A heavy silence descended over the car, and everyone's faces turned unusually pale.
Lucy let out an awkward harrumph, while Andre sneered—neither of them seemed convinced by the driver's story.
The driver suddenly burst into laughter. "Just kidding! Why would we eat mermaids? It's just sea fish we specialize in around here."
Moments later, the car came to a smooth stop in front of a building. The driver announced calmly, "We've arrived at the wax museum. Time to get out."
As everyone stepped out of the car, the driver leaned out the window. "Take your time inside. Give me a call when evening comes, and I'll take you to see the mermaid fishing."
With that, he drove away.
Bai Liu stood outside the car, taking in his surroundings. In front of him loomed a towering building, so tall he had to crane his neck back to glimpse the top. At its peak, elegant English lettering spelled out the name: Siren Wax Museum.
[System Alert: Scene Unlocked – Siren Wax Museum]
The museum's exterior was painted in deep, somber shades reminiscent of the sea, supported by thick granite columns. From his position at the entrance, Bai Liu could see the faint outlines of wax figures displayed in shadowy alcoves—mermaids, frozen in eerie stillness.
Though the building's interior looked modern and polished, the façade bore signs of wear. Red brickwork, faded and chipped, hinted at its age. Old newspapers plastered the walls, their corners fluttering in the breeze. One of them tore free and smacked into Bai Liu's face.
Peeling the paper away, Bai Liu's eyes caught on a bold headline:
[Police Notice: Twelve people have gone missing in Siren Town this month. If you have any information regarding the individuals in the photographs below, please report to the authorities immediately. Visitors are advised to exercise caution: avoid large fish and stay clear of the water.]
Beneath the warning were twelve black-and-white photographs. Each showed smiling individuals, their joy from visiting Siren Town captured in an unsettling way. The faded smiles stared back at Bai Liu through the yellowed, brittle paper, evoking a strange, unnatural unease.
Bai Liu carefully folded the newspaper and slipped it into his bag. However, as he pressed the folds together, he noticed something odd—the texture felt too rigid, almost as though it wasn't just paper.
He frowned, turning the folded sheet over in his hands. For a newspaper, even one aged and stiffened by the salty sea air, the material felt unnaturally hard... as though it concealed something more.
Bai Liu inspected the cross-section of the newspaper closely.
It appeared unnaturally thick, yet there was no visible sign of multiple layers. The newspaper had been compressed so firmly by the wind and dampness that even if additional sheets were hidden within, they would be difficult to detect.
He tucked the newspaper under his arm, deciding to test his theory once inside the wax museum. Warm water might help loosen any stuck layers and reveal what was hidden.
[Side Quest Triggered: Find the hot water in the wax museum and separate the newspaper layers. Reward: 10 points.]
The keeper of the Siren Wax Museum emerged to greet them. He was an old man with cloudy, cataract-filled eyes. Despite his impaired vision, he moved with uncanny precision, his gaze seemingly tracking them with ease.
As Bai Liu and the others stepped inside, the keeper inclined his head, his blank eyes glinting faintly under the dim lighting. A polite yet formulaic smile stretched across his aging face as he approached with surprising speed, startling Lucy into a small gasp.
"It's been so long since anyone visited…" The keeper's voice was tinged with melancholy. "No one comes to the Siren Wax Museum anymore, not since the accidents last month. And it's been a while since we've had a new mermaid wax figure for the displays."
Bai Liu's curiosity piqued. "Why haven't there been new mermaid wax figures recently? Does it have anything to do with the lack of visitors?"
The keeper nodded, his tone growing animated as he gestured stiffly with his arms. "Of course! Without tourists, it's hard to justify large events like the mermaid fishery—"
He cut himself off abruptly, as if realizing he'd said too much.
Bai Liu shifted his approach. "Are mermaid wax figures brought in regularly? Doesn't the museum eventually run out of space for them?"
The keeper's demeanor changed, his cloudy eyes narrowing slightly. A peculiar smile played on his lips. "As many new wax figures as we receive, the same number always leave. The Siren Wax Museum can never be filled."
Bai Liu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And where do the wax figures go when they leave? Are they discarded, or returned to the sea?"
The keeper fell silent, his expression tight with hesitation.
Sensing the man's unease, Bai Liu pressed further. "What happens when tourists arrive in Siren Town?"
"Nothing," the keeper muttered under his breath. "They have a pleasant holiday… and then leave."
No matter how Bai Liu framed his questions, the keeper refused to elaborate further.
After asking for directions to the hot water, Bai Liu collected his ticket and led the group into the museum.
At the entrance stood an imposing wax figure of a middle-aged man painted in gold. Unlike the mermaid figures Bai Liu had glimpsed, this one was entirely human—dressed in a suit and hat, with a golden body and a practiced smile. The figure waved stiffly in greeting to visitors.
Dim lighting from above cast long shadows across the figure's face, twisting its polite expression into something unsettling.
Curious, Bai Liu approached the wax figure, which was mounted on a black stone pedestal. An inscription identified it as a depiction of Mayor Harris, created for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Siren Wax Museum.
The engraving beneath the figure extolled Mayor Harris for revitalizing Siren Town by developing tourism through the discovery of mermaid skeletons and funding the museum's construction. It credited him with transforming the once-declining seaside town into a prosperous destination.
Carved prominently into the stone was a peculiar line:
[Mayor Harris loved every villager in Siren Town as unconditionally as he loved his own children.]
Bai Liu studied the engraving carefully.
Suddenly, Jeff, who had been silent for most of the trip, leaned in and whispered, "Do you believe in mermaids? Do you think any of this about Siren Town is true?"
Bai Liu considered the question. Most of the lore surrounding places like this tended to be fabrications—a blend of local myths and promotional gimmicks designed to attract tourists. At best, only a fraction of it was rooted in truth.
But this wasn't an ordinary place. This was a horror game.
"I think it's true," Bai Liu replied calmly.
Andre snorted, clearly skeptical, but said nothing, trailing behind Jeff as they moved further into the museum.
Bai Liu lingered, intending to join Lucy, but his plan shifted when he remembered the newspaper. After explaining that he needed to find the hot water room, he encouraged Lucy to explore on her own.
Lucy hesitated but eventually nodded. "I'll wait for you in the gallery," she said before heading off.
Left alone, Bai Liu turned toward the area the keeper had indicated, determined to uncover whatever secrets the newspaper might hold.