Read with BonusRead with Bonus

Chapter 7: The Two Grandmothers

The reporters were astonished at the revelation of a 【Silver+】 contract for Ethan Walker.

This news set the White Tower forums, marketing accounts, and livestreams ablaze! The focus wasn't just on Avalon Guild's elevated offer to Ethan but also on the rarity of a 【Silver+】 contract for a newcomer. A 【Silver+】 contract, as the name suggests, is a level above a 【Silver Contract】. With the maturation of major guilds, the original gold, silver, and bronze divisions couldn't meet the demands, leading to the creation of 【+】【++】【+++】 categories for contracts.

Offering a 【Silver+】 contract indicated Avalon's high regard for Ethan, treating him as a future core member of the guild. Such contracts were usually reserved for seasoned guild members with proven loyalty and capability. Avalon's extraordinary interest in Ethan made other guilds question whether he possessed some unique skill they hadn't noticed.

Messages began to emerge from other guilds expressing interest in signing Ethan. His value skyrocketed instantly. In the live stream, a post titled "Avalon's Pursuit of Love: Vice President Alex Johnson Says Newcomer Ethan Walker to Receive 【Silver+】 Contract" went viral.

The comments exploded:

"【Silver+】??"

"Is Avalon serious???"

"Has there ever been a precedent for offering a 【Silver+】 contract to a newcomer?"

"It seems Avalon is really in need."

"Are they so desperate they’re offering a 【Silver+】 contract? That's practically promoting Ethan straight to vice president!"

"It looks like Ethan is about to be forcefully wedded to Avalon. Would any other guild dare offer such terms to a newcomer? Ethan would be a fool not to accept."

"No, Ethan's mind is a mystery…"

"I can hear Ethan asking, 'What’s a Silver+?'"

"Don't remind me, I already have the voice and picture in my head."

Meanwhile, Ethan, unaware of the discussion, didn't have the means to follow it. He didn't possess a Little Genius phone watch. A raven, perched on a broken window in the stairwell, flapped its wings. Its black "eyes" rotated slowly, dutifully capturing all the footage. The livestream received feeds from cameras tracking each player, allowing viewers to switch between different perspectives.

Ethan's perspective alone had attracted around one million viewers. As Emily, Oliver, and the others disappeared, Ethan looked at Red Riding Hood beside him, his face briefly twisting into a sly, fleeting grin. Red Hood, oblivious, looked up at him with a sweet yet stiff expression.

"Did Ethan just smirk?"

"You must be seeing things. With Ethan’s intellect, how could he show a cunning expression?"

"Underestimating our War God Ethan Two-Hammers from the Rotten District?"

"Switch to Max Turner’s perspective! Something big's happening there!"

As Ethan anticipated, the hanging woman was indeed not in his section. Correspondingly, Max's situation was extremely difficult.

Leading the other four into the stairwell, Max moved cautiously. They heard dripping water but found everything around them bone dry. The Smith brothers were hesitant, but Max urged them not to shrink back.

"We've come this far. It’s do or die now, no turning back!"

Max Turner's resolve was unyielding.

The Smith brothers, stealing their hearts, reluctantly followed.

In the dim and dingy stairwell, the light flickered uncertainly above them.

The residents' security measures, antique sliding iron gates outside their doors, creaked and groaned in the eerie draft.

Thud—

Thud—

Footsteps, neither light nor heavy, echoed from above.

The younger Smith, trembling, succumbed to curiosity, peering upward through the spiraling stair railings...

Only to meet a grotesquely distorted face!

“Ah—”

Screams erupted in the live stream, blood spattering the lens, blurring the image and heightening the viewers' terror.

  • My God!

  • What's happening?!

  • That woman's twisted face! What kind of monster is that?!

  • Damn, it's the Hanging Woman! She's appeared in other instances! She's unstoppable!

  • This is bad, are they all going to get wiped out?

  • No wonder it's a 3S-level extreme difficulty. They've got the Hanging Woman? How are we supposed to play this?!

  • She once wiped out an entire small guild!

Below, Emily, Oliver Wright, and others who stayed behind also switched to Max's perspective.

The camera, with its self-cleaning feature, cleared the blood mist. After adjusting angles, it captured a clearer scene.

The stairwell was littered with blood and flesh. From the footage, it was evident that the younger Smith and two nameless players were eliminated.

The older Smith, drenched in blood, clutched his bracelet, pleading for help.

“Help! Help me!”

His scream was the last thing seen before the frame froze on his grimacing face, silencing the barrage of comments.

On the right side of the stream, several player icons turned gray.

Emily covered her mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Emma Thompson, equally pale, patted her back, trying to soothe her.

Oliver Wright and Grace Evans also showed varied expressions.

Especially Oliver, whose face briefly betrayed a deep solemnity, a stark contrast to his usual lighthearted demeanor.

“Emma, do you think Ethan will be okay?” Emily's voice quivered.

“It'll be fine, he'll make it,” Emma reassured her, stroking her hair and glancing at her bracelet's screen, “Max survived, Ethan has a chance too.”

In contrast to Max's dire situation, Ethan Walker's scenario seemed relatively calm.

He ascended three steps at a time, rushing to the fourth floor.

Little Red Riding Hood followed, almost floating, making no sound.

Reaching the fourth level, Ethan saw the red cloak of Little Red Riding Hood.

The final challenge awaited.

Knowing the camera was still on him, Ethan couldn't just burst in as he usually did, kicking down doors and shouting, “Old thief, your soul reaper has arrived!” swinging his hammer. Not with so many watching.

He knocked politely, like a guest.

“Is anyone there?”

An aged female voice responded after a while.

“Who is it?”

Little Red Riding Hood tiptoed beside him.

“Grandma, it's me! Mom sent me to bring you something!”

Slow footsteps followed.

“Coming, coming.”

An elderly woman in a long robe, her head wrapped in a dark purple scarf, cracked open the door. She peered cautiously at Ethan's smiling face, then, seeing Little Red Riding Hood, her expression softened with affection.

“Dear child, let grandma open the door for you.”

The first security door slid open.

Then the second.

Her cottage, cozy and warm, seemed out of place amidst the building's decay.

But even its warmth was soon to be marred by layers of blood.

Ethan stepped in, introducing Little Red Riding Hood.

“This kind gentleman protected me to grandma's!”

The hunched old lady looked up at Ethan, smiling kindly.

“A good child, indeed.”

Ethan entered the room unflinchingly, the door locking behind him.

Another aged voice echoed inside.

“Who's there?”

Ethan's eyebrows raised slightly.

  • Holy smokes!

  • Isn't that grandma's voice?

  • Why are there two grandmas?!

Previous Chapter
Next Chapter