"Are you crazy? Who would joke with their own life?"
"Forget this hidden mission! It's just a death trap!"
"Lucas is seriously unlucky—he keeps getting these suicidal missions!"
The short red-haired man suddenly realized something wasn't right. He began backing away quickly, panic evident in his voice.
"Doctor... are you kidding me? Isn't this the kind of experiment you usually do on criminals?"
The doctor from the restricted zone removed his glasses with a soft sigh. He wiped the lenses with a cloth, then placed them back on his nose, revealing a rare, wistful smile.
"That was the past," he murmured. "Today's society doesn't allow such convenient ethics anymore."
He looked straight at the red-haired man.
"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to find someone who's actually... alive, and willing?"
The red-haired man retreated further. But the doctor, with that same unsettlingly kind smile, took a step forward.
"If the experiment is a success, your name and face will be on every screen!"
His tone turned grandiose. "'A great man who gave himself to science!' Just think about that honor!"
But the red-haired man wasn't buying it. His face went pale.
"No... no, no! I don't want that kind of honor! Keep it! I'm not interested!"
The doctor's expression hardened.
"Science always demands sacrifice."
His hand disappeared into the pocket of his lab coat.
The red-haired man didn't know what the doctor was pulling out, but his instincts screamed that it would kill him.
He turned to bolt...
But froze.
Behind the doctor, Lucas had appeared silently, holding a bloodied kitchen knife.
The doctor saw the red-haired man's shocked face and paused.
He turned around...
"There aren't many doctors I've admired in my life."
That was the last thing the restricted zone doctor heard.
Thunk!
His head rolled past the red-haired man's feet.
The red-haired man nearly screamed, barely managing to slap his hand over his mouth, trembling as he stared at Lucas.
Lucas didn't even glance at him.
He bent down, rummaged through the doctor's coat, and pulled out a sharp scalpel.
"Has the sleep experiment been completed yet...?"
He muttered to himself. Then, calmly, he stripped the bloody coat off the doctor and put it on.
"Doesn't matter who completes the experiment."
He stood tall. He would never let others control his fate, not in such a life-threatening situation.
The red-haired man backed away slowly, still in disbelief.
Lucas turned to him and smiled.
"Relax. The restricted zone is more... active than you think."
He slid the scalpel into the coat pocket with grace, now looking the part of a doctor.
"The subjects will come in on their own."
: ?
: ??
: ???
: Lucas... you're saying completing the experiment doesn't mean being the subject, but killing the doctor and taking over???
: I'm confused... my brain can't process this. Just leave me alone.
: Why is Lucas so good at this? What did he do before? Was he in a real hospital?!
: The NPCs are all traumatized!
: Wait... did Lucas mean the next experimental subjects will be the other players??
: WHO ELSE COULD IT BE?!?
---
Meanwhile...
Beichi and Oreo, both veteran players, had worked together many times before. They were happy to meet again in this instance.
After confirming their player numbers, they teamed up immediately.
Along their path, they encountered five more players. Before the inevitable player-vs-player mechanics kicked in, the seven of them agreed to work together and formed a temporary alliance.
"Remember what that annoying [beep—] NPC said before we entered the restricted zone?"
Beichi showed Oreo the map and pointed to a location.
"There's an underground lab here. I bet that's where a hidden mission or worldview event could be triggered."
Experienced players like them always pursued bonus objectives beyond the main storyline.
"Makes sense," Oreo agreed.
Under Beichi's guidance, the group detoured through the forest, carefully avoiding the central residential area, and found the wide-open entrance to the underground lab.
"Why is the door already open?" someone asked.
Oreo rolled his eyes.
"Bro, if there was a nuclear leak and people had to evacuate, who'd stay behind to close the door?"
That logic satisfied them. They descended the passage.
"There's light!"
Beichi's voice echoed with excitement. "There must be an NPC in there! We found the right place!"
The group was thrilled.
Hidden missions and lore tasks could still be triggered if multiple players were present. Whoever contributed most would earn the final reward.
They pressed forward into the lab. Not long after, they entered A1 Lab – a bright, clean, expansive space.
Everyone split up to examine the surroundings.
Click... click...
Tap... tap...
Footsteps echoed from another corridor.
Beichi motioned to everyone: "Get ready!"
Two people entered their field of vision.
A cold-looking doctor in a white coat led the way, followed by a nervous assistant.
The doctor smiled.
"My sleep experiment is missing its final data set..."
Though his face smiled, his eyes revealed madness.
"You are truly fortunate. You will contribute to a cause that will be honored across the entire [beep—] nation!"
Then the system prompts rang in their ears:
[System Notice: Player Beichi has triggered a Hidden Mission]
[Hidden Mission: Complete the Sleep Experiment]
[Reward: Unknown Origin Item]
[System Notice: Player Oreo...]
...
Lucas lowered his eyes.
The scalpel spun slowly in his fingers.
"Let the experiment... begin."
Ouch.
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