# Chapter 711: The Riddle of the Sphinx
The Duchess's proposal seemed decent on the surface, but the risks were higher than simply entering an instance.
Unlike Ran Ying, the Duchess was not a player. Although she was deliberately trying to win over players, she didn't have a clear understanding of the true situation within the game. Entering a C-grade instance was possible, but whether a teammate would stab you in the back or dig a pit for you was hard to say.
Besides, Xu Huo only wanted to maintain a superficial friendly relationship with the nobles of District 011.
"I'll stick to my original plan and go to a D-grade instance," Xu Huo said.
After breakfast, the Duchess left. Xu Huo was planning to try out his new prop again when he unexpectedly found Dr. Deng had arrived once more.
This time, he had changed his appearance, disguised as a visiting gardener.
As soon as he saw Xu Huo, he tore off the face mask, revealing a swollen red face. "I can't stay in District 011 anymore."
Xu Huo looked at him without surprise. "You can leave using a ticket."
"I've never managed to get a Non-Player Ticket, and now it's even more impossible," Dr. Deng said. "If I want to leave, I'd have to use a Player Ticket."
He wouldn't survive the journey on the train long enough to get off.
"You could use the same method. Many players are interested in the Perfect Evolution Potion," Xu Huo said.
Dr. Deng sighed helplessly. "Not just any player will do."
First, they needed to have some understanding of the Perfect Evolution Potion. Second, they needed sufficient wealth—at least enough to support his research. Most importantly, they had to be reasonable people, or else things could go wrong at any moment.
"The people from Rongxin Group are too formidable," he added. "I was very careful, but I still got targeted. The player I was in contact with had murderous intent. If I hadn't temporarily diverted his attention with a vague clue, I probably wouldn't have escaped alive."
"Why not cooperate with Rongxin?" Xu Huo said. "They have more power than the people you allied with back on Sayre Coast."
"Rongxin has too many talented people," Dr. Deng said clearly. "If I don't show results for a while, there are plenty of people ready to replace me."
Xu Huo was silent for two seconds. "Now I believe you were fired by Stellar Corporation."
Dr. Deng pulled out a ticket and placed it on the table. "This is a ticket to District 009. Information about Dr. Wu might be in this instance."
"I'm giving you the ticket, but I want to hide in your residence. When you come back next time, you have to safely send me to another district. In return, I can tell you some clues that others don't know."
"Alright, tell me what the clue is," Xu Huo said as he accepted the ticket.
He agreed so readily that Dr. Deng hesitated.
"What's wrong?" Xu Huo smiled. "Changed your mind?"
"Last time, you didn't want to go," Dr. Deng said.
"Different circumstances. Last time, you wanted to cooperate with me. This time, the initiative is in my hands. I'll take the ticket first. I can go or not go. Since your conditions will only be fulfilled afterward, if I don't go, I'll return the ticket to you," Xu Huo said with a grin.
Dr. Deng choked. "You've got quite the scheme going."
"I'm still young," Xu Huo said. "Even if I end up with Evolution Potion side effects like other players, I still have decades ahead. Maybe by then, a remedy for Evolver side effects will have been developed."
Dr. Deng studied his expression for a moment before finally saying, "Let's do it your way."
"While I'm away, you can stay here, but you're only allowed to move around on the first floor." Xu Huo called for Mr. Dong. "Butler Mr. Dong will prepare whatever you need."
After the man was led away, Xu Huo placed the ticket into his Personal Panel.
"Sun Museum City."
Coincidentally, it was also a D-grade instance.
If he didn't have some understanding of Dr. Deng, he might have suspected this was bait the man had laid out.
But whether it was bait or not, he had to take a bite.
Soon, the time came for District 009 to open instances to all wormhole points. Xu Huo prepared what he needed and used the ticket Dr. Deng had given him to board the Dimension Train.
Aside from a minor conflict between players along the way, there were no major incidents. He arrived at District 009, and the train directly deposited him outside the Museum City.
[Player Passerby A has arrived at Sun Museum City. Default participation in D-grade instance "The Riddle of the Sphinx."]
[Background Introduction: Since the dawn of recorded history, humanity's worship of itself has arisen spontaneously. Not only wisdom, but a healthy physique is also one of humanity's ultimate goals—especially for those with physical disabilities.]
[Sun Museum City was built fifty years ago. Its original founder was a young merchant who inherited a vast fortune and a genetic disease. To ensure the continuation of his family line, this young merchant not only took wives and fathered children year after year but also built a city dedicated to human body research. Legend has it that in the first five years after the city was established, the number of missing persons accounted for one-tenth of the national total for that year.]
[There are two things in this world that cannot be reversed: time and disease. This young merchant died of illness before his crimes were exposed. Although his ten sons each inherited a portion of the city, due to the disclosure of the disappearance cases, this eerie and terrifying city was completely abandoned. It wasn't until the merchant's eldest son grew up, reclaimed control from his brothers, and transformed it into a horror-themed commercial city to attract tourists that it found new life. The grotesque Wax Museum, the Human Mannequin Building, the Horror Escape Room, and the Doll Clothing Store became its enduring attractions.]
[However, as time passed, people gradually discovered that many lone tourists had mysteriously disappeared within the Museum City. After public outcry, although no bodies were found, the Museum City was forced to shut down. To this day, only occasional thrill-seekers sneak in, but the rumor that anyone who enters alive will disappear has never faded...]
[Instance Mission: Solve the mystery of the disappearances.]
[Instance Time: Seven days.]
[Please enter Sun Museum City before 12:30 PM. Failure to clear the instance will result in the loss of your return ticket.]
Xu Huo finished reading the instance introduction. The other players had also arrived. Besides the three who had traveled with him, there were ten more players, making a total of fourteen outside.
"Everyone has read the instance introduction, right? This counts as a group instance," an older player spoke first. "As long as we figure out how people who enter the Museum City disappear, we can clear it. If we cooperate, as long as one person discovers the truth, everyone can clear it."
"I have no objection to cooperation," a middle-aged woman said. "But we're all competitors. Who wants to give away the clearing information for free?"
"Business is business. We can buy it with money," the older man said with a chuckle. "After all, we're entering the instance for props and money. Treating it like a trade works."
Most agreed with this proposal. Another young player said, "Let's go in and take a look first. Maybe there are players who arrived before us."
(Chapter End)