Lin Yu agreed to Vale Valetti's request, not because he was genuinely tempted by the promised "notebook" as a reward.  

In truth, he had only been testing the waters with his earlier question.  

Since he could get extra rewards for free... why not take them?  

From the very beginning, Lin Yu had never truly intended to leave this monster alone.  

Admittedly, Lin Yu didn't care about the lives of other players in this game, but...  

He understood clearly that if he wanted to survive, it would be best to work with Vale Valetti to eliminate this monster!  

After all, this was only the "fifth day."  

Although Lin Yu could temporarily avoid the Dream Manufacturing Device's forced sleep using his Official abilities...  

The difference between the Official and Ruffian abilities lay in the time limit for rule modifications.  

Depending on the extent of the rule changes, the Official's abilities would last anywhere from one to three hours.  

After three hours, when the Dream Manufacturing Device reactivated, he would still fall unconscious!  

Moreover, Lin Yu wasn't confident he could stay completely alert for 48 hours straight in this freezing weather.  

So...  

If he wanted to survive and complete his Promotion mission, this monster absolutely could not be allowed to awaken!  

"I'll help you kill it... Though it's not technically alive yet, so 'destroy' might be more accurate," Lin Yu said seriously, looking at Vale Valetti.  

Vale Valetti frowned in confusion. "But how? You haven't even entered the dream!"  

"Simple—destroy it physically," Lin Yu said quietly. "Besides, even if we destroy the 'consciousness' formed by those souls, the Fear Oil itself will remain. Sooner or later, more souls will be devoured by it."  

Vale Valetti shook his head. "Impossible. I've already told you... and you've seen for yourself. The Fear Oil has spread throughout the entire underground research base. Its scale is enormous—far beyond what one or two people can physically destroy!"  

"Even if the 'Company' intervened, they probably couldn't do it."  

Lin Yu shook his head. "No, it's possible... Though the amount of Fear Oil is vast, it's still technically a 'fuel,' isn't it?"  

As soon as Lin Yu said this, Vale Valetti froze for a moment before realizing what Lin Yu intended.  

"You... you're insane!"  

"Even if it were possible, doing this would destroy the entire Extreme Winter Mountain!"  

"The whole mountain would collapse... and it might even trigger an avalanche!" Vale Valetti shouted.  

Lin Yu spread his hands. "So what? You said it yourself—if this thing awakens, the danger would be unimaginable. Researcher Vale Valetti, at this point, you should abandon conventional thinking... After all, there are only nine living people left in this mountain!"  

Vale Valetti's resolve wavered slightly. "But... your companions would die... and you might too..."  

Lin Yu stepped forward, staring at the soul bound by the Fear Oil—the remnants of a dead man's consciousness—and spoke sharply.  

"You tried to stop it before, but you failed... I don't know what you did back then, but I think I can guess why you failed."  

"Mercy and weakness... Researcher, you really are different from most people in the 'Truth Corporation,' just as my companion Furbollo said. You're kind," Lin Yu said coldly. "But that kindness also gives you a 'flaw'... You're too soft."  

"Faced with a monster that has already killed hundreds and could grow even more terrifying, you still think you can destroy it without any sacrifices?"  

"In this situation, soft-hearted kindness is no different from evil!"  

"Or perhaps... you're not just weak."  

"Are you simply unwilling to let go of this lingering consciousness that coexists with it?"  

Lin Yu stared intently at Vale Valetti, his tone almost accusatory.  

"Which is it—weakness or cowardice, Vale Valetti?"  

Vale Valetti was left speechless.  

He clenched his fists and said, "...I'm not!"  

Finally, after an intense internal struggle, Vale Valetti relented. "Fine... But even if Fear Oil is flammable... you've already realized something from the torch made of it, haven't you?"  

"Though it burns efficiently, its properties are unusually stable—it won't burn too quickly."  

"Now that this monster has gained self-awareness, it could isolate itself to survive... It might even use the snowstorm outside to extinguish the flames."  

Once again, Vale Valetti tried to dissuade Lin Yu.  

This time, however, his argument wasn't that Lin Yu shouldn't do it—but that his plan wouldn't work.  

In other words, if Lin Yu found a viable "solution"... Vale Valetti would agree.  

Hearing this, Lin Yu relaxed slightly.  

Not just because Vale Valetti had finally accepted his plan.  

But also because...  

From Vale Valetti's reaction just now, Lin Yu could finally confirm that this NPC was trustworthy.  

He truly was an outlier in the "Truth Corporation"—a good man who genuinely wanted to prevent the monster's birth.  

Yes...  

Until this moment, Lin Yu had still been testing Vale Valetti.  

It couldn't be helped—his first two dungeons had been full of traps.  

Lin Yu had no choice but to be suspicious of everything.  

As for how to ignite the entire sea of Fear Oil without allowing the monster to save itself...  

Lin Yu already had an idea.  

"So, Vale Valetti... are you afraid of death?"  

He looked at the curly-haired young man before him.  

The young man froze for a moment before smiling bitterly. "Actually... I was terrified. But that was back then."  

"Now that I'm already 'dead,' I don't feel the desperate need to cling to this remnant of consciousness, like you suggested earlier."  

"To be honest, I don't feel any attachment to this state—if anything, I'd prefer to be freed from it sooner."  

Vale Valetti spoke earnestly.  

"That makes things easier, Researcher," Lin Yu grinned. "As long as you're willing to cooperate, the next steps will be much smoother."  

"Anyway, since you said Fear Oil is too stable and burns too slowly..."  

"Then all we have to do is make it unstable, right?"