"Here it is!"

Gu Yi found a trash can under the bed. He pulled it out and found a folded-up cardboard box inside.

He unfolded the box and spread it out on the floor as quickly as he could.

The sound of footsteps came from behind him.

Gu Yi's heart pounded, his throat went dry, and his palms grew sweaty.

*Could it be that the cardboard box was the wrong answer too?*

Gu Yi slowly turned his head. There was nothing behind him.

He shuddered and slumped to the floor, a cold sweat drenching his back.

"I did it..."

Gu Yi shook his head and lay on the floor, gasping for air.

Just then, the Weird World's notification sound echoed in his ears.

"You have resolved the crisis with your own wisdom and strength. Your Spirit Power has been tempered."

"Your Spirit Power recovery rate has increased."

"You can now end the deduction at any time."

Gu Yi gave a bitter laugh. He clutched his chest and climbed back onto the hospital bed.

A janitor must have put the cardboard box in the trash can when he wasn't looking. If he hadn't discovered this blind spot, he would probably be dead by now.

Drenched in a cold sweat, Gu Yi felt not fear, but an indescribable thrill.

He slapped his cheeks, forcing himself to calm down and analyze the situation.

Gu Yi should have realized it sooner. The clothes weren't the key.

When he first entered the Dungeon, he had hidden the clothes, but that hadn't triggered the 'scared to death by his doppelgänger' ending. This proved that the key to solving the problem was the cardboard box.

"So, why the cardboard box?"

Gu Yi frowned deeply as he stared at the box.

To avoid breaking the "The ward must be kept tidy" rule, Gu Yi finished tidying the clothes and leaned the cardboard box against the corner of the wall.

Gu Yi took out the first note and read the rule on it over and over again.

[There are always two people in the Special Care Ward. Remember this.]

So, following that logic—the cardboard box was actually a person?

And this box had to be taken out and placed on the floor. It couldn't be under the bed or in the trash can, or else it wouldn't be recognized as a "person."

Gu Yi couldn't think of any other explanation.

After eliminating all other possibilities, whatever remained, no matter how absurd, must be the truth.

The cardboard box must have some special meaning in this world, which was why it was considered another occupant of the Special Care Ward.

The ward was locked from the outside, and the fruit knife Gu Yi had kept for self-defense had been confiscated. He could only lie in his room, closing his eyes to rest and recover his Spirit Power.

Once inside the Special Care Ward, there was no way to leave except at specific times.

He leaned against the window and looked out.

The front Plaza was empty, save for the Security Department staff patrolling the grounds.

The owner of the Convenience Store was leisurely playing a game of solitaire by himself.

Beyond the hospital's high walls lay a stretch of barren land, with a straight road extending north until it disappeared over the horizon.

*Even if I managed to climb over the walls, surviving in that wasteland would be no easy feat.*

"Woof woof woof—"

The sound of barking echoed from the Plaza again.

Gu Yi stuck his head out, clinging to the window bars as he searched for the source of the barking.

A large bus had stopped at the hospital's main gate. The sound was clearly coming from inside it.

"Are there that many dog owners in this world?"

Gu Yi remained at the window, observing patiently.

A short while later.

A few Deer-Headed People led the patients they had just selected onto the bus.

Another chorus of barks rose and fell, as if the dogs on the bus were welcoming their masters back.

The bus drove off and disappeared into the distance.

Just then, the broadcast announcement sounded again.

"Today's treatment session has now concluded. All medical staff, please assist the patients in leaving the treatment pods and return them to their respective wards. Dinner time is approaching. All patients, please do not wander off, and do not forget to take your medication on time."

Hearing this, Gu Yi let out a long sigh.

He had managed to scrape by this treatment session, but what would happen when his injuries healed and he was sent back to the treatment room?

There was no time to waste.

He had to find a way to get out of this ward!

Gu Yi sat on his bed thinking for a while before the ward door finally opened. A nurse urged him to leave for the Cafeteria.

Gu Yi nodded, picked up the 3D Glasses, and hid them on his person.

He was lucky during dinner tonight; no patients had a sudden violent episode.

To avoid any unexpected complications, Gu Yi was the first to finish his dinner and leave the Cafeteria, casually stealing a dinner fork on his way out.

Gu Yi sat on a bench outside the Cafeteria and closed his eyes.

(Deduction begins!)

(You decide to steal a key from the nurses' station to prepare for tonight's escape.)

(You walk to the nurses' station.)

(Upon seeing you, a nurse immediately yells at you and even frisks you.)

(Your act of self-harm in the treatment room has made the medical staff more vigilant.)

Theft is never good, try looking at bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

(Nurse: It's dinner time. Why aren't you in the Cafeteria?)

(You: I've already finished.)

(Nurse: Then go sit and rest outside the Cafeteria, or go rest in the Security Department's office.)

(The nurse's attitude is hostile. You stop arguing with her.)

(You avoid the nurse's gaze and go to the hospital map.)

(The map of the first three floors does not show the location of the [Archives Room]. You guess that the [Archives Room], like the [Crematorium], is in the basement.)

(Entering the basement requires the medical elevator. Without an Access Card from the medical staff, you will be unable to explore the basement.)

(You realize you need a doctor's mask.)

(With a Beak Mask, you can move about the Hospital unhindered.)

(After some thought, you decide to steal a doctor's mask first.)

(To avoid the surveillance cameras, you choose to enter the locker room through the bathroom's ventilation duct.)

(You use the fork in your hand to pry open the vent cover.)

(You successfully enter the locker room.)

(You hide behind a locker and wait for an opportunity.)

(You see Doctor Gui again. He is changing out of his work clothes; his shift must be over.)

(You dash out while Doctor Gui is in the shower.)

(The locker's lock is old and in disrepair. You easily break the lock cylinder with your fork.)

(You quickly grab the mask and the Access Card.)

(Doctor Gui: What was that noise?)

(You made too much noise, causing Doctor Gui to run out of the shower.)

(You quickly dive into a locker and hide again.)

(Doctor Gui goes to his locker and discovers his mask is gone.)

(He lets out a strange, panicked cry, hastily throws on some clothes, and rushes out of the locker room to find his mask.)

(You wait a moment before coming out.)

(You turn around, only to find Doctor Gui standing right behind you.)

(Doctor Gui: Why are you in the locker room?)