nycdaug Chapter 218 The Rules of the Fox's Zoo
Chapter 218 The Rules of the Fox's Zoo
"...In short, let's take stock of the current situation."
At the tables in the Tiger Park, magical girls sat around round tables, calmly looking at the flyers in their hands.
Hyacinth, being the most experienced person in dealing with Heart Moon Fox, is trying to analyze the current situation for everyone.
"We're trapped in this zoo illusion. If nothing unexpected happens, this should be the mental world of Heart Moon Fox."
"The world of mental images?!"
"Then wouldn't we be...?"
Bai Lili and Mai Sui were both startled. These two veterans were clearly aware of the power of the Mind World, and the latter had even been enveloped by the Mind World of Xin Yuehu once, with the magical mouse adventure still fresh in her mind.
"Is Xin Yuehu going to turn us into rats again?"
Wheat stalks said subconsciously,
"But if that's the case, wouldn't we be facing a hunt from all the animals in the zoo?"
"..."
The iris and the nightingale exchanged a glance, each imagining the scene they would encounter later, and both shuddered.
"But we haven't turned into rats yet, and Xin Yuehu won't keep using the same magic. Maybe this time the barrier will be simpler and easier."
Hyacinth shared her speculation.
Bai Lili remained silent, intently examining the flyer in her hand.
The flyer had a map of the zoo printed on the front and several lines of precautions on the back, but the text on it made Bai Lili feel a strong sense of unease:
Please be sure to follow these rules, otherwise, I, Fox, cannot guarantee your safety!
[1. This zoo was converted from the Guangzhou Wildlife Park using a protective barrier. All the terrain is exactly the same as the original zoo. Please strictly follow the map you have. If you see a building that is not on the map, please pretend you didn't see it and move away immediately.]
[2. The zoo provides helpful illustrations and depictions of the wild ecology for all animals. Please ensure that the animal you are looking at matches the one on the display board. If it does not match the one on the display board, please stop observing the animal and immediately go to the nearest toy store to buy at least one fox plush pillow.]
Seeing this, Bai Lili couldn't help but turn her head and glance at the tiger lying on the lawn in the enclosure not far away, basking in the sun and resting. Several tourists were taking pictures of it, and a tour guide was standing in front of the display board with the children, introducing the tiger's habits.
The girl involuntarily got up, walked to the tiger enclosure display board, and stared intently at the photo of the tiger lying lazily on the board, which looked quite fierce.
"This park showcases a rare white tiger population in China. Their eyes appear deep red due to a lack of melanin, which is caused by the reflection of blood vessels in the retina."
The display board provided detailed explanations, and Bai Lili tilted her head, somewhat puzzled.
Strange, why are the precautions on this flyer so subtle?
What exactly did Xin Yuehu do in the world of mental images, and why did she describe the contents of the flyer in such a way...?
The girl looked up and glanced at the lazy tiger on the lawn.
But the tiger suddenly raised its head and yawned, seemingly casually casting its gaze at her. Those heterochromatic yellow-green feline eyes sent a chill down Bai Lili's spine.
These eyes... I know them all too well!
But the tiger didn't linger on him. It quickly turned its gaze in the next direction, and even stood up and walked towards the tourists, sitting there and licking its paws.
"Bai Lili, what are you looking at here?"
Hyacinth walked over and spoke to Lily, who was standing there in a daze, while glancing at the white tiger that had started pacing around the edge of the field.
"Oh? It's this big tiger. White tigers are quite rare, and its eyes are definitely red."
"red?……"
Bai Lili muttered to herself in a daze, her gaze toward the tiger becoming even more eerie.
"We're getting ready to go. Violet found another flyer that says there might be some clues near the panda enclosure. We're planning to go check it out."
"Ah... well, let's go then..."
Bai Lili silently shook her head, pretending that her eyes were playing tricks on her, and followed Nan Xiaofeng back to the group, her mind still replaying that fleeting glimpse of the tiger.
However, she did not notice the following lines of text on the flyer:
[3. If you encounter the events mentioned in point 2 during the tour and do not immediately purchase a fox toy at the toy store, please ensure that all your companions are within your sight for the remainder of the tour.]
4. If you find any tiger merchandise in the shop without having purchased a fox toy, please make sure you have at least one companion with you.
[5. If you have violated any of the above rules and find yourself lost, please find the nearest nearby store within ten minutes, pick up a fox tail pillow from the store and hold it tightly to your chest, and at the same time do everything you can to get to the nearest fox enclosure and stay there for at least thirty minutes.]
[6. During the 30-minute period described in point 5, there may be no other tourists around you, but please do not panic. You must hold onto the fox tail pillow tightly. You can leave when other tourists or companions reappear around you, and please continue to hold onto the fox tail pillow during the rest of the tour.]
7. If you do not stay in the fox enclosure for more than 30 minutes, or if you lose your tail pillow afterward, please stay away from any staff member in pink who tries to serve you. If you speak with such a staff member, the park cannot guarantee your safety.
8. No matter what, fox merchandise and fox tail pillows can provide you with security and protection. If you encounter any inexplicable events, please go to the nearest merchandise store and buy fox merchandise and pillows.
9. Be wary of friends you've lost touch with, especially if they don't have any fox merchandise or tail pillows.
[10. If the friend mentioned in point 9 wants to take your merchandise or pillow, please refuse immediately and ask the nearest staff member for help.]
As long as you follow the rules above, you can have a pleasant zoo trip. Please pay attention to safety, and we wish you a successful trip and lots of fun with your friends!
……
"Iris, have you seen the instructions on this flyer?"
On the way to the panda park, Nightingale poked the iris next to her and said something.
The pristine white magical girl paused slightly, then nodded.
"Yes, I've read it all. It must be a hint from Xinyuehu."
"Still her usual style~" Nightingale shrugged helplessly.
"They always make it so mysterious, and this time it's even more eerie... It's kind of creepy."
"I think it's alright," Iris said with a wry smile.
Rules of the strange... Xin Yuehu's ways of playing are truly diverse.
As a literary girl, Karin naturally had some knowledge of these kinds of horror stories, and had read quite a few of the "rule-based ghost stories," so she knew exactly what kind of formula this was.
Although these rules seem bizarre, according to the rules of the strange tales, as long as you strictly follow the rules, you can leave this zoo and even break the illusion of this barrier in one fell swoop.
"Anyway, let's act together in a bit."
"Um."
The two girls nodded. Hyacinth, who was walking beside them, also heard this. She glanced at them silently, then looked at Violet and her group walking ahead.
Those girls... seem completely unaware of just how dangerous Xin Yuehu's mental world is...