Chapter 414 Another Experiment

Chapter 414: Yet Another Experiment

According to Liu Yongzhi's account, when he first entered the game and claimed to be from Qingliu City, it wasn't an off-the-cuff lie. Although he isn't actually from Qingliu City and hadn't paid attention to the problems there in the real world, it was the first city that popped into his mind when fabricating his identity.

Because Liu Yongzhi knew that all players who signed the low-grade contracts were sent to Qingliu City.

"Qingliu City... the situation there is already that bad, why send more people there?" Tan Ying, though unaware of the specifics in Qingliu City, could sense the situation there was extremely dire.

"Honestly, that's something I couldn't possibly know," Liu Yongzhi paused. "But I do know those newcomers probably aren't dead yet... at least not right now."

"I recall the player disappearances started two or three months ago. The *Player Forum* has detailed lists of the missing players. Yet, with the frequency of being pulled into a nightmare game at least once a month, no player has seen those missing players within the Nightmare World. While the authorities are already investigating, given these circumstances, we could only speculate that these players either encountered problems in the real world or were completely wiped out in a Nightmare World game. No matter how you think about it, it seems impossible they could still be alive, right?" Chi Yan found it strange that Liu Yongzhi spoke with such certainty about the missing players being alive.

"Because signing the contract doesn't just make those players obedient," Liu Yongzhi said something that astonished the other players. "Those players signed the lowest-grade contracts. Those of higher rank can order them to do anything—order them to die, or even order them... not to enter the Nightmare World."

"How is that possible?" Liang Yuyan, Li Feiwen, and the others widened their eyes in disbelief.

No matter how long a player has struggled in the Nightmare World, no matter how accustomed they've become to its moon, no matter how adept they are at navigating games under the crimson moon... even Su Bai once dreamed of the day he could shed the "player" identity and leave the Nightmare World behind.

So, upon hearing that the people behind Liu Yongzhi could command contracted individuals to avoid entering nightmare games, the players' expressions turned to shock. A tumult of chaotic thoughts transformed into complex emotions displayed on their faces.

Su Bai, standing to the side, remained calm.

Su Bai understood low-grade contracts. He knew what that simple contract paper could do, but he was also acutely aware of all the terrible downsides everyone hated about such contracts.

Escape the Nightmare World?

In Su Bai's memory, no such luck existed.

However, Tan Ying and the others grew visibly agitated upon hearing Liu Yongzhi's words. Even the silently distraught Ai Qing nearby couldn't help but lift his head.

"Everyone, don't get the wrong idea! This is not a good thing!" Even Liu Yongzhi's face showed a look of fear. "I heard those who signed the low-grade contracts were taken to Qingliu City for experiments—experiments that couldn't be interrupted for months. So, they absolutely couldn't let those players get pulled into the Nightmare World midway."

What Liu Yongzhi said made it sound as if, for those players, the Nightmare World had instead become a "refuge."

"I heard from the higher-ups that although after signing the low-grade contract, they could yank the 'test subjects'—that is, the contracted players—back right before they were pulled into a nightmare game, the physical condition of those 'test subjects' afterward would become extremely weak. They'd run high fevers, vomit blood, even fall seriously ill, as if their bodies had aged twenty years in the instant they were pulled back."

"The higher-ups once said with a laugh that the price for yanking those 'test subjects' back from the nightmare game might be their own life force."

"So, while those 'test subjects' might still be alive now, if the experiments continue, if they are yanked back from the nightmare game a few more times, they should..."

Liu Yongzhi didn't continue, but everyone understood his meaning.

At this very moment, somewhere in the real world... or rather, somewhere in Qingliu City, a group of players who signed low-grade contracts was being "imprisoned." An organization was forcibly preventing them from entering nightmare games to use them as test subjects. Even more horrifying was that the price for repeatedly escaping the Nightmare World was the gradual draining of these players' lives. If things continued this way, all the "test subjects" would die.

Not to mention, they couldn't even begin to imagine what else might be hidden behind this experiment.

"Could Qingliu City's current terrible situation be related to this 'experiment'?" Honestly, just hearing the word "experiment" now gave Su Bai a headache. He thought of the experiments involving mermaids conducted by those eyes high above, then recalled the disgusting experiment in the Luolimasi Grand Hotel.

Perhaps because it felt too coincidental, Su Bai couldn't help but think this incident was also likely related to the mermaid race.

This race... can't they encounter even half a piece of good news?!

"Huh?" Liu Yongzhi looked bewildered upon hearing Su Bai's words. "Mr. Chi Yan mentioned earlier that an infectious disease appeared in Qingliu City? Our higher-ups didn't say the 'test subjects' turned into monsters. They just said they're all still fine for now. It probably has nothing to do with us, right?"

Su Bai wasn't surprised by Liu Yongzhi's words. After all, when Chi Yan recounted the events in Qingliu City in the hotel room earlier, Liu Yongzhi's reaction showed just as much shock—a level of surprise his poor acting skills couldn't have faked.

However, Su Bai also didn't believe there was truly no connection between the experiment and the monster infection in Qingliu City. He simply thought Liu Yongzhi's position likely meant he was unaware of more truths behind the scenes.

"Infectious disease? Monsters?" The other players were also alarmed.

"It seems Mr. Liu doesn't know much more," Chi Yan could also tell Liu Yongzhi genuinely didn't know much more. The fact that he revealed the connection between Qingliu City and the missing players was already crucial information. "Right now, we can barely ensure our own safety, let alone worry about others' lives and deaths. If we can successfully clear this game and return to the real world, I will report this matter to the relevant authorities."

The other players were forced to calm down. Although they had received a lot of information, for them at this moment, striving to survive was still the priority.

"So, borrowing our organization's name to deceive newcomers is no big deal to you, Mr. Liu?" Zhi Yuan was mostly expressionless, but his demeanor changed when looking at the snake woman or when matters involved the Nameless Society. It seemed he simply didn't show his emotions outwardly, rather than being truly cold. "I will also mention this matter to the leader. Although we were implicated without cause, since we are already involved, we will inevitably take some action."

"The real world..." Zhi Yuan also looked somewhat troubled, as the vast majority within the Nameless Society were those who had already abandoned their lives in the real world.