The Gentleman at the End

"As you can see, this is the City of Evil, only the evil with awakened consciousness are qualified to live here... Does it feel quite good, huh?"

"Disintegrated, the entire world is riddled with cracks."

Listening to Yi Chen's evaluation of the city, the director responded with a smile.

"Haha, that's for sure!

The final ending of cult films is never too good, and the ending in reality doesn't necessarily have to be good either, right? Enjoy the joy before the apocalypse, at least you can still shoot a movie as a memento.

Also, all the cinemas and video stores here have cooperative relations with our crew. If you have more leisure time, you can rent DVDs or watch movies for free.

Of course, if your time is limited, it's best to get proper rest."

Yi Chen immediately seized on a key point, "The Ten Disasters all have their own industries or partner stores in this city?"

"Let me think... Pretty much~ So you should try not to go to shops unrelated to the crew, and even in video stores, rent our crew's published original DVDs and tapes as much as possible. Other things, especially some pirated goods with no named expressions, you should watch less."

"Hmm." Yi Chen then asked a critical question, "Since all the cinemas and video stores are related to the crew, are the hotels and inns here also related to the 'Hotel'?"

The director immediately picked up on the underlying issue,

"Have you come in contact with the 'Manager'? Since you appeared here unharmed, it means the Manager is likely just observing rather than targeting you.

That's right, all accommodations in the City of Evil are related to the Hotel. Once you enter any place offering accommodation, the Manager will know your check-in information.

If you have a feud or unpleasantness with the Manager, you might as well stay with the crew instead! I'll set up a floor mat for you, just be mindful of your safety while sleeping with the crew; I can't entirely control things outside of acting."

"It's not exactly unpleasant." Yi Chen briefly explained the past situation.

"I see, it's surprising that such a busy person like the Manager would appear actively.

It's likely targeting William, rather than you... no worries then. The Manager is generous, and you living in such a remote inn usually won't concern him.

So just stay outside~ As you as newcomers and non-evil entities, staying too long among the crew will invite exclusion and targeting, it's better to come over only during filming."

"Hmm."

From this dialogue and prior observations about the crew, Yi Chen started to harbor greater suspicion on whether the director was the evil's core,

The director indeed occupies a significant position among the crew, but the real Tenth Disaster should not be him.

Soon, they came to the nearest motel to the crew with the director's introduction, easily associating its decor style and the battered, even bloodstained pickup parked outside with a highway murder film.

The inn's reception featured a farmer-dressed man, missing an eye, with a shotgun hanging nearby.

However,

Due to the director's esteemed reputation in the area, the innkeeper warmly received and provided relatively good rooms.

"I haven't had any 'normal people' here, but since you're crew members, I'll make an exception for you.

Sign your names here, and be sure to remember your room numbers during your stay, absolutely don't enter the wrong rooms.

Our guests here may not know you're with the crew, disturbing their rest could be very risky."

As Yi Chen signed names consecutively for three people, he casually accepted the handed key, only to find the palm with the key transformed into black skin while the innkeeper should be white.

Cold sweat trickled down Yi Chen's temples,

Raising his head again,

The originally shabby inn instantly upgraded into a modern hotel, with the farmer-like innkeeper turning into Mr. Manager.

"Long time no see~ Speaking of which, where's the cancer-stricken girl, even though this girl also has cancer, it's not the same type."

The Manager's appearance made Lorrian step back instantly, while Yi Chen held his ground, having overcome hotel-induced stress disorder.

"She's temporarily returned to where she originated, perhaps she'll come back in the future."

"That's a pity, I'm quite interested in her understanding of the infinite, could fully employ her as an executive at my hotel... Since we meet again, I'll slightly upgrade your accommodation conditions.

As for the 'boxed lunch' you have, I suggest throwing it in the trash bin at the entrance, the hotel will provide safer meals."

With these words, the director's demeanor slightly shifted, his amicable face taking on an icy killing intent, even seeming like his facial skin was about to peel off.

"They are members of my crew, Mr. Yi has a major role as the 'Supporting Male Lead', considering the internal environment of the crew is not very good, not suitable for foreign people to be accommodated, hence letting them stay outside, no need to trouble the Manager with meals."

Unexpectedly,

The Manager didn't look at the director at all, but kept his gaze fixed on Yi Chen, "I trust you'll make your own judgment, welcome to stay at the only hotel in the City of Evil, after checking in, please read the entry handbook on your bedside thoroughly, you may call the front desk for any issues."

Yi Chen naturally did not throw away the crew's boxed lunch, after all, his main purpose lay with the crew.

"Director, we'll head to rest first, we'll arrive at the crew before shooting starts tomorrow morning."

"Hmm, don't be late."

Despite his unwillingness, seeing Yi Chen not discard the boxed lunch and mainly focus on him, the director felt somewhat pleased.

He didn't want to stay in the hotel even for one second, and slammed the door as he left.

As Yi Chen was about to go to his room, he paused and asked the Manager a question, "Is William staying here too?"

"Sorry, our hotel strictly protects guest information."

Yi Chen asked no more and stepped into the elevator.

The originally two-story motel transformed with the Manager's appearance into a hundred-story hotel building, with corresponding luxurious rooms.

While the outside hotel door still corresponded to the original street, as if directly covering the motel, or seemingly overlapping spatially.

Only Yi Chen and the others could enter the hotel from here, while others still headed for the motel.

Had to marvel at the Manager, or rather the entire hotel, for their uniqueness in terms of space.

The three shared a luxurious suite,

Now perfectly at dinner time, a hotel attendant arrived almost simultaneously at their room, delivering delicious and guest-fitting dishes.

Smoked steak, French silver cod, mashed potatoes, and steaming hot stew.

Looks appetizing, Yi Chen gladly accepted these dishes, deciding on which disaster's food to eat needed only slight comparison.

Locking the door.

Yi Chen placed the boxed lunch with the hotel's dishes, driven by curiosity, he opened the lunchbox to examine the enticing food that drew the crew members' scramble.

However, the opened lunchbox lacked the steam typical of cooked food, or rather, the contents were not cooked food, but akin to normal human temperature.

Yi Chen previously wondered where the crew disposed of the dead extras during shooting, now he had an answer, even seeing the crew's qualified stamp on the food surface.

The crew lacked chefs, only ingredient sorters, qualified ingredients once separated into small pieces were packed in insulating foam boxes.

"No wonder the director said eating in the crew easily invites others to snatch, no wonder the entire crew exudes a discomforting atmosphere, no wonder every crew member doesn't look quite human.

This stuff, once ingested, aligns closer with a murderer's image..."

Yi Chen picked up the boxed lunch, dumped it into the trash bin at the door, while changing his attitude towards the crew, intending to accelerate the filming of the new movie.