Global Ghost Stories: I'm Investigating Ghosts in My Nightmare!

Chapter 83 The Ghost Ship's Invitation

After that picnic full of "unexpected" events, the group tacitly reached a consensus—before the next group trip, they must first conduct a "safety risk assessment" of Mo Fei's "secret base" list, led by Lan Ce.

However, that is all a story for later.

To bring this rare team-building activity to a perfect close and to completely wash away the chill that lingered in their souls, An Mu decided to hold the dinner at a newly opened seafood buffet restaurant in the city center.

The restaurant is located on the top floor of the city's most bustling CBD, and boasts huge floor-to-ceiling windows that offer panoramic views of the city's nightscape.

As everyone stepped out of the elevator, they were immediately surrounded by a scene of luxury and hustle and bustle.

Bright yet soft light poured down from the enormous crystal chandelier, illuminating every detail with dazzling brilliance.

The air was filled with the cool, woody scent of high-end aromatherapy, and the various ingredients released an enticing aroma after being carefully cooked.

Waiters in sharp uniforms flitted among the elegantly dressed guests like graceful butterflies, while in the open kitchen in the distance, chefs were carrying out a series of artistic culinary performances with great efficiency.

"I declare this place to be paradise!" Mo Fei opened his arms wide, like a monarch about to embrace his kingdom, took a deep breath of the alluring air, and showed an expression of utter ecstasy on his face.

His imposing physique seemed somewhat out of place among the well-dressed business elites around him, but his genuine joy and composure made him a unique sight in this luxurious space.

“According to data from Dianping.com, the average cost per person at this restaurant is 1998 yuan, with food costs accounting for approximately 42.3%. The main profit comes from drinks and additional services. From a return on investment perspective, our goal should be to consume more than 3,000 yuan worth of food without spending any extra on drinks in order to theoretically achieve ‘profitability’ for this consumption.” Lan Ce pushed up his black-rimmed glasses, his eyes behind the lenses flashing with calm and rational light. He had quickly entered the calculation mode of “optimal cost-effectiveness”.

"Alright, alright, bookworm, today we're not talking about theory, we're talking about practice!" Mo Fei grabbed Lan Ce's shoulder and forcibly dragged him toward the ice table filled with all sorts of fresh seafood. "Today, I'll show you, this lazy bum who knows nothing about farming, what a real 'food guide' looks like!"

In the time that followed, Mo Fei transformed into a passionate and professional culinary guide. He was no longer the brute who only knew how to solve problems with brute force, but a connoisseur with a deep understanding of ingredients.

"Look at this Boston lobster. Its shell is brightly colored, its joints are tightly connected, and its antennae are very responsive, which shows that it is extremely vigorous. The best way to cook this kind of lobster is steamed with garlic, which can preserve the sweetness of its meat to the maximum extent, and use the aroma of garlic to enhance the overall flavor."

"And this geoduck, you have to choose one with a clean shell and a strong, elastic siphon. Slice it thinly, dip it in boiling broth for three seconds, and the moment it enters your mouth, the unique crispness and freshness will absolutely make you forget all those damn calories you were counting."

While giving a lively demonstration, he skillfully used tongs to sweep the still-living seafood into a plate.

That passion and focus on food infected even Lan Ce, who always believed only in data. Although he was still complaining about the "purine content in crustaceans" and the "heavy metal accumulation effect", his body was honestly following behind Mo Fei, silently remembering every point he made.

Anmu, like a kind patriarch, didn't participate in the "food war." Instead, he found a quiet corner and got some fruit and dessert for everyone. He watched as the two team members, who usually argued incessantly, now worked together seamlessly, and a gratified smile appeared on his face.

His gaze finally settled on the two figures walking side by side not far away.

Bai Yu and Lu Yueqi didn't go to the seafood section to squeeze in with Mo Fei and the others. Bai Yu had just recovered and wasn't suited to eating too much raw or cold food. He led Lu Yueqi to the Japanese food section instead. The atmosphere there was much quieter. A master chef dressed in a traditional kimono was standing behind the sushi counter, creating dishes with his calloused, skillful hands.

Lu Yueqi, like a curious child, leaned over the glass counter, gazing at the sashimi that was prepared like works of art, her eyes sparkling.

"Baiyu, look at that, doesn't it look like a piece of pink crystal?" She pointed to a piece of tuna belly that was cut into even slices and whispered to Baiyu beside her.

Bai Yu followed her finger and nodded, replying gently, "Yes, that's the most exquisite part of the bluefin tuna. It melts in your mouth, and the aroma of the oil explodes instantly in your mouth."

Instead of getting the expensive sashimi, he ordered a warm eel rice bowl and a steaming bowl of miso soup for Lu Yueqi. Then, he got himself a few plates of relatively mildly prepared Arctic surf clam and sweet shrimp sushi.

Lu Yueqi glanced at his handsome profile, which appeared refined under the soft light, and lowered her head somewhat shyly. She used her chopsticks to stir the glistening eel in her bowl, soaked in sauce, and whispered, "Thank you..."

"No need," Bai Yu replied simply.

When everyone returned to their seats, satisfied with their mountain of "spoils," a grand feast filled with laughter and joy officially began.

"Come on! To our perfect team building activity! Cheers!" Mo Fei raised his glass full of orange juice and said with great enthusiasm.

"cheers!"

The crisp sound of glass clashing echoed in the private room.

They enjoyed the hard-won delicious food while chatting about all sorts of things.

They talked about their embarrassing childhood stories, their awkward memories of their student days, and even their expectations and plans for the future.

Under the influence of delicious food, everyone revealed their most authentic selves.

Mo Fei admitted that he was actually a little afraid of heights, which was why he had never dared to ride the sightseeing elevator at headquarters.

Lanze confessed that his biggest dream was actually to open a cat cafe, surrounded by a group of furry "masters" every day.

Even An Mu, who is usually serious, revealed that when he was young, he spent a whole month writing a Tetris game just for a girl in order to win her over.

Bai Yu remained a quiet listener most of the time, but his eyes were filled with a warm smile.

Looking at his companions, who had such different personalities but were willing to show each other their most vulnerable side without reservation, a smile appeared on his lips.

Just as the warm atmosphere reached its peak, a young girl in a restaurant waitress uniform politely approached their private room with a stack of flyers.

"Excuse me, esteemed guests," the girl's voice was sweet. "We've recently opened an immersive experience center on the second basement level of our mall. This is a joint promotion with our restaurant, and all customers who dine at our restaurant can enjoy a 20% discount upon presentation of their receipt. Here is our promotional flyer; please feel free to take a look if you're interested."

As she spoke, she handed the flyer in her hand to Lu Yueqi, who was closest to the door.

"Oh, okay, thank you." Lu Yueqi politely accepted it.

She had only intended to glance at it casually, but when her gaze fell upon the mysterious design of the flyer, her bright eyes were instantly ignited with curiosity.

It was a flyer designed to look like an old parchment, with the edges of the paper showing signs of being soaked in seawater and burned by flames.

At the very top of the flyer, in Gothic-style cursive script, it read: "Ghost Ship: The Curse of the Black Sails".

Below that line of large text is a bizarre logo consisting of a rusty anchor and a skull entangled in seaweed.

The center of the flyer features a hand-drawn charcoal illustration.

In the painting, a massive three-masted sailing ship appears and disappears amidst towering waves on a stormy night filled with lightning and thunder. On the deck, some eerie figures dressed in tattered sailor uniforms can be vaguely seen.

"Wow! It's a haunted house!" Lu Yueqi exclaimed softly, her professional instincts as a paranormal anchor instantly activated. "It's a ghost ship theme! It looks so exciting!"

"Tch, what haunted house? Isn't it just a bunch of staff in cheap costumes pretending to be ghosts?" Mo Fei curled his lip in disdain. "You'd be better off going to the gym and doing a couple more sets of bench presses."

"According to psychological research, the reason why humans are enthusiastic about entertainment projects like 'haunted houses' is essentially a behavior of seeking controllable fear stimulation within a safe range, thereby releasing the stress accumulated in daily life. But for people like us who deal with real fear year-round, the amount of dopamine released by this artificial stimulation is even less than solving a complex math problem." Lan Ce pushed up his glasses and mercilessly criticized this "childish" entertainment project in his usual scientific tone.

An Mu nodded in agreement: "We just finished a high-intensity mission, and everyone needs time to recover, both physically and mentally. I don't recommend going to places that are likely to cause mental stress."

Hearing what everyone said, the small flame that had just ignited in Lu Yueqi's eyes dimmed uncontrollably.

She gave a somewhat disappointed "oh" and silently put the flyer in her hand aside.

Compared to the real horrors they experienced, these commercialized haunted houses certainly seem child's play. And everyone really needs a good rest.

Bai Yu watched the changes in her expression.

Perhaps I should also satisfy her ordinary curiosity.

Thinking of this, Bai Yu slowly put down her chopsticks.

Amidst everyone's somewhat surprised gazes, he picked up the flyer that Lu Yueqi had placed aside and examined it carefully. Then, he looked up and slowly said, "Since you're full, why don't you go for a walk?"

He paused, then turned his gaze to the girl who had suddenly raised her head and whose eyes had regained their light because of his words.

"I'm also a little interested in this haunted house."

Bai Yu's words caused the air in the entire private room to freeze for a moment.

Mo Fei and Lan Ce exchanged a glance, they could hardly believe that these words would come from Bai Yu, who always looked down on such "boring" entertainment.

An Mu's brows furrowed subconsciously. His first reaction was still worry, but he swallowed back the words of advice that were about to come out.

He could sense that Bai Yu was truly different today. He was no longer the cold machine that shut himself off from all emotions; he was beginning to learn to feel, to respond, and to have his own interests like a normal person.

Perhaps... this is a good thing?
In the end, An Mu nodded, tacitly approving of Bai Yu's decision.

A minor disagreement was eventually resolved into a consensus.

After paying the bill, everyone walked out of the bustling and warm buffet restaurant together.

The team briefly parted ways at the entrance of the mall.

Mo Fei wailed that he was going to the gym to burn off all the "sin" he had consumed that night.

Lanze, on the other hand, was going to the municipal library to look up some ancient books on "structural concepts".

An Mu, however, had to return first because there were still some follow-up reports from the bureau regarding the previous picnic incident that needed to be processed.

So, in this vast city nightscape, only Bai Yu and Lu Yueqi remained, walking side by side toward the "ghost ship" located in the mall's underground.

"Be careful and keep your communication channels open." Before getting into the car, An Mu couldn't help but walk over to Bai Yu and whisper his advice.

"Don't worry, Captain." Bai Yu nodded. "It's just a haunted house."

……

Unlike the modern and luxurious shopping mall upstairs, the second basement level has been transformed into a retro and mysterious "otherworld." Dim lighting, exposed red brick walls, and the faint dry ice smoke in the air create a perfectly fitting atmosphere.

The entrance to the haunted house is designed as a dilapidated ship's prow. The weathered wooden hull is covered with moss and barnacles, and several tattered fishing nets hang from the gunwales, with a few lifelike skull models hanging on them.

A long queue formed outside the haunted house, mostly young couples and students seeking thrills. Their faces wore expressions of excitement and tension, and the air was filled with hushed conversations and screams that occasionally emanated from inside the house.

Lu Yueqi followed closely behind Bai Yu, her hand unconsciously gripping the hem of Bai Yu's clothes.

Her face bore the same expression as the other tourists around her, a mixture of anticipation for the unknown adventure to come and an instinctive tremor of fear.

Bai Yu, however, seemed completely out of place in this noisy and tense atmosphere. His expression remained calm as he calmly observed everything around him.

After queuing for nearly twenty minutes, they finally bought their tickets.

The ticket seller, dressed in tattered pirate attire and with realistic skull makeup on his face, smiled at them with a voice as hoarse as if corroded by sea salt: "Welcome aboard, gentlemen. Have a pleasant journey."

The two walked one after the other into the endless darkness of the "cabin".

The moment I stepped inside, the temperature around me dropped several degrees, as if I had suddenly been transported from a hot summer night to a cold ocean.

The interior of the haunted house was extremely dark, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. The sound effects were professionally enhanced, including oppressive storm noises, the roar of waves crashing against the ship, and the creaking of the ship's planks under the strain, creating an immersive experience.

They could only rely on the path guided by faint fluorescent strips under their feet, groping their way forward in this unknown darkness.

They passed through cramped cabins set up as sailors' quarters, where silicone "corpses" would sit up from their beds without warning.

They walked through a narrow corridor covered with tattered fishing nets, from which pale hands would suddenly reach out and try to grab their ankles.

Every now and then, some NPCs dressed in tattered sailor uniforms would suddenly jump out from the corners hidden in the darkness, letting out a shrill scream.

Lu Yueqi practically screamed her way over. Her petite body resembled a frightened koala, almost clinging to Bai Yu. Yet, her screams carried an undisguised excitement and a sense of exhilarating release.

Bai Yu, on the other hand, was like an unshakeable iceberg. No matter what unexpected situation occurred around him, his steps remained steady. He simply used his body to firmly protect the girl, who had already closed her eyes in fear, behind him, shielding her from most of the "physical attacks" coming from the front.

However, just as they were about to enter the "captain's cabin" after their "frightening" journey, Bai Yu suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yueqi felt the person in front of her stop. She peeked half her head out from behind Bai Yu's arm and asked in a low voice with some confusion.

Bai did not answer.

He merely frowned slightly, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.

He noticed something was wrong.

The surrounding air seemed to have become even more damp and cold without anyone noticing. The sea breeze, now filled with a salty smell, was no longer the dry airflow produced by the blower, but carried a chilling dampness that could seep into one's bones.

The stench of decay in the air grew stronger and more real, as if countless rotting corpses were indeed piled up in some unknown corner of the ship.

The most significant change was that the solid concrete ground beneath their feet was now rhythmically swaying, like a ship truly sailing on the sea.

Lu Yueqi finally noticed the unusual situation. She gently tugged at Bai Yu's arm and asked in a low voice, "Bai Yu... isn't it a little too quiet here?"

Yes, it's too quiet.

The screams and laughter from other tourists had completely disappeared at some point.

They seemed to be completely isolated from the world, trapped on this lonely ghost ship sailing in unknown waters.

Bai Yu didn't answer, but instead pulled Lu Yueqi even closer to her back.

They "won the lottery" again.

Just then, at the other end of the dark corridor leading to the "captain's cabin," an old kerosene lamp hanging on the wall suddenly lit up without warning.

The dim, flickering light barely dispelled a small patch of darkness, illuminating the captain's cabin door, which was made of heavy oak.

Under the dim light, a tall, dark silhouette wearing a captain's hat etched with the marks of time flashed past the door, like a ghost that had been waiting for them for a long time.

Immediately afterwards, an ancient boat song filled with endless sorrow, like a collective chant of souls from the deep sea, began to echo in the empty ears of the two of them without warning.

"...Raise the black sails...and sail towards the endless ocean..."

"...Let go of the past...bury all memories..."

"...We are forgotten souls of the sea...forever...wandering...on this boundless blue..."

(End of this chapter)