A calculated prank! A meticulously orchestrated deception of the vilest kind!
A chill coursed down Su Jin's spine as this unsettling thought abruptly surfaced in his mind.
The inexplicable contents and the mysterious package could hardly be the result of a bungled delivery from some assassin syndicate.
The self-igniting paper was unsettling, yet not beyond reason.
Perhaps it was some advanced magical parchment—igniting spontaneously upon prolonged contact with skin.
But why on earth would someone send a genuine firearm? What sinister purpose lay behind this?
Could it be that client, Old Wang?
Impossible! That fool just moments ago demanded that Su Jin call and apologize.
A prickling unease crawled across Su Jin's scalp as a torrent of cinematic scenes flashed through his mind—
Rich elites scheming in shadows, manipulating and toying with ordinary lives.
Perhaps soon, a handful of men would emerge, dragging him to some remote lair, where upon awakening, he'd be forced to survive in the wilderness.
"D*mn it!"
He muttered under his breath, decisively dialing the police.
"Beep… beep… beep…"
The ringing persisted. Su Jin's lips grew parched, and anxiety churned within as he rehearsed his words.
At last, the call connected. Without hesitation, he spoke.
"Hello! This is—"
"Greetings, this is—"
The female voice abruptly cut off mid-sentence, replaced by a chilling mechanical tone reverberating inside Su Jin's head.
"Do not disclose any company information by any means. Repeat offenses will incur severe penalties. Please don the mask immediately and prepare accordingly."
Beep—
Amid the jarring static, Su Jin's sharp senses detected something amiss... his pupils dilated, becoming unfocused.
Bizarre! Things were growing increasingly surreal.
While a disconnected call might be explained by technology, the mechanical voice and ensuing static were utterly dissonant.
The call began with a normal human voice, but the robotic sound seemed to emanate directly within his mind.
His seven-year-old Xiaomi 6 could not produce such immersive stereo effects.
Was he dreaming?
Numbly, Su Jin opened his phone's media app, selecting a film marked by a blue dot.
Soon, lewd sounds emanated from the device. Watching for a while, his expression remained impassive as he closed the phone, rapidly discarding his prior assumptions.
No, that wasn't right.
Ichinichi Onsen Date—he hadn't reviewed this after last night due to dehydration from a hectic evening.
Though that company often recycled props and scenes, and the genre was dated,
This was the newest film of his favorite director, their first hot spring series—dreams couldn't fabricate such rich detail.
With a melancholic gaze, Su Jin stepped back and collapsed onto his chair.
A glance caught his eye—his pupils contracted sharply.
The corner of the job recruitment page on his computer gleamed with the words Heavenly Duty Unlimited Company!
No… was that the popup from earlier?
Quickly seizing the mouse, Su Jin moved the cursor to the page—but before he could click, the entire webpage vanished instantly.
Flustered, he frantically began typing to search.
No trace of the company... as if it had never existed.
His face clouded with confusion. Exhaling deeply, he squeezed his eyes shut, fingers threading through his hair.
What on earth was happening... could he still escape?
No. He was already targeted by some organization. Fleeing blindly now would only invite worse consequences.
Moments later, he raised his head and slowly reached for the transparent mask carelessly set aside.
No matter how he examined it, it appeared an ordinary plastic mask. The voice on the phone had urged him to wear it…
Frowning, he scrutinized it for minutes, then cautiously pressed it against his face.
The instant it touched his skin, a frigid sensation enveloped his entire face, and the mask vanished without a trace!
His fingers felt only his bare skin.
Before he could react, his attention was snatched away by an astonishing sight.
A line of ever-shifting digits appeared in his vision.
1:32:11
1:32:10...
Su Jin's eyes widened, frozen for ten seconds, before sinking into his chair, his chest heaving.
The room was silent save for his pounding heartbeat and the soft hum of the computer fan.
Coming to his senses, he dashed to the bathroom mirror.
Fretting, he anxiously grasped his jawline, trying to remove the vanished mask.
After futile attempts until his cheek reddened, he gave up and studied himself.
Apart from the numbers and the twitching eyelids, everything seemed normal.
This wasn't some billionaire's game—this was unmistakably a brush with the supernatural!
Gritting his teeth, Su Jin turned on the faucet and splashed cold water onto his face.
Calm… he had to think clearly!
The strange object embedded in him—good or ill—was impossible to discern now, and he couldn't remove it anyway.
If the mask was extraordinary, then the pistol and briefcase surely held their own mysteries.
He decided to inspect those next.
...
00:59:23
00:59:22...
Over half an hour had passed.
Sitting quietly on his bed, Su Jin faced the briefcase and pistol.
It was hard to say he had regained composure; the barrage of anomalies had thoroughly shattered his understanding.
The mask remained irretrievable.
The two items on the bed were equally enigmatic.
The pistol eluded any online trace, its magazine inseparable, and the single bullet fired had left no casing or projectile—rendering further testing impossible.
The briefcase was even more peculiar; touching its base evoked a strange synesthetic sensation, and it concealed nearly a cubic meter of space—though invisible to the naked eye.
He tried storing several items inside, retrieving them effortlessly. Truly, it was a treasure out of fiction—only bulky objects could not fit.
In another time, he would have been ecstatic to acquire such a marvel. Now, he lacked the spirit.
The more wondrous the object, the heavier the psychological burden.
Dying world,apocalypse—each phrase pressed like a stone on his bladder.
The situation far exceeded his comprehension, and time to ponder was scarce.
What should he do? Prepare as the notice instructed?
After hesitation, Su Jin reluctantly lifted his phone.
...
Half an hour later.
His modest rental was piled with supplies ordered via delivery.
Surveying the chaotic room, a sour pang twisted in his chest.
He had considered escape, but the numbers haunted his vision relentlessly.
Having encountered the supernatural, his best choice was to brace himself calmly; reckless attempts would only hasten demise.
00:31:09
00:31:08...
Carefully sorting the provisions.
Seated before his computer, Su Jin gasped, purchasing a life insurance policy with his parents as beneficiaries—claimable after two years of disappearance.
He also secured a loan from a reputable platform, totaling under 170,000 yuan.
Online, he established a 150,000-yuan donation agreement to his parents, minimizing risk of recovery actions.
He reserved 10,000 yuan for six months' rent to the landlord, adding a polite note requesting no disturbances; the remainder was converted to cash and kept on his person.
Finally, he cleared his browsing history.
With everything set, Su Jin solemnly dialed home.
Soon, his mother's indistinct voice sounded, "Son, why are you calling so late? Haven't you slept yet?"
"Ah, I transferred some money to you and Dad. Check if it arrived."
"Money… what? 150,000 yuan? Where did you get that?" His mother's voice sharpened, followed faintly by his father's.
Su Jin forced a smile, voice tinged with excitement. "Good news! A company hired me; Manager Li gave me a bonus to keep me. I don't need this money now, so you and Dad take it—spend it as you like."
"Really? Our son is making it! I was so scared earlier, thinking it was dirty money." His mother sounded relieved.
"Of course not. I've never gone down the wrong path. Manager Li just transferred it. I'm happy, but I forgot you two were sleeping. Um… there's a big project coming up. I'll be working overtime for months, so don't call me—wait for me to reach out."
"Son!" his father's voice echoed. "Overtime's fine, but don't overdo it! Don't lose your head just because they pay more. They want you to work harder, but just show them your best."
"Got it. You two get some rest. I have to get to the office early tomorrow."
After hanging up, Su Jin bowed his head and sighed deeply.
He had done all he could.
If misfortune befell him, at least he had fulfilled his filial duty.
...
00:00:12
00:00:11
00:00:10
In the final ten seconds, Su Jin stared intently at the clock, hand gripping the pistol concealed in his coat pocket.
3, 2, 1, 0!
Time reached zero. Su Jin's pupils contracted sharply as a dazzling point of light burst before him.
Under his stunned gaze, the light rapidly expanded, transforming into a radiant golden portal.
Blinking hard to regain focus, Su Jin shook off his shock.
A miracle! A true miracle!
Was this the work of extraterrestrials or divine beings?
The portal remained motionless; as long as he did not enter, nothing should happen. Maybe he could test it with his phone first?
"F*ck!"
Just as he thought this, Su Jin's eyes widened in terror as the portal lunged forward, engulfing him instantly...