The mere existence of these two announcements sent shivers down their spines. After jotting down the contents, the five individuals cautiously retreated from the entrance, putting distance between themselves and the management office.
Fortunately, no one emerged to invite them in, nor to expel or attack them.
It was as if the five of them simply didn't exist there.
At a three-way intersection two hundred meters from the management office, the five people squatted down, forming a small circle.
"Alright, the situation is quite clear now. Let's invite Sister Xiaoyu to analyze it for us."
Although Wan Lei had already deduced quite a bit, he willingly ceded the opportunity to shine to Fang Xiaoyu. After all, the previous amusement park had greatly displeased Sister Xiaoyu, leaving her without a chance to showcase her intelligence.
"Okay, I'll begin.
Firstly, let's assume everything the management office's announcements say is true. If so, there are significant problems.
One, the cemetery is only open during the day, yet when we entered, it was already night. Actually, it seems to be perpetually night here.
But that person seemed unfazed and even suggested we return during the day.
Two, everyone entering requires a white armband, which we don't have. Yet, he showed no suspicion whatsoever.
Three, there are no mourners at night. If anyone is encountered at night, they must immediately return here and report to Director Shen, but that person did not.
Four, no one without a white armband is allowed into the management office, especially mysterious individuals like us. Yet, that person directly entered, without even locking the door, and had previously invited us to spend the night at the management office.
Five, every night patrol must consist of at least three people, but he was alone.
Six, picking moon-gazing flowers is prohibited. However, Wan Lei picked one. He merely glanced at it and kicked the moon-gazing flower aside without a hint of regret, which is rather peculiar.
Seven, this person claims to be Director Shen. However, the mourner's notice states that Director Shen is only present on odd-numbered days. The calendar on the desk shows today is May 22nd, which is an even-numbered day. He is definitely not Director Shen.
This person has violated nearly every employee regulation."
"Yes, this person is highly suspect. It's clear he's trying to trick us into entering. I suspect everyone inside is wearing fake white armbands, or perhaps they are genuine white armbands, but the people inside are unaware of that person's existence.
If, as the signpost on the left indicates, entering leads to great danger, then we absolutely cannot go in. This person is deceiving us with malicious intent."
"No, the logic doesn't hold. If we believe the left side and disbelieve the right, then the management office's announcements are rendered pointless."
"Could there be a possibility that they are unable to tamper with any of the cemetery's signs, and must adhere to certain rules? And we, under the protection of these rules."
"But the problem is, there are two sets of rules."
"I suspect everyone here is dead. Whether they wore white or black armbands. It states not to let the incense for the memorial tablets go out. Those memorial tablets might very well be the white armbands, and the tombstones, the resting places of the black armbands."
"That's not important. The current problem is, which side should we trust?"
"The mourner's notice states that if the management office is found to be abnormal, one should immediately leave the cemetery via the small path on the east side, which leads to the back gate.
This aligns with our mission: to pass through the cemetery alive, enter through the front gate, and exit through the back."
"Fortunately, at this three-way intersection, there are no extra options. One leads to the main gate, the way we came. Another leads to the management office. The third goes east. We only need to head east."
"This makes things easy. There's only one path, so no matter which way we go, it's the right way."
Wan Lei and the others stood up, cast a glance at the brightly lit management office, and then, under the moonlight, stealthily proceeded onto the eastern path.
This was the mountaintop, and in any direction, it was downhill.
They thought they would reach their destination on this single path, but after a short while, a fork appeared ahead.
It was a "卜" shaped intersection. One path continued straight ahead along their current route, while the other turned a corner, appearing abruptly to the left of their current path.
On the path going straight, there was a signpost with printed text.
"This road has no forks; it is and only is this one road. If you see a fork, please disregard it and continue forward."
On the signpost to the left, it read:
"Do not believe what the management office says; they all intend to harm you. Trust us, we will lead you out. Go left."
Now, they were in a dilemma again.
"So, whom should we believe? The management office with its printed text, or these mysterious people?"
"Let's trust the management office. After all, we are following their mourner's notice by taking this path."
"But the management office is already highly irregular. It's possible the management office is trying to trick us."
"If it were trying to trick us, why would it put up announcements to warn us? It could have just let us enter the management office.
I think the original management office must have been legitimate, and these signposts were put up by them, but now things are different. The signposts are still valid."
"But all of this is based on the assumption that the signposts are trustworthy."
"Some signposts are trustworthy, and some are not. But these are clues for us, and we need to find the correct path ourselves.
We haven't encountered any danger along the way, so I believe this is a test of our intelligence."
Fang Xiaoyu touched her chin and sighed helplessly.
"Alas, my intelligence isn't quite enough."
Hong Lian suddenly saw Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu looking at the three of them and was slightly taken aback.
"Why are you looking at us? We only have luck bonuses, not intelligence bonuses."
"Then use your luck to tell us which path we should choose."
Hong Lian heard this, squatted down, and carefully examined the two wooden signs. After a moment, she stood up and said,
"The sign on the left is newer, the one on the right is older."
"You're telling me that's your analysis?"
"No, I mean, the one on the right is older, its tone is very official, and the font is neat, clearly put up by the cemetery to remind mourners.
The one on the left is newer, clearly erected later, and the font is handwritten.
I have a strong feeling that the one on the left is meant to deceive us.
It claims they are also trapped here but have found a way out and can let us leave.
Heh, wasn't that the same tactic the little girl in the amusement park used? They want to trick us again.
Besides, what good thing could be suppressed by a graveyard?"
"That's fair enough. We'll listen to you and stick to the management office's sign, and see it through to the end."