SCP Corporation: Contain Bonfire
Chapter 177 - 177 177 Investigating Black Forest Subway

Chapter 177: Chapter 177 Investigating “Black Forest Subway Station”_1 Chapter 177: Chapter 177 Investigating “Black Forest Subway Station”_1 Huh? Black Forest Subway Station?

Colin paused for a moment when he read the name because, not long ago, he had boarded the “Mist Train” there.

But he hadn’t expected that there was something off about this damned place.

Wait, Colin suddenly remembered something, and an overview of the “Mist Train” came to mind: an old train that might appear at various abnormal locations, always shrouded in disquieting grey fog when it did.

“Fuck! I didn’t even notice that detail, thinking the train was deliberately waiting for me to board. Turns out it wasn’t, which means that subway station already had issues at that time?”

Colin had a moment of sudden realization.

However, when he went to the subway station back then, he didn’t notice anything peculiar.

There were only two possibilities for this, the first being that things weren’t too serious at the time, everything was still in a hidden phase, and since his attention wasn’t focused there, he didn’t notice…

The second possibility was that the place was more dangerous than he had imagined, which was why he noticed nothing.

Colin felt the former was unlikely because based on current observations, dangers at the train’s destinations were already formed, whether it was that prairie or the town later…

So the second possibility seemed to be the greater one.

“Damn it, this is definitely not your typical entry-level task. I’ve heard them say normal entry-level tasks are very easy; not something that looks complex like this…”

Colin felt like refusing the task. He knew that since he hadn’t accepted the job yet, he could decline and wait for a new task in a few days.

But if he refused, they might realize something was off with him.

After some thought, he decided not to go through with it.

“With my current strength, I can walk sideways among D Level, I should be fine if I’m careful.”

Colin reassured himself internally.

Then, he unfolded the parchment, and the familiar interface appeared before him, only aside from the “Mission” section, everything else was dull and grey, clearly in an inactive state.

Based on Colin’s experience, other features like the “Storage Room” would be unlocked after completing the induction trial.

Without overthinking, he opened the only softly flickering[Mission]tab and saw the specific content of the entry trial.

[Entry Trial—”Investigate the third level of the large abandoned sewer beneath Black Forest Subway Station.”]

[Description: A large sewer whose existence is unreasonable, seemingly undergoing unpredictable changes due to some leakage.]

[Event One: Please collaborate with other new recruits to enter the third level of the large sewer for investigation. Current progress 0%.]

[Participants: 3 people.]

“Note: Upon completion of this event, the next chain mission will be issued based on the results of the investigation.”

…

“A team mission with three people? Uncommon, yet it doesn’t seem too special. What’s puzzling is what lies inside. I feel like Lady Bunny specifically sent me this mission, so it’s probably somewhat challenging. But then, why add two new teammates if that’s the case?”

Just as Colin had this thought, he suddenly recalled that Bonfire Company had the habit of forming teams to strengthen the signal.

If this mission’s difficulty was high, then it’s likely they’d do the same…

Of course, it’s also possible that the mission just looks a bit strange and nothing else.

“Speaking of which, would a subway station really be built next to a large sewer? Isn’t that too weird?”

Colin felt something was not quite right, but he wasn’t knowledgeable about subway systems, nor was he certain whether such city planning was appropriate.

However, he didn’t have much time to ponder as his heart skipped a beat, his vision suddenly blurred, and then he almost leapt out of his wheelchair.

That was because he abruptly saw that the entire room was filled with countless pairs of densely packed eyes; these eyes were fixed in every corner of the room, their gaze on everyone present.

What was even more disturbing to Colin was that the woman inside the room was covered with tightly packed eyes that swept over everyone one by one.

But this eerie scene arrived as suddenly as it had disappeared.

By the time Colin blinked, everything had returned to normal…

“All set,” the woman sitting motionless in her chair from the beginning smiled and then pressed a button.

“Ding-a-ling.”

The clear ring of a bell sounded from inside the hall, followed by footsteps outside, and Colin saw Qin Chuan and others walking in again.

“This feels just like waiting outside the school for parents picking up their kids.”

Colin muttered to himself and then continued to be wheeled out, and before leaving the hall, he caught a glimpse in the corner of his eye of the woman still sitting there motionless with a smile, and after leaving, there came the sound of chains, as if something was being tied up.

“That woman’s status is really bad, feels like she could lose control any moment…”

Thoughts churned in Colin’s head, and at this moment, Qin Chuan who was pushing him said, “If all goes as expected, we’ll be colleagues soon. It’s my first time leading a team, but it shouldn’t be a problem; everyone assigned to this leadership mission is elite, and I’m no exception.”

Uh, is it really appropriate for you to boast about yourself like this when you can’t even cook a meal without burning it?

Colin uttered a noncommittal “hmm” without responding, and Qin Chuan continued, “By the way, what was the task you received?”

“It was something like this…”

Colin didn’t conceal it and showed Qin Chuan the content on the “small” parchment scroll, but as soon as he finished looking, Qin Chuan couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

“What’s wrong?”

“No, not quite sure, just feels a bit off. Hold on, let me ask.”

After speaking, Qin Chuan walked to the side with a puzzled face and started talking into his earpiece, and it was several minutes before he came back over.

Before Colin could ask, he took the initiative to say, “We need to double-check the situation with Black Forest Subway Station, the results will be in shortly, I shouldn’t speculate without them. Also, regarding your other two teammates,

“They’re also people from this batch, right over there, let’s go meet them.”

He gestured toward a nearby spot where a group had gathered, among them two with remarkably grim physical appearances—one was the burn victim Colin had shared a ride with recently, the other a middle-aged man he hadn’t seen before, wearing a mask and coughing occasionally, his complexion ashen.

When Colin arrived, one of the official attendants looked puzzled and said, “Xiao Chuan, since when did Black Forest Subway Station have a sewer? I’m in charge of this area, and I’ve heard nothing about it.

“And besides, a subway station isn’t likely to be built with a large sewer system, right?”

Hearing this, Colin suddenly remembered the task description for this place, “a large sewer system that doesn’t make sense.”

“No idea, I’m an art student, asking me about this is off-topic. But, we’ll know when it’s confirmed by the authorities in a bit.”

Qin Chuan joked, “Maybe it was those German folks who built a sewer system a hundred years ago; if you dig around, you might even find a German engineer wrapped up in oilcloth.”

As the several people chatted, a dozen minutes swiftly passed.

Then, the few who were waiting soon received a message—

There indeed was no such thing as a large sewer system in that place, but just as relevant, someone had reported the discovery of a strange entrance inside the subway station.