“Leader, you’re really too kind.” Ground Mouse also smiled at the three of them. “Everyone knows I’m a fence-sitter, so there’s no need for you to specifically remind me.”

“Are you actually proud of that?” Chen Junnan frowned. “Were you also a fence-sitter when you were my teammate before?”

“Of course, of course.” Ground Mouse nodded. “Do any of you have any other questions?”

Seeing Ground Mouse being so straightforward, Chen Junnan helplessly shook his head.

“I have one last question.” Chen Junnan said.

“I’m all ears.”

“You also know that Old Qi is planning something big… What if he doesn’t stop there in the end?” Chen Junnan said. “Will you still be able to peacefully become ‘Heavenly-Mouse’ then?”

“Good question.” Ground Mouse smiled. “The brilliance of this strategy lies in the fact that I always appear to be on this ship. In other words, I’ve always been together with these rebels. If they succeed one day and stand at the pinnacle of this place, then I’ll forcefully join them as a ‘teammate.’ If they fail, I’ll detect it in advance, then immediately inform ‘Heavenly-Dragon’ and ‘Qinglong’ to make up for my merit.”

“You’re really honest.” Chen Junnan said. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll go tell Old Qi right now?”

“Not afraid.” Ground Mouse said. “If he really is Brother Sheep, he’ll know that my thinking is completely fine. He’ll understand me.”

“That’s true.”

Chen Junnan seemed to anticipate Qi Xia’s thinking as well. He definitely wouldn’t reject someone like Ground Mouse.

He paused, then said: “We came to help Old Qi confirm whether a teammate is reliable. In the end, our goal is the same. From now on, we’re more or less on the same ship.”

“Thank you all for your trust.”

“Leader, it’s not that I don’t want to listen.” Ground Mouse walked to the radio and silently pressed the stop button, then ejected the cassette tape. “I only found this tape in this place.”

“Tape…?” Chen Junnan was slightly stunned. “There are still tapes in this place?”

He took the tape from Ground Mouse’s hand. The cover had completely faded to white, and even the singer’s name couldn’t be seen clearly.

“Yeah, I’m also very curious.” Ground Mouse nodded. “Haven’t you ever noticed… This place not only has MP3s, radios and tapes, but even vinyl records and players I’ve never seen before.”

“What are you trying to say…?” Qin Dingdong asked. “This is a city to begin with, right? It wouldn’t be strange even if you found gold bars here.”

“That’s right, finding gold bars isn’t strange. But what I want to say is…” Ground Mouse squinted and smiled bitterly. “What era of city… can simultaneously have so many different eras of music players?”

Ground Mouse’s words made Chen Junnan furrow his brows slightly.

This seemed to be a question that had never been noticed before.

Although everyone came from different eras, what era was this city actually from?

Since most of the signs and storefronts on the streets had already deteriorated, it was impossible to tell what era they were from. One could only roughly estimate the city’s era from these relatively intact small objects. But thinking carefully, this place had convenience stores and Go clubs, dilapidated rural inns and tall office buildings in the distance. Beyond that, there were even prisons, schools, and farms all existing simultaneously here.

According to common sense, would these things appear so densely in the same city?

“So what are you trying to express?” Chen Junnan asked.

“Nothing much. I’m saying this place is a mess.” Ground Mouse answered.

“But this place has been a mess all along, hasn’t it? It didn’t just start now.”

Although he said this, Chen Junnan still felt something was odd. Everyone here came from different time periods, which already sounded bizarre. If the city here was also a mixture of various time periods… then what was the builder’s purpose?

Would such a city really exist in the world?

“That’s true.” Ground Mouse nodded. “What’s chaotic about this place isn’t just the city, but the rot from inside to outside, from human hearts to the sky, from thoughts to actions. Or perhaps everything started from this chaotic city.”

Chen Junnan also nodded in agreement: “This question is already very difficult to investigate now. Perhaps it would be easier to see clues before the city became dilapidated.”

“Yes, everyone wants to escape from here, so no one cares how this place was actually constructed.” Ground Mouse smiled. “Leaders, today’s chat was very enjoyable. My ‘concert’ also ends here. Please put in a good word for me in front of Qi Xia.”

Ground Mouse came to the door, opened it, then stepped back behind the door, and said to the three: “I won’t see you out.”

Chen Junnan, Qiao Jiajin, and Qin Dingdong looked at each other, knowing there was no need to continue staying here. They slowly walked out of the room, and Ground Mouse escorted them all the way to the main entrance.

Several people could now confirm Ground Mouse’s position. Those who could become Earth-level “Zodiacs” were never kind-hearted people. Everyone broke out in a cold sweat for Qi Xia, thinking about organizing such a group of people to complete his plan.

Having just said goodbye and walked barely two steps, they suddenly felt something unusual in the sky above.

Chen Junnan looked up and saw a large expanse of black water droplet-shaped objects beginning to fill the air, like a locust plague passing through.

These black particles hovered in the air for a few seconds, then flew off in countless directions as if they had found their targets.

“Damn!” Qiao Jiajin shouted from the side. “Danger! Quick, get back inside!”

Chen Junnan and Qin Dingdong also instantly realized the situation was wrong and turned to run toward the building behind them.

Ground Mouse stood coldly at the door, reaching out to block several people.

Seeing Ground Mouse’s appearance, Chen Junnan was stunned and shouted: “Big Rat, don’t just watch us die! That big black rain is about to fall!”

“Sorry, everyone.” Ground Mouse said. “You need to wait outside for this ‘rainstorm.'”

“Why?!” Chen Junnan shouted.

After hearing this, Ground Mouse narrowed his eyes slightly and answered: “This is the last time I’ll answer your questions. When this rainstorm truly falls, I’ll hide in my room listening to music, unable to hear a single word.”

Qin Dingdong and Qiao Jiajin didn’t understand what Ground Mouse meant, but Chen Junnan seemed to understand something.

Even an “Earth-level” had to hide—could this be a “Heavenly-level Moment”?

“The reason I don’t want to let you hide inside…” Ground Mouse helplessly shook his head. “That’s because no matter where you hide, these black raindrops will find you, and my game venue will be destroyed as well. I’m very glad you didn’t participate in my game, otherwise starting tomorrow I’d have to repair walls.”