Chapter 23: Hidden Items, Dangerous Room!

Inside the wax museum, an eerie atmosphere permeated Room 3-7.

Though the wax figures inside were currently scattered haphazardly in every corner, piled in a chaotic mess, they gave off the sensation that they could spring into motion at any moment.

The more closely one looked, the more skin-crawling it became.

This was because the figures inside were different from normal wax statues; they all seemed to be "enhanced" versions.

Some had four arms, looking powerful and imposing.

Others had three faces on a single head, representing Pride, Wrath, and Greed.

The craftsmanship was so lifelike that it felt as though they weren't wax figures at all, but the faces of real people.

Currently, the Chosen One from South Korea, Lee Jeong-pi, was hesitating over whether to enter.

As the saying goes, "great skill breeds great courage," and Lee Jeong-pi was no simple character.

He was a professional sprinter from South Korea, only twenty-two years old and in the prime of his life. His physical fitness was explosive even among ordinary people. In the exhibition hall, he had even managed to narrowly dodge an attack from a bizarre wax figure.

Watching his hesitation, the South Korean audience was flooding the live stream with supportive comments.

"Oppa, fighting! I believe in you, Saranghae!"

"South Korea is the strongest nation on the entire Blue Star!"

"Absolutely. Once the other nations on Blue Star are destroyed, South Korea will surely dominate the planet."

"Go for it, Oppa! If you complete the hidden mission, maybe we'll all get an amplification reward!"

"Jeong-pi Oppa, charge ahead boldly! We won the last round, we can afford to lose!"

In this wax museum dungeon, Lee Jeong-pi had been performing consistently well. This was because clearing a stage brought rewards, but the more information unlocked within a level and the higher the mission completion rate, the greater the amplification rewards the entire nation would receive upon exit.

The "Muscle Doctor" from the Eagle Nation had perfectly utilized the rules to complete his mission; when he emerged, the citizens of the Eagle Nation saw a 10% increase in their [Lifespan].

An increase in lifespan for no reason—how could that not make people's hearts race with desire?

As long as someone had the ability to go in, everyone hoped they would perform well. If they could secure even a small boost in [Speed] or [Strength], it would make it much easier for future Chosen Ones to enter the Weird Tale World.

Lee Jeong-pi's popularity had remained steadily in the top five throughout this event, and his comprehensive strength was very high. Consequently, the South Korean audience was cheering loudly for him.

As time ticked by, Lee Jeong-pi was not feeling fear or hesitation; he was observing the layout of Room 3-7.

As a sprinter, his short-burst speed was superior to ordinary Weirds and could even rival some of the stronger ones. Therefore, his plan was to find a way to burst in at maximum speed, grab the red dagger, and then exit at maximum speed while slamming the door shut.

Any Chosen One who had survived this far possessed exceptional judgment. Those with simple minds had long since died.

The next thing they had to consider was choice: whether to trust the female Weird or to remain suspicious.

Regardless, Lee Jeong-pi felt certain that the red dagger would be useful. Since it could kill the Weird's Ice Wax Figure, it proved that dealing with other wax figures wouldn't be much of a problem. It was likely some kind of [Hidden Item].

Of course, this was merely Lee Jeong-pi's speculation.

As a sprinter, his coaches would place obstacles during training to improve his physical coordination. Lee Jeong-pi viewed this wax production room as an obstacle course. He needed to find an optimal route and a "backup" route, while also observing the placement of the wax figures to see how they might attack. He had to be prepared for everything; without a complete plan, he would not act recklessly.

Soon, he identified two viable routes. After simulating them several times in his mind, he made his decision.

Time was running out; he had to move.

He held his breath and began to regulate his breathing.

The people of South Korea were cheering for him.

Amidst the cheers, Lee Jeong-pi lowered his center of gravity and took his first step. He drove off the ground using his glutes, then used his quadriceps to extend his knees and absorb the impact upon landing, before continuously accelerating. He used his vision to sense danger from all directions while dodging obstacles beneath his feet.

The moment he entered, all the bizarre wax figures seemed to come to life, as if a mechanism had been triggered. The place marked [DANGER] at the entrance was truly no joke.

In an instant, Lee Jeong-pi swept through like a gale. Some wax figures even managed to graze the hem of his clothes, but he maintained a steady, controlled stride. He knew that a single moment of panic leading to a fall would mean certain death; no one could survive being surrounded by so many bizarre wax figures. Moreover, these were enhanced types.

In the vast room, Lee Jeong-pi took less than five seconds to enter, grab the red dagger, and exit—a seamless, single motion.

The moment he slammed the door, he looked at the hideous faces peering through the cracks with lingering fear. If not for his speed, anyone else would have died inside.

At this moment, the entire nation of South Korea was in celebration. The enthusiasm of the viewers was palpable; some even sang and danced to express their excitement and admiration for Lee Jeong-pi. To see their Chosen One break through in such a "desperate situation" prompted many to suggest throwing a massive victory banquet to welcome Jeong-pi Oppa home!

Lee Jeong-pi's popularity soared from fifth place directly to second, placing him in the "quasi-cleared" tier. As for why he wasn't first, it was because the person in first place was simply too ridiculous; no one even doubted whether they could clear the stage. Everyone felt that if that guy couldn't clear it, no one could. Third place was Rahman from the Pyramid Nation, who had also obtained a reward item and was also a "quasi-cleared" level Chosen One.

Inside the wax museum, the feeling of having survived a brush with death made Lee Jeong-pi even more confident. He didn't know how the other Chosen Ones were doing, or if any were even still alive. However, he felt that throughout history, perhaps only he, Lee Jeong-pi, could achieve this. Even the Muscle Doctor from the Eagle Nation had merely used the rules to achieve a perfect clear; he, however, could do things that transcended the rules.

But just then, a series of heavy footsteps sent a shock through his heart. His relaxed state instantly tightened into tension.

It turned out that during his brief rest, the time in the wax museum had reached 5:29.

Though his entry and exit had taken only five seconds—a feat worthy of a true man—his preparation time and his rest time after exiting had been quite long. According to the female Weird, this was around the time the Ice Wax Figure would return to "recharge."

Lee Jeong-pi panicked, but remaining calm under pressure, he found a place with accumulated debris to hide.

While he was visibly tense, the Weird Ice Wax Figure arrived on the third floor. It still possessed that tall, terrifying appearance, but unlike when it first appeared, the chill emanating from it was much weaker. Previously, just being near it made Chosen Ones freeze; now, without a wall between them, Lee Jeong-pi felt only a slight chill, not the bone-chilling cold from before.

Furthermore, once the Ice Wax Figure reached the third floor, it didn't look in any other direction. It walked straight to the left, toward the room containing the frozen hibernation chambers. It was as if it hadn't noticed him, or perhaps it was simply following a fixed route, much like what some had speculated.

At this moment, watching the tall silhouette of the Ice Wax Figure and its gradually weakening body, Lee Jeong-pi gripped the red dagger tightly. The veins in his arms bulged, and his gaze became somewhat terrifying.

A bold thought surfaced in his mind: *Should I take a shot at him right now?*