"What does this work diary mean?" The old madman could no longer hear the black cat's cry. Taking advantage of this moment, he began to study the words carved on the ground.
Ren Zhifei noticed that many familiar words appeared in it, "The text mentioned the Watchers and the backup plan. Could it be talking about us. But the time displayed on it is too strange. What does the year 3213 mean? Could it be that this This text comes from more than a thousand years later?"
The discussion did not continue because they heard the black cat meow again. The cry became weaker and weaker, indicating that the distance between the black cat and them was getting farther and farther. The next journey proved that taking the cat's meow as a reminder was undoubtedly the wrong choice.
After another long journey, Ren Zhifei and the old madman found the third fork in the road where the "Work Diary" appeared. Unconsciously, they have regarded the ground with the "work log" as a road sign.
"Now even the black cat's cry can't remind us. Do we really have to force our way through?" The old madman sighed. After nearly getting lost a few times just now, he realized that the area of the maze is probably much larger than imagined. Large, even larger than the area this floor should be.
"We can no longer rush around. Even if there are carvings on the ground as road signs, it will be difficult for us to find the end point before the bell ends." The old madman's words were a bit depressing, but this is an indisputable fact.
Ren Zhifei looked at the writing on the floor, trying to find useful information.
"June 7, 3213. The official operation of the city system has begun. We have no time to conduct experiments, and the remaining energy cannot afford it. I can only pray that the system can run smoothly, and in the remaining time of my life , I will try my best to find and fill the loopholes in the system to ensure that he can reincarnate smoothly. But if there are loopholes in the process from formatting to rebuilding, I am afraid I will be powerless. All we can do is pray. Yes Yes, it’s prayer again. Since the Hope left, praying is what we have been doing... "
After reading this passage, Ren Zhifei felt a sense of panic in his heart, but he didn't know the source of the panic. He just felt his heart beating wildly for no reason. The sudden breaking sound intensified Ren Zhifei's fear, followed closely by the sound of messy footsteps.
The old madman and Ren Zhifei immediately understood that it was the scavenger who broke through the maze's defenses and broke in. Their first reaction was to leave quickly. Perhaps it should be said that they were lucky. This time they were in the right direction and found the carved ground at the next fork in the road.
There was only a short passage on the ground this time.
"July 10, 3213. At present, everything seems to be running normally..."
"I suddenly felt that the route we were walking on was somewhat familiar." Ren Zhifei did not rush forward blindly, but stopped and thought.
Listening to the footsteps getting closer and closer, the old madman became a little anxious and shouted: "It's almost imminent, why are you still standing there stupidly? Do you think you can find a hiding place anywhere in the city?"
"It's the city!" A flash of inspiration flashed in Ren Zhifei's mind, and he shouted in surprise: "Yes, it's the city! If my guess is correct."
Ren Zhifei suddenly walked towards the next intersection, and the old madman had no choice but to follow him. Anyway, it's better to be fooled than to be fooled blindly. With this idea in mind, the old madman discovered that they were on the right track again.
"How did you do it?" The old madman became curious.
"Thank you for your hard work over the years." Ren Zhifei sighed.
"I?"
Ren Zhifei explained: "Actually, the route of this maze is the walking route of black cats in the city. In other words, this maze is a small city. I have seen the map you recorded the appearance of black cats, so I feel that we are walking The route was a bit familiar, and finally you mentioned the city, and that’s when I woke up!”
"Great!" The old madman almost jumped up.
The two of them were just happy when they heard a huge bell. The whole dangerous building trembled because of the bell, as if they were afraid of what was coming. Without further ado, Ren Zhifei walked towards the next intersection with his amazing memory.
The journey was smooth, and at every fork in the road I would find the ground with words engraved on it. Ren Zhifei also noticed that the text on the ground was getting shorter and shorter, as if the author was pressed for time and could no longer leave detailed content.
"On September 27, 3213, more and more escapees accidentally left the city. The cleaning procedures were very aggressive. Perhaps they should be redesigned or their hints should be strengthened to eliminate as much as possible their thoughts of leaving the city... "
"On December 24, 3213, there were intruders in the central building? Treat them as escapees and seal them in the building to wait for the cleaning procedures... "
…
"The day has finally come. I don't have time to enter the hibernation device. I can only do my best to protect them while they are sleeping. I hope that everything goes well and that the Hope can return as soon as possible... I will record everything in the maze, hoping that people can learn from it later. hint… "
The diary has ended here, and the exit of the maze has appeared in front of the two of them. There was a gate in front of them, and they were seeing the black cat barking at the gate, as if calling something inside. Next to the door, there is a huge scale about the height of a person with a strange shape. One end of the scale is connected to the door, which seems to be the mechanism of the door. At the other end, there was actually a coffin. The coffin door was open, as if waiting for someone to enter.
The black cat finally noticed their presence, screamed, and slammed into the door. Ren Zhifei was about to stop him, but saw ripples appear on the door, and the black cat passed through without any damage. Ren Zhifei walked to the door and tentatively touched it. The door seemed to be made of granite and looked extremely hard. It was not an illusion at all.
"The black cat's mission is only to bring us here, and the world inside the door can only be seen by yourself." The old madman looked at the door and said solemnly.
"It's us." Ren Zhifei corrected.
The old madman shook his head. He looked at the strangely shaped giant scale and murmured: "I finally understand why Li Feng took me into the dangerous building."
"Why?"
"Because one of them needs to enter the coffin for this door to open."
"Why is this happening?" Ren Zhifei was very puzzled by the device at the door.
The old madman seemed to have already known it, and explained calmly: "Because of the lack of energy, one needs to use himself as fuel to activate the door to open."
"What are you talking about?" Ren Zhifei frowned, and the old madman sounded like the author of the "Work Diary". A relieved smile appeared on the old madman's face: "I have remembered everything. I have seen similar things in Li Feng's notes about the contents of the work log. And the contents in Li Feng's notes are much more detailed than these. I used to only think that this was Li Feng's fantasy, because his past occupation was as a freelance writer. Now it seems that his bizarre and even terrifying fantasies are true. If that is the case, I have no need to go in. Now. I know the truth in advance, and the rest of the journey has no meaning to me."
At this moment, the death knell finally sounded, and in the maze behind them, figures of scavengers began to appear.
"The bell has rung, and the rest is up to you." The old madman climbed up the scale and lay peacefully in the coffin. The coffin board slowly closed, and the old madman's voice came from inside, "If I guess Well done, you have to face a difficult choice next. Just think that I am escaping. I have been chasing the truth for so long and I am really tired... "
There was a dull mechanical sound, and the end of the scale carrying the coffin slowly sank, while the side connected to the door rose, and the door opened.
Ren Zhifei saw that the door was emitting a dazzling light. Maybe it was another passage connecting another world. With nothing left, he had nothing to hesitate about. Looking at the coffin on the scale again, Ren Zhifei finally reached the end of this journey.
Just like when he entered the dangerous building, the white light seemed like sea water, making Ren Zhifei float without feeling gravity. What was different from before was that he heard a certain sound. The voice seemed to come from far away in time and space, distant and desolate, telling an unknown secret.