The Section Chief emphasized during an internal meeting, “Ignore the noise. We only need to focus on one thing: what exactly are those ‘patients’ doing? What will be the consequences of Zhou Ping's actions?”
The others spoke up one after another.
“This time, we can only sacrifice Zhou Ping and treat him as observational material.”
“Zhou Ping did this voluntarily. No one forced him, so no one needs to feel guilty.”
“I'm just worried that something worse might happen. Although it sounds absurd, the Nightmare Sickness was a real condition that science couldn't explain. We can't afford another supernatural disaster.”
To conduct a comparative observation, the research group sent in a normal game researcher to use the exact same computer, the exact same game, and follow the exact same steps.
As it turned out, nothing happened.
The game was just ordinary Mario. No vines covered in eyes grew out of the pipes, no hanging figures dangled from the flagpole, and there was no sacrificial altar.
The game researcher played it several more times, and the result was identical every single run.
The research group was left facing an awkward dilemma. The only way to observe what came next was to let Zhou Ping and the other ‘patients’ keep playing, yet they had no idea what would happen if they did.
...
At the Tulip Security Company, the afternoon sun shone brightly.
The inside of the company building looked no different from usual, with players bustling in and out of the lobby.
Everything was business as usual, completely normal.
But beneath the surface, something was stirring.
In the stairwell at the end of the corridor, several figures stood pressed against the wall. No one spoke, their breathing echoing softly in the cramped space.
Two players crouched at the corner of the second floor, their eyes peering through the gaps in the railing to watch the entrance of the first-floor lobby.
In a corner of the lobby, a crowd of novice players with mismatched gear—all newcomers who had only recently entered the game—were curiously taking in their surroundings.
【Jian Lai】 stood by a window in the third-floor corridor, looking out at the street through the glass.
The sunlight fell across his face, illuminating his expression with perfect clarity. In his hand, he held a small glass vial of poison containing a colorless, transparent liquid.
Standing beside him were a few core co-conspirators, all veteran players he had previously won over.
They formed a semi-circle, shielding 【Jian Lai】 in the corner between the window and the wall so that no one from the outside could see what they were doing.
“Has the poison been put in the teapot yet?” Player A's voice was barely a whisper.
“No. I'll poison it myself in a bit. Once I go in, I'll slip it in while pouring the tea when Yue Shi isn't paying attention,” 【Jian Lai】 replied, his voice even quieter than Player A's.
“You guys wait outside. Act as soon as you hear the sound of a cup shattering.”
“What about the newbies?”
“They're already in position, disguised as ordinary players and mingling in the lobby. Once the signal goes off, they'll charge upstairs.”
【Jian Lai】 slipped the hand holding the vial into his pants pocket. The coldness of the poison seeped from his fingertips into his palm, creeping up his veins.
“Let's go.”
He pushed open the stairwell door and stepped into the corridor. Behind him, the players took their respective positions, waiting for the signal to act.
In the corridor, 【Jian Lai】's heart pounded wildly. He could feel the pulse throbbing visibly beneath his temples, yet his face betrayed absolutely nothing. With a slight smile on his lips, he maintained a steady, unhurried pace.
Walking up to the door of the boss's office, he raised his hand and knocked.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Come in.”
Yue Shi was currently sitting in his chair, holding a book he had brought back from the God Realm titled 《How to Overcome Reproductive Isolation》.
The pages were yellowed and the corners curled. Though the writing on the cover was faded, it was clearly an ancient script. The contents were incredibly wicked and sinister—a collection of spells that allowed different species to cross-breed and produce offspring.
The more Yue Shi read, the more alarmed he became.
How could anyone in this world have even fewer boundaries than me?
Just who wrote this book?
This person absolutely cannot be allowed to live!
The Snow Leopard was sprawled on the desk, its belly pressed against the cool surface. With its four paws curled against its chest, it let out a satisfied purr.
The teacup on the desk had already gone cold, a thin layer of condensation clinging to the rim.
【Jian Lai】 pushed open the door and entered, a respectful smile plastered across his face.
“Boss, are you busy?”
Yue Shi looked up at him and closed the book. “Yes. Is something the matter?”
【Jian Lai】 walked over to the nearby tea cabinet, his movements completely natural as he prepared to pour tea for Yue Shi.
With his back to Yue Shi, he set the teapot on the cabinet's counter. Squeezing the tiny glass vial of poison between his right fingertips, he acted swiftly, letting the liquid poison slip silently into the teapot.
Shoving the empty vial back into his pocket, he picked up the teapot, turned back toward the desk, and poured a cup.
The tea flowed from the spout, kicking up tiny ripples at the bottom of the cup. Its color was a perfectly normal amber.
【Jian Lai】 slid the teacup in front of Yue Shi with both hands. “Boss, please, have some tea.”
Yue Shi didn't pick up the cup immediately. Instead, he looked at 【Jian Lai】 with a warm, almost appreciative gaze.
That look caused 【Jian Lai】's back to instantly tense, his Adam's apple bobbing.
“Don't just stand there. Sit down, let's have a chat,” Yue Shi said in an equally gentle tone.
【Jian Lai】 froze. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind as he sat in the chair opposite Yue Shi, his back stiff and upright.
Yue Shi casually said, “Xiao Jian, you've worked hard helping to manage the company lately. I plan to give you a cut of the profits calculated from the time you were acting manager.”
【Jian Lai】's pupils dilated instantly.
There was actually a bonus cut?!
Yue Shi continued, “In addition, I plan to promote you to Vice President of the company. In the future, when I'm not around, you will still run things. As for your compensation, it will only be higher than what you made as acting manager, definitely not lower.”
The air in the office fell dead silent. The air conditioner continued to blow cold air, and the Snow Leopard rolled over on the desk, exposing its fluffy belly, completely indifferent to the conversation.
【Jian Lai】's hand froze. His eyes instinctively drifted to the cup of tea in front of Yue Shi, which was still steaming.
“V-Vice President?”
Yue Shi nodded, his gaze warm. “What do you think?”
【Jian Lai】's expression shifted rapidly as incredibly complex emotions surged within him. It felt as if something was lodged in his throat, impossible to swallow and impossible to spit out.
Holy shit!!! he cursed inwardly.
Why did he have to say this today of all days, rather than earlier or later!
Even if he had said it just half an hour earlier, things wouldn't have reached this point.
The poison had already been slipped in!
【Jian Lai】 looked at Yue Shi's earnest face, which was filled with sincerity. He felt his stomach churn. He remembered confirming the final details of the operation in the chat channel with his co-conspirators just this morning, and he remembered the instructions from the Investigation Bureau...
Holy shit!!!
Why must destiny play with me like this!
Rate on N.U.
