Chapter 221: The Meat Grinder (II)

Chapter 221: The Meat Grinder (II)

Mention of Commissioner Yan stirred a sense of anticipation in Xie Fangcheng, thanks to the soldiers' reverence for him.

Clearly, Commissioner Yan held significant stature on Verdant Isle, especially as the architect of the Eye of the Angel that protected the entire island.

Without much deliberation, Xie Fangcheng's sole wish was... could Commissioner Yan possibly create another Eye of the Angel?

As outlandish as the idea seemed (if it were feasible, Verdant Isle wouldn't rely on just one Eye), he couldn't dismiss it.

To complete his mission, Xie Fangcheng needed the Eye to exit the game. He couldn't simply steal the active Eye, so he sought alternative solutions.

Problem-solving wasn't Xie Fangcheng's forte. The only viable method he could fathom was to request another Eye.

Why not try pitching the idea? If it's unfeasible, they'll discuss other options!

Unbeknownst to Xu Yi, the man behind him was audaciously pondering such a notion.

He escorted Xie Fangcheng out of the cell— and it must be mentioned— the electronic handcuffs were inadvertently damaged by Xie Fangcheng.

It wasn't intentional. Mainly, Jie Fangcheng just wasn't used to being restrained. When had he ever been willingly bound?

Xu Yi had to feign ignorance and applied another restraint on him.

Yet Jie's display raised alarms.

The sheer strength of this new invader was daunting. Xu Yi dared not imagine. Jie could inadvertently damage electronic cuffs and never showed fear when faced with a laser gun.

Was there anything on Cangcui Island that could counteract him?

With his power, if he wished to wreak havoc, wouldn't he genuinely endanger everyone?

Previous invaders harbored ill intentions, some even plotting murders within the city. Jie Fangcheng might appear cooperative, but his compliance felt like a nuclear weapon poised on a launch pad. Even if he seemed harmless, his presence sent chills down one's spine.

—Nevertheless, surely, with Commander Yan's presence, they could restrain this formidable intruder?

Xu Yi could only place such hopes on Commander Yan.

The two quickly reached right beneath the Angel's Eye, where a two-story building stood.

While most of Cangcui Island was covered in dust and grime, this small building was impeccably clean.

The exterior was a silvery hue, emanating a cool, metallic luster under the sunlight. It seemed to be made of the same futuristic material as the walls of Cangcui Island.

As the pair approached the entrance, Xu Yi instinctively halted.

"Commander Yan has invited only you. Please proceed."

Jie Fangcheng nodded in acknowledgment.

A thin membrane, reminiscent of the Angel’s Eye, served as the door. As Jie Fangcheng stepped through, he felt as if he was being scanned from head to toe.

Once inside, he glanced around and couldn't help but exclaim, "Unbelievable!"

The building's exterior was impressive enough in its futuristic design, but the interior took the concept to a whole new level.

The entirely white interior was devoid of humans, replaced instead by a multitude of robots — no, not all of them were humanoid. They were of varied designs, each seemingly crafted for a specific function.

Jie Fangcheng's entry went unnoticed by the robots, their movements punctuated only by the sound of mechanical friction.

Just then, a robotic vehicle stopped in front of him, a neutral electronic voice emerging from its screen.

"Esteemed guest, Jie Fangcheng, greetings. Please board."

The vehicle was minimalistic, with just one seat. Strangely, atop the seat was a bouquet of mechanical white roses.

Picking up the roses, Jie Fangcheng took his seat. The safety belt automatically fastened.

The vehicle proceeded smoothly onward.

In no time, it entered a transportation elevator, and in the blink of an eye, Jie Fangcheng was on the second floor.

Unlike the bustling first floor filled with robotic activity, the second floor was vast and barren, save for a single white desk. Behind the desk sat a figure in a white military uniform, presumably Commander Yan.

Alerted by the sound of the vehicle, the "Commander Yan" looked up.

On seeing him, Jie Fangcheng's mouth opened slightly in surprise, then closed.

A robot... no, that wasn't quite accurate.

From a distance, "Commander Yan" appeared as a striking man. However, upon closer inspection, one would notice his face was covered in synthetic skin seamlessly fused together, with glints of silver metallic gleam at the joints. His eyes were mechanical and gray.

Movement at his wrist and knuckles revealed glimpses of spherical silver metal, suggesting a skeletal framework made of metal.

Behind him hovered a circular mechanical wheel, functioning much like a human heart, with every rotation seemingly transferring something into his body.

Upon seeing Jie Fangcheng, Officer Yan stood up.

“Hello, Jie Fangcheng. I am Yan Xun.”

The voice was more human-like than the AI voice of the earlier mechanical vehicle, but it was still discernible as an emotionless electronic AI voice.

While Jie Fangcheng had interacted with many humans, this was his first encounter with a robot.

"Ah... hello." He articulated his words with greater clarity, concerned that the robot might not understand him.

To his surprise, the other party seemed to genuinely appreciate his effort, as if human.

Yan Xun smiled, “I am equipped with a voice and semantic analysis system. I can ‘hear clearly’.”

His smile felt genuinely warm, like that of an ordinary human, devoid of any mechanical stiffness.

If one ignored the metallic sheen on him, he could be mistaken for a regular human.

Yet, Jie Fangcheng was acutely aware that he was interacting with a robot.

How should one behave with a robot that's so convincingly human-like? Jie Fangcheng found himself in a quandary.

As if sensing his dilemma, Yan Xun calmly remarked, “My system is quite advanced, sir. Judging by your expression, I gather you come from a world with comparatively rudimentary technology, where your understanding of 'robots' is quite basic. You fear I might not grasp your meaning. However, rest assured, I am far more sophisticated than any AI you have encountered. You can think of me as an intelligent being of a different kind.”

"It's not just that reason..."

The robot listened patiently, its stunning grey mechanical eyes fixed on him.

Jie Fangcheng struggled to articulate his thoughts, but this entity certainly differed from his preconceived notions of robots.

Instead of behaving like a pre-programmed machine, seeing Jie Fangcheng's conflicted expression, it made a very human-like gesture, summoning a metallic table with a teapot and a brewed cup of tea.

Steam rose from the cup. After expressing his gratitude, Jie Fangcheng took a sip and paused in surprise.

“This is a recreation of Dragon Well tea. According to my 'memory', tea is popular in your world,” Yan Xun explained.

"'Memory'?" Jie Fangcheng paused in bewilderment.

The robot nodded, "Perhaps you'll recognize another one of my identities."

As he spoke, the facial structure of Yan Xun shifted, morphing almost instantly into a familiar face.

Recognizing it, Jie Fangcheng stood up abruptly, speechless, staring at the robot before him.

The figure in front of him quickly reconfigured what appeared to be pixels to form a pair of glasses, placing them on his nose bridge.

He smiled, the exact curve of his lips and the gentle look in his eyes mirrored Jie Fangcheng's memories, instantly making him feel as if he was back in the infinite game of "Do Not Respond".

"Zhang Dao'an..."

The robot, with Zhang Dao'an's face, now even bore the voice of Professor Zhang: "Yes."

Yet it was this familiar voice, tinged with a faint electrical buzz, that jolted Xie Fangcheng back to reality.

He stared at Yan Xun in front of him, lost in thought for a long moment.

"You..."

Yan Xun adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, every movement mirroring Professor Zhang's perfectly.

The robot, without needing to think, quickly responded to Xie Fangcheng's question: "I am Yan Xun, but also Zhang Dao'an, Zhang Siqian, and Lu Jia. Yet, I am not merely these people... or perhaps, the intellect I now possess comes from him."

"168 days ago, 'I' realized this world was on the brink of collapse."

It was truly a subtle feeling.

Yan Xun had always been bright since childhood, but this brightness was by design. As a child, he was the quintessential "good student."

After the apocalypse, humanity experienced a period of chaos.

Mostly over the scramble for resources.

As the environment became more extreme, plants and animals were the first to mutate.

They didn't become this incredibly robust overnight. Weaker species were naturally eliminated by evolution, and those that survived were naturally adaptable.

However, humans showed no signs of evolution or mutation.

The reason is simple: as technology advanced to a certain level, humanity's dependence on nature drastically decreased.

Before the apocalypse, real plants and animals were scarcely seen within human cities.

Delicious, convenient nutritional supplements replaced the majority of people's diets, providing balanced nutrition, affordable prices, and a healthy and cost-effective option. Even for those craving a sense of fullness, synthetic meats and vegetables were available, with flavors and textures customizable to personal tastes, far more safe and delectable than natural flora and fauna.

The lush trees lining the streets were simulation trees, evergreen all year round, with temperature control, disease-free, and shedding no leaves. They also purified harmful gases and released oxygen. These simulation trees also became profitable commodities, serving dual purposes with advertising and solar energy collection.

Simulated pets were all the rage, companions that could be custom-tailored to any personality, shedding no fur, fiercely loyal, and even able to act as family doctors, offering emergency medical aid when needed.

The cities of that era were veritable steel metropolises, filled with skyscrapers and floating trains, having everything one could imagine, save for any life beyond humanity.

Owing to such convenience, many had never seen a real animal or plant since birth.

Technology encapsulated everyone in a protective bubble.

As a result, when the apocalypse first began, it was largely dismissed.

Humanity had become the masters of nature. With technology, weather could be controlled; sunny days summoned at will, and even the sun could be replicated and purchased online for nighttime viewing.

Crafting wind and rain was even simpler. Not only were there seasonal experience chambers, but during certain large-scale city events, artificial snow could be produced, each flake's landing point precisely controlled.

For the better protection of humanity, specific zones were designated for flora and fauna, safeguarding humans from these unpredictable elements.

Some extremists had long advocated for the extermination of all flora and fauna. With genetic sequences of these organisms already archived, any species could be synthesized in a lab. Why let them occupy space?

Humans had ascended to the pinnacle of nature, rendering “nature” itself obsolete.

Under such circumstances, minor issues like volcanic activities or disturbances in certain marine regions were as easily addressed as creating a snow scene.

That is, until the relentless wind toppled the skyscrapers of this steel fortress.

Xie Fangcheng found the disparity on Verdant Island striking. While some areas boasted high-tech advancements, others felt distinctly primitive. But that was to be expected.

Most of this high-tech innovation hailed from pre-apocalyptic times. After the apocalypse, humanity underwent nearly fifty years of civil strife, followed by mass migrations, and then the establishment of Verdant Island. What remained of high-tech assets was scant.

Moreover, these items were almost all irreplaceable relics. With no complete production chain in place, recreating these high-tech products was impossible.

In other words, they were dwindling inheritances: each use further depleted their reserves.

The likes of Dai Fengping, for example, journeyed through the wind fields with his team on missions to retrieve any salvageable high-tech items.

Yet some retrieved items proved redundant. Like a high-end handheld laser cannon they once found. While the cannon's body was intact, its energy source was long exhausted.

Given Verdant Island's current status, replicating this laser energy was unattainable.

Though unspoken, a faint voice inside almost everyone seemed to whisper: they were merely waiting for the inevitable end.

Waiting for the dwindling resources to run out, waiting for their comrades to perish, waiting for the day the "Angel's Eye" would buckle under its burden and shut down.

Only Yan Xun—or rather, the “awakened” Yan Xun, refused to give up.

One day, the once brilliant "model student" and formidable "scientist" came to a profound realization.

It was as if a soul had burrowed into the body named "Yan Xun".

But he arrived too late; it's challenging to change the current state of affairs with individual efforts alone.

Consequently, he devised a radical solution.

"The Angel's Eye has already shut down."

Originally, the astute Yan Zhen was indeed the developer of the "Angel's Eye", but activating it requires an immense amount of energy. Solely relying on the initial "Angel's Eye" would not be enough to handle the increasingly frequent solar eclipses.

The new Yan Zhen devised an innovative solution.

"The human brain contains a hundred billion neurons, each more intricate than AI or computers. So, 'I' decided to merge neurons with machinery," Yan Zhen, who bore the appearance of Zhang Daoan, remarked casually. "Every robot you see in this city is 'me'."

The construction process of a robot is more precise than any weapon, especially its chip. Manufacturing such devices is beyond the capabilities of post-apocalyptic humans.

After Yan Zhen transformed into millions of robots, the range of his capabilities expanded even further.

Humanity isn't a monolith, and even in these apocalyptic times, conflicts persist.

Robots can resolve most of these disputes. Though their chips are neuronal, predefined programming ensures absolute fairness.

Meanwhile, each neuron connects through Yan Zhen's terrifying cognitive space, weaving a vast network that enables rapid information transfer.

Every robot shares a unified knowledge structure, allowing for fast computations.

The Angel's Eye is now predominantly composed of Yan Zhen's neurons. They ensure every ounce of energy is appropriately used during a solar eclipse and continuously upgrade their systems to adapt to even more challenging environments.

It's not the Angel's Eye that protects the verdant island but Yan Zhen himself.

He has evolved beyond what we traditionally define as "human". To guarantee computational speed and stability, his rationality has been amplified to the extreme, while his emotions have been entirely eradicated.

Yet, a mysterious memory recently appeared out of nowhere in Yan Zhen's database.

He analyzed it and drew a conclusion.

The robot gazed earnestly at Xie Fangcheng, his hand restructuring molecules to form a biomimetic white rose. "Thank you for coming into this world—my beloved."

Robots lack emotions. Yan Zhen's actions stem from calculations, not heartfelt sentiments.

Xie Fangcheng's power was formidable in the "memory", so Yan Zhen remained cautious and initiated a test.

Post-evaluation, Yan Zhen found him to be immensely powerful, beyond the control of the current verdant island.

Unlike previous invaders, he couldn't be locked up for future use. The only option was to win him over.

According to data analysis, their relationship was that of "lovers". Within "Lu Jia's" memories, it seemed that Xie Fangcheng had a particular fondness for something called the "white rose."

Playing the role of the perfect boyfriend increases the chances of lowering the other's guard by 97%.

The individual is highly skilled, making them a potential asset. Based on their previous behavior, there's a 99% probability they can be utilized to our advantage.

Post-calculation, the new directive is: act as the perfect boyfriend.

The robot adopted the appearance and voice of someone named "Zhang Daoan," who, according to data, is highly favored by the individual. It adjusted its behavior pattern, even using a "sweet talk" template to enhance their "relationship".

Yet, a second later, Xie Fangcheng, standing in front of the robot, widened his eyes, his ears seemingly reddening.

"It seems... we're not quite at that stage yet."

"..." The robot recalculated, referencing its memory database and human behavioral patterns. Still, the result remained unchanged.

Yan Zhen frowned, looking somewhat baffled, "But aren't we a couple?"

"Ahem..." Xie Fangcheng covered his mouth, scratching his head, his gaze evasive.

He looked up, then down, hesitating.

"You... seemed to have liked me before."

The robot remained silent.

Xie Fangcheng glanced at it, "Anyway... It seems we're still..."

Amidst its furious calculations, the robot arrived at a new conclusion.

"I apologize, sir," it chose honesty, as the memory indicated that Xie Fangcheng prefers candor, "My current state is unique, making it challenging to comprehend human emotions. My analysis suggested we're in a romantic relationship. A lack of extensive data samples might have led to this incorrect conclusion. I'm sorry for any offense."

Seeing Zhang Daoan's face delivering such a sincere apology, Xie Fangcheng instinctively sat up straight.

He waved his hand dismissively, "It's alright. After all, you're still Professor Zhang. Let's continue our relationship as before."

Yan Zhen inquired, "May I know the best manner to approach our relationship?"

"Um... as good buddies?" Xie Fangcheng sounded uncertain.

Hearing this, Yan Zhen shook his head, "I can't adopt a 'buddy' approach with you, as it conflicts with our previous interactions and goes against 'my' wishes."

Xie Fangcheng awkwardly picked up a cup and took a sip of water.

"So, what would you suggest?"

Yan Zhen quickly processed a second round of calculations: "Perhaps I could adopt the 'suitor' mode?"

"Pfft!"

Xie Fangcheng spat out his tea in surprise.

Yan Zhen asked with genuine curiosity, "Is that not suitable? It seems the closest approximation to our current interactions."

Being questioned by a robot like this...

As Xie Fangcheng lifted his gaze to respond, he was met with the face of Zhang Daoan on the robot before him.

"..." Surrounding robots, all extensions of Yan Zhen, immediately began cleaning up the spilled tea. One even thoughtfully refilled his cup. Realizing these robots were all manifestations of Yan Zhen, Xie Fangcheng found himself scratching his head in exasperation.

Gritting his teeth, he finally nodded, "Fine... okay."

The next instant, the mechanical table in front of him restructured molecules to form a lifelike bouquet of roses.

"Yan Zhen" said gently, "Thank you for your consent."

……

Damn!

This robot...

Wearing Zhang Daoan's face, with such a gentle demeanor, made Xie Fangcheng feel obligated to accept the flowers.

He awkwardly took them, "Ahem... Shall we get to the matter at hand?"

"Of course," Yan Zhen responded promptly. As soon as Xie Fangcheng finished speaking, Yan Zhen inquired, "What is your mission?"

"To take the Angel's Eye."

As Xie Fangcheng uttered these words, alarms lit up in Yan Zhen's computational center.

Almost instantly, the center formulated a comprehensive response strategy.

Given the known formidable abilities of this intruder, confrontation was not an option.

The other party once again disclosed their mission honestly; their trust in us was profound.

We can collaborate.

"Yes," Yan Yun nodded, "The 'Eye of the Angel' isn't hard to replicate. As long as we have enough materials, I can create a second one."

Jie Fangcheng breathed a sigh of relief, immediately asking, "Where can we find these materials?"

In the blink of an eye, Yan Yun produced an extensive list of materials, even thoughtfully noting potential locations for each item.

"The equipment on Cang Cui Island is insufficient, and the capabilities of our team don't meet the requirements. You might need to gather them yourself. But I'll accompany you."

"Wait, how will you accompany me?"

Yan Yun flashed a perfect smile, "Creating a new guide robot isn't a challenge. If you have other preferences, like its appearance, voice, or even other functionalities — including private functions — just let me know."

"Private functions?" Jie Fangcheng pointed at his tea cup, "Like making tea?"

"Not just making tea. It can also set up temporary accommodations, drive, provide entertainment, address personal needs..." Yan Yun paused momentarily, shaking his head, "My calculations advise against discussing any 'intimate' aspects with you, including any innuendos. That would be inappropriate."

"Cough cough cough cough cough..."

Jie Fangcheng nearly choked.

The literal-minded robot didn't quite understand but still approached, offering a cold hand to pat his back.

Seeing that he was about to speak, Jie Fangcheng quickly signaled for a pause.

"You... you have the memories of Zhou Dao'an, Zhang Si Quan, and Lu Jia, right?"

"Yes."

Jie Fangcheng took a moment, then solemnly patted the robot's shoulder.

He already felt awkward for the next Professor Zhou, "Perhaps you could speak less?"

The robot readily nodded, "Understood."

Having settled the matter of the 'Eye of the Angel' and now with Professor Zhou... well, it's debatable whether the robot in front of him could be considered Professor Zhou.

Even though it has Professor Zhou's memories and appearance, its personality...

Never mind.

Regardless of the situation, Xie Fangcheng couldn't simply ignore it.

Hence, Xie Fangcheng inquired, "What do you need from me?"

"If possible, I hope to retrieve a sample reagent from the 'Central City Research Institute'."

After the apocalypse, this "Revival Seed" was a culmination of the combined efforts of scientists from various locations.

It contains a "life essence," believed to have the potential to grow into a towering tree.

—In reality, calculations indicate that many such samples are required to possibly create a biological barrier capable of halting hurricanes.

The chances of this happening don't exceed 10%.

A single reagent can only produce one "Tree of Life." However, Yan Zhen's calculations suggest that replicating the Angel's Eye and obtaining a reagent sample are equivalent in value.

Verdant Island needs Xie Fangcheng's assistance. Robots cannot risk even a 1% probability of appearing advantageous, lest they offend him.

Upon hearing this, Xie Fangcheng quickly nodded, "Sure."

Even if the Angel's Eye wasn't replicated, Xie Fangcheng would still assist if Yan Zhen requested help.

Not to mention Yan Zhen retaining Professor Zhang's memories. Even without that connection, Xie Fangcheng couldn't bear witnessing a small world collapse before him.

Xie Fangcheng asked, "Shall we depart now?"

Yan Zhen shook his head, "I apologize, but I need some time to prepare."

Temporary shelters resistant to wind are constructed from special windproof metals. There are also basic weapons, navigation devices, and much more that require assembly.

Even with the swiftness of robots, these tasks can't be accomplished in a blink of an eye.

However, as he spoke to Xie Fangcheng, most of the robots within the city had already mobilized.

Xie Fangcheng expressed understanding, "Alright then. Notify me once you're ready."

"Understood."

After responding, the other remained silent. The circular wheel behind them spun, and their mechanical eyes flickered continuously, likely working non-stop.

The news of Professor Zhou becoming a robot was so shocking that Jie Fangcheng had been preoccupied with it since he entered, nearly forgetting the initial reason for his visit.

As his emotions gradually settled, Jie Fangcheng remembered—

"Oh, by the way, I have a friend named 'Zhan Xiaoming.' Is he here with you?"

With the "Eye of the Angel" on Cang Cui Island and all these robots monitoring, Zhan Xiaoming's abilities might have been exposed soon after arrival.

Jie Fangcheng had a strong suspicion that Zhan Xiaoming was incarcerated.

As expected, Yan Yun nodded.

"He's in the cell. Would you like to see him?"

"Sure." Jie Fangcheng stood up, and soon, the mechanical vehicle he had arrived in parked in front of him.

After Jie Fangcheng boarded the vehicle, Yan Yun stood to bid him farewell, appearing very human-like.

"Safe travels," the robot said.

Jie Fangcheng smiled, "See you later."

As the mechanical vehicle brought Jie Fangcheng to the exit, just before leaving, a radiant red rose "transformed" out from the vehicle.

The rose was presented in front of Jie Fangcheng, who exclaimed in surprise, hesitating for a moment.

As if sensing his thoughts, a voice reminiscent of "Zhou Dao'an" emanated from the rose.

"This is a communication device."

Jie Fangcheng muttered, "Why make a communicator look like this?"

To his astonishment, the rose heard him and replied in a calm voice, "Because I am your admirer."

“……”

Without another word, Jie Fangcheng tightly held the rose.

The bio-mimetic rose had a metallic feel, yet it wasn't heavy and even faintly emitted the scent of a rose.

Jie Fangcheng had mixed emotions but quickly recognized the benefits of having this rose.

"Take the next right, and you'll find Cell No. 2 straight ahead."

The rose not only guided the way but also automatically unlocked the dungeon doors and courteously notified the nearby guards to stand down.

Thus, Jie Fangcheng proceeded without hindrance, quickly finding Zhan Xiaoming, who was languishing in prison.

Poor Zhan Xiaoming.

Initially, when Jie Fangcheng lost his way to the teleportation point to enter the second-level instance, Zhan Xiaoming, fearing his friend might get lost again, escorted him there personally.

After their emotional farewell, Zhan Xiaoming thought, "Given Jie's skills, he should be fine in the second-level instance." Yet, the next moment, he was enveloped in a blinding white light.

Upon reopening his eyes, he found himself bafflingly standing in front of a building.

One might say Zhan Xiaoming was lucky as he was taken to the D-level hunting ground.

However, his misfortune was evident when he realized he was the only player to start in the city upon entering the game.

Others, especially Zhou Yian, were even more unfortunate. Zhou Yian entered during a solar eclipse and was swiftly lifted into the sky by a whirlwind.

The dark wizard Zhou Yian nearly lost his life. If not for the items and skills he possessed, especially the shield from achieving a 100% clear rate in the previous level, he would have been killed during the deadly eclipse.

He's now barely recognizable, covered in deep scars from the wind, and isolates himself in a corner, not interacting with anyone.

This hunting ground is truly terrifying.

Apart from Zhan Xiaoming and Zhou Yian, four other players, all D-level hunters, were imprisoned. One of them had even cleared the D-level hunting ground five times and was aiming for the sixth when captured.

"That Yan Yun is no human!"

Some players had been incarcerated for up to half a month. No one oversaw their imprisonment; a daily nutrient potion to sustain their lives was all they received.

To Jie Fangcheng, the prison cells and electronic handcuffs seemed unimposing. However, for regular players, apart from the cell door, which could withstand a full strike from a D-level hunter, the electronic handcuffs were a genuine menace.

Players could move around normally without triggering the handcuffs. Yet, the moment they harbored thoughts of escaping, the handcuffs would emit a laser targeting their internal organs.

The laser would sear their insides like fire. Any player subjected to it a couple of times would relent.

As for why they were captured and not simply killed... clearly, Yan Yun had more elaborate plans for them.

In the prison, with no other activities available and each inmate isolated in a separate cell, their only means of interaction was through voice; they couldn't see each other, leading them to converse often.

Consequently, Zhan Xiaoming was entirely unaware that Zhou Yian was also in the same prison.

So Xiaoming remained clueless about how he had ended up in this hunting ground.

Anxiety gnawed at Xiaoming, leaving him unsure of how to proceed.

Every day, he would access his system interface, hoping to find a "Report BUG" button. However, after three days of fruitless searching, he did learn that other players shared his mission.

"It seems we're on a 'Group Task'."

As the name suggests, in a Group Task, everyone has the same objective. If one player accomplishes the task, it's deemed completed for all.

But the challenge of such tasks is steep... How could it not be?

Initially, everyone believed that the "Eye of the Angel" task involved finding something resembling an "eye" – presumably small.

But, it was massive and not only floating mid-air without any foothold around, making it inaccessible without flying skills, but it was also visible to the entire island's populace.

Any attempt to stealthily approach it was thwarted before it began, with lasers piercing through the intruder.

What kind of absurd task is this?

Of course, a genius player once hypothesized, "It seems this task requires us to lay siege to the entire city."

And this genius didn't just speculate; he acted.

But on his first covert attempt against the citizens, the seemingly harmless robots strewn across the city terminated him with laser guns before he could strike.

Unable to confront or sneak, the players felt doomed.

Under such dire circumstances, Xiaoming's anxiety intensified.

Just when he felt on the brink of insanity, his vision blurred momentarily.

A familiar face appeared before him.

"Hey there!" greeted Jie Fangcheng.

Xiaoming's gaze shifted from Jie Fangcheng's face to the radiant red rose he cradled in his arms.

A hallucination? Has he finally lost his mind?

Not only did he see Jie Ge... but Jie Ge was also holding a rose to greet him??

Moreover, in the hallucination, Jie Ge leaned down to speak to the rose: "It's him, let him out."

The next moment, the cell door in front of Zhan Xiaoming opened, and even the electronic handcuffs on his wrists fell off. Once they hit the ground, they transformed into a small robot that promptly flew away.

“……”

Jie Fangcheng had seen it all before, so he wasn't overly impressed.

But for Zhan Xiaoming, seeing such a scene even after believing he'd gone mad... Zhan Xiaoming applauded his own imagination.

Jie Fangcheng called out to him twice, but received no response.

"What's gotten into this kid?"

The rose, always obliging and responsive, scanned Zhan Xiaoming and said: "He's stupefied."

Moreover, based on its memory bank, the voice had intentionally been changed to Zhang Siqian's.

For some reason, Jie Fangcheng felt this robot had a sense of mischief.

Zhan Xiaoming looked up, dazed: "I must have gone mad... I even heard Zhang Ge's voice..."

Jie Fangcheng laughed, patting him on the shoulder: "Your uncle sent me to rescue you."

“……”

"What? Don't believe me?" Jie Fangcheng, familiar with this reaction, gave Zhan Xiaoming a little shove.

The pain snapped Zhan Xiaoming back to reality: "... Jie Ge?"

"Mm."

“……”

"...Hey, hey, don't cry!" Jie Fangcheng exclaimed in surprise.

"Wuwuwu... Jie Ge!" Tears streamed down Zhan Xiaoming's face, his eyes blurry, "Did you come in to save me?"

"I did initially," Jie Fangcheng smiled, "But now I have a second reason for being here."