: "I've given you the method; whether you use it is up to you."

Her voice was cool and detached, carrying an air of indifference as if it didn't concern her.

Though unpleasant to hear, it's the truth.

Everyone present had survived life-and-death screenings; no one owes anyone protection.

Hao Hao stuck close to Cheng Shuili, his eyes filled with the determination of "Boss is awesome, I'm sticking with you."

Before anyone had made a choice, the phonograph's eerie music suddenly changed.

The music's rhythm grew more urgent, faintly mixed with a hint of… urging?

The guests at the other tables, who had been quietly eating, all paused in unison.

Then they began to turn their necks in an extremely slow yet rhythmic, uniform motion, their hollow black eyes refocusing on the players' table.

This time, their gaze was no longer aimed at any individual, but… at all the players!

An intangible, suffocating pressure spread like a tide.

What's happening?

This doesn't feel good.

"Something's wrong…" Pan Shi's face grew solemn as he barked, "Quick! Keep smiling! Pick up your utensils!"

Without his reminder, the players fumbled, forcing out what they thought were the most "pleasant" smiles, gripping their knives and forks tightly, even if just slicing the air for show.

Cheng Shuili also reseated herself, her movements perfectly meeting the Faceless Smiler's requirements, though her gaze swept lightly over the entire banquet hall before settling on the central round table holding the phonograph.

What would happen if the phonograph broke?

The feast… requires pleasure…

A slippery, icy voice sounded again—none other than the returning Faceless Smiler!

Its apparition was like a ghost, silently reappearing in the shadow of the host's seat; the red smile's corners seemed to curl up even higher than before, bringing a chilling sense of satisfaction.

Looks like… something interesting happened among the guests.

Its gaze seemed to sweep over Cheng Shuili, yet also seemed not to, and finally it landed on the place where the attendant killed by Cheng Shuili had disappeared.

It seemed to be reciting poetry, modulating its tone: "A diligent attendant… has disappeared. This is truly regrettable."

Every player's heart rose to their throats.

It knew!

Was it going to avenge that attendant?

Cheng Shuili gripped the dinner knife in her hand, her body tensing slightly.

If this monster dared to attack, she wouldn't mind testing whether the hint from Insight—"rule monsters cannot be killed by players"—was absolute!

Her body was ready for battle, but Cheng Shuili's emotions remained as usual.

She had broken no rule; even killing that attendant was merely staying within the bounds of "justifiable defense."

The probability that the Faceless Joker would strike was indeed not zero, but certainly not high.

Indeed, after a moment, it merely spread its hands gracefully.

That slick voice carried a feigned sorrow: "Maintaining the banquet's harmony comes at a cost… but… the tolerant host will not blame you all for it. After all, a little vitality is also part of the pleasure."

It shifted its tone, voice suddenly becoming high and full of temptation: "But! The banquet cannot be only quiet dining! The dance floor is ready, the music has started… honored guests, it's time to show your… passion!"

【Banquet Phase Two Activated: Endless Ball!】

【Rule Prompt:】

【1. Please dance to the music's rhythm.】

【2. Refusing an invitation is impolite.】

【3. Smile! Smile! Smile!】

As the system prompt sounded, the guests around the tables all rose in unison!

They wore stiff, standard smiles, paired up, stepping in a strange yet precise match to the musical beat, sliding into the open space between the tables!

There, unbeknownst to when, a dark‑red carpet had been laid, forming a dance floor!

The long table where the players sat also began to emit a faint "crack‑crack" sound, and together with the chairs, was pushed outward by an invisible force, making more room for the dance floor.

"Dance?! What a joke!"

Kel couldn't help but curse lowly, the forced smile on his face almost twisting.

"Keep smiling! Kel!" his teammate hurriedly reminded.

The members of Cornerstone Squad exchanged glances, each seeing the gravity in the other's eyes.

Dance?

We who fight on the line of life and death—who would dance what?

If we mess up, won't we just die again?

This damn Instance!

Cheng Shuili frowned.

She's fine in a fight, but dancing… that touches her knowledge blind spot.

She'd rather go slash a few more attendants.

She swallowed nervously, voice soft: "Boss, what do we do? Can you dance?"

Cheng Shuili, expressionless: "I only know one dance."

"What dance?"

"The kind old ladies do in the square—does that count?"

Hao Hao: "…… "

She felt it probably didn't count, but there seemed no other way.

The players hadn't started twisting their bodies yet, but the guests already on the dance floor, after completing a basic step, began walking toward the players!

Their faces bore the same unchanging eerie smile, they extended pallid or blotched hands, making the standard inviting gesture.

One wearing a tattered court gown, her face swollen as if from blisters, an attendant walked straight to Cheng Shuili, slightly bent her knees, and extended that swollen hand.

Another, dressed similarly to a butler, with an unnaturally twisted neck, extended an invitation to Hao Hao.

The same scene unfolded before every player!

Refusing the invitation means breaking rule two! The consequence is easy to imagine.

And accepting?

Who knows what will happen after the dance? Will we be assimilated like the player who ate meat?

Another dilemma.

"Can't refuse! The rules clearly say you can't refuse!"

Cornerstone let out a low growl, stood up first, faced the attendant inviting him, forced out a smile uglier than crying, then stiffly reached out his hand.

With his lead, the other players could only grit their teeth and accept the invitations one after another.

Cheng Shuili stared at the swollen hand before her, eyes icy.

She deeply disliked this uncontrolled contact.

"Boss…" Hao Hao's voice trembled with tears, the butler attendant before her already had its mouth split back to her ears, as if urging.

The Faceless Joker stood in the shadow of the host's seat, its red smile seeming to mock silently.

Cheng Shuili drew a deep breath, suppressing her displeasure.

Rules…… again this damn rule!

She slowly rose, refusing to touch that repulsive hand, merely coldly staring at the female attendant, then lifted her own arm and made a half‑hearted "please" gesture.

The female attendant seemed not to mind her rudeness, kept smiling, and stepped into the dance.

Music blared in her ears; around her, pairs spun, the players were forced to follow that eerie rhythm, moving their feet clumsily and stiffly.

Cheng Shuili's "dance posture" is less like dancing and more like performing a wary mobile block.

She avoids unnecessary contact with the attendants as much as possible; her footwork depends entirely on capturing the rhythm and her strong bodily control. Although there is no beauty to speak of, at least... there is no obvious mistake.

Hao Hao's side was even more perilous; she almost stepped on the butler's foot several times, or couldn't keep up with the rhythm, scared pale-faced, relying solely on strong will to survive to hold on.

Kai'er was even more flustered, almost tripping himself, causing his dance partner—

A guest wearing a clown suit, with colored paint constantly dripping from his nose, constantly emitting a strange giggling laugh from his mouth, as if mocking his clumsiness.

Cheng Shuili admired his expression for a while before withdrawing her gaze.

Truly amusing.

The whole dance floor was like a terrifying silent play of chaotic demons.

Continuing like this is no solution; players will inevitably make mistakes.

Making a mistake seems to be a red line, a red line that costs one's life.

Her gaze once again turned to the central phonograph.

After turning her body around, Cheng Shuili suddenly noticed something unusual: why does that phonograph's shadow sway Qing Qing with the melody?

She withdrew her gaze, then suddenly looked over again.

【Insight Success!】

【Feast Phonograph】

【Description: An extremely rare magical mimic monster! It loves music, can perfectly imitate the music played by the phonograph; when it likes a tune, its body sways Qing Qing to the melody. Itself harmless, but often appears in terrifying Instances to abet evil! They are timid; once discovered, they can no longer make a sound.】

【Weak point: Threaten it a few times, but don't actually strike to break it.】

Cheng Shuili: "……"