Dice In The Darkness: Cthulhu Calls

Liu Xing raised an eyebrow, realizing that Maisky’s significant archaeological discovery from years ago likely resided within this old-fashioned leather wallet.

With anticipation, Liu Xing opened the wallet, finding only a key and a letter inside.

Liu Xing handed the letter to Buke, as Watanabe Ryuusei didn’t understand English...

However, the moment Liu Xing touched the key, he received a message prompt indicating that the key was also an item.

Of unknown origin, this key could be used by players in the Interlude Growth to unlock a special module, with a chance to invite any number of players from the Cthulhu Role-Playing Game Hall to join.

Upon reading the key’s description, Liu Xing was momentarily stunned.

Though he suspected the key might unlock a module related to Maisky’s archaeological discovery, he hadn’t anticipated its uniqueness, an unrestricted module not limited by player count or gaming area.

In theory, Liu Xing could invite all players from the Cthulhu Role-Playing Game Hall to participate in this module.

This was intriguing.

At this point, Buke began reading aloud the contents of the letter, "This letter is Maisky’s testament. Aware of his impending demise, he documented his undisclosed archaeological discovery, believing it could alter the course of humanity! In essence, Maisky, decades ago, while teaching archaeology at Miskatonic University, learned from fellow professors about a Small Island in the Bermuda Triangle emitting a mysterious magnetic field."

"I believe everyone here is familiar with the mysterious incidents in the Bermuda Triangle, succinctly put, planes and ships frequently vanish there, occasionally with UFO sightings. Hence, the common belief is that the Bermuda Triangle is an extraterrestrial base. However, informed individuals like Maisky know that the Bermuda Triangle is affected by a powerful electromagnetic wave, disrupting instruments and causing disasters. Consequently, surrounding countries are searching for the source of this wave, suspecting it could be something extraordinary."

"Upon confirmation by the United States Navy that the source of the electromagnetic wave lay on a Small Island codenamed x1, they dispatched a secret team to investigate. However, upon landing, the team lost communication due to all equipment failure. The Navy Command didn’t fret, anticipating this outcome, considering the intense electromagnetic waves emanating from the island."

"However, a day later, the communication officer, expected to report daily, failed to show up. The Navy Command then presumed the first expedition lost and sent a larger second expedition comprised of elite Marines armed with state-of-the-art weaponry. Yet, they too lost contact the next day."

"With the consecutive loss of two expeditions, comprising hundreds of elite Marines, the Navy Command realized continuing would only result in needless casualties. It was evident that a deadly creature resided on x1, as before sending the expeditions, the Command had tethered a group of convicts on the island’s beach, observing them for three days through telescopes, without witnessing any adverse reactions due to the electromagnetic waves."

"Hence, the Navy Command made a bold decision to set fire to x1 to ascertain its contents. However, as the flames ignited, a dark cloud appeared, followed by a torrential downpour extinguishing the fire. Infuriated, the Navy Command attempted to burn the island again, only to be met with another downpour."

"The consecutive appearances of two unexplainable rainfalls made the Navy Command finally realize the presence of something supernatural on x1. Hence, they sought external support, which naturally led them to Miskatonic University, known for its expertise in such matters. Thus, Miskatonic University prepared an expedition to unravel the mysteries of x1."

"Upon learning this, Maisky decided to join the expedition, sensing that this journey to x1 could immortalize him. So, Maisky sought out his good friend, the then-President of Miskatonic, Nick McKray, successfully joining the star-studded expedition of that era. Escorted by a squad of heavily armed elite soldiers, they commenced exploration on x1."

"After landing on x1, the expedition faced continuous assaults, with attackers launching massive plasma balls from afar, instantly vaporizing those hit. Additionally, various traps littered x1, resulting in significant casualties within an hour. With one-third of the team lost, President McKray decided to retreat."

"However, the retreat failed; upon reaching the designated point, they found the prepared boats missing. The warship that should have been visible had vanished, signaling a dire situation. Forced to camp by the sea, they built defenses. It was during this time that Maisky, assisting with water supplies, stumbled upon an extinct species of shellfish."

"Maisky’s discovery exhilarated the expedition’s biologists, who began searching the nearby beaches, uncovering several extinct species. The soldiers tasked with fishing also caught peculiar fish. This transitioned the biologists from excitement to despair as they realized they seemingly had traveled back to ancient times."

"After extensive investigation, the expedition concluded they had been transported to x1 in ancient times. Thus, they ventured once more into x1, seeking a way back to their original timeline. This time, the expedition faced no assaults and discovered an unfinished mysterious structure. Naturally, they entered, only to be attacked by a group of Monsters. Eventually, Maisky, along with twelve others, including Drake, found refuge in a peculiar room, where they discovered a teleportation device."

"Maisky and his group naturally activated the teleportation device, transporting themselves back to their original time. However, apart from Maisky, everyone else forgot what had transpired previously. Thus, upon returning to the warship, Maisky also publicly announced that he had amnesia. The United States Navy Command didn’t doubt Maisky, nor could they verify his claims, as Maisky and the others returning from ancient times were immune to hypnosis and truth serum.

Maisky resigned from Miskatonic University upon his return and went back to Scotland. One night, he lost consciousness, only to awaken three years later. After inquiring with his family, he discovered he had spent almost all his time during those three years secluded in a study room. On the night before regaining consciousness, he had even burnt a pile of research materials. However, Maisky’s youngest son found something amiss and secretly retained a portion of the data.

Upon retrieving the data, although written in an unfamiliar script, Maisky could still understand its meaning. Following the instructions in the data, Maisky purchased a suburban derelict estate in Southampton, where he discovered a damaged teleportation device underground. Repairing it effortlessly, Maisky used the device to return to x1 Small Island!

Just as Maisky prepared for further research, the British authorities invited him to join an expedition to investigate Zekiel Island. Initially intending to decline, Maisky changed his mind when he learned that his former boss, McKray, led the expedition. Eventually, Maisky met his demise in a trap, which led him to write this testament and leave the key to the Southampton estate in his old leather wallet, hoping a worthy individual would inherit his legacy and uncover the secrets of x1 Small Island."

After listening to Buke read the contents of the letter, Liu Xing and others realized that Maisky’s previous visit to x1 Small Island was, in fact, controlled by the Yi’s People. Furthermore, upon returning from x1 Small Island, Maisky had been possessed by a Yi’s People for three years.

However, what puzzled Liu Xing was why the Yi’s People initially sent Maisky and his group back in time, then safely returned them to the present, and subsequently guided Maisky to the teleportation device in Southampton. After all, the Yi’s People had the ability to kill Maisky effortlessly and wouldn’t need to resort to letting Maisky’s son retain some data.

Thus, Liu Xing was certain that everything was orchestrated by the Yi’s People.

Could it be that the Yi’s People were plotting against him?

Liu Xing was starting to feel paranoid...

However, it seemed likely that the special module was related to the Yi’s People and would likely involve time travel.

Thinking this, Liu Xing suddenly had a foreboding feeling.

"I wonder if Maisky was lucky or unlucky, encountering both the Yi’s People and the Ancient One, two highly technological mythical creature races in succession," remarked Zhang Jingxu with a hint of awe.

But before Zhang Jingxu could finish his sentence, Buke suddenly raised his hand and fired a shot, startling everyone.

Turning towards the sound, they found Zhang Wenbing had shot down a roe deer.

"We’ve been here for quite a while; these creatures have started to smell us out," Buke said with a furrowed brow.

Liu Xing nodded and said, "Then let’s head back to the underground camp. It’s almost noon."

So Liu Xing and the others retreated while engaging in combat, returning to the underground camp.

In the underground camp, Miguel had already procured a katana, two iron crossbows, and dozens of iron arrows.

It seemed Miguel was quite adept at hands-on tasks.

Buke took the slain sand rats to the kitchen for processing, while Liu Xing briefed Miguel on the morning’s encounter.

When Liu Xing mentioned Maisky, Miguel suddenly became excited and asked, "Maisky, are you talking about the archaeology professor, Maisky?"

Liu Xing nodded in surprise, "Yes, Maisky was indeed an archaeology professor. But Miguel, how did you know?"

Miguel sighed and said with a bitter smile, "The reason I ended up like this ultimately stems from Maisky. Before I transformed, I bought a book at a flea market with a notebook tucked inside, written by Maisky. It detailed the situation on that farm and mentioned a valuable treasure. So when I discovered that farm, I decided to enter..."

After hearing Miguel’s account, Liu Xing became more convinced that the Yi’s People were plotting against him, as they manipulated Miguel, ultimately also involving him.

However, Miguel’s ordeal seemed to be a blessing in disguise for himself.

Then Miguel continued, "But speaking of which, I remember hearing Maisky’s name during my transformation process, while in a state of half-consciousness. The person said Maisky hadn’t died."

Maisky hadn’t died?

Liu Xing looked at Miguel with surprise.

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