I’m Trapped in a Cube - Chapter 18

Kimchi is the cost for entering the dream; the price that must be paid will ultimately be collected.

When the tentacle wrapped around those two jars of food, Mo Ling immediately understood its purpose.

Li Luo quickly realized it too and put away her weapon.

In Mo Ling’s vision, the inside of that black tentacle kept pulsing.

Following the tentacle into the black hole, Mo Ling’s perspective suddenly passed through the darkness and arrived at a strange place.

It was still that familiar kimchi space.

The tentacle set down the kimchi, passed through the metal floor, as if guiding Mo Ling somewhere.

Returning to the outside, it was still Dream Dawn City.

But the view kept zooming out, Dawn City shrinking in Mo Ling’s sight.

His perspective rose higher and higher, over the skyscrapers, up to the sky.

Eventually, Dawn City became a single pixel-a pixel on a surface of colored skin.

Mo Ling snapped back to himself, seeing a giant colorful Oscillation Beast.

The colorful Oscillation Beast slowly rotated in the space, sending out world-shaking vibrations. It extended a rainbow tentacle and waved at Mo Ling.

The moment he saw this, Mo Ling was suddenly squeezed out of the dream space.

He stood there, dazed.

“What was that?”

“Is the dream… an Oscillation Beast?”

……

Li Luo drove the car out of the valley.

Just as she was about to leave, she heard familiar vibrations from within.

She stopped the car and glanced back.

There were still survivors-Oscillation Beasts in the valley that hadn’t been infected by the Red Rope Worm.

The car turned around and headed for the Seventh Monitoring Station.

Mo Ling was still thinking about the colorful Oscillation Beast he’d seen in the dream, realizing he knew far too little about the Abyss.

All the way, Li Luo kept reviewing previous recordings, constantly searching and uploading to the database, seemingly gaining a lot.

Two days later, Li Luo drove back to the Seventh Monitoring Station.

Du Kang was already waiting at the gate, pacing like an ant on a hot pan.

As soon as he saw Li Luo return, he rushed over, looking her up and down, asking with great concern, “You’re not hurt, are you?”

Li Luo shook her head.

Du Kang circled the car once, and after confirming Li Luo was unharmed, finally relaxed.

“How could you dare take on a mission like that? Even I, a Level 2 Hunter, would have to gather a whole team to try it.”

Li Luo answered seriously, “The points are high.”

Du Kang’s expression was odd, but he still comforted her, “It’s fine, as long as you’re back. Now you know how tough it is, right? It doesn’t matter if you failed the mission, as long as you’re safe.”

Li Luo looked at Du Kang as if he were an idiot. “I succeeded.”

Du Kang froze, incredulous, “You succeeded? The 1000-point investigation mission?”

“That’s right, the 1000-point investigation mission-the kind you told me to take.”

Du Kang quickly waved his hands, “I never told you to take that! But you really finished it?”

Li Luo didn’t reply, but took out her electronic screen.

The screen showed all mission data had been uploaded, and in the completion status column, three big characters stood out:

Completed.

Not only that, but other data was under review. If it all checked out, the points would be even higher.

Du Kang’s face was very awkward, full of disbelief.

Before long, he let it go, sighing, “Good, good.”

Li Luo asked, “Where do I submit biological samples?”

“You want to submit samples? I’ll take you straight to Station Head Liang’s lab.”

They walked through the main hall, deeper into the monitoring station, until a large door appeared.

Du Kang scanned his iris at the door, and it opened.

Inside was a huge laboratory spanning several floors, with all sorts of researchers busy at their instruments.

Station Head Liang clearly hadn’t expected Du Kang to bring Li Luo to him.

After hearing Du Kang’s account, Station Head Liang looked at Li Luo in shock.

“So you’re the one who finished that mission! The data you uploaded is very useful.”

When the researchers heard the girl in front of them was the one who completed the Oscillation Beast anomaly mission, they hurried over.

“The changes in Oscillation Beast forms-I have some questions! Can you explain them in detail?”

“Are you certain the Red Rope Worm can parasitize the Dream Qilin?”

“How did you wake up after falling into the dream world?”

“Based on your data, I suspect the Dream Qilin’s habits might be like this…”

“……”

Seeing this, Station Head Liang quickly shooed the enthusiastic researchers away and brought Li Luo and Du Kang into his own office.

“What biological sample do you want to submit?” asked Station Head Liang.

Li Luo took out a pouch containing liquid, sealed in a Relic Capsule.

Station Head Liang examined it, puzzled, “What’s this?”

“An Oscillation Beast parasitized by the Red Rope Worm-it’s already perished,” Li Luo explained.

Hearing this, Station Head Liang immediately treasured the sample.

“This will be very useful for our research. Once we verify it, you’ll be compensated with points.”

Li Luo’s eyes lit up at the mention of more points. She walked to the cube and gently knocked on it, “Do you still want that horn?”

Mo Ling picked up the broken Dream Qilin horn and found it no longer had the function to enter dreams, so he sent it out, placing it precisely in the girl’s hand.

Watching the exchange between girl and cube, both Station Head Liang and Du Kang were dumbfounded.

Li Luo held the Black Horn up to Station Head Liang.

“This is the Dream Qilin’s horn. Can I exchange this for points too?”

“Yes! Of course you can!”

Station Head Liang hurriedly fetched gloves and a sealed bag, carefully storing the horn.

After saving the Dream Qilin’s horn, he looked at the cube again.

“This Iron Cube Relic seems to have other functions?”

Seeing Station Head Liang’s interest in the cube, Li Luo quickly stood in front of it, blocking his line of sight.

Seeing her reaction, Station Head Liang quickly said, “It’s your personal property, we won’t touch it, but I still suggest you update the Relic’s data in the database.”

Li Luo kept blocking the cube.

“Of course, it’s fine if you don’t update, no pressure,” Station Head Liang added quickly. “You’ve contributed a lot this time-rest well at the station, don’t rush into another mission.”

Du Kang quickly agreed, “No more dangerous missions! If you really need points, next time I’ll take you along on a mission.”

Li Luo looked at Du Kang with strong resistance.

“No need, that way I’d have to split the points with you.”

Du Kang gritted his teeth at this, but there was nothing he could do.

Station Head Liang asked Li Luo a few more questions.

Mo Ling noticed that for anything related to the cube or the dream, Li Luo didn’t answer a word.

“It really wasn’t in vain that I saved you.”

Afterward, Du Kang took Li Luo out of the lab.

“Go rest-there’s a Hunter rest area over there. Just pay a little and you can get a nice room.”

“No need, I already bought a house at the station.”

Du Kang’s veins bulged again.