Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

The deep fog seemed to have no borders.

Fang Zheng and Nymph walked within it, but encountered nothing at all. Fang Zheng even found Little Ding Dong, which he had lost contact with earlier; it wasn’t damaged, just unable to be used. On the surface, everything seemed normal, not at all like it had been struck by a Recombination Device and Primordial Fire.

Of course, it was more likely that they had recovered quickly?

”Nymph, have you discovered anything?”

”Sorry, Master, I haven’t discovered anything. It seems to be just normal fog.... but my search can’t penetrate it.”

”Hmm, let’s see how things go.”

Upon hearing Nymph’s response, Fang Zheng frowned, scanned his surroundings, and continued walking forward.

Could it be that he had somehow entered Silent Hill?

Just then, Fang Zheng noticed Nymph suddenly stop.

”What’s wrong?”

”Uh... sorry, Master, please wait a moment.”

As she spoke, Nymph furrowed her brows, and Fang Zheng saw her azure eyes begin to contract automatically and then adjust. After a brief moment, Nymph’s expression returned to normal.

”I apologize for the delay, Master.”

”I don’t mind. Did something happen?”

”Yes, the information feedback of this place is rather unique. I just changed my receiving signal and synchronized with this area’s output. It’s fine now.”

”Is that so? That’s good....”

Upon hearing these words, Fang Zheng nodded, then suddenly paused.

”Wait, what do you mean by unique information feedback in this place?”

”It’s that the input values have changed compared to the outside world. Oh, please hold on.”

As she spoke, Little Angel reached out her hand, and Fang Zheng soon saw a small white cube appear between Little Angel’s hands, which she then held up and offered to Fang Zheng.

”Please use this, Master.”

”Alright.”

Fang Zheng naturally trusted Little Angel completely. He took the cube from her and squeezed it, causing it to shatter into tiny photon particles that merged into his body. At the same time, Fang Zheng finally heard a distant noise that resembled the sound of wind—something he hadn’t heard before.

”Did you hear that?”

”Of course, Master, I heard it too.”

The two exchanged a glance, then quickened their pace towards the source of the sound.

As they continued deeper, the scenery around them gradually changed. The previously thick fog began to thin, revealing a worn dirt road that seemed seldom traveled. Walking along this road for about half an hour, they finally broke through the fog and emerged into the sunlight.

In the sunlight, a desolate field stretched out, the surroundings seemingly devoid of human presence. Fang Zheng turned to look behind him and saw a pitch-black, dilapidated train tunnel, with no trace of the white fog inside.

So, could this be some kind of barrier? According to Nymph, only by changing the reception mode could someone enter?

This was unsurprising; Fang Zheng had decided to bring Nymph along because Little Angel was now a Demigod, though her personal attack power remained weak at only five. But in terms of information manipulation, Little Angel had transcended to a Demigod, even a Divine Envoy rank—a being capable of wielding divine power.

Therefore, it was expected that she could detect issues from the information level and resolve them. According to Nymph, it was clear that the previous victims simply couldn’t perceive the problem like Nymph and Fang Zheng could, which led to their getting lost inside.... But even so, it shouldn’t lead to such a state, should it?

So what other secrets are hidden in this place?

”Beep Beep...!”

At that moment, a voice rang out from the foot of the distant mountain. The two looked in that direction and saw a dilapidated, almost scrapped van tootling towards them.

From the exterior, it seemed to be from the early 20th century...

Seeing this, Fang Zheng furrowed his brows and gave Nymph beside him a look. Little Angel nodded, and in the next moment, she activated her cloaked form, disappearing into the air. Fang Zheng then snapped his fingers, and soon flames flashed over him, transforming into a traveler-like character wearing a black trench coat. He gave a thumbs-up to the car approaching, and before long, the vehicle came to a stop.

”Hey, I’m a traveler.”

Fang Zheng spread his hands to show he meant no harm.

”As you see, my luggage was stolen by some damned thief. I just want to go somewhere to rest for a while. I wonder if I can get a ride?”

The van did not respond immediately. After a moment, the door creaked open weakly, like a dying person’s last flicker of life, and Fang Zheng nodded, then boarded the rundown bus.

Inside the bus, there was only one passenger, a young foreigner with brown hair and blue eyes. Of course, assessing the current setting, Fang Zheng knew he had traveled unknowingly, but so far, no tasks had been assigned by the system. And unlike previous times, this time Fang Zheng did not even feel the distinct sensation of world travel...

”Ah, hello, sir.”

The young man had evidently been quite bored alone. As soon as Fang Zheng boarded, he eagerly started a conversation. Fang Zheng, disguised as a luckless backpacker robbed of his luggage, exchanged pleasantries with him, while the young man shared his background.

Meeting Fang Zheng appeared to excite the young man, as he had been traveling alone all along. Fang Zheng’s attire made him look like an upright person, quickly allowing the young man to warm up to him.

From the young man’s words, Fang Zheng learned his name was Francis, a rather common name without special features. This journey, as he put it in modern lingo, was indeed a shoe-string trip. His destination was Arkham, supposedly his mother’s hometown, with the intention of observing local customs along the way—of course, part of the reason for choosing the old bus was the exorbitant train fares.

Not only that, Fang Zheng also clarified that this world seemed to be sometime around the 1930s, and very clearly some timeline of Earth. But if it’s time travel, why are there no tasks or prompts so far?

Moreover, this ”crossing over” had no signs, unlike those before... Could the system have changed?

Or is there some hidden secret within?

As they conversed, the bus descended the mountain, revealing a derelict town to Fang Zheng and Francis.

The town looked prosperous in the past, but perhaps due to years of neglect, most of the buildings had collapsed, leaving only one factory-like structure somewhat intact. The harbor seemed abandoned long ago, with the pier almost fully crumbled. Honestly, judging by appearances alone, it wouldn’t be surprising if this place was completely forsaken.

Furthermore, windows of all houses along the way were sealed tightly, courtyards left untended, littered with trash everywhere. Some listless people worked in the fields, while dirty children resembling those from African slums played in the debris.

The stench of fish blew from broken windows, stirring unease. Though such smells are common in seaside fishing ports, even Fang Zheng could sense the disruptive aura lurking within the fishy scent.

As if something concealed was present.

Even Francis appeared somewhat uneasy, an obvious recognition from Fang Zheng, who noticed the aberrant nature of the place, confident that Francis was beginning to regret his choices.

Sure enough, upon alighting, Francis promptly made a request to Fang Zheng.

”Dear sir, from your mannerisms, I can see you’re an upright person. If you don’t mind, perhaps you could accompany me in staying at this inn? Truth be told, traveling sometimes necessitates companionship for convenience, wouldn’t you agree?”

”Of course, no problem.”

Fang Zheng naturally wouldn’t decline. There wasn’t any electronic payment method in this era, and he couldn’t fleece the FBI just yet, so having someone willing to cover costs was ideal.

Upon Fang Zheng’s acceptance, Francis visibly relaxed.

”That’s great, sir. Honestly, I didn’t expect this place to be so strange... Although I’ve heard various tales of Innsmouth from many people, seeing it firsthand is truly beyond imagination... It’s certainly unsettling to be alone in such a place.”

”......”

Fang Zheng’s smile grew stiff upon hearing this.

”Sorry, you mentioned this place...is called what?”

”Innsmouth, sir.”

Francis chuckled, lifting his luggage from the car.

”Honestly, I thought it was merely a local bias against inhabitants here, but it appears this place truly is peculiar, isn’t it?”